It had been over a year since I had visited my parents, and feeling anxious about their spiritual welfare, I decided to visit them once more. So on the twentieth of April I started from Wakamatsu, making a short stay at Fukushima, Sendai, then going to Aomori ken, far to the north. The native Methodist pastor at Hirosaki was very kind to me, giving me the addresses of several Christians, on whom he wished me to call. Here I met a Methodist pastor from Hokkaido, who believes in the second coming of Christ, and finds comfort and encouragement in “the blessed hope.”
I next visited a company of Christians in Akitaken, and found them to be members of the Greek or Russian Catholic Church. These believers are the fruit of missionary work done about twenty-five years ago. They purchased quite freely of the literature I offered them.
On the fifth of May I arrived at the home of my parents in Akita, where I remained over a month. From the first, my mother seemed favorable to the truth. On the second day after my arrival, I talked with her until late at night. She acknowledged the folly of worshiping idols, and that night decided to worship and serve the true God. The next morning she omitted the customary services at the household shrines. My father noticed this, and inquired the reason. When she told him, he expressed surprise, but was not angry. Soon after this I assisted my mother in breaking her images, and burning certain pictures and writings connected with the worship of the various gods. She will close her little shop, and lay aside her other work, on the Sabbath. I have two brothers at home, aged eight and twelve years. I talked to them about serving the Lord and keeping the Sabbath. They decided to keep the Sabbath with their mother, and not attend school on that day, even if the schoolmaster should punish them.
Only a few days before I left home, I had a long talk with my father, and he, too, decided to give up the worship of idols, and to serve the one true God. His present employment interferes with his observing the Sabbath; but he expressed his intention to change his work so that he can keep the Lord’s commandment. Soon after my father made his decision, I persuaded the family to adopt the use of one large table at mealtime, instead of the small individual tables used by many Japanese. Around this table we all united in asking God’s blessing upon the food.
During my stay at home I visited many old friends, and found some of them much interested in Christianity. There are many people in Japan who are longing for peace of mind, the peace that Christ alone can give. On my last Sunday at home I spoke by invitation at the Methodist church. And in the afternoon of the same day I addressed a meeting of about twenty young men. These young men had formed a society, and hold regular meetings for the exchange of ideas on various subjects. This meeting was attended by four Buddhist priests, and was held at the Buddhist temple where my father has been accustomed to worship. I spoke to them of salvation through Christ, and of the Christian’s hope.
“A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country;” still there is an advantage in going among those who know you, and have confidence in you. The Lord blessed me much in this work; and I feel especially thankful for what he has done for my parents and brothers. I have now returned to Tokyo to engage in the work here for a time.
