ui .3 IN JAPAN .'-*i<..-;';i';t'. IVSY DIARY IN JAPAN 4~. ^ ./^ , >^ PRINCETON, N. J. ^ Purchased by the Hamill Missionary Fund. BV 3457 .W5 A3 1913 Wilkes, Alphaeus Nelson Paget . Missionary joys in Japan, or. Leaves from my iournal Mount Asama in Eruption. (See pp. 197-8. MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN ^^'^ "^ OR MAY H 1915 LEAVES FROM MY JOURNaV^" " ' ^^ BY PAGET WILKES, B.A. SOMETIME EXHIBITIONER OF LINCOLN COLLEGE, OXFORD WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY The Rev. BARCLAY F. BUXTON, M.A. GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY NEW YORK Copyright, igjj, by Morgan (S^ Scott Ld. To ail the saints of God who have laboured fervently in prayer on my behalf this volume is affectionately dedicated INTRODUCTION BY The Rev. BARCLAY F. BUXTON, M.A. " If the Lord be God, follow Him : . . . but if Baal, . . ." This is the great question that agitates the heart of every living man. Is God God? Does He rule ? Does He care ? Can He save ? Does He reveal Himself to those who seek Him ? Can He satisfy? These are the questions that arise in the minds of all men and women who think. And as soon as the preacher of the Gospel arrives in a heathen land, they arise in the hearts of the heathen. How are they to be met, and answered ? Will argument do it, or education ? No, these will not allay doubts and fears, and bring the soul to a heavenly Birth. Something is needed which is much more radical, and much more Divine. There is only one way, and only one answer that clears up these vi INTRODUCTION doubts so that they do not come again : and it is this — "The God that answereth by Fire, let Him be God." This is the answer that the heathen are looking for. "Is there a God that can change my character ? " asked one in real distress. "Which god shall I cry to, when I come to die ? " asked a heathen boy, who was solemnised by a vivid dream of his own death. " I who am the deepest sinner in this prison, can I know God ? " asked a poor convict, who was convicted by his conscience. "The world is full of lust ; is it possible to be made clean ? " asked a student. These are all merely varied forms of the old query : "Is there a God who can and will answer by Fire ? " To many of those who utter this pathetic cry, our answer means, spiritually, life or death. What, then, is the character of the answer ? Are we really bring- ing them Divine grace and Divine power ; a Divine birth and a hope that carries in it power to purify ? Is our Gospel work such, that God is seen to be a God who listens to the cry of distress and puts forth His saving power ? Is He found to be One who does meet the seeker who draws near to Him, and then and there does lift him out of his sin, and his hopelessness, and his despair? Is He a INTRODUCTION vii living Saviour, who does act, and will "awake to my help," and will "bare His arm," and do some- thing for me in my dire need ? Where is the God that thus answers by Fire ? The heathen, even the most devoted and bigoted, says : " The God that does really answer by Fire, shall be my God." And if God does answer by Fire to him, he has a solid ground of assurance, that makes him strong against temptation and persecution, and makes him burn with such a steady flame that other pro- digals covet the same salvation ; and many at all costs will obtain it. \^ This book is a record of God answering by Fire in Japan, and the manifest results of that in the hearts and lives of Japanese. It gives abundant proof, that the Living God is with His servants, who in simplicity deliver the message of a free salvation through the Cross of Christ. And in it there is all the interest of personal experiences, given in the form of letters, with all their happy human touches. Read it, remembering that Mrs. Wilkes had been left at home, and so Mr. Wilkes was experiencing something of loneliness in the midst of his happy work. God is " the God that answereth." He delights to show that no case is too hard for Him, and that viii INTRODUCTION whether it be some slave of sin, or some upright Pharisee, He is the One who can satisfy and sanctify and save. He answers by Fire, indeed : and that Fire is the Living, Personal, Holy Spirit. This is God's great Answer to all real prayer. This book will show how again and again He has answered by Fire, and individuals have received the Fire, which has sent them forth transformed — to transform others. This is the best proof that the Word of God is inspired, and that the Gospel message is Divine. Men and women who have come into touch with God and received Divine grace from Him, are living Apologetics, which when opposers behold, " they can say nothing against it," and some " falling on their faces, confess " that God is in it. These are the Apologetics that Japan is waiting for. She wants to see whether God does answer by Fire. She does not need a ritualistic religion, for she already has one. She does not need an intellectual gospel, for she has found that education, alone, does not transform and build up character. She does want the religion of the God who answers by Fire. BARCLAY R BUXTON. 30TH September 191 3. PREFACE During some fifteen years of missionary life in Japan, I have sent home letter-leaves from my Journal. Friends have uro-ed me to gfive them a wider circulation ; and so after much misgiving I have consented, hoping that my readers will remember the haste in which they have been written. This volume, then, is a journal describing the work of a commonplace missionary ; the line of service resembles what is known in England as that of a Special Missioner. I have endeavoured to select incidents represent- ing a variety of Christian activities, though all of an evangelistic order — Open-air Preaching, Tent Meetings at Exhibitions, Conventions for the deep- ening of Spiritual Life, Missions at Schools, Country Itinerating, Personal Dealing, and Testimonies of Salvation from all sorts and conditions of men. I ought perhaps to say a word about the insertion of the verses which preface each chapter. They do X PREFACE not necessarily indicate the nature of what follows ; but I have endeavoured to introduce to the reader the beautiful little word-pictures so familiar to a student of Japanese. It is almost impossible to translate them effectively. As on the canvas, so in the page, the Japanese have the art of expressing themselves very beautifully in a few splashes of colour. A peculiar charm about them is that their clever construction makes it possible to read out of, or rather into, them several meanings. Often what to a mere voluptuous mind may appear a sensual love-poem, will convey to others the deepest spiritual truth. This thought is itself expressed in a charm- ing little verse which I have rather clumsily rendered as follows : — JVe ivatch the autumn moon caress And kiss the hilltops from the sky — Of nvhat ive think she hath no care ; PVithout a Hush, luithout a fear. She trusts us ivith her purity. In other words, if our hearts are pure, we shall only see the pure ; but if defiled, we shall see nothing but evil. But innocence has no suspicion ; she trusts good and bad alike with her beauty. The purpose of the following pages is to encourage praise and prayer, and to call forth a deeper conse- cration of heart and life for a lost humanity, to the praise of our Blessed Master. PREFACE xi If God can use this book to His praise, I shall feel thankful indeed that It has pleased Him to set another seal on the service of so Imperfect an In- strument, whom In His Infinite mercy He brought to Himself twenty-one years ago, and counted him worthy to be entrusted with the solemn, and yet glorious ministry of preaching Christ among the heathen. These few pages are commended to the prayerful sympathy of all who are looking for the return of our Master, and that glorious day when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. PAGET WILKES. Kobe, Japan, September 19 13. CONTENTS Introduction CHAf. /. London to Japan . PAGE V 5 11. Floods .... . 15 HI. More Floods . 31 IV. ''Life in the Lost'' . 47 V. Country Jdissions . . . . 65 FI. ^ Teep into the Factories . 85 VII. zA Tour South ■ 105 VII L ^ Visit to F^orea . 127 IX. zAt a Japanese Exhibition . 149 X. Here and There 169 XL Sunshine and Shadow 187 XIL With the Children 205 XIIL 0\Lore Country Missions . 225 XIV. ^ Tour O^orth . . . . 245 XV. c// glimpse at Difficulties . 267 XV I. Light and Da^'kness 287 XVII. Higher Criticism and the ^Mission Field . 305 JAPANESE POEMS All is Fleeting Even Beauty must Die Unanswered Prayer , Faith and Love . No rest in this World Resurrection Weariness of Life " If not, blot me . . . out of Thy Book " A Heavenly Jewel cannot he hid . Heaven's Grace comes only to one who waits Where there s a Will there* s a Way A Grace that nothing can mar The Confidence of Innocence Conviction of Sin Old Things are passed away Heaven's Grace cannot he sullied by Earth 4 30 46 64 84 104 126 148 168 186 204 224 244 266 286 PUBLISHERS' NO IE.— All the renderings of Japanese poems, whether facing chapters or in the text, are Copyright; having been done into English by Mr. Paget Wilkes. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Mount Asama in Eruption . . Frontispiece PAGE Karuizawa Main Street before the Flood — During the Flood — After the Flood . . .21 The Rev. J. Goforth and a Group of Convention Speakers , . . . -39 Two Japanese Christian Schoolgirls . -53 A Little Japanese Sunbeam . . '53 Group of the Japan Evangelistic Band Bible School Students . . , . .69 A Street Crossing in Takata in Winter — A Tunnel through the Snow . . , • 75 ^^The Toory Halt, Lame, and Blind'''' . .87 Mr. T. Mitanif a leading Japanese Evangelist and Editor of the " Christian News " . 93 The Rev. Barclay F. Buxton . . .107 Mr. S. Mimakiy a leading Japanese Evangelist . 119 xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Mr. W. H. R. Tredinnick, Mr. S. Takeda^ Mr Paget Wilkes, and Mr. S. Mimaki Mr. S. Takeda and Rev. Dr. C. Joki . The Image of Buddha at Kamakwra Mr. Kochi San .... The Rev. J. Nakada, a leading Japanese Evangelist .... Mount Fuji . . . . A Group of Country Missionaries Fighting the Last Great Enemy — " More than Conqueror / " A Band of Evangelists . ^33 155 173 216 231 253 271 293 319 JOURNAL April 2<^t/i . . . . . . yum %th^ 1 910 CHAPTER I All is Fleeting All is Fleeting Fair Summer Night ! Come, wait awhile ! Haste not so soon away ! Ahj when so lovely^ why so swift To fly before the day ? Are there no clouds to spread their couch. And tempt the moon to stay ? CHAPTER I London to Japan *' The tender light of home behind.'^ Is Time the only curtain that we can draw over the sadness of farewells ? Mr. H. and I have at last got off {en route for Queenborough, A'pril 29, 1910), and are hurrying past another milestone in life's highway. For me twelve years of missionary life lie behind ; for him they all lie before : and for both, if God will, the joy of new service for our blessed Master. The prayer of our hearts is : — "... Thou hast said in season ' Jls is the Master shall the servant be.' Let us not subtly slide into the treason. Seeking an honour that they gave not Thee." Amen. Moscow, Maij 4, 1910. — After a quiet Sunday in Berlin we hastened here. A midnight bustle at Alexandrovo, the Russian frontier, passports and customs, Russian officials, red tape and an unknown tongue, have not made us any less tired. Mr. Needre, of the British and Foreign Bible Society, most kindly assisted us and showed us some of the lions. The 5 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN Kremlin, the serried lines of cannon taken from Napoleon, the palaces and museums, the gold- minaretted churches glistening in the sun, were all interesting enough ; but the spirit of Paul at Athens stirred within our hearts. Sad and senseless super- stitions, bowings and crossings, kissing of pictures, worshipping of relics, abounded everywhere. The churches seemed veritable places of merchandise. Officious attendants, anxious to secure a tip for a personally conducted tour round the church (we could not of course understand a word of their chatter) ; greasy-looking priests with lighted tapers, zealous to show us (for a perquisite) John the Baptist's hair, the nails and splinters of the cross, saints' relics and other rubbish set in circles of brilliants, recalled the Saviour's visit to the Temple— a house of merchandise, indeed ! if not " a den of thieves." Amono- other things we saw the bullet-holes in one of the frescoes, where a few days before some desperado had been shot at for stealing 50,000 roubles' worth of jew^els from the sanctuary ! I wonder if he were a greater rogue than some we saw in the place. We were glad enough to get away and forget it all. They say that the words "drunken" and " devout " best describe the Russian priesthood, and I for one would not be prepared to dispute it. The Trans-Siberian Express, May 7, 1910. — We are now east of the Urals. Winter is still in evidence. LONDON TO JAPAN The silver beeches in their autumn dress of gorgeous gold, under cloudless skies smothered in sunshine, stretching as far as eye can reach for hundreds of miles, which I saw last time I passed this way, are of course quite bare. And Spring has not yet come — at least not so far as this, though we