Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-01-10
LETTER FROM JAPAN.

Hc 1OnOWluR lcttcE HIS UStu 1t
/ ceiyed by Sec'y Neil Campbell, of tn
local Y. nj. g. A., and is addressed t,
friends of the association. AS it deal
with some facts in relation to tn
bloody war now being waged between
the Island Kingdom and the Gar
domain, it may be of interest to som,
of our readers and so we publish it.
IMADEGAwA DORI, KYoTo, JAPAN
Nov. 18th, 1904.
DEAR ASSOCIATION FRIENDS
The near approach to Thanksgiving
day has set me to thinking about mi
blessings. 1t is favorable time to re
count them, not only because the beau
tiful Indian summer weather makes us
all feel so we'll and happy, but alsc
because it seems as though God were
using the sunshine to warm the chilled
hearts of the many friends about us
who are thinking of their sons, fathers
and husbands as the terrible news
comes from the battlefelds. We often
think that it does not seem quite right
that we should be rejoicing in such
health of body, happiness of heart and
progress in our work, " hile these
friends and neighbors are laboring
| under such load of sorrow and care.
Still we feel that what we find in the
work to please us is the most needed
thing in their lives, and we try in
addition to do what we can to alleviate
the suffering and to show our sympathy
for them in general. Our interest is
perfectly sincere, too, for the more we
see of the Japanese and the more we
get beneath the surface of their lives,
the more respect we have for them,
both as nation at War and as individ-
uals.
for appreciated service in the Red Cross
society. This society is highly and ex-
cellently organized, is well supported
both by the Imperial household and by
private persons, and is doing a splendid
work for the soldiers. Mrs. Phelps
attends class of nurses for lessons in
bandaging and ''first helps to the
wounded and goes to the station once
a week to help receive the hospital
trains that pass through the city twice
a day. Each train carries about 600
wounded soldiers. They are cared for
by the surgeons at the station. given
tea and other comforts by the ladies,
and generally looked after and made
to feel that they are precious asset of
the country. These invalids are not
the worst off, as the more serious cases
are retained nearer the front These
are being sent TO the northern hospitals
and resorts. There are now three big
hospitals [ have seen the one at
Osaka. There are 250 buildings there,
with Accommodations for 15, 900 wounded
soldiers. The hospitals at Hiroshima
and Tokyo are as large, and besides
these, there are innumerable smaller
hospitals. Some of these last are no
more than temples turned over for
hospital uses. These are extremely
convenient for such purposes, as they
have the best locations, are clean and
can be had at any point and on the
shortest notice. Mrs. Phelps is often
called on to attend the funeral of some
soldier. There are always several rep
resentatives of the Red Cross, a squad
of soldiers, priests. and the customary
huge bouquets of flowers. The presence
of foreign lady is greatly appreciated
by the family, so we like to go for the
good it does in breaking down prejudice
against foreigners, as well as for the
sympathy which it shows to the VS.
reaved.
w . Hdt0 CCCl hdDy
opened up to us as result of the war
is an increased openness to the gospel
message. At any rate, it is the easiest
thing in the world to teach the bible or
to do personal work. Then, too, the
widespread advertising of the sympa-
thy of America and England has done
great deal to break down prejudices
and to give the Japanese new con-
sciousness of the solidarity of civilized
nations. The attempt of certain
Buddhists at the beginning of the war
to make it a holy war has failed COM
pletely and has helped Christianity in
proportion. Ihe story of Japanese
Christian who was shot by the Russians
as spy after showing such devotion to
the Emperor, and at the same time wit
Messing SO boldly for Christ that the
Russian general commuted the sentence
of hanging to that of being shot. has
gone the rounds of the papers with
great effect. To fully appreciate the
meaning of these things. one must
remember that up to the present time
the Christian religion has been quietly
repressed in both branches of the
military force, on the ground that it
undermined the patriotism of the
soldiers by destroying the belief in the
divinity of the Emperor. 1t is because
of this that it seemed almost hopeless to
try to get permission to do Christian
work among the troops. 1t is because
cf this also that we consider it so sig
nificant for the minister of war with the
concurrence of the prime minister, to
issue official orders giving the associa-
ton permission to open up army work
at Antung on the Yalu river, and at
Yinkow, the seaport of Newchang.
We already have one outfit at Antung
under the direction of Hibbard and two
Japanese secretaries. They have full
army outfit, including graphaphone,
magazines, newspapers, books, games,
writing materials, a barber's outfit,
bath tubs, and various things for the
comfort of the men. They serve ten
pailsful of tea day, Hiboard writes,
aud do great deal of hospital work.
On an average, 200 soldiers use the tent
day. They have given out l 500 copies
of gospels to men who wanted them.
The work has so appealed to the author
tiles that they have given us free trans
portation on the government railroad,
and have given us a hint that we may
go to other important points when the
way is clear, j. e. when Port Arthur
| falls. The committee is now sending
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