Wilkes, Alphaeus Paget

Works of Alpheus Paget Wilkes [1871-1934]

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Alpheus Paget Wilkes [1871-1934]When working on a project as large as Missiology.org.uk is is easy to be distracted from the main task in hand and follow-up “rabbit-trails” as exciting material comes to hand. In this case of A. Paget Wilkes, one of the founders of the Japan Evangelist Band, however, I decided to follow the rabbit trail.

The reason for this is that so few of his many works are available on-line – The Internet Archive only hosting four of them. So, in addition to the books by Wilkes provided by Redcliffe College I have bought (from Book Aid) and scanned a number of others to form the basis of what I hope will eventually become a complete archive of Wilke’s books.

Click here to visit the Alphaeus Paget Willkes Bibliography

Story of the Japan Evangelistic Band

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Alphaeus Paget Wilkes [1871-1934], "His Glorious Power" or The Story of the Japan Evangelistic Band,A. Paget Wilkes [1871-1934] recalls the story of the Japan Evangelistic Band from its foundation in 1903 until 1933. Wilkes was optimistic that Christianity would continue to spread in Japan. My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing a copy of this book to scan. This title is in the public domain. Note that this book was printed in a sepia tone, so the scan is not as clear as usual, but I hope, still legible.

Alphaeus Paget Wilkes [1871-1934], “His Glorious Power” or The Story of the J.E.B. London: Japan Evangelistic Band, [1933]. Pbk. pp.182. [Click to download complete book in PDF]

Contents

  1. Introductory
  2. The Early Vision
  3. Instruments Prepared
  4. The Mother of the Mission
  5. Aggressive Evangelism
  6. Ministry to the Churches Training Personnel
  7. Conditions Obtaining or The Need and Opportunity
  8. Wider Issues
  9. A.M.O.S.
  10. Children’s Evangelism or The Giants at Work
  11. Some of Our Leaders
  12. Swanwick and its Message
  13. Finance
  14. Epilogue

Miss Edmeades was one of the founder members of the mission. This account of her later years caught my wife’s eye as she was browsing through the book.

Extract from page 126.

Miss Edmeades, the first missionary of the J.E.B., was unable to return to Japan after her first furlough. It seemed as though her knowledge of Japanese which she had acquired, would be wasted. But the Lord ordained otherwise.

Japanese sailors visit our ports almost in thousands. Little or nothing is done to reach them. Many of the ships come to Liverpool and Birkenhead. Some years Miss Edmeades was much burdened on their behalf. Finding a suitable house in Birkenhead, she began her work. Willing helpers came to her assistance. Ships are visited; captains interviewed; crews are welcomed. Hundreds have availed themselves of her kind hospitality. Meetings are held, lantern talks are given. refreshments provided and at Christmas time gifts are sent home to their wives and children. Literature is distributed, letters are sent continually to those who have come and gone, and above all, convicted souls are pointed to Christ. A great many have professed conversion, of whom not a few are genuinely saved.

Not the least result of such work is that instead of taking back a very cheerless report of their sojourn in a strange land, with no vision whatever of any sort of Christianity that is like Christ, they carry back tidings of a kind and sympathetic welcome, and a fragrant memory of bright and happy hours spent in a Christian home. [Continue reading]