Sydney tells us he is feeling settled in Tokyo and enjoying his life there, worries about Rose Mary’s ‘fits of depression,’ expresses his distain for Japanese music, records the excitement of a visiting American aviator, praises the spring weather and Japanese blossoms, and laments that all the servants are making him lazy. The end of the letter is missing.

The Tokyo Hotel
Atago hill Park
3 Apr 1911

I was hoping to have been able to send you this letter  by today’s mail but unfortunately put it off till too late and it must therefore go by the usual Wednesday’s mail

I got two letters from you dearest on Saturday, one dated the 17th Feb which came via America and the other my birthday letter wishing me all the good things. Many, many thanks darling and I only wish you were here to give me a real birthday kiss!

I am so sorry to hear you are still having fits of depression, but you must ‘buck up’ and look forward to coming out to me in a few months. I am going to have a chat with Wheeler tis week about it. And then I shall write to Mr. Potter. I would of course rather wait a month or two before mentioning it to the letter but as you are not keeping so well as I had hoped you would I shall write sooner than I had intended. In the meantime, my precious darling, have patience, and we will see about getting you out in August or September! Anyway, before the winter commenced. As a matter of fact, even if you come then, your time will be fully occupied, I expect, getting things ready. And in that, you will have to get the aunts to advise you.

There is not much news to tell you of. Last Saturday I went to a Japanese music hall and of all the piffle you ever saw in your life, that takes the family biscuit.The music consists of a pair of clappers! A rotten tin horn!! with the occasional use of the drum while a man at the side is continually shouting with a voice like a sawmill in distress!! Preserve me from any more of them! That’s all I say!

Yesterday was Sunday and there was a big meeting at a place called Meforu about 5 miles from Tokyo to see an American Aviator. Of course, ‘everybody’ was there. I was there. It was a lovely day and hardly a breath of wind, the flying therefore was excellent.

Today is a public holiday but unfortunately it has rained all day! Most disappointing as there was a great deal of excitement over the opening of a new bridge over the river about 1 1/2 miles from here.

Yesterday, several of us went for a walk before tiffin round Akasaka, one of the best parts of Tokyo. We are thinking of leaving the hotel to take a house as one or two of the boys are dissatisfied with the attention here. As a matter of fact, hotel life gets a bit monotonous after a while.

The cherry blossom is now quite out, and some of the roads where there are long avenues of these trees, are simply lovely! I do so wish you were here to see them. You would be charmed! These blossoms only last about ten days, but then, of course, there are other trees to follow. In fact, it seems to me that every tree you see has a blossom on it or will have soon. You can imagine how lovely they will look in the summer time.

The weather’s still chilly and we have not yet done with fires as April has many cold days and one has to be careful not to catch cold but on the whole the climate is certainly better than England.

I wonder how you will like Tokyo? I didn’t at first but now that the weather is better and I’ve been out and seen different parts of it I’ve changed my mind and really getting to quite to like it. Nevertheless, one has to give up a great deal of the pleasures of ‘home’ with nothing much to compensate you for those losses. However, altho’ I have plenty to do at the office, life on the whole is easier than it is at home. The only thing is one gets awfully lazy, servants wait on you everywhere and I, being no different to the rest, take full advantage of it.

I am so glad to hear Mr. Potter has been so kind to you. He really is a good sort and I should certainly take the opportunity if you can to see him one day very soon and tell him how you feel about staying away from me. He will help you I know and push things forward for us. I shall in all probability be writing him this week. You ought therefore to see him about the same time! And then if you can get anything definite from him set about selling up! All the ‘furniture’ may go except the piano. I will advise you later of this, but you must of course keep all the linen, plate and all small stuff of any value that can be packed in cases. But don’t trouble about crockery!! We can buy it here quite cheaply.

(missing page or pages)

This is a lengthy account of the earthquake by one who lived to tell the tale, missionary B.S. Moore. It includes the accounts of other missionaries with whom she worked in Yokohama. The holocaust Moore describes was of such a magnitude and ferocity that I am left dumbfounded that all seven of my family survived unscathed (Sydney, Frank, Maurice, Vi, Vi’s husband to be Joe Fish, Eva Cranch – Sydney’s sister – and her husband Bill). Moore and her associates likely swapped stories with my uncle Maurice Bruce and his aunt Eva Cranch, all of whom were on the SS President Jefferson together, returning as refugees to Canada and the U.S.  Although a number of religious pronouncements have been removed for readability, there remains a strong evangelical flavour to the writing. That aside, this is a story worth reading. Indeed, it will take your breath away…. OUR MARVELOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH

 11:59, September 1, 1923 Yokohama, Japan

Accounts by B.S. Moore and Others, 1923

DURING the passing moments of midday, while the Oriental sun was shining and a gentle breeze was blowing, came a sudden roar as of a subterranean clap of thunder and quick as a flash of lightning the house began to rock and bounce up and down. We were beginning to eat lunch, beautiful tomatoes, carrots, onions and “cucumbers, made a very inviting lunch indeed, especially in hot weather as the temperature was 90 to 95 degrees. We all started for the door, but were thrown violently against the walls back and forth, when suddenly the west side of the house raised up. The vibration hurled us twelve to fifteen feet eastward out of the house against the fence. The house was thrown in the same direction, just missing my head, but caught my wife and her Bible woman, Grace Suzuki, under the wreckage. Buried out of sight they began to call on Jesus to help them.

Wife was nearest to me, so I began working with all the strength and swiftness there was in me. Great power came upon me, it seemed my arms were like Sampson’s, everything, big and small, boards, timbers, tiling and all, gave way as I worked. My hands were bursting, the skin of the palms of my hands could not stand the strength that entered my arms. I could see it tear but no pain. The earth constantly rocking and rising up and down at intervals made it difficult to work. As I removed the roof, my wife appeared to be alive and saying, “my poor arm, Jesus you will help me.”

I worked so fast it seemed I had them both out in two or three minutes, although there were tons of wreckage over them, a nine-roomed house used as a Bible Training Home, all furnished, having collapsed in a few seconds, and under this they were caught. My wife could walk, so I sat her on a rock, but she was trusting in and praying to the “Rock of Ages.” Our Bible woman whom I rescued, could also walk, but was bruised about the face. She went to a nearby Japanese “Dispensary” and obtained some gauze and cotton and some disinfectant in a clam shell. There I did my first work of a surgeon, giving first aid. I bandaged the arm and fixed it up as well as I could, then sat down and held a prayer meeting in the middle of the road. All pain went out of the arm and never returned. Fires were raging on all sides except a narrow space in the direction of “Sagi Yama,” a small mountain to the south of us.

We read in Isaiah 29:6: “Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of Hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.” This we experienced in the Yokohama disaster, which laid it flat in from five to fifteen seconds. Thundering beneath us were shocks swift as lightning, tearing the earth into thousands of pieces. Opening it large enough to take in houses, as one man told me he saw houses go out of sight as the earth opened and closed. Autos and rickshas were seen to go down in the fissures of the earth. It is indescribable. Thousands pinned under houses calling for help everywhere and very few people to be seen to help them. The Japanese were dazed, they had no presence of mind to act.

We wondered where to go as the fire came down the valley fanned by a typhoon. Our Japanese servant, Kimpachi, (No. 8 gold is name in English) informed us we must move quickly to the south and ascend the mountain for safety. We pulled out of the wreckage a few Japanese beds (thin mattresses) and a few cans of fish and prunes, etc., and went bravely up the mountain. Wife never complained. After reaching the summit I went again to the wreckage and at great risk of life was successful in the rescuing of some thin summer dresses, a suit of underwear and some canned beans. The fire was raging and roaring like thunder, miles of blaze, fanned by a gale, was a startling scene., I returned through the narrow street, which was about eight feet wide, the fire burning on one side.

This was my last trip to the spot where we resided until after the fire had consumed everything. We settled down again on the “Mount of God’s choice” for us and held prayer meeting, weeping over the burning city, realizing what it meant with half a million or more shut up and surrounded by fire with no way of escape. Only a few very fortunate ones near the edge of the city found refuge in the park and bay. Thousands jumped into the canals only to perish by water, by suffocation and fire from burning boats. Suicides were numerous. The Japanese are fatalists, and have no hope, no consolation in their gods in such a time.Men Ought Always to Pray and Not to Faint Prayer Changes Things

Out in the middle of the road, amid the ghastly scenes, we united in prayer, weeping before the Lord, imploring Him to please stop the quakes, but no response, only a vision came before me that as the Heavenly Father was of purer eyes, He could not look upon sin (Heb. 1:13) for He turned His face away from looking upon the terrible scene of Jesus Christ His Son hanging on the cross, bearing our sin and sickness, our judgment upon the cruel Roman cross. We asked the Lord to remove all pain from my wife’s broken arm and restore and preserve all our lives from death which was seemingly imminent and He graciously answered prayer and Mrs. Moore’s condition was quite normal from that time on through the terrible destruction with its scenes of horror and woe all around us. Our neighbors were nearly all killed instantly. One family never even screamed. Doctor, wife, nurse, and two children all hurled into eternity with many hundreds of thousands meeting the same fate; think of a city of over five hundred thousand people wiped out in a few hours; on every side of you raging fires, oils and explosives helping in the destruction of the city of Yokohama and its people.

The chemicals and explosives at Yokosuka all exploding and burning amid many war vessels, including a giant super-dreadnaught of 42,000 tons reported a total wreck as she was on the the dry docks nearing completion. What an outlay of money all wasted! Surely “He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth.”-—Psa. 46:9. “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Shocks continued constantly; for about one week there were over two thousand with only a short cessation between sharp jerks and splitting of the earth. The earth settled in places and the east coast dropped down eight feet.

Preparing to Climb the Mountain

We had pulled out of the wreckage a few Japanese futons (beds) and a few cans of eatables, and a few pieces of wearing apparel tied up in a sheet (which we gave away to others on the mountain and on the ship), and amid raging fires on every side, we wended our way through the narrow, crooked passages in which a number were also trying to make their escape to a place of safety. Finally we reached the top of “Sagi Yama,” a small mountain, and there we sat down. Our hearts were so anxious as we felt many of our dear Christians had perished. Soon news was conveyed to us that our Japanese pastor with his wife and son were gone, also Bro. Sato who worked in the Fukuin Printing house, a gospel and Bible printing company in which the manager and the whole staff of seventy employees perished. This was one of the largest Bible printing houses in the world. Printing plates to the value of nearly $250,000 have been totally ruined. This represents versions in as many as twenty-five languages and dialects for Japan, China, Siam, and the Philippines. The American Bible houses were totally destroyed by the fires which broke out spontaneously in connection with the quake fanned by a 50-mile gale of wind, a heavy typhoon which increased the fire to such proportions that it formed into whirlwinds of funnel shaped clouds, water spouts or cloud-bursts not being a comparison, sucking up houses and many people into the air only to fall down again crushed and roasted, except one, who was seen to disappear in the clouds and never returned. We trust he went up and joined Enoch and Elijah. Translation power and faith is being given God’s children these days preparing them for the “Parousia”—1st Thess. 4:16-18. “The dead shall be raised and the living caught up in a moment in a twinkling of an eye—1st Cor. 15:51, 52. Resurrection in Prophecy, “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out her dead. Come, my people, enter into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For behold the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”—Isa. 26:19-21.Fires Rage and Fearful Sights

For fifty miles from Yokosuka to the north of Tokyo the greatest conflagration of ages beheld for the first time, storm and tempest and devouring fire. People who defied God and cursed Jesus our Lord were all being consumed. The din, the smoke, terrible explosions, and nerve-racking shocks unparalleled in history. The shocks were so violent and houses fell so quickly and fires spread so rapidly. Oils and combustible materials fed the flames in every direction. There were no means of escape as open spaces were few. Only one park of any size where five thousand fled only to meet their fate by suffocation as the fires raged and surrounded the people, their clothes on fire and cinders raining upon them, members of families running through the smoke calling for their loved ones with no response. Thousands pinned under the buildings calling for help but no one available, beholding with their eyes the oncoming flames fanned into a fury with the raging winds and in a few moments they cease to be. Rescue work was limited to the water front where quick work rescued many from the approaching fires. A number who could swim were picked up by ship launches and saved, but many drowned, while others bled to death, no surgeon or nurses to stop the blood by the use of tight bandages. This should warn all to prepare to meet the Lord.

