New Britain herald., 1924-05-15
JAPANESE WOMEN
 THROW OFF BONDS
Asserting Independence, Returned
 Missioner Tells Convention

The women of Japan today arc
 facing the same problems that women all over the world have faced at some time or other, according to Mrs. Les ter MacLean, dean of women at the
 Hartford Theological seminary, and 3
 lormer missionary to Japan, at the semi-annual meeting of the Hartford county branch of tho Womans Board of Missions at the Berlin Congrega- tIonal church yesterday.
 She began her talk by saying that she is not a missionary. She said that she has been called a returned mis- sionary'' and would he content to let it stand that way. She said that the work of missions is of tremendous importance to the entire world.
 She said that she picked up a paper some days ago and read the headline, Coolidge Opposes Plan of Excluding Japanese" That means a great deal to tho Japanese people, more than anyone can imagine, she said. And why did he oppose that step?" she asked, answering it by saying that the Christians have risen up and appealed 10 him as the chief executive of the nation and he has listened to that ap- peal. Through missions will come international friendship and peace, she said,
 In speaking of the problems now faced by the Japanese women, she said that not long ago American wom- en were expected to sit in their own homes and stay there. It was an al most unheard Of thing for a woman to desire college education.
 However. the Japanese problem and the American problem differ in a mo- table respect The Japanese women have not the underlying Christian principles to work on and this makes a vast difference.
 No Cows, Horses or Women"
 The Japanese have lived through the experiences Of the Greeks and the Romans, The women have risen 10 the heights and have then fallen to the depths, as far as importance and position go. In 900 A, D., Japan had some great women. There were doc tors, poets and women prominent in public life, But with the advent of Buddhism and Confucianism the women were found at the very lowest Sepths. They were placed on a level With animals and the speaker told of one notice which was placed at the foot of A sacred mountain. This rountain is sacred. No cows, horses or women allowed"
 From that depth they have had to build, said Mrs MacLean. Now the women Of Japan have education. They are graduating from colleges and oth- er schools, They are going out into public life and are helping Japan in her time Of need following the great earthquake. Teachers have been sent io that country from the United states 10 help them. Many Of them are now at the head of the line in music, medicine and education.
 She told of some of the customs in Japan, how a man could divorce his wife by simply saving. "I divorce you" The women would then have 10 go out into he streets and make her own living. A man could have as many wives as he pleased in ihe past. Mrs. HNfhsEof hbiI 'bls IN hll pFlnE VGnG away with through the work of the 
 4 great organization that is doing l wonders to protect the Japanese girls ir the large cities of that country is the Young women's Christian asso- ctation, she says. Young girls who have come into the cities 10 work in the large factories, for Japan is a land Of smokestaeks." are taken in charge by this organization and given . homes and food, besides protection.
 Speak On India
 Another speaker at the afternoon session was Robert Fairbank. q stu tent st the Hartford Theological som mary. who has lived all his life in he Bombay section Of India. He is he son Of Dr. Edward Fairbsnk of | he Marathi mission. Mir. Fairbank is In this country studying to he a n1is- 'lonsry. He told many things Abou, hs life in that country and about the treat difficulties to he overcome in 'ruTng the Christian teachings to India. He said that the people of that district have taken 3 hold of the