FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
W･J HOLLISTER
MRS･W･J･HOLLISTER
（左から右へ
W･J ハリスター
W･J･ハリスター夫人）
J･HIROSE
MISS F･L･MACKENZIE
R･R･HOLLISTER
（ヒロセ･J
F･L･マッケンジー
R･R･ハリスター）
1890年代～1910年代には、灯台社は設立されていない。しかし、米国総本部の機関紙The WATCH TOWERを調べると、日本でIBSAの活動を発展させるための様々な活動が試みられていることが分かる。
1920年代へリンク 1930年代へリンク 1940年代へリンク
●1890年代後半から1900年当時、日本ではBible Students（灯台社）の組織だった動きはまだない。機関紙WATCH TOWER 1899年6月15日157-158ページ、1900年5月15日号（150-151ページ）には、中国で改宗し、現地で1898年以降活動を始めた元バプテスト派宣教師のホーリス・A・ランドル（Horace A. Randle）が、日本を含め極東の数カ国に宛ててBible Studentsの宣教目的の手紙を送ったことが記されている。(もっと、もこの活動は恐らく欧米出身の在日宣教師を対象に英文で宛てられたものであり、日本人の教化を目的とするものではない。）
I was able to hold about a dozen meetings among missionaries in several stations, but my principal effort to reach the missionaries of the far East had to be done by correspondence, for they are scattered over thousands of miles of country, in some 500 different stations. For this purpose I had a circular letter printed (a copy of which appeared in the TOWER, June 15, 1899, page 157). To each of these letters we added something further in writing, and enclosing one or more tracts, sent them all out by letter post, which we considered to be much more likely to command a reading than if the whole thing had been printed and sent out as printed matter. In all we despatched the following: 1847 to missionaries in China; 385 to missionaries in Japan; 72 to missionaries in Corea; 20 to missionaries in Siam, etc.; making a total of 2324. The number of tracts sent out was about 5000.
The vast majority ignored our appeal. （WATCH TOWER 1900/5/15 150-151）
続く部分で日本からの反応について述べられていないところから見ると、特段の影響はなかったようである。
●1907年当時も、依然として日本ではBible Students（灯台社）の組織だった動きはない。しかし、この年の機関紙WATCH TOWER誌7月15日号（215、216ページ）には、MILLENIAL DAWN Vol.1を読破した読者から、日本での活動を支援して欲しいとの手紙が届いた旨、掲載されている。差出人の国籍は触れられていない。
DEAR MR. RUSSELL:-
God gave me, at the opening of the New Year, a quiet time in which
to renew my consecration to him, and to pray for more light. It was, I believe,
in answer to such prayer that I was led to read your MILLENNIAL DAWN, the first
volume of which has stood unheeded on my book-case for eight years. I read it
through three times with growing wonder. How the truth now, as never before,
shines out from God's Word! How it transcends anything that I had ever thought
of! Eternity will not be long enough to praise him for just this knowledge of
his wondrous grace. I want to be found faithful hereafter in manner of living,
and in helping to make known the precious Truth to others.
To begin with, I should tell you that I have been for nearly twenty-five
years a member of the West Japan Presbyterian Mission. I have already written
to the Foreign Mission Board in New York, as well as to my local home Church,
stating my changed views - or, rather, referring them to your books. This will
end - if not on their part, then on mine - in a separation; because duty (and
privilege) is much clearer to me now on this point than it was even at the time
I wrote to them. Since separation, then, is only a matter of time, I feel justified
in writing to you in advance of it, in order to confer with you about the work.
Your answer and a final settlement with my Board will thus doubtless come about
the same time.
There are three alternatives which suggest themselves to me:
(1) That I accept from the Board traveling expenses and return
to America, and there enter (if I may) the Colporteur work. But in order to
avail myself of the Board's ticket, I would have to sail, in all probability,
not later than August. This will explain my haste in communicating with you.
(2) That I remain in Japan, find some employment as a means of
support and teach these precious truths as far as opportunities offer or can
be made. But at best it would be a very limited effort that I could make in
that way. (a) Time would be limited. (b) Travel would also be impracticable,
except at long intervals. But travel would, I believe, be one of the essentials
to the accomplishment of any considerable work here. (c) Want of literature,
in Japanese, on these truths, would be greatly felt, and would itself be a very
serious limitation.
(3) The third alternative is impossible, unless you could supply
financial aid from America. It is this: That I remain here and oversee the translation
and publication of "The Plan of the Ages," and also of some of your
tracts. The tracts could be done first. I could thus begin colporteuring at
once. As to the book, I have enquired into the expense, etc., of getting it
out. Following is the result:-
Cost of translation..............................................................................................$
50.00 gold
Cost of printing 1000 copies (500 pages each in
Japanese) stiff paper covers..................................................................................
225.00 "
--------
$275.00
"
The translation could be done by a Christian Japanese whom I know,
a man of literary taste and experience in translating. His price ($50.00) is
about half what such work would command if done by a professional translator.
The undertaking would necessarily be in the nature of an experiment. Humanly
speaking, the demand would have to be created. But there are in Japan (see statistics
for 1906) 44,228 professing Christians (Protestant). Some of them are God's
humble, consecrated, children longing for a better understanding of the things
of the Kingdom.
The third alternative is the one that most appeals to me. I cannot
think that God intends to leave the Japanese Christians without a witness of
his special revelation for these last days. But if he intends me to be such
a witness here, he will surely open up the way. He seems to have shut me up
to your answer, and I shall expect to abide by that answer, unless in the meantime
he gives me some other indication.