caught sight of her at Moscow. Express trains seem quicker than she ! May 8, 1910. — We had talks with a young German, going out to business in Kobe for the first time. He seems simple and unaffected, and glad of our advice ; but how long he will follow it or be ready to receive it — or us — again, is another matter. Ten days of treaty port life is generally enough to discount all missionaries as fools or knaves, if not both ! {P.S. — This has actually proved so to be. A fortnight later he would hardly recognise us on the street, and seemed to find some difficulty with his memory in making it acknowledge that he had ever made our acquaintance.) Lake Baikal, May 10, 1910. — One of the largest lakes in the world, and the only one of fresh water in which seal are found. I wonder if any other explana- tion than the story of the Flood can account for this strange phenomenon. Harbin, May 12, 1910. — We were pointed out the very spot on this platform where that great man, Prince Ito, was assassinated a few months ago — 7 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN great but, alas ! an entire stranger to the things of God, and I fear even to morality, if common report speaks true ! So pass away the mighty of the earth ! He was an able statesman, and a loss both to Japan and Korea, which he governed with distinction. But what shall all this avail either him, or his people, in that day when " the heavens melt with fervent heat," and God shall create a new heaven and a new earth, wherein alone dwelleth righteousness ? TsuRUGA, Japan, May 17, 1910. — After ten days travel through the still leafless woods of Siberia, it was a treat to feast one's eyes once more on the verdure of Japan's wooded hills. Those lines run in my heart : — *^ Off the coast of Asia, 'inid the mighty ocean. Lies an island kingdom, strangely fair and bright ; Ere the rising sunbeams touch the Asian highlands All her isles are gloiving in the morning light. First to catch the radiance of a brighter sunrise. Islands of the morning, beautiful Japan. " Beautiful Japan, beautiful Japan, Islands of the morning, beautiful Japan ; Beautiful Japan, beautiful Japan, Only Christ can save thee, beautiful Japan.** The last time I crossed the Sea of Japan from Tsuruga to Vladivostock, a year and a half ago, we were thirty hours late on a trip of thirty-six hours. We struck a typhoon, and, with a broken propeller, scarcely expected to reach land in safety. Our LONDON TO JAPAN crossing this time has been calm as a lake. We praise thee, God, for all Thy mercies ! * ' Thou dost the raging sea command, And smoothe the prospect of the deep ; Thou mai'st the sleeping billoivs roll. Thou maJi st the rolling lilloivs sleep." Kobe, June 8, 1910. — A hearty greeting from workers and believers at the station warmed our hearts. Last night in Dr. Aoki's church a goodly company gathered for a more formal welcome. " I have no greater joy than to liear that my children walk in the truth " ; but to see them rejoicing before one's eyes would make {'pace a Presbyterian kirk) even the most sober Salvationist say, Hallelujah ! In my now rusty Japanese, I declared the Purpose, the Theme, the Pov^er, and the Method of my ministry in the coming days. My Purpose — (Rom. i. 11) to confer some spiritual gift; my Theme — (1 Cor. ii. 1, 2) to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified ; my Power — (Rom. xv. 29) the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ ; and my Method — (1 Thess. iii. 10) to perfect that which is lacking in their faith. JO URNAL jfu/y i^th . . . . . . Aug. 2'^rcij 19 lo CHAPTER II Even Beauty must Die Even Beauty must Die Fallen trampled 'neath my feet The maples' leaf-flakes lie ; There's not a sound in all the woods. Save the stag's startled cry ! Why art thou. Autumn, tell me why. So lovely^ yet so swift to die ? 14 CHAPTER II Floods " The floods have lifted up, Lardy The Jloods have lifted up their voice ; The Jloods lift up their tuaves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many ivaters. Tea, than the mighty ivaves of the sea ! " I HAD put into my hands the following letter i^July 15, 1910). To make it more beautiful to any who did not know either Miss K. W. or the circumstances of her home call, I might say that this devoted servant of the Lord, brought up in all the comfort of a luxurious English home, wonderfully converted to God through the Rev. Musgrave Brown, and coming to work in Japan under the Rev. Barclay F. Buxton for nearly ten years, truly adorned the doctrine of her Master. I know none to whom the Lord Jesus, and His personal return, were more real and precious. Like a bolt from the blue, the doctor sentenced her to death within six weeks of the day of the diagnosis. Cancer, alas ! in her case, relaxed none of its malignant cruelty. The following letter was written soon after the doctor's verdict, to one of those whom she had led to the feet 15 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN of Christ. Through its transparent lines, the sublimest thing on earth — a triumphant victory over a cruel death — sparkles like a jewel. Being dead she yet speaketh ! "My dear Brother, — I do thank you very much for your beautiful message to me by telegram, and also for that lovely letter so full of comfort and help which I received yesterday. May God indeed grant that all may be as you say, and that the circle of blessing may widen and increase and keep going on. Yes, ' if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' I am so glad to be a little stone. What a sweet thought God gave you to send to me, dear brother. My feet are already ascend- ing the heavenly ladder. Oh, how glorious to even think of so soon seeing the King in His beauty ! "Oh, how I do, with all earnestness, beseech you to lay aside every weight : put on one side, cast away anything and everything that would hinder you running the heavenly race God has set before you ; and then when life is over, how glad you will be ! And then lay aside the sin that doth so easily beset you, that is unbelief, the most dreadful sin of all, that leads to all sorts of other dreadful sins ; and keep looking to Jesus. You remember that Peter only walked on the water as long as his eyes were on Jesus. As soon as he took them off Jesus, he began to sink. "Then when you are discouraged by reason of the difficulty of the way, just consider Him, and you will not grow weary and faint in your mind, when you remember how much more He endured than ever we are called upon to endure. I send you Heb. xii. 1-6. " I must say good-bye, although I could write on and on to you. I could not have seen you at Tsuruga. Other dear friends so much want me to come to different stations ; but I am not well enough, and saying good- bye to those I love so much is most sad to me. I am i6 FLOODS full of joy and peace all the time. Everyone is amazed, but it is all God's goodness, and I praise Him for all, "If the devil would give you the whole world, or any other grand gift, or high position, do not, I beseech thee, do not miss heaven. God bless you, and keep you, and comfort you, and help you, and be to you all you need. " Will you write to dear Koike San for me, and say all you know I should like to be said. "With warm Christian love, and Rom. xv. 13, and assuring you that ' underneath are the everlasting arms,' and so I have ' rest, sweet rest ; peace, sweet peace ; joy, glad joy ' all the time. — Your true friend in His eternal bonds of love, M. K. W." '* Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them." " And shall we mourn to see Our fello-w-pr'tsoner free P No, dear companion, no ! We gladly let thee go From a suffering Church beneath. To a reigning Church above. Thou hast more than conquered death. Thou art croivned 'with life and loveJ'^ August 10, 1910. — I have just got back from the meetings of the Summer School at which I was invited to speak. It was not easy ; there was an element there of a very different kind from the Gospel of Jesus. In fact, the principal speaker was of the advanced Higher Critical School. But God graciously undertook and really and definitely blessed us. On Saturday and 17 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN Sunday there was a break, and some were bowed before the Lord. Attempting to get back so as to be in time for the Convention for Missionaries due to begin the following day, we started in torrents of rain — two Canadian ladies and myself. When we got about four miles off Karuizawa the train was unable to proceed, and so, leaving our baggage, we got out to walk by road. The rain was pouring down, and the wind blowing a hurricane in our faces. AVe were wet through in about ten minutes. Arriving within a mile of our destination, we found the road, for about 100 yards, a torrent knee-deep. It would have been impossible for the ladies to withstand it ; fortunately we got some Japanese to help us. I managed to get through, though not without falling into a drain nearly up to my neck ! Arriving home, what a sight awaited us ! The little streamlet which I had left three or four days before just ankle-deep, was now a swirl of wild raging waters, sweeping everything before it — bridges, trees, shrubs, and vast masses of the banks. There was considerable anxiety about a new summer residence just built by one of the missionaries here. The river was tearing out wide sweeps of the bank not far from the house. Our anxiety increased. The rain, which had been coming down for three days, was increased by a gale of wind. Friends began to gather and take out all the FLOODS furniture, and it soon became evident that the house was doomed. We watched it from our windows. The river continued to tear at the banks. Shrubs, and trees, and masses of earth were ripped up and whirled onward in the current. Nearer and nearer the muddy swirl came, roaring and foaming, to the foundations of the house. I never saw anything so rapid before. What a picture of the house built on sand ! We soon began to see daylight under the foundations of the east corner, and within five minutes the crash came. It was a weird sight. Like a sinking ship, her edge nearest the torrent gave a lurch forward, and sank slowly in the waters. The rear part of the house tipped up like the stern of a stricken vessel preparing to take its last leap. Five minutes more and the house had collapsed. It sank slowly into the ever-increasing tide, and gradually floated into midstream. The raging waters seized their prey, and with a crash ripped it asunder. Part was hurled down the stream, and the other half, battered and broken, lay at rest for a time on a mass of debris, just out of the main current. The rain continues to pour down. The railway lines are broken all through the country. Devastating floods are everywhere, I fear with great destruction to life and property. We are cut off" from all communica- tion with the village. I got over just before the last bridge was carried away ; and at all points the river, 19 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN a few hours before only a little brook, is a raging torrent. Utterly disregarding its original bed, it has cut out a wide, deep channel for itself in an entirely new direction. Last night we bowed before God in prayer that He would stay the storm and flood, and He most graciously answered. August 11, 1910. — This morning dawned a lovely day ; but what a scene of desolation all around ! We, i.e. this house, were only saved by the river dividing its power a little above us into three parts. One division, though it demolished two houses, one of which I described yesterday, is only one- third of the torrent. Numbers of missionaries had to flee last night, some from one house to another, more than once. We feel that God answered prayer and cleared the storm. The scene in front of me as I write is desperate indeed. The little streamlet, only three feet wide a few days ago, is now 250-300 yards in breadth. Large trees, telegraph poles, and masses of debris are lying scattered around, and beyond in the distance we can see the other divisions of the stream tearing along through the village. Old landmarks are entirely swept away. I fear that the Japanese will have suff'ered terribly. August 14, 1910. — I left off" writing on the 11th inst. On the evening of the 12th the wind again veered round into a rainy quarter and the glass fell. 20 KAKUIZAWA MAIN STREET BEFORE THE FLOOD. MAIN STREET DURING THE FLOOD — BEGINNING TO ABATE. MAIN STREET AFTER THE FLOOD. FLOOD AT KARUIZAWA. FLOODS It began to rain heavily that evening. All that night, all yesterday, and all last night it poured without intermission; but to-day at 11.30 a.m. it stopped. We do praise God indeed for all His mercies in the midst of judgment. In Tokyo alone a quarter of a million people are afiected ; 150,000 homeless, hundreds drowned, thousands missing, starvation and epidemic feared. No drinking w\ater ! — strange irony ! — " water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink." In the country things are worse. In one prefecture alone 1000 people drowned, and 230 villages are entirely destroyed. The scenes here in Karuizawa defy description. It looks as if the whole place had been torn up by shell- fire. Huge cavern-like gullies range from two to fifteen feet in depth ; vast