p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 23. (6/14/1910)

Earlier text: Let the Weak Say, 'I Am Strong'

Sketches of the Metropolis of Japan

By F. W. Field

V. Temples and Churches in Tokyo

A HEATHEN temple is as different from a Christian church as heathen worship is different from the worship of the true God. There is nothing like "the communion of saints" among Buddhists and Shintoists. So a Buddhist or a Shinto temple is not primarily a meeting place for public worship, but is open every day, early and late; and the worshipers come, singly or in small groups, flip a coin into the money-box, say their prayers, and go their ways.

At the large Buddhist temple in Asakusa Park one has a good opportunity to watch the people at their devotions. Privacy in one's private devotions, so much prized by Christians, is unknown in heathen worship. The main shrine of this temple occupies the central position; and before it the people kneel, or stand with bowed heads, while they say their prayers. To right and left are other smaller shrines, and before these also the people worship. There is also the wooden image of the god of healing. The worshiper who wishes to cure or prevent some disease, first rubs some part of this image with the hand, and then rubs the corresponding part of his own body. The face of this particular image has been rubbed till it is as featureless as this piece of wood is powerless to do what the deluded expect of it.

The Buddhist temple in Tsukiji is one of the largest in the city. The temple building on this site was burned down several times. Finally the augurs divined that the temple had been set at an unfortunate angle with surrounding objects, or with the points of the compass. So when the present building was erected, its foundation was laid at a different angle, as may be plainly seen; and the only proof needed by the superstitious that the divination was correct, is the fact that the temple still stands.

The Yasukuni Jinja is a well-known Shinto temple on Kudan Hill. Here are enshrined the names of thousands of soldiers who have died while serving in their country's defense. Once a year a great festival is held at this temple, and at this time it is visited by the usual throngs of people. The devotion paid to these dead heroes is closely allied to ancestor worship, and tends to preserve the military spirit of the living.

Coming to the Christian churches of Tokyo, there is not much of interest that can be said. In number they are mournfully few compared with the multitude of temples and shrines. The Central Tabernacle of the Canadian Methodists in Hongo, the Baptist Church in Shiba, the Methodist Church on Kudan Hill, and the Tsukiyabashi Church, where the union services of the missionary community are held, are the largest and best-known Protestant churches in the city. The Tokyo Y. M. C. A. has a substantial brick building in Kanda, a very central location. The assembly hall is often used for large gatherings.

But the one remarkable church building in Tokyo is the cathedral of the Russian mission, said to be the largest church building in the Far East. It occupies one of the most sightly eminences in the city, being in plain view even from the emperor's palace. The services of the Russian church are conducted with elaborate forms, that must appeal strongly to converts from the heathen religions.

One other church building in Tokyo that we hope the readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will be especially interested in, is the one that is not yet built on our plot of ground in Hommura-cho, Yotsuya. We shall call this the Tokyo Memorial Church, erected to the memory of all who assist in the good work of providing a place where the people of Tokyo may listen to the closing Gospel message.

Tokyo. F. W. FIELD.

A Final Appeal

By Editor

As a fitting sequel to the series of sketches on the metropolis of Japan and its needs as a mission field, we present this week an appeal from Pastor H. Kuniya, one of our Japanese evangelists. We believe that this appeal, written by one who knows the people and their needs, will find a response in many liberal hearts.

"To Our Friends in America, Greeting:

"We began our work in Tokyo in 1895, and our Father Grainger then taught English Bible in the school in Shiba Park. He also published a monthly paper, Owari No Fukuin, in the same building. It was well known among the people, not only in the city but also in the country, because Shiba Park is a famous place from the days of the Tokugawa shoguns. And even now hundreds and thousands of pilgrims visit the place to worship at the large temple there. It seemed to me that unseen hands must have guided Father Grainger to shine out the truth from that place.

"But after his death everything was changed, and our mission station was moved too often, so that many thirsting souls tired out in trying to find our station. If we had had several hundred dollars, we could have bought a lot in Shiba then; but we were not able.

