Competent Witnesses on Korea as a Mission Field STATEMENTS FRO^M TWELVE MEN WHOSE PROMINENCE AND OBSERVATION QUALIFY THEM TO SPEAK WITH AUTHORITY WITH THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE THE BOARD OF BISHOPS, AND THE GENERAL COIVIMITIEE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS Korea Quarter-Centennial Movement Board of Foreign Missions of the IMethodist Episcopal Church 150 Fifth Avenue New York KOREA’S RELIGIOUS SITUATION UNIQUE BY GEORGE H. SCIDMORE United States Consul-General to Korea One striking feature of Korea’s present condition is the magnificent work which is being done by the American mis- sionaries. The Korean converts are now becoming con- vinced that their adhesion to Christianity will be of no advantage to their dreams of independence, and the Amer- ican missionaries are working faithfully to keep politics out of the churches. The religious situation in Korea is unique. The only parallel that now occurs to me is that of Hawaii. In Korea to-day Christianity is not supplanting any estab- lished faith, for Buddhism, which formerly prevailed, is now practically moribund, if not defunct. The people consequently manifest intense eagerness for Christianity and education. The Presbyterian Mission, if I recollect correctly, has over seven hundred schools and mission stations in the country, while the Methodists are a close second. The Church of Rome, the Church of England, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Salvation Army, and others are industriously at work. The good work of the Young Men’s Christian Association deserves special mention. In the city of Seoul, on the main street, one of the finest and largest buildings is that of the Young Men’s Christian Association, which was built with funds presented by John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia. Both the Korean and Japanese authorities have contributed liberally to its support. The late Prince Ito was one of its best friends. The Japanese authorities now give this association an annual subvention of ten thou- sand yen, equivalent to $5,000. In short, I consider that at the present time the Christian people of America cannot find a better or more promising field for the investment of funds for the conversion of the 3 heathen. The people are hungering and thirsting for the gospel and its attendant education and civilization, and the Korean and Japanese authorities favor the movement. The chief justice of Korea and a number of other prominent Japanese officials are earnest and active members of the Christian Church. Seoul, Korea. KOREA THE FIRST XOX-CHRIS- TIAN NATION EVANGELIZED BY JOHX R. MOTT General Secretary World’s Student Christian Federation and Chairman of the Continuation Committee of the World’s Missionar}’ Conference I REJOICE to know of the Korea Quart er-Centemiial Movement. In the light of my observation in Korea and of my touch with that field by correspond- ence and study, I believe that this advance movement is most opportune and promising. If the Christian forces of America are true to the leading of the Spirit of God, Korea may become the first non-Christian nation thoroughly evangelized in this modern missionary epoch. Moreover, if each of the Christian communions providentially related to that country carries out generously and thoroughly the policy on which they have agreed, it will afford a most striking and attractive object lesson of real Christian unity. The requirements of your movement are entirely reasonable. I can think of no investment which will \deld larger fruitage from the use of the sum involved than the one which your movement proposes. New York City. 4 KOREA ONE OF THE MOST IM- PORTANT MISSION FIELDS BY WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN Korea is in the midst of a remark- able revival; whole communities are em- bracing Christianity, and the native Church itself is becoming a missionary organization. I regard Korea as one of the most important mission fields. Some believe that Korea will be the pioneer Christian nation in that part of Unilevwood & LJiiiiei'wood the WOrld. Lincoln, Nebraska. KOREA’S DAY BY ADNA B. LEONARD Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church Korea’s day has come. Although it is among the most ancient of all the nations (now no more a nation), by reason probably of its seclusion, it is the latest in the Far East to attract the at- tention of the West. The writer was privileged to visit Korea in 1893, eight years after her doors were thrown open, when as yet but little change had taken place in the conditions and customs of the people. All things remained as they had been through the thirty cen- turies of her history. Although there were a few foreigners in Seoul and in some other places, they had made as yet little impression upon the manners, customs, and religions of the people. Our work had been opened in Seoul, the capital, eight years previously, while in Pyeng Yang, one 5 hundred and sixty-seven miles to the north, and in Che- mulpo, twenty-six miles to the west, we had just begun mission W’ork. It was the writer’s privilege to visit Korea again in 1907. During the fourteen years that had intervened remarkable changes had