The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-29
RELIGION IN RAILROADING
Christian Convert Heads Well
fare Department Manchu-
rian Road-Opens a Tunnel
With Some Other
Innovations.

tBy the Religious Rambler.)
A remarkable story of applied
Christianity on the part Of the Japa-
nese in Manchuria is told by a return
ed American who has recently made
a special O Of investigation in that
country-Miss N. B. Gaines. OF the
Southern Methodist Church. Miss
Gaines is the principal OF the Hiroshi-
ma Girls School. Japan. where the
scene Of the story. 1.-The Lady OF the
Decoration" is laid. Miss Gaines her
self is depicted in the book as a model
missionary. She is now in this coun-
try on a furlough. after twenty years
Of work in Japan.
Before coming home she went to
M~nchuria to investigate the schools.
The most remarkable story she tells
concerns the new North Manchuria
Railway. and the work of Mr.. Shiroski
Otsuka, the roads welfare director.
MI. Otsuka is q Christian, a graduate
OF the famous Doshisha College. in
Kioto, and trained in Y. NJ. c. A. work.
he has made an application OF the So
ciai service ideals which are now to
the fore in America in a really extra
ordinary way.
The Railways Welfare Work.
That a japanese corporation, closely
" "o Id llS
North Manchuria Railway, should go
In for elaborate and scientific welfare
work. of as distinctiYely Christian
character as the railroad Y. Nj. C. As
IN this country. is really remarkable;
for Japan is not a Christian nation.
religious body. as are the association
secretaries in America, but b. the
railway itself, n he has two assist
ants In the office, and four assistants
continuously on the road.
Hotels are maintained for the en-
ployees Of h road like Y. M. c. A.
dormltOrleS, which. Miss Gaines SAYS.
when compared with the standard OF
the land, would be equivalent to A
frst-c1ass hotel in America Every
mar is supplied with his own locker
and towels: and after the inevitable
Japanese bath is given a freshly laun-
dried kimOnO. The recreation Of the
men is looked after, as we'll as their
reading.
The oversight which the road ex-
~ercises over the employees and their
families is fairly pa%ternal. Once a
year the president Of the road gives a
picnic for the people of every station
on the line: and there is an annual
outing for the families along the road
at man Chun, transportation and en-
tertalnment of course being supplied
by the company. Since all these rail.
road Workers are emigrants from ia.
a 1t is counted good policy to take
all these measures for
them to life in Manchuria.
A Railroad That Keeps School.
All the schools along the line of this
, railroad. which is considered so vita
TO JapanS expansion and foreign mol
ICY, are maintained by the Nortl
! Manchurian Railway Company. It i
deemed essential to the larger polio,
OF the government that its people shall
represent Japan at its best. So schoo
v ouiioings which conform to the Japa
I neSe regulations have been erected b,
4 the p at intervals along RI.
nne. and the trains carry the Jan
= aheSe children to school from an,
point along h lines, without charDc
lIhe teachers and books are suDnlie,
py the company. Several schools ar
maintained for the Chinese. A featur
OF the policy Of the company is ia en-,
.Va'e friendly relations between tn
.~o iohalltle for Japan's foothol
10 emma Will never be secure until Oh
mas Won the goodwill of the Chimes
a iong campaign to secure this ha
: oeen undertaken through the school,
"a christian on the Lookout.
AZ MISS Ialnes grows enthusiastic q
sneu escrlbeS the work OF Mr.. Otsuk
:. IN overseeing these schools. He ha
large authority. and ~inspects both tn
morafS and the hygiene OF the school
40 49, MS are those of Chris
uani.y' the influence he yields
~ slea.. ne also Is required to visit tn
OF hotels and the homes. and to nromo,
- IN all possible ways, the well-he;np :
Z the people, keeping them hannv q n
as satisfied. pps d'
Births and deaths furnish the occ.