Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18
ON THE TRAIL OF THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY

band; others women as we'll as men, en-
joyed a local celebrity as honor students
Here on the tennis courts they are winning
new laurels for themselves; and they have
set the Japanese to playing the game, and
on clogs, at that. The Japanese students
have a tennis court in an old temple area,
where they play, surrounded by temples
and shrines. By the way, the local tennis
club enroHs more than $50 members out of
q visiting population of about GEO. which
fact may present the missionary in rather
new light to some persons. find him
rather an unsanctimoniouS and sane indi-
vfdual, entirely unlike the pictured gentle
man in plug hat standing under palm
tree preaching to the heather. A sociab}e
was held in the auditorium few evenings
ago, with the usual Evolutionary and musi-
cal stunts, and cold tea and cakes for re-
freshments; one of the missionaries, famous
as Japanese speaker, did an imitation of
an American street fakir selling patent
medicines that would easily have secured
him position on the variety stage: and it
might have shocked some dear old ladies
with pronounced ideas as to how ministers
should conduct therpselves.
After several days of close observation
OF this company of missionaries l have
formed the opinion that they are as
whole, rather above the level of similar
gathering of American preachers. They
differ in that they have few star" speak
ers. and the average of preaching ability is
quite low. l have seen even missionaries
go to sleep under some of the sermons. 1t
is said that the constant use of the Japa-
nese language, in which these people do
their work, units them for successful
preaching in English. Frequently in Eng
fish speech they interiect Japanese phrases
which apparently strike the auditors as be-
ing pat"
* <
If they cannot preach, the missionaries
can think. They have to do so if they are
to work here. Japan is not big enough to
hold hat tyr Of bo &c ;,],o
pitable to ideas Conidentially, 1 UNI
derstand that this is the reason why not a
few men who felt themselves called to be
missionaries have been recalled by the
boards after few years on the field. The
religious problems of Japan are tremen-
dous; just now they are acute. There is
nothing like them in America. nor are
they at all understood there. Christianity
in Japan is passing through an epoch that
is also crisis. OF this 1 shall write in
later article, for it ranks among the most
important news of the religious world.
1t must now suffice to say that living face
to face with great and vital question
which has had no parallel in missionary his
tory. and is bound itself to become prece-
dent for other nations, has made serious.
minded statesmen of many of these mis-
sionaries. They have not time to bubble
over. details that vex many American min
listers. and in consequence, Christian union
in Japan is far ahead of the same move
ment anywhere else in the world; and the
missionaries are more catholic, cosmopoli-
tan and iarge-visioned than any similar
body Of clergymen of whom / have knowl-
edge.
AS illustrative OF their broad views Of
the situation, take their sentiments con-
corning Mr. William ]. Bryan, whose re-
cent visit is a vivid memory with the ma
ton. The Japanese fell in love with Mr..
Of biS S,,,;Ia nd Wit
good manners go farther than a private
car in this lind The missionaries, without
respect to creed or party, are enthusiastic
over the religious influence of Mr.. Bryan's
tour of Japan; everywhere he committed
himself unequvocally to the Christian po-
stion, and his addresses and printed COM
ments on missions We're published il native
newspapers throughout the empire, as his
biography and speeches had been printed
upon his appearance. =
Now the missionaries are talking of a
possible visit from President Roosevelt at
the close of his term; he will be formally