transpired. At the former date there was not a mile of railroad in the kingdom, while at the latter nearly seven hundred miles were in operation. To a very con- siderable extent the city of Seoul has been transformed. Well-made and macadamized streets were constructed, very creditable public and private buildings erected, public water- works established, and an electric street railway system in- stalled. During these years the Christian religion had not only made marked progress as to the number of converts, but had profoundly impressed the whole national life. In 1893 there was not a Protestant place of w’orship in the kingdom, ex- cept a very few small chapels and halls in Seoul and Pyeng Yang and the open ports, while at the present time there are many large, plain, substantial edifices, each of which will accommodate from one thousand to twenty-two hundred W'orshipers, while there are hundreds of smaller comfortable houses of worship in towns and villages and country places. Now the Bible is translated into the language of the people and is rapidly becoming a national book. The Christians love the Bible; they carry it with them when they travel and read it by day and night. It is reported on good au- thority that seven hundred thousand copies of the Gospel by Saint Mark w^ere bought by the people in the brief space of five months. The Christians are all evangelists. A con- verted Korean at once pleads with the one nearest to him to accept Christ, and he does not plead in vain. Perhaps in no other Oriental country are Christians so aggressive in their evangelistic efforts. Twenty-five years ago the Methodist Episcopal Church w^as founded in the then Hermit Kingdom. Fourteen years ago her membership was two hundred and fifty-one. Now it is about fifty thousand. The whole number of Protestant 6 Christians in the Korean peninsula is approximately two hundred and fifty thousand. As Methodists we are, both in Korea and America, cele- brating the quarter-centennial of the founding of our Church among the peninsular people. It ought to be phenomenal in both countries. In Korea it should increase largely all our facilities for evangelistic work and double our membership, while in America it should broaden our vision, increase our spirituality, and mightily promote the cause of foreign mis- sions in all our great field. The evangelization of Korea during the first half of the present century is practically assured. The gospel that saves Korea will save China, Japan, and the whole world. Let every member of the Methodist Episcopal Church do something extra, even unusual, for the evangelization and salvation of Korea during this quarter-centennial celebration. Xew York City. KOREA’S REDEMPTION BY CHARLES WARREN FAIRBANKS Former Vice-President of the United States I WAS greatly impressed with the w’ork accomplished by Christian mis- sions in Korea. The progress they are making in the conversion of the Koreans to Christianity easily surpassed my ex- pectations. The history of Korea is pathetic. The people have suffered the evils of misgovernment from time im- memorial. Their natural resources have been seriously exhausted, and in many quarters they have become almost hopeless. ^Missionaries have been most hospitably received by these people, who are, in the main, kindly disposed. They see that 7 in the introduction of the Christian religion and the prac- tices and customs of Christian people lies their redemption from their unfortunate condition. They are accepting Christianity with an eagerness and enthusiasm which are indeed inspiring and full of promise. It was my privilege to meet and address many of them. I was struck by the in- tensity of their interest and with the evident sincerity of their professed faith. The Japanese government has shown a very liberal spirit toward Christian missions. The late Prince Ito, first Japanese Residency-General, adopted 2 very liberal policy with respect to Christian missions, as he recog- nized the need of their beneficial influence in the upbuilding of the people. The favor with which missionaries are regarded by the Japanese goverimient in Korea is disclosed by the last report of the Residency-General, in which it is said that the authori- ties have given “assurance from time to time that every possible assistance should be afforded to the educational efforts of foreign missionaries. According to the regulations relating to private schools, schools maintained by foreign missionaries may, if they obtain official recognition, enjoy such financial aid and other privileges; and their graduates may receive the same privileges regarding the civil service as those enjoyed by the govermnent schools and their graduates, without any discrimination whatsoever.” Many of the natives who have been converted to Chris- tianity are teaching the gospel among their own countrymen. Those poor people (and many of them are poor indeed) con- tribute liberally out of their scant earnings toward the support of churches and schools in their own midst. Their needs, however, greatly overtax their ability to meet them. It may be said, in a word, that the good which the mission- aries are doing in Korea is widespread and of inestimable value. There is no movement of the day which appeals more strongly to the Christians of the world than that which is made in behalf of the missionary cause of Korea. Indianapolis, Indiana. 