minutes; OF THE "^ .^ .. CONFERENCE OF MISSIONARIES OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION IN JAPAN TOGETHER WITH PNUTES OF THE UNIOf( CONFERENCE OF BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN HELD IN YOKOHAMA, APRIL 5-8, 189 2. y YOKOHAMA : Feinted by the " Seishi Bunsha." OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE MISSIONARIES OF THE A. B. M. U. IN JAPAN. APRIL Gth, 1892. President C. H. D. Fisher. Vice President C. K. Harkington. Secretary S. W. Hamblen. -P, L- rt -ii f F. G. Harrington, G. W. Taft, S. Executive Committee | ^^ Hamblen. Statistician J. L. Bearing. Preacher G. W. Taft. Alternate T. E. Shoemaker. COMMITTEES. /^„ -D-vi^ -D , v^,, f T. P. Poate, a. a. Bennett, C. K. Hakring- On Bible Kevision i t> r> -cr t^^tjt ( TON, F. G. Harrington, E. H. Jones. „ Bible Women's Work.. P^\l^. ^^V ^J^^^^^^' ^^'^^ ^' ^^' Bkow^e, " ( Miss N. J. Wilson. ,, Boys' School G.W. Taft, F.G. Harrington, J.L. Dearing. " ''"BuMmg' .."}!• P- ^"'^^^ »■ W. TAPt. R. A. Thomson. r<- i„) c^i.^^i^ (Miss A. H. Kidder, Miss C. A. Converse, " ^""^^ ^'^°°^' 1 Miss 0. M. Blun;, Miss L. Mead. XT ^ , ( R.A. Thomson, A.A. Bennett, Mrs. Sharland, " -^^^'^ ^^^ 1 Miss M. A. Whitman, Miss L. Mead. ,, Methods of Work (app'd 1 -c, TT t * a t> -n /-. tj in November, 1889) J ^'^' J°^^«' ^■^' Bennett, F.G. Harrington. „ Outline of Study for ( G. W. Taft, F. G. Harrington, C. H. D. Evangelists \ Fisher. „ Publication {^•^•-PT^'^^'S- J^- S^"^'^'' ^- ^' '^^^^^^ " (_ T. p. Poate, F. G. Harrington. ,, Recommendation of Men f C. H. D. Fisher, E. H. Jones, H. H. to the Home Boai'd. \ Rhees, D.D. „ Reenforcements P" jy- ^^r'T^^ ^' ^' ^""fv' ^ ^^ Thomson. " I Miss M. A. TS hitman. Miss E. R. Church. ,, Removal of Theological f C. K. Harrington, F. G. Harrington, G. W. School I Taft. ,, Salaries of Missionaries J. L. Dearing, R. A. Thomson, E. H. Jones. ,, Salaries of Native Help- f E. H. Jones, C, H. D. Fisher, A. A. Bennett, ers I Miss A. H. Kidder, Mrs. J. C. Brand. o,^.i„„ o„i,^^io (Miss M. A.Whitman, Miss E. R. Church, „ Sunday Schools | ^^^.^ ^ ^ ^ p^^^;^ Board of Management of J'^- ^^ ^' ^TTn^' ^' ^r'T""^ ^' ^' , -l Hamblen, A. A. Bennett, C. K. Harring- the Theological School. . , t:> /-. tt TON, F. G. Harrington. The next Conference will meet in Kobe, Wednesday, April 5th, 1893. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS AS ADOPTED AT KOBE, DECEMBER 29, 1890. CONSTITUTION. Name. — This Conference shall be called the Con- ference of the Missionaries of the American Baptist Missionary Union of Japan. Article 1. — The officers of the Conference shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, aud Executive Committee of three Members, one of whom shall be the Secretary. They shall be chosen by ballot at each Annual Meeting, and their term of office shall be for one year or until their successors are appointed. Article II. — Any missionary registered under the American Baptist Missionary Union may become a member of this Conference. Article III. — The Annual Meeting for hearing reports, for the election of officers, and for the trans- action of business shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Conference at the preceding Annual Meeting. Article IV. — In all cases directly effecting their work the female missionaries shall be entitled to vote. Article V. — It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all the formal meetings of the Con- ference, and to send a copy of such record to the Foreign Secretary ; to preserve on file all documents, and to keep a copy of the same for the mission file ; he shall also send a brief statement of contents or extracts from all important letters received from the Foreign Secre- tary to each member of the Conference. The Secretary shall be ex-of&cio the Secretary of the Executive Committee. Article VI. — It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to receive and arrange the order of business for the annual meeting. All business shall be present- ed in writing to the Committee not later than one week before the first business session ; business not so pre- sented may be admitted on vote of the Conference. The completed order of business shall be reported to the Conference for adoption at its first business session. In case of an emergency the executive Committee shall be empowered to call as pecial meeting of the Confer- ence after obtaining consent by letter of a majority of the members, they shall also be empowered to change the time and place of the Annual Meeting, pro- vided that two thirds of the members of the Conference give their consent to such a change. In case of a special meeting, or of a change in time or place of the Annual Meethig, notice must be sent to each member twenty days previous, of the time and place of said meeting. Article VII. — The Constitution may be amended by a vote of two thirds of the members present at the Annual Meeting. BY-LAWS. Article I. — All Sessions shall be opened with Devo- tional Exercises ; the President to appoint a leader for such meeting. Article II. — Near the Commencement of each Annual Meeting tbe President shall appoint a Com- mittee on Nominations. Article III. — In all cases of questions concerning parhamentary usage the ruling shall be according to Roberts Rules of Order. Article IV.— At each Annual Meeting one of the members shall be chosen to preach a Sermon at the next Annual Meeting. Article V.— All Committees shall have power to fill vacancies in their number ; such appointees shall be members of the Committee until the next regular meeting of the Conference. Article VI.— All Committees shall report in writ- ing. Article VII.— -No person shall be elected President, or preach the Annual Sermon, for two successive years. Article VIIL— There shall be an annual tax of fifty sen per year levied upon each member ; the same to be used for defraying the incidental expenses of the Conference. MINUTES OF THE COXFEEEXCE OF THE MISSION AEIES OF THE AMEEICAN BAPTIST MISSIONAEY UNION IN JAPAN, CONVENED IN YOKOHAMA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6th, 1S92. The Conference was called to order at 9.30 a.m. by Vice President Bennett. After devotional exercises led by J. L. Bearing the meeting was declared open for business. The Minutes of the preceding Conference were adopted as printed. The Order of Business presented by the Executive Committee was approved. A Nominating Committee was appointed by the Vice President as follows :—E. H.Jones. T. P. Poate. E. A. Thomson. The Conference then hstened to the Annual Sermon preached by Eev. J. C. Brand from the words, '* Now then we are embassadors for Christ," * 5 •siianj M CO C<1 £ •SIOOipH ^TJQ iH " I-H 1— 1 T-H uo •sticTna t- O U5 CO C5 •siooqos .SI.TIXO 1—1 iH -- I-l - •siooqos .sXoa •duis-TsquiaK CO CO -^ o - CO CC 00 t- CO 1-i •sinxjaa U5 CO ^ -^ ^ 2 •papnpxa ^ ■* O rH CO •pastug CO g •passuusta -# rH o ■j.Qn^l ^q 'P^QH liill work, led Mr. Arthur to say that he had learned what he had " in spite of his teachers." The Kanda river which fiows between Suruga Dai and Hongo was our first baptistery, and into this were led, from time to time, sixteen professing faith in the living Christ. Mr. Arthur with his own hands made a safe way down the steep embankment, and in this stream on November 6th 1875, the first Japanese woman, Uchida Hama, known to have received Christian baptism, was buried with Christ, from this grave to rise and work with — 32 — her risen Eedeemer. Mrs. Arthur, Dr. and Mrs. Cochran, Mrs. and Miss Yerbeck, Mrs. Brand, Mrs. Mac Arthur and the writer were the foreign witnesses of this beautiful sight. The school girls, and a few who had been coaxed to come together, stood with us on the south bank, while over on the Hongo side, in the street, crowds of passers-by stopped to gaze at the strange scene. In services of special worship, Mr. Arthur's face took on a rapt expression that looked as though he had come from a better country' and was hastening to return : Those who saw him for the first time as he administered this ordinance noticed this, and one said, " He looks too heavenly to stay here." Mr. Arthur's teacher and securit}' had troubled him exceedingly because great things in tlie line of school-work Avere not accomplished, and the contest finally became so sharp that they parted, and the residence papers were returned to the government, and a lawj-er whose only seejuing ambition was to make money tlien became security for pa}'. The servants caught the dissatisfaction and left, one after the other, to attend the funerals of aged relatives; and a new relay only faithfully did what their predecessors had j)erformed. I well remember the evening after Mr. Arthur and I had been to Mrs, Churchill's funeral. On returning home we found the servants all gone, the house cold and cheerless, a cold supper, looldng frozen from the way it was put on the table, and Mrs. Arthur, holding her little son and recounting the day's trials. Mr. Arthur dropped on the fioor saying, " All these things are against me." These hard experiences, together with Mr. Arthur's failing health, helped them to decide to remove to Yokohama, Januar^^ 17th 187G, where thej' lived with IMiss Sands. During this winter the Sabbath school, begun the previous autumn was kept up — I don't know how ; but people doul)tless came from curiosity to hear the strange singing, the reading from the foreigner's Seisho, and to unite in the Lord's Prayer. Mr. Poate, then teaching in the Tokyo Eigo Gakko, began to i^reach in Japanese, and kindly gave us one sermon every Sunday ; and, from time to time the Japanese boys, at work in Dr. Brown's printing office, would appear desiring to preach ; Suto San became very angry because he was not allowed to preach from Wilson's Reader. As he told Dr. Brown afterward, that he was going to discourse about the Flood it seemed during our years of waiting for the Seminary, hearing Parley's — 33 — History served up iu sermons, as if the care-taker might liave looked into the matter a httle more closely, and allowed the account of the Deluge to have been rehearsed. On the 14th of May 1876, the First Baptist Church of Tokyo was organized with live members ; three were baptized that day, and the woman, baptized the autumn before, and a young man came from the Yokohama church, by letter. The names of these lirst members, written in JajDanese by themselves are appended to the church covenant, translated b^' Mr. Arthur, and now at the Sarah Curtis Home, On the 23rd of this month Mr. and Mrs. Arthur returned to Tokyo. From this time the Sabbath was fully occupied, commencing with Sunday-school, followed with a sermon by Mr. Arthur. In the afternoon some of the native brethren spoke — tliey all wanted to in those early days — and at four o'clock, we often went to hold meetings at Samisen Bori where lived the Chinese teacher, afterwards converted, and baptized by Mr. Arthur. There was another preachiug service at seven in the evening. At both of tliese services Mr. Arthur loreached. If the places he opened could have beeji held, we should now have churches at Surnga Dai, Shitaya, Asakusa, Hongo, Nishiki Clio and Koishilcawa. Two whom Mr. Arthur w^as permitted to baptize have been ordained to preach the Gosx)el — our brethren Tori- yama and Suzuki — and are now giving proof of their ministry. Three have been Bible women, all known and loved " for their works' " sake, two being now with us; one went years ago to receive her "well done" from the Master. Toward the spring of 1877, Mr. Arthur with his family again went to Yokohama — to No. 75 Bliift* — hoiking to regain his fast waning strength, but as the weeks wore on, and his voice was reduced to a whisper, there seemed no other way but to decide to go to the home-land and try if health could there be found. "While in Yokohama their second son, Russell, was born. Mr. Arthur returned to Saruga Dai for one last Sabbath, to examine one of the school girls for whom he had