LETTERS 'WVd missionaries And other Information concerning their LA-BOns I3Sr JiABA.KT, Under the auspices of the Board of Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in the United States. S&-T/ie Pasiors, to whom this pamphlet is sent, are most earnestly requested to read and circulate the same amons: their people, and call their prayerful attention to its contents. Remit to the Treasurer, if agreeable, thirty cents, by postdl 7iote^ for this package. Published by order of the Executive Committee. hareisburg ihe hahrisbueg telegraph print. 2 Two, only, of the following letters have been published in our church papers, but as many thousands of our members unfortunately do not take a church paper, the Executive Committee resolved to present them, with other statistics, in pamphlet form. It is of the highest importance that they should be read with prayerful consideration. It is believed that we have been guided in the selection of our missionaries by a special Providence. Now that the church has entered upon the work and its missionaries have met with such encouraging success, it behooves Ministers, Elders, Deacons, and people to sec- ond their efforts by fervent prayer and liberal contributions. A lot of ground must be purchased, and a suitable school building erected thereon, as soon as sufficient funds are furnished. To this end we earnestly request our pastors to use every means within their power to give their respective congregations information on the subject, and to secure increased contributions. This has been done by many of our pastors, and their charges have nobly responded. Let their example be followed by their brethren in the ministry, and the people will cheerfully contribute what may be re- quired. The Lord has so blessed the efforts of these faith- ful pastors that, up to this time, the treasurer has been able to meet all demands, and the Board of Commissioners is now, as it has always heretofore been, free from debt. Its past policy in this respect must not be changed. Our people have abundant means to support a much more extensive work, and all that is required by them, is to have an intel- ligent knowledge of the wants of the mission, and of the spiritual destitution of those among whom our beloved missionaries are laboring. Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions of the Re- forrried Church in the United States. President — Rev. David Van Horne, D. D., Vice-President — Rev. Clement Z. Weiser, D. D., Secretary — Rev. Thomas S. Johnston, D. D., Rev. Nicholas Gehr, D. D., Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., Rev. Benjamin Bausman, D. D., Rev. Samuel G. Wagner, D. D., Rev. A. Carl Whitmer, Elder Golds- borough S. Griffith, Elder Benjamin Kuhns, Elder Wil- liam H. Seibert, Elder Rudolph F. Kelker, Treasurer. 3 Names and present post-office address of our missionaries. Rev. Ambrose D. Gring, 28 Tsukiji, Tokio, Japan. Rev. Jairus P. Moore, No. 50 Kami Nibancho, Tokio, Japan. Rev. William E. Hoy, No. 16 Minami Machi Tori, Sendai, Miyagi Ken, Japan. Miss Lizzie R. Poorbaugh and Miss Mary B. Ault, No. 35 Higashi Yobancho, Sendai, Miyagi Ken, Japan. Rates of Postage to Japan : Letters 5 cents a half ounce, or fraction thereof; Postal Cards 2 cents each ; Registra- tion fee TO cents ; Printed Matter and samples of Merchan- dize, I cent for each two ounces, or fraction thereof. Joint Schedule showing sailing of Steamers of the Occi- dental and Oriental Steamship Company, and the Pacific Mail Steamship Co77ipany, between San Fra7tcisco and Yokohama. Distance from Sa7i Francisco to Yokohama, 4,800 miles, and fro7n Yokohama to Sendai, about 2po miles. STEAMER. OUTWARD. HOMEWARD. Leave SAN FRANCISCO 2 P. M. Arrive YOKOHAMA about Leave YOKOHAMA about Arrive SAN FRANCISCO about 1887. 1887. 1887. 1887. Belgic, Jan. II Feb. I March 5 March 21 City of Peking, . . . Jan. 22 Feb. 12 March 16 April 1 San Pablo, Feb. I Feb. 22 March 26 April II City of Sydney, . . . Feb. 12 March 5 April 6 April 22 Oceanic, Feb. 24 March 17 April IS May 1 City of Rio de Janerio,. March 5 March 26 April 24 May 10 Gaelic, March 15 April 5 May 4 May 20 City oi JNew York, . . March 24 April 14 May 14 May 30 Belgic, April 2 April 23 May 25 June 10 City of Peking, . . . April 12 May 3 June 3 June 19 San Pablo April 21 May 12 June 12 June 28 City of Sydney, . , . May 3 May 24 June 22 July 8 Oceanic, May 12 June 2 July I July 17 City of Rio de Janeiro, . May 21 June 11 July 10 July 25 Gaelic, May 31 June 21 luly 20 Aug. s City of New York, . . June 1 1 July 2 July 30 Aug. IS Belgic, June 21 July 12 Aug. 10 Aug. 26 City of Peking, . . . July 2 July 23 Aug. 20 Sept. s 4 1. Communications relating to the missionary work in Japan, should be addressed to Rev. Thomas S. Johnston, D. D., Secretary, Lebanon, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. 