Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-27

Just now most OF the Methodists in
TO help pay for the kindergarten building
in Hirshima, Japan. Two thousand dol
lars was pledged by North Georgia and
the Epworrh League union Of Atlanta
took five hundred as its share. So many
people think that just because we are in
Atlanta we can go to the rich men and
women and gather all we want. admit
that there are many generous people
who are rich. but our Epworth Leagues
are not OF that sort 1t has been my
pleasure and privilege to work in almost
all the leagues here and to hear the ways
and means discussed. and they do not
differ from your own methods or the
methods I knew in Florida. Some pledge
self denial by walking from their work.
some are doing night work and all sorts
OF entertainments are devised. I have
talked TO the leagues almost every Sum
day night this year and next Sunday I
come hack to my home league for the
first time in six weeks AS the main sub
Jet has been japan. and the Girls school
in Hiroshima IL struck me that I might
say something to you to help you in that
work. AS you know, / taught in that
school five years: II is located in the
military center OF Japan I have often
thought that our school had much to do
with making it the great educational CEN
ter il has become.
In 1857 when the school was opened
there were some barracks there, but the
city was not much: IL was more fish
ing village than anything else, and the
people were not looked upon as any bet
ter than the Jews considered the citizens
OF Nazareth.
0ur first SchooI uas oruanfzad nv q
japanese man who felt sorry for some
women and began teaching them. His
school was registered in Toxic and that
has been a great advantage to US. as
the government has never been able to
find any fault with our methods and we
have been able to hold pupils that felt
they must go TO a school recognised by
their own government.
This japanese man was a Christian and
when DR.. Lambuth went to Japan he
turned the school over to him. AS oppor-
tunities presented themselves IT grew
from a primary school of four women TO
the great school OF hundreds who are
now studying under throughly educated
Christian teachers.
At that time the wife Of the governor
OF that district was a most devout Budd-
hist and she became so jealous OF the
Christian school that she went to Toxic
and enlisted the interest Of the Budd-
hists 70 help her organize q girls school
A woman was at the head Of ours so she
had a woman from the Imperial house.
hold sent to act as principal Of the Budd-
hist girls school. When I was over there
the school had three hundred pupils, and
every new thing that we advanced they
soon took up. All except Christianity
they are still Buddhists. I have been
afraid that the government would con-
oemn our kindergarten and turn the tide
OF little children away from US, for we
have not had the rooms that the work de-
manded. But this money viii give Us
the opportunities that have almost slip
ped away from US.
The japanese women realize that there
IS a better and higher way and ours is
the privilege Of guiding their little chill
dren into the path our Savior trod- AZ
present We have graduates teaching sew
en- other kindergartens. beside those who
have married preachers or Christian
teachers and are still giving a portion OF
their time TO the work. When the build
ing and equipments are assured there can
be double the number OF girls taught. and
when the cry Come over and help US
reaches the school they need not do as
now and say. Alas, we haven't a CIR
TO send you"
How much has your Sunday school OF
Epworth League pledged? How much
are you giving. Go to your pastor and
E tighten his heart by giving something
II Il Is only a dime o. a quarter.
While this school is supported by the
Methodist church It is a benefit 70 al
churches. There are pupils OF all denom-