We stood beside a rough bandit and he remarked, as we wept over the burning city, that we should not weep as it would make us weak in our body, just say “shi kata ga nai,” (it cannot be helped), however, we could not help but weep as we saw hun-dreds of thousands of people were being roasted and cremated, for we could smell them roasting, while thousands of others jumped overboard into the canals and bay to escape the fire, but alas only to perish, with the exception of a few who bailed water over their heads or ducked themselves under incessantly for seven hours until the city was practically reduced to cinders. These are realities we shall never forget in this life.A Typical Feudal War

NEWS of the escape of a large number of criminals reached us, because the prison had been demolished, therefore this stirred the civilians into action. They armed themselves with bamboo clubs, with knives tied on the ends, and with such swords as they were able to get from the wrecked homes. The earth was still rocking and screams as of wild hyenas or other wild beasts were filling the night air as the war began and increased in fury killing and pillaging everywhere. About four hundred Japanese refugees taking refuge in an open space at the end of Yawata bashi car line were all killed by the escaped criminals. The fight.

[photo: Yokohama Park. Scenes of Death and as the few who escaped remarked. It was a veritable hell.]

ing then spread to Tokyo. Kyoto and other towns began clamoring over where the next capital should be set up. Many innocent Chinese and Koreans, and nine Americans were slain, also after the quake wholesale massacre of Koreans followed. Five were lined up before our eyes and taken just behind a hedge fence to be killed. My wife buried her face in her pillow to avoid the horrible scene as they marched right past her as she was lying on the ground. It was surely a sight which would unnerve a strong man to say nothing of an injured woman. From good authority a message was sent to the United States that 15,000 Koreans were imprisoned and 250 were bound hand and foot and soaked in oil and burned alive, also eight Koreans were bayoneted to death in the presence of a party of American tourists, who were then forced at pistol point to drive their auto over the dead bodies. An American citizen, assistant dock superintendent of Yokohama, is quoted as an authority for the charge that the Koreans were burned alive. Dr. Thompkins alleges that Japanese officials issued orders directing that as many Koreans as possible be killed. Also while communication was still in the hands of Japanese control, anti-Koreans took advantage of even the great catastrophe to unjustly accuse Koreans of looting, poisoning wells, incendiarism and all the crimes of the calendar. Japan clamped their censorship and refused to let the reports go through. “Truth will out.” All the wireless equipments on the ships were sealed and no true report was allowed to go out, but after the ships left port and proceeded beyond the three mile limit they rushed the news through, though only fragments of the awful fate of the devastated region were told.

Civilians Complaining

Threats were being made in our company of what they would do if they could not obtain food. We remarked, “there is a field of young onions-and green corn, eat that” and next morning for breakfast they were devouring corn and young onion’s and bon-fires were made where they roasted the corn, and hungry crying children were satisfied. Soon many were out in pursuit of prey. All were soldiers in such a time, of the type of the Samurai days, head hunting and so forth, no law, no order, no policemen to be seen, no Red Cross, no doctors nor hospitals. All were gone and no help for the wounded and dying. All was confusion and fighting. Some wicked fellows brandished their swords in front of us indicating what they could do, but one fellow who knew us said, “You and your wife have been kind to the Japanese, they will not hurt or kill you.” However, our hope was in God and we had no fear, our prayers had reached the throne and our wonderful Savior protected and cared for us. This same bandit was exceptionally kind to Mrs. Moore. He went and hunted the forsaken homes of foreigners until he found a wicker reclining chair which he pulled out and brought up the mountain and helped Mrs. Moore upon it feeling very much satisfied that he had succeeded in making her more comfortable. Some distance away there was a dairy sheltered under the mountain side which had escaped the flames and this bandit went twice and brought milk. Surely God cares for His own. Learning also that the wounded missionary liked fruit he went and found a pear and a small bunch of grapes and brought them to the missionary. A Japanese asked him, “Do you not like fruit?” He answered, “Yes, but the missionary needs them more than I do, I will do without.” Just think how God had touched the heart of one who had been so wicked and caused him to make such sacrifice.

This might put some Christians to shame, because it is easy to give when you have plenty, but to make a sacrifice when you are divested of everything, all your goods, food, clothing, home, no money, no place to lay your head, then you are in a position to appreciate the words of Jesus when He said, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath no place to lay His head.”

Secure in Jesus’ Care

The wind changed during the early part of the night, blowing the fire in our direction over the mountain. Sparks like golden leaves or a fiery snow storm came tumbling down over the mountain. Many picked up their few belongings and fled like maddened animals. We said to a company near us, “Hold your ground. There will be no harm to us here.” “All right,” they

[photo: A scene of total loss of property and life where hundreds were working in factories, words fail to describe the wails for help; all were cremated.]

said and abode where they were and not even a hair of our heads was singed, all praise to God alone who loves and protects His own. Underneath were the everlasting arms and the angel of the Lord encamping around about us, Psa. 34:7, and the banner of His love over us. How could we be harmed? Greater is He, the Holy Spirit, within you than he that is in the world.” Comrades, take courage and press on toward the mark.

Fire, War, Death

The war still raging, and the wounded groaning and dying all around us, the dead are covered with a piece of rough straw matting. The soldiers brought some rough boxes wherein were placed the dead. We were called upon to preach the funerals. The graves were dug with a piece of an old garden hoe. We spoke to the company concerning the future after this life and salvation purchased for us through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, then sang “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I’ll Be There.” We could think of no other kind of hymns, heaven is our objective. The earth still in convulsions it seemed more like a resurrection than a burial from the fact that when Jesus arose from the dead together with many bodies of the saints, there was a great earthquake, the soldiers fell as dead men, the centurion feared greatly, saying “This was the Son of God”—Matt. 27:51-54. We buried the dead quietly just as the sun was setting, and all stood with bowed heads weeping. It was a solemn and never to be forgotten time. The dear, stricken people gathered around us and thanked us for the kind words spoken which brought comfort to their hearts. Surely these are the closing days of man’s rule on the earth. Therefore, dear reader, prepare, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Revival on the Mountain

Three groups of various sects were engaged in earnest prayer. Some were praying to “Nichiren,” the founder of a sect three hundred years ago, a man who consecrated himself, to the gods and by lying on the ground in the woods for three days and nights without clothing, allowed his body to be bitten by vermin of all kinds in order that he might conquer his flesh in a moral way while he established his faith among the people. Another was a Buddhist sect who prayed to Buddha, and also the Shintoist, who venerate the dead, praying to the departed spirits of all dead relatives, emperors and statesmen, also the dragon, the fox, the Hachiman, eighty thousand gods incorporated in one, including the god of fire, but no answer came. Next in order was our band of five all praying with strong crying and tears, earnestly asking Jesus to have mercy on the dear, stricken people. Suddenly the idol worshipers ceased to call on their gods, saying, “Teacher, pray for us, we are suffering.” Others said, “Teacher sing, 0 sing to us. We heard you last night on the street preaching about great judgments coming on a world of sin and this must be what you told us.” Then we prayed and sang, “When He Cometh to Gather His Jewels,” chorus in Japanese:

All the people wept and said, “What a beautiful song.” Then we all prayed for them and they thanked us for the comfort which had come to their hearts. There were no more heathen prayers offered during the time we were there. They looked to us for comfort and were amazed and wondered as the power of God would come upon Mrs. Moore, causing her to pray and praise God in a heavenly language, called in the Greek “Glossa.” It surely puts the gloss upon us and makes the face to shine and the heart to glow even in the times of greatest trial and suffering, Jesus, help us ever to shine for thee. Eternity alone will reveal the work of the Holy Spirit through the seed sown in hearts in such a time as that. Many new converts were swept into eternity in a few seconds, but most of the older Christians were safe.

Missionaries and Churches

Two missionaries of the “Tokiwa M. E. home” were reported

[photo: Cherry Blossom Season at Hommoku, Yokohama, Japan, Everybody at this season is cheerful.]

killed, also one in the Ferris Seminary. When rescuers tried to get her out she said, “Never mind me, I am going to heaven, try to save the girls.” It was a girls’ school and she was willing to sacrifice her life for their sake. Also two Y. W. C. A. workers were reported killed in Chinatown, where fifty thousand of Chinese perished. As to churches and missions, there was not one of any name but that was totally destroyed, including every Mission School, Salvation Army barracks, and all in the city of Yokohama. Not one escaped destruction.

The water front was the “Mecca.” Many fled to the piers and sampans, barges and ships for refuge only to soon be surrounded by fire. Oil tanks exploded as the fire from the burning hotels, clubs and steamship offices spread, fanned by a heavy gale of wind blowing the flames over the water. Many oil tanks connected by pipes separated and the oil poured out over the harbor and ignited, turning it into a veritable hell, consuming boats loaded with people and all the freight on lighters, some loaded with gasoline and benzine, naptha and coal oil. The Japanese freighters lying in the harbor did no rescue work and they refused to take any one on board, thus thousands perished as the smoke enveloped them. They leaped overboard and many roasted alive on boats. When the smoke cleared away there was no one, in sight and every boat had disappeared. The bottom of the bay raised up and down and shook the ships so that a number were totally wrecked. The steel plate loosened and they sank. The great Empress of Australia, loaded with passengers, was just pulling out from the dock when the first shock came, which swayed the ship and threw many to the floors and decks. At first it was thought that the ship had hit the dock too hard in backing out, but instantly the passengers saw chimneys and buildings swaying and falling. Then they knew it was an earthquake, also instantly the great concrete pier collapsed on which hundreds of people were standing who were farewelling departing friends, throwing most of them into the bay, where they scrambled among the wreckage. Bro. D. G. Swanson of the Salvation Army was among them. He said a number must have perished. He was able to swim, so made his escape, and quick work by the ship launches rescued others. The disabled liner for a time seemed doomed as in backing out the propeller was twisted by being tangled up in the chain of the “Steel Navigator,” a large sea tug then in harbor. The “Australia” was held there for many hours. Finally the captain signalled a Dutch liner to come to her aid as the oil which had ignited on the water was burning all around the ship and the crew fought valiantly with many large hose to force the burning oil back from the ship. With the city and boats in the harbor on fire the temperature arose to 140 degrees. On board the boat the people almost suffocated. The Dutch captain sent a message back saying his ship was loaded with benzine and oils and it was a great risk to undertake, however, the British are persistent, you know, and they believed in being pertinaciously solicitous in such a time of dire need. Finally Sunday morning the Dutch captain answered the call and ventured near the blazing oil, sent a wire cable to the crippled liner laden with refugees and passengers, who were well nigh overcome from heat and fear. Slowly the great liner began to move as the brave Dutch captain steamed up and every one gave a sigh of relief and soon they were anchored outside the breakwater most of which was demolished and under water. Thus the “Empress of Australia” with more than a thousand human lives was saved. We saw English, Americans, Canadians, and people of all nations take off their hats and say three cheers (banzais) to the Dutch captain who ran the great risk of being blown to atoms to save the lives of others. God bless him. “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Amen.

