A letter by Mr. Gulick was also sent in the same envelope to the same persons, giving a brief statement of the way in which he had been led of the Lord to enter upon this work and of the steps by which the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America had decided to establish its Commission on Relations with Japan and to send to Japan a Christian embassy. The number of individuals to whom these letters went was nearly 3,500 (1,000 missionaries and 2,500 Japanese workers).

The preparation and publication of so much material required not only much time and attention from Mr. Gulick, but also much assistance. Mr. Tomita, for many years Mr. Gulick's personal literary assistant, gave his entire time for the month of our stay in Japan. Mr. Gilbert Bowles also gave himself unstintedly to the promotion of the success of our embassy.

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Before leaving the United States your commission received in reply to a letter of inquiry some sixty-five letters from representative Americans. These letters seemed so significant of the real attitude of America as a whole toward Japan that after consulting prominent Japanese and Americans decided to make these public. We selected twenty for publication in full; of the rest a summary was made with quotations of the most important sentences. The whole was published in the form of a pamphlet entitled "The Friendship of America for Japan." It contained introductory and supplementary sections and also the personal letters of President Wilson and Secretary Bryan to Mr. Mathews.

3,500 copies of this pamphlet were distributed in Japan, with a covering letter. Copies were mailed to 300 of the leading dailies, to all missionaries, and to nearly all pastors and evangelists. 500 additional copies were printed for use in America.

Before leaving California, in response to a letter of inquiry, replies were received from fifteen Japanese residents describing the improving personal treatment of Japanese in California. These letters in Japanese seemed so pertinent that these also were issued in pamphlet form, preceded by an introductory statement by Mr. Gulick. 3,500 copies of this pamphlet were also issued and distributed to the same persons in the same envelopes as the preceding pamphlet. Its title

is Zai-bei Nihonjin ni tai suru Beikokujin no Taigu ("American Treatment of Japanese in America").

We took to Japan some fifty copies of the Federal Council Bulletin No. 67, "Two Addresses on the American Japanese Problem." The supply was soon exhausted. The demand for more was so urgent that it seemed wise to print one thousand copies of this pamphlet to be distributed to American business men in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kobe, to American missionaries, and to certain selected Japanese leaders.

On account of certain statements made by Japanese, criticising articles published in America by missionaries in Japan, calculated, it was said, to promote among Americans anti-Japanese feeling, Mr. Gulick prepared, in consultation with Mr. Mathews, a personal letter which was sent to some 800 American missionaries.

V.

Letters of Greeting and Commendation

The following official letters from various church organizations in Japan also indicate with clearness the result of this commission and the impression created by the embassy in Japan:

FROM THE FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN JAPAN

TO THE

FEDERAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN AMERICA

Tokyo, February 15, 1915.

The Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, General Secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, Greeting:

DEAR BROTHER:

We were much pleased to receive your letter addressed to the churches of our federation, brought by Dr. Mathews and Dr. Gulick as representatives of your Council.

We feel very thankful that these two brethren have been eagerly striving to discharge their mission ever since their arrival in our land by traveling throughout the country.

Our federation consists of ten Protestant denominations in Japan. Our membership is not much more than 70,000, but this number represents the majority of Protestant membership of Japan, which altogther amounts to 90,000.

The total number of Christians in Japan is less than 200,000, even including Roman Catholic membership.

For while the number of Christians in Japan cannot be said to be very large, those who are in favor of Christianity are several hundred per cent. more. In fact, Christian ethical ideas and the Christian view of life are sweeping through the mind of the educated class. Especially of late inquirers are coming from all classes.

The above-mentioned brethren were very heartily welcomed everywhere, both by the official class and by the people in general, and they have been given ample opportunity to express freely their convictions both in their addresses and in their conferences. This is

but one sign of the ripeness of time for the evangelization of the entire country.

Again, that the special three-year evangelistic campaign which started last year is to be an opportunity for a great revival, we do not doubt. Indeed, this is a great blessing which the Lord has shown to Japan, and which is also the fruits of self-sacrificing services rendered by the missionaries whom the churches in your country have sent us. For all these we are grateful.

It is, we believe, the responsibility of the two countries with their historic friendship that in grateful response to unbounded grace from on high, the one from this side of the Pacific, and the other from the other side, should contribute toward the peace of the world, and toward the happiness of entire humanity by bringing into light the fundamental principles of brotherhood of all nations.

The problem which of late years originated in one part of your country and now exists between Japan and America can only be solved by each other's better understanding, and by mutual practise of the "Royal Law."

We feel strengthened in our belief that the action of your Council in sending the two brethren is but a beginning of a new movement to this end.

May the rich blessings of God be upon the churches of your country.

President, Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in Japan
KIKUTARO MATSUNO

Secretary

FROM THE TOKYO MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION

Tokyo, Japan, February 9, 1915.

The Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, D.D., Secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America:

MY DEAR SIR:

It is with feelings of grief and the deepest concern that we contemplate those unhappy incidents of recent date which throw a cloud over the delightfully intimate relations which have always existed between our two countries, Japan and America. It does, indeed, seem to us that, without doubt, these are matters which ought to be easy of adjustment by the responsible diplomatic representatives of the two governments in the familiarity of friendly negotiation, and yet we cannot but feel that they should not be left entirely in the hands of politicians and diplomats, We believe that we Christians of

both nations, approaching such problems, as we commonly do, from the standpoint of justice and humanity, should do our utmost towards their solution. And it is for this reason that we are deeply impressed by the action of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America in sending to our country your president, the Rev. Dr. Mathews, and also the Rev. Dr. Gulick, at this time, and we wish hereby to express our deep appreciation of their fraternal visit.

We believe there is a responsibility resting upon the Christian believers in both countries to make increasingly real, as the years pass, the cordiality of those friendly relations which, with the blessing of God, have continued so happily during these fifty years and more of intercourse between us, and thus contribute to the peace of the world. This is why we Christians of the East and West alike should exert ourselves to awaken and foster a healthy public sentiment among our peoples with a view to a fundamental solution of our mutual problems, and we hope to put forth our best endeavors to this end.

The Tokyo Ministerial Association wishes to convey to your honorable body profound thanks for your Christian brotherliness, and we pray that the divine grace and benediction may abide richly upon you.

The Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, D.D., General Secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America:

DEAR DR. MACFARLAND:

We have been instructed by the executive committee of the Conference of Federated Missions in Japan to send you a letter of appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Drs. Mathews and Gulick on the occasion of their recent visit to Japan; and it is with great pleasure that we respond to the request.

As you are doubtless aware, it is no strange thing, either to the Japanese or the missionaries working among them, to welcome distinguished persons from America or other foreign countries, who come as representatives of various oraganizations or interests with