The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-30
A LETTER FROM JAPAN


Shelley, Idaho, and originally from
Iowa, has been engaged In mission
airy work in Japan for the Baptist
church for some twelve years or
more, and this is the second letter
we have received from him for pub
LEGATION in that time.
Mr.. Mills is the author of the song
idaho" written about the year
1902 or, 1908, and has received
widespread recognition as our state
song. His recent letter offered to us
for publication follows:
ut is an honorable trouble to you.
but l will respectfully look at your
tickets" called out the conductor on
the train. He took them with a
polite bow and in like manner re-
turned them. 1t is always that way.
At the station l had few minutes
to wait, so ! went into the Office.
The assistant station m a s e r
thanked me for the recent Bible
study at my house. l also met
three other of my men. ,,
The train sped on thru the winter
wheat and vegetable gardens and on
into the mountains. At another
station l gave my station master
friend book on Christianity.
Farther on another station master
who has had Bible lessons boarded
the train and we talked together un-
til l had to change cars.
In about three hours from
Nagasaki had reached Sasebo, a
city of over 100000 population.
Here we have a good church build
ing and an earnest church Of twenty
four resident members. The In
crease for the year was % per cent
One of those baptized was prom
inent Judge.
At the station one of my Bible
students said the next day., Sunday
would be his rest day, and tho he
would be too late for church he
would come for Bible lesson. Sta
ton men are on duty twenty-fou1
hours, then twenty-four hours off
My police friend was absent this
trip tho l often see him at the
station.
Getting into "rikisha"
started up the main street. Navy
men all along the way, hundreds
thousands of them when the closing
hour comes, for Sasebo is one of the
naval stations in Japan. In twenty
minutes l had reached our camp
where we have welcome chair OF
two, "telescoping table," three
teapoys it is, and a three-leaved
spring mattress. Japanese hotels
are high in price these days, and in
the great cold Season are very un.
comfortable for foreigners. Their
the people do not like to come to sc
public a place for talks and Bible
study. This little private house has
been a great blessing. Scarcely hat
l swept out the camp and kindled
fire when someone in the entrance
called out, "Condescent to honor
ably excuse me-" condescended
and dropping to my knees pushed
aside the paper partition ant
greeted one of the naval command
ers. Good day! 1t is some tim'
since I hung on your honorable eyes
How is the esteemed lady and YOU
honorable family?" he replied ant
in like manner asked me similal
questions. please condescend tt
honorably come up" said, for thu
doorstep of Japanese house Is in
side where you step up onto thu
mats. This step must always b'
kept clean for one leaves his clog
on the ground or sits on this step t,
remove his shoes. When he had en-
tered, said, please hang you
honorable thighs on chair" AS h
was dressed in Japanese clothes thi
time we sat on the emissions, bu
when the men have on uniforms O
foreign clothes they prefer t
hang"
| We had fine Bible lesson in bot
languages. All the Bible lesson
with the men are partly or wholly Il
Japanese, for we must get the mes
sage across in some way
| After supper, mostly from tn
lunch basket / had brought along,
went to church for the meeting Q
the "green years"-young men
means. Nine of these were present
and two of less verdant years. Thes
high school graduates and student
are an earnest lot and with prope
training develop into good workers
After the program we went to tn
parsonage for the social part of tn
evening, and discussion of the fiv
year campaign, and other ways l
which young men could help tn
church. The meeting was success
even to the stiff joints from sittin
on the mats, however, it is bette
to bend than to break even tho tn
process be painful.
Sunday morning I went to tn
closing part Of the Sunday schoo
The enrolment is sixty. The Chris
mas exercises are always good q
Sasebo, for the pastors daughter
organist, and has attended Chris
ian school.
At church twenty-one were pre'
emit. The membership is twent!
four resident members. Saseb
; church is like family, old an
young together. The pastor ha
Just celebrated his completion
thirty years in the ministry. He
, just sixty. His sermon was o
brotherly love. After the service "