hiiroduction of Christianity. 165 
work of Christian instruction. Only occasionally could the 
missionaries venture to offer such simple tracts and Gospel 
portions as were at their command, while they dared only 
to speak of Christ to the Japanese whom they knew and 
could trust. These were principally lads and young men, 
who came to the missionaries for instruction in English, in 
order to secure lucrative appointments, available only to 
those acquainted with that language. The missionaries had 
prepared a little book called The Christian Reader," for 
these pupils ; but as soon as the lads got the book in their 
hands, they erased the word Christian^ for fear of its 
betraying them. This fact will at once serve to show the 
danger and the difficulty of endeavouring to impart religious 
instruction to the people. In 1865, the first Christian 
convert was baptized. He had been teacher of the Japanese 
language to the missionaries, but in teaching them, had 
learnt the true wisdom. He was baptized on his deathbed, 
in presence of his family, and making full confession of 
faith. With a few cheering instances such as this, the 
American missionaries laboured on, hoping almost against 
hope, but trusting in the promise that they should reap in 
due season/' provided they fainted not. That due season 
has at last dawned. 
In 1868, immediately after the Revolution, the Govern- 
ment had put up notice-boards, all over the empire, stating 
that *^the evil sect called Christians" was strictly pro- 
hibited." Consequently, although by Lord Elgin's treaty of 
ten years before, toleration was secured for foreigners, the 
teaching of the Christian religion was a penal offence. These 
notices met the missionary's eye in every public place. 
More than this, the national histories recalled to the 
minds of the people, sad tales of persecution, memories of 
death, disaster, and punishment, as connected with the 
