THE HISTORY OF THE TUC part 3/5

THE HISTORY OF THE TUC (3rd page of 5)

2/5/28 Dr. A.K. Reischauer’s Building Committee receives an acceptable offer of purchase of the Toranomon property and recommends establishing a zaidan hojin, a legal holding body, with the intent to use the money from sale of the property to buy a building lot on Meiji Jingu Boulevard (later known as "Yoyogi Street," then "Jingu Doori," and finally as "Omotesando"). 1929 TUC signs a contract with Okura Construction Company and employs the services of architect J. Van Wie Bergamani. The Building Committee funds exceed its goal and has the resources to either finance TUC’s own pastor or to buy an organ. Dr. A.K. Reischauer points out if they opt for an organ, it would be many years before TUC hires a pastor. Yet he makes the historic statement, "If we must choose between a pipe organ and a minister, let’s choose a pipe organ." The secret ballot is nearly unanimous for the pipe organ. First regular pastor is not hired until 1952. 4/13/30 TUC church building is dedicated at its current site. 11/23/30 Pipe organ is installed after several delays and is dedicated. 2/2/36 The TUC World Day of Prayer service is cancelled due to the chaos created by the Ni-Ni-Roku Japanese Army uprising. 1/15/34 First surviving recorded mention of "American-born Japanese" at TUC. TUC Board has a discussion of the "desirability of inviting second-generation Japanese." Minutes of that meeting conclude that anyone who cares to attend "should be made to feel very welcome." 5/34 ASIJ graduation banquet is held in TUC’s Community Hall. 4/35 Emperor of Manchukuo, Japan’s Manchurian puppet state, visits Japan. The state occasion calls for the flying of Japanese and Manchukuo flags. The TUC House Committee Chairman casually allows both flags to be flown at TUC but quickly takes them down in face of protests from the TUC congregation. more......