The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-15
The Story of Mr.. Ishido.
Walter Z. Lambutll.

w dIleI
Our party had not been in the
city Of Vladivostok. Siberia an
hour before we received a call from
Mr.. G. fshido. we'll to do sJapa-
ncse merchant. Having never met
him. I was uncertain as to his err
rand. but he at once enlightened us
by saying that he was a Christian
and hearing that we were mission
aries coming to preach the Gospel
Of Jesus Christ, he at once repair
ed to our hotel to pay his respects
and give us cordial welcome
Through Korean gentleman
who spoke Japanese. and who had
a prominent place in the Bank Of
Chosen. we learned the following
story. which was supplemented
here and there by Mr.. Ishido him
self. in order to fill out the details.
Some eight years ago. Christian
woman by the name of Mrs. Wade.
much disturbed because Of the
weakened faith Of the few Japa-
nose church members in the city.
arranged for a meeting Of three Of
the men. and told them what was
on her heart She reOuked them
for their ulfaithful lives appeal
CO to them for renewal Of their
VOWS and loyalty to Jesus Christ
and urged that the three Or four
at least should meet regularly in q
little service for Bible study. pray
cr. and the strengthening of their
faith. The narration reminded
one of Barbara Heck and Captain
Webb in the early days OF Method
ism in New York City.
The earnestness of this good
woman deeply impressed the three
men and especially Mr.. Ishido. The
meeting was held and continued
from week to week until Mr.. 1shi-
dos conscience was SO deeply STIR
red that he refunded laEge in
debtedness which he had made in
another city some time before. This
was done to the astonishment of
his creditors for they had given
him up as a hopeless case. One
man remarke' upon receiving scv-
eral hundred dollars that he had
never expected to 5, it. 1t was as
good as picked up and instead Of
using it himself. he donated it to
a school.
At the expiration of about four
years. Mr.. Ishido was in his office
one day in Vladivostok, with his
brother and a clerk. An unknown
assailant entered the office, shot his
brother and the clerk dead. and
then wheeling round aimed at him
and shot him through the jaw. The
murderer fled and left him welter-
ing in his own blood, which was
pouring out through a severed ar
terry. Believing that his end had
come. and there being no witnesses
he rolled over on his face, dipped
his index finger in the crimson
tide that was pouring forth and
wrote the word Cod in Chinese
on the floor and after it the SEN
tence. q have been killed by
Russian. He then tainted and
only came to consciousness in the
hospital ward. For a month he
hung between life and death. Dur
ing the next few months, he was
in q hospital insJapan to which he
had been transported, and recov-
cry still continued uncertain until
the end of that period. With re-
Stored health, he came back to
Vladivostok. reopened his office.
and announced to his friends. that
having been snatched from the jaws
Of death, he would henceforth live
for God and humanity.
He began by starting a little Sun
day School. He searched for Jap
.anesc children and brought them
in. He visited every japanese
Christian whom he could hear of.
hoping thereb; to strengthen their
faith. He furnished an upper
room above his office. with a plat
form. pulpit. benches and New
Testament and hymnals. There for
four years, he has been carrying
on religious services with a little
group of twenty members. made up
Of representatives of various de-
nominations. During our visit, he
sent an urgent invitation to call at
his office We did so, partly out
of respect an partly because
when we failed TO secure funds
from the Bank. he let us have
100000 and offered more if we
needed it. and this without any
guarantee of return.