I am wholly in the dark as to your methods with workers, but I have sent for "Hints to Colporteurs." Any good working plan, however, will be satisfactory to me. Will you kindly explain the work of the "Pilgrims"?
May I ask you to kindly tell me, when you write, whether you know of others in Japan who hold a "like precious faith," and if so who they are?
Most sincerely and with gratitude,
A. G.,-Japan.
1911年末から1912年の年始にかけて、IBSA代表団の視察旅行が挙行された。この時のいきさつについて「エホバの証人の年鑑 1978」、212ページはこう書いている。
「国際聖書研究者協会は1911年9月1日から10日にわたって開かれた大会で、ひとつの委員会を選任しました。それは、「世界旅行を行ない、一般に『異教徒』と呼ばれている人びとの住む東洋の国々の実情を調査し、そのありのままの報告を作成する」ためのものでした。これより先に、世界の当面の改宗のために3,000万ドルを募金するという、ある俗人宣教運動が提唱されていました。ラッセル師、R･B･マクスウェル、L･W･ロビンソン博士、W･P･ホール将軍、J･T･D･パイルス、F･W･ロビンソン教授[誤植：実際はロビソン教授]およびE･W･V･クエーンから成る同委員会は直ちに出発し、ハワイに立ち寄ったのち日本に向けて旅行を続けました。
ラッセル兄弟とその同行者たちは、横浜、東京、その他の諸都市を訪問しながら、長崎まで日本を1,100キロ以上旅行しました。ラッセル兄弟は東京で二つの講演を行ないました」。
この視察旅行の詳細なレポートが、Watch Tower誌1912年4月15日号で報告されている。当時のレポートを転載する。
We found the Japanese a very interesting people. We traveled nearly seven hundred miles through Japan, and visited various cities aggregating four and a half millions of population, which is about one-tenth of the entire population of Japan. We found the people industrious, peace-loving, polite and kind to each other, and towards foreigners. Although our visit was in the holiday season, when, according to their custom, over indulgence in liquor would be pardonable, nevertheless our entire party, scattered for the purpose of wide observation, noted only twelve intoxicated persons, and three of these were Europeans. Parental love and care were in evidence everywhere. We heard not a harsh expression from parent to child, nor to any one, and witnessed only one altercation, and it trivial. Everybody seemed industrious, minding his own business, and happy. Our united comment was, Would to God as favorable conditions prevailed in Europe and America! We noted nothing resembling profanity, and upon inquiry were told that they use no profanity, and that their strongest expression is "beka"--fool.
We did not, however, conclude that the fretfulness, unhappiness, quarrelsomeness and rudeness and boisterousness frequently in evidence in Europe and America are attributable to Christianity. On the contrary, we surmised that Divine Providence had sent the message of the Gospel in the direction of the more rude or combative race, which received the letter and form of Christianity in a measure, without generally entering into its spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, brotherly kindness and love. Our comment further was that if the Japanese should receive the letter of the Gospel and its spirit they would have less difficulty than the Europeans and Americans in the development of the fruits of the Spirit, because naturally more disposed toward gentleness, patience and brotherly kindness.
These observations of the Japanese gave us the keener interest in our investigation as to how much, if anything, Christianity has to do with these conditions, to what extent Japan is Christianized, etc. Our findings in the matter at Tokio will serve to illustrate. Our Committee attended nine religious services, besides the two addressed by Pastor Russell. The average attendance at the nine meetings was 59, the smallest being 9, and the largest 250, including the ministers. Two of these services were in the English language; the others were in Japanese and addressed by Japanese ministers. One of the sermons in the English tongue was along the line of Evolution. Although many Japanese understand English they rarely attend preaching in that tongue. We saw but one Japanese at the two English services and he, apparently, was a servant in waiting. We were very agreeably surprised to note the deeply reverential attitude of the majority of those attending the Japanese services, and that fully two-thirds were males. We congratulate the laborers in this missionary field on the devout appearance of the 431 Japanese worshipers observed by us at the seven meetings referred to. Of course, it is impossible to tell accurately the attitude of the heart from the outward demeanor, but reverential attitude and attention should count for considerable.
It was plainly evident that the Missionaries are feeling a considerable degree of discouragement, nor can we blame them. So far as we could learn their work made considerable progress until twenty years ago, since which time a wave of unbelief has swept over Japan, just as in Europe and America. Today the Japanese minds, like the minds of their European and American cousins, are full of interrogation points. In other words, the spirit of agnosticism is more and more prevalent. It is affecting the Missions and their work, and also affecting Buddhism and Shintoism. Although Buddhist temples, recently built, are gorgeous affairs, and although a million dollars has just been raised to build a new Buddhist temple near Yokohama, nevertheless, it is admitted that Buddhism is on the wane - that the number who attend the temples to pray and worship are fewer than formerly, and generally of the more ignorant classes. The present trend of the Japanese religious sentiment is toward infidelity, doubt and atheism. An inquiry as to the religious sentiment in three of the Japanese schools (University of Tokio) recently showed the following religious census:
Christians, 4; Buddhists, Confucians and Shintos, 17; noncommittal, 46; atheists, 60; agnostics, 282; total, 409. This is a terrible picture, true also, we fear, of many colleges in America and Europe.
Christianity in Japan is in much the same condition as in America and Europe, in two respects. (1) A certain number are true worshipers, devout believers, but they are few. (2) A larger number associate for the advantages they gain in one way or another--as, for instance, the privilege of night schools, Y.M.C.A. gymnasiums, etc., etc. There is considerable sympathy for Christianity amongst those who are at heart agnostics, and who class Jesus as a great teacher along with Confucius and Buddha, but who see nothing and know nothing respecting His redemptive work. These realize that Christianity has been helping on in the work of Japanese civilization, and would be sorry to know of anything calculated to hinder the work of the Missionaries. Christianity and all other religions in Japan are on the defensive.
