The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-06-21

their money is being raised, than they
since they depend upon one man, and
cannot continue beyond the term OF
his personal residence here. He, in
turn is so busy keeping alive the
interest Of his supporters, that he has
little time left for actual work among
the Japanese. AS an illustration,
may cite the case of one man, per-
sonally an upright, honorable and
pleasant gentleman, whose publication
Gntended only for home consumption)
gives the impression that he is
arousing Toxic to a veritable revival.
Yet that man has been here nearly
decade and does not speak the lam
guage, so that he is personally use
less as a preacher to the Japanese.
In the light of conditions in this
country, l would say that the only
effectual missionary work that can
be pursued is that conducted on a
broad basis and long-continued plan
by the great churches of Japan and
Of Christian lands.
Taking Religion to Get English.
A building that is the center of no
small work is the big brick Young
Mems Christian association, which
also has branches and dormitories in
many of the educational institutions
here The Young Woman's Christian
association has lately come to Japan
and is opening dormitories for young
women students. Both these organi-
cations do Bible class work.
This suggests characteristic phase
of mission work in Japan-the conduct
ing of Bible classes. Every missionary,
from the newest recruit to the oldest
veteran, has measure Of this to do.
Some of the Bible classes are Is
large as many congregations. The
secret of all this Is, as is apparent to
everybody concerned, the desire of
the Japanese to learn English. The
eagerness of the natives in this mar
ticular is nothing short of craze.
Frequently 1 have had young men
accost me and enter into conversation,
purely for the purpose of practicing
their little stock of English. Some
times this sort of thing is rather try
ing, but the missionaries have had
their patience well trained. They
take the Japanese on any terms and
find, they say, that out of Bible
classes attending from purely selfish
motive, have come many of the most
earnest converts and Christian work
ers.
Other mission lands have many mis-,
sionary hospitals; in Japan there are
only two, both maintained by Ameri-
can Episcopalians, one at Osaka md
one here. The reason for this is that
the Japanese have their own physi-
clans and hospitals. st. Luke's hos
pital in Toxic, is fully endowed, and
could not we'll be abandoned. AS
matter of fact, it is so popular and
successful that it is entirely self-sup-
porting. 1t has fine quarters near
church for Europeans and large boys
school on the Protestant Episcopal
compound.
Baseball and Missions.
Often | hear the question raised as
to whether Christianity is having any
practical effects upon the character
of the converts That is not so sim
pie question to answer as would at
first appear; the missionary is really
working for his converts grandchil-
dren. Yet l must admit that l have
run across cases that are not without
meaning After speaking at the oldest
university in Japan, an institution
distinctively not Christian, l was en-
tertained at luncheon by the presi-
dent and six of the leading professors
were invited to be present. One OF
these was a man who in appearance
strikingly resembled the young col
lege Y. M. c. A. men in America, anG
he himself was an active Christian
worker, and responsible for the relig-
ious organization existing in the col
lege. 1 learned that his standing was
high among the professors and his
influence among the undergraduates
pronounced
On another occasion I met middle
aged man who has invented process
for making articles of wearing appar.
el-neckties, shawls, purses, hats,
fanny vests, etc.-from wood shavings.
He said he was about to introduce his
novel wares into America. Question
ing him further, he said that about Is
years ago he became a Christian.
that awakened in him desire to bet
ter himself and to do something for
Japan. The result is this invention.
Perhaps the most curious of many
unexpected evidences of Christianity
in this city is the crack baseball team
in the Waseda university, an institu-
ton with more than 1000 students.
The Japanese have taken ardently to
American sports, and this particular
team made a successful tour of the
Pacific coast last year. 1t owes its
efficiency to Rev. F. Merrifeld, Bap-
fist missionary who was star on the
University of Chicago championship
baseball team few years ago. Mer-
rifield goes three days week to
Waseda to coach the team for the sake
80 Ill., onnorfrn;fxv Thus u;uor him 70