Japan by F. W. Field

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

Japan

By F. W. Field

AFTER an absence from Japan of just six months, during which time I attended the recent General Conference, I landed at Yokohama September 21. After a few days spent in counsel, I started on a trip among our churches, in company with Brethren W. J. Burden and H. Kuniya.

We first visited Nagasaki, and remained over one Sabbath. Misunderstandings among the believers were removed, and a spirit of union and love came in. Our work in Nagasaki is still quite small and weak, but we took definite steps to build it up. We have asked Brother J. N. Herboltzheimer and wife to make that their field of labor, and they have accepted the call, and will soon remove there. The outlook is good for a large work to be done in Nagasaki. Two made request for baptism during our stay.

On our way back from Nagasaki we spent one day at Hiroshima, where Brother Benson and wife have been stationed since last spring. Dr. Tatsuguchi and wife have been living and teaching the truth there for several years. Now the way seems to be opening for us to make a special effort there. Plans are already contemplated for an aggressive missionary campaign in that important city; and all are much encouraged by the prospects.

At Kobe we remained one week, and held daily meetings, in the afternoon and evening. Brother Kuniya's stirring accounts of his experiences while attending General Conference, did much to arouse our Japanese believers to greater zeal, and to a better understanding of the progress of our work throughout the world.

The Eisei-in, our Japanese sanitarium, is in a flourishing condition, enjoying a patronage that taxes the workers to the utmost. The Lord is certainly blessing their efforts in behalf of the bodies and souls of their patients.

Since returning to Tokyo we have spent some time in planning for the interests of the work throughout the field. The live interest at Wakamatsu led us to select an additional native worker to labor there during the winter while our canvassers are attending school in Tokyo. It was also decided to ask Brother W. L. Foster and wife and Sister Cornish to locate at Wakamatsu, and make that vicinity their field of labor. So they are planning to remove to that place at an early date.

Believers continue to be added to the church in Tokyo. Recently Brother T. H. Okohira baptized four. One of these is a physician, who has just accepted the truth as a result of Brother Kuniya's labors. We hope he may in time make a useful worker in the medical missionary cause.

We are planning on another term of school this winter. It will begin November 8, and continue for four months. We expect a goodly number of young men and women to be in attendance, and we look for large results from the labors of these new workers, as they go out with a training for the work. We are planning for a campaign with a special number of our missionary paper during the new-year's holiday season. The outlook for the message in Japan is hopeful; and we ask an interest in the prayers of God's people, that the needed laborers and facilities may be supplied to this field, and that the Lord's blessing may be upon the work in rich measure. F. W. FIELD.