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Work Among the Women of Japan

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 30.

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Work Among the Women of Japan

By Ella Verney-Webber

A few months ago, upon arriving in our new field of labor, I decided that something must be done to interest the women of our neighborhood in the truths of Christianity.
Realizing that missionary work should begin at home, and that Japan has become our home, I set out upon my endeavor. I well knew that the difficulties were many, and that it would be hard to reach these shrinking, retiring creatures with such new ideas as Christ and his love. The Japanese woman has been taught never to think for herself, but to follow unerringly every command of her husband, father, or older brother.
Every Japanese woman is most anxious to learn foreign ways of cooking, and I took advantage of this desire. One afternoon I went to different women and asked them to come and learn of Christ and his love, and told them that following the Bible study I would give a demonstration in foreign cooking. This seemed to interest them.
From that time we have had regular meetings; and while the attendance has not been large, we have been encouraged at seeing the same ones come regularly, and some of them manifest an intense interest in the study of the Bible.
The case of one of these women is especially interesting. When invited to attend, she gladly responded, and has missed scarcely a meeting in several months. She is the wife of the principal of a large boys' school. Just before our coming into the neighborhood, her youngest child died, and she questioned very closely concerning the state of the dead. We read to her from the Scriptures that the little one is resting in the grave, awaiting the call of the Life-giver. Upon this she broke into tears, and said she wanted to believe in such a God.
Many are the souls among the benighted women of Japan who have a like desire, and we are striving daily to hunt them out.
ELLA VERNEY-WEBBER.