The active minds of the Japanese know that Buddhism cannot answer their questions respecting God and the future, and they come to the Missionaries and native Christians with questions, for which they have as yet received no satisfactory reply. In consequence, they are holding aloof and saying, There is some good in all religions, perhaps, but apparently all of them have more or less of error and superstition. We will take advantage of the kindly interest of these foreigners in our welfare. We appreciate the fact that they have invested millions of dollars in churches and colleges in our land. We are confident they have done us good and helped to some extent to break from us the shackles of religious superstition. We will attend their schools and avail ourselves of their kindness, and endeavor to show a kindly disposition toward them; but we do not believe in Jesus as a Savior; we merely recognize Him as a great teacher. We think, therefore, that it is unnecessary that we should be baptized. We see not how this would have anything to do with our character. The fact of the matter is we believe we get as good moral teaching from Buddhism as from Christianity. We will stand aloof, doubting if there is any positive truth on these subjects. Thus it will be seen that the attitude of the Japanese toward Christianity is very much the same as the general attitude of the public throughout Christendom. We should note that considerable educational work is being carried on at Tokio by the Methodist brethren.
Dr. Spencer informs us that they have an attendance of about 350 girls and 550 young men in their college. They seem to be well equipped. We could wish that the youths of the middle and lower classes in Europe and America were as well provided for.
The Missionaries themselves appear to be an earnest band, but considerably discouraged. And no wonder! Outsiders report that they have considerable denominational conflict and jealous competition, but that steps are now being taken for a general religious Federation. The Missionaries freely admit that in their schools and other work it is necessary to lay stress chiefly upon moral conduct and to say little or nothing about Jesus' redemptive work and other doctrines--otherwise they would lose their hold upon the pupils, who evidently attend the schools chiefly for the educational advantages they offer. We repeat that the Missionaries of Japan have our congratulations upon the work done years ago and our sympathy in respect to the discouragement of the present, and the unfavorable outlook. What the Japanese need is "the Gospel of the Kingdom," announcing the second coming of Jesus as the Messiah of Glory, to rule, heal and instruct all the families of the earth. Pastor Russell's sermons gave them more food for thought than they had ever before enjoyed.(pages 126-128)
... Your Committee found no time in which to visit Burmah, Africa and Australasia, and suggest that it might be wise to send another Committee to investigate those fields. In harmony with your suggestions, Pastor Russell arranged for the publication of free literature in the six principal languages of India, viz.: Hindustani, Guiarati, Malayami, Tulugu, Marotti and Tamil. This work is already under way, as is also a similar work of the Chinese and Japanese. The entire cost of producing three million copies, and circulating them through willing natives, will, he believes, be kept within the seven thousand dollars authorized by the Association.
In conclusion, your Committee assure you that they have done their very best to accomplish the purpose of their appointment. They thank the Lord, and also the Association, for the great privileges enjoyed in connection with the service.
C. T. RUSSELL, Pres. Adj.-Gen'l W. P. HALL
F. H. ROBISON, Sec'y J. T. D. PYLES
E. W. V. KUEHN R. B. MAXWELL
DR. LESLIE W. JONE (page 137)
●1911年から1912年にかけてのラッセルらの訪日を詳しく報告しているもう一つの資料は、Souvenir Notes Bible Students Conventions 1912 - L.W.Jones（『聖書研究団の大会記念ノート 1912』 L.W.ジョーンズ氏発行）である。これはIBSAの公式報告ではないが、信者であり、同旅行の同行者でもあったL.W.ジョーンズ氏が有志として年ごとに出版していたIBSAの大会開催報告である。日本の報告については、活動報告というより、旅行記の感が強いが、東京、神戸、長崎に立ち寄った際の感想、東京での演説会の様子、IBSA関連の書籍出版の約束を取り付けたことなどが事細かにレポートされている。
January 8, 1911.
To the Ecclesia at Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
Dearly Beloved in the Lord:
I am writing this to you on board the steamship "Shinyo Maru," as
we are sailing down the Straits of Formosa, en route for Hong Kong, China, which
we expect to reach early the morning of the 10th.
Since writing Letter No. 1, we have been to many places, and our experiences
have been varied. I will begin with our landing
in
OUR ship anchored out in the harbor of Yokohoma, the seaport of Tokyo. Our big ship could not go up to the wharf, so we were landed by means of small boats. In America when we arrive at a station one usually sees a line of cabs, hacks or carriages waiting, and immediately there is a rush on the part of the drivers to secure your patronage. In Yokohoma, however, it is different. Instead of carriages, we found a long line of vehicles waiting for us, which to our western eyes were very strange. They are called "jinrickshas," and are like a large baby buggy on two wheels, but with a pair of shafts. The whole thing is pulled by a man who gets between the shafts and trots along, sometimes for miles without stopping. The men in charge of these made a rush for us as soon as we set foot on land, each trying to get a customer. Soon we were each seated in one of these queer conveyances, and off trotted our human horses. It was rather hard to reconcile oneself to such an experience of having another human being act as a beast of burden and pull you around while you sit comfortably in the ricksha. However, a person can get accustomed to almost anything, and as that is the custom in not only Japan, but in most of the Oriental countries, we soon forgot the contrast between our position and the man pulling the ricksha, especially in view of the fact that it was his business, we paid him for his services and he was well satisfied.
