Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-24
h vet TO teach these people that there

much yet to teach these people that there
Is q power In Christ.
And now that the war is over a new peril
Is staring Neesima's beloved Japan IN the
shape Of famine. Sfxty-five years ago
deadly famine prevailed there. Al that
time people would fall dead In the streets,
with money in their hands, because there
was no food to be had. This has changed
now, because food can be secured provided
the means be secured to pay Tor II. But
many OF the people are SO poor from the
loss of their crops that they are utterly m
able to get money to procure food. So great
is the calamity. in Miyagf prefecture espe-
cially, that one of the papers says: TIE
sentence of death has been passed on the
people of this province, and the official re-
ports reveal In part the intense SUFFERING
that hundreds of thousands OF men, women
and children must endure until new crops
are harvested. Already thousands OF peo-
pie in three provinces are reduced to shrub
roots and the bark Of trees, by which mere
life may be for time sustained, but hun
dreds of thousands of people will be forced
to extremes before another harvest season.
In one district where an average crop oil
rice is 20 900 bushels they can measure up
but six bushels in all. The condition of the
rice is poor when harvested, heads not filled
out and grains undeveloped, looking more
like weeds than rice. 1t cannot De eaten
The people of the three most afflicted prov
inces have organized various committees OF
relief and with the cooperation of the au-
thorities they propose at least 10 prevent
deaths by actual starvation. Every village
and town will do it's best for its own. but
where the smaller sections cannot bear the
strain the provincial authorities viii render
all possible aid. The nation is aroused and
will do its best. Several representative men
have been sent from Toxic to examine the
situation, the chief Of them being his mai
esty's special representative. Viscount HOBO.
The different Buddhist sects have formed
relief society. The procedures authorities
propose to make loan amounting to .2oO,-
600 yen for the relief of the worst districts.
Some of this will be expended in giving aid
to public schools that are compelled to
close because the children have no rice to
bring for their lunch. Other parts of this
fund will be used In giving employment to
the suffering people, In road making. null
berry tree planting, rice field arranging,
sewer cleaning and the labor will be SO ar
ranged and directed that Japan will be more
prosperous and better able to care for her
self in the future.
THE Christian missionaries are organizing.
too. committee of eight missionaries is
hard al work in the famine districts. The
foreign residents of Japan have been can
vassed and 1T is hoped that the foreigners
will appeal to their friends at home"
The above facts come to me from my
friend. Rev. ]. Monroe Stick, 20 Tsuchidoi.
Sendai, Japan. to whom some OF the read
ers of this column so kindly sent packages
of picture cards last Christmas for use in
his work. 1t may interest you TO know
that they arrived safely and are already
performing their work and that Mr.. Stick Is
deeply grateful. he mas sent this WORD ABOUT
the famine to you. and hope some will be
able to respond even II 1t be but few mites.
Contributions may be sent to any of the
foreign papers published in Japan, or to
the Yokohama Specia Bank, Yokohama: or
to the Mtsui Bank. Toxic; or to Mr.. Stick.
All funds will be administered in full con-
sultation with the authorities of the three
provinces so sadly afflicted. These prov
inces are Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate
with a population of ISL ,557.
How to Help the Leader.
Lead in an earnest prayer for Japan, that
while they are being helped with bread for
the body they may also learn of the bread
of life
Parallel passages-Exodus iv:11, Exodus
xviii:2O. Isaiah, I:3, Isaiah, lilo; Isaiah,
lv:5, jeremiah xxiii:3, jeremiah XXI 49, a.
Ezekiel Xxxiv:6, Ezekiel xxxvi:25, 26.
Hints to the leader-The Endeavor Hymn
al, 145, 1865, 1853, no. 1888, 237.
The daily papers are so filled with news of
Japan that you should have no difficulty in
finding many items that are interesting.
Try to have a brief account OF Neesima and
his life well told, not written, If possible.
Have map of Japan and show the famine
districts. Speak of the wonderful work done
among the soldiers IN the recent war.
Do not forget a season of prayer for
Japan.
SENDAI FAREWELL TO THE SOLDIERS.
hE fha hlp1 oh in