Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
Nine. Debuchi to Share
Honors With Ambassador
Georgetown Ceremonies Wednesday VIII Mark
Founders Day and Pay Tribute to
Japanese Diplomat.

One Of the very interesting occasions
of the season for the diplomatic colony
in washington will take place at
Georgetown University on Wednesday
evening, when the Ambassador Of
Japan and Nine. Debuchi viii be the
guests of honor at .. formal reception
in celebration Of Founders day and
the ccnferring Of the first honors Of
the John Carroll Academy Of Diplomacy
upon the japanese envoy.
For Nine Debuchi q devout Cath
olic, there Is q significance attached
to this occasion out Of the ordinary,
as it win be the first time that she
will witness the comforting OF honors
by q foreign institution Of her own re-
ligious faith upon her distinguished huS-
band. Georgetown University, founded
in 1889, has the distinction Of beng
the mother Of all Catholic institutions
of higher learning in the United States.
Between the Japanese Ambassador
and his charming wife, who Is remark
ably progressive in her ideas, there
e q cordial friendship with DR.: w;
Coleman Nevis. 8. j., president OF
Georgetown, and oficials Of the uni
versity. And there Is likewise an In
teresting story in connection with
Nine Debuclli's conversion TO the
Catholic faith and the rearing Of their
two children, q boy Of 10 years, who
Is student at Princeton, and q girl
Of is, who attends school in Washing
ton, in the Catholic Church.
The Ambassador and his wife are
among the most popular members OF
washington society and on this forth
coming occasion at Georgetown prac-
tically all the Ambassadors and Min
listers have accepted the invitation OF
the university to join In honoring
them. For several years DR.. Nevis has
arranged for special academic occa-
sions ct Georgetown when honors have
been conferred upon Distinguishes
members Of the diplomatic corps. These
occasions, always formal and inter-
ssting, have grown in increasing popu-
larity with the foreign ENJOYS and
Few persons outside Of her intimate
! friends realize that Nine. Debuchi Il
! not Of the same religion as her hus-
band. But, as she explained recently,
he Is q man Of exceedingly nneral
and mcst sympathetic IN his realization
that each individuals happiness &c,
ponds upon the free and undisturbeo
exercise Of win according to ones con-
viction.
Mime. Dehuehi Is personally greatly
interested in her faith and recently
made her first address in English at 9
| gathering Of the Catholic Women's Cluk
| In Richmond, Va. It was by going te
the Sisters In Toxic to study English
and French, she explains, that she mrs.
came into close contact with them
They were the Irish and French sis
tiers Of st. Maur," she said, and Their
goodness and beauty Of character made
me become interested in the religion
| that had developed them"
| That was about 10 years ago. Will
her husbands consent, she was baptized
in the Catholic faith, and he also per
mitted her to have their two children
baptized and brought up in the same
| faith.
Mime. Debuchi is interested in The
present day status of Catholics in Japan
| In this connection it Is also interesting x
note that Admiral Yanaamoto, one o.
Japans greatest naval men, Is known
| to be an earnest and devout Catholic
She seems very proud also Of Mgr. Ha'
kensaka of Nagasaki, the first and only
native japanese bishop of the church.
There is also tie that binds George.
| town University, Jesuit institution
! with the founding Of Catholicism ir
/ Japan, for one Of the greatest Of Jesuit
missionaries, st. Francis Xavier, visited
Japan from his missionary work n
| India.
Referring to the fact that there are
about 200 900 Catholics In Japan, sew
eraI fine churches and at least ont
| bishop, Nine. Debuchi expressed thu
hone that the church soon would see III