The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 110

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110

rubber industry for us in that continent. The Pre-
mier of England says that as a matter of investment
it would pay the British government to finance the
whole missionary enterprise. And another man has
said that the industries of America could well afford
to pay twice the cost of all our missionary enter-
prises in foreign lands. From a purely business
point of view foreign missions are a paying in-
vestment.

The Bible Quicker than a Two-Edged
Sword.

Histories of missions are filled from cover to
cover with recitals of heroic courage of those who
for conscience’ sake have withstood persecution,
tribulations, and trials even unto death. This is
equally true in the records of Christian missions
throughout the East. The subtle, inexplicable power
of the Word fortifies and strengthens wherever
it goes.

Kenkichi Kataoka was in prison. A missionary
gave him a Testament. He read and studied and
believed. Years after, as Speaker of the House, he
opened each session with silent prayer. Heé was
wont to invite the ten or fifteen Christian members
to his home for conference. His influence had a pro-
found effect. Later he was elected president of
Doshisha University.

Joseph Neesima, the outstanding character in
early Japanese mission-wark, through reading the
Bible became convinced of the truth of Christianity.
He ran away from Japan, studied in America,
returned, and founded Doshisha. His motto was,
“Tet us advance upon our knees.”

Dr. Theodore Yangoo, the Filipino millionaire
philanthropist, once said: “When I went to Washing-
ton as resident commissioner, I was not an avowed
Christian, especially in the sense of being a student
of the Bible. I was even almost inclined to openly
‘accept and profess atheism. Looking about Wash-
ington, I was impressed by the fact that among
all the officials, the Senators, and Representatives,
in fact, among the men who really were doing things,
almost every single one was an out-and-out Chris-
tian. Almost every one was a regular attendant at
‘church services on Sundays and member of a Bible
Class. I immediately purchased a Bible and began
to read it. Since then I have read in it every day
and find it more than just a book —it is the great
‘source of strength for me.”

Ryoun Kumagui, a Buddhist scholar, son of
a Buddhist priest and reared in the strictest tenets

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

of his faith, relates his experiences when coming
into contact with Christianity, saying: “By degrees,
as I went on reading the Bible, I understood that
the teaching of Christ is not only not inferior to
any other religion, but that it is so far above them
that they cannot be compared with it. Christianity
includes everything good to be found in Shin Shu,
Nichiren Shu, and Zen Shu (Buddhist orders) and
is higher than all.”

Perhaps the most outstanding character in Jap-
anese Christian life to-day is Rey. Toyohiko
Kagawa, commonly spoken of as “The Leader of
New Japan.” It was through the reading of a Bible
that he decided to become a Christian. His develop-
ment and growth is a most thrilling story. Now he
is pastor of a church in Kobe, special lecturer on
the Bible in churches and colleges, special evangelist
on demand everywhere for his services, lecturer on
economics and sociology in the university, leader of
the labor movement in Japan, editor of several
magazines and papers, organizer of two cooperative
stores in Kobe and Osaka, main supporter of two
hospitals in the slums of Kobe, promoter and direc-
tor of a social service bureau, leader in charity and
relief work.

A direct product of Bible work. Does Bible work
pay? The life and work of this one man is enough
to give a conclusive answer. — Sel.

A Christian Leper Colony.

One of the largest leper colonies in the world,
situated on Tai Kam Island, off the southeast coast
of China, has moved into new and larger quarters.

This leper colony on Tai Kam Island was
founded twenty-eight years ago by a Christian mis-
sionary, Dr. John Lake, and his wife. They came
there from Edgefield, S. C., and established the
colony in the midst of an area notorious throughout
China and the South Sea as the stronghold of
a ruthless band of pirates.

Ever since 1901 this missionary family has
made its home on the island, made friends with
the pirates, converted many of them to Christ, and
used their help in building up the leper colony.
After many years of patient waiting the faithful
missionary, who lost his wife last summer, is now
able to move into more suitable quarters with his
lepers.

The colony on Tai Kam is the personal prop-
erty of Dr. Lake, for he owns the island and the
buildings on it. ‘The famous Wu Ting Fang,