Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-30
RELIGIOUS YORK
in JAPAN Makes
RAPID PROREsS
Empire Moving Towaf Chris
tianity, Says Caleb NJ.
Fisher in Report


That Japan is rapidly m0fng To-
ward Christianity is the option of
Galen M. Fisher. national sdretary
of the Y. NJ. c. A. for the 1aanese
empire. Mr. Fisher. who has 6sited
Honolulu on many occasions. rs re-
Gently sent report of religious pndi.
tons in Japan to the local asbcia-
ticn. In his report he says:
"A substantial evidence of the doth
to which Christianity is strikinglits
roots is the profession OF faith by he
eminent merchant, 1. Morimura, whee
name is known in commercial circks
| in New York as well as in Japab
He has long been an ardent seek@
after truth, and failing to find satia
faction in buddhism and Confucians
| ism, he began the study of the Bible.
Last spring he said, For two year
prayed for faith in God as Fathek
At length gained that faith. MOI
II am praying for grace to be willing
to use my property for the kingdohf
OF God and to follow Christ
1T was only few days later that
Mr.. Morimura and Baron Shibusawa
established a foundation to promote
commercial morality, the former Civ.
ing s16,000. the latter $4,000, to.
ward it. Within the past few months
Ehe has gone at his own charges to
several cities to speak at Christian
gatherings. Possibly he is still hard
ly over the threshold of the Christian
life-and after all a rich man weighs
no heavier than a poor man in the
scales of God-but his case is, never
theless, significant indication of the
soul hunger of men in high station
and of the satisfying power Of the
gospel His venerable figure, his man
ifest sincerity, and his eminence In
business have all united to give his
words weight
Among students there Is a large
demand for. Bibies. Last year stu
dents OF the First GoFernmenf Col
lege bought 1900 portions and Sthe stu
dents in the College Of Technology
bought 500. In the Toxic Normal Col-
lege a Christian professor was asked
to give 80 lectures on Christianity.
Another element Of promise IS he
three-year nationwide evangelktic.|
campaign which has been enteref into
by representatives of almost III the
churches and missions. 1t gpw out Of
the continuation committee confer
4ence under DR.. Mott in D13. For the
first time in the histoy Of the Jap
anese church the leadership in such
campaign is frankly in the hands of
the Japanese, and 1t is inspiring to
see the ability ard enthusiasm with
which they have set about the work.
! Count Okuna, the new Premier,
makes no preensions to being re-
igious man, lut he does not hesitate
TO show his sympathy with such en-
bodiments Of the Christian spirit as
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, and ais rise to power has given
fresh Impetus to every uplifting en-.
terprisg On the occasion Of the 18th
anniversary OF Toxic Young Mems
Christian Association last June he
SEM message saying. among other
things: @This occasion Of the 10th
anniversary of the Worlds Young
'Nen'S Christian Association and the
18th anniversary of the Toxic associa-
lion reminds me Of the very great
achievements accomplished BY this.
for the young men ana
other clagses sin Japan, and it be
hooyes me to express my profoundesl
Joy and my gratitude. I hope your
will thrive more and
more. s
Japanese Abroad No
Longer Neglected.
There has long been successful
Association work among the japanese
businessmen in Shanghai, supported
entirely by Japanese residents, and
cordially aided by Secretary Lock |
wood. But equally important colo
MES of Japanese in San Francisco.
Chicago. Los Angeles and Honolulu
have until recently been overlooked
by the association, and the various
church missions are the first to rec !
ognize the need OF just what a full
fledged association can supply. How
ever, am glad to say that soon Chi /
cago association viii adopt the Jap
anese institute, conducted for some
years with rare devotion BY Rev. M. /
Shimazu as a regular department OF.
Chicago Metropolitan Association.
Honolulu did the same two years ago.
and has recently secured larger quar-
ters. During my furIough last winter j
The secretaries in Los Angeles and /
San Francisco told me It was only 4 |!
matter Of time when they would fol- ,
ow suit