often prayed, to lead her into the baptismal waters, and to administer the Lord's Supper to the little band of weeping- disciples. I went to his door to ask what we should sing, not knowing that he was at prayer. He rose from his knees and said, "Let us have joyful, glad hymns — 34 ^— to-day." This time tlie baj^tism was in a neatly cemented baiDtistery in the yard — the careful and kindly work of the two Poate brothers. The Avater was so placid that to us looking in, and seeing the tree-tops and far oft* skj^ mirrored there, those Avho went down into the water folio v>'ing their Lord seemed to the beholders to be going beyond the clouds to the sln% and when the waters moved, for the instant, as if the heavens would receive them. Alwa^'S beautiful at these services Mr. Arthur looked that da}^, not of earth, but like a heavenW messenger sent to rescue one more of Japan's lost children. He left a church of nineteen members, eighteen of whom he had baptized. Eight of these liave been excluded, one is now walking disorderly, four have died, three of whom gave good evidence of an " abundant entrance," one is active in all the church work, and live are engaged in special Christian labor. On the 26th of May 1877 in the S. S. City of Pekin Mr. Arthur with his family sailed for San Francisco. In sixteen days the Golden Gate Harbor was reached. So ardently did he love his country that he could not sleep the night before, watching to catch the lirst glimpse of his native land. In just six months he anchored in the port of his true father-land ; and another who was true to his fellowmen, his countrj^, and his Lord entered in " to go no more out forever." It seems to some who saw him labor "in season, out of season," all the week and on Lord's Day, that he broke himself down, but others who knew him well felt that he realized that what he did must be done quickly for his working time was short. He had no lack of the trials of the beginner in a new field ; behind these, nine j^ears of hard study and missionary work in his own land, and in the rear of these three, years of hardship in camp, battle, on picket, in i^rison and hospital. The comforts that we have gathered ai'ound us, and that others have made for us, in dictionaries, grammars, hymn-books, a translated Bible, and something of Christian literature ; in teachers. Christians who know something of what it is to be lo^'al to Christ, and homes builded, or those who will give us ki]idly advice in building, were lacking in those early days. Mr. Arthur felt the influence of young Japan's smartness as well as we who live in Soshi times. Once, some of the young men guessed to a dollar his appropriation for work, and went to him informing him of the wisest way to spend — 35 — such an amount, adding that if he did not conform to their plans they would leave his church and start one for themseh'es. In his bodily weakness he walked the Hoor etud^'ing how to meet this. The race of such then, as now, was short, and before Dr. Rliees came to Tokyo the church took from them the hand of fellowship. When I think of the hindrances he had in studying the language, in books, time, and the environments of his home, I am amazed at the progress he made. His catechism was used till, a few years ago, when a new edition was needed it was revised by Dr. Rhees. His helper in this work was far from being a scholar or teacher, and farther from being a good man. From those who heard Mr. Arthur pra}* in this language, I know he had more than common freedoin, and of this I cannot wonder when I remember to have known of his walking his room pleading, "Lord teach me to pray." We often ask in a blind way why he could not have been s^^ared to guide and guard our work under the " Elder Shepherd ? As his earnest gaze selected the need}' spots in Tokyo, so he scanned the EmiDire and often spoke of desiring workers for Hakodate, Sendai, the cities of the south, Shimonoseki and the west. Ever\^ toiler in the Lord's vine^'ard had his