8 KOREA’S ONLY HOPE BY EARL CRANSTON Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church Having visited Korea in 1898 and 1899, and then again more recently in 1907, I have felt safe in repeatedly affirming that of all foreign fields of missionary effort Korea is perhaps the most hopeful in its promise of large and immediate results; at the same time it is but the truth to say that it is one of the neediest. The very poverty and de- jection of the people, by reason of long-continued misrule and destructive invasion from without, address an impor- tunate appeal to every philanthropic person; while the social degradation and absence of justice in the administration of law through a long period of time, due to a lack of moral authority in the religious beliefs of the people (if their super- stitions may be called religious), render hopeless any expec- tation of self-deliverance. How far better teaching and better morals and higher inspirations may be expected to come from commercial intercourse with other nations is a question that at once answers itself. The only hope of Korea is in the Bible and the simple teachings and promises of Jesus Christ. The influence of Japan, while wholesome in the main, is not religious; nor can any governmental regime, however wisely conceived or benevolently administered, up- lift the masses of Korea until God and righteousness shall have entered their consciousness and redeemed them unto better conceptions of manhood and human destiny. I do not wonder that the friends of Christian missions are thrilled and stimulated to increased benevolence by the wonderful record the gospel is making with this forlorn people. I have witnessed the happy transformations wrought in many individual instances. I know the zeal and self- sacrificing devotion of our Korean Christians. 9 Our Church has done generously for India, China, and Africa, but I am confident that every lover of our blessed Christ will bring with gladness a special offering for this first Korean jubilee. Washington, D. C. KOREA’S READY RESPONSE BY SIR ROBERT LAIDLAW Member International Opium Commission While in the East as one of the British delegates attending the Inter- national Opium Commission at Shang- hai in the early part of last year, I took the opportunity of visiting Korea. Dur- ing my five days in Seoul, the capital, I was the guest of Dr. George Heber Jones. From what I had previously heard regarding the advance of Chris- tianity in this interesting country, I went there with great expectations, but these were far surpassed by what I saw and heard while on the spot. The change of twenty-fi ve years is remarkable. At the beginning of this period nowhervi in the East was there more prejudice against Christianity, and nowhere was the missionary more rigidly excluded. Now this prejudice has entirely given way to an eager desire for the gospel message and nowhere is the Christian mis- sionary more welcome. The churches which I visited were all crowded with apparently devout worshipers. I have seen something of mission work in Africa, in India, m China, and in Japan, but I know of no field where liberal investments in men and money promise greater results than in Korea. The people throughout the land are in a deplorably depressed condition, but as they respond eagerly to evangelical and educational effort, there is every prospect that the whdle community will rapidly rise to better conditions. Missionary effort in Korea is almost entirely in the hands of American 10 and Canadian missionaries, and I confidently anticipate that this will be the first compact Eastern people to become a Christian nation. London, England. SAVE KOREA BY MERRIMAN C. HARRIS Missionary Bishop for Korea of the Methodist Episcopal Church Isaiah 66. 8: “Shall a nation be born at once?” Yes. What nation? Korea, of course. A quarter of a century ago the gospel light shone upon and pierced the thick darkness resting upon the “Hermit Kingdom,” She saw the Light, awoke to consciousness and fol- lowed it. To-day a quarter of a million souls have become children of the Light and bear witness concerning it to the people. Whole vil- lages and communities are becoming Christian. Churches, schools, hospitals, orphanages, asylums for the blind, the deaf, spring into life like magic. The people tremble with a new power — the youth are imploring for a Christian educa- tion — the old is crumbling and passing away — the new Christian civilization comes in with a rush to fill the chasm and make all things new. How is God meeting this crisis? By uniting the mission- aries and Korean Churches into one body virtually — stopping all waste and causing each individual and Church to use their resources to meet the situation. In 1907-08 God sent a Pentecost which purified and spiritualized the wLole Church and endued it with witness- ing power. Last fall he moved the missionaries to send out the call for a “million converts in one year.” The churches united in this movement and in a few months purchased and distributed more than seven hundred thousand