El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-08-18
CHRISTIAN WORK
AMONG THE JAP5
FL Paso Missionary Writes
Dr.. OVerstreet of Chris
tian Work Being Done.

Most interesting as a description ot
the Christian work being done In
Japan by the churches OF the United
States, is a letter to Rey. Charles L.
Overstreet. OF the First Presby terian
church. from Rev. A. D. Hail. a mis-
sionary in Osaka, Japan. Dr. Hail is
maintained and supported in his work
by the First Presbyterian church Of
FL Pas0. He has charge Of a large
district. including the Wilmlna school
Ills letter is typed by a japanese girl
a graduate Of this school. and il is
as neatly typed and as accurately
spelled as any American typist would
do fl; in fact. far better than the av-
erage letter. The minister tells Of the
spread OF Christianity in Japan and
Korea and says he believes Japan is
real friend Of the United States and
the allies Following is the letter iu
fun
THE war does not seem 10 have af-
fected Japan disastrously at all. Com
mercially she has had a prosperous
year She has three lines Of steam
ers running regularly to the United
States-quite a fleet of them. She
has, however. taken part In the war
on the side Of the allies TO the extent
OF the requirements made upon her.
Her navy and army drove the
Germans out OF possessions taken
forcibly from the Chinese govern
ment-
Japan Our Friends.
They have also taken from Ger
many the islands in the Pacific
which they have taken over It is
far better forathe United States that
the japanese should have these is
TauGe than the Germans IF We treat
Japan rightly she will always be our
national friend. Her navy has rem
dered some assistance TO the allied
fleets and she stands ready 70 fulfill
her national treaties with England,
with whom she entered into alliance
before the war. Being Tar from the
scene or action. however. the stirring
events. while they deeply affect her.
Yet she is not at all greatly disturbed
by 10. OF course, prices Of food and
her economical lie This, OF course
is felt, especially by US in mission
circles and our fellow workers OF
the japanese church.
Three Years Evangelical Campaign.
During this year the church and
missionaries in Japan have closed
what is called the three years evan
gelistic campaign Friends in the
United States. missionaries and the
japanese Christians raised a budget
loE Lue conduct or a LlEee years III
rect evanEelistlc efforts. These have
been a great blessing 10 the church
throughout the whole country. There
has been no section Of the empire in
which efforts have not been made 70
reach a great number OF the people
Newspaper advertisement was,
also, resOrted to and through the
daily press the gospel was preached
The leading dailies Of the nation have
wide circulation, for the japanese
are a reading people In these va
riOus ways Christian truth was
brought before larger number OF
people in this country than ever be
fore A large number Of converts
were the outcome Of this work In
July a general conference OF the
Christians and missionaries is to be
held 20 take into consideration the
question Of further evanEelizinE ef-
forts It promises TO be a large and
useful gathering.
Presbyterians Growing Rapidly.
Cur own Christian body has
memh ership. according TO the latest
statistics It is the largest body OF
Christians in the empire. having now
one synod, and seven byteries-
Its membership extends from the
north 10 the south and. also. in China
and a number Of churches along the
line OF the Manchuriau railway.
Our own immediate work is in
the Naniwa Presbytery- II is second
largest In Japan. having now about
1000 members The Toxic Presbyterr
stands first in point Of numbers. hav-
ing about 10000 members
we have the Wilmina Girls.
school in Osaka. whose enrolment this
year IS 223 and has some so students
who are iuQuirers- The school stands
very high i'm the estimation Of the
public and has been accorded gov
eminent recognition The alumnae
are credit 20 the institution and in
terested En- its success
Has SIX Men ut Work.
ct have SIX ceuters OF work with
which 7 am associated. and this year
for the first time in a long while
have six evauselists to occupy them
Each place is station from which
we work out TO other points. the fixed
points Of work being about three to
each evangelist. A pert OF my work,
too. is I'm connection with an evan
gelists' training school in Osaka. This
claims several hours work each week
in systematic theology. which falls
lent young men were graduated this
year and license by the Presbytery
TO preach
Besides some Is Sunday schools IN
connection with our preaching places.
our woman colaborer. Miss Tama-
uaka, has been the chief worker IN
three other Sunday schools She has
been greatly assisting in Christian
literature evangelism. We have about
200 names on our list to whom we
regularly send some kind OF Chris
tian papers. tracts auC booklets. This.
dence 10 be kept up a number in
this way have been led 10 a deep in
Continued on next paEe1