We rode through the city and out into the country, a ride of about three-quarters of an hour, until we came to the home of Mr. S. Asano, President of the Toyo Kisen Kaisha, the company which owns the Shinyo Maru steamship. Upon arrival at the home we dismounted from our rickshas and, upon ascending the steps to the house, were met by several prominent Japanese gentlemen, dressed in European clothes, Prince Albert suits, etc. Then, after greetings were exchanged, we were invited into the reception hall, then several Japanese young ladies, in Oriental costumes came forward, invited us to have seats and then proceeded to fasten on our feet, over our shoes, some knit shoes. We were then invited to inspect the home. The cloth shoes were worn as a means of protection to the highly polished floors and expensive matting in the various rooms. The home is very expensive, in the way of mattings, tapestries, carvings, etc., but did not appeal to us very much from the standpoint of comfort. There were a great many ugly old images scattered through the house which seemed to be highly prized, but which were enough to give one a nightmare to even think of. However, every person to his taste - a thing of beauty is a joy forever - but our ideas of what constitutes beauty differ considerably.
Then there was some entertainment provided for us - not only our party, but all the cabin passengers who came on the Shinyo Maru. This entertainment consisted of a Japanese lunch of tea and sweet cookies, and then an exhibition of jugglery by some of the best actors along that line to be found anywhere in the world, and they performed some wonderful feats and tricks. We would have preferred being somewhere else, but knew not that we were to be so entertained, and being inside had to remain. After the entertainment we got into our rickshas, which were waiting for us, and trotted off to
THIS the capital of the empire, is the home of the imperial family, and in many respects is quite modern. We stopped at the Imperial Hotel, which is quite European, though under Japanese management. Here we remained for a number of days.
Our visit to Japan was during their holiday season, for they, instead of observing the first day of January as a holiday, observe the entire week, and they certainly make the most of the occasion. Stores are not closed on any other days in the year, not even Sunday, but they are during this entire week. The people dress up in their best clothes and spend the time calling upon one another, leaving their cards if the people are not at home. The homes are all decorated with a peculiar combination of evergreen, bamboo and straw, placed beside the doors or nailed over them. Each of the articles in the decorations signifies something suggestive of luck, good omen or charm such as should represent the propitious occasion on which new hopes and happiness are ushered in. On these New Year days all girls, young and old, and many of the boys play battledore and shuttlecock. This game seems to be an endeavor to keep a little thing with feathers attached to it, or made of paper, in the air as long as possible, by means of a bat, something on the order of a tennis racket. All the streets of the resident districts and yards are crowded with the players, in their gay new year costumes. Also in every direction one sees many soldiers, on foot and mounted, dressed in their gay uniforms, all bent upon calling on someone.
THIS was the big day for us, as arrangements had been made for two meetings in the Y.M.C.A. There were fully thirteen hundred present, mostly young Japanese men, at the afternoon meeting, and seven hundred at the evening service. While there were some white people present, most of them were conspicuous by their absence. Pastor Russell spoke on the topic, "Signs of the Times." It was my privilege to introduce him, which I had to do through an interpreter, and then to lead the singing. Some sang in English and the rest in the Japanese language. The deep, reverent, earnest simplicity of those young men was very impressive and caused one to feel that he would like to do everything in his power to help them out of the darkness of their superstitions. Brother Russell then spoke and I never saw better attention from any gathering. The following is an introduction to the afternoon's discourse:
I AM glad to welcome you here today. I am glad to see so many young men present. I am glad to see so many, whether you agree with what I say or not.
The topic for this afternoon, as advertised, is "The Signs of the Times." I need not remind you that we are living in a most wonderful day, such a day as the world has never before seen. You yourselves know something about the changes that have occurred in Japan within the last forty years. You may perhaps suppose that equally great changes have not taken place in other parts of the world, but they have taken place all over America and Europe, but not quite so recently. Let me illustrate to you: One hundred and five years ago we did not have a steamboat in the world. Eighty years ago we did not have a locomotive or train of cars in the whole world. Still more recently was the invention of the telegraph and telephone. Now more recently the wireless telegraph. What we note in these direction are all indications of what have occurred in other directions. In all the great sciences we find there have been great blunders. Scientific works on chemistry written within the last twelve years are of no value whatever. I mention these things that you may see that the inventions that have come to Japan recently are shared by the whole world. So in religion, we all find that there have been great changes in the religious thought during the last few years. As a result, not only Brahaminism, Buddhism, Confucianism, but Christianity are all on the defensive. We who are Christians cannot deny the fact that we have all had errors in the past. We look back but a little distance and admit that there was a period of darkness in the world. We find that superstitions are breaking away; we find that the shackles are breaking away from our minds, and we are glad of it. It becomes us as Christians to be quite understood in this matter. We have nothing to gain by pretending that our forefathers were all right. We find, on the contrary, that out of the 600 denominations of Christians there must have been a good deal of error in every one of them. We are glad to believe that there was truth in every one of them, but now we wish to get rid of the error that was in them. More and more we are finding that the simplicity of the early Church is what we need. Christian people then of all denominations are desirous of getting back to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. But while we are glad and rejoice that the shackles of superstition are breaking, we need to rejoice with fear. The pendulum that has swung too far to the one side is apt to swing to the opposite side. Finding we are throwing away the superstitions, we are in danger of also throwing away with the superstitions the truth, and this we find to be the case amongst Christian people. For instance, we find that there are many Christian people leaving Christian doctrines entirely, and not only throwing away the creeds, but throwing away the Bible. Indeed, we have found a good many, not only in Europe but also in America and here as well. Many are disposed to not only deny the inspiration of the Bible, but also to even question the existence of a God. We believe that this is a most dangerous condition to be in. In our judgment, it would be far better to consider God to be the god of Confucianism, or the god of Brahminism, than to have no god, and if we believe in a god we would expect that he would make some revelation of his will. We have today in all of our great colleges and seminaries those who are teaching that the Bible is not the Word of God. They tell us that Moses did not write the first books of the Bible. They tell us that Isaiah did not write the prophecies that bear his name, nor Jeremiah, nor Hosea, nor any of these. We must allow that the people have intellects and they will reason that if Jesus said, "Moses wrote of me," and we find that Moses did not write of Him, then Jesus was mistaken. Jesus and the Apostles all quoted from Moses and the prophets. If they were mistaken in this, they must have been mistaken in everything. We hold that Jesus and the Apostles were correct, and that the Higher Critics are in error. In line with the Higher Critics' denial of the Bible comes the doctrine of Evolution.