About five thousand people had fled to this park for refuge, the only large vacant space in the city. Sights were shocking. Some with legs or arms off, mangled in the most frightful manner, were taken there by their friends, bleeding and dying, and no one to help them. Great fissures had opened and the water and mud as great geysers spouted out of the earth. The water was nearly waist deep in places as all the water mains were broken and the fountains of the deep were broken up, while gas pipes separated added to the horrors, and flames were intensified by the gas explosions coming from out of the earth. It seemed as though the earth was afloat. The earth’s surface seems to be very thin in this region. On Sunday morning the park was literally covered with dead and dying, lying in the mud, faces downward, (the mud was eight inches deep), with clothes burned off, necks and backs burned and blistered. There they lay, poor, suffering souls. No one could help them as there was nothing to bring to them, not even a drink of water. The canals were putrid with filth and dead bodies and many even drank that. The dead were in heaps in some sections of the canals. Many went insane and went roving about; suicides were numerous; people in general thought the end of the world had come. One policeman who was also fleeing was called upon to help rescue a young Mexican woman who was pinned under the house, fire breaking out near by, he remarked, “shi kata ga nai, mina san mo sugu shinde shimasu.” i. e., “no help for this, everybody will soon be dead,” and he went his way without helping. Thus they resign themselves to their fatalistic ideas. Nearly all who took refuge in the park perished.

The Wounded Foreigners

Among the foreign refugees were people of almost every nation, wounded men, women, boys and girls, some with legs cut open, hands crushed, parts of bodies torn away, many of them died of infections, and the ships were not provided with facilities sufficient for such an emergency although doctors and medical missionaries who were aboard on their way to China and Korea worked untiringly night and day. The day following the quake over seven hundred operations were performed on board the Empress of Australia, on shore, and on the French liner. Everybody worked with a will and divided clothing and all they had with the refugees. Thank God for such a benevolent spirit.

Many died on their way to America and were buried at sea. The greatest toll of life aboard the ships was on the Empress of Australia, the crippled ship. She reported by wireless one day they were proceeding slowly because there had been up to that day forty funerals at sea, somebody’s loved ones committed to the cold briny deep, awaiting the resurrection with many a torn and bleeding heart left behind.

Our Departure from the City of Destruction

Three days after the quake we were notified by Captain Swanson of the Salvation Army that passage was available on the Empress of Canada for foreigners who wished to leave and advised us by all means to leave at once because of Mrs. Moore’s wounds, which had no attention up till this time. We did not want to go. We were willing to remain and share the fate of our dear Christians. They knew we were homeless and almost penniless and could not help them, therefore they said as we asked them what they thought about our leaving, “Yes, teacher, you should go, as you could help us more from America than you could here and we Japanese can get along somehow.” We did not run away from our work. It was the greatest trial of our life to have to leave.

We started for the harbor in a drenching rain and high wind. When we reached the boat what little clothing we had was soaked through. For food we had a can of fish and glass of honey, which was pulled out of the debris after the house fell. However, we did not have any appetite for food because of the odor of human flesh roasting all around us. We passed by many Koreans who had been slain in the uprising or revival of feudalism. The trip to the boat was not a pleasant one, we had to climb over debris and wreckage of all kinds and as far as eye could reach over the city of Yokohama, there was not a house left, nothing but smoking embers, a vast cemetery of hundreds of thousands cremated. The Union church, a fine stone structure was lying in heaps. Tons of it were thrown for sixty feet as if a great explosion had taken place underneath it. Also the English church, a large brick edifice, was thrown across the street in heaps. The foreign cemetery was as if it had been bombarded, the monuments broken and the slabs thrown aside as if a resurrection had taken place. We all took courage and firmly fixed our faith in the blessed hope of His glorious appearing.

Our Bible woman and Bros. Kimura, Kishii, and dear Bro. Swanson our Salvation Army friend accompanied us to the boat. We wept much as we separated for our hearts were all knit together in the love of God. Poor tired brothers and sisters, wet, and only one thin piece of clothing on and that dirty, no home; no food in sight—thus amid a storm of wind and rain we said good bye, waving our hands. We had no hats, all went up in the flames. Church, mission and Bible training home, all furnished with all we had, reduced to ashes, the common fate of all. We took joyfully the spoiling of our goods, knowing God’s ways are not our ways, He knoweth, and “all things work together for good,” whether we can see it at the time or not.

At the Front of The Battle

We had felt definitely led of the Lord not to go to the cool mountain resorts to spend the summer as most all of the mission-aries do, but just to stay in the city at the battle’s front and to pitch our gospel tent in a new and neglected locality where the gospel had never been preached and the people had never heard of Jesus the mighty to save. Anyone knows the chances for being wounded are more at the front of the battle than in the rear behind the stumps, so we battled away during the hot summer months preaching nightly to large crowds who attended and listened with rapt attention. Scores, responded to the gospel call and the altars were filled with dear hearts seeking God and finding Him, whole families were gloriously saved.

The tent meeting was closed about two weeks before the disaster; however, the people of that community begged us not to leave them but to build a church for them there, therefore we contracted with a man to build a church which was under construction when the quake came and so far as we can know nearly all the new converts were swept into eternity to be with Jesus before they were tempted to backslide. How we do thank God that He helped us to obey Him and that we stayed in the city and preached the gospel to thousands in the open air and everywhere. We had never seen such a revival spirit in Japan before. It seemed everybody wanted to hear the gospel. People came from long distances to our home to pray. God is so faithful He had been drawing on hearts and wooing them to Himself knowing the time for them was short in which to seek and find the Savior.

Personal Work and Street Work

We had such a strong desire to get the gospel to as many as possible during the hot weather and as old and young, and all classes, are out in the streets during the summer it affords a splendid opportunity for sowing the seed. Crowds would gather and stand and listen for hours and we just wondered why there was such a deep interest being manifested, but it was God’s faithfulness in giving them their last message. Many came to our home as early as 7:30 in the morning for prayer and at the mission there was deep interest in every meeting and large baptismal services were held with the power of the Holy Spirit resting upon them. During the summer many asked me, “Why are you not up in the mountains?” We said, “We are not loafers and it is too expensive up there, also business men object to missionaries taking such long vacations each year as they can only take from one to three days at a time, and some might be saved by our remaining at our post of duty.”

A sun worshiper became very much interested in our talk with him. He said after praying five minutes to the sun he could look through the people’s heart and tell whether they were honest or not when they came to deal at his store. We remarked if he could do that, the God who made the sun could do far greater, He the Creator, the Living God whom we served. I gave him our little paper in Japanese, “The Fukuin Tankaito” (Gospel Searchlight) which his wife read also and became convinced of the truth and the light of heaven shone into their hearts and they were both trusting in Jesus when the quake came and they perished, as the land in that section was opened in hundreds of places. We believe through our ministry there will be some trophies from that section for our summer’s work which will shine as the stars forever; although dear wife bears, in her left arm, scars of a brave soldier, one, who never questioned God or complained, knowing “He doeth all things well.” Thanks be unto Jesus who giveth strength and victory.

On Board the Mercy Ship

Our long weary walk is over and at last we are at the harbor waiting in the drenching rain anxiously inquiring, “When will a launch come for us? Will there be room enough to take us in? What, if after all this long walk we could not get aboard, could we possibly stand here for hours or wait until another day?” were questions many asked. At last we see the launch coming speeding toward the shore, every one takes courage as the British officer steps ashore and says, “Take your time, plenty of room for all” as he helps aboard those who are unable to help themselves, and how safe we felt leaning on the strong arm of the kind officer who pressed his way through the crowd and all the time taking great care that no one bumped into those who were wounded. At last we are in the launch and speeding over the rough waters until we reached the ship outside the breakwater. For a time it seemed we might never reach it as the gasoline engine gave some trouble and refused to work until our launch had drifted far away from the ship, but at last the engineer regulates the engine trouble and soon we are drawing along side the great ship where again the strong arms of kind officers assisted us up the long flights of steps and landed us safely on board. At last we are on the deck. How good it seems to hear every one speaking our own language, and kind nurses on each side assisted Mrs. Moore to the waiting room and brought us large bowls of Oh, such good barley soup, it surely was the best we ever did taste. We were so hungry, so thirsty, so tired and dirty, we could only sit there weeping and thanking God for His love and mercy to us. Then the ship doctors bandaged the broken arm, we had a hot bath, and passengers divided their clothing with the refugees but our bed must be the deck floor, nice and clean. All things ready we lift anchors and sail for Kobe, reaching there next morning at 8:00 o’clock. At the next pier in full view lies the “President Jefferson.” Leaving wife alone I hurry off to see if we can get space for two. At first they say no, but after considering they said, “yes, there is a small plain room in the hospital ward No. 5, and if I could be nurse for Mrs. Moore we could take that as they were limited for help. We gladly consented, then with the help of some Eurasian boy scouts of a school in Yokohama (but had been away to Kobe on vacation) they helped us along the dock and brought a Jinricksha to take Mrs. Moore to the “President Jefferson.” Thank God at last we are on board the American ship, not forgetting the kindness of the Canadian captain and crew, for the “Empress of Canada” was mercy ship No. 1. The Jefferson, carrying a full capacity list of passengers, took on one hundred and fifty-two refugees, some badly wounded. One woman had her leg cut open between the knee and the ankle and she had to walk a mile through fire and smoke with burning buildings on each side and she with her husband and little four weeks old baby for which she manifested a dislike saying, she “never had kissed it for it was not made to order.” Poor woman, like many others, “without natural affection,” hating even their own offspring. But God heard our prayer, as we earnestly implored the blessing of God upon all on board and asked for a safe trip and a smooth sea across the Pacific, which had so recently experienced a great upheaval of its mighty waters when the ocean bed blew out under a large island, ripping it into pieces, and sank with all on it, a total loss of property and thousands of lives. Our Lord said there would be great raging waves of the sea and men’s hearts failing them for fear. His prophecy fulfilled before our eyes. Luke 21:25-28. Coming out of Kobe harbor, after another day and night, we find ourselves again in sight of the one time Yokohama, now the city of destruction. We pass the great fortifications all of which are destroyed and guns pointing downward. In ten seconds of time God destroyed more strong forts than several hours of bombarding with sixteen inch guns could have done. We again drop anchor in Yokohama harbor a couple of hours, just long enough to take on other refugees. Soon the twelve o’clock noon gong sounds on board and we lift anchor and depart for America. Never shall we forget the sense of awe and heart sickness as that ship gong sounded our departing. It was as if the funeral knell of the millions of dead was being tolled and we were constantly in tears for the sake of the dear missionaries and Christians left behind, unheard of as yet at our departure, and Christians wet and homeless, no food or water, amid the roving brigands with knives tied to bamboo poles hunting for prey. On board we asked again special prayer for the suffering that God would not let one die, and the result was, not one on our ship died and the trip over the ocean was said by all the ‘” to be the smoothest in many months.

