Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-20
Japan Recognizes Christianity.
fWm. %. Curtis.l


The recognition of Christianity as
factor in the national life by the Jap
anese government during the recent
war was very significant. Christian
chapains were appointed for the army,
and for the hospitals, and agents OF the
Bible society We're permitted to dis
tribute copies of the gospels and other
portions of the scriptures in the forth
fications, in the hospitals, In the camps
and even in the trenches. The Young
Mems Christian Association. not only
was permitted but was assisted In its
work among the soldiers and was en-
couraged in every possible way to estab-
lish headquarters in the camps. At
one time the secretary of war called
upon the Y. M. c. A. at Toxic to fur
nish fifty young men for confidential
missions. This is considered an act of
great significance, showing the faith
that is placed in the native Christians
by the government. The number Of
prominent men in the army, navy, par
lament and the imperial and municip-
al governments who belong to the
Christian churches of Japan is very
large, and others have married Chris
tan wives. 1t is a remarkable coinci-
dence that both the Marquis Oyama.
commander in chief of the army, and
Admiral Togo, the great naval hero,
have Christian wives although neither
of them processes that faith, and To-
COS recent appearance at celebrated
shrine to address the spirits of his dead
officers and soldiers indicates that he
still adfleres to the ancient supersti-
tions of his people.
The people of the City of Washing
ton should take notice that the citizens
of Toxic have subscribed 100000 yen,
($5OO,O0O) for the construction of a
public hall in that city. Washington
needs such hall more than Toxic,
and has been talking about one long
err. The population of Toxic is larger
than that Of Washington, but we have
much greater wealth.
Hens to Pay Missionaries.
Nonunion hens which have no OBJ
lection to working on Sunday when the
work merely consists in laying
around will support four soldiers
of the cross who will start for Japan
early in the spring to impress upon the
benighted citizens of that land, who
believe that the spirits of their ances-
tors enabled them to prevail against
the sacred ikons of Russia, the doc
trines of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church.
sThese four missionaries will be sup
ported by the proceeds of eggs laid on
Sunday. Last October the women of
Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian
church. located in the midst of an ag-
ricultural district ten miles south of
Danville. KY, at the suggestion of Mrs.
Mamie Caldwell Helm, voted to set
aside all the eggs laid on Sunday for
the mission fund, even at the risk of
raising a cry of tainted money
At once it seemed as if every hen
in the district started out to lay on
Sunday. No matter how infrequently
eggs appeared in the nests during the
week, the pastor while preaching his
Sunday sermon always heard the noisy
cackling in neighboring farmyards
which told him that the mission fund
was increasing. The report for the
fiscal year shows that the church has
raised $4,000 for missions, sum I'M
heard Of before the Sunday egg scheme
was put into operation, and the good
work still, goes on.