More Victories in Japan by BENJAMIN P. HOFFMAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 20, 1916

More Victories in Japan

By BENJAMIN P. HOFFMAN

BENJAMIN P. HOFFMAN

WE have now been living in Kobe over a year and a half, from which place I also make trips out to help in the work of the three other stations that are in our section of the field. During the past summer a good share of the time has been spent in the city of Nagoya, where we have been laboring with a tent. After the first series of meetings, which ended the latter part of August, six new believers were baptized. These, with six who received baptism in the other stations, make an addition of twelve in this section of Japan during the summer months. Others also have taken their stand and are awaiting baptism.

In the early part of October we began another effort with the tent in Nagoya, continuing through the first week of November, when we had to close on account of the weather. Throughout this second effort a very hopeful interest was shown, and on the closing day ten new believers came forward, expressing a desire to obey and requesting further instruction.

We feel greatly encouraged over the outlook in that city. The work there is very new, but we hope soon to be able to organize a church that will be a permanent light there. The brethren and sisters are full of that earnest desire to give the light to others which we all felt when we first gave our hearts to God, and which we must all guard against losing.

One of the brethren, though not paid by the mission, has been able to render very valuable help in the tent meetings. He is the one seated in this group. I was much interested in getting from him the story of his past life. His parents were Buddhists, but he was never very much devoted to that worship. In his youth he was influenced by the progressive spirit that was beginning to be felt in the country, as the knowledge of Western ways increased; and later he was one of the party that began to work for a constitutional form of government. Their requests and petitions being spurned, they began laying plans and preparing for a more effective means of realizing their hopes, which they were convinced were for the good of the nation.

Just as they were getting ready, the plot was discovered, and soon the authorities were on their trail. The party gathered and made a final stand to defend themselves, and in the altercation several policemen were killed. This brother and several others escaped, and remained under cover for a while, but at last all were taken. Their examination and trial resulted in all being sentenced to death. Several had the sentence carried out at once, but the rest were given life imprisonment instead.

Five years after they had been taken to the northern island of Hokkaido to begin the weary prison life, the constitution for which they had worked and risked all, went into effect. By this time some of the number had died in prison. After the promulgation of the constitution, the remaining ones served five more years of hard labor and privations, when, on a special state occasion, all political offenders were pardoned. Among those who walked out to freedom was this brother whom God had chosen for his work.

Since he found the truth, about two years ago, he has been manifesting the same enthusiasm in this cause as characterized his former efforts. Already several bright men and women have come to the light through him. He is an intelligent, well-appearing man of rather quiet disposition. Through his former experiences, especially the death sentence which he so narrowly escaped, he realizes how to appreciate better the love of Christ in ransoming him from eternal death, and this makes for power in the presentation of the story of redemption to others. We firmly believe he will be used of God in aiding our work in this field.

We are of good courage in the Lord, because we know he has many others whom he would have us help to save here in Japan. Join us in praying for this work.