II. Establishment of the Commission Later in the year Rev. Sidney L. Gulick, for twenty-six years a missionary of the American Board, came as the representative of these bodies and appeared before the executive committee of the Federal Council at its meeting in Baltimore, December 3 to 5, 1913. After full consultation with Dr. Gulick the following action was taken: "We recommend that the chairmen of the Commissions on Peace and Arbitration and on Foreign Missions be requested to appoint nine members of their respective commissions, who, together with them, will act with the administrative committee as a preliminary committee to consider the overtures from the missionaries in Japan and make a report to the executive committee." Meanwhile a supplementary memorial was received as follows: Office of the Secretary 2242 Seventh Avenue, Oakland, Cal To the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America (Through the committee having the matter in charge): The standing committee of American workers in Oriental missions on the Pacific Coast warmly endorses the suggestion of American missionaries in Japan that the Federal Council establish a commission to visit Japan bearing greetings from the Christian churches of America and seeking to develop that mutual acquaintance which shall establish cordial relationships particularly between the Christian people of the two countries. We suggest that the commission include a Christian Japanese resident in America, and that its members make a special study, among other things, of the attitude of the Japanese in regard to emigration to America and of the influence upon the social, economic, and religious life of Japan of the Japanese residents in America or who have returned to Japan after residence in America. (Signed) A. WESLEY MELL, President GEORGE W. HINMAN, Vice-President Executive Committee I hereby certify that the above is an exact copy of the action of the standing committee at its last meeting in November, 1913. (Signed) MILTON S. VAIL, San Francisco, Cal., November 28, 1913 Secretary Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, D.D., New York City Immediately after the meeting of the executive committee, a temporary committee of three, consisting of Robert E. Speer, W. B. Millar, and the general secretary of the Federal Council, was appointed, under whose direction arrangements were immediately made for Rev. Sidney L. Gulick to speak before representative bodies in various parts of the country. Dr. Gulick also visited Washington and interviewed President Wilson, Secretary of State William J. Bryan, and several senators. Dr. Macfarland also waited upon President Wilson and acquainted him with our procedure, and introduced Dr. Gulick to leading officials of the American Federation of Labor in Washington. Meanwhile the joint committee held several meetings, at the first of which a committee of three, consisting of Dr. Speer, Rev. Frank Mason North, and Rev. Frederick Lynch, was appointed to arrange with Dr. Gulick for the continuation of his work, and another special committee, consisting of Dr. North, Dr. Lynch, Dr. Speer, Rev. Albert G. Lawson, and Dr. John R. Mott, was appointed to prepare a report with recommendations on the whole matter. The full joint committee then met on April 17, and the following action was taken: Resolved, That in response to the memorials of bodies of missionaries in Japan, submitted to the Federal Council, there be appointed, on behalf of the Federal Council, a commission of nine or more, whose general scope of service shall be to study the entire question of the application of the teachings of Christ to our relations with Japan, and to promote such influences and activities as shall lead to the right relationships between the peoples of these two nations. At the same time Dr. Gulick's work was also authorized. At the final meeting of the joint committee on April 30 a "Commission on Relations with Japan," was elected, consisting of the following members: Rev. Charles R. Brown, Dean of Yale Divinity School ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION 7 Rev. Albert G. Lawson, Acting Chairman of the Administrative Committee. Bishop Francis J. McConnell, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John R. Mott, Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation. Rev. Frank Mason North, Chairman of the Executive Committee. Robert E. Speer, Chairman of the Commission on Foreign Missions. Rev. William I. Haven, Chairman of the Administrative Committee. Bishop E. R. Hendrix, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Professor Jeremiah W. Jenks, of New York University. Rev. Frederick Lynch, Secretary of the Church Peace Union. Rev. Doremus Scudder, Pastor of the Union Church, Honolulu, Hawaii. President George E. Vincent, of the University of Minnesota. Hon. Amos P. Wilder, Executive Secretary of the Yale Foreign Missionary Society, and recently Consul at Shanghai, China. Rev. Charles S. Macfarland, Secretary, ex-officio. At subsequent meetings of the Commission on Relations with Japan, Dr. Gulick was engaged to serve as the representative of the commission and the following_were_elected as an executive committee: Messrs. Haven, Holt, Jenks, Lynch, and Speer. Various subcommittees were appointed and provision was made for the necessary financial support of the commission. III. Important Actions It was voted that the president of the Federal Council, Professor Shailer Mathews, be selected as the ambassador to the churches of Japan, to make his visit at such time as might be found most opportune and advisable, and that Rev. Charles E. Jefferson be requested to serve as alternate in case President Mathews should be unable to fulfil the mission. It was also voted that the administrative committee of the Federal Council should request Rev. Frank Mason North and Rev. William I. Haven to act with and support President Mathews in connection with his visit to Japan. The executive committee and the various subcommittees met at frequent intervals and followed closely the work committed to them. Professor H. A. Millis, of the University of Kansas, was secured to visit the Pacific Coast to make a special study of the Japanese situation. His report, by action of the Commission on Relations with Japan, was published early in 1915. There has been large demand for this book, it being generally regarded as a valuable and authentic setting forth of the situation on the Pacific Coast. Dr. North and Dr. Haven, who visited the Orient in the fall of 1914, were engaged, so far as their other duties allowed, in securing such information as would assist the Commission and prepare for its future work. Rev. Doremus Scudder, of Honolulu, was invited to come to the United States, and was here for two months (October and November, 1914) engaged in furthering the work of the commission, and speaking on behalf of good-will between Japan and America. Dr. Gulick obtained ready access to the churches all over the country, and was also constantly invited to address chambers of commerce, business men's organizations, and educational institutions. In December, 1914, the commission adopted the following petition: AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR AN ADEQUATE ORIENTAL POLICY The awakening of Asia and her rapid acquisition of important elements of Occidental civilization inaugurates a new era in worldhistory, in which Asia is to play a new and increasingly important role. Whether that role shall be one of peace, good-will and mutual cooperation, or one controlled by increasing suspicion and fear between the East and the West, will depend largely on the attitude of the Western nations themselves. It has seemed to many of our citizens who have become familiar with the question raised by this more intimate and ever increasing contact with the Orient that the United States might well adopt a more adequate Oriental policy. Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Commission on Relations with Japan, appointed by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, urge upon Congress and upon the people of the United States the importance of adopting an Oriental policy based upon a just and equitable regard for the interests of all the nations concerned, and to this end suggests that the entire immigration problem be taken up at an early date, providing for comprehensive legislation covering all phases of the question (such as the limitation of immigration, and the registration, distribution, employment, education, and naturalization of immigrants) in such a way as to conserve American institutions, to protect American labor from dangerous economic competition, and to promote an intelligent and enduring friendliness among the people of all nations. |