Pastor Russell then spoke at considerable length along the lines of Daniel's Prophecy.
MR. YAMMAMATO, Secretary of the Tokyo Y.M.C.A., arranged for a photograph of the committee and others, which we reproduce herewith. Mr. Yammamato is the Japanese gentleman to the extreme left in the picture.
I took down both the afternoon and evening discourses in shorthand, while Brother Russell was speaking in English, and at the same table with me sat a young Japanese, who took down in shorthand the two discourses, while the interpreter spoke in that language. It is a mystery to me how he could report such sounds, but he did it.
The attention at the evening service was also excellent, at the close of which several hundred of the Japanese young men wrote their names and addresses on slips of paper requesting literature. Some of them said they could read English and would translate the literature for the others. Following this was the evening discourse on
OUR subject for this evening is "The Great Hereafter." This afternoon we considered "The Signs of the Times." We found the signs of the times indicated in the Bible. We find the Bible telling exactly the signs we see about us today. We quoted from Daniel's prophecy, written twenty-four hundred years ago. Through that prophecy God tells us of these days when many are running to and fro with railways, steamships and every means of locomotion, and a great time of trouble.
Now we connect this matter up with "The Great Hereafter." What will come after this time of trouble? The Bible answers that God will set up His Kingdom under the whole heavens, that this will be Messiah's Kingdom, the Kingdom of Christ, and he shall rule from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth. As a result it tells us that the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth. The effect will be that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God. These are the very words of God through the prophet. The Bible proceeds to say that when Christ shall take His Kingdom, the first work will be the binding of Satan. "He shall lay hold upon that old serpent, the devil and Satan, and bind him a thousand years." The Bible tells us that this has been the difficulty of the world for the past six thousand years, the reign of Satan. On the contrary, we see what Jesus said was fulfilled. He declared that Satan was the prince of this world. St. Paul tells us that Satan is "the god of this world who now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience." Satan has been using himself to blind the minds of mankind. We believe he has had much to do with many of the religious systems of the world. The Apostle Paul tells us this, "The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine into them." (2 Cor. 4:4.) Therefore, it is very appropriately set forth in the Bible that just as soon as Jesus takes the reign of the governments of the world in his hands, the kingdom of Satan will fall. And so, after Jesus said that Satan should be bound for a thousand years, he added, "that he may deceive the nations no more until the thousand years are over." Satan is called the "prince of darkness," while Christ is spoken of as "the Prince of Light." Which has been reigning, dear friends, the Prince of Light or the prince of darkness, for the past six thousand years? Some of us Christians have been trying to make ourselves believe that what we call Christendom was Christ's Kingdom. We speak of the United States, Canada, Germany and France and Great Britain as being Christian nations. But the Bible does not agree to that. The Bible says that all are under the reign of the prince of the world, Satan. Could we suppose that Christian England, Christian France and Christian Germany would be building great guns to blow the others off the face of the earth if they were Christ's Kingdom? I tell you nay. None of these are Christ's Kingdom. We are still praying for Christ's Kingdom, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven." Is there any place on earth where God's will is done as it is done in heaven? There is no such place. There can be no such condition until Christ's Kingdom shall be established, and even after His Kingdom is established, it will take quite a little while to bind Satan and convert the world. This is the glorious hereafter the Bible points out. Not only will peace reign from sea to sea, and from shore to shore, but the blessing of the Lord will be upon the earth. God's blessing is not upon the earth now - God's curse is on the earth now. Not until the curse is removed will the blessings go forth. That is what we are all waiting for. You remember where the curse came in. The curse is a curse of death, and the cause of death was sin. The effect of sin and the effect of death is all the sickness, pain, and sorrow and tears. The Bible clearly sets forth that if our first parents had not sinned, the sentence of death would not have come upon them. When God drove our first parents out of the Garden of Eden, "Cursed is the earth for thy sake. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee, and in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou shalt return unto the ground from whence thou wast taken, for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." That is the explanation to us why we have all these disadvantages in the world. Why must the farmer battle with the thorns and thistles and weeds? Because of the curse. Why do we have storms, droughts, pestilences, etc.? Why do we have aches, pains, sufferings, etc.? Because of the curse. Why do we have dying and why do we have cemeteries? Because of the curse. There are no doctors nor undertakers in heaven, because there is no sin there, there is no curse there. And so, just as soon as the curse will be taken away from the earth, the blessing of the Lord will be upon mankind again. Now this is the whole gospel of the Lord, about the taking away of the curse and bringing in the blessing of mankind.
