128
THE KING’S BUSINESS
tributing 128,000 tracts and portions of the Bible. Every worker averaged 300 homes a day. Every home in this province has received Christian literature—from the houses in the cities tb the most isolated in the mountain districts. In view of the fact that half a century ago death was the penalty of those who became Christians in Japan, the following statement made by Count Okuma, the recent Prime Minister of that country, is interesting: “Although Christianity has enrolled less than 200,000 believers, yet the indirect influence of Christianity has poured into every realm of Japanese life. It has been borne to us on all the currents of European civilization; most of all, the English language and literature, so sur charged with Christian ideas, have exerted a wide and deep influence over Japanese thought. Concerning the future, it is my own conviction that no practical solution of many pressing problems, is in sight, apart from Christianity.” The recent demands of Japan upon China created such bitterness that a Chinese official, husband of a Japanese lady, was persuaded, while his wife was visiting rela tives in Japan, th a t1it was a disgrace to have a Japanese wife. They had been mar ried happily .some years and had four bright children. The unfaithful husband success fully sought a Chinese wife, and the day before their wedding, when all the arrange ments were complete, the Japanese wife arrived home. Without regard for her tears and pleadings, the husband, still urged by friends, went forward with the wedding. Months of real sorrow have followed for the wife, but in her sorrow she found the Lord Jesus, and she herself says, “If this sorrow had not come to me, I would not have known Jesus. I praise Him today that He thus led me to Himself.— Missions.
breakfast, which is at 7. After the meal there are devotions, led by the students, and from 9 to 12 the classes are held. The students again assemble at 1 :30 for study, under the supervision of a native teacher. At 3 o’clock the study ends and there are assignments to street and tea-shop meet ings and tract distribution. The evenings are devoted to study and devotions.— China’s Millions. Ten years ago the missionaries in South China had to exhort the churches to open schools, now the demand for Christian teachers is greater than the supply. At that time they cared little whether their pastors were educated or not; now they will have no other kind. Today boys are going out from the mission to study medicine and theOlogy, and the girls are attending normal schools. Our need now is not to arouse interest in educational matters, but to supply equipment to meet the demands of the awakened people.' Dr. H. W. Newman expected a quiet time to rest when he arrived at Changning, but word had gone out that a doctor was coming, and by daylight the people began to come and forty or fifty patients Were waiting to be seen by the time breakfast was over. Even after three weeks, they continued to come “on foot, on the backs of others and in chairs.” They came from fifteen to thirty miles away, north, south, east and west. It is evident that this section is ready and the people open-minded. A great harvest for medical and evangelistic work is ready, waiting for the workers here among the Hakkas of South China, JAPAN The Oriental Missionary Society is plac ing a portion of the Bible or a tract in every house in Japan. During six weeks three natives and two foreign workers covered the entire Sanuki province, dis
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs