reached that country in November of the same year. A weekly Bahá’í meeting was then started in Tokyo, which continued for many years. To these meetings came earnest young students who were seekers of truth. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote in 1916 of these meetings, ‘Consider thou, what great favor God has bestowed that such spiritual meetings are being held in Tokyo and such heavenly gifts are being distributed.’
“One or both of these teachers resided at intervals in Japan from 1914 until the great earthquake and fire disaster of September, 1923. A third teacher also came to Japan in November, 1919, remaining there until September, 1923.
“In recent years a great change has come over the youth of Japan. Not satisfied with the old order of spiritual teachings of their forefathers, they are eagerly seeking for a solution of the present-day problems. Shintoism and Buddhism which gave comfort to their fathers does not satisfy them today, and Christianity as taught with many creeds and divisions, does not give the desired satisfaction. In the Bahá’í Message they find a teaching which is the spirit of this age and in harmony with modern problems. It does not require of them to give up the past teachings, but rather explains that the foundation of all religions is one. Thus they are drawn to this universal teaching.
“These youths are ushering in a new order of civilization. One of the principles of Bahá’u’lláh, that of a universal auxiliary language, is ardently promoted by them in the Esperanto Movement. Throughout Japan this movement has spread in schools and universities, where the students form classes and teach their fellow students this universal auxiliary language. This means of communication with peoples of other races and nations has great effect in bringing mutual understanding and love and in the hearts of these youths is born anew the desire for peace and brotherhood. Through the means of the Esperanto Movement, the Bahá’í Message has been given in many important centers in Japan where it has met with keen response without prejudice.
“Besides the students of Japan, some of the leading statesmen of that country have expressed themselves in hearty sympathy with the Bahá’í teachings. Among these was the late Marquis Okuma, the founder of Waseda University, who on hearing of the Movement, told the writer he was very glad she was in his country for the purpose of spreading these teachings.
“During the years 1916 and 1917, a number of translations of the Bahá’í teachings were published in Japanese. Among these were two publications in Japanese braille for the blind. The first was a message to the blind women of Japan. This was followed by a volume of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá entitled, A Message of Light. The translator of this volume was a blind young man. Living in the country where he conducted a school for the blind, he found no one who could read English to him. With the help of his wife only, who knew the letters and could spell the words, he was enabled to transpose the writings into English braille, after which in the same way he was aided in the use of the dictionary in translating the English into Japanese. Through this work of love the Bahá’í Message has spread extensively among the blind of Japan.
“Other publications in Japanese were a booklet addressed to the women of Japan which gave the Bahá’í teachings concerning women; a volume entitled,
The Religion of Love, translated by a group of young men in Tokyo; a compilation of the teachings on Peace; a pamphlet entitled, The New Civilization; and words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in reference to the Bahá’í Temple in Chicago.
“In 1920 the small compiled booklet of these teachings, now translated into many languages, was published in Japanese. The translation was made by two Japanese friends, one a Buddhist priest and the other a former Christian evangelist to whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had sent the following message: ‘Convey on my be-
