Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-30
Missionary Work
in Japan Outlined
by Miss Koyama

0HiSSTSdifSt NHuFCN wednesday
Afternoon-Speaker, a Graduate Of
the BIaekmer School and Smith
College, Gives Fine Discourse
| The work of the missionaries at the
| Blackmer home and the Midori kim
dergarten in Toxic, Japan, was clearly
explained Wednesday afternoon at a
meeting Of the Mission circle of the
Universalist church of this city by
Miss Matsu koyoma who is Iecturing
upon this work in this State under the
auspices of the Woman's National
| Missionary association O. that church.
Miss koyama is herself graduate
Of this school and it is through the
education which she received there
that she has come to this country and
earned her degree at Smith college.
; She took course in settlement work
at that college and will soon go back
10 Japan to take up that work in the
Blackmer home.
| She told Of her life in the school
and Of the manner in which she was
induced to 60 there. AS she had fin
ished the primary course in Japanese
schools she was ready to 60 to High
school. but did not know where she
would go. She was induced to go to
this school and she spoke with a
laugh Of the way that the American
customs and manners looked to her
when she first came to the school.
Especially queer did 1t seem to pray
to nothing as the Americans appar-
emily did, at the devotional hour
which they attended each evening.
She, like all the other girls, soon got
used to this custom and got the ideas
of the Christian religion so that they
took that religion as their own. They
have about 200 girls q the school at
this time, ranging between the ages
of II and 20 years. These girls live
at the school and have their regular
hours just as we Go in our schools.
They are taught not only the regular
studies. but also the spiritual lessons
which are so important in the mis-
siOnary work.
Some time ago kindergarten was
started near the school and great
work has been done there, but through
lack of funds the building which was
E
in such a state of decay that it is no
longer servicable. 1t is expected that
n new building Will be erected next
year and with the larger building 1t
is hoped that the work can be carried
on as planned.
In this new building there will be
the kindergarten. a room for the
children who use the play ground
and a room for the baby hygiene
; clinic and in addition. the kinder
gartcn will be used for a Sunday
school.
The playground was originally a
garden connected with the school
but 1t was thought that it would he
worth more as a playground. Hav-
ing no funds with which to build
one. an appeal was made to tie
fathers of the kindergarten students
and they helped to realize this idea.
There is also q need for training
school for teachers as there is sure
to be a demand for more teachers
and it is probable that they will use
some OF the new building for this.
What part of these activities they
have been able to carry on have been
done up to this time with poor facili-
ties and they have been compelled to
cncroach upon the girls quarters in
j the school. TO hold their Sunday
schools and other meetings. They
will now be able to leave the girls
quarters for the use of the girls.
Miss koyama told of her work In
i this country and OF the many things
which she had learned while travel
! ing about. She said that many of
these things would be Of great benefit
/ to her
She was nttired in the regular
| japanese costume of kimono. large
NOTED sash and sandals. The XII
mono was of blue and black material
and was very pretty. She spoke with
a slight accent, but her English was