Missionary Workers^ and their Work, 183 
of Christianity, very generally walk up and buy a Gospel, 
or Acts, and sometimes a whole New Testament. I show 
them, by the cheapness of the books, and by the large 
expenses we incur in getting up such books^ and in travel- 
ling about to sell them, that it is, and must be, a purely 
benevolent work, and that men who go about to deceive 
people, do not go upon so benevolent a plan, and that we 
do not seek the gold or silver, but rather desire their con- 
version to the true faith ; then they seem ready to accept 
this statement of our object, and approve our means." 
A missionary writing from Okayama says : " You know 
that Japan is a land without a Sabbath. To be sure, Sun- 
day is a holiday in the Government. offices and schools; 
but with these exceptions, and that of its observance by the 
few Christians, it is like any other day. You may judge, 
then, how glad we were, when the manager of a large pot- 
tery sent word to us, that as he wished to let his men rest 
on the Sabbath, he would be glad to have us hold meetings 
for them in a building which he would fit up for the pur- * 
pose. We found, that though not a Christian, he wished 
to do what he could for the mental and moral improvement 
of the men in his employ. He was especially anxious for 
the welfare of several boys from ten to eighteen years old, 
who had been apprenticed to him. Having heard that 
those who on the Sabbath rested from their ordinary labours 
became better men, and more efficient, he was ready to try 
the experiment. We decided that the first meeting in the 
pottery should be a preaching service. Fortunately, Mr. 
Joseph Neesima, who in his youth, from a desire to learn 
about the Bible, ran away to America, was visiting us, and 
consented to preach. The meeting was appointed for three 
o'clock, and promptly to the time, we were at the pottery. 
There is, however, a rule in Japan, * Never be in a hurry.' 