masses of granite and boulders of stone are flung about the streets in great profusion ; whole areas of beautiful shrubs, and trees, and verdure are swept absolutely bare, and covered with three feet of sand. Over the tennis courts there is an even thickness of three and a half feet of sand and rubble ; the tops of the tennis poles only just appear. Many of the houses, which look as though they had sunk four feet, or had the lower storey carried away, are found to be simply buried by the sand and silt brought down by the flood. Night and day the men, Japanese and foreigners, have been working to save many houses in danger. It was a 23 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN weird sight to look out into pitchy darkness, the wind blowing half a hurricane, the rain tearing down in torrents, the river foaming and hissing and roaring along in its pitiless deluge ; and above it all to hear the shouts of men bearing their big kerosene torches, and endeavouring to dam the turbulent waters, and so save the whole village. We praise God for the deliverance. August 23, 1910. — Lovely weather has followed, and though we were unable to begin the Convention on the 11th, as we had hoped, still we commenced on the 14th. The meetings are over. The attendance began with eighty, and concluded with nearly two hundred. The Lord was with us, and in answer to prayer has, we believe, done a deep work in the hearts of some. There was at times a solemn hush over the gatherings. The testimony meeting was helpful. Not a few dis- closed what God had done for their souls, and others were waiting to tell also. It has been my joy and privilege to help some personally who were convicted at the meetings. What a blessed, but solemn, work it is to see souls wise in their day of grace, and to be able to say what Charles Wesley has so exquisitely said long ago : — " Be iv'tse to knoiv your gracious day ; All things are ready, come aivay ! A pardon ivrltten tulth His bloody The favour and the peace of God ; 24 FLOODS The seeing eye, the feeling sense. The mystic joys of penitence : The godly griff, the pleasing smart. The meltings of a broken heart ; The tears that tell your sins forgiven. The sighs that ivaft your souls to heaven The guiltless shame, the siueet distress ; Th^ unutterable tenderness ; The genuine, meek humility ; The wonder, * Why such love to me ! ' Th' 0^ ertuhelming power of saving grace. The sight that veils the seraph's face ; The speechless awe that dares not move. And all the silent heaven of love.'^ 25 JOURNAL Sept, 11th . . . . . . Sept. i8//4, 19 10 CHAPTER III Unanswered "Prayer Unanswered Prayer IVhyy why is Heaven silent still When I have prayed so long ? Ah ! answerless the silence speaks^ And tells me that the heart that seeks^ 'The hearty the heart is wrong. 30 CHAPTER III More Floods Time does not wait for belated pens ! On 29th August I had to leave for the Japan Convention here (Arima, September 11, 1910). It took me thirty-six hours to get to Tokyo, instead of eight, owing to the floods ; and then another twenty-four to arrive at this lovely little spot, rendered as hallowed as Keswick by blessed transfiguration scenes in the lives of many. Roughly speaking, three and a half days' hard travelling, with practically only one night's rest, landed us there very tired, in a temperature of 85° to 90°, damp heat. We arrived at noon on 1st September. The Convention began that evening. The Japanese leaders came to announce that they were expecting me to take both the morning and evening meetings right through. I must confess I was a bit taken aback, as I had only expected to conduct the Bible Readings, and my rather heavy summer's work, followed by the extra heavy travelling, had left me as limp as linen. They would take no refusal, however. Mighty in faith, and prayer, and penitence, they had bowed before the Lord day after day ; His blessed Spirit had drawn wonderfully 31 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN near, graciously overshadowed them, and assured their longing hearts that "a greater than Jonah is here," even the crucified Jesus ; and as they still waited on, the word " a greater than Solomon is here, even the ascended King," still further confirmed their faith. They felt that " the shout of a King was amongst them," and they had no doubt as to the issue. As Kawabe San said, " Why, it does not matter who speaks, we have got the victory already." And as it transpired, so they most assuredly had. It was blessed to see the self-efi'acement in each one. They only cared to see the Lord glorified in His people, let the instrument be whom the Lord will. The numbers that gathered amounted to about 180. They came from many parts of Japan, some even from the Loo-Choo Isles and Korea. This Annual Convention started several years ago with a mere handful, and is now increasing steadily. I might here say that these Conventions are quite diff'erent from anything you have in England. There seems to me to be a thoroughness and a determination to press through into a real definite experience that impressed me as greatly lacking in some of the Home Conventions. Our Japanese leaders, men who have had a definite personal Pentecost, have but little \ use for even interesting Bible "studies," if they do not lead souls into a clear and definite experience, and bring the seeking heart to a first-hand dealing 32 MORE FLOODS with the Lord in the quiet of their room or the silent mountain-side. We felt the Lord was with us from the beo-inning. We sought to expose, and then strike at, the very cita- del of wickedness in the human soul — " the evil heart of unbelief" that exists until cleansed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. The awful power of unbelief and the miracle-working efficacy of faith — "an affectionate con- fidence " in our gracious God — were clearly discovered. The outworks — pride in all its deadly ramifications and an impure conscience, involving the need of restitution, confession, reconciliation, forgiveness of wrongs, before there can be any exercise of true faith — were exposed, attacked, and broken down. The Holy Ghost, in a special way, revealed the difference between faith in the naked promise of Jehovah and the full experience of the results of faith. Again and again the people were urged not to rest in a mere easy-going " belie vism," but to press through, and wait on God until He should bestow the gracious witness of the Holy Ghost that He had sancti- fied them wholly. Many were driven to the hillside to seek God. Letters of confession were sent, promises of restitution, confession of wrong, supplications for forgive- ness were made in tears and broken penitence, both in private personal interviews and publicly before the Lord. Often the early morning prayer meetings and the con- clusion of the evening gatherings were veritable valleys of weeping and confession. 33 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN The closing day was given to testimonies, followed by two short Bible Readings for the confirmation of the blessing. The testimonies were so many that often four or five were standing together awaiting their turn, and even then they were only allowed three or four minutes. These two gatherings were indeed most blessed seasons. In the course of the meetings I had been saying that whereas Rom. vi. deals with our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ — i.e. true regeneration — the seventh chapter begins a much deeper theme, viz. our marriage with Christ, that we may bring forth fruit unto God. One old lady of nearly seventy years had been much blessed through this word, and with a happy face she began to tell of her new-found blessing. " Oh," she said, I have learnt the secret of being joined to the Lord these days ! I have been married to Christ." " Praise the Lord indeed ! " cried Kawabe San, as he repeated aloud what the old lady's feeble voice had said so that all might hear, and added, "Yes, Granny has had another wedding day." The room was filled with joy and laughter ; but any description is inadequate of those two blessed meetings. I add a few of the testimonies as I was able to hurriedly translate and jot them down — a few out of many. I take them as they come in the order that they were given. 34 MORE FLOODS A pastor, rising, said : " My testimony is in the first place one of humiliating confession. My wife has for some time enjoyed the blessing of entire sanctifica- tion and is full of joy. I have been very jealous of her in this. She had what I had not. I continued my work as pastor, preaching and teaching, but inwardly I was suffering intensely. Again and again I was tempted to throw it all up. The Lord, however, some- how prevented my doing this. 1 continued this sad life, jealous of what my wife enjoyed. I came up to the Convention here with an outwardly calm exterior, but within 1 was indeed in bitterness of spirit. I held out till yesterday ; but at last I have yielded to the Lord, and feel I must confess openly before you all that I have at last learnt the blessed secret of fixing my eyes on Jesus only, and He has given me deliverance." Another said : " For thirty-three years I have been a professed Christian, and a worker for much of that time. It is with the deepest shame that I have CO say that for the first time in my life I have learnt durino; these meetino's what it is to believe in Jesus." Another : " For some months back I had fallen into secret backsliding and sin. But God in His mercy has deeply convicted me, and revealed to me that I needed to make restitution and confession, and seek forgiveness from one I had wronged. I got others to come and pray for me, and have been enabled to believe in Jesus and His cleansing blood. He gave me the witness of the Holy Ghost the day before yesterday through Zeph. iii. 17. Hallelujah !" Another, rising, in the deepest brokenness of spirit, said, with tears : "I have long heard of God's sancti- fying power through brother Takata, but I have never been able to lay hold. Brother Kawabe's addresses had deeply searched me, and the year before last I definitely put everything right with God and man. I did at that time believe, but the devil never seemed to leave me alone ; he frightened and scared me with his 35 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN devices. I had definitely determined not to come to this Convention, but the Lord brought me here in spite of myself. Oh, how the enemy resisted and opposed ! During the meetings I sought God alone in private with all my heart. With strong crying and tears I told the Lord that He must give me the witness of the Spirit. As I waited on Him and stilled my turbulent spirit before Him, He breathed these words into my soul, ' Woman, go in peace.' But even after that, so unbelieving was my heart, as I sought His face again that night, it seemed as though all had fled. I was again in darkness. Till very late that night brother Takata prayed with me and for me, and sought to show me the way of faith. He left me, but I could not sleep ; and early this morning as I again stilled my heart before God, oh, so clearly He brought before me the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and with it those blessed words, ' Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace, be whole of thy plague.' Can this be the wit- ness of the Spirit ? I thought, as peace settled in my heart. And then, as I came to the meeting this morn- ing, what should the leader read and speak upon but this very story of the woman with the issue of blood. So has God confirmed His word and blessed me indeed." A business man from Kobe, rising, said : "I was baptized several years ago, but my life was a very poor sort of up-and-down afi'air. Some time after that I got the clear witness that I was saved. I had the real joy then ; but I never knew that there was anything more for me. I had never heard of entire sanctification. And at these meetings it is the first time I have heard of holiness by faith in Jesus, or learnt the difference between that and salvation. But oh, the Lord has taught me deeply these days, and I know of a truth that there is no other way into the pathway of holiness but by faith." (N.B. — Early in the Convention this dear brother, a man of about fifty-five, wanted to see me for a 36 MORE FLOODS private talk and prayer. A time was fixed, but before it came ihe Lord had met with him and blessed him ; so with beaming face he came and said, " Oh, there is no need to trouble you, it is all right ! The Lord has blessed me !") And yet again : "I came to this Convention long- ing to meet God, but I had not been here very long before He revealed to me a hidden, unconfessed, and unrepented sin — ^just one thing that hindered me be- lieving God fully. Oh, how I suffered ! But by His grace I yielded and believed, and He has blessed me indeed. ' Loved with everlasting love, thou art Mine,' are the words He has spoken to my heart." After the meetings a young man came to me and said: "1 have been a professed Christian for seven years, a member of the Church in Kobe, and a teacher in Sunday school. Not long ago I moved to Tokyo, where I am a University student. I had deter- mined to give everything up, I had failed to find anything in Christianity, but God has saved