2. All moneys should be remitted to Rudolph F. Kelker, Treasurer, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and should be by draft, check, or money order, payable to his order as Treas- urer. 3. Moneys, or articles of any description designed for the use of a particular missionary, must be forwarded by the parties themselves who donate them, and should not be sent to the Treasurer. 4. As our mission is yet in its infancy, with its plans not fully matured, it is better that all donations should be un- designated, so that the Board may apply them, as they shall deem best for the interests of the cause. If, however, any church, missionary society, Sunday-school, or individual, desires to make a donation, for the education of a young man in Rev. Hoy’s theological class, or the annual support of a pupil in the Female Seminary opened by the Misses Poorbaugh and Ault, they can do so, by addressing the Secretary, Rev. T. S. Johnston, D. D., who will correspond with the missionary and obtain the name of such beneficiary as the mission can recommend as a suitable person, and also ascertain the expense to be incurred. All beneficiary students, or pupils, must be registered in the books of the Board, as well as the names of the parties pledging them- selves for their annual support, payment of which must be forwarded to the Treasurer semi-annually in advance. FORM OF BEQUEST. I hereby give, bequeath, and devise unto “ The Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in the United States, incorporated in 1881,” {the sum of dollars, Ss^ci) 5 Extract from a Letter From Miss Mary B. Ault to F. F. Kelker, dated at Sendai, September ij, 1886, before the opening of the Girls' School. The American mail came in yesterday and brought us all good news. We always feel glad when we get the news from home. I wish I could tell you just how happy I am in my new home. I am now where I long wished to be. The work is before us ; the harvest is very ripe. What a glorious work it will be to raise the women of Sendai. Oh, they need to be raised from their degraded condition, and to be taught of Christ. How I long to do something at once. It seems so hard not to be able to use one’s tongue. We had expected to open our school on the fif- teenth, but did not succeed in getting the papers through the government. All that is wanting now isthe Governor’s seal. He had company last week, and so said he could not attend to it, and this week he went off on a pleasure trip. He is expected back to-day, and we hope to open school on Monday. But we cannot be at all sure. These people are so slow they do not appear to have any idea of time. However, we must just be patient. The slowness is one of the trials of the missionaries in this country. I think we will have a right good number to start with. We know for sure of twelve girls. We had some desks and chairs made, and everything is now in order. The rainy season has set in and everything is covered with mold. One must be brushing shoes, and clothes, and rubbing books frequently to keep them clean. Last week we had a short excursion. The party con- sisted of several Japanese, Mr. Hoy, and ourselves. We left our home at six o’clock in the morning, and went in jinrikishas to Matsushima, one of the eight famous places in Japan. It is distant from here fifteen miles, and is situ- ated on Sendai Bay. This bay contains eight hundred and eighty-eight islands. Arrivingat the coast by nine o’clock, we spent a short time in looking around us, and then en- tered a “sampaw,” or row-boat, for one of the islands. As we drew near to it I wondered how we would land, for all around us, far as we could see, there appeared a solid wall of rock rising ten or twelve feet above the water, but 6 just then we turned a corner and stopped, and there before us was a flight of steps cut out of what looked like solid rock. We tied the boat and climbed to the top of the island, and there under some tall pine trees we spread our table and enjoyed a hearty dinner. Near by was a shrine in which we found an old image in a very dilapidated condition. A short distance in an opposite direction was a temple ; and in it an immense image. What thoughts filled my mind as I stood and looked at the hideous looking object. Here many persons bowed, and brought offerings to a block of wood that could never do them any good. It is indeed sad to think of it. After resting a while we again got into the boat, and had the men row us around among the islands. About four