The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1925, Page 104

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104

commercial spirit also retarded the growth of
Christianity. But this period also had its bright
features; for it was in these years that full re-
ligious freedom was granted by the government,
revised treaties gave missionaries greater oppor-
tunities and freer movement, and again and again
public recognition was made of the charitable and
reformatory efforts of the Christian workers.

With the new century the reaction seemed to
have spent its force. The preaching-places again
became crowded with hearers; tracts were widely
distributed and read; the Bible became a household
book in many homes. Cheering reports of deepen-
ing religious interest again came in, and increased
conversions were reported. The fear that the new
immigration laws passed by Congress might have
a harmful effect on missions has not proved ground-
less, but it is hoped that by God’s grace the reaction
may prove of only short duration and that the cause
of Christ’s kingdom may not be made to suffer as
a result of national or racial prejudices.

Statistics.

The United Lutheran Church has been working
in Japan since 1908. It has a foreign staff of
14 ordained men, 13 wives of workers, and 6 un-
married women, who are working at 10 residence
stations. The native staff of this mission. includes
8 ordained and 7 unordained men and 9 woman
workers. In their organized and unorganized
churches they have a total communicant member-
ship of 1,254. This mission is also conducting
4 kindergartens, which are attended by 200 pupils,
and a secondary school, which has an enrolment of
588 students. A theological school of this mission
has 8 students. A Finnish Lutheran Society has
a foreign staff of 6 ordained and 6 unordained men
and 2 wives of missionaries, who are working at
4. residence stations. This mission has a communi-
cant membership of 560.

Altogether there are 51 Protestant societies
- working in Japan with a foreign staff that includes
332 ordained and 72 unordained men, 349 wives,
and 500 unmarried women. ‘This staff occupies
100 residence stations. The native staff of workers
comprises 950 ordained and 1,358 unordained men
and 1,227 woman workers. These Christian workers,
foreign and native, work in 1,349 organized churches,
of which 320 are self-supporting. The Protestant
churches of Japan haye 134,547 communicant mem-
bers, 164,700 adherents, and 9,729 under instruc-
tion.- In the 3,277 Protestant Sunday-schools there
are 194,894 teachers and pupils. The native Chris-

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

tians of Japan contributed for church purposes in
1923 the sum of $916,542. The mission-schools of
all grades have 53,345 pupils and students under
instruction; 218 kindergartens, 9,995 pupils; 131
elementary schools, 13,745 pupils; 85 secondary
schools, 23,839 students; 16 industrial schools,
1,105 students; 9 normal schools, 125 students;
12 colleges and universities, 3,752 students; 33 theo-
logical and Bible schools, 744 students; 2 schools
for nurses, 4.0 students. Medical missions are car-
ried on in 6 hospitals and 10 dispensaries by 4 for-
eign physicians and 5 foreign nurses, 26 native
physicians (one a woman), 11 trained male and
96 trained female assistants. In the hospitals are
266 beds. In 1928, 1,118 in-patients were treated
in these hospitals, and 55,701 patients were treated
in the dispensaries. In 13 orphanages there were
467 inmates; the 5 leper asylums had 126 inmates ;
the 5 deaf-and-blind institutions took care of 178
persons, and in 6 other institutions of a philan-
thropic nature 293 individuals received care and
help. ; F. J. L.

Closing Days
at Immanuel Lutheran College.

We had a great commencement week this year-
The auditorium was crowded to capacity every
afternoon and evening. From the interest shown
and the applause given, it is to be concluded that
everything was appreciated by the audiences.

On Sunday evening, May 10, the Rev. C. March,
of Salisbury, N.C., delivered an eloquent sermon
to this year’s graduating class. His sermon was
based on the Macedonian cry, “Come over and
help us.”

The high school class of 1925 gave a very in-
teresting entertainment, composed of a class will,
a class prophecy, the presentation of gifts to dif-
ferent members of the class, and class songs on
Monday evening. Judging from the applause, this
night was enjoyed by all.

A very interesting Christian play, ‘An Old-
fashioned Mother, was given on Tuesday evening.
Mrs. S. B. Reid, the matron of our girls’ dormitory,
coached the participants. This play was better
than any given by the college so far. It was so
good that it was given for the second time at the
State Agricultural and Technical College of Greens-
boro, at the latter’s request.

At three o’clock Wednesday afternoon, May 13,
the commencement exercises were held in the col-