Japan : its people and missions / Jesse Page.

  • Page, Jesse.
Date:
[1896?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Japan : its people and missions / Jesse Page. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    into the place where the idol is located, and which, except upon special occasions, is kept closely shut up and railed off from the people. The priests, as is always the case, were very gracious and polite. They informed me, however, that nobody but priests were allowed within the sacred enclosure. ‘ Be it so,’ I replied, ‘ but I am myself a priest of Oura,’—such is the name by which I am known throughout the whole island. Oura is the name of the foreign settlement. Upon this, judging, I presume, from my dress of the truth of my words, they instantly gave way, and told me that I might enter. This, after thanking them, and after having taken off my boots as well as my hat, I at once proceeded to do, accompanied by about twenty priests. Inside I beheld, as I expected, the idol, altar, incense, flowers, and all the other paraphernalia of heathen and idolatrous worship. My heart grew hot within me. I felt I must speak, and so for the space of three-quarters of an hour, and in the very presence of their idol, I was enabled, by God’s grace, to preach to the poor fellows of the Lord Jesus Christ and of His great and only salvation, as also of the hollowness and fearfulness of idolatry. They confessed that very much of what I said was true, told me I was a learned man, and some of them expressed a wish to be allowed to come and see me, in order that they might hear more about Christ. That same afternoon two of their number called, and stayed conversing about the Bible for some considerable time.” Sumiyoshi Clio Church and Sho-gakko (primary school for girls and boys) has since been built in Yokohama. Many children have been brought here by parents, who requested to have them taught “ as much of the doctrine as a child can receive.” “ We are too