"After Father Grainger died, most of my life was spent in the country and in Korea, proclaiming this message. So I could not work in Tokyo very much. But in the spring of 1908 I came to this large city again, into which two million sinners are crowded. But neither I nor any one else can be satisfied to meet on the Sabbath in a room of a private house in the suburbs. From year before last I began again to work in Shiba, where Father Grainger started the Bible school. The first family that I began to give Bible readings to was one of our first subscribers to the Owari No Fukuin. God blessed my efforts, and seven souls were baptized, and others desire baptism.

"It is impossible for us to call the people in the city to a place in the suburbs. Tho we now have electric cars, the people will not come so far to meeting on the Sabbath. Japan is a small country, but Tokyo is a large city.

"So we have decided to build a memorial church in as central a place as possible. I am one of the locating committee. We have squeezed our purses; but most of our members are mission employees, and can not donate much. If our dear brethren and sisters in the States would help us some, we shall be very happy. When our canvassers and believers are asked where our church is in Tokyo, they can not tell, for we have none. Surely if we could build even a small church, it would be a great advantage to all. Can't you help us a penny or a dollar?

Yours in Christ, "H. KUNIYA."

True Love

By Joseph A. Torrey

Joseph A. Torrey in S. S. Times

LOVE that lives, Asks less than it gives.

— ★★ —

A Church in Tokyo

By Editor

Do You Wish a Block in the Building?

For five weeks Professor Field has been telling us of conditions in Japan, that marvelous surprise of nations; and Tokyo, that modern-ancient city. Wonderful progress has been made in industrial arts, and the Japanese have shown themselves to be a wonderful people.

But they are in idolatry, the great mass of them. Professor Field and his coworkers are faithfully, bravely working to save souls. They need a central, steady place of worship to which interested souls can go to hear and be established in present truth, the truth which will save. In Tokyo is conducted a school, but it is in a private residence. The school lacks even necessary equipment. The needs of the field are very great, but the present appeal is for a place to hold meetings for soul-saving work. Will not many of our readers who are blessed with health, and work, and means, and not many calls, respond to this call with sums from five dollars down? The editor will join you in this with his mite. Who will be the first? and then on and on, who next? Send all donations to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for the Tokyo church. Let the need appeal to us.

Missionary Work in Spain

By Editor

Our missionary in Spain, Mr. F. S. Bond, writes us that there are seven colporteurs now working faithfully in three new provinces, in every city, town, and village. A number are now awaiting baptism. He closes by saying that his courage is good for the Lord's work there.

Shanghai Mission Press Resumes Printing

By Editor

FROM Brother B. A. Roberts, of the Seventh-day Adventist mission press in Shanghai, we received a little note saying that their presses are all running again since their fire. They have bought new type, but are still in unsatisfactory rented quarters, yet they are prepared to supply all orders for the Chinese Signs of the Times or any other literature which has been advertised by them. They hope soon to be printing in a new building of their own. That will depend to some extent upon the generosity of our readers. The address of our people in Shanghai is Box 523, United States Postal Agency, Shanghai, China.

Value of a Single Religious Paper

DR. EDWARD JUDSON, son of the great missionary, relates a curious coincidence. "A clergyman in England met an innkeeper's wife who had been led to serious thought upon her spiritual condition, and finally to become an ardent and consistent Christian, by reading a paper containing an extract from a sermon by Mr. Spurgeon. This paper was printed in America; had been sent thence to Australia; there, wrapped around a package, it was sent to England, where, by its contents, it reached a soul."

To show that such blessed results might occur anywhere, he says: "When I was a pastor I gave a tract to a little boy. It was Todd's 'How a Child May Come to Jesus.' A few years afterward I met the father of the boy, who told me that his child had been converted. He had kept the little tract I gave him, read it, and carried it in his pocket until it was worn out. It had led him to Jesus."—Christian Advocate.

