LETTERS FROM LUCILE

About the Book

Lucile Daniel Clarke was one of God''''s chosen vessels. In this book we see her through her letters written over a period of thirty-five years to her fiance, mother, friends, and her children. We learn how this remarkable woman lived her missionary life as a wife, mother, educator, and professional musician.

Lucile was a faithful mother to her six children. She home-schooled them, and she taught English, Bible, and music classes for Japanese students in her home so she could be near her children.

Lucile realized the urgent need for educating girls in Japan, not a priority of Japanese families during those days. It was an impossible financial burden for many, but far worse was the tragic custom of families selling young girls into slavery and prostitution.

From her earliest days in Japan, Lucile dreamed of a Christian girls'''' school and began to raise funds from Christians in America.

Finally the school became a reality. Although it was built in Kokura instead of in Kumamoto, Lucile rejoiced to see her dream fulfilled. Today Seinan Jo Gakuin is well known in Southwestern Japan. This book shows the important role Lucile had in the creation of the school. In fact, Seinan Jo Gakuin was born  in the heart and mind of Lucile Daniel Clarke.

Lucile was a professional musician. Besides performing in concerts, she taught music to her children and to Japanese students. She also played the organ and sang in her church.

Lucile took part in many church activities, especially Sunday School and women''''s meetings, and she was an active member of the Association of Southern Baptist missionaries.

About the Author

            Many years after Lucile Daniel Clarke lived in Japan, the author of this book, Dr. Mary Neal Clarke, spent twenty years as a Southern Baptist missionary there.  She visited many of the places in this book and knew a few of the people mentioned.  She, too, has cruised the Inland sea and been in a storm on the Pacific Ocean.

            After returning from Japan, Mary Neal earned her Doctor of Education degree and for eighteen years was Assistant Professor in the Humanities Division at Mercer University Atlanta.  She taught English and a course in Nonwestern Cultures which emphasized mostly Japan and China.

            Mary Neal’s late husband, Coleman, was one of Lucile Clarke’s sons.  She married Coleman after Lucile’s death, so she never knew Lucile personally, but she heard many stories about Lucile from her husband and his siblings and read many of Lucile’s other writings, as well as those included in this book.

            Dr. Clarke is now retired, living in Louisville, Kentucky where she is an active member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church, works with internationals from many countries, and writes.  Her book, An American Girl in Japan, published by Publish America in 2002 is a book of fiction based on the life of Lucile Clarke’s older daughter, Josephine, during her school years in Japan.0