me at last. Never before have I known what salvation is. Two nights ago on the hillside I knew indeed the meaning of those words, ' wretched man that I am ! ' as I sought God with all my heart." The joy upon his face was beautiful to see, though sad enough in some ways — the glow of salvation like the flush of dawn coming into a man's life, after seven weary years of seeking salvation by works. It was touching to hear him tell the workers of his new- found joy. I had intended adding other testimonies — there are still some twenty lying before me. Kawabe San, who was leading the meeting, asked those wdio for the first time had the definite assurance of salvation 37 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN and acceptance with God at these meetings to stand up. About twelve responded. Some twenty then rose to their feet as signifying that they were standing in faith on the promise of Jehovah, and waiting for the witness of the Holy Ghost. Some fifty or more then rejoicingly rose to testify that the Lord had indeed met with them already, and given them faith to believe that His blood had cleansed them from all sin, and that they were rejoicing in the inward witness of His blessed Spirit. " So many of you want to testify," said he, " and there is no time ; but I am going to give you a good opportunity. God wants a practical testimony as well as the praise and confession of the lips. You may now put your hands in your pockets and give, as a true expression of thanksgiving for all He has done for you." The thank-offering amounted to 180 dollars (Mexican), about £18 10s. On the following morning the majority of these dear saints met together for fasting and intercessory prayer. There was no address and very little singing, but a continual stream of prayer for Japan in all its counties, represented by those at the meeting — for Formosa, Korea, China — for the schools, colleges, homes, towns, and villages. A C.M.S. worker said it was the most wonderful prayer meeting she had ever attended. It lasted from 6 a.m. to 12 without a break. 38 THE REV. J. GOFORTH (OF CHINA) AND A GROUP OF CONVENTION SPEAKERS. MORE FLOODS By this time the rain, which had been pouring down for forty-eight hours at the rate of 24 inches in twenty -four hours, was having a deadly effect. It was soon evident we were going to have, in this part of Japan, a repetition of the floods we had a fortnight ago in the more easterly district. This is just the typhoon season. "Two hundred and tenth" is the name of the first typhoon, coming as it generally does on the two hundred and tenth day of the Chinese year. We soon learnt that all the four roads out of Arima, two to Kobe, and two to different points on the railway, were impassable. Bridges w^ere washed away, and big landslips had destroyed the roads in various parts. The place of meeting — a private summer residence belonging to a wealthy Osaka Christian — lies on a hill just on the other side of the river which runs through the town. As the prayer meeting continued, cries and shouts gave alarming evidence that some- thing unusual was happening ; suddenly a crash below told us the bridge had collapsed, thus cutting off a return to the town, unless a bridge lower down held out. The now boisterous river, too, was tearing away the foundations of several houses on the other side, and many were in danger. A landslip carried away the terraced ascent to the villa where the meetino- was going on ; and eventually, as it turned out, the people had to go a long roundabout way to get back 41 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN to their respective hotels. But the meeting went on as if nothing were happening. The stream of inter- cession and prayer was not checked for an instant. One of the brethren slipped out to see that the house itself was not in actual danger, but otherwise the meeting was uninterrupted. And so closed our Convention for 1910. May the Lord keep the souls whom He has blessed, for His eternal glory ! 42 JO URNAL Sept, 20th . . . . . . Oct, I'jth,, 1910 CHAPTER IV Faith • and Love Faith and Love Faith is the slender thread that hinds Another heart to 7nine ; Love, living in a loyal breast. That tells me '* / am thine,'' Seemeth of all things most Divine. 46 CHAPTER IV "Life in the Lost" ** speak out the IVord ! The Evangel shall aivaken Life in the lost, the hero in the slave J" I AM back in Kobe (September 20, 1910). My occupation for several days has been prosaic enough — house-hunting. Since arriving in Japan, four months ago, I have been living in boxes and portmanteaux. I shall be glad of a cottage of my own. It is a relief to be unpacked. A Japan Evangelistic Band mis- sionary will soon learn to be a stranger and pilgrim if he is not one already, especially when he looks at his library. September 27, 1910. — Takeda San and I have been giving daily addresses at the Bible Women's Con- ference here in Kobe. He has taken the Epistle to the Ephesians. I gathered from the Old Testament some New Testament themes — " The Mystery of Iniquity," "The Mystery of Godliness," "The Mystery of an Indwelling Christ," and "The Mystery of Faith." Last Sunday afternoon the fountains of the deep were broken up ; many were weeping their way to the penitent form, and, better still, to Jesus as an 47 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN uttermost Saviour. May God water the word that He hath planted, and cause it to bring forth abundantly. September 30, 1910. — Last night we had a meeting at our Mission Hall which served several purposes — as a farewell for Mr. and Mrs. Dyer as they start south ; a welcome meeting to two birds of passage from England ; a salvation social for our converts ; and a house-warming for my new home. It was a bright, breezy gathering, and we rejoiced to hear the music of heaven from once-broken strings. Says Dr. Fitchett— " You gather round a harp a jury of philosophers, and ask them to decide whether, as an instrument, it is perfect. One judges it by its form, and reports it has the true curved outlines of a harp. Another tests it by the materials of which it is made. Here are the vibrating metal strings ; the true materials of a harp. But there comes a simple man who knows nothing about the laws of sound, the properties of metals, or the science of music. The only thing he knows is how to play the harp. He draws his hand across the strings, and the rich music slumbering in them awakens ; it floats out on the trembling air, it charms all ears. What need is there of any report of philosophers ? The music proves the harp." I wish that my pen could perform the office of a gramophone, and that those who read its scribble could hear instead the music of the harp as we heard it in last night's orchestra ! S San, who has just 48 "LIFE IN THE LOST" come to work with us, told us his story : how that, naturally religious, he first heard of Christianity through the Greek Church ; embraced it, was baptized and admitted into their Theological College, though he had never heard the way of salvation by faith in Jesus. After spending two years there, he was called to the army, and joined his regiment in Tokyo. Here he attended one of General Booth's meetings. For the first time he heard the Gospel, and there and then, as he sat in the meeting, he accepted the Lord as his Saviour, and obtained the witness that he was justified and born of God. The story of a sad prodigal followed. He was first awakened through reading an article in a Christian magazine in Formosa. This made a deep impression on him, held as he was in the bonds of iniquity. He could hear nothing there that seemed to meet his need, so he returned to Kobe. Here he met our "Open Air" in the vicinity of the theatres and music halls, and was convicted of sin. The following night he came to the Hall crying for mercy, and was, I believe, made to taste of the powers of the world to come. His face was "scorched with lust, and scribbled over with the signature of every evil passion." His wardrobe consisted of one single garment. It was made of the " towel-advertisements " he had received at the various houses of shame which he had visited. This awful garment was the 49 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN only one he possessed ; he wore it everywhere, and as he testified some nights ago, pointed to it as sufficient proof of his sin and degradation. May the Lord keep him. Another who had proved the salvation of God for now several months rose to tell his story. Passing by our "Open Air" he was arrested by the words, "The preaching of the cross is . . . the power of God." Though an entire stranger to the barest elements of Christianity, his feet were stayed ; he listened, and finally followed us to the Hall. A prepared heart finds it easy to hear, understand, and be saved. And such was his. Within an hour his feet were on the Rock of Ages. He is a native of the Loo-Choo Islands, and a ship's steward. His boat is now in dock for repairs, and so he attends the meetings nightly. If I mistake not, God has a future of usefulness and power for this man.* Still another, an older man, working in a large cotton-spinning factory, rising, said : " Well, if any one has graduated in the university of sin, I have ; but now I have entered the kindersfarten of Jesus." He was led to the Lord by one of the other Christians, also saved at our Mission Hall, and working in the same factory. " Of late," said he, "I have been dis- couraged by the jeering of my mates, who shout ' Amen ' and ' Jesus ' after me wherever I go ; but * He has now entered our Bible School for training. 50 " LIFE IN THE LOST " the other day I found in the Scriptures that God chastens those who are His children. Hallelujah ! " His friend, who had been the means of leading him to the Hall, and so to Christ, then told us of his conversion — the same tale, alas ! of sin, but also of encouragement, for he first turned his steps heaven wajd through the testimony of another of our converts. Others followed — a railway employ^, a tram-car conductor, a carpenter, and a ship's engineer ; this latter, by the way, had a blessed story to tell. When God saved him six years ago, in the old Mission Hall in Kobe, he obtained the promise, " Thou shalt be saved, and thy house." He was able to say that this promise had been abundantly fulfilled, thirteen of his relations having been brought to Christ since the day he had fled to Him who w^as bruised for his iniquities. Others told their story also, but I have neither time nor space to write of them ; nor had we time to hear all that night, but we rejoiced together. And yet all this is as nothing to what might, and may, yea and please God shall, be in this place if only we go on in faith and prayer. " I could write it twenty times over," said William Bramwell, "that strong faith and continual prayer will produce every efi"ect." October 12, 1910. — The days are very niggardly, they seem to spare but too few minutes for journal entries. From the 2nd to the 8th, Mimaki San and 51 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN I visited the C.M.S. Girls' school at O.^aka, where God so graciously blessed us some five years ago. We found that many of the older girls were not con- verted, and the Principal was specially anxious about those in their fifth year, who were shortly leaving. There was little movement during the first three days, but prayer prevailed. On the third night Miss , and five of her teachers, met for interces- sion at 7 p.m. They were led out in earnest prayer that God would break through. They continued till 2.30 a.m., finishing in assurance of victory and the thanksgiving of faith. The next day was a good day indeed. God answered. A real conviction and a seeking spirit appeared among the girls, who, both Christian and unconverted, knew of a truth that God was in the place. Fifty or sixty of the latter rose to their feet as expressing a desire to turn to the Lord. Many of them were, I believe, real and sincere. October 17, 1910. — To-day I received a letter from the Principal of the school we have just visited. She says, "... I hardly know what to say and what to leave unsaid. The work is going on. Testimonies are being given outside the school by request. The diff'erence in the school is beyond words ; so far as we can tell, many are pressing on, and getting victory in daily life. The numbers are so great that we cannot have much personal contact with many ; but the 52 "LIFE IN THE LOST" teachers are wonderful in what they do, and the written testimonies are a great help in showing where individuals stand." Also in her account of the Mission, she says : " Friday evening is our regular prayer meeting. There were still some unsatisfied hearts, still those who were holding something back ; and for all of us, at what- soever stage, it was a solemn time of consecration, and of pleading that the fire of love might be lighted in our hearts by God Himself. Then followed such a time of intercession for schoolmates, parents, friends, and relations, as I have seldom heard. As though the longing desire could not be kept in, it broke out all over the room, till I doubt if there was a silent voice among the eighty of us, mingled with many low sobs as the volume of prayer went up. ''The next morning, Saturday, was