170 Japan and tJu Japanese, 
carefully preserved until a Christian society was formed, 
when it was brought out, added to, and employed in the 
erection of a sanctuary for worship. In July, 1875, the 
building was finished, opened, and dedicated to the service 
of God. So much has this little company of Christians 
prospered, that there now exists a strong and faithful Church 
in Yokohama ; while, in the whole of Japan, there are, at 
the present day, about seventy churches, representing a 
membership of over four thousand believers. The little 
one has grown to be a strong nation, and the small one a 
thousand. In 1873, the edicts prohibiting Christianity were 
removed from the various notice-boards of the empire, so 
that the new religion received, at least, toleration. This 
toleration was doubtless largely due to the quiet but per- 
sistent efforts of those Christian foreigners who had laboured 
among the people, during the twenty preceding years. Still, 
acting on their conservative policy, dreading the introduc- 
tion ot new ideas, and contact with Western peoples, the 
Government adhered to the old cruel law which inflicted 
the penalty of death on any Japanese who would dare to 
leave the country without official permission. 
A young lad, however, evaded this law. He was clever, 
thoughtful, and trained in all the rites and doctrines of 
Shintoism. He appears to have been related to some in- 
fluential families, members of which served the Govern- 
ment in responsible situations. As he grew up he imbibed 
atheistic opinions, being, in fact, a good specimen of 
Japanese civilization without Christianity. He was sent to 
Tokio to learn Dutch, in order that, when proficient in that 
language, he might be deputed by the Government to learn 
the art of shipbuilding, and study navigation, with the view 
of instructing his fellow-countrymen in those arts. With a 
far-seeing sagacity, the Government anxiously desired to 
