The First Missionary in Japan by Elizabeth B. Stansfield

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1911

The First Missionary in Japan

By Elizabeth B. Stansfield

Forty years ago Japan was so distrustful of foreigners admitted to her seaport towns that the first missionaries found it almost impossible to get any one to teach them the Japanese language. One man employed a private teacher, and after some time discovered that what he was learning was a dialect of one of the smaller islands, and not the language of the main body of the people at all. In vain he looked about for another teacher. One evening, without thought of personal safety, he drove away robbers who were attacking a man outside his door. The man proved to be a Japanese noble, and in his gratitude to the missionary offered him as a reward anything that he should name. “Teach me your language,” cried the missionary. “Anything but that,” replied the nobleman, feeling that he had promised what perhaps he had no right to perform. The missionary persisted, and after consideration the nobleman came next day to give the first lesson—the entering wedge of Christianity into Japan, for that missionary was the translator of the New Testament into Japanese. If the powerful of earth should come to us asking what they could do for us, would our answer be as wise and unselfish?— Elizabeth B. Stansfield, in the Sunday School Times.