a holiday; but the boarders again, for about two hours, poured out a stream of thanksgiving and intercession, with the same intensity as the night before. There was a happy light on the faces that day as the girls went about their ordinary avocations ; some coming to tell us of their new-found joy or to consult about helping someone else ; one to tell me she had been awake the whole night before, convicted of sin, and had not yet got pardon. Light soon came to her, and she had peace with God. On Monday morning, when all the day scholars were with us again, we held a praise 55 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN meeting, and during it asked all who had received some definite blessing, or were seeking such, to write down shortly on paper, then and there, what it was. One felt that the testimony would be useful to them, and would be a guide to us in knowing how to help and lead them on. In all, 142 papers were sent in, covering a large range. There was the little child who prayed about a lost book of tram tickets and found it ; another who asked that her mother's headache might be cured, and, as the answer came, knows now that God hears prayer. About sixty in all state definitely for the first time that they know now that God has saved them, and many of these add that now they want their families to be saved ; and others again that they have asked God to show them how they can work for Him. One adds that, till noiv, she never liked to lend her things, but now she does not mind who uses them. Some say they had no idea there could be such joy as this ; others that, till now, though they thought they were Christians, they had no peace, but now they know clearly that Christ is their Saviour. One had thought she must be good and strong before she came to Christ ; but just came in her sin and weakness, and He has taken her. *' Besides those believing for the first time, between forty and fifty testify to further blessing who were truly saved before. Almost all speak of having been shown pride and other sins, then of yielding utterly to 56 "LIFE IN THE LOST" God ; of learning for the first time what real prayer means ; of knowing that Christ dwells within ; or of receiving the Holy Spirit. Almost all speak of a desire to win others, and of praying for them. Amongst the papers received were eighteen from those who said they wanted to be saved, but were not yet. Some of these showed that the writers needed to be seen privately, so we gave little notes to most, inviting them to a meeting. All seemed ready to confess their sins, and ask for forgiveness ; ready for an act of faith ; and most of them could thank God that He had heard and saved them. Where hearts are softened, where the Holy Spirit is working in Revival power, as here now, it seems so simple and natural for hearts to believe. It has been very wonderful all through to see Him work. With some the heart-work may be shallow, and a responsibility is on us to pray that the impressions may not fade away, but deepen. But there is no doubt that, as we specially prayed, a very deep work has been done in some, and whole natures seem transformed. "All through the school now we see happy faces, and know of unselfish acts ; but most of all the spiritual life is going out in prayer and efforts to win others. AVe see it in the remarkable spirit of intercessory prayer, and in efforts of various kinds. Here is an instance we heard of from the mother. A young child only lately come to school went D 57 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN home and told her mother she believed in Christ now and was going to follow Him all her life. ' But what if we forbid you ? ' 'I can't help it. I must follow Him even if I die for it, for He loved me so, and I love Him.' ' But a child ought not to have a different religion from her parents.' ' No, we must be a united family, so you must come and believe the same.' ' Don't you think it is turning things upside down for a child to teach her parents ? ' ' That may be ; but God is so filling me with joy, that I can't help talking about it.' She brought her mother to one of the meetings, and the lady is now keen to hear more. (She has since become a true Christian, and a Church member. ) This is only one instance out of many. " One of the best things which I have not yet touched upon is the wonderful blessing among the teachers living in the boarding-house. Some do, indeed, seem to be full of the Holy Ghost and of power. One who only heard of Christ for the first time when she came here in April last year came with an open heart and has grown steadily ever since ; took a little room by herself at Arima during the holidays that she might have time for communion, and had much blessing at the Convention there. She seems a veritable prayer champion. She and the other teachers are so filled with the spirit of intercession, that prayer often goes on for several hours without anyone noticing how time is going. 58 "LIFE IN THE LOST " They are learning the secret of laying hold of God, of praying through to victory. They say they often heard about the power of united prayer, but never really knew it till now. One of these was under very deep conviction of sin the early part of the week, and is most marvellously blessed. It is an absolute transformation ; for, from being very difiPerent, she is now filled with the Spirit, deeply humble, constantly praying, and keen to win others — her brother in the first place, to whom she never dared to speak before. " One visiting teacher — formerly an agnostic, but whose heart was really changed some months ago — attended all the meetings and was looking for real help. She said sadly towards the end of the week that though she knew her sins w^ere forgiven, and though she had learnt much during these days, she had not got the joy she wanted, and which others possessed. She was then shown that this w^as seeking one of the fruits of the Spirit, instead of the Holy Spirit Himself, and so she began to pray for the great gift. On Saturday morning she was at home sewing, when suddenly a mistake she had been makins^ occurred to her. She had been feelino- that the father was almost too good to the prodio-al, and that more ought to have been made of the elder son to whom her sympathies went out. Now she saw that this was criticising God, and therefore was sin, and immediately put it away from her. At 59 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN once her heart was flooded with light, and she knew that God had answered her prayer. She put aside her sewing, and bowed her head to offer the thanks and praise of which her heart was fulL As she told me about it on Monday, she kept on saying, ' The Holy Spirit is wonderful ! He is wonderful ! I did not think He would have so come into my heart ! ' " We are full of thankfulness to God for all He has done, and at the same time the sense of solemn responsibility in being here during such a manifesta- tion of His power is great. He must mean this Revival to continue, deepen, and spread ; and one dreads anything hindering or grieving the Spirit. But when fears come, promises keep crowding into one's thoughts — * My Spirit remaineth among you : fear ye not.' 'Thou shalt see greater things than these.' * I will work, and who shall let it ? ' Do continue in prayer for the school, and that the blessing may go out beyond." God loves the children, and finds them ever nighest the Kingdom now as then. The proud and wise and rich He still sends empty away. " Not to the rich He came, or to the ruling (Men of full meat, ivhom ivholly He abhors^. Not to the fools groivn insolent in fooling Most, tuhen the lost are dying at the doors ; Nay but to them luho ivith a sweet thanksgiving Take in tranquillity nvhat God may brings 60 JOURNAL Nov. znd . . . . . . Dec. I ith^ 19 lo CHAPTER V No rest in this JVorld No Rest in this JVorld Methought that I at rest would be. Could I but live alone Upon this hilltop, where the sea Makes no distressful moan. Alas, alas ! the soughing breeze. Through every pine-tree^ mocks mine ease. 64 CHAPTER V Country Missions I WRITE these lines (November 2, 1910, in the train) passing through gorgeous scenery — crimson and gold, olive - greens and russet - browns, the artist's brown-pink and madder slashed and brocaded with the maples' scarlet — all flooded with a profusion of sunshine ; while away in the distance the hill- tops are capped with white, and towering into a cloudless blue stands the famous Fuji, covered as far as the eye can see with her stainless snows. Exquisite beauty ! How often there rises in one's heart the thought, if His creation is so beautiful, what must the Creator be ! Of the saint at any rate what Tennyson says is true — " The Peak is high and flushed At his highest with sunrise Jire ; The Peak is high, and the stars are high. And the thought of a man is higher." It is again some days since I have been able even to think of making any journal entries. Since last I wrote I have been to Tokyo to hold special 65 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN meetings in another school. The ground here was more difficult than at Osaka. In the first place, I was alone. Mimaki San had left me for other work. Secondly, the students are on the whole of a better class, some of them being from the richest and most fashionable families in Tokyo. The very atmosphere, too, of the capital is worldly and materialistic. It cannot be easy for such girls to confess Christ in their homes. But we proved again that God was sufficient for these things, and with us still. The Principal of the school is a splendid disciplinarian. I continually realized how well she had the whole school in hand. The patient, plodding instruction of months was an excellent foundation for any such special effort as this, and made it as easy to speak to the people here as in the homeland. Suffering from a severe cold, I found the work hard enough, but made easy by the presence and power of God. I took three meetings a day always — sometimes four ; and for two days in the week, five, in addition to much personal work. At the last meeting forty-five pupils rose, in nearly as many minutes, to tell in single sentences of what God had done for them. Down the cheeks of some the tears ran apace. There was a sweet sense of the presence of God with us as we separated in much love and rejoicing. KoFU, November 25, 1910. — I came to this beautiful spot yesterday. The journey lay through magnificent 66 COUNTRY MISSIONS mountains. Winter has already been skimming their tops, and left her footprints prettily behind her. On my way I think I passed through 100 tunnels. Kofu is a city of some 50,000 inhabitants ; the " foreign " element is small but motley. Two Papists, two Mormons, four Canadian lady missionaries, and a young Scotsman, teaching in a Government school, are there to entertain, if not to edify, the perplexed inhabitants. November 30, 1910. — A number of happy testi- monies in letters written by recent converts lie before me. I feel tempted to copy some at the risk of monotony. Says one — " I cannot tell you how thankful to the Lord I am. I have told my mother and sister at home, but they don't believe me, and yet I know my heart is changed. ... I love that hymn, ' He leadeth me,' because it was the means of bringing me to Christ. . . . All my love for pretty dresses, and ribbons, and popularity in the school, etc., has gone, and I am full of joy." Another : "I have learnt that I was a sinner, and yet that God will never cast away any that come to Him. He has changed my heart and saved even me. I have served the devil so long, though God was longing for me to trust Him all the time. I know now that He is with me ; and at times I am so taken up with thinking of Him, that I feel like crying out, God, my God ! and sometimes fail to listen to my teacher. I know this is wrong, but oh, I am so happy ! " Another : " You will not remember me ; my name is . I was converted at your last meeting. I laid 67 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN down all my burdens, and determined to follow Jesus. I wanted to see and tell you, but there was no time. I saw one of the other teachers, and with tears con- fessed my unbelief. The Lord accepted me. I told my mother when I got home, and God has so filled me with joy." I close with one moire : " As a little child I attended the Sunday school. From the age of fourteen to seventeen I have been here. I have been reading the Bible for five years. Sometimes I myself wanted to turn to the Lord, but I was foolish to think I could do this in my own strength. Your talks pierced my heart deeply, like a two-edged sword. I prayed day after day with many tears. I believed that if I touched even the hem of His garment, I should be accepted, notwithstanding my great sins. When we confessed our sins in the little room upstairs, I was very happy and believed. But oh, my weak faith ! The devil tempted me, and unbelief came into my heart again. I prayed much that night. I hoped you would pray with me to strengthen my faith, and give me a word from the Bible, but I could not see you. When I was dis- couraged, the tempter came and whispered in my ear that my prayer was not accepted by God, and that He would not have mercy on me. I was quite in