LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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234 MISSIONARY WORK IN JAPAN. and He shall give thee the desire of thine heart.' 'Commit thy ways unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.' 0, what precious promises they are unto us. I am wondering why God bas chosen a weak instrumentality such as I am, weak both in body and mind, for promoting his kingdom in this empire. I could simply say to Him: 'Here I am; employ me in thy vineyard if thou findest a pleasure in thy humble servant.' In my later expe~ rience I find more than ever nothingness in me." It was very characteristic of Mr. N eesima, and thoroughly in line with his efforts to spread the gos~ pel through an educated ministry, that in his mission~ ary tours he always sought to interest the leading men of the town or district, as well as to reach the poor. In February, 1880, he writes, in this connection, from Okayama:-" I find it very hard to reach prominent men in our society, because many of them are too proud to be taught. They are self~conceited and seek for no fur~ ther improvement in their moral condition. They have also a strong anti-religious spirit. I find in them the strange notion that any religion, even Chris­tianity, hinders the progress of nations and has no­thing to do with modern civilization. On the other hand, I always find some brilliant man who comes forth boldly and manfully. There are doubtless some thoughtless boys with us, but none who speak against Christianity. I have to be pretty careful. They do not like oldest kind of theology. They cannot bear any stiffness. In the Government University of Tokyo, where are about seven hundred students, is an infidel atmosphere. Some native and some foreign teachers exert bad influence. There are also anti-

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