—★★—

Union College Summer School

By Charles C. Lewis

THE third annual session of the Union College Summer School will begin Tuesday, June 21, at Union College, College View, Nebraska, and continue six weeks. The school is designed for teachers who wish to review for teachers' examinations, or who would take advanced work for general improvement, also for students desiring to remove conditions, make up back work, or pursue regular academic or college work. For full information address Principal Union College Summer School, College View, Nebraska.

C. C. LEWIS.

Union College Calendar

By C. C. Lewis

THE annual Union College Calendar will be ready for mailing as soon as you can write for copies after reading this announcement. Those who are interested in the plans for the coming year, or who wish to secure rooms before all are taken, should write at once to The President, Union College, College View, Nebraska.

C. C. LEWIS.

Wanted

For missionary work, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Watchman, Review and Herald. Address W. H. Armstrong, R.F.D. 2, Blythewood, S. C.

For use in penitentiary missionary work, copies of SIGNS OF THE TIMES and Youth's Instructor. Address Mrs. Lena E. Williams, 767 Kinau St., Honolulu, H. T.

For missionary work, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Youth's Instructor, and Our Little Friend. Address C. A. VanCleve, 1540 N. Front St., Salem, Oregon.

For use in tent work, copies of SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Youth's Instructor, Watchman, and other literature. Address Eliza Warner, R.F.D. No. 5, Spartanburg, S. C.

By Young People's Society, for missionary purposes, a continuous supply of SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Youth's Instructor, Little Friend, and other good papers. Address J. E. Wassom, Box 248, Salem, Oregon.

"The Altar Fires of Liberty"

By Editor

Introducing the theme of the Signs Monthly for July—Liberty—Civil and Religious.

A timely and well-illustrated presentation of truths for this time.

A striking cover design in red, white, and blue Will make friends for itself on sight.

"The Work of Maximilian in Mexico," by J. O. Corliss, presents some historical truths not any too well known.

"Protestantism"—beginning a new series by Elder George A. Snyder, on this live subject.

"Rolled Together as a Scroll," by a "Christian Astronomer," combining information on astronomy with the truth of God's Word, in a setting that will interest and instruct all readers.

"The Significance and Remedy of Tooth Decay," by Dr. D. H. Kress, superintendent of the Washington, D. C., Sanitarium.

"The Development of the Evolutionary Doctrine," by Geo. McCready Price, presents the truth about this great unproved system of philosophy. This article should be carefully read and widely circulated.

Concluding the Life of John Huss in Mrs. E. G. White's most helpful series of articles on the lives of the great reformers.

In Current Topics we have, among other items, a graphically illustrated article on the Naval Bill, and what it means to this country; also an excellent statement of the situation in England.

From the pen of Elder Wm. Covert: "They Shall Shine as the Stars," showing forth the final reward of those who dedicate their lives to the winning of souls.

And other articles equally timely and beneficial.

This issue will be ready for mailing June 15. Order to-day. 10c a copy, $1.00 a year.

Order through your tract society (if address is known) or Signs of the Times, Mountain View, Cal.

Our Little Friend

By Editor

An Illustrated Paper for the Smaller Men and Women, for the Children and Little Ones

Instructive and entertaining, clean, wholesome, sensible. It is a character builder, a helper to father and mother. Our Little Friend would plant seed in the joyous life of the children in the Present, that it may bear blessed fruitage in the Harvest of the Future. Respect your child's individuality. Take the paper for him or her. Only 60 cents a year.

Address, OUR LITTLE FRIEND Mountain View, Cal.

Cooperation Corner

By Editor

Do You Want a Part in This?

THE superintendent of the Haytian mission writes us that he could use a club of SIGNS OF THE TIMES among an excellent class of people there where they would do good. Of course the mission has all that it can possibly do to carry on their own native work in the French, but there are English-speaking people there. We simply make this note to ask if there is not some one who has no opportunity of doing missionary work close at hand, that wants to help in this great distant field. We do not wish to take it away from those who are taking church clubs, but some of our scattered brethren may wish to help in this great mission field. If we receive more than is sufficient to pay for the club, there are always other demands from foreign fields and needy ones that can use the paper.

