The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-11-27
RELIGION AIOS IN ADVERSELY
Family Turns Against Him
But in the End He
Conquers.
Very Interesting Is Service nj United
Brethren Cburch-Sunday school
contest at Epworth Becomes In-
tcrsting.


Several years ago the women of
the United Brethren church formed
an organization for the purpose OF
sending the christian gospel to the
uttermost parts Of the world. The
work Of this society was so fruit
full and so much good was accom-
plished though the work done and
funds raised by the members. that
the women finally decided to put
aside a day in each year as special
celebration of the good they are ac-
complishing. Every seat in the
church was claimed both morning
and evening and at the latter many
stood throughout the service.
Mr.. Kiyoshi Yabe gave excellent
talks at both the morning and ven-
ing services He speaks the English
language fluently and although his
language is tinged with n touch of his
foreign tongue, every word of his adj
dress was understood without diff
Guilty. His manner Is genial and win
ming and the personality of the little
Jap Is striking At present he Is a
senior in Otterbein college. receiv-
ing American education that he may
carry it to his heather country.
81 wish to tell you" said Mr. Yabe.
spoke of the lack of understanding be
tween the east and the west He stat
ed that the east had no difficulty in
understanding the west but that the
east Judged the west from exterior
conditions, that to the west the heart
Of Asia is concealed.
s.Ff = ii \ nhn
"of some of the customs of the east
and perhaps they will give you a
more comprehensive understanding
of my country, and l want. to APP
peal to you to help us.
'In Japan. politeness above every
thing else is exalted. Chilrden are
not permitted to talk II their par
ents have company. Every Japanese
numbles himself before his friends.
He speaks of himself to them in de-
predatory way and depreciates every
thing that he possesses, They in
turn do likewise. There isn't such a
thing as an outward appearance OF
self-sufficiency.
japanese are clean. When
thinking of a heather you christians
invariably picture him as dirty do
you not? Is is not so in Japan. When
We come into the house we always
change op~ shoes. Then we are com.
PEELED to take a bath every day. A
bath tub Is the first thing a japanese
boy buys when he gets married. | am
glad that Japan is clean, for cleanli-
ness is next to Godliness and my
country is not so far away from Jesus
Christ.
Then we are given physical eXer-
else. For six years l was trained in
n japanese gymnasium, then 1 was
taught the use Of arms and how to
fight. The japanese are mighty fight
ers.
"You do not approve of our mar
riage system. You think 1t unkind
for parents to compel their daughters
to marry men they do not know.
When parents choose n husband for
their daughter, they look to his char
acter, his family, disposition and con.
slider every phase Of his own charac-
ter that he may make a suitable hus'
band. This system may appear Pc
culiar to you, but we do not have
nearly so. many divorces as you have
and there is little trouble.
'In Japan there are hfty-five mil
lion people. Fifty-nine thousand are
christians. That means that one out
of every thousand ireceived Gods
blessings while 999 die without know
ing Jesus Christ. our people are di'
yided into two classes in regard TO
their religion. The first class wor-
ships idols, and that class embraces
twenty-five million japanese.
IN Japan there are four leading
religions. The first is called Shin
toism, and Delivers in this worship
seven idols or gods. There is first the
god of knowledge, there Is the god OF
happiness, there are gods of money
of fish. of war; Of long life, Of beauty,
and TO attain 10 these things the fol-
lowers must bow before them all.
There are the followers OF confu-
cious. The symbol of this religion
is three monkeys. The one guards
his mouth, the second cover shls eyes
while the third holds his ears. The
first admonishes that no evil be spok-
en-: the second that no evil be seen
and the third that no evil be heard.
There are those who believe in
the teachings of Buddha, his is wor-
SHIPPED by thousands Of people. Only
korty-five percent of the ,Iapanese
worship idols those who do not have
no religion and are far worse than
those who have their idols as gods
Any religion is better than no relig-
lon"
Here Mr.. Xabe told Of his home
life and the conditions that lead him
to become a christian. His father
was a man Of property but he was
also a man Of honor and principles
| His parents were devout Buddhaists
and very religious. 81 was born in a
peculiar home" he said. my father
was very strict with me and taught
F, me clean moral ways. ] never smok'
ed. danced, played cards, or drifted
away from the gods which worship
ed. I am thankful tonight that my
father taught me, as he did and thsi
] l did not get far from Jesus chrId