History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

circuits and missions. The following statistics were reported: churches, 2; members, 225;
probationers, 34; Sunday-school scholars, 407; day-schools, 2; scholars enrolled, 230.
A special feature in the proceedings of this session was the emphasis laid upon the need of
aggressive evangelistic work and the enterprising measures adopted to open new missions. The
territory between Yokohama and Nagoya, a distance of over two hundred miles, was divided into
three sub-districts, each under the care of a chairman, with centers fixed at Yokohama, Nagoya, and
Shizuoka, from which to broaden out into the regions round about. The Shizuoka district, however,
had not been previously occupied; but being about equally distant from the other centers, and the
opportunity for opening work seeming favorable, it was selected as a specially desirable point to
locate a mission. Mr. Van Dyke was appointed as chairman of this new district. He promptly took
up his residence in the city of Shizuoka, and with a hopeful and energetic spirit entered upon his
duties. Connecting himself at first with a private school as teacher, he was soon enabled to secure
a house for preaching services and a Sunday school. The work thus begun was pressed with such
vigor and success that in less than seven months a church was organized with eighteen members. Six
preaching points have since been opened and four Sunday-schools organized. A new church and
parsonage for Japanese pastor, costing $1000, was built in 1894.
In April, 1893, Mr. Klein's health having broken down, and the treatment of the best physicians
available effecting no improvement in his condition, he was forced to return to America. He was
succeeded as the executive of the conference, and as president of the Anglo-Japanese College, by
Mr. Morgan, who as soon thereafter as the change could be made was transferred to Nagoya, where
he still resides, and acceptably occupies the same official positions. In the month of August ensuing,
Revs. I. F. Smith and U. G. Murphy were sent out by the Board, each for the term of ten years. They
arrived in Yokohama about three weeks later, in time to meet and unite with the Japan Mission
Conference, which was then holding its second annual session in that city. Mr. Murphy was, by
direction of the Board, stationed at Nagoya, under instructions to devote as much of his time as
possible to the study of the Japanese language, and Mr. Smith, under similar instructions, was
located at Yokohama, and appointed treasurer of the Board in Japan, a position which had been held
by Mr. Morgan prior to his removal to Nagoya.
The officers of the second annual conference were A. R. Morgan, President, and E. H. Van Dyke,
Secretary. Two native preachers were admitted into the itinerancy and placed in the first year's course
of study, and another, having completed his third year, was ordained elder. Three candidates for the
ministry were placed under the care of the Ministerial Education Society. Statistical reports for the
year showed: Probationers received, 72; admitted into full membership, 47; baptisms, 50, three of
whom were children; new Sunday-schools organized, 4; total enrollment of Sunday-school scholars,
435; collections for current expenses and benevolent purposes, $713.50.
The third session of the Japan Mission Annual Conference was held in Nagoya, July 16 to 20,
1894. Messrs. Morgan and Van Dyke were reelected President and Secretary respectively. The
following facts, taken from the statistical tables of the minutes of this session, may be regarded as
a fair representation of the present condition of the work within the bounds of this district: Churches,
3; preaching places (rented houses used as chapels), 14; total full membership, 312; probationers,
19; Sunday schools, 14; Sunday-school scholars, 648; day-school, 1; scholars, 34; night-school, 1;