On our side it was a great joy and comfort in the midst of persecution to hear of such a Christian man and school existing in our own country. By the fall of that year almost all of the “Kumamoto Band,” having been driven out of their homes and their native province, came to this school of Dr. Neeshima, and joined him in his great work. Thus was started the first Christian college, “The Doshisha University,” which was destined to become a center of Christian education and Christian influence in Japan, and from which came the new impulse for Christian work in that country, and Dr. Neeshima became its first president.
Of the “Kumamoto Band,” about fifteen boys who had already finished their preparatory education in Captain Janes’ school, entered the theological class, the first in Doshisha University. For three years they received theological training and preparation for the Christian ministry. After graduating in 1879, most of these boys went out as home missionaries, preaching the Gospel of Christ all over Japan, and founding Congregational churches in many parts of the country.
In Japan the Presbyterian churches now have the largest number of believers. Then come the Congregational churches, and after that those of other denominations. But though the Congregational churches come second in membership they have the largest number and the strongest churches. This is due mostly to the work of the “Kumamoto Band.” From it came forth the most influential and foremost preachers and pastors of the Congregational churches in Japan.
One of this band, a graduate of 1879, has been now over forty years a pastor of a large Congregational church. He is called the Bishop of Southern Japan, without appointment. Another of this band is one of the greatest Christian scholars in Japan, and is now the President of the National Sunday-School Association. The present President of the Doshisha University is also a member of this band. After Dr. Neeshima, the first President, died, in 1890, four of the presidents of that university came from this band. Not only in the religious and educational work, but also in Government service, in the House of Parliament, as well as in the business world, some of the members of this band were able to hold quite important positions.
So you see this “Kumamoto Band” was used mightily by the hand of God for establishing a Christian testimony in modern Japan. And you know now how it came about. It was not started by a missionary, nor by a minister. It was started by a layman, by a soldier who had no theological training or ministerial experience, and who had not come to my country to teach Christianity, but to teach military tactics, the English language and modern science. But as a by-product of this layman’s work this “Kumamoto Band” sprang up and became a power in the Christian world of Japan. A wonderful working of Providence! Indeed, God can use anything as his instrument to execute his own purpose. He used a jawbone of an ass in the hand of Samson to destroy a thousand Philistines. It may be that the “Kumamoto Band” and Captain Janes were as the jawbone of an ass.
My friends, do you think that there are no such promising young men to be found in my country now? Oh, yes, there are the makings of “Kumamoto Bands” always and everywhere. If you will send out missionaries filled with burning zeal for the salvation of souls, who will come into direct personal touch with young men and women and inspire them through their own personalities by the aid of the Holy Spirit, you can find any number of such bands even now.
Not only in Japan, but in all the mission fields of the world, there are thousands of such boys just waiting for some Captain Janes to come and form them into a band of Christian workers. Therefore the question is not whether we can find such “Kumamoto Bands” now, but whether we can find such Captain Janes’.
CHAPTER II
THE SERVANT DISOBEDIENT
IN MY first chapter I gave a brief account of the Kumamoto Band, their conversion and dedication, persecution, and victory, how they came to Dr. Neeshima’s school, how they went out again, preaching the Gospel and founding Congregational churches in all parts of Japan, and how this band was mightily used by God for establishing a testimony to Christ in my country. So far I have told the good part of this story.
But now I must turn to my own part in it, because I am to tell you the story of my own Christian life. But when I turn to my own part I am sorry to say that I cannot give the good part only, but I must give the bad part too. I was not a good boy, as some of my friends were, working faithfully during half a century. I was a backsliding, prodigal son of my Heavenly Father for many years. My life was shipwrecked on the rocks of doubt and unbelief. I have nothing to glory of, but only to confess my sins and failures. It is not a pleasant thing for a man to speak of his own sins and failings. But I think it is our duty as Christians to confess our sins to one another. So I here wish to discharge that first duty, and, if possible, warn my young friends who are in danger of treading the same path, and falling into the same pit I did.