o’clock we went to land and there visited a very large tem- ple. Of course, before entering, we had to take off our shoes. The building is divided into a number of rooms, in some the floors are covered with tatami or mats, in oth- ers they are highly polished. In every room there was an image ; the image in the main chamber was very fine. On the altar were a number of very large candle-sticks. They were of bronze overlaid with gold, several vases of brightly colored paper flowers, and some beautiful lacquer trays, on which money was placed before the image. The walls in this room were hung with real gold paper. In another room we saw some very wonderful pictures, two hundred and fifty years old. The carving in the different rooms is very fine, considering how long ago it was done. There is a monastery or school for training priests adjoin- ing the temple. After seeing everything, we were invited to go over. We did so, and there met a very old Chinese .priest. He asked if Miss Poorbaugh and I were women ; so many persons here say we are men. After drinking a cup of tea, we said sayonara, (good-bye,) and went back to the hotel ; and after gathering up all our traps, we turned our faces homeward. The roads are always good in this country, and it was a bright moonlight night, so we enjoyed the ride very much. The scenery along the way is very fine. I could not help but wish that you and Dr. Johnston could be here to see things just as they are. We reached home by eight o’clock, tired, but all feeling that we had enjoyed the day. We are going to start a 7 union English prayer-meeting for the missionaries in Sen- dai. I think it will do us all good ; for you can scarcely imagine how hungry we get for an English service. We will meet every Saturday everting. ^ Signed, Mary B. Ault. o Letter from Miss Poorbaugh. 35 Higashi Yobancho, Sendai, Japan, Ocf . 25, 1886 . Dear Dr. Johnston : Now that the Reformed Chnrch has at last a school for girls in Japan, it is but right that our people know something definite concerning it, and it gives me great pleasure to be able to write an account of our work, which is in such a promising condition. Our getting settled in Japan was a very delightful epi- sode in our experience of life in a foreign country, and thus far nothing has occurred to mar our delight. On the contrary, our interest in the people and country, but espe- cially in the mission work going forward around us, in- crease with each new day. We began the second month of our first term of school this morning; and looking back over the past month, we have cause to be much encouraged at the obvious fact that the Lord is with us in this work, to bless and prosper our efforts in belalf of the girls of Sendai. As I told you before, we started in a very humble way : two small rooms and a little (very rude) furniture is all we have found necessary to our purpose at present, together with the books Mr. Kelker sent us. Those books were re- ceived in last week’s mail, and made glad the hearts of our girls this morning. Up to this time we had been using Swinton’s first reader and a set of charts, which I had brought with me from home. From these our twenty-four pupils are making very satisfactory progress. Moreover, while they are learning English, they are also learning that which is of more importance to them, viz : of re- demption through the blood of Christ. When we began with our girls a month since, only four were in any way interested in Christianity ; now all of them go regularly to the public services at the church, be- sides being interested students of the Bible, under our di- 8 rection, both in school and Sunday-school, and a number are looking forward to receiving baptism some time in the near future. While we give them religious instruction every day, to- gether with prayer, the singing of hymns, and a very special lesson every Friday with the help of our personal teachers, yet we miss the help we might have in pictorial religious books and papers for them. We have organized a Sunday-school for them, and not one of them has yet been absent, except in one case of a death in the family of one of the girls. There is one feature of the school which is particularly pleasing. I refer to a class of very little girls to whom Miss Ault devotes an hour every day. They are, for the most part, children of Christian parents ; and though they are small yet, we hope to do very much for them, as it is probable that we shall have them eight or ten years. A touching little incident occurred the other morning. While I was hearing a very quiet recitation (being mostly written) there arose suddenly, on the other side of the paper walls, a