From Japan | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 25, 1897

FROM JAPAN.

Dr. De Forest, who was on the committee of relief for sufferers by the great tidal wave last year, in a report of his work, says:—

“We spent eight days along the coast. What an awful desolation that was! There were whole villages where not a house is left, and where two-thirds of the people were swept off in a moment. We received from the governor’s office a letter of introduction to the head men of the desolated region, and he gave us letters to all the heads of the smitten villages. Thus introduced we were everywhere welcomed.”

Aside from distributing relief, religious meetings were held, in connection with Mr. Jones, of the Baptist mission, which were very tender and helpful to the people. Later on Dr De Forest visited Samuna, of which he writes:—

“For four days we have been holding meetings night and day, mainly the best kind of meetings, with a dozen or twenty inquirers at once. It is like the olden days again, when the early churches of Japan were formed in this same way. It is the very best kind of work, where we get onto the floor around the hibachi, with a bowl of chestnuts or a dish of sweet potatoes to aid conversation, and then go right into the decisive power of Christianity. There are several candidates for baptism here, and it is planned to receive them at a later date.”—Missionary Herald.