THE interpreter, Mr. Obata, a professor of theology in the Methodist College, has a good understanding of both the Japanese and English languages, so the next day arrangements were made to publish the first volume of "Studies in the Scriptures" in book form in Japanese; also to have sections of it appear month by month in the magazine for which this young stenographer was writer and a partner in. So you see the work is going on way off here in Japan. Other things were arranged for and much information gathered as to results of missionary work all of which shows their evident need in that Oriental land, as well as in all other lands, namely, the Kingdom of Christ. Altogether we feel that our stay in that part of Japan was a success.
Some of the party went on to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and other places, while I remained behind at Tokyo to attend to some matters. I joined the party later at Kobe. The train on which I went down to Kobe was their fastest express making an average of twenty-six miles an hour - it did not take our breath away. I managed to secure an upper berth, which is a single one, and it was a good deal like a shelf, with a pad on it, on which a bed is made up. They gave me a hard pillow and, altogether, I slept very comfortably, better than I had expected, notwithstanding the fact that both men and women were allowed to smoke those terrible smelling cigarettes - and there was plenty of smoke, I assure you. The dining cars, or restaurant cars, as they call them, serve very good meals.
When we again boarded our ship at Kobe we found the Chinamen waiters had all had their queues cut off. China has just declared itself a Republic. Before that act the Chinamen would not have dared to go back without their queues, but now they do not dare to go back with them. If they were to wear them now they might be taken for imperialists and would be likely to have their heads - queues and all - cut off.
FROM Kobe the course of our ship was through the Inland Sea, the most picturesque stretch of enclosed ocean in the world, for over 200 miles, an all-day scenery-feast. Silently the ship threads the narrowest of channels; square-sailed junks float by; towns, villages, castles, temples, forests, cultivated vales and terraced hills, sharply cut peaks and low-running mountain chains succeed one another for a whole day, until we came to the city of Nagasaki, where we stopped to take on coal.
This is a most interesting scene and I must tell you about it. The work is all done by men and women, using little baskets holding two shovelfuls of coal each. As soon as we steamed into the harbor many small boats, holding about thirty people, and other larger boats, each holding about thirty tons of soft coal, came along side our big ship, tied to her, and soon the natives had bamboo stagings erected from the barges up along our ship to an opening where they could dump the coal into a bunker. There were probably a score of these stagings on either side of the vessel, and each staging had several landings, like large steps. On each of the landings two people would be stationed; sometimes two men, again two women, or one man and one woman. The people below in the coal barge would fill the baskets with coal, and then they would be passed up from one landing to the next. They were so skillful at the work that the baskets moved along in regular streams and seemed to bound up from one to another like rubber balls. About seven hundred and fifty people worked on either side of the ship, fifteen hundred in all, from ten o'clock in the morning until four in the afternoon, and during that time they placed three thousand tons of coal in our vessel. One can hardly believe such a thing possible, but such is the case. The accompanying picture is an actual photograph of such a scene. It is considered the fastest coaling station in the world, faster even than where they have modern machinery. The wages that these people receive is the large sum of twenty cents per day - less than an English shilling. If any of you are out of a job, here is your chance. It is not a case, either, of everyone working but father, for the whole family work together. We even saw women passing up the coal and rowing the boats with babies strapped to their backs, and the babies seemed to enjoy it too, and some would sleep as contentedly as though in an aristocratic down crib. The needs of the people are very simple, both as respects food and clothing.
At Nagasaki we found a different type of people. They are much poorer. All over Japan, however, the customs and costumes were new and strange to us. We soon got used to them and then all looked much alike and we were ready to leave the little narrow streets, etc. As a whole, our impression of the Japanese is much better and we find them a very thrifty, industrious and polite set of people. We noted, especially, how the husbands and wives work together, and here many people in both America and Europe could learn some valuable lessons. We noted many instances where the men would have the children strapped to their backs, also boys doing the same, walking about the streets, while on the other hand, the women would work on the boats, handle coal, carry vegetables on their backs to market, etc. We heard no bad language or cross words - all seemed like one great family trying to help each other. They are very polite and obliging to foreigners. Our stay amongst them will long be remembered with pleasure.
●1911年末から1912年初頭にかけてのIBSA委員会の来日後、R･ロバート･ハリスター氏(R. Robert Hollister)が東洋で宣教の活動をするための代表者となった。ハリスターはインド、中国、日本と朝鮮で主に活動を展開した。
SOUVENIR NOTES BIBLE STUDENTS' CONVENTIONS 1915 - L.W.Jones（『聖書研究団の大会記念ノート 1915』 L.W.ジョーンズ氏発行１、２、３）には、IBSAのメンバーらが1915年春にサンフランシスコで開催した大会に於いてハリスターが報じた東洋での活動レポートと写真が紹介されている。写真にも写っているが、ロバート･ハリスターのほかに、W･J ハリスター氏とその夫人、ファニー･L･マッケンジー氏も同時期に日本で活動をしていたらしい。これに加え、日本で当時数人の日本人がIBSAと関連のある活動をしていたらしいが、後の灯台社発足時にこれらのメンバーがどうなっていたのかははっきり分からない。
彼らが日本に、具体的にいつ滞在したのかは不明だが、大正2年(1913年)2月には『世々に渉る神の経綸』を横浜発行地として出版しているので、この頃には滞在していたようである。
ハリスターは第一次大戦が始まった1914年に東洋を後にしたらしい。
以下は、SOUVENIR NOTES BIBLE STUDENTS' CONVENTIONS 1915、197-199ページの内容である。
Message from China, Japan and Korea by Bro. R. Robert Hollister
DEAR Brothers and Sisters present (in person or in thought) at the San Francisco Convention: I am requested to relate some of my experiences during eighteen months spent in the Orient as representative of the I. B. S. A. In complying, it is not my purpose to consider the same subjects our Foreign Mission Investigation Committee dwelt upon in the report containing their findings that was published in the columns of the "Watch Tower" early in 1912.