sound of sweet music — soft, low, but clear and distinct. I listened, and presently the words of that hymn — so attractive to all children — struck my ear: “ Little children come to Jesus, Hear Him saying come to me.” Stepping to the door, I found half a dozen dusky little maids, sitting in a circle on the floor, their eyes shining like stars, and on their faces an expression of purest pleasure, and my soul thanked the Lord that some one was bringing these little ones so early to their Saviour. Every day incidents are occurring which tell us more and more clearly how ripe is the harvest ! how urgent the need of more laborers ! To-day I carried a set of pictures, representing scenes from the life of Christ, to our dining-room, for the pur- pose of some little mucilaginous repairing they needed. Presently a little girl of about thirteen years of age, who has been about us so much that she has learned to under- stand a little English, was standing by my side gazing with rapt attention upon the colored plates. As best I could, I began the explanation of the pictures, and, as if by magic, a circle of eager listeners was formed about us, the 9 child’s father, who knows a good deal of English, but is not yet a Christian, acting the part of interpreter. And thus are we and our teachings received wherever we go. The testimony of all missionaries here is the same, that everywhere the people are waiting and eager to hear of the Gospel of Christ. This, now, is the bright side of the work, but there is another which oppresses one heavily. Until one has been among the people daily and seen for himself the benighted state in which this multitude of people are living, it is im- possible to have an adequate conception of the utter deg- redation of heathenism. One feature which forces itself upon us most painfully in reference to the children of the nation, is the lack of home life for them. As one passes along the streets of the city, all that there is of home for the myriads of people forming the lower strata of society is visible; and oh ! the poverty and degradation that is their portion. When we say poverty, we mean not so much a want of the necessa- ries of a physical life as of a spiritual and intellectual. Even among the better classes, where there is not the pub- licity ot life that exists among the lower orders, one need see but little of it to be convinced of the impossibility of girls developing into earnest Christian women, in such homes. Into these homes our girls return after each day’s instruction. All the morning we are teaching them, pray- ing with and for them, and in the afternoon they return to homes where the Evil One has the greatest opportunity to devour the seed sown in the morning; and it is so easy to destroy spiritual impressions. This makes us long for a day when, in a house of our own, we can keep the girls away from all adverse influences. All the girls we have in school at present, with one or two exceptions, would be only too glad to have their homes with us, if we could ac- commodate them. We earnestly hope the church at home will perceive the urgency of this need, and take measures at once to erect a school building. By the beginning of another year it ought to be ready for us. May God open the hearts of His favored children to a full appreciation of the wants of their perishing brethren here, and move them to a fuller exercise of that Christ-like love which will never say 10 enough till all the ends of the earth shall know and con- fess Christ to be the Lord. Yours in Christian love, Lizzie R. Poorbaugh. 0 Letter from Rev. W. E. Hoy. Sendai, Japan, December ij, 1886. Dear Father Kelker : How glad I am that you re- ceived the silver coin. May the good Lord bless it and increase its value many hundredfold, as you show it to your friends. The name of the widow is Chika Kami, She gave the money to Mr. Oshikawa, the pastor of Sendai church, and I bought the coins from him. I will name our theological boys in the order of their promise: i. Shimanuki, 2. Matsuta, 3. Tamura, 4. Abe, 5. Hayasaka, 6. Hashimoto, 7. Suzuki. The last men- tioned one is self-supporting. Mr. Shimanuki is already worth more than I have paid for all of them. His progress is cheering. Miss Mary B. Ault very kindly teaches these young men the rudiments of music. On December i, I rounded my first year of Japan, and on this anniversary I finished my first sermon in Japanese. Up to that date I had also written a Japanese prayer, and made some translations. Though greatly encouraged, I feel, of course, that I have but a mere beginning in this difficult language. Yesterday I administered the Lord’s Supper, and preach- ed