[Report of Mr. Loomis, Agent of the American Bible Society.]
WE have now donated more than 32,000 Testaments and Gospels to the Japanese soldiers, and the most of them have gone to the sick and wounded in the hospitals. It is reported that there are already 45,000, and more are coming all the time. A request has come this morning for 5,000. The applicant writes: “Soldiers are begging for them.” Another missionary, to whom I had sent 500 copies, writes: “The soldiers are very glad to receive them, and are very ready—in many cases eager—to be instructed.”
Mr. McGinnis writes me from Karuizawa: “There are at present over one thousand men in Karuizawa, three hundred at Katsukabe, and six hundred and fifty at Oiwake. The officers in charge have given us every opportunity for getting at the men, and the men themselves seem most anxious to hear and to read about Christianity. The meetings are well attended, and on Sunday evening last hundreds were turned away from the Union Hall, unable to gain admission. After the meetings men stay behind to learn more about Christ. Already there have been some who have definitely decided to serve Christ, and many others are on the verge of decision. During the wet weather, when the men are unable to get out, I visit them in their houses, where I always find a glad welcome and attentive listeners. The men seem eager to get the tracts and Scriptures; and by the questions they ask they show that they have read them carefully.”
I have made application to the War Department for permission to visit and distribute the Scriptures and other useful reading matter in all the hospitals in this field. The work among the soldiers grows in interest all the time. Permission has been granted by the War Department to distribute Scriptures to the sick and wounded whenever the arrangements can be made with those in charge of the hospitals. Just now the extra care of the large number coming from the front has so engrossed the time and attention of the medical attendants in Tokyo that there is no opportunity to arrange for such visitation. I am assured, however, that as soon as such matters can be adjusted I shall be invited to come and hold service for all the 13,000 invalids now in Tokyo and vicinity.
In May last we had a call from Mr. Nettleship, of Hakodate, who has a school for the Ainus, and he reported that it was his desire to undertake some definite religious work among the soldiers during the summer. He expected to put up a tent for the meetings, and to utilize the school for a reading-room. He was given a supply of Scriptures and has sent a report, of which the following is a part:
Planting-time in the Rice Fields of Japan.
The work has been carried on continuously since the end of May. The reading-room has given many opportunities for personal dealing with the men. The attendance at the general meetings has been anything from three to one hundred. Just now we are having daily meetings for Bible readings and hymn singing for the convalescents of the military hospital. Many, many Portions from you have been distributed.
The Bible and Tract Societies are doing a great work just now among the soldiers, the result of which will only be surely known in eternity. We do, indeed, thank you for all the help you have given in the Master's work in this corner of His vineyard; and we continually pray that His richest blessing may rest upon His own Word and upon His servants who are responsible for the distribution of the Bread of Life.
Thrashing Out the Rice.
Mr. Fulton reports from Kanazawa: “We have opened a resting and reading-room, and it is daily crowded with men to look at the pictures, enjoy singing, read books and tracts, and listen to the Word.”
Miss Zurfluh, of Sendai, asks a grant of 4,000 Gospels for the sick and wounded in the hospitals there, and adds: “They will be glad to have us come to distribute them. The head doctor has asked permission from the War Department and sent word that he would be pleased to have us come.”
A grant has been made of 10,000 Gospels to put into “comfort bags” that have been made for the soldiers, and are to be sent to the front; also 3,000 Gospels and Testaments for the Bible class, to be used by the representatives of the Young Men's Christian Association who have gone to Antung. The total donations thus far have reached above 50,000 volumes.
The publications for the last six months were 48,000 Gospels of Matthew, pocket edition.
