April-May, 1933
139
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
prayers in all my long life. It made my heart feel strange. I liked it, and yet I didn’t like it. They prayed mostly in Japanese language, but Mr. Pak prayed in English. To what purpose has he learned such English? Then we had song. Mrs. McEdward played the organ, and we all held sing book, page 91. “I lay my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God." The teacher sang up very highly, while Mrs. Me. sang lower than we. They are called tenor and alto. Matsu Chan cannot sing foreign tunes properly, for when he tries, he sounds funny. So he held his book and chewed his lips, but no noises came from them. We all sang so mightily that my head prickled, and I liked it very much. Then tea and cakes were given us, and we ate while we spoke to gether. I asked the teacher if Jesus was another name for God, and he said, “Yes, Jesus was God’s Son, and was God Himself, since He was born in a supernatural manner of a virgin woman.” One other man, called Mr. Toda, said this was a biolog ical impossibility. Mr. Me. opened his Bible and showed to Mr. Toda, who read aloud, “With God everything is possible.’’. Then the teacher explained to us that the realm of sci ence was very great and we learn from it many things, but it extends only a certain distance, where begins the realm of faith. In this kingdom, we do not reason a.s philosopher, but believe as little child. We do not try to understand all of God, for that mankind can never do, for He is so much greater than us as man is greater than a worm. He said much further, and we did not. return home before twelve o’clock. I think I am beginning to comprehend Christianity, but my mind inclines so rationally that I cannot believe it. [To be continued] EASTER IN JERUSALEM [Continued from page 131] begins with the ringing of bells and morning worship in the various churches. But there is by no means room within Jerusalem churches for all the worshipers who would enter on Easter morn. Many individuals and groups therefore quit the city and journey in His footsteps over the flower-dotted coun tryside to kneel and read from open Testaments. The Easter baptism ceremonies down at the Ford of the Jordan, opposite old Jericho, where Jesus was baptized of John, annually draw huge throngs of believers. Many of these pilgrims carry bottles of Jordan water home to dis tant lands for the baptizing of their children. Bethany, quaint village which Christ often sought, home of Mary and Martha, as well as scenes of His min istry in Galilee and Samaria, are also the goals of many Easter Sunday pilgrimages. On Easter morn, it was our pleasure to join a group which included English and American pilgrims and resi dents of Jerusalem. Carrying food for the day, we left the city at daybreak by St. Stephen’s Gate, moved down into the Valley of the Kidron, past Gethsemane, and then climbed the Mount of Olives. Upon that famous Mount, we held sunrise worship facing into the desert sun as it rushed up from the purple Mountains of Moab to silver the Dead Sea far below, and soon to touch with gold and silver the spires, domes, and walls of the Holy City. To us, kneeling there under the age-old olive trees of the Mount, the morning seemed filled with His radiant pres ence, as bells large and small throbbed in chapels over the echoing hills of ancient Judaea—deep-toned bells honor ing the risen Lo rd !
Yesterday after school, I washed my shirts and under pants at the well, and the water was so icy that I thought my fin gers were frozen together as one. After I pushed a bam boo through the arms and legs to hang them, they became stiff as wood and looked stubborn as to .say, “We shall never blow about and dry for you.” I would smile but for the pain in my fingers. After bath tonight, Matsu Chan and I went to hot bean cake shop where we purchased a large paper bag filled with them. They were so steaming hot that we ate them all. But I have a heavy feeling in my abdomen now, and counted my pulse beat. It is 89 times, so I think I may soon fall ill. Matsu Chan has a sister who is some time married and has many children. One child ate eleven tangerines one afternoon and died dead the next day. I hope I am not to be as she did. F ebruary 13. It snowed today, and though our garden is very beau tiful covered with white caps and capes, the wet cold of it is a thing to be hated. I forgot to put much oil on my leather shoes, so they are wetted and I am troubled how to do. There are coals now in the fire-box of my room, but only for three weeks more, as we Japanese are not soft as are western nations and need not to heat our bodies always. We are like Spartans of Greece. Tonight is the time of the Bible class, and I am waiting to hear if Matsumura San will accompany me. It is early for going, but we must not arrive late as last week. Today Mr. McEdward was again on the tram with me, and when at Mejiro station a woman entered, he arose and bowed politely, then assisted her to a seat. She was not old nor ill, only she had the child on her back as usual. I thought it strange that he should give his seat to her. L ater . Matsumura San came soon, and we went to the Bible class house. The lesson was at a part called “John.” We read each a verse, and the teacher explained them clearly. In the beginning, I purchased a small Bible of him, and Matsu Chan did likewise. My place to read was verse 3, which is, “All things were made by him; and with out him was not anything made that was made.” I could not understand this, for as every one knows, all things began with the cells which multiplied until there became size and intelligence sufficient to make insects perhaps, then birds, and so on, in the evolutionary progression, with always the survival of the fittest. This I explained to Mr. McEdward, but he did but smile and say. to me, “Are you speaking of the theory of evolution?” I assented to this. Then he asked to me, “What is a theory ?” I answered what it was. Whereupon, he inquired then why I believe so strongly in an unproven thing, to which I replied it is what all great scientists believe. To my astonish, he gave many names of those who do not accept this theory, and said also he did not. The Bible, he stated, plainly declares God is Creator of all things. He asked a man to define “creator,” which he did very well in good English. I looked at this man closely, and certainly he is not Japanese but Korean. Afterwards I inquired his name, and it is Pak, so I know it is true. Why do Koreans come to class the same as we ? Another person read in front of Bible about the crea tion of earth, sea, plants, fishes, and many other things. I looked in my small Bible for this place but was not able to discover it. Then some man explained to me I had the New Testament only, which is last half of the Bible. We had there much discussion about evolution, and other students present believed as I, but there were many also who did not. When we had done, all kneeled by chairs, and many prayed sincerely. I never before heard such
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