Their report was a remarkably comprehensive and accurate one. Quite frequently the truth hurts, and it is not particularly surprising that so truthful a statement of actual foreign mission "conditions should be bitterly resented and condemned by representatives of mission boards, both at home and abroad. Some of these on the field approached me saying in substance: "How could a committee of inexperienced men come out here and in a few short months formulate a report containing such sweeping criticisms? How could they hope to make an accurate and comprehensive report dealing with such a vast field?" Replying, I claimed that if one sees a good-sized sample he sees the whole; and pointed to our committee's method of separating and in that way covering a much larger area than 'would have been possible had they remained in one body. However, in spite of this I had to admit that it was amazing how they could gather so many facts and so much data in such a limited period of time: Concluding my defense I would say: "For many months I have traveled not only up and down the China coast, but have also penetrated the interior and visited numerous important centres. I have conversed with many of your leading men. My investigation has not been cursory or superficial and it has satisfied me as to the authenticity and verity of every important statement made by the I. B. S. A. committee. How they managed to get so many facts together in such a short time I do not know, but as to the accuracy of their findings, I can vouch."
The Bible Students' committee considered conditions propitious and mapped out a course of action for our Association. Through its executive the privilege of putting into operation that program was extended to me: "Meet us Bombay, Russell" read the laconic and to me momentous cablegram.
In a general way the work proposed was similar to the Harvest activities in America and Europe. Our endeavors necessarily had a vital relationship to, and in a way, dependence upon the Christianizing efforts of Bible societies and missionary organizations which preceded us during the past three or four generations and more. As literal harvesting is inseparably associated with a preceding plowing and planting, just so the harvesting of the Gospel Age is largely the result or outgrowth of previous expenditure of strength and money in scattering the seeds of truth.
Once a newspaper reporter asked me what relationship existed between the British and Foreign Bible Society and the I. B. S. A. I admitted an important contact and explained, "The British and Foreign Bible Society have translated the Scriptures into five hundred different languages and dialects and circulated vast quantities of these Bibles to the peoples of the world 'without note or comment.'" "We, on the other hand, devote ourselves to the explaining of those Bibles." And, my dear friends, they certainly do need a great deal of explanation. Especially this seems to be the case among missionary forces and consequently among native Christians under the direction of these spiritual advisers. Many personal experiences confirm my statement, but space limits us to two or three illustrations.
When visiting a denominational home in the interior, I was engaged in conversation with a medical missionary who as enroute for his field of duty. He expressed regret that higher critical and evolutionary views were so prevalent among his colleagues. I heartily sympathized. Later he spoke of our Lord's return: "Ah," said he, "I love to think of the Second Advent. I picture it in this way: a train is dashing along at a high rate of speed, a mile a minute! It is crowded with passengers. The engineer is a Christian. Our Lord is coming suddenly, unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. He comes: one shall be taken and another left; that Godly engine-driver is jerked from his seat, his hand from the throttle, he goes to meet the Lord in the air.
That run-away train is loaded down with human freight - what will happen to it?
This I thought was a most opportune moment! A word in season, how good it is! Here was a chance to elaborate upon the sane manner in which our Lord would return according to the Bible: its dignity, beauty and reasonableness. The doctor listened fairly well, but shortly inquired rather timidly, do you know anything about Pastor Russell? Of course I did, and you may be sure it did not take me long to acknowledge our connections. Friends, we are not ashamed of Pastor Russell, but on the contrary we are proud of him. He has conscientiously and consistently devoted his life and all that human life holds dear to the interests of truth and righteousness. He is a much honored servant of the Lord and our worthy leader. We do well to imitate his example as we note him closely following in the Master's footsteps. "Oh," said our missionary acquaintance, "we do nor think much of Pastor Russell; we think he is a terrible man; why, do you know, that man teaches that the wages of sin is death!" (Romans 6:23.)
Another missionary, a Presbyterian, told me of his family. He was the father of four children, but two of them (twins) had died when only twenty months old. He enlarged upon their unusual amiability, so good-natured, lovable, charming. "I often tell my wife," continued he, "God sent us those little ones so that we might know what they are like in heaven. They had been playing with the angels, but were loaned to us for a time, and now they are back in heaven playing with Jesus."
Once when visiting one of the largest missionary and educational centres of China I was asked to address a meeting of the Union Church. Several days later the church secretary expressing his gratitude, said that everybody said it was the best meeting they ever had. I did not take this as a particular compliment to me, but as a peculiarly illuminating side-light on the famished and starved conditions existing among these supposed teachers of the "benighted heathen." Surely there is a famine in the land: not for bread and water, but for the preaching of the Word of God.
Despite the very apparent need, our Society's endeavors to make plain the Plan of God were not welcomed. Other religious workers, except in a regrettably few instances, opposed us; just as our assistance is unappreciated here in America and in Europe; and as our Lord's ministrations were rejected by the ecclesiastical leaders of His day. One very prominent leader expressed herself in this way when I called to correct some false accusations which she had published in an official journal of which she was editoress: "We do not want you to come to our home; we do not want the natives to see you here and receive the impression that the have any sympathy with your work." Adding, "You hire poor native Christians and they steal into our sheep-folds and steal away our poor sheep - God knows flow hard we have worked for them." Pathetic, was it not? No doubt Jesus Christ was called "sheep-stealer" and "proselyter," for His work then was similar to our work now. Said He, "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white already unto the harvest - I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labors." He did not belittle the work of the "others," nor do we wish to minimize or detract from the noble, self-sacrificing activities of our brethren who have gone on before. They have labored in both Occident and Orient, and we have experienced the joy of entering into their labors. Haste the day when the Great Husbandman calls those who sowed and they that reap to rejoice together in the Harvest-home.
