s ever done in the history of the world can be
done here, and I am determined to make an attempt to do it.

"I do not say that our chance is _greater_ than it is in
India--though I am not sure whether it does not equal it in many
ways. Anyway, it appears to me that it is open to us to realise a
mighty success."

Chapter XVII

Japanese Heroism

Japan, amidst all the records of its modern progress, must certainly
count the honour of having properly recognised the value of The General
and his Army before the old "Christian" countries of Europe did so.

The Army's beginning in Japan was almost laughable in its feebleness.
The little company of Officers sent out by The General, in 1895, were
indeed truly devoted, and in their anxiety to be from the first "as
Japanese to the Japanese," were so taken in whilst halting in Hong Kong
that they landed in the most extraordinary garments--and it was a long
time before they seemed likely to make any impression upon the
non-Christian Japanese. But upon the Christians they, undoubtedly, made,
from the first, an excellent mark.

With all their lack of knowledge of the language, there could be no
mistake about their willingness to learn, and to be the servants of all
men. It was clear that they possessed those two great qualifications for
Apostolic success, an unlimited readiness for hard work, and an
unbounded faith in the will and power of Christ to save. Their first
interpreter, a student anxious to do his uttermost for Christ and his
country, was speedily won over completely to their side, and as he was
already known amongst the Pressmen, this became a very great help to the
progress of their work generally.

Yet, under several successive leaders, they toiled on for some years
with but little prospect. The language is one of the most difficult
imaginable for foreigners to learn, and, although there was from the
first great liberty as to Open-Air Meetings, and congregations were
gathered outdoors and into the little Halls that were contrived out of
shops and dwelling-houses, it seemed likely to prove slow work to raise
a Japanese force.

But all at once, in 1902, God gave the little company a great
opportunity. For years already some faithful Japanese under missionary
influences, had been lamenting the position of the girls given over to
immorality, who were severed for life from the rest of the community,
and kept under police supervision,