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Description: Japan Trip Page 10
Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C., USA
Washington Herald June 24, 1907 Japan Trip Page 10
TELL OF TOKYO TRIP
S. W. Woodward and J. B. Sleman Talk at Y. M. C. A.
TREATED WELL IN JAPAN
Speakers Tell of Interest, Both Religious and Financial, of Subjects of the Mikado in Advancing Work. First Meeting of Kind Ever Held in Orient, Secular or Otherwise.
Missionary work on the part of the Y. M. C. A. in China, Japan, and Korea was the topic of an interesting talk, given by S. W. WOODWARD, president of the Y. M. C. A., at the association building, yesterday afternoon, before an assembly of men, which completely filled the lobby of the association building. Mr. WOODWARD and John B. SLEMAN, jr., have recently returned from the Orient, where they were in attendance at the conference of the World’s Student Christian Federation, held at Tokyo. Prior to the beginning of the afternoon’s programme, the secretary in charge of the meeting invited the men present to “take your coats off, and make yourselves comfortable. Comfort will be the feature of our summer services.” Quite a number availed themselves of the offer, following the example of the secretary, who conducted the singing in shirt sleeves.
Mr. WOODWARD, in leading up to his subject, said that the Y. M. C. A. movement is the most important in the Japanese empire to-day; that not only the best newspapers, but also statesmen of all political persuasion look upon the movement with favor. The speaker stated that this conference was the first international gathering of secular or religious societies ever held in the East, which was regarded as most significant by all persons of importance and influence in the East.
Interest in Japan’s Papers.
“We received extraordinary attention on the part of the Japanese newspapers,” continued Mr. WOODWARD, “one paper in particular publishing the proceeding of the conference almost verbatim, bringing the work of the conference to the knowledge of the whole Japanese people. To show how much the Japanese people think of our work, it is only necessary to say that Marquis ITO, the Japanese agent in Korea, donated 10,000 yen toward the work. The members of the conference were entertained by the leading Japanese statesmen and by bankers and business men, who realize that the work accomplished by the Y. M. C. A. is for the benefit of the country as well as the people.”
The city of Tokyo educational center was also discussed by Mr. WOODWARD, who said that we had no idea how many schools there are in Tokyo and how unusually large is the attendance at these schools, some of them numbering as many as 7,000 pupils. He said every young man is anxious to learn Western civilization, and that there are not enough young men in China to-day to fill the positions which that government has to offer them. Mr. WOODWARD stated that there are from 15,000 to 16,000 Chinese students in Tokyo who are learning the English language, which was one of the conditions necessary for an aspirant for office to be successful.
Sleman Also Speaks.
John B. SLEMAN, jr., was introduced as the next speaker on the same subject. Mr. SLEMAN said, in part: “The gathering of representative Christian student leaders of twenty-five nations for five days in Tokyo marked a new epoch in the promotion of Christian work in non-Christian lands. It is only thirty-five years ago since the edicts offering a reward for the arrest of Christians were posted all over the empire. In that short time, complete religious toleration has been secured, and Japan welcomed warmly the ‘first world’s gathering of any sort, religious or secular, ever held in the Orient,’ and congratulated herself on the fact that it was a gathering which sought the spiritual and moral betterment of the world.”
Mr. SLEMAN also spoke at length of the centenary of Protestant Christian missions held in Shanghai two weeks after the Tokyo meeting. This remarkable gathering representing the missionaries of seventy-two denominations in China, was in session for ten days, during which time action of remarkable importance was taken.
Organize Chinese Church.
Among other things, it was decided that the denominational divisions should not be perpetuated in China, but that the Chinese church be organized on the simple basis of the Scriptures. Joint efforts along educational and medical lines were also agreed upon.
“The personnel of the conference,” said Mr. SLEMAN, “was impressive in every way. Men and women of the deepest consecration and of great ability constituted the gathering. Throughout our entire journey we were impressed with the high character of the results accomplished by the missionaries.”
The speakers described at some length their experiences in Korea, and quoted leading observers as saying that if the present rate of progress continued, Korea will be virtually a Christian nation in fifteen years.
Mr. SLEMAN also spoke at the morning services of the Mount Pleasant Congregational Church, of which he is a member, on the same subject.
Prof. THIRKIELD, rector of Howard University, delivered the invocation, and Hon. H. B. F. MACFARLAND offered the closing prayer.