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Show 382 striking significance. The section cabled to the American dele» gation at the Second Hague Conference, then in session, was a strong endorsement of the movement for international peace, as was this section, addressed to the teachers of the country: "\Ve recommend to the teachers that the work of The Hague Confer» ence and of the Peace Associations be studied carefully, and the results given proper consideration in the work of instruction." Significant also is the statement of United States Commissioner Elmer If. Jrown, in his report for 1908, concerning the observance of the 18th of May, the anniversary of the opening of the First llague Congress. "Widespread interest," he says, "has been manifested in the observance of the 18th of May, variously named as Hague Day. Peace Day, or Arbitration Day, as a time for accentuatiug the endeavor to arrive at a fair understanding of the other nations of the earth. which is the surest basis of honorable and fruitful peace and an indispensable element in modern education. No complete record has been made of the states and cities in which this day is regularly observed. But it is known that such observance has been recommended by the state super- intendents of public instruction in at least fourteen of the states and by the city school superintendents in at least five of our larger cities." The teachers of the United States have thus joined the ranks of their many co-workers in Europe, who are explaining to their pupils the meaning of the great world events which center around the 18th of May. To coordinate and extend the scope of these efforts, and to build up an organization which shall, through the channels of education. advance the principles of international justice and equity. is the aim of the American School Peace League. CIlAlRMAN MOORE: . Rey. Gilbert llowles. of Tokyo, Japan, will tell us of what is being (lone by the Peace Society of Japan. 383 The Peace Society of Japan REV. GILBERT BOWLES MR. CHAIRMAN AND DELEGATES OF THE CONGRESS: Late as it is, I feel like doing as did a Japanese preacher in the days gone by when it was customary for the local police sometimes to inter« fere with public Christian meetings. On such an occasion one evangelist consented to the interruption with the condition that at the time appointed for the meeting he should be allowed to explain why the meetingr was not to be held. Taking,r advantage of that action, he said that since the meetingr had been forbidden he would simply tell them what he would have said if he had been allowed to speak. (Laughter) The statement on the program concerning my relation to the Japan Peace Society is somewhat misleading, for it is given there as secretary of the Japan Peace Society. While it has been my privilege to act as English secretary of the Japan Peace Soci- ety, there are two or three Japanese secretaries upon whom rests the real work of the Peace Society in Japan. While there are many foreigners in Japan. missionaries and educators and some business men, who are connected with the society, it is distinctly a Japanese organization. When I left Japan last June, nineteen of the twenty directors were Japanese, V Before speaking of the work of the Japanese P‘ace Society. with headquarters in Tokyo, 1 wish to remind you of the existence of the Oriental Peace Society of Kyoto, which has. amongr its members some of the leading educators and business men of that great southern capital of Japan. The reason why I venture to stand before you this morning and tell you something of the Japan Peace Society is because of my touch with Japanese life. That touch has included face-to-faec interviews with the Japanese; it has included attention to the press and platform, inter- views with students, educators. busine s men. members of parlia- ment. mayors of cities and members of the cabinet, and I tell you this morning,r that I have yet to meet with couragement from a Japanese. (Applause) discouragement since I landed in America in I have met with things which would lead me to the first real disI have met with Seattle last July; believe that there |