despair. That afternoon I came weeping to the school, and prayed with a friend at Miss H 's, and received the assurance that I was saved. To my astonishment my heart was quite changed ; all things seemed new and joyful. When you called for the testimonies at the last meeting, I stood up to confess, but my voice was weak and trembling, so I suppose you could not catch my joyful words. I thank you heartily. I must tell you that my spiritual birthday was at two p.m. on the 22nd of October, 1910. This joy will fill my heart till the end of my life, because God has redeemed me." 68 COUNTRY MISSIONS Yesterday I had an interesting walk with . We talked of many things. I sought to turn his steps heavenward, but alas ! in vain. He talked Evolution ; but as it seemed to me with but little acquaintance with the subject, and still less conviction. I was re- minded of Dr. Fitchett's amusing analysis of the sub- ject as it strikes the plain man ; and I was glad that I am still a plain man ! "The man in the street, who has no time to be scientific, and who translates what of science he does know into a very unscientific vernacular, does not completely understand the Evolution theory ; and what of it he does understand, as far as it applies to himself, he dislikes. That theory, as he reads it, teaches that we began a sufficient number of ages ago, as a mere chemical ferment, or as a bubble in the spawn and slime of the sea. Our ancestors were little floating atoms in the salt spume of the dark primeval waters. Next they became ascidians, little bags of unorganised jelly ; then they attained to the dignity of, say, the oyster ; and in process of ages, creeping out from be- twixt its shells, they reached the loftier height of the tadpole. In due course they shed their tails, and mounted to the dignity of frogs. Then followed a great leap, or even a succession of leaps. Our an- cestors became monkeys, and, in some mysterious manner, got their tails back again. Once more they got rid of them, say, by the process of sitting on them for a certain number of centuries ; and so at last, and by some such process, infinitely varied, manhood was reached." I found myself unexpectedly interested in talking of themes scarce thought of since my University days ; 71 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN but elad to realise that I was no lonsjer in academic air, and that my lot was cast in easier and pleasanter places than college halls. That thoughtful, serious- minded men can entertain any reading of Evolution is always strange to me ; for if the best that so masterly a mind as Edward Caird can do for the subject is what appears in his Gilford Lectures, surely the hope is forlorn enough. My days have been busy and occupied with happier and more practical themes, preaching the everlasting Gospel of redeeming love. The Mission school here in the city of Kofu is a light and centre of blessing in this large province. Many of the girls come in from the country round ; while Misses Tennant and Keen, two most devoted ladies, spend all their time penetrating into the lonely country places in all sorts of weather, along all sorts of roads, under all sorts of conditions, sleeping in all sorts of places, living on Japanese food, and, indeed, enduring hardness as good soldiers, and thus carrying the light of life to many. It was beautiful to see the spirit of Jesus in them, and to know they will one day get a full reward for their labour. Of course, they are utterly unable to meet all the calls. With the pastor they arranged for the workers, some fifteen in number, to come in from the country, and with them some of the Christians. We had an average attendance each morning of about fifty. God, I believe, truly blessed 72 ERRATUM Page 72, for Misses Tennant and Keen read Misses Tweedie and Kilham COUNTRY MISSIONS us at these gatherings, the word and the messenger were acceptable. In the evening we had Gospel meet- ings ; the attendance was good, and about twenty turned their steps Zionward. I also took a meeting each day at the school, and then, too, God was with us. At the closing meeting thirty-one stood up to testify, in as many minutes, what the Lord had done. Some were beautifully clear and definite. I was able to give several hours to personal work, and found a real, deep work of conviction in the school. We finished up at Kofu very tired, but full of joy for all His grace and goodness. T San, who was with me, remained behind to help convicted souls, and started ofi" next day into the country for special visiting and cottage meetings. One of the women who was saved begged him to go to her village, as there were several anxious to hear ; so off he went. Oh that it might prove to be another story of the fourth of John ! She herself at one of the meetings came boldly forward seeking salvation, and gave herself and her sins to the Saviour. Takata, December 5, 1910. — On Sunday afternoon I am sitting in a tiny Japanese room above the little Methodist Church in the city of Takata. It is a lovely day, rather like a late day in an English summer. The windows are open, and I look out on to the pastor's little garden — a large persimmon tree full of the most beautiful golden fruit stands out 73 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN against a background of scarlet maple and stately cryptomeria. The city has about 30,000 people, and in addition to shrines has 208 Buddhist temples, i.e. one temple to about every thirty houses ! ! ! The province of Echigo is just the size of Palestine. There is very little work being done in this province of two million souls. A worker of the Canadian Church of England Missionary Association is the only missionary. He is most kindly entertaining me at meals in his little Japanese house. The people in this province are very prejudiced Buddhists. They are tied up socially, and every other way, with this idolatrous system. Fear of man has them in its iron, tormenting grip. One never realises so much as here the awful power of the fear of man, traditional customs, and the entanglements of social environment. But God is sufficient. Before January there will be about fifteen feet of snow, reaching up to the eaves of two-storied houses. The streets will be a solid compact mass of snow. The only way of walking along the street is under the roofed verandahs running each side of the road ; and the only way of crossing the road is through tunnels at fixed intervals. This morning I went over to Arai, a little town some miles from here. The new pastor, a converted barber and his wife, and a girl of about twenty years of age met with us for prayer. The Lord graciously 74 A STREET CROSSING IN TAKATA IN WINTER. A Tunnel through the Snow. COUNTRY MISSIONS opened the heart of the latter, as of Lydia of old ; and as we bowed in prayer her tears flowed apace. We found her ready to fly to Him who was bruised for our iniquities. She prayed as well as her tears and sobs would allow. When she came to the station a little later with the pastor, her face bespoke the joy of her heart. Truly the Lord is good ! December 11, 1910. — We finished up last night at Takata with fifteen of those who had professed to decide for Christ at a little informal gathering. Most of them said a word. It was not very definite — still, I feel God has blessed us there. The pastor and Christians were helped and encouraged. But there is need of much prayer for that idolatrous town. I received a letter from , the town I last visited. It contains gracious evidence that God was with us — ready to save. I select the following sentences : — "The blessing received by the entire school cannot be estimated. Again and again testimony is given to the peace and joy abiding within. One teacher of long standing said, 'I thought when I was a Christian, publicly professed, it was enough. I never understood before that Christ could keep me from sin. I realise now for the first time that He can take from my heart the desire to say unkind things.' " A bright young teacher, with us but a short time, made an independent decision for Christ after a hard struggle with herself. Being called off" immediately to attend the death-bed of her grandmother, she wrote, * All is confusion here subsequent to the funeral ; but my heart is full of peace and joy, because God is with 77 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN me.' On her return she desired baptism at once, but has decided to wait and receive it with some others next month. "Our matron gives a glowing testimony to the keeping power of Christ and the new life that has come into her Christian experience. " The wife of a stationmaster, who had been visited once a month by a Biblewoman, came from a neigh- bouring village and gladly embraced the first oppor- tunity to give herself to the Lord. She is now rejoicing in her daily communion with God. " The wife of a middle school teacher came from another town, brought her child, and attended three meetings a day for a week. Earnestly seeking, she too found the way of life and peace. " The wife of a school teacher was converted one night. She told her husband, and two nights later he too was kneeling at the penitent form. Their joy is unbounded. " A young mother, burdened with suffering and anxiety because of a drunken husband, cast herself and her burden at the Saviour's feet, and M'-ent back to her home rejoicing in faith that God cared for her and hers. " A banker's wife, noted on our calling list as a Church member, but apparently a dead branch, con- fessed with tears that she had, for the first time, come into vital relation with Christ ; hitherto, she had been absent from Holy Communion for very shame, having no desire to partake, but now she could go gladly. " A saintly Christian testifies that, because of her fresh grasp of God, not only has the burden of her heart been removed, but her bodily infirmity has been healed. " A servant, with such frightful deformity of face that she cannot be seen without causing a shudder, came out at night and sat in the shadow. She, too, took herself and her heavy burden to the Lord. Before, she was subject to fits of rebellion and despair, when 78 COUNTRY MISSIONS she was uncontrollable, and often threatened to kill herself. That she is altogether changed is the testi- mony of the household. She endures with the sweet hope of a beautiful life beyond. " We cannot write of all who have been helped. A thirst for God has been aroused in many hearts, and deepened in many others. Especially are we thankful to God for the testimony of the pastors. Two of the older ones say that, in the thirty years of their life since conversion, they have never been in meetings where they have received such blessing." Blessed be the name of the Lord that He can still be a Saviour, though His ambassadors are such poor representatives of His grace. He is still ready to bless and save. " Ready the Father is to own And kiss His late-returning son : Ready your loving Saviour stands. And spreads for you His bleeding hands. Ready the Spirit of His love Just noiu the stony to remove. To apply, and witness with the blood. And njuash and seal the sons of God. Ready for you the angels 'wait. To triumph in your blest estate : Tuning their harps, they long to praise The ^wonders of redeeming grace. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Is ready, with the shining host : All heaven is ready to resound. The dead's alive/ the lost is found / " 79 JO URNAL yan, 1st . , , . . . Feb. loth^ 191 1 CHAPTER VI Resurrection Resurrection I looked, and found the green had gone ; The Winter s frost had killed my song. Spring came ; dews fell ; and heaven s rain Made all my garden green again. The flowers and I once more were young. 