IT is now about ten years since the first representatives of God's last threefold message came to Japan. And as we look back over this decade of labor, we have many reasons for thankfulness for what has been accomplished. The labor performed has been largely a matter of seed sowing, tho not without a due return of fruits for the encouragement of the laborers. At present we have organized churches in three different localities, with an aggregate membership of over a hundred. But our members are scattered in various parts of the country, from Akita, far to the north, to Nagasaki, in the extreme south.
The first Japanese to accept this message were a number of young men, who had emigrated to the United States, and who there learned the truth. Several of these have since returned to Japan, and given themselves to Gospel work among their countrymen. And having been quite well educated in English, they have been able to render good service as translators and interpreters, besides laboring directly for their people.
Publishing.
Early in the history of our work, the publication and circulation of literature in the Japanese language was begun. And this continues to be a very important part of our work. Thousands of copies of our little monthly paper have been, and are being, sent to all parts of the country. Our regular subscription list is not very large as yet; but many copies are being sent free to chosen addresses. We have seen good results from these efforts. Interested persons write to the office of the paper, asking questions and requesting that some one visit them. We respond to all such requests as far as possible; and in this way souls have been led to take their stand for the truth of Christ.
Besides our monthly paper, a number of tracts and pamphlets on present truth have been published. These have also been widely circulated by our workers, and we look for good results to follow this seed-sowing.
But it must be confessed that in the face of the obstacles encountered, we have not yet succeeded in making the work of circulating our literature self-supporting. A publication, to sell readily in Japan, must be of very moderate price, to bring it within the means of the people; this reduces the agent's profits to the minimum. The prejudice of the majority of the people against Christianity, makes this a hard field for the self-supporting colporteur. Add to this our lack of experience, and the results are not flattering from a financial view. But we believe that with consecration and careful preparation on the part of the laborers, a much greater degree of success can be attained in this important branch of our work. So we are preparing other publications, and seeking to improve our methods of labor.
Medical Missionary Work.
The opening of medical missionary work in Kobe nearly four years ago, marked a distinct step in advance. While the workers from America were acquiring the Japanese language, they secured a pleasant location and began work among the foreign population. This phase of the work has prospered from the beginning, and steadily increased, making it necessary to enlarge our quarters, and to call for more help to carry on the work. Roomy quarters in charge of native workers have also been opened. These two institutions have co-operated in the training of young men and women for medical missionary work, and in efforts for the physical and spiritual relief of the patients that have come under their care. And the results have been truly gratifying. A goodly number of the patients received have been brought to the knowledge of the truth. Many become interested in Bible study, and desire that some one instruct them. At times the workers have been so pressed that they have been unable to respond to all such requests. The membership of the Kobe church is now about fifty; and they have erected a neat little chapel in which to worship,—our first and only church building in Japan.
The Recent War
brought some trying but precious experiences to the handful of Sabbath-keepers in Japan. Several of our brethren were called for military service, and fervent were the prayers offered in their behalf. One of the most active and successful workers was thus summoned. He resolved that he would visit the officers of the General Staff Office, and make a declaration that as a Christian he could not bear arms. He did so; some of the officers scoffed, some expressed sympathy, but all agreed that they had no authority to excuse him. So he was constrained to report at the barracks, had a similar experience with the officers there, and was passed on to the examining physicians. Here he was unexpectedly excused from service on account of his health, and so was free to pursue his work for the salvation of men. The Tokyo church gained a rich experience during this trial of faith, and our brother believes implicitly that the Lord worked to deliver him.
Tent Labor in Japan.
We had long wished that we had a tent in which to hold meetings in new places; for in spite of much damp and rainy weather, we believed that this method of labor could be profitably followed in Japan, at least during the most favorable weather. Kind friends in California responded to our appeal, and sent us a very neat tent. This was pitched for the first time in the fall of 1905, in a suburb of Tokyo.
We experienced some difficulty in securing the permission of the police for such a series of meetings; for police supervision of public gatherings is quite strict in Japan. The police objected that similar meetings had been repeatedly attempted in that neighborhood, but had always resulted in disturbance and disorder. Further, we had reason to believe that our church was looked upon with suspicion by the authorities, because of the objections to military service made by some of our brethren during the war.
Police permission for the meetings was finally secured, and the tent was located in a quiet but convenient place. But the watchful authorities detailed two policemen to attend all our meetings, to take note of all that was said, and to see that no disorder resulted. The meetings continued about three weeks, and throughout that time the best of order was observed by those who attended. The attendance was not large, for there was nothing about our services to attract the idle and curious. We can not point to large apparent results as the outcome of these meetings, but a number became deeply interested, and we hope will yet accept the truth.13
Another definite gain as a result of these meetings was, that it gave us a very favorable opportunity to place our work and faith before the authorities. The policemen detailed to attend our meetings were faithful to the discharge of their duties, and one or other of them attended every meeting. One of these men became deeply interested, and was strongly affected by what he heard. He often tarried to converse with our brethren; and one day told them that his associates at the police station were chaffing him about becoming a Christian. He replied that he had no such intention, and asked them why they thought he had. They answered, "Because you have changed so much since you began to attend those meetings; you act and talk differently." Yet he declared to our brethren that he was entirely unconscious of this. We hope that the subtle yet powerful influence of truth will continue to draw him, and that he will not resist its power.
During these meetings the truth was freely and fully presented. Yet we feel assured that the reports of these two officers will place us and our work in a favorable light with the authorities. Not that we are seeking favors from the government; we desire simply to take such a course that the progress of the truth of Christ will not be hindered.
Further Work.
As preparatory for further efforts with the tent, we located two of our workers at Takasaki, a city of some twenty-five or thirty thousand inhabitants, a few hours by rail north of Tokyo. These brethren engaged in a systematic canvass of the city with our publications. They began by soliciting readers for our monthly paper, The Gospel for the Last Days. Failing to sell a copy or to secure a subscription, they offered to loan the paper. In this way they have been using over five hundred copies a month. But it will give some idea of the prejudice and indifference they have to meet, when I state that not more than one-third of the number solicited are willing to receive the paper even as a loan.
This last fall we pitched the tent in Takasaki, and with a good force of workers held a series of meetings continuing for several weeks. On several occasions when especially attractive programs were prepared, the subjects being illustrated with stereopticon views, the attendance was large. But at other times the attendance was much smaller, and rather decreased toward the close of the series. The weather was quite rainy and uncomfortably cool much of the time. But the none were led to take their stand fully for the truth, there are a number of interested ones with whom the workers will continue to labor. They will also continue to supply a goodly number of readers with our paper. Meanwhile they will open work at Maebashi, a large town but a few miles distant, following the same general plan of work.
Limits of space forbid to mention all the encouraging incidents in our work. Souls are accepting the truth, some of whom are well-fitted by education and previous experience to help us as regular workers. This is encouraging; yet still there is a great dearth of laborers. But we are fully committed to the finishing of this work in this generation. And to this end we ask the prayers and co-operation of the Lord's people in the home land.
