MISSIONS IN JAPAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17712, 16 May 1929, Page 2

MISSIONS IN JAPAN.

WORK IN THE INTERIOR. LECTURE BY MISS M. A. BURNETT. The work of the Central Japan Pioneer Mission in the interior of Japan was the subject of an interesting address delivered by Miss M. A. Burnett, the superintendent of the mission, in the Baptist Hall last night. A large audience gave the speaker a very attentive hearing, and learned much ■■f the 'excellent work done among the heathen by the mission. The Central Japan Pioneer has as its field of activities the three provinces of Tochigi, Gumma and Saitama, with an approximate area of some eight thousand square miles, and a population of 3,500,000 of which 500,000 have- been; evangelised. The object of the mission is to spread the seeds of Christianity among some seventy towns and villages in this territory, and already good work has been done. The workers consist of overseas and Japanese missionaries, all of whom have no guaranteed salaries, but trust to the ways of Providence for the supply of their needs. Within the area of activities there arc many large towns, which, although highly civilised, still hold to the old order .of idolatry and paganism. Instance of this was given in the fact that the local railway derives most or its revenue from the transport of passengers travelling to the various idol shrines'.' and temples of the towns which the railway- Serves. Most ai the inhabitants'."have vague ideas of Christianity, hut quite a lot have never even heard of 'lt.

In a Terrible State. Morally the nation is in a terrible state, and there is vice and crime everywhere, whicli is destroying the morals of the young. Bolshevism i.-j also making strong headway among the people, so much so that recently some hundreds of citizens were arrested for attempting to further its influence. „ . It was in June, 1924, that the work was begun in earnest, by opening a mission in a town known as Ola, a great centre of idolatry, with about 6000 inhabitants. In this town there were sixty restaurants which were the resort of criminals, and had licensed prostitution. Considerable headway was made in this town, and from 19 until 1928 seventeen tent missions had been held in various towns attended by some 17,500 adults., and a still larger number of children. In addition to the regular work in the towns, the missionaries, whenever possible, penc • Irate into the villages of the interio”, and conduct services among the farmers, who appear to be the most enthusiastic regarding Christianity. Sun--day schools are also held for the childrcn. One of the most important results of the activities of the Central Japan Pioneer Mission was the formation of the Bible School at-Macbashi. Tffis school has as its principal, Mr Funaki, who is assisted by Mr Akiyama, and they are doing fine work. _ The converts of the mission are drawn from every class and walk of life, from the nobility to the Eta, or outcasts, who are shunned by their fellows. Farmers and factory girls form perhaps the great majority of the converts.' The latter come for the most part from villages in the distant northern. provinces, and they work •from twelve’to’ twelve arid a-half iiours daily, on both day and night shifts. Evcrv year an annual meeting is held which takes the form of a three days’ convention, with services and prajer, and this is followed by a business meeting. Only a small number of the Christians from the various churches arc able *to attend, as tho\ are main-j working people, and are unable to leave the factories, but they send delegates, and pay their expenses.

Work Among Children. Special consideration is given to work among the children. Every adult mission is preceded by a mission for tiie children, while every station lias at least one Sunday school or weekday children’s, meeting. At present there are twelve regular meetings held, week by week; but the number is often greater than this. The Central. Japan Pioneer, as a separate mission, is, just over three and a-half years old, and it future depends on the support that is given by those interfiled in the work of furthering Christianity in foreign fields. A few foreign, missionaries are required to advance the'work, as there are still eighty per cent, of .Japan’s sixty million yet to be evangelised, ■ In conclusion Miss Burnett said that, as the work of the mission is strictly a pioneer one, it cannot, in its initial stages, be self-supporting, because the heathen could not be expected to find money for their own evangelisation, although sometimes they do offer to do so. She appealed for greatei support for missions, and said that there were millions awaiting the coming of Christianity. On behalf of the audience Mr Bycroft thanked Miss Burnett for her interesting address.