Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1894 — WATARI KITASHIMA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WATARI KITASHIMA.

Ba L« the Fira* Ordained Japaneae rraMke* ta Amerira. The first Japanese ever regularly ordained to the Christian ministry in this country has lately been put in charge of a Unitarian parish at Vineland, N. J. The young man is Rev. Watari Kitashlma, and was born in western Japan in 1868. Hia father, who was at one time a Shinto priest, is a physician, and has charge at present of the only Christian hospital in Tokio. Watari was brought up as a Buddhist and received a good education in bis own country. While he was

so occupied his father was baptized and allied himself with the Presbyterian Church. Watari also was baptized and became a Presbyterian and resolved to devote himself to the ministry of that body. He determined to come to America and so, at the age of 16, with scarcely any knowledge of English and with no relatives or friends here, he set forth for America. He landed at San Francisco and soon made friends there. He also entered a school there and continued his studies, during the progress of which he became a Unitarian. Watari soon announced himself as a candidate for the Unitarian ministry and went to Allegheny College. Meadville. Pa., in preparation for this post. Later he attended the Harvard Divinity School, whence he was graduated last year. While there he preached ninety-six times and lectured sixty throughout New England. He then began preaching at Shirley, Mass., and a short time since was ordained and became pastor at Vineland.

WATARI KITASHIMA.