Japan moves to the front, for _Chautauqua_ has taken firm root in Japan.
The Chautauqua Idea is an ecumenical idea, and it is the province of this
article to show the workings of this idea in Japan during the past six
months.
Late in the summer of 1884 Mrs. A. M. Drennan (C. L. S. C. class of ’82),
a resident missionary in Japan, at Osaka, entered into correspondence
with Chancellor Vincent as to the possibility of translating valuable
English materials in the line of the “C. L. S. C.” into the Japanese
vernacular. Among the material tracts, papers, etc., sent, was one
which she put into the hands of an educated native, well versed also in
English, who said on reading it: “If that book can be put into the hands
of the young men, Tom Paine and other infidels must leave Japan.”
Chancellor Vincent, on reviewing the necessities of the field, and
marking the wondrous developments of that newborn nation, arranged
with Mrs. Drennan for the translation of the “Required Reading” in THE
CHAUTAUQUAN into Japanese, guaranteeing a prescribed sum per month for
expenses of translating for one year.
March 30, 1885, Mrs. Drennan writes: “I wish I could convey to you
something of an idea of the enthusiasm in reference to our Chautauqua
Society here. In much less than a week after the first advertisement in
the papers, our secretary had received nearly three hundred letters of
inquiry, and, on application, had given out every one of the first five
hundred copies of the ‘Hand-Book.’ A second edition of five hundred was
made, and now, in less than a week, only two hundred copies remain.”
The “Hand-Book” referred to is the first number of a magazine, in book
form, containing articles from THE CHAUTAUQUAN, viz.: “Mosaics of
History,” “Africa,” “Alexander the Great,” “One Hundred Questions,”
“World of Science,” and “The Results of the Discovery of America.”
Mr. C. S. Hongma, of Osaka, a native Japanese, President of the “Japanese
Literary and Scientific Circle,” writes to Chancellor Vincent, in good
English, a letter full of hope, and expressing his delight in aiding to
organize the circle, and asking help and prayers for its success.
The laws of Japan require six months’ notice to be given of intention to
publish a magazine, and but one month’s notice for publishing a book. The
quotations from THE CHAUTAUQUAN are therefore given the book form.
Mrs. Drennan says the natives will pay the expense of advertising
the movement in Japanese papers, and will, ere long, pay the cost of
translation.
April 13, 1885, Mrs. Drennan writes: “It would take a long letter to
tell you the good things about our J. L. S. C. We have just received
to-day from the press our third edition of the ‘Hand-Book;’ this makes
twenty-five hundred printed. Our secretary is preparing to-night a list
of the paid-up members. There have been over three hundred applicants
for membership, but only one hundred and fifty have as yet paid all
dues. You know there is the house rent (for place of meeting of the local
circles), and the fixing up, lights, etc., to give us a comfortable place
of meeting. These, with most of the advertising and other expenses, have
been met by the members; and with your kind aid for a little while we
will have an influence that will spread over this entire land, doing
great things for this people. Our secretary has answered over _seven
hundred letters of inquiry_. Applications have come from several cities
for the privilege of organizing branch societies.
“The first article in our ‘Hand-Book’ is an editorial by the editor
of the largest paper in this part of Japan. He is a very fine writer
and highly educated. He is perfectly enthusiastic over the work. It
is an argument for this plan, giving his views as to the good it will
accomplish in Japan. The second article explains the object and aim of
the Society.
“My heart has been thrilled with delight on receiving letters and
applications for membership from some soldiers in a distant city. It
has been a punishable offense for any teacher of Christianity, or Bible
reader, to go into the army or among the soldiers. I thought, if this
course of reading spread among them, who can compute its influence, who
can tell the result of this silent teacher for Christ!”
The new members are not satisfied with Japanese cards of membership, but
are anxious for enrollment at the Central Office of the C. L. S. C.,
Plainfield, N. J., and for cards of membership from America.
Mrs. Drennan, under date of April 14th, says: “One hundred and
seventy-five names of members have just been given me, fifty new names
being added last evening. [She sends for three hundred membership cards.]
I never saw such an interest created by anything in any country. Oh that
God may bless it to the good of this people, and make it a permanent
organization for all time! Pray for us.”
That our readers may know of what “stuff” this earnest C. L. S. C.
worker is made, I will say that she has charge of a Girls’ School at
Osaka, teaches young men three hours per day, teaches a Bible class of
young men (twenty-five in number) on Sabbath evenings, and for a year
and a half has kept up a Chautauqua circle among the English speaking
people and others. In order to secure government permission to publish
the Chautauqua literature, permanent resident officers must be chosen;
therefore the existing local circle suspended, and was reorganized with
such officers as the government will recognize.
One of the members is now translating “Outline Study of Man,” another
“Cyrus and Alexander,” and two others are at work on THE CHAUTAUQUAN.
Mrs. Drennan sends an itemized financial statement, showing three eighths
of the expenses (total, $66.25) paid by the Japanese to date and five
eighths by the Central Office, with the assurance that hereafter the
heaviest part will be borne by the enthusiastic natives. God bless a work
like this in young Japan, and God bless Mrs. Drennan and her associates!