my first sermon in the Japanese language. I am happy. I thank God for this privilege of serving Him in a strange country, and in a strange tongue. I have a good begin- ning in the language, but that is all. Years, and years alone, of hard study can bring one a full linquistic fluency and efficiency. But I am grateful for what I already have. I love this study. Some of the native Christians think the Holy Spirit is aiding me in my studies. At any rate I need not be discouraged. Miss Poorbaugh and Miss Ault’s school is moving on nicely. I pray God that the Board may see the way open to supply tire needs of the ladies. If you value the health of the ladies, if you desire to relieve them from unnecessary care and worry, if you love God, and souls, and pure wo- manhood, then, as a Board, for God’s sake, and for wo- 11 man’s sake, let this girl’s school grow as rapidly as possi- "ble. Make great sacrifices, if necessary, for it. The call Is Divine. We must hear. Oh, that we had more men ! The longer I am here, the more I do and learn ; the more I learn to see what the -worth of a soul is ; the louder comes the call. Our church Is losing an untold blessing by her slowness. We are not impatient. We only see, and hear, and feel. God help ! **#*«•**» Yours in the Lord, W. E. Hoy. - Sendai, Japan, Dec. 14, 1886. Dear Doctor Johnson : On December ist, I rounded the first year of my missionary life in Japan, and on this anniversary I completed my first sermon in the Japanese language. Last Sunday, December 12th, I was down in Iwanuma, a town thirteen miles from Sendai, and ad- ministered the Lord’s Supper to the thirty-seven Christians there, and preached my first Japanese sermon. There was, of course, a quiet joy. The Christians said that the Holy Spirit must have been present in my thought and study. A little service in a strange tongue brings one nearer to the Father. As a natural thing, encouragement dwelleth in mind and heart. But elation has not arisen. Difficulties of .pronunciation and construction come in upon one con- stantly and keep him humble. I feel like a child climb- ing a steep mountain side, if, haply, some day the summit may be reached, and a flower that was born nearer the rising sun be gathered. Language, in its depth, is a life work. One year’s toil, labor with what zeal you will, is but a stepping-stone before the temple of the foreign mind. To gain entrance into the holy of holies requires many years of training for the linguistic priesthood. But even from the outer court the truth eternal may be proclaimed. Nor need one be ashamed to walk along the corridors ■of the Word-King’s palace, and see the imperial life within the stately apartments ; for some day the touch of knight- hood may confer royal privileges. For the present, Ich Dien is the only title. ’Tis enough. The taste of language makes the blood run young; and the life of words addeth flesh unto one’s mental bones. So let it be. Yours sincerely, W. E. Hoy. 12 Sendai, Japan, November 1886. Dear Doctor Johnston : Our missionary field here im the North is known as the Miyagi Chukwai. A Chukwai corresponds to our Classis at home. Last week we held au meeting. Tuesday and Wednesday were occupied by bus- iness. Reports from the churches were read, and measures- adopted for our work in the future. Two men, Mr. San-- nomiya and Mr. Ikai, were examined and licensed ta preach as evangelists. Mr. Fujiu was examined for ordi- nation. The first two men answered nearly all my ques- tions in the examination. Mr. Fujiu answered promptly and correctly. He is a bright young man. He studied theology in Yokohoma. For several years he was con- nected with the publication of a newspaper. Last spring, in answer to a strong appeal from us, he came to our as- sistance, and began to work at Fukushima. He had also- at the same time an offer from the Japanese government to visit Germany, England, and America on official business, at a salary of eighty dollars a month, and all expenses paid. This was a temptation to him, but he took the matter to- the Lord, and was led to accept our call at a very low sal- ary. He is happy now. On Wednesday evening Mr. Os- hikawa and I, by the solemn laying on of hands, consecra- ted this earnest young soul to the service of Christ. On Thursday afternoon and evening public lectures oir Christianity were delivered in one of the theaters of Sendai.. About three hundred persons attended in the afternoon. The audience in the evening swelled to fifteen hundred. The attention was good, and happy fruits may follow. On Saturday the Christians and the missionaries of Sen- dai passed the time in a public garden, on a hill south ofi the city. The social feeling ran high. Here is a list of the churches and their members : *Sendai 196 Iwanuma, 37' Hakodate, , . . .