BISHOP YASHIRO'S TRIBUTE TO NURSE KILLED BY JAP
In the quiet of the historic church of St John the Baptist, last night, Bishop Yashiro, Anglican Primate of Japan dedicated a small bamboo cross to the memory of May Hayman, a Canberra nursing sister, who was killed by Japanese soldiers in New Guinea in World War II.
Bishop Yashiro was attended in the ceremony by Padre H F Bashford, of the Royal Military College, a former prisoner of the Japanese. Padre Bashford acted as chaplain during the dedication
While Bishop Yashiro spoke of the desire for peace inside the small Church, two policemen patrolled outside. There was no attempt at a demonstration.
"We have had a terrible time in the last ten years, and we must pray for guidance of the statesmen of the world if peace is to be maintained," said Bishop Yashiro, after dedicating the cross.
He revealed that he had attended the Lambeth Conference in England and the World Council of Churches at Amsterdam two years ago. Throughout those conferences, he said the predominant trend was the visible and invisible evidence of Christian faith.
"I believe in the great power of Christian adherents all over the world, to get together and maintain peace,” he said.
Bishop Yashiro said he regarded it as a great honour to dedicate the cross in memory of Sister Hayman.
"Sister Hayman was killed by cruel Japanese soldiers. I am here to express my sympathy, and I believe that there is nothing in the world which can cut off Christian faith," he said. "We all belong to one body. The body of the followers of Christ. No one can ever cut off this wonderful Christian fellowship. Christian fellowship comes from God and no one but God can control it.”
Bishop Yashiro revealed how the Kempei Military Police of Japan had interrogated him during the war because he had prayed for the safety of missionaries.
Declaring that peace must come from within the heart, Bishop Yashiro said that it was difficult for the average person to secure peace because he was faced with so many difficulties. "Let us pray, to Almighty God for peace and I know we will obtain it," he concluded.
Among the clergy present at the service were the Bishop of Goulburn, Rt. Rev. E H Burgmann, Archdeacon, C S Robertson, Chairman of the Australian Board of Missions, Archdeacon R B Davies, Rev. R Border, Rev. G F W Pyke, Rev. Baskin, Canon Garnsey, Rev. H McCallum. Relatives of Miss Hayman were also present.
CRITICISM "PROVINCIALISM," SAYS RECTOR.
"Criticism of the visit of the Japanese Anglican Bishop Yashiro by Mr P M Kerridge displays a provincialism commonly associated with the uninformed," the Rector of St Paul's Church, the Rev. R Border, said in a statement yesterday.
"Mr Kerridge and those who have similar prejudices would be well advised to make themselves familiar with the activities of the Japanese Christians in relation to prisoners of war," he said.
"When Mr. Kerridge asserts that it is asking too much to forgive and forget so soon he expresses the sub Christian view point that finally asserts itself as Fascist intolerance. If Mr Kerridge really wishes to see the Japanese inculcated with the precepts of love, mercy and forgiveness, he can demonstrate these with a donation to the missionary work being done in Japan, possibly handing the donation to the Bishop himself."
"BISHOP'S FIGHT IS OUR FIGHT"
The Editor,
"Canberra Times,"
Sir,
The bestial atrocities of the Japanese will never be forgotten so long as there remains one soldier who faced them or one mourner for a victim of their savagery.
But there is in Japan a small company, the Christian Church, which is striving to banish forever the law of the jungle. If failure attends their mission we can be sure that in a few decades the world will know once again the menace of Japan.
Since the war ended converts to the Christian faith in Japan have doubled. Bishop Yashiro, Christian gentleman and leader of that small but rapidly growing army is here as a guest of Australian Anglicans. Are we to send him back to Japan encouraged and strengthened for his mammoth task, or is he to return mocked by the attitude of professing Christians?
Insofar as we are Christians, Yashiro's task is our task. His fight is our fight! He is carrying on where we left off on VP Day. Let us all recognise this and back him by our sympathy and prayers.
I am.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. John Baskin,
Members, North Canberra RSL Ainslie.
父が 終戦後平和使節として 西洋諸国を訪問したことは有名ですが、戦場とならなかった英米と違い、多数の犠牲者を出した オーストラリアの対日感情は悪く、その旅は過酷であったことが 著書「ああ、濠州よ」に記されています。 私は 当時の新聞が必ずあるはずだから 何時か州立図書館に行って調べたいと思っていましたが、ネットでこんなに簡単に入手できるとは思わず驚きました。