We reached Victoria, B. C, Sept. 15th, and after a few hours there many were refreshed by the good fresh milk and flowers and so forth which were sent on board by loving hearts who felt a deep sympathy for those who were wounded and had lost all their earthly possessions. During the night we proceeded on to Seattle arriving there Sunday morning at three o’clock. No one was allowed, however, to land until seven o’clock. Bro. Leonard Cross and wife, and also Brother Brousseau and wife from Bell-:ngham, were there to meet us, and finally we are ashore with a sheet tied by the four corners (substitute for our wardrobe trunks), which contained a few things that we pulled out of the wreckage; and no home this side of the ocean, as all we possessed was in ashes in Japan. We were conveyed to a reasonable hotel and there we committed ourselves to God to care for us and supply our needs which He graciously did. He never faileth. Mrs. Moore’s arm was quite badly twisted, having never been set, and the unskillful surgeon in Seattle only delayed the recovery in order to experiment and make a bill. Finally after six weeks had passed and wife was able to travel to Long Beach, Calif., a good Christian surgeon, one who believes in Jesus Christ, agreed to set the bones and straighten the arm so it would become normal. He said he could do the work but God alone could do the healing as the muscles and ligaments had all contracted so badly and the bone splinters, clotted blood, and broken tissue had to be removed. Just think how that arm had stood in that condition for six weeks without inflammation or pain, or blood poison. To many people this seemed almost unbelievable, but with our God all things are possible and He did keep that which was committed unto Him. Mrs. Moore had no temperature at any time, tho it took real grace and patience to stand the strain for those days lying on the mountain and eleven days on the ship and one month at Seattle, but His grace is sufficient for every test in life, and “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.”—Rom. 8:28. Some one might say if you believed God was able to heal, why did He not heal you instantly? Because His ways are not our ways and He had a plan to work out. Mrs. Moore’s brother, who was backslidden from God, and from preaching the gospel, and was in a serious condition spiritually was saved, restored, and is now preaching the gospel.The Destruction of Tokyo by Quake and Fire (The Moral Conditions)

TOKYO, the national capital of Japan of about three and one-half million population was seething with Bolshevism and extreme views on matrimonial lines were being advocated by Mr. Kurata and other writers of magazines, setting forth such teachings as matrimony not being the climax of love but a “death pact” the highest point of true love to be attained. Mr. Arishama, famous novelist and writer, set the pace for the loose lasciviousness of the depraved people by eloping to Karuizawa with Mrs. Hatano, also a famous writer and wife of a well to do business man. They indulged themselves and then committed, suicide by hanging themselves after strapping their bodies tightly together. They were supposed to enter into a beautiful flower garden where they can play and enjoy themselves to their heart’s content out of reach of their persecutors. This is The-osophy, and heathen philosophy (much practised also in more civilized countries where spiritualistic seances and various devilish cults have sprung up). Many love affair suicides followed Mr. Arishima’s death pact idea to such an alarming extent that the daily pilgrimage of the unfortunate to Karuizawa, and the suicides were reaching hundreds all over Japan. Many made the house a shrine of worship where the death pact had been consummated and the president of the N. Y. K. Japan Steam Ship Co., who owned the house, ordered it razed and the spot guarded to prohibit the love (lust) victims from following the example on the spot where Mr. Arishima committed the fatal deed. “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James, 1:15.

Political Crisis and Social Corruption

PEOPLE were clamoring for franchise and great crowds were marching in front of the Capital Palace demanding democratic liberty and making threats; something was sure to happen. The army was drilling to the highest point of efficiency and the navy constantly at target practice and continued at the same for three days after the quake. Imperial orders must be obeyed even in time of so great a calamity. The military headquarters at Tokyo were broken up and no one to issue orders; therefore the poor people must suffer and die for lack of aid. Three-fourths of Japan’s population are tired of iron handed oppressive Imperialism, and are going to start a rebellion or fierce revolution if they are not allowed more freedom in franchise and a more liberal democratic form of government.  Before the great destruction the people had massed together by thousands carrying red banners, some of the inscriptions read “destructive associations” and “down with the present government.”  Tokyo was a bedlam of contentions and strife, fighting in the universities almost killing the president of the “Tokyo university.”  Lawlessness whether justifiable or not to some degree, by the treatment of teacers and selling scholarships and committing sin set the pace for moral destruction, especially at Waseda University where they had to their credit over one thousand feminine students whom they had led into lives of shame and made them secret servants to gratify their lustful desires; thus Tokyo with her pride and her boasted philosophy and art, shuddered under the terrible weight of sin fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 24:20-“The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall and not rise again.” Prostitution is legalized with about thirty-five thousand girls at Asakusa segregated quarters and there was said to be no less than two hundred thousand licensed girls in Tokyo alone netting the government one million two hundred thousand yen annually. There was no restraint taught, just indulge and enjoy yourself to your fullest satisfaction on all lines.

Hell Enlarged

Like as of a lightning flash, and as the sound of cannons roaring poor, proud Tokyo begins to shake like a drunken man, Isa. 24:20. Listen, her towers are falling, iron bridges are twisted and thrown down, her dancing houses are all aflame, hundreds of thousands of victims are surging back and forth surrounded by fire, soon the shrieks of woe and thirty-five thousand are roasted alive in one park alone; but the end is not yet. The greatest tragedy of all was in the Hon jo district formerly occupied by the imperial army and navy clothing department, (but the buildings had been torn down) and about twenty acres of land now vacant. This was supposed to be an ideal retreat for homeless refugees fleeing to escape the fires that were raging on every side, as the terrestrial vibrations continued in violence with nerve racking incessancy, the swarming safety seekers increased to about forty thousand, and still there was plenty of space on the twenty acres of ground. Surely no one could imagine danger from fire in such a commodious haven of retreat. But a great danger approached as the people poured into this section with what clothes and furniture they could carry. Suddenly fires encircled them, but they had followed the “ancient precept” that the best place of refuge in time of earthquake is to flee to an open field or bamboo grove as the bamboo roots matted together are not apt to allow the ground to crack into open chasms, thus you feel secure. The open fields is next best as there will be no danger of being struck by falling tiles or bricks or crushed under falling walls (all rich men’s homes have high walls of stone or brick, the middle classes have board fences seven feet high, the poor are exposed, no walls of any kind in most cases, just a single room for a family of six or more packed together like pigs in a sty).

Whirlwinds of Fire in the Twenty Acres

A Japanese Christian man realizing the fearful predicament began warning the people and entreating them to repent and turn to Jesus. Some threw mud on him but many fell on their knees and repented as whirlwinds or fiery geysers roaring like thunder swept down upon them, “For behold the Lord will come with fire and with His fiery chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.” Isa. 66:15. The swirls of fire geysers sucked up many into the columns of smoke and they were thrown hundreds of yards away, while the forty thousand roasted alive in the great conflagration. One man supposed to be the preacher was caught up with his son from the midst of the shrieking, roasting hordes and was seen to disappear in the clouds high up in the air, the two sons were killed. The mother who miraculously escaped told the story.

Brother Juji Nakada writes, “I want to let you know the most beautiful story. Mr. Higuchi, who came to Tokyo some years ago and was converted under the ministry of one of my fellow workers, when the great quake came, he and his family escaped to the military clothing ground where over forty thousand people assembled. When he saw their doom had come he began to preach to the people to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Many people at once prayed to God for salvation and were saved from their sin. He had preached about fifty minutes under fierce opposition from some who were mocking and throwing stones and mud on him saying, “There is no God, no Buddha in such a time as this.” While he was preaching a whirlwind of fire came and he was taken out like Elijah, and disappeared in the clouds. Report from Jessie Wengler Hachioji, Japan

I KNOW that you are anxiously awaiting a letter from Japan with the news of our safety and we are glad to report the wonderful keeping power of our God in the time of awful calamity through which we have just passed. Thousands are today without homes and families, and with insufficient to eat, and the sad and harrowing sights that we see on every hand make our hearts ache and nerves are almost at the breaking point.

This is the worst calamity and catastrophe that has ever come to Japan, and I trust that I shall never pass through anything like it again. There are today at our very doors thousands and hundreds of thousands without homes, without their loved ones, with not enough to eat and their only possession the kimonos that they wear. There are hundreds of thousands suffering from wounds and burns which they received in the terrible earthquake and fire. In Yokohama alone there were 500,000 buried under the fallen structures and burned in the fire that followed the earthquake. In Tokyo there were even more as it is a larger city and it has been stated that in one park alone, where thousands had fled for refuge from the flames, 35,000 burned to death from the flames which surrounded them on every side. Such awful scenes no one can imagine unless they pass through such a terrible calamity. Surely the seals spoken of in Revelation are being opened and we who have witnessed this awful destruction can readily believe that the Word of God is true and literal in its application and not in any way figurative when applied to the wrath and judgment of God.

Such a complete destruction of a city cannot easily be imagined; but it is today a heap and utterly destroyed. At the first shock practically every house in the city went down with thousands caught underneath, and in a short time fire broke out all over the city. Soon the city was a place of terror and, as a Salvation Army man said to me, “If anything could be nearer a living hell, I do not know what it could be.” From under every building came awful screams for help with no one to deliver. Some managed to dig their way out and to escape for their lives to parks and hills and mountains from the flames that came from every side and all at the same time. The water mains had been broken in the earthquake and there was no way to fight the fire; besides practically all the firemen and the police force had been killed in the earthquake.

The rich and the poor, the foreigners and the Japanese were all alike—lost all they had. One man, who was caught under the Grand Hotel, one of the finest for foreigners in Yokohama, was so pinioned that he could not get out and the fire was rapidly approaching. He offered anyone who would deliver him $10,-000.00 which he had in his pocket, but those who heard his offer, although they would have gladly delivered him! for no price at all, could not get to him for the intensity of the heat, and the poor man perished in the flames. The richest man in Japan by the name of Yaseda lost all that he had and today has only the kimono that he wears and is in line with the rest receiving his daily portion of food that is allowed all the sufferers.

It is wonderful how the Lord kept me. The earthquake was just at 12:00 o’clock noon and we were just ready to eat our dinner when everything began to rock and reel in a terrible manner and there was an awful roar that made us feel as though the earth was going to break forth under our very feet. At first I held onto the door and prayed to God to help us, and He surely did. Then my servant and I felt that it was better to leave the house as it seemed every minute that it would fall in. So we ran out into a field nearby where hundreds of other terror-stricken people had fled for refuge. I cannot tell you how I felt, but I know that the Lord wonderfully preserved us. Being alone with no other foreigners and only my helper who does not know anything about trusting the Lord, or real faith, I called all the harder on the Lord who kept us and did not permit the destruction to come to us.

All that day the shocks continued and we could not go into our houses again, and all night we stayed out as the shocks continued and we did not know when everything would go down. But Hachioji suffered less damage than any other city of its size, for which we praise the Lord. On Sunday we went back into our house which had stood the shocks and had been only partly dam-aged and no fire came to our city. It is wonderful how the Lord has preserved all the missionaries. All are safe. Brother and Sister Juergensen have not yet returned from the mountains where they had been during the month of August. Their house in Tokyo was damaged and they cannot occupy it for some time and will stay in the mountains until things are remedied somewhat. The church in Tokyo was so damaged that they cannot use it until it is practically rebuilt. Every church in Yokohama was destroyed-—none left of any denomination.

After the earthquake I went as soon as possible to Yokohama, thinking to relieve the Christians and any whom I might help; and also to send a cable to you who are in the homeland. I could not send a cable or anything of the kind as Yokohama was in such confusion. There was a reign of terror for at least a week after, the Bolshevik element that had been in Tokyo and Yoko-hama were bent upon all the destruction they could do As vou know there is a great hatred between the nations

It was difficult for me to get to Yokohama at all as the roads had been torn all to pieces and the railroad and tunnels between here and there completely destroyed. As there were no men to go I felt I must go and bring as many as possible back with me to my Place which had not been so completely damaged. I was enabled to bring back with me some that were destitute and had lost everything they had, family and all. We do not know what is ahead, only that there is already a great scarcity of food and prices are very high and many to provide for. “

We know that those in the homeland are willing to make any sacrifice and that your prayers have ascended in our behalf When practically all the foreigners are returning to the states I felt that I would like to go too, but the will of God be done. The Lord knoweth the way that we take, and His grace is sufficient. If any should be led to send for the relief of sorrow stricken hearts and needy people we will see that such is distributed and we can relieve some of the Pentecostal Christians who are not so apt to get help from other sources. In His love and service, I am,

Yours,Jessie Wengler.