^ 52 Ishinomaki 25 Fumkawa, 211 Fukushima, 13 Total, 344 *Self-supporting, and liberal in giving. The addition to the church in Sendai since the first of' 13 May, is thirty-five. Those of Fukushima are the direct fruit of our mission moving to Sendai. Some of the souls added to the list in Sendai were influenced by us. Natives and foreigners are working together for the prosperity of these churches. The Christians of the Sendai church, in- fluenced by somej suggestions made them, have organized for systematic work in the city. Six Sunday-schools are being opened, and two new preaching places. The work moves. Mr. Yoshida, Mr. Sugeta, Mr. Hitome, Mr. Sannomiya, and Mr. Ikai, are the licensed evangelists, unordained. Rev. Oshikawa, Rev. Fujiu, and Rev. Hoy, are the or- dained ministers. We number eight — a hopeful, happy band. Our lines have fallen in pleasant places. Chukwai will petition our Board, and our church for two new missionary fajiiilies. What will the answer be? What should it be? Who will be the next? And to-morrow I will visit the thirty-seven Christians at Iwanuma. I hope to spend the following Sabbath with them. I go with Mr. Yoshida. Souls are being saved. The hope of the native brethren and of the missionaries rises in faith. Yours sincerely, W. E. Hoy. Extract from a Letter from Rev. A. D. Gring. Tokio, Deceviber ji, 1886. Dear Doctor Johnson : In my last, I promised to tell you what I saw and heard during my visit in Sendai. We left Tokio at noon on the 17th of November, and arrived in Sendai stronger than when we started on the evening of the 20th. Landing at the stage depot, we were soon seat- ed in jinrikishas, ready to proceed to the house of the la- dies. A few moments and we were at the outside door of the large court-yard, where we were welcomed by Miss Poorbaugh and Miss Ault and Kittie, ^d our dear brother Hoy, who had just come from home to meet us at the home of our dear ladies. We were all glad to see each other again. Since we had last met, we had passed through that' terrible scourge, the cholera, that swept over a great portion of Japan, carrying off some forty thousand people. In Tokio alone the daily death rate reached as 14 nigh as three hundred to four hundred. For a while we felt comparatively secure in the foreign settlement on ac- count of our being able to look after our houses and drink- ing water; but a few weeks after my return from Sendai, we (Mrs. Gring, Brainerd, and myself) were taken with the dreadful disease. By the close attention of the physician, and by the kind hand of Providence, we were all, in four or five days, restored to our usual health. We all felt as though our -lives were given back to us; and, oh! so thankful were we. Terrible were those days of suspense. I was taken first, and barely recovered sufficiently to wait on the rest. Two of our friends, who were waiting on Mrs. Gring, were both taken, and barely escaped with their lives. A number of the missionaries were taken ill, and for several weeks a dark and heavy cloud hung over the spirits of the dwellers of our little community. A few foreigners did die, but none of the missionary community. This fact made our meeting in Sendai delightful to us, ^nd our visit there especially interesting. We found the ladies well and in excellent spirits, and Brother Hoy as full of hope and zeal as ever. How very nice it was to sit down to that evening meal in that cosy dining-room — all happy and well. Three or four days eating from the floor, with Japanese food, with Japanese chop-sticks (two straight sticks used to eat with, in place of knives and forks) is quite sufficient to enable one to relish a foreign meal again. Japanese soups are good, their cold and warm fish excellent, and their rice nicely cooked ; but, after all, the old is best. For a little while it is well- enough to do as the natives do, but can’t do it long. We are a meat and bread-eating race. The meal being over, a little chat and evening worship, my second son, Brainerd, and myself accompanied Brother Hoy to his home, but three minutes walk around the cor- ner, and to which Brother Hoy had removed since I last saw him. Our stay, of t-wo weeks and a-half, was exceedingly pleasant, and I cannot but think very profitable. The la- dies, of course, were busy with their school, which I found in a very encouraging condition. Brother Hoy I found as regular and busy as ever in acquiring the language and in the evangelistic training-school and other duties belong- ing to a missionary. The earnestness and love for the 15 