Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02

siderable following from the fringes of the
latter. At slow pace, to accommodate
the lame and the halt, the crowd moved
on to the appointed meeting place, having
created a sensation in the town.
Curiosity, and the desire of the blase for
new sensation, was largely responsible
for the attentive company of about fifty
japanese which gathered when the meet
ing opened. Outside the room, which, in
the convenient fashion of the land was
enlarged by removing two of the walls.
was a border of wondering women and
children. Inside were the men, sitting on
their knees. according to the native code
Of politeness; after the Introductory ad-
dress one of the auditors spoke up and,
with profoundest apologies for the rude
ness, asked If the men might not be so
impolite as to sit cross-legged, the more
comfortable posture. since they were most
of them invalids. With many mutual bow
tngs-to live in Japan tnsureS abunda Mt
exercise for the muscles of the back-the
request was of course granted by the mis-
stonaries, only half Of whom, l noticed,
knew the art Of sitting on their knees;
found the ordeal of sitting cross-legged for
more than an hour quite severe enough.
The meeting was the trst Christian serv-
ice ever held in that ancient community,
the official said, although l later learned
that when Revs. T. NJ. McNair and E. R.
Miller spent a vacation in Kusatsu score
of years ago they also conducted Chris
tan services. Naturally it was as inter-
esting to me as to these japanese who
had never seen a missionary before. They
were alert to note every word and action
of the visitors. The opening was delayed
bling, somebody had stolen the one Japa-
nese hymn book. 1t was returned the
next morning. whether from the effects of
the preaching or because 1t was found
unmarketable did not appear.
After a hymn in English, sung from mem
DRY, and an Introductory address and
prayer by the native preacher-who. by the
way, recently refused an increase in the
vania church pays him, because he said
the work elsewhere needed the money more
than he-Mr. Hail spoke in Japanese There
was a vein Of humor in his address, which
abounded in illustrations, and caused Nthe
audience to utter the Japanese equivalent
for Hear! hear!' Throughout the meet
ing, strangely enough. the addresses and
their telling points were applauded by hand
clapping.
Mr.. Davidson followed in a familiar, coll
loquial talk. illustrated by quotations of
Japanese poetry and proverbs, which
brought. quick response. Then Mr. Pedley
the party. Mr.. Pedley Is one of the mis-
sionaries in Japan noted for his mastery of
a language which no foreigner ever al
quires completely. although the japanese
have said that certain missionaries use bet
ter Japanese than do the natives them
selves. The ease and smoothness with
which the language was employed by the
speakers on this occasion was marvel to
me, and also, thought. to the Japanese
hearers. Most foreigners in Japan acquire
only enough OF the language to enable them
to instruct their servants After the adj
dress the men reached forth eagerly for
the Japanese tracts and scripture portions
that were given away, the policeman who
had been deputized to attend the meeting
being delighted recipient of one. Several
persons tarried to talk with the preachers.
Despite the lateness Of the hour to which
this meeting had been prolonged the party
was astir almost at daybreak and on q