The Washington herald., 1907-06-24
TELL OF TOKYO TRIP
S. W. Woodward and J. B. Sle-
man Talk at Y. MICA.
TREATED WELL IN JAPAN
Speakers Tell of Interest, Both Re-
iigiOus and Financial, of Subjects
of the Mikado I'm Advancing Work.
First Meeting OF Kind Ever Held
in Orient, Secular or Otherwise.

Missionary work on the part of the Y.
NJ c. A in China Japan. and Korea was
the topic Of an interesting talk, given by
S. W. Woodward, president Of the Y M.
c. a, at the association building, yester-
day afternoon, before an assembly Of
men. which completely filed the lobby Of
/ the association building. Mr.. Woodward
and John B. Sleman. jr.. have recently re-
turned from the Orient. where they We're
in attendance at the conference Of the
Worlds Student Christian Federation,
held az Tokyo Prior TO tie beginning Of
the afternoons programme. the secretary
In charge Of the meeting invited the men
present to take your coats of, and make
yourselves comfortable Comfort will be
the feature Of our summer services. -
Quite number availed themselves of the
offer, following the example Of the secre-
tary, who conducted the singing in shirt
sleeves.
Mr.. Woodward. in leading up 10 his sub
ject. said that the Y. NJ. C. A. movement
! is the most important in the japanese en-
| pire to-day; that not only the best news
| papers. but also statesmen Of all political
persuasion look upon the movement with
favor. The speaker stated that this con-
! ference was the first international gather
ing Of secular or religious societies ever
held in the East, which was regarded as
most significant by all persons Of impor-
tance and influence In the East.
Interest I'm Japan's Papers.
I'VE received extraordinary attention
on the part Of the Japanese newspapers. -
continued Mr. Woodward, "one paper in
| particular publishing the proceedings OF
| the conference almost verbatim. bringing
/ the work OF the conference to the knowl-
edge Of the whole japanese people. To
show how much the japanese people
think Of our work, it is only necessary
to say that Marquis Ito, the japanese
agent in Korea, donated 1000 yen toward
/ the work The members Of the confer
/ ence were entertained by the leading
/ japanese statesmen and by bankers and
business men. who realize that the work
/ accomplished by the Y NJ c. A. is for
the benefit Of the country as we'll as the
people"
/ The city Of Tokyo as an educational
! center was also discussed by MI Wood
ward. who said that we had TO idea how
many schools there are IN Tokyo and
bow unusually large is the attendance al
these schools, some OF them numbering
as many as 1000 pupils. He said every
young man is anxious to learn Western
civilization and that there are not enough
/ young men IN China to-day 10 i'll the
positions which that government has q
offer them. Mr. Woodward stated that
there are from 1900 10 1900 Chinese stu.
dents in Tokyo who are learning the Eng.
/ ilsh language, which was one OF the con-
/ dltions necessary for an aspirant for Of
fee 90 be successful
sIeman Also Speaks.
John B. Sleman. tr., was introduced as
the next speaker on the same subject
Mr.. sleman said. in part: THE gathering
OF representative Christian student lead
ers Of twenty-five nations for five days il
Tokyo marked a new epoch in the pro
motion of Christian work in non-Chrlstiar
lands It is only thirty-fve years agC
since the edicts Offering a reward foi
the arrest OF Christians were posted
all over the empire. In that short time
complete religious liberation has been Sc
cured, and Japan welcomed warmly th'
first worlds gathering Of any sort, re
lgious or secular. ever held In the Orient,
and congratulated herself on the fact tha
il was a gathering which sought th'
spiritual and moral betterment Of tn
world"
Mr. sleman also spoke at length Of th'
centenary Of Protestant Christian mis-
sions held in Shanghai two weeks afte
the Tokyo meeting This remarkable
gathering. representing the DissiOnarie
of seventy-twO denominations In China
was in session for ten DAYS. dGrinl
which time action of remarkable impor
tance was taken.
Organize Chinese Church.
Among other things. # was decide,
that the denominationsl divisions shoul'
not be perpetuated in China, but tha
the Chinese church be organized on tn
simple basis Of the Scriptures. Joint ef
forts along educational and medical line
were also agreed upon.
THE personnel Of the conference" sat
Mr. Sleman, was impressive in ever.
way Men and women of the deepes
conservation and of great ability consti
tuted the gathering. Throughout our en-
tire journey we were impressed with th
high character Of the results accom-
plished by the missionaries
The speakers described at some lengtl
their experiences In Korea. and quote
! leading observers as saying that if tn
present rate of progress continued. Kore
will be virtually a Christian nation 4
fifteen years.
, Mr.. Sleman also spoke at the morning
services of the Mount Pleasant Congre
gational Church. OF which he is a mem
Der. on the same subject.
Prof. Thirkield, rector Of Howard Uni
versity. delivered the invocation, and Hon
H. B. F. Mscfarland offered the closing
prayer.
GEN. W. W. DUFFIELD DEAD.