With all their lack of knowledge of the language, there could be no mistake about their willingness to learn, and to be the servants of all men.  It was clear that they possessed those two great qualifications for Apostolic success, an unlimited readiness for hard work, and an unbounded faith in the will and power of Christ to save.  Their first interpreter, a student anxious to do his uttermost for Christ and his country, was speedily won over completely to their side, and as he was already known amongst the Pressmen, this became a very great help to the progress of their work generally.

Yet, under several successive leaders, they toiled on for some years with but little prospect.  The language is one of the most difficult imaginable for foreigners to learn, and, although there was from the first great liberty as to Open-Air Meetings, and congregations were gathered outdoors and into the little Halls that were contrived out of shops and dwelling-houses, it seemed likely to prove slow work to raise a Japanese force.

But all at once, in 1902, God gave the little company a great opportunity.  For years already some faithful Japanese under missionary influences, had been lamenting the position of the girls given over to immorality, who were severed for life from the rest of the community, and kept under police supervision, in a special quarter called the Yoshiwara of each city, as well as cut off from all the hopes of the Gospel.  A law had indeed been passed allowing such girls as might wish to abandon their awful calling to do so; but it was so administered as practically to remain a dead letter.

“Why,” thought our leaders, “should we not issue a special edition of our War Cry, explaining Christ’s love and power to save the deepest sunken in sin, and our Rescue Work, and then go and sell it in the Yoshiwara?”

The idea was carried out, and, to all appearance, the first day, with wonderful success.  The great companies of pleasure-seekers saw in the “Paper” a novelty of interest and bought and read it eagerly.  But it was far too great a success to please the brothel keepers, who at once hired men to attack The War Cry sellers, should they repeat their invasion.  When it became known that our Officers had thus been attacked, reporters of the Tokio and Yokohama papers hurried to see the, for Japan, unusual sight, and then the whole Press of the country came out strongly on our side.  We were fully recognised as the loving friends of the friendless and oppressed, and from that day our standing in the country was assured.

Not many girls were gathered into our little Rescue Home; but thousands learnt the way of escape from their houses of bondage, and within a few years many thousands returned to their old homes all over the country.  It should be explained that the brothels were really supplied as a result of the heroic devotion of the girls to their parents and homes.  It was common for a girl, in any time of extra want or destitution, to suggest or consent to her sale to one of the bad houses for the relief of her family.  This fact, however, of course increased both the national sympathy for the victims, and the high appreciation of our care for them.