A CONVERTED BUDDHIST NUN IN JAPAN.
By Mrs. L. Pierson
WE have recently been greatly tried with regard to a converted Buddhist priestess, young, gifted, and beautiful, who has joined our corps of Bible readers. Her name is Ochiye San, which means "wisdom." She attended our meetings in Gifu, was there convicted of sin and converted. Her great desire was to study the Bible and to work for the Lord Jesus; so, after a few preliminaries, she came to us. She had been living with an old aunt, also a Buddhist priestess, who reluctantly gave her permission to enter our class of Bible readers, upon which Ochiye San immediately acted. She came alone, almost a stranger to us, with her hair shaven, and wearing the costume of the Buddhist nun. I gladly received her, knowing that the Lord, who is rich in treasures and resources, would provide for her, although there was no special appropriation for her. When she had been with us about a week, the old aunt, induced by the Buddhists, came to take her home. We reasoned and expostulated, but seemingly without result. We prayed most fervently that the dear child might be permitted to remain among her Christian sisters until her faith was mature and her work for Jesus accomplished. The relatives had the legal power to withdraw her from us, as she was in her minority. The aunt went to the police to secure their coöperation, and the niece was summoned to appear before those authorities. They inquired why she had renounced Buddhism. She was very firm and steadfast, and replied: "I was sent by my parents when very young to serve in the temple. Then I did not know about the only true God and my Saviour Jesus Christ. As soon as I learned about this happy life in Jesus, I longed for it; my sins were great, but he has forgiven them, and I believe in him as my Saviour." The police were angry, but did not undertake to remove her from us violently. After another earnest season of prayer we prevailed with the aunt, who returned home, leaving Ochiye San with us. We were very thankful, recognizing and acknowledging that the victory was of the Lord. A few days subsequently an older brother came, with a firm purpose to take his sister home, indignant that she should dare depart from the superstitions of her ancestors. The Bible women and myself spent the whole day reasoning and expostulating with him, praying for full deliverance from the enemy. I gave him the four gospels, which he reluctantly accepted. The next morning he came again, accompanied by a police officer. My constant petitions were to the Almighty Father for victory full and complete, and he gave it. The police officer favored our cause, although not a Christian. The Holy Spirit thus moved upon his heart, and suddenly the brother's resolution gave way, and his whole aspect changed. He said he would leave his sister with us, return home, and persuade his parents to allow her to remain. He said also he would examine the gospels I had given him, and he departed in peace. God is faithful, and we praise his holy name. The young girl has ten brothers, who are farmers, living about two hundred miles from Yokohama.—Missionary Link.