The Outlook for the Medical Work in Japan by W. C. Dunscombe

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 24, 1910

The Outlook for the Medical Work in Japan

By W. C. Dunscombe

EVERY year marks a great advance in our missionary work in the foreign fields. The medical work in Japan has been no exception to this, and we are looking forward to this coming year with greater courage and brighter hopes than ever before. The medical work here is becoming the right arm of the message, and is bringing many souls to a knowledge of the truth. But our medical

work for the natives is just beginning, and with the plans now laid we may reasonably expect to see results increased manyfold within the next few years.

Our native sanitarium at Kobe is daily gaining in strength and effectiveness. Brother John Herboltzheimer is there, helping Drs. Noma and Arita train a class of nurses, who, in opening treatment-rooms and in the capacity of visiting nurses, shall be the vanguard of scores of others in penetrating every part of the empire. Our principles are rapidly gaining acceptance among the rank and file of the people, and many of the best people, including the nobility, are coming for our treatments.

Here and there are openings for lectures, which we wish to fill as soon as we have a short time longer on the language. My wife and I have now been in Tokyo several months, studying this difficult language, and thus preparing for our work in the new sanitarium, which we expect soon to open in the vicinity of Tokyo. However, while we have been studying, we have often been called to treat the sick, especially during the summer, when we were in contact with the missionaries. During the two hot months I made several hundred visits, did some surgical work, and had the opportunity of presenting the truth to many.

We expect to be able to buy land this spring, and soon after we hope to begin to erect our sanitarium, school, printing plant, etc. One of the most hopeful signs of our medical work here is the strong class of medical workers who are developing and will soon be ready for active work.

Dr. Kawasaki, who has had a successful medical and surgical experience in the country around Nagasaki, is now at the St. Helena (Cal.) Sanitarium obtaining a practical knowledge of our methods, which will make him of great value in opening up the work here in Tokyo. In a recent letter he writes that there are several consecrated Japanese young men in our sanitariums on the Pacific Coast, receiving a training in medical missionary work with the object of joining us here when their course is finished. Another earnest young man is in San Francisco, taking the medical course with the same object in view. Four of the young people now attending the Bible school here expect to enter the nurses' course at Kobe this spring. And so our Japanese brethren see the importance of the medical work, and many earnest, consecrated believers are offering themselves for service. We are glad to have Dr. Arita engaged in our institutional work. He has studied our methods in America, and will make an efficient worker. He is now helping Dr. Noma at the Kobe Sanitarium.

But while there are many encouraging things to report, and though the future is bright with promise, we would not have our brethren think that we are not sadly in need of help. Over three years ago it was planned to change our manner of working, and direct our efforts chiefly to the Japanese. Before this our work had been largely for foreigners. To do this we needed land, a building, and equipment. Resolutions in favor of immediately carrying this plan out were passed at three successive general meetings, but up to the present there has not been a cent to go ahead with. For three years we have been waiting, patiently waiting, and working the best we could.

But now the time has come for the work in Japan to go forward. We must no longer delay. Our work here will soon be rendered more difficult. Buddhism has awakened into new life; and seeing the danger which threatens it, the priests are imitating many of the methods employed by Christians. They hold Sunday meetings, and at these services they are beginning to use the organ. On the other hand, much of the Christian teaching here has degenerated into general moral precepts instead of old-fashioned Bible religion.

Send us the needed help before the opened doors are forever closed.

W. C. DUNSCOMBE, M. D.