America the Levite to the Stricken People

As soon as word had reached America that a great calamity had befallen Japan she began soliciting funds, food and clothing; despatching them as quickly as possible; millions were sent and relief work by the Red Cross and the Asiatic fleet which came speeding from the China waters, all helped to alleviate the suffering of about half a million wounded and a million or more homeless people which had been nerve wrecked and most of their relatives perished in the consuming fires as they had no place of safety in such a time of judgment.

At first when the U. S. battle fleet came in some of the Japanese thought they had come to take advantage of their helpless situation and ordered them to stop patrolling between Tokyo and Yokohama, and also to leave the harbor, but the brave American Admiral assured them they were only come for their good, and soon as they were sure their people were all safe they would depart, which they did after they had pitched tents at Tokyo and Yokohama to help care for the wounded and dying and feed the people. An American colony was formed at Yokohama on the reclaimed ground adjoining the harbor near the French Consulate, a large stone building which had collapsed and killed their ambassador and family.

The Nipponese were very, very grateful to America, and Premier Yama-moto received his first check, amounting to one million dollars, from Mr. Cyrus B. Woods, U. S. Ambassador to Japan He expressed himself as very thankful and assured Mr. Woods of most cordial friendship between the two nations in the future. America is open handed and open hearted as a people and very benevolent and possesses many praying people, thus God has blessed her and spared her from great calamities thus far. There are, however, fires of lawlessness, greed and national sins which will in the near future, if not repented of, bring in upon us a flood of swift destruction on wicked cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver in the west, and New York, Chicago and all larger wicked cities of the east, and all over the country where graft, greed, and pride prevails. Sins of the flesh unrestrained, divorce on the rampage, spirit affinity marriages, and a mad rush of fast living in general will sooner or later swamp a nation.

American and British Consuls Killed

According to these men, Mr. M. D. Kirjassoff, American Consul in Yokohama, and his wife, were both killed at the American consulate, which collapsed and burned, Mr. Hugh Home, British Consul in Yokohama, is also dead it was said. Yokohama, including the bluff and the foreign settlement at Yamashita Cho, is absolutely destroyed. It is feared many foreigners were killed, and many were at the Grand Hotel. When the first terrible shock came, some were in their offices, some in their houses, some in the Yokohama Club. All immediately scrambled into the streets. In so doing many were pinned under in between falling buildings or under falling roofs. Several husbands or wives were either killed or injured in their endeavor to save each other.

The heat of the raging flames was so unbearable that many jumped into the harbor. Fortunately some could find pieces of wreckage by which they could keep themselves floating on the sea until they were picked up. An employee of the American Shipping Board, Yokohama, was seriously injured about the face and on the legs. All these men escaped in their shirts and trousers. As a matter of fact, some lost all their clothing and were given shirts and trousers aboard the ship. The sight of these landing at the American pier was pathetic. The rest of the foreign refugees were being taken care of aboard the Empress of Australia in Yokohama. Foreign boats were transporting passengers and cargo between ports on the Japanese coast, which the law of Japan had hitherto prohibited.

Imperial Princesses Dead

The Prince Kanins villa at Odowara, where he and his family were staying, caved in. In escaping Princess Kanin, the daughter of Prince and Princess Kanin, was pinned in under a falling roof and killed instantly. Princess Yamashia has since died; also the Dowager Princess Kaya is dead.

Princess Hiagshikuni and her family escaped except the second son who was killed on the spot. Great anxiety was felt about the safety of other members of the Imperial family at Yokosuka, Hakone, Numazu, Akakura, Hot Spring and Karuizawz. Prince Sadashige Shirnazu was killed at his estate at Osaki; also it was fauna that H. I. H. Prince Hirotada Kacho was found dead on a train in the first tunnel in Yokosuka, as there was a land slide over the train.

Hakone Off the Map

According to Mrs. Mann, wife of the Rev. John C. Mann of the Momoyama Middle School Osaka, who returned from Hakone on the night of September 3rd, all the houses are caved in and wrecked, also the hotel at Miyanoshita is in ruins This hotel was where the high officials of Tokyo spent week-end and summer vacations reveling in sin with dancing girls. (The writer was there just three days before the quake and saw what was going on.) Prior to the earthquake, the water in the wells at Hakone was dirty, and this was generally thought to be a sign of the approach of a typhoon or an earthquake Then came the shock. Nobody in the house could stand; everybody fell flat. Mrs. Mann crept out into the road with great difficulty. The quake was so severe that Mrs. Mann and a Japanese woman creeping on the road found themselves passing by each other back and forth several times. When the Hakone Hotel fell,

it was feared many foreigners were killed. An English couple staying near the hotel, visiting friends in the hotel were killed. They left a child at home. Foreigners all fled from Hakone. Many large cedar trees were thrown down, shaken out by the violence of the quake, blocking all traffic between Hakone and Motohakone. Mountains dropped down and disappeared. “When God ariseth to shake terribly the earth, positively nothing man has ever constructed will ever be able to stand. Take warning. Greater things yet to come.

Aged Japanese Leader Miraculously Escapes Harm in Disaster

One of those who escaped bodily harm in the earthquake and fire was Madame Kajiko Yajima, the 90-year-old suffrage advo-cate and president of the Japanese Christian Woman’s Temper-ance Society.

After her home had been damaged by the earthquake she was removed by three girls to the residence of Marquis Kurods, when she was obliged to flee, because of fire, to the First Regiment barracks. She was later assisted to the Woman’s Refuge home.

Yokohama Poking Up Through Ruin of Late Disaster

YOKOHAMA is one of the bravest sights on earth today—as well as one of the saddest, for Yokohama is poking up through its grave. Yokohama, dead and buried, is refusing to remain that way. There is life in Yokohama—business—people living and working there. They are putting up sheds and shacks —flimsy shanties made from blackened bits of tin! Anything to keep off the rain! They don’t expect to keep out the cold.

Yokohama was dead. All the world knew it. All Japan knew it even better—but Yokohama is poking up through its grave. It isn’t being rebuilt. That isn’t the word. It may never be “rebuilt.” But it is carrying on, after a fashion—and to anyone who knew or who can even faintly imagine what Yokohama was after the quake, even to carry on, in whatever fashion, is a wonderful thing—a sad thing—and tremendously brave.

Ships are coming in and out of Yokohama. Out of all its once proud waterfront just a portion of one pier remains. And it is lopsided and is warped into waves and convolutions. But it is the only thing in all the former harbor alongside which ships may tie. Between this bit of pier is a long stretch of water— once a great continuous steel and concrete pier before the earthquake wrenched most of it into the water. This space is now spanned by a pontoon bridge—cumbrous Japanese sampans, sprawled side by side between the shore and the remaining piece of pier, and the boats covered with crude bridging, a bridge that tosses up and down and swings from side to side. Over this flimsy gangway goes every passenger and every pound of freight or baggage that enters or leaves Yokohama.

Ashore, the picture is still one of more utter destruction than anything the world war afforded. But in the midst of this the sheds and shacks and shanties are commencing to appear. The chamber of commerce is housed in a thing that would be a rather poor shed on a rather poor farm in a rather poor region in America. The silk association has another shed of the same caliber. They are the finest structures in Yokohama.

Stevedores, shipping agencies, export and import firms, all the businesses which are vital to a port, are building sheds and shacks, too.

There are scores of hole-in-the-wall restaurants made from scraps of wreckage, bits of galvanized iron, where the coolie workmen are building the shacks and piling up the debris and carrying the loads of material where they can buy their bowls of rice and tea.

The American consulate is doing well, thank you, in some army tents, and the British consulate is built out of nice, new lumber, too, and that’s something to boast of in a place where a fire-blackened board is not a thing to be scorned. There are graves scattered—like the hurried graves on a battle front. A crude cross, marked “R. I. P.”—sometimes a name; sometimes just “unknown.” There are many places where men shudder when they pass—places where loved ones died in agony. There is dust and dirt and noise. It is possible somebody in the place may once have had a shave—but I doubt it. There is a crazy little tent-restaurant, with the announcement: “Earthquake Cafe—Eggs and Likor—No checks.”

Over there is a place where a friend was killed—and over there —and over there. The shacks are going up all around, and old Yoko is poking up through its grave.

Two or three days before the earthquake while in prayer one day the Lord gave me several verses of a poem although now I can only remember four. They are as follows: (By Mrs. B. S. Moore)

Life’s scenes have changed

So soon all around us

The ocean deep and wide

Now roll between,

Hearts which loved then

Still love on forever

And earth joys changed so soon

To heavenly scenes.

We’ll catch the broken threads

Which here are severed,

And sing together

As we used to sing

Accompanied by the heavenly harpists

Only when the bells of heaven

Chime their echoes in.

Hark, we hear the voice above the tumult,

Saying ready be my Bride to come away;

Soon we’ll meet our blessed Bridegroom,

JESUS And the smoke of all earth’s battles cleared away.

In Bride attire with arms outstretched and waiting,

Our hearts cry out Lord Jesus quickly come

And from all earth’s heart-break, pain and

Take Thy Blood washed to Thy heavenly home.

Inside the same week many went to their heavenly home and we were rolling upon the billowy ocean separated far from those we had learned to love in the Spirit.

Earthquakes May Vitally Affect Nippon Policies Imperialism May be Checked as Result of Catastrophe

JAPAN’S entire future international policy will have to be changed because of the devastating catastrophe that has so greatly reduced her wealth.

The militaristic leaders will be unable to engage in foreign ventures and their expansionist schemes must give way for years to come to domestic economy necessary for the reconstruction of Tokyo and the other devasted areas.

Out of the most terrible earthquake destruction in Japan’s history a democratic form of government may emerge. The earthquake came at the precise moment when the appointment of Count Yamamoto as premier by the reactionary influences marked the opening of a new struggle between the democratic forces of Japan and those favoring a continuation of the clan and militaristic autocracy which has the final say at Tokyo in all important matters of policy.

Imperialism Is Checked

Had there been no earthquake, Count Yamamoto would have been expected by the reactionaries to develop a policy of impe-rialistic tendencies, especially aimed at overawing China and making Japan’s influence at Peking dominant by means of threatening gestures. The enormous property losses caused by the earthquake and the conflagration on Japan’s main island have abruptly terminated such activities by the new Yamamoto cabinet.

Instead of distracting domestic attention from the anti-demo-cratic tendencies of Japan’s leaders by imperialistic steps abroad, Count Yamamoto must give all of his attention to saving his country from falling to third or fourth class rank as a world power. The present calamity is more devastating than Japan has ever suffered through any war, because the Japanese islands have never been invaded by an enemy. The result is as if a war had been fought within Japanese territory and the enemy had been more ruthless than the Germans in France.

Faced by such a situation, the reactionary Japanese political leaders will have to amend their foreign policies entirely. No money will be forthcoming for aggressive movements abroad. All of Japan’s surplus wealth for an indefinite time must be used to reconstruct the devastated areas. This is a work which will call for a united front by the Japanese regardless of party connections. Amid such movements democracy finds itself. Count Yamamoto, conservative opponent of progressive ideas, must become the instrument of democratic reconstruction or he will be swept from power. The elder statesmen can no longer point Japan’s attention away from home conditions.

Need Money at Home

The movement among Japan’s militaristics to make their country dominant in all international affairs relating to the western shores of the Pacific must be given up. This movement, which to many observers seemed to indicate a future Pacific war, cannot be pushed forward while domestic reconstruction calls for a revival of the samurai spirit for domestic salvation.

