p. 11 | The Ainus

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 14, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 28.

The Ainus.

Says the Missionary Herald: "The Ainus of Japan have long resisted the efforts of the English Church Mission to enlighten and Christianize them. In 1885 Mr. Batcheler baptized the first Ainu convert, in 1886 three more, and two each in 1889 and 1891. There were only eight Christians after twelve years of seed sowing. But since then the long-expected harvest time has come. One hundred and seventy-one persons have been baptized, making a church membership of 179, while 200 more are reckoned as catechumens. The center of this work is Piratori, the old Ainu capital, and, though the chief is a sad drunkard, every woman in the place has accepted Christ as her Saviour. Formerly only the men among the Ainus were allowed to have any religion. We hope to hear like joyful news of religious awakening from our friends of the American Baptist Mission among the Ainus."