A Valuable Formula

Where we have no agent we will teach you how to make E-Z Washing Tablets at small cost. A large washing done for one cent in two hours without rubbing or injuring clothes. If you wish to try them send 10 cents for a package. Write at once for proposition for making them, as this ad may not appear again. Our offer will surprise you.

E-Z Washing Tablet Co., 721 H St., Sacramento, Cal.

A Time to Weep.

By Editor

April 4 occurred the death of C. H. Chaffee, of Missouri, for forty years a minister in this work. April 10 fell asleep an old friend and brother minister, for several years president of Vermont Conference, Thomas H. Purden. He was an old veteran of the Civil War, and later as faithful a soldier for God. Following these came the death of a beloved mother, April 17. May 9, Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson Fryer, a friend and sister of years, wife of Professor John Fryer, of the University of California, lay down to rest from life's labor. Mrs. Fryer did noble work in missionary and educational lines in China in connection with the Seventh-day Baptists. Last of all comes the news of the death of a young medical friend, Dr. Camillus Bush, of San Francisco, May 28. All the others had filled to the full in noble service the years allotted to mortals; but Dr. Bush fell at his post of duty in his young, strong manhood, already a growing physician of great promise, and what is more, a noble Christian man. May God comfort the sorrowing family, especially the mother. It is "a time to weep," and we weep with the sorrowing ones; but over the "great salt fount of tears" there brightly bends the bow of hope and promise of the everlasting beyond which knows no death.

The Road-Town.—One of the suggested plans about which considerable is said at the present time is the building of what is called a road-town. This road-town will consist of one long, consecutive series of connected houses continuing for miles along the road. The purpose of it is to enable the country dwellers to have as good facilities in the matter of mail and other conveniences as the city dwellers. The thought is that the soil will be made to produce a great deal more; one will not need to ho

It is a marvelous invention which will photograph "more than 2,000 stereoscopic images per second regularly spaced on a film with perfect clearness;" but that is what an apparatus patented by Mr. L. Bull will do, as described in the Literary Digest of May 28, which reproduces pictures of a bumblebee, dragon-fly, and a bullet passing through a soap-bubble. This means that the 17 pictures of the bullet and soap-bubble were taken in 85 ten thousandths of a second. If man can thus reproduce motion, is it not reasonable to suppose that God can record the complete record of each soul?

The Road-Town.—One of the suggested plans about which considerable is said at the present time is the building of what is called a road-town. This road-town will consist of one long, consecutive series of connected houses continuing for miles along the road. The purpose of it is to enable the country dwellers to have as good facilities in the matter of mail and other conveniences as the city dwellers. The thought is that the soil will be made to produce a great deal more; one will not need to hold so many acres; each one of these who live in the road-town can have sufficient land to cultivate to supply all his needs and to help others; and this endless house will enable him to reduce rent, secure food outside of the trust, in fact to get the benefit of all inventions such as gas, power, telephone, and so on, without paying tribute to the various trusts. For such a town as that Thomas A. Edison has donated his cement house patent, and William A. Boyes his monorail patents. It certainly will be an interesting experiment, but it is a question whether it will not have an untoward effect in bringing families too close together.

America’s Largest Freight-Engine Boiler

The latest great freight-engine boiler built for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad is 44 feet 10 inches long; largest diameter, 96 inches; its weight, with water, 80 tons; the fire-box, 10 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 8 inches, would, as the Scientific American remarks, make a fair living room. The front end of the boiler is 7½ feet in diameter. The engine, with the tender, weighs 611,800 pounds; its weight on drivers is 445,000 pounds; its boiler pressure, 220 pounds; and its heating surface is 6,629 square feet.

A Very Hot May

May closed its career with two very hot days. Temperature on the coast ranged from 73 degrees at Tacoma, Wash., to 120 at Yuma, Arizona. It was 90 in San Francisco, where there were one death and four prostrations from heat. The mercury rose in Sacramento to 102; at Red Bluff, 106; at Fresno, 108; at Phoenix, Arizona, 114. San Francisco recorded one of the hottest May days in its history, and it is said that never before were four heat prostrations recorded in one day.