work, which I saw in all of these faithful missionaries, en- couraged me greatly ; and, what is still more, they have taken in the situation, and are working as laborers inspired by the great harvest before them. Before our arrival in Sendai, and during our stay there, the Church was deeply moved to new fervor and zeal. Daily early morning prayer-meetings were held, and many were truly benefited by them. On the first Sunday of De- cember, I baptized seven persons — one, the vice-president of the local assembly in Sendai. I also administered com- munion to the assembled congregation with much joy and spiritual benefit to my own soul. Brother Oshikawa, a very earnest, spiritual and able native minister, who had just returned from a visit to one of the large towns or cities within our territory, made a very earnest appeal to his church people to give themselves a living sacrifice to God. He also urged upon them the necessity of their go- ing on with their proposed church building, in which they might worship God more acceptably. He gave them an instance of a church in one of the towns that was largely built by the effort of a few students. He told them, among other things, that if they had no money, but had two coats, they should sell the one and give the proceeds to the Church. As he sat down, a man, comparatively poor, handed in his name for twenty-five dollars for the church. Our ladies have in their own house both a Japanese and an English Sunday-school. The members of the Japanese department are girls mainly from their school. The Eng- lish school is composed almost entirely of foreigners and their children, who are taught by Miss Ault, while the studies of the older portion are led by Brother Hoy. If I remember rightly, the Church has organized six Sunday- schools throughout the city, where also there is preaching. At one of these, I was asked to teach a class of twenty boys the rudiments of English at night, during my stay, which I was happy to do, and which I also enjoyed. One beautiful morning, my son Brainerd and myself, visited the ladies school, during session. The little rooms were filled with tables, benches and pupils. There was scarcely room to turn. Instead of stoves, there were char- coal fire boxes on the floor; instead of windows, there 16 were rice paper shofis (sliding doors) which gave but a fee- ble light. I was pleased with the appearance of the pupils^ and also with the mode of teaching. • I thought in looking at our two excellent leaders, and the nice company of girls- before me, what doth hinder us having a hundred or a hundred and fifty such girls? We should have a nice lot of ground in a good part of the city, which can easily be had; a large and substantial school-building, with proper recitation-rooms, good light, and improved furnishings; a dormitory large enough to accommodate at least seventy- five pupils. We have two amply qualified teachers and a nucleus of some forty-one girls, an excellent beginning in the northern Tokio of Japan, with large out-lying cities and towns, where we now have, and hope to have more churches established, which will feed our schools. The Church has sent out as well qualified teachers as I know of,, among the lady missionary teachers of Japan, and now these ladies should have the proper apparatus by which to use their gifts to the best advantage. This promptly given, will soon secure from the citizens of Sendai and neighbor- hood a confidence which will insure their hearty co-opera- tion, and thus we shall be able in a few years to establish the largest and most influential ladies’ seminary in all north Japan. We are the first in the field, and have every means of success, provided the Church at home gives the proper and timely aid. On another afternoon I accompanied Brother Hoy to the Evangelistic Training School of Sendai. We started off to. walk there. As we walked Brother Hoy occasionally apolo- gized for it being so far out, in so an obscure part of the city, by reminding me that Rome was not built in a day, and that many of the most influential men and cities of the world rose from obscurity. Yes, yes, I thought. Christ was born in Bethlehem, and the small Jewish nation the greatest people in the world. But it was not to imitate Christ or Rome or the Jewish people that the Evangelistic School of Sendai was opened in so obscure a part of the city, but to save rent. I think Brother Hoy told me they paid $3 50 per month rent. Seven good young men were in attendance. These were taught English the first hour, followed by an exposition of the Gospel of John interpreted by Brother Oshikawa. After this Brother Oshikawa gave 17 them several hours