God-speed, and so earnestly did he long for the Gospel to be xDreached that he used to urge on every missionary, — man and woman, — this duty, for, was not the " Harvest great " and " the Labourers few " ! His influence still remains in the church. One remem- bers and follows his last commission, to "labor for the Baptist church"; another always reads with special enterest Paul's sermon on Mar's Hill, because Arthur kiyoshi explained it to her ; and another, severe and domineering in his old samurai nature, shows to this day in a little wave of his hat, the politeness he learned from Arthur sensei, and all sing with special joy, " Waretaru iwa yo," for Mr. Arthur took special pains to make it jDlain to them. One dear, old pilgrim went to Heaven more joyfully knowing that her sensei had gone before her. Mr. Arthur was earnest, active, quick, sympathetic, loving, patient — a Christian gentleman always and every- where. He was one of those who helped form the first missionarj^ conference in Tokyo, whose members he loved and by whom he was beloved. He was so generous he would not sj^eak of x^ain and — 36 — anxiety for himself, and the writer does not know of his speaking of leaving earth till the Thanksgiving before his dei^arture. When the death of Dr. Tnrnbnll was an- nounced, he said, "I shall soon see him.*' After this his bodily decline was rapid, but his soul rose and exulted in the light of Heaven that poured into its life. He stood looking back at us who were to remain and work, and in love sent clear messages. Looking over the River he saw glovy unutterable. Si^eaking to ^NTrs. Arthur he said, " Never have any more doubts about dying, for, if this is death it is glory !" On the 9th of December 1877, at the rising of the sun, his spirit was freed to be " Forever with the Lord." In resignation, because we know Grod's ways are right, we say, *' Amen, so let it be." His grave is in Newton, Massachusetts, with that of his second son who entered Heaven just three weeks after his father. Mrs. Arthur took both of their bodies with her on her journey to her New England home, from Oakland, California. His grave is decked with chaplets of tlowers every year by comrades and those who honour L'nion soldiers' graves. We honour him as one who " Fought the good tight, finished his course, kept the faith " and received his crown. Servant of Christ, well done ! THE RELIGIOUS LITERATURE IN THE VERNACULAR FOR THE YEAR 1891. The writer desires to express his thanks to all who kindly assisted him in collecting the data given below, and to let them have the advantage, so far as it may be such to them, of the limited information he has been able to obtain. He cannot vouch for completeness in any respect, and is fully aware of incompleteness in some » but with the hope that the present list may open the way for better ones in the future, he ventures to offer it for print. The knowledge of what works have been issued, or are ready for publication, will be of service to those who would make the best use of current literature, and to those, too, who would be glad to contribute something in this line if they were sure that their efforts would not be unwisely spent. More- over, some good books or tracts, issued by individuals or by missions, but not advertised, may be long unknown to the missionary body at large. The editor of the Missionary Tidings has kindly consented to allow space for the mention, monthly, of new publications, and to prepare the monthly report of such matter, if duly brought to his notice. Will not all missionaries kindly bear this in mind, and send prompt notice of each new book, tract, and periodical of a religious nature, published by themselves, or the native brethren of their mission ? The names mentioned in the subjoined list are some- times the names of writers, sometimes of translators* and sometimes of those otherwise connected with the publication. Published by the FUKUINSHA, Osaka, during 1891. Pages. YOGEN NO HATTATSU, (Development