The Call from Japan.

By Editor

In his plea for a church in Tokyo, Professor Field does not wish to draw from regular channels and great fields of need; we pass the basket for between-times, heart-free, voluntary contributions. He wrote us questioning if he should ask it; we told him to go ahead. His request is before you. A little from each of our readers would build the Gospel church. Do not you want a block, a stone, a brick (we do not know how it will be built), a shingle, a post, in it? Who wants to furnish a seat? Who the pulpit?

Effect of Cold on Plants

Effect of Cold on Plants.—In a series of interesting experiments in England it has been found that the chilling of various plants may produce sugar, mustard-oil, wintergreen-oil, or prussic acid; and if this is true of plants, it is suggested that changes of temperature or humidity must have their effect on the human organism. How little we know of the factors which enter into life!

Chinese Petition to Discard the Queue

The Chinese of the Pacific Coast have sent a memorial to the ruler of China asking permission to cut off or discard the queue. This appendage, it is said, was forced upon them about 260 years ago as a sign of submission to the Manchus. Now many Chinese think that the custom should be discontinued as an advance step toward general world-civilization.

How Old Is the Ocean?

One scientist, Mr. J. Joly, after elaborate study of the ocean's salt deposits, estimates the age of the hoary sea at 94,544,000 years; but another, Mr. George F. Becker, places his figures between 38,000,000, and 48,000,000. All this is based on the uniformitarian hypothesis. There is still room for many professional and lay guesses, and the believer in the Bible need not worry.

Cyclone in Mozambique

From far Mozambique, by the way of London, May 30, comes the news of a severe cyclone which wrecked houses and ships. One coasting vessel went down with 400 natives on board.

The Sabbath and Kindling Fires

By Editor

Referring to Question No. 3136, a correspondent suggests that Ex. 35:3 concerning the building of a fire upon the Sabbath refers wholly to the work of the sanctuary and not to the cooking of food. Possibly this may be true. It seems to us that the text however is a general command, repeating what has been given in other places, designed to be of general application. Our correspondent thinks that it may refer to the metal-workers; those who were working in gold and silver and brass in which fires would be necessary for fusing. We pass the suggestion on.

Coming Series on Christ in Type

By Editor

There is one more article in the series on the Holy Spirit and its gifts, and that is the most interesting of all. This will appear next week. Then will begin a series on the work of Christ in type and antitype, a study of the plan of salvation in the Old and New Testaments. This will be an instructive series.

Better Days Before

THERE is always a tendency among Christians to hark back to an oftentimes exaggerated past, and wish that the same blessings, the same power, the same success, could be in God's work now.

The wish is laudable, but there is danger in it, and its expression is not a good sign.

The danger is that efforts will be put forth to use past methods, looking to them for life, when these methods may be worthless now and were not the best then. The great fact is that it is life, life from above, that is needed, and mere methods will not give life. The dress of Elijah or John the Baptist would not bestow the power of either.

God does not want us to look to the past for the past's strength and wisdom. He records its bestowal and outworking as an encouragement for the present, to let us know that the God of yesterday is the God of to-day, and will be of to-morrow when to-morrow dawns. It is to say to us that God has the same power, sufficient to every task to-day. It waits our demand.

The Jews were ever looking back to the deliverance from Egypt; they were boasting of the miracles of the Red Sea and the Jordan, when God would have them grasp the power to deliver from present idolatry and bondage. He had far greater deliverance for His people, so much greater that they would no longer say that Jehovah lived who brought them out of Egypt, but Jehovah lived who brought them from all the scattered regions of captivity, slavery, and sin in the immortal land, where added to the song of Moses will be "the song of the Lamb." Jer. 16:14-16; Rev. 15:2, 3. Praise God for past victory. Hope for all the future. But by living faith grasp His power for the present.

HANNAH AND SAMUEL The mother who dedicated her first-born to God, the son who became one of the great prophets and judges of a nation. The principles which molded their lives are greatly needed now.

From "The Lord's Day, the Test of the Ages"

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