I8S
June, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
•year, but I have not known any before, so I did not concern myself. Now my sorrow burns so I cannot eat nor sleep. The crematory ceremony took place at once, then the sa cred urn of ashes was brought to the Nakayama home until the funeral ceremony. I could not attend to this, being then buried in examinations, but I sent them two Yen of my money. Aunt gave me the cake box to place it in and a black and white cord for tying it properly. Uncle attended and said they did not have good decorations, as the paper flowers were old and dusty. But the banquet was good enough, especially the sake. As soon as the corpse was discovered, Mrs. Nakayama borned a child, but it died away before the day was passed. I think she was somewhat shocked and came to birth before the time. While my study was busiest, Aunt’s two girl children were made very happy on March 3. Their old dolls were brought forth from boxes and set up on shelves covered with the scarlet cloth. There were many shelves, as many as six, I think, and some dolls are a hundred years old. I could hear their joyous speeches as they learned the tea pouring ceremonies. M arch 20. Last night I ventured to ask the foreign teacher about his belief in hell, and he showed me where was written about it. I think he believes Bible very sincerely. The lesson was on sin, and now I understand that sin is not breaking o f civil law alone, but also o f moral law. I am then also a sinner, though not a bad one. Christ is called “ Lamb of God” because He gave Himself as lamb of sac rifice. I can comprehend the sacrificial spirit from our country’s hero, Sakura Sogoro, who suffered to be cruci fied on behalf the heavily oppressed peasantry o f feudal Japan. So very much do I admire the Christ for dying in this way. But how can it be He came again, living after three days ? This is too much contrary to science. I f it be true, Christianity is indeed greater than all other religions. There is one person in Bible class that I like very much, and last night I learned his name is Mr. Hayashi. His face shines with a great light, though to be sure, Mr. Pak’s face does likewise, and others. Mr. Hayashi prays with many tears for all of us who do not have faith. I feel strangely at that time, and tears spring also unbidden to my eyes. He does as if the great God stands close beside him always. He is studying to become a doctor, and I think sick people will recover if he smiled his shining face upon them. After prayers, when some were examining books, others playing with the large cat, and still others singing around the organ, Mr. McEdward came to. the long seat whereon Matsu Chan sat with me, and he asked us, “ Would you not like to become Christian?” Matsu Chan did not reply. He is sometimes'very shy. I looked into his face and made reply from my heart, “ If you can prove to me that Christianity is true reli gion, then will I become Christian.” He said at once, very emphatic, “ By the grace of God, we will try and do that.” [To be concluded ] THE GOSPEL FOR SUPERSTITIOUS BELGIUM [Continued from page 179] under their eyes, before which they bow and pray, and from which they look to receive the answer to their prayers.” In this region, the people put grain on their window sills on New Year’s Eve, believing that this grain is miraculously blessed, and later, when it is fed to the pigeons, the birds are preserved from traps during the ensuing year. In a certain
church on the first of May, the peasants go to seek earth specially blessed by a saint, and this earth, mixed with the feed, preserves their cattle from sickness. It is a wonder the poor beasts do not die from eating this concoction! When a storm visits the village, the inmates take a branch of mistletoe, specially blessed, and walk through their house, that it may be protected from lightning. R escued from a M ine F lood A story of poignant interest has just reached us of the rescue o f one o f our Christians, in the south of Belgium, from entombment in a flooded mine. He is the brother of Mr. Cailleaux, head of the post o f Ath, who has sent us the account. He himself stayed near the top of the mine pit throughout the six nights and five days when frantic efforts were being made to rescue the unfortunate men for whose safety scant hope was felt. His part was to help in the work of excavation, but above all to aid, by counsel and prayer, the distracted relatives of the entombed miners. His brother was foreman in the mine, and a man who had within the last few years come to know the Word of God and to put his trust in the living Saviour. AH this makes his tale o f heroism all the more remarkable. A fter the rescue o f these men, he recounted his share in the experience as follows: “ Imagine yourself buried alive and not able to do any thing to save yourself, but to wait—wait for help from out side— that was our only hope. How slowly, terribly, inter minably the hours passed in the midst o f the most dreadful darkness! One o f my men began to show signs of madness, but I gave him a good shaking, and he came to himself. Another wanted to take his life, but I restrained him. All the time the air was becoming constantly more vitiated, and the flood waters were rising. The courage o f the men gave way to utter despair. I knew full well our danger but sought to conceal it from the men, encouraging them always, and seeking to inspire in them confidence, patience, and courage, assuring them that we would surely be de livered. I knew they must lean on Some One stronger than themselves, so I asked them if they were believers. “ ‘Yes,’ they cried. “ ‘Very well,’ I said, ‘then we shall pray.’.’ Mr. Cailleaux asked his brother how he passed the time and what precautions he took for safety. He replied that he floated planks on the rising water and put his men on them for safety, and while they slept, he prayed. Tw o T r ium ph an t D eaths Mme. J.---------- was formerly a drunken slave o f the vilest passions. In one o f our tent meetings seven years ago, she heard the gospel for the first time, and since then she has lived an utterly transformed life— one of the spir itual forces in her church at Liege, a woman o f mighty prayer life. Just recently she feel asleep in the Lord, her last words being o f praise and petition for those about her. Mr. D. came to the knowledge o f the Lord two years ago. His was a deep, sincere conversion. Although much afflicted by illness, he came to the meetings whenever pos sible until his malady increased so that he was no longer able to do so. His chief delight was to talk about the things •of the Lord with those who visited his bedside. Although still a young man, he faced death with peace and joy and said continually to his unbelieving relatives, “ What a won derful thing to go to be with Jesus.” He died in great peace. These two might have died otherwise, in despair and agony o f soul, if you had not given and prayed, if we had not gone! [Mr. and Mrs. Ralph C. Norton are in the United States at present and are open for speaking engagements. They may be ad dressed at the headquarters of the Belgian Gospel Mission, 325 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, Pa.— E ditor .1
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