Editorial Letter by William W. Prescott

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 11, 1907

Editorial Letter

By William W. Prescott

Jottings from the Editor’s Note-Book

The next morning after our arrival in Kobe we went out to see how the Japanese celebrate New-year’s day. The whole town presented a gala appearance. There were many people in the streets, and they were attired in their finest garments. Even the ’rickasha men were decked out with gay sashes, and the children outdid Joseph with their garments of many colors. Well-dressed men and women were riding from place to place in ’rickashas, making New-year’s calls, and I regret to say that in some cases they were showing the effects of taking wine at each place. Thus does the East learn of the West.

There are two principal temples in Kobe, and we visited them both. The large temple yards were crowded, but not with devout worshipers, although some were casting their money into the collection boxes, and repeating their prayers at the shrines.

The great crowds were found around the stands where toys, candies, and images of the gods were offered for sale, and about the side-shows. The most attractive of these was a Japanese fakir, or hypnotist, whose performances were eagerly watched by a large company. This man gave the clearest evidence that he exercised a remarkable power over the boys under his direction, by holding their hands in the fire without causing them suffering, by so fixing the arm or hand in certain positions that the boy could not change it, and by placing a bamboo pole against the flat hand so that the boy could be pulled around the ring by the pole. It was evident that the boys felt the effects of the uncanny influence even after they were out from under the spell, and we could but feel sorry for them.

The greatest crowds of all, however, were around the stands of the gamblers. Even within the sound of the voice of an old priest who was intoning a consecration service for a little child in the arms of its nurse, men and women, and even children, were trying to get something for nothing by taking their chances with the gamblers. I was impressed with the thought that heathenism is the same in all ages and in all countries. In the olden time, when the professed people of God had lost the reality of their religion and had lapsed into heathenism, they bought and sold and changed money in the temple, and by their extortion robbed those who frequented the place. In many of the so-called Christian countries of the present day they have bazaars and fairs in the churches; and by various drawings and opportunities for winning where the chances are altogether against the purchaser of a ticket, they withdraw money from the pockets of those in attendance. What is the difference between gambling in the temple yards in Japan and gambling in a church building where they take collections for the purpose of sending the gospel to the heathen in Japan? There is great need of preaching the genuine gospel of Christ in both places.

I will take the opportunity here to make brief mention of our sanitarium work in Kobe. Drs. S. A. and Myrtle Lockwood have conducted a sanitarium for foreigners during the past three years, and have thus been brought in contact with many people of influence, and have witnessed for the true principles of the gospel. The most unsatisfactory part of their experience, however, has been that while missionaries and others have been friendly and have availed themselves of the opportunity afforded to recover physical health, yet they have carefully held aloof from any close touch with the message which our workers have gone to Japan to declare. So far as I remember not one of all who have been patients has accepted them the third angel’s message. This has led the Drs. Lockwood and some who have been associated with them to feel that they were not accomplishing the primary object for which they went to Japan—to assist in proclaiming the closing message in that needy field. In view of their past experience and their feeling concerning it, some changes were recommended in the plans for sanitarium work, of which more particular mention will be made at some other time.

A sanitarium and dispensary for the Japanese was opened a year or more ago not far from the house occupied by the Drs. Lockwood, and the work is now being carried forward by Dr. Noma, a Japanese sister who received the truth a few years ago. Although the Japan Mission took no financial responsibility in the management of this institution, yet it showed an active interest in its work, and the Drs. Lockwood rendered such assistance as their other duties would permit. The results of this effort in behalf of the Japanese have been most encouraging. Dr. Noma and her workers have been greatly blessed in presenting the truth to the patients, and others have united with them in this good work. As a result of these efforts, between twenty and thirty have accepted the message, some of whom were converted directly from heathenism. The fruits of sanitarium work for the Japanese justified larger plans for this

method of proclaiming the message to this people, and such plans were considered and adopted at our general meeting. These will be reported later. Pictures of both the sanitariums in Kobe have appeared in a recent issue of the REVIEW, and can doubtless be readily recalled by the readers of this letter. The influence of these two institutions has extended a long distance from Kobe, and patients have come to them from towns many miles away. Just as I was leaving, Dr. Lockwood received word of the early arrival of a wealthy Chinese prince with his whole retinue. Since then I have learned of his improvement in health under the doctor’s care, and of his desire to have others come to the institution. Let us hope that this may prove to be an open door to a great opportunity for making known the truth.

The next evening after I arrived in Kobe, the general meeting for Japan opened. All the workers in both Japan and Korea had been invited to attend this meeting, and all were present. The meetings were held in the neat chapel owned and used by the Kobe church, our only meeting-house in Japan, and the room was well filled, as in addition to the local members some were in attendance from other places. When Dr. Myrtle Lockwood, in a talk before a council of the General Conference Committee at College View, Neb., in 1904, spoke of the plan to build a chapel in Kobe, and took a collection in behalf of this undertaking, I little thought that I should so soon have the privilege of speaking in that chapel. At our first meeting Brother F. W. Field, the superintendent of the Japan Mission, spoke for a short time, after which I occupied a few moments, and others followed. It was a good introduction to the series of meetings of which I will speak in my next letter.

W. W. P.