A Letter to

                                                               [January 5, 1890]

In the fall of 1874 I was invited to attend the annual meeting of said Board, which was held in Rutland, Vermont, to bid my last farewell to my friends. I was ordered to appear on the platform on the very last day of the meeting. In the evening of the previous day I called on Mr. and Mrs. Alpheus Hardy, my benefactors, and consulted with them about the advisability of my bringing out my long- cherished scheme--that is, to found a Christian college in Japan--in ury farewell speech.

Mr. Hardy was rather doubtful about my attaining any success; however, I was rather insisting to do it, because it was my last chance to bring out such a subject to such a grand Christian audience. Then he spoke to me, half smiling, and in a most tender, fatherly manner said, "Joseph, the matter looks rather dubious, but you might try it." Receiving that consent, I went back to the place where I was entertained and tried to make a preparation for the speech. I found my heart throbbing, and found myself was utterly unable to make a careful preparation. I was then like that poor Jacob, wrestling with God in my prayers. On the following day, when I appeared on the stage, I could hardly remember my prepared piece--a poor, untried speaker; but after a minute I recovered myself, and my trembling knees became firm and strong; a new thought flashed into my mind, and I spoke something quite different from my prepared speech, My whole speech must have lasted less than fifteen minutes. While I was speaking I was moved with the most intense feeling over my fellow-countrymen, and I shed much tears instead of speaking in their behalf. But before I closed my poor speech about five thousand dollars were subscribed on the spot to found a Christian college in Japan.

That generous subscription of our American friends became the nucleus of the present Doshisha, which is now recognized as the best and largest Christian college in Japan. That generous subscription of our American friends became the nucleus of the present Doshisha, which is now recognized as the best and largest Christian college in Japan....

Since 1884 I began to hope for founding a Christian university; the matter seemed to myself and also to my friends here that I was hoping for something altogether beyond hope; however, I had a strong conviction that God would help us to found it in his own name's sake. In order to engage in such an undertaking one shall need a strong physique; alas! my health has been poor for some years. When I made a speech before a select audience of six hundred and fifty at Kyoto, in a large Buddhist temple, in behalf of the new university, I had hardly strength enough to do it. The chief trouble was in my heart--a heart-disease. I was obliged to confine myself for some time. As soon as I became comfortable enough I attempted to move around again. In a single evening thirty-one thousand yen were subscribed, a most memorable evening to us; it took place in the latter part of July, 1888. Since then subscriptions came from the different parts of the country. At present we have raised over sixty thousand yen. We are now attempting to raise it to one hundred thousand yen before this coming summer. Since October I have been away from home, moving round here and there, though I make Tokyo the headquarters of my present movement.

In the latter part of November I became seriously ill; I have not yet fully recovered my strength, and am now obliged to rest at a quiet country town to regain certain strength to attempt further beggings. My humble idea of founding a university is to educate the coming race in higher studies, being influenced by Christian light and Christian conscience. We would put our best strength to Theology, then to Philosophy, Literature, Science, Law, Political Economy, etc. We have had chairs for Theology for some time. Lately, we have secured 100,000 dollars for Science; we are further waiting for funds to come to found some studies, one by one. It is a faith work. When you find spare money either in yourself, or in your friends, please remember us. I have a full hope that my vague day-dream for a Christian university will sooner or later be realized, and that in some future we shall find a grand occasion to give thanks to Him who has led us and blessed us beyond our expectation. Please remember me to your Sabbath-school friends, and ask them to pray for our country.