Throughout India, China, Japan and Korea millions of papers similar to the English "Bible Students' Monthly," but containing specially prepared articles were printed in the colloquial languages and circulated by native distributors. Thousands responded in expressions of interest and appreciation. Many wanted further assistance in Bible study and quantities of free literature to be used in interesting their friends and neighbors. The "Divine Plan" was translated into four different languages and a few thousand copies were placed in the hands of the most interested ones. Though the message went forth copiously, the number who appeared to grasp the kernel of the matter seemed proportionately small. The Revelator foresaw that representatives from every race would be included in the elect Church, and so we found in each country a few who go further than a mere mental appreciation and nominal acceptance of the present truth. They are willing to suffer and die, if need be, for the Lord, the Truth and the brethren, but these seem very few.
Not only are these native brethren keeping their outpost camp fires burning brightly amid the encircling gloom of Heathendom, but additionally there are those among the "foreign" population, i.e., of British, American, German, or French nationality sojourning in those distant parts who also believe and a few valiantly defend the pure gospel. In this connection I recollect an interesting case. When asked by an acquaintance to join him and a gentlemen friend in a social drink my first impulse was to excuse myself, but on second thought I ordered "lemonade," explaining that I preferred non-alcoholic beverages. My acquaintance remarked, "Hollister is a sky-pilot." Next day, the stranger, who I had learned was the manager of a gold mining property in the interior, accepted my invitation to lunch and evidently remembering my religious tendencies broached the subject and we spent several hours discussing the Plan, etc. The ultimate result was that his wife and another lady at camp accepted the truth, and he and several others are deeply interested. His wife was so radically effected at first that he several times exclaimed, "I wish I had never met that fellow Hollister." However, months later, when we came to part, he wrung my hand remarking, "I certainly am glad I drank that cock-tail with you."
Brother and Sister William Hollister and Sister Fanny Mackenzie, who were added to the Department of the Far East some twelve months after operations began, proved very efficient workers. Brother and Sister Hollister remained just about one year, but Sister Mackenzie is still carrying on the good work. Thousands of "Scripture Studies" were sold in English, German and French. Meetings were held for natives as well as whites. Our dear Japanese Brother Hirose who came into the truth while living in New York was sent out by the Society over two years ago, and proved to be a very efficient and lovable associate. He still continues his activities among his countrymen. In a recent letter he says, "Our message has reached to the hearts of some of the Japanese people." He also refers to a Brother Goto, but before quoting him I must tell of this Brother Goto's first communication. It was written some three years ago. The writer said he was a medical doctor and had been a Christian for thirty years. "Of late," said he, "I began losing my faith; I was very unhappy; giving up Church attendance, and the reading of books purporting the explanation of the Bible, I devoted myself to studying only the Scriptures in an endeavor thus to gain some satisfaction. Now Banmin-No-Tomo (meaning, 'The Friend of All People,' or 'Everybody's Paper' - our Japanese publication) has come and my doubts and fears have fled away and I am rejoicing in the Truth." He explained that two others were interested and that they had met together and decided they wanted to "lead the people according to Banmin-No-Tomo" and asked how they could co-operate. Brother Hirose brings his history up to date saying, "Brother Goto would have read the volumes could he understand English. He has been writing me often asking questions on Bible passages not understood. I think he is doing well. He sold about forty Japanese volumes and took in about three hundred and fifty subscriptions for our paper."
In Korea the Lord directed me to Pom Sik Kang who was at first employed upon a purely business basis to do some translating. Soon he began taking a deep personal interest in the articles he was working on, and after spending some months in our office, he professed a full consecration to the Lord. Since then he has been much used in translating, interpreting, class leading, and managing the Korean branch during the absence of Brother William Hollister and myself. Brother Kang comes as near "thinking white" as any Oriental I ever met, and I confidently anticipate the pleasure of introducing him to you at the General Assembly as a delegate from the "Hermit Nation."
Much more could be said, but I think I have told enough to convince all that the Lord has been conducting His Harvest Work, not only on this side, but, as our Chinese friends would express it, on "top-side" the earth too.
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J･HIROSE （ヒロセ･J |
上の写真中央に写っているヒロセ氏は、ニューヨークで暮らしている間にIBSAと関わり、2年以上前にIBSAによって日本に派遣され、活動を展開していたようである。身元は不明。
ハリスター氏
BROTHER KODAMA FIRST JAPANESE
HELPER AND BRO.KAUG, FIRST KOREAN HELPER
上の写真では、朝鮮の最初の支援者だった姜（カン）氏と共に、“日本の最初の支援者”としてコダマ･Ｈ氏という人物が写っている。
上述のヒロセ氏と併せてコダマ氏がどんな人物だったのかは不明である。
レポートでは、さらに医師のゴトウ氏が日本で同じくIBSAの活動をしていると書かれている。
●ハリスターは、日本語版の『世々に渉る神の経綸』という本を現在の横浜市中区山下町（アメリカ聖書協会が所在した）を発行住所として出版した。本の末尾は、読了した読者に向けてこの本の配布活動をはじめるよう呼びかけている。
1920年代へリンク 1930年代へリンク 1940年代へリンク
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