NEESIMA, Joseph Hardy

[s. 544] : Born February, 1844 Perry’s fleet awaited in the Bay of Yeddo the opening of Japan to the world. At five years of age he was taken to the Shinto temple to give thanks for his life. When in his teens, having never seen a Christian nor heard of the Gospel, Neesima had some conviction of His presence Who is not far from any one, and of the vanity of idols. When he met in a Chinese book the words, “In the beginning God created the heaven, and the earth,” he said: “this is the God for whom I am looking;” “this is the true God,” and secretly determined to know more of that God, even if he left all to find him. These words from the Bible as he understood were brought by an American, and to America he must go. To leave his country was unlawful, and punishable with death. But this he risked, concealed himself among some produce in a boat, and reached Shanghai and ultimately America, working his way as a sailor. The owner of the ve el in which he sailed was the late Hon. Alpheus Hardy of Boston, who, on his reaching America, received him into his family, and provided for his education, giving Amherst in Japan, — ten years before Commodore him nine years in Phillips Academy, and And over Theological The elevation of his countrymen College, Seminary. became his absorbing purpose. While 65 miles north of Jerusalem, with a history linked with that of the Christian Church from the time of Jesus Christ. It is beautifully situated in a valley surrounded by hills on all sides. The houses are mostly well built of stone. The population has a more prosperous appearance than in most parts of the country, and the women of Nazareth are famous for their beauty. Population, 7,000, the Roman Catholic element bemg influential. Station of the CMS (1852), with (1903) 1 mi ionary and his wife, 6 women mi ionaries, 27 native workers, 17 day schools, 1 outstation, and 434 profe ed Christians, of whom 161 are communicants. Station also of the Edinburgh Medical Mi ion Society (1861), with (1903) 1 mi ionary and his wife, 3 native workers, and 1 dispensary. The Turkish name of the town in Nasira. 544