from Japanese text-books prepared for seminary students. Here again, I was most favorably im- pressed, and saw in these few young men and two profes- sors, a mighty power in the hands of Almighty God for good. Here again I was constrained to ask the question, what doth hinder us from making this very hopeful, though small Evangelistic Training School, the largest and most influential Theological Seminary in all northern Japan, where our young men called to the ministry may be prop- erly equipped for their great work? Nothing is required but a modest little building with recitation-rooms, properly, but humbly, fitted up, and a dormitory to accommodate about thirty students and located more centrally. With this we should have a benificiary fund to aid poor, but worthy young men. Five dollars a month or sixty dollars a year will be quite sufficient aid for a single student. If we had a thousand dollars a year for this work, we should soon nave in the field, men, as well and in many respects better qualified to do evangelistic work among the people now, than those who are educated at much greater cost, abroad. Our hope is in our native young men whom we can train for the ministry. These are to take the largest part of the evangelization of Japan. These must be educated in this land, that they may not be above and beyond the means of the people in their requirem'ents. If we had the means and the men prepared, we could at this time employ twenty men and more, to the eternal salvation of many souls, and to the great glory of our Lord. By next year we hope to have at least fifteen or twenty young men in this school. JVt'N not so7ne one supply the necessary aid ? It is impossible to say now what all I saw and heard dur- ing our stay of nearly three weeks in Sendai. I can only say that the more I see and hear of the field given to our mission to till for the Lord, the more I am impressed with its magnitude and grandeur, and of our responsibility as touching the salvation of many thousands of these people. My hope is in the Lord of the harvest, whom we continu- ally entreat to send forth more laborers into the field. We feel confident that the Lord has those in our Church by whom He will send forth these much prayed for laborers. Our only desire is that the people should come to feel the throb of our work there, and we feel sure that she will re- 18 spond to it. Never, certainly, in the history of our Church has there been so fine a heathen field of labor lit- erally thrust upon us. The eyes of these people are upon us, and the eyes of our sister Churches, too, are upon us. They all congratulate us on our field, and among the younger missions, certainly none are so highly favored. We work now within a large territory — not within crevices. Our field is inspiring, and worthy of our strong and influ- ential Church. Since our coming to Japan, I have longed for a territory for our mission to work in, in which we could have our schools and seminary and churches. This, by the grace of God for our great encouragement, is given us ; now let us till it for the Lord with all our strength. Let me show you by the statistical report of last year sent me by Brother Hoy what I mean by our great work in the North : Number of members reported at meeting of Classis : Names of Churches. Men. Women Sendai, • . 67 Iwanuma, ■ • 33 4 Ishinomaki, . . . . 3 Fumkawa, . . 14 6 Hakodate • ■ 31 17 Fukushima, . . 12 I Children. 2 I 4 Total, 239 98 Number of members received during year: Names of Churches. Men. Sendai, 22 Iwanuma, 13 Ishinomaki, 5 Fumkawa, 7 Fukushima, 12 7 Women. 12 2 I Total, 59 IS Contributions during the year for all purposes : Sendai, $529 ii; Ishinomaki, ^35 75; Iwanuma, ^113 73; Fum- kawa, ^60 00; Hakodate, ^436 55; Total, ;^i,i75 55. Number of pupils in Sendai Girl’s School, 41; Sendai Evangelistic School, 9 ; Evangelists at work, 5 ; Minis- ters, 3. This little table will give a good idea of the work. Since the meeting of Classis, a number have been received. r 19 You see also that these people are doing something for themselves, and are specially worthy of help. They have become our people, and we must provide them the Gospel. Let the Church now -come forward with her gifts and offer them to the Lord for His great work. Our visit being ended in Sendai, we left on Wednesday morning. The ride home was delightful. We arrived Friday noon. We praise the Lord for His care over us, and we pray that by these poor descriptions of our visit, both the people in Northern Japan and our Church in America may be equally blessed. Yours in Christ. A. D. Gring. ■■■.■■ 'M '-'•/ 1“' ' ..:>■ v.Oi ' '..I tliX' • ■ ' a- /'.■■■ . ' \ ■ '■ 'N h.