Japan has been considering plans for reconstruction of Tokyo and the surrounding area for some time. But the cost was con-sidered prohibitive and only small, piece-meal plans were accepted. Now, however, replacement on a gigantic scale has become imperative.

The result will be immensely to Japan’s eventual advantage, if the Japanese give their whole attention to the job. They are capable of pulling through and of modernizing their mediaeval political system as well as building a new capital to rank with any in the world. But the cost will be the cancellation of all aggressive foreign policies.

Work in the Country Villages Kaminiva and Isamaga Hara

The Japanese got a very bad opinion of the gospel of Jesus Christ because of the Catholics who first came into the country in 1652. The Japanese said, “So long as the sun shall warm the earth let no man come to preach the gospel. If he does he shall suffer the loss of his head.”

When Commodore Perry went to Japan he concluded a treaty with the Japanese and up to that time it was a crime for a Japanese to be a Christian. The missionaries had a chance to teach the English language so that they could trade with foreign countries. They could only speak of Jesus in secret ways, drop a little seed here and there. They went on for many years until the ban was lifted and the gospel could have right of way and people could accept Christianity if they chose, although in public schools they are taught that Christianity is painted in blood and they will always have trouble if they have anything to do with it. But the gospel is a light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. It took many years to translate the Bible and songs and to get everything in working order. There are many things to bring the heathen in to deeper light but we thank God for the Gospel of Pentecost which so marvelously changes the hearts of these dear people of darkened lands. Those whom we have worked among are non-church-goers for we are not “sheep stealers.” We do not believe in that kind of business. If we do not have enough of the power of God to gather in the people, God has not called us. We do not believe in building on other men’s foundations.

God in a wonderful way has opened up the darkened places. Villages calling continually for us. If you go into these villages independently, or on your own accord unless you have the good will of the officials you cannot accomplish a thing. The priests turn loose against a foreigner and, let the children and dogs make all the noise they can. But if you will go into a village invited you will have the hearts of the people. Wisdom is needed.

A man well known in one of the villages had a very wicked grandson who spent thousands of dollars in sin. He got so low that he became a milk boy and delivered milk at our house. We had a Bible woman who was very spiritual and she asked him about his life and told him of Jesus. (He had been so wicked that his wife’s people took her away from him.) When he came to the house about the third time she talked and read to him and got him down on his knees to pray. He was saved right there and went back to his village proclaiming what God had done for him. The people said they would like to see that white man who served such a wonderful God, and so it came about that we were invited to the village of Kameniwa.

They received’ us royally. We almost felt like a king and queen with the attentions showered upon us. The people came to see us from great distances. When they assembled for meeting they were as quiet as mice, filling up the garden and every inch of space. We spoke to them and were afterwards served with tea and sweet potatoes. Most of them could not sleep that night and about 4:00 o’clock in the morning they came to our sleeping compartment and wanted to know how to pray to the heavenly God. So they knelt down on their knees and wept and prayed through to Jesus. The Japanese are taught to never show emotion in public, but the Lord broke them down. There was one very wicked man saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit sitting by his fire box. He had killed many people and had swords fifteen feet long, and even his wife said he was too wicked to be saved, but thank God He did the work. Praise our God.

Miracles of Healing

Miracles of healing, as in apostolic days. Back in the inland country districts where the soil had not been broken spiritually God gave us about one hundred souls in three villages who are standing in the faith. Among these humble people many real miracles of healing are wrought in Jesus’ name. There was a brother who baptized his family by pouring gallons of water over each one of them. This was done before he knew anything about the gospel only that he had heard we were in a village fifteen miles away preaching the heavenly God to the people and Japanese were receiving great joy and peace in their hearts and also being healed of their sickness.

The Japanese believe in looking to their gods to try to get healed such as “Ojizo sama, Kanan sama, and Hachiman and the fox, Inari san, but there is no result and all their prayers are futile as were Baal’s on Mount Carmel. This brother has been mightily used of God and he and his son go about the villages praying for the sick and preaching repentance to the sin sick with great results.

The work there in the rural districts is very intact as the houses were only slightly damaged. One day when this brother was out in the country on a preaching tour the priests attacked him and asked him many questions as to why he had played traitor and forsaken the Japanese gods. His reply was “that he found the gods were no gods, and moreover, he had found the Living God who had made all things and also saved him and his family from their sickness. ” When the priests heard this they pounced upon him beating him shamefully and ducked him in the water, holding him under and at the same time pounding him with clubs. When he arose out of the water and mud he started to sing “Aratani umareyo,” “Ye must be born again.” This enraged the priests and they said, “you proud fellow, we will kill you,” so they took hold of him and again threw him into the water field, beating him severely. Thinking they had killed him now, they let him go, and he arose again praying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,”, with tears of joy running down his face as the Spirit came upon him. His persecutors fled and he crawled out and with hands uplifted to heaven prayed for his persecutors.

A Test of Their Faith

His wife took sick with dropsy and suffered agony in her body until she finally succumbed; four doctors pronounced her dead. They made incisions in her body and found no circulation. The body had become cold. Her husband and a small band of believers prayed. The coffin was brought and while the relatives were weeping and sorry to lose her, God had heard the prayers of her husband, and the resurrection life, that Spirit which raised up Jesus from the dead entered into her body and she stood up before them whole; ail the dropsical water passed out of her body and the incisions which the doctors had made healed perfectly. The unbelievers who were present fled in great panic and the only good kimonos they possessed were spoiled as they ran through the rice fields.

We went with this brother to a new village and he reported to me that the master of the house where we were to be entertained was very ill. We were asked to pray for him and while we were making some necessary preparation for the meetings, this brother went in and prayed for him and when we entered the room he had already prayed for him and he was saved and healed with hands up toward heaven shouting, “Kansha itash-imasu.” Many were healed of cancer, hemorrhoids, lung trouble and an invalid raised out of bed after seven years sickness and they are around doing their work. To God be all the glory. Beloved reader, pray for us to be enabled to do the work which God has spared us to do, and to keep these natives going on in the work which they can do far better than a foreigner, in their own country. Prayers and finances and men and women of God are needed in these closing days to sweep the battle on to a great final victory.

Yours in His glad service, waiting, watching and working until He says it is enough.

Evangelist and Mrs. B. S. Moore.

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Appalling Testimony of Mrs. Mary E. Cross MooreMy husband and I were living in Yokohama, Japan, at the time of the great earthquake which destroyed the heart of the Japanese nation. This earthquake without exception is the greatest disaster the world has ever known. But God who is faithful did not leave us without warnings and forebodings of oncoming trouble.

As the hot summer months came on and all the missionaries were planning to spend the hot weather in the cool mountain re-sorts we had no desire to accompany them. Instead we felt strongly led of the Lord to pitch our gospel tent in a new locality and spend the summer preaching to thousands who had never heard the wondrous gospel. This we did, having outdoor meetings as well as tent meetings every night. A wonderful spirit of revival was on from the start and over ninety sought God and many were saved and healed. Little did we think that that was to be the last chance that community was to have to seek God, and find Jesus as their Savior. We believe many who gave their hearts to the Lord Jesus in those meetings passed on into their heavenly home during the disaster.

For weeks before the quake we had great burdens of prayer and felt something was going to happen. A Japanese seer had foretold great disaster coming to Japan by earthquake while another Japanese scientist had written in the daily paper a few weeks before, that careful scientific study had been made and there was no fear of any trouble from earthquakes for several years yet. This again fulfills God’s word which says, “When they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh.”

This brings afresh to my mind a dream or vision which came to me. I heard a knock at the door and on opening the door there stood a woman dressed in a red suit which was covered in buttons large and small. On these buttons were carved crosses. She said to me, “I have come to warn you to be ready to flee from sudden and awful destruction.” She then disappeared. The red signified danger and the crosses suffering.

It all came true when on the first day of Sept., 1923, God let the great disaster fall upon the nation. It came so suddenly.

The weather had been almost unbearably hot for days but on Sept. 1st a heavy rain fell up until about ten thirty. Then the sky became clear as the sun drove the clouds away. My husband and Japanese pastor Hasegawa, had been down town all the morning on business and had just returned home about fifteen minutes before twelve o’clock noon. We sat down to eat our dinner, when we heard a noise as great as of the roaring of a thousand cannons. We looked at each other wondering what the fearful noise could be when the earth began to tremble and our house bounce up and down.

We were thrown in various ways, one at a time, and while trying to get out of the front door we were actually thrown across the room and out a side door. My husband was thrown free from danger, the roof of the house just missing his head as it fell. One of my Bible women and I were just behind my husband and were caught under the eave of the house as it fell. I was thrown against a fence and my arm across a tree with a beam across my neck. I could see my arm crushing but could not feel it. My Bible woman was a few feet from me. I could hear her praying but could not see her. As my husband was thrown free he immediately rushed to rescue me. He could not see me but could hear my voice. The Lord directed him and the first timber he touched was the one that was across my neck, and immediately it broke and I knew God would deliver me safely.

I felt no fear although I could see the large two-story house next to us swaying to and fro. God kept it from falling as my dear husband, a Japanese servant and another Bible woman worked with the strength of Samson to dig us out. Had the house fallen it would have ground us to atoms. At last I was free and husband sat me on a large rock in our yard while he dug out Miss Suzuki. Then we went out in the middle of the road to be free from the swaying house and prayed asking the Lord not to let my arm pain me. Mr. Moore took a piece of board from the fence and one of the Japanese girls took the band that held her kimono and they bandaged my arm and used the band for a sling. We sat in the road in great danger as the road was opening everywhere and the telephone poles laden with wires reeling ready to fall. There was no place of safety. People with ashen faces were rushing in every direction, asking where they might find a doctor, but alas! The doctors as well as other people were killed. The hospitals were all destroyed so there was no earthly help for the wounded and dying whose cries were filling the air.

Thousands were pinned under the buildings. Many were caught by an arm or a leg but no one to help them, so they had to lie and see their fate as the fire by this time was raging. In one American home as the house fell it caught four beautiful children in a window. The mother was unharmed and as she turned she saw her little ones with outstretched arms crying, “mama, save us, mama, save “us.” The dear woman was helpless and had to see her babies caught in the flames and burn. The mother became insane as thousands of people do in time of earthquakes. Many also committed suicide. Oh, that men and women would heed the commands, “Be ye therefore READY.” “Now is the day of salvation.” When God speaks to your heart, do not talk back to him and say, “Wait Lord until I put through another real estate deal or invest in more oil, and stocks of all kinds. Or wait Lord until I finish my college course, and attend another dance or party.” If you say that, then when God arises to shake terribly the earth,” as He says in Isaiah 2:19, where will be your refuge? Remember God doeth a swift work.

The city of Yokohama of 500,000 inhabitants went down in a few seconds time in the first great shock. After our house fell we thought of going to one of our mission buildings as it did not fall, but our servant boy said the fire was coming fast from that way and we must get to a mountain without delay. So we all started leaving all we had to be devoured by the flames, but we were so in love with Jesus and so thankful to Him for our lives that we did not even think of looking back to where our earthly possessions were left. All we had was what we had on, but before the fire reached the house Mr. Moore returned and pulled out a few pieces of clothing. As we went to the mountain we had to step across fissures in the road where the earth had opened and oh, such devastation and the wounded everywhere. The few houses then standing were dangerous to even pass by. At twelve o’clock that night another shock brought down the few remaining houses, and by morning the great city of Yokohama was a smouldering mass of debris and ashes, gone forever.

