Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25
ON THE. TRAIL OF THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY

1nltlateQ and largely directed II DelnS y. =.
Hubbard, V. w. Helm, George Gleason and
G. s. Phelps. There was an abundance Of
volunteer help on the part of the soldiers,
and by military details officially appointed.
The officers themselves freely co-operated.
In the matter of outdoor sports and indoor
entertainments the soldiers gave unimit ed
assistance. But the best friend of the sec
retaries was the graphophone. of which
the men seemed never to tire. NOW one
hears these machines at work day and night
all over Japan
Three leading representatives of missions
in Japan visited the association headquar-
tiers throughout Manehuria, travelling as
specially appointed association secretaries,
since no other Christian workers were al
lowed with the army. These men, all flu
ent speakers of the Japanese, were Bishop
Harris of the Methodist Episcopal Church
North Rev DR.. John H. De Forest of the
American board, and Rev. DR.. j. G. Dun
lop of the Presbyterian Church. These men
spoke frequently to the soldiers, conferred
with the officers and then reported the
work upon their return.
The signal favors shown to the workers
have many illustrations. No foreigner was
permitted to live in Dalny during the Japa-
nese occupation, nor were long visits per-
mitted. Yet Secretary George Gleason Of
for himself, wife and child and this was
renewed month after month, for five
months. There were many evidences that
the officers looked upon the association as
filling lack in their equipment and 1t Is
freely said that should Japan have another
war the Y. NJ: c. A. would be made an
integral part of the field force.
Maj. Gen. Kamio, formerly chief of staff
at Dalny. declared publicly: Though I
venture to say that everything was COM
pletely provided for the prosecution of war.
yet must frankly acknowledge that there
was no provision for the field recreation of
the Japanese soldiers; 1t was entirely out
side the Japanese army system" He fur
ther added: Let me remark that l can
discover two results from the successful
work of the ciation-irst, hundreds Of
thousands of soldiers, representing every
class of japanese society, were made ac-
quainted with the gospel of Christ; second,
when these hundreds of thousands return
ed home they told their parents. brothers
and friends about the kind ministry of the
Young Mems Christian Association, and
thus many millions more have been made
somewhat acquainted with the spirit Of the
Christian religion.
X 4
In this latter observation Gen. Kamio
has pointed out what is perhaps the most
significant event in the history of Chris
tianity in Japan. The Bible classes and
preaching of the associations resulted in
considerable number of conversions Zone
convert has since become an association
secretary in Manchuria), but the greatest
result of the work was in the natural es-
Enlistment of the face of Christianity.
The work of every missionary in the en-
pre has been made easier.
few months ago the Japanese minister
of war, Gen. Terauchi, wrote to the pres
ident of the national Y. M. c. A. the fol-
lowing letter, which, considering the Of
fetal standing of its author, and the fact
that Japan is not Christian nation, makes
the document one Of extraordinary interest:
1.-The Young Mems Christian Association,
moved by the desire to minister to the well
fare and comfort of our officers and SOL
diers at the front, carried on it's beneficent
work throughout the Russo-Japanese war
Of 1S04-05. Beginning at Chinampho early
in September, 1904, it kept pace with the
northward progress of the field forces for
nearly twenty long months, until March.
1906 established its work at eleven posts in
Manchuria and Korea. At large expense of
money and labor, and by great variety
of means, it filled the leisure of our officers
and soldiers, far from home. with whole
some recreation. The completeness of the
equipment and the success of the enter
prise were universally tested and recog
nized by our troops in the field. ann fully
assured that the recipients of all this gen.
erous service are filed with deep and mex
pressibIe gratitude.
Since the return of the army, permanent
Y. M, c. A. headquarters have been estab-
lished, by the urgent request of the army
officers. at Liaoyang and at Port Arthur.
The governor general of Lfoayang PENN
sula made personal subscription of
thousand yen for the continuance of the
work. At Port Arthur the military Of
ffcials turned over to the association and
agreed to keep in repair a beautiful Rus
sian cathedral to be used as Y. Nj. c. A.
headquarters. The most active Y. NJ. c..
A. in the world was probably at Dalny;
as many as 10000 soldiers passed within
it's portals in a single day. When the
main army was returning home it min
istered to more than half a million men.
One of the Japanese secretaries of the as
ISOLATION has gone into rescue work at
Dalny, for. while the army was kept adj
solutely free from these camp followers
during hostilities, God of dissolute
women, recruited under the most pitiable
circumstances has since poured into Man.
churia.
There has been a grand shaking up Of
Buddhism by the advent of Christianity
In Japan The older faith has western
religion; and now there are Buddhist
preaching services. Buddhist Sunday
schools and even Young Mems Buddhist
associations The Shin sect, who has been