84 CHAPTER VI A Peep into the Factories Christmas has come and gone again, and now the New Year has opened {January 1, 1911). It has been a relief to be away from the usual festivities in Christian England, Here we had a nice hearty testimony meeting at the Mission Hall. A day or two later we held tw^o days' feasting for the poor, and halt, and lame, and blind of this big city- — two hundred in all. We held it in the beggars' parish, the parson whereof is a young Presbyterian living in their midst, while attending each morning the lectures at the Presbyterian Theological School. Their love for him was touching. Last year there were six murder cases in that one neighbourhood ; and I fear many of the people are what a modern writer has called " artists in ethics." Their ideas of the exact position of "not" in the commandments are decidedly shaky — and they have frequent rides to at least one Govern- ment institution, not at their own expense. Kagawa San, capable of commanding a good salary in any position, has given his life and love to save this poor flotsam of Japanese humanity. Ravages of sin and 85 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN shame and poverty were everywhere sadly evident in the faces of the poor outcasts that gathered to enjoy the feast, if not the Message. We sought to lift up Him who bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows. Three years ago we had a similar gathering, and one of the guests was a poor woman with a face pitiably disfigured, and her lower jaw almost burnt away. The sight of it was repulsive indeed. I believe she turned to the Lord, and has visited Takeda San frequently since, giving evidence that her change of heart was real. This poor lady Lazarus was with us again — a living picture of humanity in ruins. What a day when Jesus comes to renew the whole creation which groan eth and travaileth in pain to- gether until now ! January 7, 1911. — We have just finished the annual Osaka Holiness Convention. We rejoiced to see two hundred earnest souls, recently gathered from the kingdom of Satan, delighting to come to listen to God's Word, and seek His face, whereas once they would have been engaged in the drunken festivities of the New Year. We had Gospel meetings in the evening, and many souls cried for mercy ; ten and even twenty each night came forward to seek salvation ; and one night, including some young Christians, there were as many as seventy in the inquiry-room. January 8, 1911. — I have just received the following letter : — 86 mw A PEEP INTO THE FACTORIES " How can I ever express my gratitude for the blessing received ! How can I ever repay the love of Christ to me ! The blessing of God and the love of Jesus have filled my heart to overflowing. To-day I obtained salvation throu2;h the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, He broke my hard heart, and revealed to me the grace of God ! Nothing could ever have cleansed my heart but His precious blood ; and none else could have saved me from my sins. On the evening of 25th November my longing desire was satisfied. He took away all my trouble and doubt, and filled me with love, and joy, and peace. . . . He will guide me till I reach the heavenly land. It was when you were here, 28tli October, that I trusted for salvation, and was praying in expectation. But the devil kept tempting me to doubt. My heart seemed hard, and cold, and full of sin. But yesterday I was again deeply convicted of sin in my heart, and felt as if I was sinking into a bottomless slough, and cried aloud to the Lord for a real salvation. And to-night, as I was singing the hymn, ' Just as I am, without one plea,' I came to the fifth verse — " * Just as I am — Thou lu'tit receive. Wilt tvelcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve ; Because Thy promise I believe, Lamb of God, I come ! ' My hard heart was opened and I let the Lord in. Oh, I cannot tell you all the joy I How shall I ever repay Him for this wonderful blessing ! I can only give myself to Him, and serve Him gladly. He will give me power to defeat the enemy ; and I believe whatever I ask in faith He will give me. I want to live in the love of Jesus always. . . ." January 18, 1911. — Last night I went with a few friends to Osaka to visit one of the large cotton spin- 89 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN ning factories. Miss H , who has for many years given her heart and strength to this work, accompanied us. There are in Osaka and its environs some forty of these large factories where women and girls are employed — perhaps from 60,000 to 70,000 hands. The one we visited was one of the best, though not the best appointed of all. It is an immense place. Attached to the grounds of the factory is a large boardino: establishment for the 2000 hands that work there. It is quite a little village in a compact form. The ages of the girls vary from eleven to thirty, and though the hours are long — twelve per day and even longer, with only two holidays a month — the conditions are good. School and class rooms ; a commodious room serving for Buddhist lectures, and other equally unedifying entertainments ; a sadly handsome, elabo- rate shrine in the alcove at the end (almost all worship there morning and evening) ; huge bathrooms, where every girl has a hot bath either night or morning ; a large courtyard containing another fox-god shrine, with garden plots, an aviary, cages of rabbits for the amusement of the children in off hours ; library, hos- pital with doctors on the staff, and other equipments are provided. The machinery goes on night and day, the girls working in night and day shifts. There are twelve to fifteen matrons, or superintendents, each having about 300 children under their charge. In this particular 90 A PEEP INTO THE FACTORIES factory four of these are Christians. Hattori San, a graduate of the Imperial Women's University, has devoted her life to work among these girls; and in order to get amongst them has obtained an official position here, with leave to tell them of Christ. She is a splendid character ; and the factory authorities, knowing her worth, are continually asking Miss H to find them more Hattori Sans. But I am sorry to say this is no easy task. The whole place, though of such wide dimensions, is kept spotlessly clean and lighted with electricity. The large dining-hall, seating 1000, was prettily decorated for the New Year. The girls are all from the country, and hence from bigoted Buddhist homes. The authorities care nothing for religion, but they know that one inducement for the parents to allow their children to come to Osaka is that they have facilities to worship and hear so-called Buddhist sermons. We began our meeting for 400 girls at 8.30 p.m., and heard afterwards that from 7 to 8.30 the same number had been attending in the very same room a Buddhist discourse from a special woman worker sent from Tokyo. Though in many cases the authorities realise the value of Christian matrons and Christian teaching among their girls, it has been most difficult to obtain any entrance because of the parents. A recent instance will suffice to explain. At one factory one of 91 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN the girls became a Christian. She came from a long distance — a country district which is strongly Buddh- istic. The parents, hearing of it, were indignant, and the factory touts of late have found it impossible to get even one girl from that district ; hence, as one of the authorities observed that "factories are not built to become churches, but to make money," it is most difficult to get into some of them. Miss H has done yeoman service in getting the doors open. She has held meetings in thirty-six out of the forty. Some were opened only temporarily ; some are still closed through lack of permission from the authorities ; more are practically closed through lack of workers. It is sad enough to think of the thousands of young women in the homeland of affluent circum- stances, many of them killing time, while in one city here in this land some 70,000 young women are lying in utter darkness, untouched and unreached, and one lady is wearing herself out in her endeavour to reach the tiniest fragment of this vast mass. I can, however, imagine some one saying as he reads these lines, " If they are so comfortably housed and cared for, what need is there for more ? " In the first place, I would say that the picture I have given is that of one of the best. Many of the other factories, I gather, are much inferior, though some are even superior ; and yet even here, well cared for as they are, Miss H tells me that the majority of girls 92 MR. T. MITANI. A leading Japanese Evangelist, and Editor of the Christian News. A PEEP INTO THE FACTORIES break down under the strain of long hours after three years. They are all from very poor homes, uneducated, and full of inherited superstition. Hattori San was telling me last night that once or twice a week some twelve girls from the C.M.S. Mission school come and teach hymn singing. The average attendance at this class is about 200. She added, " It is such a blessing to teach them pure songs, even if they do not under- stand all their meaning ; the only songs they know and sing are foul and obscene." To their poor little minds, there is nothing incongruous in worshipping morning and night before the large Buddhist shrine (which nearly all the 2000 do every day) and singing these ribald songs. In the factory I visited, there are some thirty Christians or inquirers. Oh that someone who reads these lines may be burdened in prayer, and purse, and person, to seek and save the lost ! I do not know of a more blessed work for any English girl than to come and give her life for these, her Japanese sisters, for whom Christ died. I think it was Ion Keith Falconer who said, in speaking of the Church, " We have a great and impos- ing War Office, but a very small army." Certainly, if St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Lambeth Palace may be considered as the headquarter offices, the War Office of the English Church is imposing enough. I fear, however, that during the past nine 95 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN centuries, figliting operations have been mostly con- fined to what the little American boy called " a small island off the north-west coast of France " ; and in latter years a good deal of these have been sham battles and dress parade ; while in the vast fields yet to be won for Christ, a few stragglers are seeking to uphold the honour of the flag. January 19, 1911. — I received the following from a schoolgirl of fifteen years. If its broken English is quaint and pretty, the heart behind it is no less full of beauty : — "Dear Mr. Wilkes, — I am a girl whom you led unto Jesus my Saviour, and prayed for in our library. I am grateful to my God, my Saviour, and to you. I was not a true Christian till you came. You told me that if I pray to God for Holy Spirit and true gladness. He certainly hear me, and give these good gifts to me. I prayed earnestly even into the deep night, and play time, and recess time, and during my study hour. I wished to be like you, the happiest, gladdest person. Oh, to-day at half-past six o'clock when I was praying. He gave me the true Holy Spirit and gladness ! I cannot keep this joy to be only in my heart, so I tell it to you gratefully. I was the head of sinners, but He died for me. If I was not a sinner like that, there would be no necessity for His death ; but because 1 was a sinner His death was very necessary. Oh, I am very glad and grateful for His death ! I promised to Him that with all my things I offer ; and so there is nothing belonging to me, but to my Lord. Please be glad to me, teacher, and please pray to Him for me — this little thing. I am always praying to Him for you. Ah, teacher, there is waiting eternal joy up 96 A PEEP INTO THE FACTORIES in heaven ! I can now sing the twenty-third Psalm heartily. "My English is not right, but you know all my heart, I believe ; so please think my heart, and pardon my unright English. " From my true glad heart I thank you. May God bless you." Januai^ 27, 1911. — Our hearts were cheered last night as we saw some twenty of our Mission Hall converts buried with Christ in baptism. It was a happy and solemn time. Kawabe San, a man of God and power, came over from Osaka to conduct the service and administer what Bishop Moule calls, " the sacred baptismal plunge." They were admitted into the Free Methodist Church. January in Japan is not a month that one would usually select for the administration of the rite of immersion, but there was plenty of holy glow and warmth within to make up for the cold without. As these men and women, so recently saved from sin and darkness, stood up to publicly confess Christ, Kawabe San took them carefully through the Apostles' Creed. Searchingly did he demand of them one by one as to whether they had given up all connection with every form of idolatry. One married woman replied with deep earnestness, " Yes, I burnt them all." Another little woman caused a smile as she said, *' I always did hate them." A smile ! Yes, but to those of us who knew the sad circumstances that 97 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN lay behind the vehement asseverance of that little soul, there was a smile of joy that God's deliverance had been so complete. More solemn still was Kawabe San's inquiry, as he reminded them of the question put to the early Christians in Japan presenting them- selves for baptism, "Are you prepared for the scaffold? " for it meant that more often than not in the old days — " Are you prepared to witness for Christ and His holy name ? " A steady answer from them all that they were, only gave brother Kawabe an occasion for reminding them of Peter's earnest confession that though all should deny Him he would die for his Lord, and yet five hours later he had denied Him with oaths and curses. He begged them, in real humility, to see and know their weakness, and depend on the Lord for all their strength. After the service was over, a praise and testimony meeting followed. Brother Takeda, who had prepared them for baptism, told me that in dealing with them in prayer before the Lord one by one, the con- fessions of sin in their past life were appalling even to him, who is of course familiar with the dark side of Japanese life. We could only praise God for all that salvation has meant to these dear men and women. To us all their stories are deeply interesting. Our continual cry to God is, " Bring into our Hall the real sinners " ; the respectable folk may go elsewhere, but we 98 A PEEP INTO THE FACTORIES want the lost sheep, the prodigal sons, the profligate and depraved. He answers as we ask Him. As brother Takeda remarked, unless a man is really burdened and convicted of sin, our line of dealing with him is too stringent and decisive to admit the ordinary folk coming to us. We demand a real repentance, and a hearty confession of sin to God — a crying to God for mercy, as well as faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Many are not prepared for this. They want a more respectable and easy-going way of coming into the Kingdom of God. But the sinners are so many and so desperate in their sin, that we have, alas ! plenty of material on which to work. Kobe, Friday, Fehruary 10, 1911. — I had ex- pected to be off again for work, but have been laid aside. Mr. Thornton has kindly come and taken me off to his house, there to kill me with kindness. I am enjoying the quiet, and the happy fellowship with that man of God. We regret that he leaves us so soon for America, for he has been used much for the glory of God in this place. From the unhappy flotsam and jetsam of the West stranded in these ports, victims of drink and degradation, some have been blessedly saved, and are to-day rejoicing in God through our brother's ministry. The last capture from the devil's ranks is a poor fellow named " Scottie," so called because a native of Scotland. Born of drunken parents, and left an orphan, he took early to the sea ; he can neither read 99 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN nor write, lias spent a large part of his life in prison, and was a confirmed drunkard. It seemed tliat he had never before heard the way of salvation ; but God has graciously saved him, and it is a joy to see him going Zionward, and that apace. lOO JO URNAL Feb. I'jth . . . . . . March 23^/5 191 1 CHAPTER VII U^eariness of Life Weariness of Life Ah ! Think and ponder as I may, 'Tis grief to know I ne'er can tell How long my tired heart must dwell Within this prison-house of clay ! 