On the Mountain

As we started to the mountain we discovered others seeking a place of safety. Some who had escaped without injuries and some wounded were making their way to the mountain. Each one carrying some burden upon his back. Some with babies, others with a few articles they had gathered out of the wreckage. So we found it very hard to make our way through as the winding roads and paths were so narrow and the mountain side had shaken down and was sliding while we were trying to ascend. At last we were all at the top but found the grass covered places all taken so we located in an onion patch of soft ploughed ground. In the crowd we saw a man we knew. He belonged to a society called the Destructive Society. In other words ‘bandit.’ He came and spoke kindly to me and said he was sorry for teacher Moore. Then in a short time he brought a wicker reclining chair for me to lie on. He had taken it from a foreign house after it had fallen. God had touched his heart and each morning he took a pail and went down the mountain side where there were a few cows and brought me fresh milk. How I thank God for His care over us.

As the darkness of the night began to fall we had a feeling creep over us that is indescribable. The only light was from the flames of the burning city. In the darkness we heard only the groans and screams of the wounded and dying. Babies were being born prematurely and no one to care for them. The next day the dead had to be buried but there was not even a shovel to dig a grave, so they used a piece of an old hoe. Mr. Moore was called on to sing and pray as they buried their dead. It was a sad sight. Everyone wept, even the soldiers wept with bowed heads. We prayed that the Holy Spirit would plant seed into these hearts which would bring forth fruit unto everlasting life.

We knew not what awaited us; no home, no food and no clothes, but this we knew, we were in our Father’s keeping and felt no anxiety or fear. On the third day Brother D. G. Swanson of the Salvation Army, after looking for us, found us to our joy, and informed us that there was a foreign ship waiting to take all foreigners who wanted to go, and advised us we should leave as soon as possible because of my injuries. We asked God for strength to walk to the ship, then started, leaning on the strong arm of my husband and of Capt. Swanson. We finally reached the launch after a long walk through a drenching rain. As we passed through the foreign section where we had been accustomed to seeing such palatial homes and magnificent grounds, all was desolation, burned to an ember. The smell of burned and burning human flesh was terrible.

I could scarcely believe my eyes when I saw the remains of the Union church and the Christ church. They were large stone edifices, and as totally destroyed as if a heavy charge of dynamite had been touched off underneath them. As they were thrown across the street, we had to climb over the debris, under wires and trees and over dead bodies.

We passed men with long bamboo poles with knives tied on the ends. These they used as weapons such as they did in primitive days, but we had no fear for God was with us. We felt His presence all the way. We learned afterward that nine Americans had been murdered, two while on their way to the ship.

When we reached the pier we were taken aboard the launch and out to the Empress of Canada which took us to Kobe, four hundred miles south. Here we were transferred to the American ship S. S. President Jefferson. I had hoped that while on the Empress of Canada my arm had been set properly but on arriving at Seattle and having an X-ray taken we found the bones had not been set at all. I was sent to a Red Cross surgeon and they worked on the arm for several hours but failed to get the bones together one hundred per cent, but thought it would be all right. After seven weeks waiting we found there was yet no repair, the bones having slipped apart again by this time. I was able to travel so we decided to come to Long Beach, Calif. Here a Christian doctor called on me and examined by arm. He advised me to have the arm opened and the bones fastened together. He said he would do what he could, and God in answer to prayer’ would make it perfectly whole. I knew Jesus was able to put the bones together and make it whole without any aid, however, my faith did not touch Him for instant healing, as did the woman who touched but the hem of His garment and was instantly made whole.

I have known Him as a perfect physician for nearly twenty years. For some time I had a trouble in my side which hindered me from eating meat, also from sleeping on my right side. A few weeks before the disaster while at family prayer one morning I felt the Lord would have me be anointed with oil and prayed for according to James 5:14, 15. My husband, our Japanese pastor, and Bible woman prayed for me and I was instantly healed. We sent out and got a nice steak, cooked it for dinner. I ate all I wanted and felt fine. I have eaten meat ever since without hurting me for which I thank God and give Him all the glory. He is all powerful. We are so human we wonder often times when in great distress or trial why God does not deliver us when we first ask Him.” But God’s word says in Rom. 8:28, “All things work together for good.” If we hold steady He will bring His plan to pass.

Often times it takes physical suffering to break the strong hearts of others and cause them to yield and say yes to God. For some years my younger brother had been backslidden from God and preaching the gospel. Instead of feeding sheep he was feeding goats. I had warned him so often of the danger of disobeying God. He did not heed although he had great confidence in our prayers and faith. I wrote him just a few hours before the quake in Japan and told him I felt some calamity was about to fall unless he obeyed God. So after we returned home and he saw me suffering and knew my arm must be operated upon, he hurried home from town, called me into a private room and told me God had shown him it was because of his sin and disobedience that God had permitted me to be brought home so near death. I was very near and dear to brother’s heart. He was broken to pieces and has repented and come back to God, and has stepped out from business and, with his dear faithful wife, are now out in evangelistic work with my husband. I hope to join them shortly. God has spared my life for a wise purpose and I want to do his perfect will, and be counted worthy to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Yours in His glad service,

MARY E. CROSS MOORE.

Destruction of American Bible Society

(By Rev. Karl E. Aurell)

FOR some weeks already the press has given you detailed and baffling reports of the terrible earthquake and fire which occurred in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, and many other localities around these places. While some statements have been exaggerated, I dare say, some of the pen pictures though unbe-lievable are not any too strongly colored.

On the first of September (the memorable day of the beginning of the terrible catastrophe), just at 12:00 o’clock midday, I stood at the exit wicket at the railway station of Kashiwabara, one hundred and fifty miles north of Tokyo, awaiting a train by which Mrs. Aurell and son were returning from Karuizawa. I was hardly touching the bars at the side of the wicket, when I suddenly discovered a waving or staggering sensation. For a moment I wondered if there was something the matter with myself, but soon was convinced that an earthquake was on.

The heaving and waving to and fro of everything about me made me step out into the open space by the station, so as to avoid being struck by possibly falling tiles from the roof. The motion of the ground became so violent that it was almost difficult to stand still. Two square water tanks on the other side of the tracks opposite the station rocked to and fro extremely, making the water splash over in great quantities, first on this and then on the other side, until it seemed there would not be much water left in them. During this interesting time the train pulled in; but none of the passengers somehow had noticed that there was an earthquake. Forty minutes later, arriving at the lake, everybody was talking about the unusually strong earthquake, and wondered if something awful had not happened somewhere. Some wondered if Mount Asama, the famous volcano, fifty miles away, had not possibly erupted and gone to pieces, etc. I have mentioned the above to give you an idea of the terrible strength of the earthquake in the totally devastated districts, in view of what we experienced here one hundred and fifty miles away from there.

The Next Day

No news reached us here until about 9:00 o’clock Sunday morning, September 2. The reason for that was that all sorts of means of communication had been completely cut off. Then alarming reports came first by a milk man, and next by a telegram from Karuizawa. It was truly hard to believe that the whole city of Tokyo had been destroyed and was burning. But, as it was said that Mount Fuji was the center of the earthquake (that was not so,) we felt the reports no doubt could not be too strong. You may imagine the state of mind we were thrown into. What to think or do distressed us most extremely! Finally, that evening a party of us started off for Tokyo.

The trains were already crowded; and, as we rolled on towards our destination, people would literally “pile” into every car, even through the windows. The rudeness: and unreasonable things that were done made it practically impossible to avoid fights throughout the whole train. Just before entering the city suburbs, everybody had to get off the trains and walk across a river on a pontoon bridge. The railway bridge was supposed unsafe, and there was no bridge for the public near, outside of this contrivance. It was deemed unwise and dangerous for more than two or three hundred people to cross this pontoon at one time, and there were thousands of people on each side of the river, struggling to get over. Soldiers with bayonets had an extremely difficult time to guard and direct them. Had people been allowed to rush on freely, this bridge would not only have been broken down, but thousands would have been drowned.

At Tokyo

Well, we managed to get across; and walking a mile or more we scrambled with the masses on to another train, which took us just inside the city limits. Then from there, as no transportation facility of any kind was available, we walked, and walked, meeting thousands upon thousands of homeless people. The great and famous Ueno Park was covered with weary and disheartened refugees. Reaching the part of the park facing the largest extent of the city, we have our first view of the great devastation.

Oh, what a scene! On the left, the famous Ueno Station, with many hundreds of cars, all absolutely demolished to heaps of stone, brick and scrap iron. In front of us, for miles and miles the same condition prevailed. Electric cars, motor cars and everything reduced to ashes and rubbish. The wire entanglements in the streets made our progress slow. Telegraph poles were still burning—in fact they were the only pieces of wood that could be seen in the whole devastated district. At certain places much smoke and heat was still emitted, making it dangerous to pass by. One of my companions said that he had visited devastated Belgium and other places in Europe, but this scene to his mind surpassed that as a calamity.

We lingered a little in the Kanda Ward, at the city Y. M. C. A., the national Y. M. C. A., and the,’ Baptist Tabernacle. All these buildings were supposed to be fireproof, but alas, though the concrete walls, floors and stairways stood the test, every last thing inside of them had been wiped out of existence. Even the contents of a good safe in the tabernacle, when it was opened, had withered so that, when touched, they crumbled like ashes. The fine Salvation Army headquarters, the Y. W. C. A., churches, schools of all descriptions, and banks, all alike totally gone!

I cannot go into details—it would require days to do so. We spent the night at a missionary’s house in a spared part of the city. We were frightfully tired, so that we slept most sweetly despite hourly quakes that still came during the night. In the morning we started out together, but soon found that our different interests and objectives made it impossible to continue to keep together. At the temporary American Embassy offices at the Imperial Hotel, I registered all the members of my family as safe; and looking up Mr. Ziegler, who had spent the past terrible days in the hotel, together with him I walked over to where the Bible House had once existed. I knew it was destroyed before I went there. I had hoped that in some way the Lord might have preserved it; but he had allowed it to go with the rest.

The walls stood up very well; but the fire had done havoc with all that was consumable within. The only thing I could see was the safe. But I could not get to it because of the still burning timbers that had fallen down from the two floors and the roof above. On one of the walls Mr. Tanaka had stuck up a note for me, which said “Staff safe.” Having seen this, we walked up as far as the ruins of the Methodist Publishing House. Even the wooden blocks of the paved street were partly burned. Parting with Mr. Ziegler, I set out for Mr. Tanaka’s home. It took me at least three hours to get there. All was well there—only the plastering of his house had been pretty thoroughly shaken down. Some of the members of the staff had been to see him during the day. It was good to see them and spend the night.Mr. Tanaka’s Story

Mr. Tanaka’s story is too long to tell. The gist of it is: At noon of the first they were suddenly annoyed by a terrible rumbling noise and shaking of the whole building. Something like that had often happened when large motor trucks rushed by on the street. But this time it was unsually annoying, and increased and lasted minute after minute. They realized it was a terrible earthquake! What should they do? They grabbed the bookkeeping material and cash box, rushed downstairs, chucked them into the safe, shut it, and hastened out into the street. The earthquake lasted four minutes. Next door, in the drug store, inflammable acids somehow were ignited in the rear and started a fire. This was fought with might and main and happily put out, and all seemed safe in that locality. In many other parts of the city fires had started by the time our men went to their homes. They, of course, were anxious about their respective homes.

Tanaka and the assistant bookkeeper, before leaving the Bible House, had opened the safe and taken out the ledger and other important books, with the cash box, carrying away the same with them. Finding all well at his home Tanaka could not resist going to the Bible House again in the evening. He found it intact, and no fire in the immediate neighborhood. It was midnight by the time he got home.