of Prophecy). Prof. Briggs, Gordon, Ikebukuro Seifu 288 PIRIPI : KOROSAYE CHIUSHAKU, (Commentary on Philip. and Col.). Learned, Kususe Ikkwan 394 NI.JIMA SENSEI NO DEN, (Life of Nijima). J. D. Davis, MuRATA TsuTOMU, and Sugiura Masayasu 204 DENDOSHA NO KOKOROE, (Some things a Preacher should Remember). Kanamori Tsurin, Otis Cai:ey 58 SHINREI-TEKI NO CHIKARA, (Spii-itual Power and How to Attain it). J. D. Davis, Uyeda Shiutaro 25 YAKOBU, PETERO, YOHANE, YUDA CHIUSHAKU, (Com- mentary Pet., Jas., John., Jude), Learned's Lectures, Kususe Ikkwax 630 SHINGAKU NO DAI GENRI, (The Fundamentals of Theology), Davis 1071 SHITOGIYO DEN CHIUSHAKU, (Commentaiy on Acts), Learned, Ashitate Taku [Adachi] 741 KORINTO KO SHO CHIUSHAKU, (Commentary on II Cor.) Kanamori Tsurin, Otis Carey 371 HITOGIYO DEN MONDAI, (Question book on Acts). Mary H. Shed 60 SAN KOO RIYO, (The Tliree Important Things). Kanamori Tsurin 77 KEISEI-SHA'S PUBLICATIONS. Pages. YOHANE DEN SHOKO RON, (Evidence in regard to the Gospel of John). Learned 44 SHITO PAURO NO TSUTAYESHI FUKUIN, (The Gospel Preached by Paul). M. L. Gordon 34 SHOKUZAI NO SETSU, (Doctrine of the Atonement). Dr. Davis ? SAMMI ITTAI NO SETSU, (Theory of the Trinity). Kozaki Koodoo 30 SAN FUKUIN SHO RON, (The three Gospels. G. E. Albright. 79 YOHANE FUKUIN SHO HIHYO, (Critical Review of the Gospel of John). Learned, Yoxoi, Tokio 53 Publications for the present year, though rei)orted by Fukuinsha, are not included. — 3 — METHODIST PUBLICATIONS. CHURCH HISTORY PART II. D. S. Spenckr ^^^^^' SEIGI NO HANKYO (Echo of Truth). T. Yasuda UQ CHILDREN'S BIBLE PICTURE BOOK SEISHO I-RO-HA TEBIKI, (Scripture Primer). T. Takenouchi. 127 ONGAKU NO TADORI, (Feeling the Way, in Miasic). C. Seki. 72 M. E. CHURCH DISCIPLINE for 1888 VARIOUS EDITIONS OF THE HALLOWED SONGS LIFE OF JOHN WESLEY. K. Ishizaka 70 SKETCH OF BISHOP ASHBURY'S LIFE. Rev. C. Bishop.. 8 SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. S. H. Wainwright, M. D 27 NIHON OYOBI KIRISUTOKYO (JAPAN & CHRISTIANITY). S. U yeda 31 SALVATION BY FAITH. J. Wesley In addition to the above there are a number of forms under the general head of " Church Blanks," sixteen varieties, in addition to Sunday School Cards. TKACTS SOCIETIES' COMMITEE. KITTO NO GAKKWA, (With Christ in the School of Prayer). CHIKARA ARU INORI (Prevailing Prayer). OLD, OLD STORY. COUNSEL TO BELIEVERS. PASTOR'S WELCOME. SYMBOLS OF TRUTH, SIX TRACTS. Reprints not reported. THE FOLLOWING BOOKS OR TRACTS ARE REPORTED AS HAYING BEEN PUBLISHED APART FROM THE ABOVE NAMED PUBLISHING AGENCIES. HEIDLEBERG CATECHISM, a New Edition. Rev. E. R. Miller. THE GOSPEL OF HEALING. A. B. Simpson. Miss Kinnev. THE MIRACLE IN ITS RELATION TO SCIENCE. Rev. C Schmiedel. SHEDD'S PASTORAL THEOLOGY. Rev. G. F. Dienst. — 4 — CHRISTIANS. Rev. C. E. Garst. THE SAFE TREASURE. Me. Aoyagi, SALVATION FOR ALL. Rev. F. Staniland, Tamura. A TRACT FOR EVERYBODY. Rev. J. L. Bearing, Mr. Sasaki. TRUTHS ABOUT BAPTISM. Wm Ashmore. D. D. Takahashi Gobo. CONCERNING BAPTISM. J. W. Perry, Komoriya. About a dozen tracts on a Mineograph by Rev. C. E. Garst. THE PEBIODICALS FOR THE YEAB, SO FAE AS ASCERTAINED YOROKOBI NO OTOZURE and FUKUIN SHIMPO. By Church of Christ in Japan. GOKYO and VARIOUS S. S. HELPS. By the M. E. Church. KIRISUTO SHIMBUN and ROKUGO ZASSHL By the Congregational Church. KARASHI DANE. By the Baptist Church. THE CHRISTIAN. By the Disciples. KIRISUTOKYO ZASSHL Church of England. SHINRI, (Three publications under this title are reported, but the wiiter is unable to speak positively about them). SEIKYO SHIMPO. By the Greek Church. SCRIPTURE MONTHLY, &c. By the Scripture Union. TEMPERANCE MAGAZINE. By the Temperance Society. .TIYU KIRISUTOKYO ZASSHL By the Universalist Society. UNITARIAN. By the Unitarian Society. Inochi and Odayaka did not appear till after the close of 1891. Any one who will correct errors in the above, or supply that which is lacking to make the list complete, will confer a great favour on ALBERT ARNOLD BENNETT.