104 CHAPTER VII A Tour South Here I am in Nagasaki — a pretty place with a beauti- ful harbour. We have just finished a series of meetings at the Methodist School, where brother Mimaki has had much blessing in past years. Nagasaki was at one time a Roman Catholic town ; the large convent, school, and church, with Japanese priests and nuns, give evidence that they are still in force. Outside the towm whole villages are Roman Catholic. From the school grounds we look out on the harbour full of shipping, battle- ships, and torpedo-destroyers. We were illuminated at night with the searchlight of what was once a Russian cruiser sunk at Port Arthur, and is now a fine ship in the Japanese navy ; while away in the distance stands the cliff" from which in bygone days so many brave witnesses for Christ were flung headlong rather than deny their Master. Many a *'mute inglorious" martyr awaits his resurrection from the blue waters of the Nagasaki Bay. February 17, 1911. — As I move about the country I rejoice to see the abiding results of our Summer Conventions. A pastor here had but little sympathy 105 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN with spiritual religion. Some three years ago he attended the Arima Convention, at which the Rev. Barclay F. Buxton was speaking, and returned truly blessed of the Lord. He gave us at this time a warm welcome, and invited us to conduct meetings in his church. In the school, too, I found four or five of the older girls or teachers who had been similarly blessed when Mr. Buxton was last out from England ; and the blessing abides. When God com- mands it, surely it standeth fast. Saseho, February 24, 1911. — Saseho, of naval fame, was, I suppose, the base of operations during the war. The harbour is full of battleships, cruisers, and torpedo craft. Fifteen years ago it had but 800 inhabitants ; to-day it has 80,000. The great Naval Arsenal with its 7000 hands, and big dock- yard with perhaps an equal number, make the place busy enough. The first and second squadrons are both in harbour, and so bluejackets abound. They are very like our English tars, though perhaps more sober. There is comparatively but little drinking in the navy ; and many of the men are, I imagine, more educated and intelligent than our bluejackets. It is a good field for work. The Japan Evangelistic Band have a special interest in the place, as Higuchi San, one of our workers, is in charge of the Mission Hall. It is a joy to see him once again. Saved five years ago at our Kobe Mission Hall, he has grown io6 THE REV. BARCLAY F. BUXTON. A TOUR SOUTH rapidly in grace — a clear, earnest, lovable man of God, always intent on the one thing only — the sal- vation of men. Mr. Rowlands, an old friend who resigned from the C.M.S. some few years ago, is doing a blessed work, though he has been here but two years. There are about thirty to forty Christians — members of his church — though other bodies are sharing the burden, and have little companies of worshippers. He has a nice little Mission Hall seating about 150. We conducted four days' meetings for Christians, and afterwards sought to reach the sheep that are lost. Last night the place was packed to the doors ; about fifty were standing, and many were turned away. The opportunities are great, both for sowing and reaping. I sought to unfold the five wonderful thino-s in John iii. 16 — Wonderful love . God loved the world. gift . _ . He gave His only begotten Son. ,, salvation . Not perish. ,, blessing . Have everlasting life. way re Whosoever helieveth. Til • J • • 1 ■ 1 Six or seven responded by going upstairs into the inquiry-room; we were there till 10.45 seeking to lead them to Christ. I was ashamed that the response was so small, and felt that I was not speaking in the power of the Spirit. A public school headmaster, recently expelled for drunkenness, etc., was, I believe, truly converted. How true it is that sin alone 109 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN introduces us to the Saviour. It is interesting to thus get in touch with souls. Let me give you the experience of one evening alone. Out of eighteen who came upstairs, eight expressed a desire to come to God. I waited to see if there were any others. A lady who sat at my right hand — the only one in the room except a Biblewoman who was with her — and who had been holding up her hand unnoticed, called aloud, " And me, please," It is scarcely a usual thing for a lady to express herself so definitely or boldly in the presence of men ; Mimaki San, there- fore, dealing with her afterwards, \vas not surprised to find her a heavy-laden soul ready enough for the Friend of sinners. In the adjoining room her husband, a petty officer, also found peace at the foot of the Gross. They returned home together rejoicing in Ghrist. Turning to a young man, I said, " Have you heard the Gospel before ? " " Yes," he repUed, " often ; and last at some meetings conducted by a man named Buxton, in Seattle, on the Pacific Coast, two or three months ago. I have just returned to Japan ! " If the world is narrow, the providences of God are wide indeed. Addressing myself to another, a petty officer on a cruiser stationed at Maizuru, I put the same question. " I have listened often," he replied, " at the Ginza Mission Hall (G.M.S.) in Tokyo. Appointed for a no A TOUR SOUTH year to the Wireless Telegraphy School there for special instruction, I frequently attended the Mission." He, too, seemed ready to repent and be saved ; and I was as ready to point him to his Saviour and Friend. FuKUOKA, March 3, 1911. — This is my first visit to this large capital of the whole of Kiushiu. We are taking a six days' Holiness Convention, and then six days' Evangelistic services in the large Methodist Church. Mimaki San is with me, and conducts the morning Bible readings. The church is nearly full in the evening, and a good number attend in the morning. I think it is the brightest provincial church I have seen. So many of these saints are on fire for the Lord. About six years ago one of the old ladies of the C.M.S. church had attended the Convention at Hamadera. She was greatly blessed, and filled with the Spirit. Eeturning home, she began to pray for a Revival and blessing on all the churches in the place. The next year Mimaki San and Mitani San were invited to conduct a mission. They went. God answered the prayer of His people, and opened the windows of heaven upon them. The following year Mimaki San was invited to conduct meetings for the C.M.S. Bible School in a neighbouring town. Miss F , of the Methodist Church, brought a detachment of women too. Those were remarkable days, and God poured out His Spirit upon the people. G III MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN Some of them returned here to strengthen the old lady's hands in prayer. Finally Mimaki San was invited to conduct meetings in the Methodist Church, which is the largest and most influential in the place. One of the first to publicly seek for blessing was the pastor himself; and since then the elders, deacons, and congregation have followed. Several of the Christians are preaching on their own account in the places round. Methodists and Church of England meet together weekly for prayer for a Revival ; and, humanly speaking, one of the main causes of it all is the prayer of the old widow lady who was blessed at Hamadera. She is full of faith and the Holy Ghost. She, and others, spend many hours in prayer and fasting for this place. It is a joy to be in such an atmosphere, where there is real life, and power, and victory. Those who oppose, I am well aware, do not hesitate to emphasise the divisions and friction that have arisen in the Church ; but missionaries who are on the spot, and see the difference in the lives and spirit of those who yielded wholly to the Lord, can plainly testify that the trouble has arisen because some are unwilling to fall in line with God's ways, or have from the beginning opposed the work as not being in accordance with their ideas and wishes. The Lord came not to send peace on the earth, but a sword ! Oh that the tide of life now flowing may break down every barrier, and flood 112 A TOUR SOUTH these little churches with peace and joy in the Holy Ghost ! And so I am here. The Lord is with us in the meetings. Several have come in from the country to attend, even from a distance. March 8, 1911. — I have just met . What a change in her ! The last time I saw her was four or five years ago, when we knelt together, and with strong crying and tears sought the Lord as her Sanctifier. How abundantly has God answered. We conversed together of the way God has led since then. It w^as beautiful to behold her joy, and assurance, and love. Nor was it less pleasing to hear the testimony of many about her work and service in the whole district. Much beloved, she is a constant source of inspiration and blessing wherever she goes. We had a hallowed time of praise and prayer together as we remembered the loving-kindness and tender mercy of our God, I have just finished the first of the four volumes of that amazing book, John Wesley s Journal. Ls there any other book outside the inspired writings that can more swiftly bring a man to his knees and make him cry, " Unprofitable servant " ? What amazes one more than his intrepid faithfulness, his astonishing capacity for endurance and hard work, his tenderness of love, is his extraordinary power of being instant in season every hour of the day. This is incidentally illustrated on almost every page, 113 MISSIONARY JOYS IN JAPAN but the following entry especially is striking and helpful. He says — "For these two days I had made an experiment which I had been so often and earnestly pressed to do : ' Speaking to none concerning the things of God unless my heart was free to do it.' And what was the result ? ( 1 ) That I spoke to none at all for fourscore miles together, no, not even to him that travelled with me, unless a few words at first starting out. (2) That I had no cross to bear or take up, and commonly in an hour or two fell fast asleep. (3) That I had much respect shown to me wherever I came, every one behaving to me as a civil good-natured gentleman. Oh, how pleasing is all this to flesh and blood ! Need ye compass sea and land to make proselytes to this ? " This advice was all of a piece with the devastat- ing "stillrless" with which Quietists were poisoning meetings and societies everywhere. How wonderfully history repeats itself. Here in this Japanese city, 150 years away from Wesley and 10,000 miles from his sphere of labour, we find the same tendencies in the flock. I have been busy to-day interviewing little groups of believers, warning them, and encouraging them, and seeking to show them pitfalls in the way to glory — loveless zeal, spiritual pride, hothouse holi- ness, and all the rest of them. It is a joy to see men pressing on ; to listen to their prayers and praises ; and to seek to help them in their fight against the powers of darkness. Oh for more love and compassion and burning zeal towards the souls and bodies of 114 A TOUR SOUTH men 1 Last night, as on the two preceding ones, we had good congregations of unbelievers. God was with us, and some came forward seeking the Saviour, though there was no great movement among them. Oh for that tender yet mighty breaking conviction of sin against the Holy One ! Oh that we might see what Paul beheld ! " Shepherd of souls ! it is not thus Thou saves t ; Nay, hut