Early Sunday morning he went there the second time; then what he had feared really had happened, the whole Ginza street had gone down in ashes. Of course there was nothing to do but to retrace his steps home, disheartened in the fullest sense of the word. He could get no information to me. He could not get a train out of the city. And, in addition to that, a report commenced to spread that the Koreans were up to mischief everywhere, throwing bombs and setting fire to the still remaining parts of the city. Tanaka was out every night till 12:00 o’clock, assisting the police in guarding their community. We do not know what to think of this scare. We are inclined to believe there were bad elements of the Japanese behind it. Yet, it does seem true that some of the Koreans took advantage of this occasion to give vent to their feelings of resentment against the Japanese. Time may make that clear.Further News

The first three weeks it was dangerous to travel. The extreme excitement, amounting to panic or mob psychology, was really alarming. Many of the missionaries I know met with very un-pleasant experiences. Though I traveled and walked about con-siderably in Tokyo, personally, I escaped such. I was not even questioned by a single person at any time.

By this time things have settled down remarkably. Everybody is busy. It is interesting to observe the diligence that is put forth practically on every burned-out little plot of ground, especially in Tokyo. As a result, as far as the eye can see from high points, already vast expanses of one-story galvanized-iron-covered huts are seen.

Yokohama

About two weeks ago I went to Yokohama. It is truly awfully depressing. As yet, the “settlement” (the whole section between the bluff and the bay), I mean the ruins are almost untouched. Hundreds of thousands of bodies are still uncovered. The condi-tion of the bluff is also deplorable. It is practically deserted. As a rule the buildings on the hillsides slid down to the base of the bluff, disappearing into the raging fires. You can imagine what awful things did happen!

The Fukuin plant fell in from the first shock. The employees who escaped by getting under presses, etc., have great tales to tell. One boy in the office said that he tumbled over and rolled under a “counter” accidentally and was saved. After the quake was over, he managed to knock out boards enough to get out. Besides Mr. Muraoka and his staff in the office and the seventy others, four of his immediate family in the old home in another part of the city were killed. That company and family were terribly hit, and we all feel badly over it.

A Fortunate Discovery

Two men of the Yokohama office of the Fukuin Press hap-pened to be in Tokyo, and thus escaped a like fate with the others. One of them is a Mr. Orisaka, who was their outside represent-ative. As a result of the disaster he forgot at first that large quantities of printed sheets usually were sent to a distant place to be folded for binding. About a week ago it occurred to him that we may have some printed sheets out there, and he sent word that investigation should be made. Later he went out to check up, and to his surprise he found we had printed sheets for nearly 13,000 books, and they were in fine shape for folding and binding. They are worth 3,600 yen—all paid for. That was a surprise to us also, and at the same time a very fortunate discovery. We have asked this man to see that they may be bound the soonest possible. Binding concerns are scarce in our part of ¦Japan these days, so that it will be difficult to get much done in that line until Mr. Orisaka gets started. The binding of these sheets in various styles will cost us more than 9,000 yen. But, let me say again, we are very glad for this discovery.

A Summary of Earthquake Figures

It is impossible to estimate accurately the loss of life and property in the time of a great earthquake disaster. Sufficient is known, however that September 1st, 1923, was the greatest seismic disaster recorded in history. Also that the first reports were not exaggerated. An earthquake is the most unnerving thing that a human being can experience. The Far East has experienced many earthquake disasters, but the severest seismic upheaval previous to the recent one was that of 1703 in Yeddo, Japan, the loss of life in that disaster was estimated to have been two hundred thousand.

In the matter of loss of property and life, and the extent of devastation, the Yeddo earthquake was only a mole hill compared to Mt. Fuji or Mount Ranier. A people with less fortitude or natural cheerfulness than the Japanese would have been prostrated by the magnitude of the great misfortune; no natural phenomenon can give you such a shock as an earthquake, and it is an eloquent testimonial to their courage that the Japanese are going about the work of reconstruction with great determination. Yokohama poking her head out of her grave of hundreds of thousands of dead and cremated in the ruins where one feels uncanny it takes courage for them to go ahead once more.

The licensed prostitute quarters were shut up so there was no way of escape and all were roasted alive; truly Hades opened her mouth wide to receive its victims. Yokosuka the naval base totally in ruins, where fifteen large tanks of oil and gas broke loose on the water burning for four days amid the submarines and torpedo boats; also many aeroplanes were reported destroyed.

The Island of Oshima explosion caused the total loss of all, the Island disappeared. In the tidal wave the ocean bed blew out and where it was before time five miles deep, it is said now to be twelve miles deep or bottomless. This convulsion in the seas caused a great upheaval of the ocean and the sea was rolling and roaring as the waters came with a mad rush over the beach towns and villages carrying everything before to destruction. The loss can never be told; eternity alone will only reveal as the beach was swept from Atami to the north east extremity of the Peninsula about forty -five miles.

Scientists tell us the gas pressure is high and the earth is caused to expand, letting in the water which causes a combustion, the interior of the earth being very hot and in places a molten mass of liquid fire. Amid whirlwinds of fire, forty thousand in one section perished; thirty-five thousand in another section, and in yet another thirty-two thousand five hundred licensed prostitute girls perished and many other fields of dead similar only greater far than any slaughter on any battle field, a more complete destruction and desolation.

Quakes are trying on the nerves of the little Nipponese. No sooner have they repaired their pontoons, and temporary piers, where the massive concrete ones collapsed, when here comes another disastrous shock and throws them into the sea again, and six hundred more homes go up in flames. It is very disheartening indeed. No wonder they become desperate and go insane, they are un-nerved and pressed out of measure.

 

Letter from Sydney Bruce in Yokohama to his wife Rose Mary Bruce in England, one month to the day after the Great Kanto Earthquake completely destroyed the city. Rose Mary had fortuitously left Japan for England two months prior…

46 Hariura Machi, Kobe, 1 Oct 1923

Darling,
Just had your letter dated the 23rd August, and a gentle reminder that I owe you more
than one. Have tried to write you once or twice but each time had to give it up – the
earthquake seems to have knocked all the stuffing out of me. What a bit of luck you left
here in July!! Not only prevented you from a bad shock to the nerves (although I expect
you had a bad time waiting for news of us) but you saved all your belongings, which
nobody else in Yokohama did.

The whole city and Bluff are as flat as a pancake. Dreadful sight, and it is a wonder that
so many of us are alive to tell the tale. Unfortunately, about 300 foreigners lost their
lives, quite a number among them are our friends – poor old Watson and Patterson, Tait,
Tom Abbey, Dr Reidhoad, Dr Wheeler, Dr. Ishiura, all gone.

I was on the train at the time, close to Omori Station, with Frank, Chapman and Catto,
travelling at about 40 miles an hour, and I have often wondered since how we kept on
the rails. The train pulled up eventually when we realized what happened, but we had
no idea of the extent of the damage in Yokohama, and the awful catastrophe which had
taken over the town.

We walked from Omori along the line to Kawasaki. The big bridge had sunk four feet in
the middle, and some of the bridge supports were right out of place. All this time
continuous shocks which nearly threw us off our feet, during one of which we were
passing a heavy freight train, and to see the engine being shaken as if it were a toy was
a bit scary to say the least.

From Kawasaki we took to the road. I think now this was a mistake. Nearly all the
houses were down, or partly so. And close to Tsuriumi we had to run through the fire. Of
course, it was already over, but still too hot to be comfortable. We eventually got back to
the railway again and from then on I decided to give the fires a wide berth, and as we
could not get further than Kanagawa on this account, we made for the Tokkaido in the
hope of eventually getting round the burning district and reaching the Bluff via
Nakamura. But we were too tired, and at 12 oʼclock at night found ourselves at the end
of the tram line beyond Nibombashi where we camped for the night in a field, being
provided with a couple of tatami by a Japanese whose house had collapsed, but had
escaped the fire.

At daybreak we started off again through the burnt district, a sight I shall never forget.
Great holes in the road, train rails twisted into all sorts of shapes, telephone and
telegraph wires blocking our path at almost every step. Bridges blazing away – we had
to cross one which was still burning. And tram cars, carts, and motor cars just burnt
where they stood from the time of the earthquake. Needless to say I had a very anxious
time, as I was not sure Vi and Maurice were alright. Fortunately, I knew where they
ought to have been at the time of the earthquake, but of course could not be sure. Vi, at
Yokohama Station in the car to meet me and Maurice, seeing some friends off on the
Empress of Australia. Comparatively safe places, although the pier where Maurice was
almost disappeared entirely into the harbour.

To add to our troubles it was intensely hot, and from 8 oʼclock on we got very little to
drink. However, we got out safely for which we have to be very thankful, and while our
losses are considerable – furniture, clothes and some stock in The Canadian Trading
Company – I am hoping I can recover my bonds (which were also burnt at the
Chartered Bank) as I happened to have the numbers of them in my safe at the Tokyo
office which was intact.

On arrival at the Bluff, at about 6 am, I was fortunate enough to have news of Maurice
and soon after was told that Vi was alright – Maurice on the Empress and Vi at the
Grimesseyʼs compound at Nagishi. So I sent word to her by young Geoffrey Fearon,
who just then came along, to tell her to come to the Bund(?) at once, and meanwhile
Frank, Levack and another young fellow named Heller and myself assisted in getting old
Captain Carst (who is unable to walk) down to the boat. Some funeral procession, I can
tell you (we were all dead tired and nothing to eat for 24 hours), having to climb over
fences and heaps of debris blocking the roadway, and wires everywhere.
I had previously been to have a look at the house – absolutely not a trace of anything
and about 12 to 15 feet of the bank had gone too. The one thing remaining was the
garage which had collapsed.

Iʼve been to Yokohama twice since, once to the memorial service on the 23rd
September, and again a few days later but am not anxious to go again as it has a very
depressing effect on everybody who visits it. Am enclosing a few photographs to give
you an idea of what it looks like now.

Thanks so much darling for all the trouble you are taking over the house, but am afraid
we shall have to let it go for a bit. I certainly canʼt afford anything like 1800 pounds for
one. Moreover, I cannot say when I can get home, although I should like to get away as
soon as possible but I must stay to try to recover my own property and that may take
some time, but as soon as I do I am off. Frank is also staying on for a bit, but Vi will
probably leave on the Katori Maru next month as arranged.

Just now I am oscillating between Tokyo and Kobe, as most of my staff are working in
Osaka for the next two months.

Tokyo is not quite as bad as Yokohama although miles and miles of it have been
completely destroyed by fire. Tokyo Station and all the offices in that neighbourhood are
all intact, however, likewise the new Imperial Hotel!! Although the Theatre and the big
Metropolitan Police Court were burnt out.

Sunday morning we had a rather bad shock in Kobe which sent all the Yokohama
refugees into the streets!! It was really nothing to worry about but everybodyʼs nerves
are badly shaken. So just even a door slamming is enough to give one the jumps.
Now about yourselves at home. I find it difficult to advise you. First of all I must ask you
to be careful which I know you always are, but I donʼt know what to do about Tubby.
Unless there is any real reason for keeping him at school after Christmas, I think he
should be starting in business. The expense is a heavy one for me now and he will be
nearly 17 and quite time he should make a start. Please consider this very carefully and
decide as promptly as possible, and also make inquiries regarding my brother if you can
and try to get those fees reduced. Bruces, _____ I think weʼll be together very soon and
they must do more than they have done hitherto.

Well, no more now. [Itʼs] nearly 11 oʼclock and I am tired. Weʼre dossing in a godown(?)
at present!! and Vi at the Libeaudʼs quite comfy and all well.

Lots of love and heaps of kisses
from your devoted
Hubby