0st>OT10 
 
 PAM. 
 
 b\og. 
 
 Miss CATHERINE M. OSBORN 
 
AN APPRECIATION OF CATHERINE M. OSBORN 
 By M. Agnes Hathaway 
 
 T was in the fall of 1900 that I first met Catherine 
 Osborn. From its beginning I had been interested 
 in our Japan Mission, and had frequently read Miss 
 Osborn’s name in The Universalist Leader. When 
 I came to Lombard a few days before the opening 
 of the school, I was delighted to learn that she was to be 
 one of my pupils. In the hurry and excitement of the arri¬ 
 vals it was very difficult to tell who was who. My first 
 recollection of her is of the housekeeper coming to me and 
 saying, “ Miss Osborn begs to have her room changed. 
 She has been for five years in a country where there is so 
 much cloud and darkness that she longs for the sunshine.” 
 Immediately she was transferred to a sunny corner which 
 was not far from my own room. 
 
 It had been a great desire of mine to establish a mission¬ 
 ary society among the young women. Never could there 
 have been a more favorable opportunity. Miss Osborn was 
 one of us and would gladly help. It was not long before 
 we had a missionary society organized, bearing the Japanese 
 name, “Fujiu Korai,” which really means “Woman’s 
 Meeting.” To this society Miss Osborn disclosed her two 
 great plans: One was, to bring Mrs. Satoh, then Miss 
 Imai, to America to study; the other, to build a Home for 
 Girls. We could not do anything toward the Home, but 
 we could do something toward helping Miss Imai. We 
 were inspired by the promise that she was to study with us, 
 and a canvass was made among the students. How well I 
 remember Miss Osborn as she came so gently and quietly 
 into the dining-room, wearing a Japanese kimono, which, 
 with her slight figure and dark hair and eyes, made us 
 imagine that she was somewhat like the people with whom 
 she had been living. 
 
 She staid with us but one term, but she was a great 
 inspiration and help during that short period. Her con¬ 
 stant attendance upon all the church services, her advice 
 
when hard problems arose, her willingness to give herself 
 freely whenever and wherever she could be of service, have 
 never been forgotten. I used to wish the Board would 
 give her more time for rest. She seemed ever on the wing. 
 There are many vivid pictures of her carrying her heavy 
 suitcase and rushing out of the front door to catch the car 
 for the station. 
 
 In February of 1901 she returned to Japan, and on her 
 way to the Coast she changed cars at Galesburg. Long 
 before the time we made our plans. We would all go to 
 the eight o’clock train to say good-by. She should know 
 that we appreciated her a little at least. Alas for our plans ! 
 Galesburg’s deepest snow of the season fell that day, and 
 by night not a street car could move. I would not be 
 baffled, and waded through the drifts to take to her not 
 only my own farewell, but those of the entire household. 
 It was a dreary scene ; the snow falling thick and fast, the 
 brother and Mr. Satoh helping her from one train to another, 
 with only a few minutes to spare, the long journey she was 
 to make alone, the sadness of her friends,—all these things 
 made many words impossible. Just a good-by, and she 
 went away. Little did either of us dream at that time that 
 when we met again it would be in Japan. 
 
 At rare intervals after that came messages from her. 
 We were prone to complain because they were so few. The 
 other side of the matter has long since become clear to me. 
 
 One thought during my voyage to Japan always brought 
 happiness: when it was over and I reached the foreign 
 shore, Miss Osborn would be there to greet me. On May 
 20, 1905, I walked into the yard of the Blackmer Home 
 and we met once more. This time I saw such a frail, 
 tired little woman. It did not seem possible that she could 
 do the work that she was then carrying on. The Home was 
 so well managed, and so many friends were constantly com¬ 
 ing for lessons and advice. I thought her marvellous. It 
 seemed to me that I had never seen any one so beloved as 
 she was. On every side there were signs of deepest affec¬ 
 tion. 
 
 Gradually she gained in strength, and when it was time 
 for her to go back to America on her second furlough, came 
 
the great honor which the Japan Woman’s University con¬ 
 ferred upon her by asking her to take charge of one of its 
 dormitories. 
 
 It would take a volume to tell of her work here in Japan. 
 With an indomitable will she continued amid discourage¬ 
 ments from many sources that would have caused most men 
 to give up. Her faith in that Love which will surely con¬ 
 quer sustains her through every trial. The Universalist 
 Church can hardly realize what it owes to this one woman. 
 Through her efforts the Blackmer Home was built. It alone 
 is a monument to her earnest, persistent labours. But that 
 is not all. She lives in the hearts of many people. Both 
 in Tokyo and in the outposts our women look upon her as 
 a mother. She is welcome in the homes of the rich and in 
 the hovels of the poor. Her deep sympathy with all the 
 needs of the people for whom she works awakens a re¬ 
 sponsive chord in their hearts. She does not simply teach 
 in word, but she teaches also in deed, and they realize. Her 
 purse is always drained to help some one. How she can 
 do so many things and do them well is a problem which we 
 cannot solve. 
 
 Not only do the Japanese themselves esteem her highly, 
 but the foreigners in other missions also appreciate her 
 power. When we are studying examples of sacrifice and 
 devotion to work in the foreign field, let us never forget that 
 one woman who has sacrificed and suffered, and is still sac¬ 
 rificing and suffering, belongs to us. Let us give her the 
 homage that is due her while we have her with us. Let us 
 show her that we appreciate her. How? Not alone by 
 being kind and loyal to her, but by being loyal to the work 
 which she is doing. She is giving not only her means, but 
 her life, her all. We at least can do something if we can¬ 
 not do all. One great prayer should ascend from all our 
 hearts and that is, that she may be spared many years to 
 the work for which by nature, by experience, by her very 
 life itself, she is so well adapted. 
 
 Issued by the Women’s National Missionary Association of the 
 Universalist Church, 359 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 
 Second edition 1915.