Gospels of 11 Mark and volunteered more than a hundred days of service. The forces in Korea as they march sing; “A million souls for Jesus! A million souls for Jesus! Lord, this can surely be: ’Tis not too much for thee — ” and enroll the converts by the thousand. The division of territory among the missions has given to our care three million souls to be evangelized. For this stupendous work we have twenty missionaries and fifty thousand Korean Christians of all classes. What are these among so many? In our extremity w^e come to our Church of three million members and ask for a special gift of $300,000, ten cents a member, to place missionaries in the field, build schools and hospitals, and equip the mission. All missions in Korea are specializing, because God has specially opened the door and made ready a people for sal- vation. God sends smiling harvests and prosperity, and may he now move all the churches to answer “Yes” to Isaiah’s question: “Shall a nation be born at once?” and it will come to pass. Seoul, Korea. KOREA WHITE UNTO THE HARVEST BY J. WILBUR CHAPMAN Leader of the Revival of 1909 I HAVE never had a more delightful experience than that which came to me a few months ago in Korea. It was my pleasure for many days to come in closest contact with the missionaries and their helpers and to meet many of the Koreans whom they had won to Christ. I have never met more consecrated workers and have never been more im- pressed with the results of the efforts put forth in the name 12 of Christ, I believe Korea to be a field white unto the harvest and the most promising of any place I have visited in any part of the world. I am eagerly looking forward to the day when I may re- turn to Korea, and am persuaded that marvelous things may be accomplished in that great country for Christ, and in them I wish that I might have a share, Winona, Indiana. KOREA THE KEY TO A GREAT EUTURE DR. M. HONDA Former Professor Imperial University, Tokyo, Japan. Now with Oriental Information Agency, New York It is well known throughout the world that the Christian missionaries in Korea have had the positive assurance both of the late Prince Ito and of the present Governor-General, Viscount Te- rauchi, that it is the settled policy of Japan to secure a harmonious co- operation of the spiritual uplifting of the people and of their political reform. Foreign religions have experienced more or less persecu- tion only when they have interfered or threatened to inter- fere with the political stability of the nation. So long as the Korean Christians try to better their general condition through individual regeneration, the Government is sure to protect and even to encourage them in their faith. The appointment of Japanese Christians to such important posts as the Supreme Court Judgeship and the Director-General- ship of the Peninsular Government sufficiently testifies to the sincerity of purpose of the Tokyo authorities. Aside from this fact, there is too an encouraging sign in the moral stand- ard of the Japanese officials in Korea. Whatever may be 13 the limitations of the military leaders, no one doubts the influence of Viscount Terauchi as a strict disciplinarian, and he is assisted by a man of well known moral rectitude, Vice- Governor-General Isaburo Yamagata. They, with a Christian as Director-General, seem to have succeeded in stamping out manj" of the vicious practices of Seoul society, and in purify- ing the general atmosphere of Japanese officialdom there. It is a phase of human nature that mankind is often led to religion through temporal disappointments. We can clearly see the hand of Providence in it. Under the feudal system of rigid class distinction, sons of farmers or of traders, how- ever brilliant in intellect, could not easily aspire to a political or military career. Many of them, therefore, devoted them- selves to the study of medicine or religion, the two noblest callings open to their choice, and thus became healers either of the bod}’’ or of the soul. Xay, more! Was it not when their political ambitions had been thwarted that the Greatest Healer attempted the spiritual clarifjdng of the Jewish minds? Both internal and external causes have conspired for ages to make the Koreans political unfortunates, but now, at last, they have a fair chance of rising to a far higher plane, that of spiritual leadership. Suppose they should prove to be the first people, outside of old Christendom, to be Chris- tianized as a body, as there are reasonable hopes that they will be, may we not again witness a recrudescence of that Asian culture which, fifteen centuries ago, the Koreans were instrumental in bringing to Japan? For the Japanese them- selves cannot lag behind the Koreans in assimilating whatever is good and noble in the world. Japan, thus regenerated spiritually as well as politically, could rightly claim a leading position in the affairs of the Far East. That Korea should be the key to this great future, even through her temporal tribulations, is the prayer not only of Japanese Christians, but also of all liberal-minded people in Japan, and their prayer seems about to be answered. Xew York City. 14 KOREA READY FOR THE GOSPEL JOHN B. SLEMAN, JR. Member Executive Committee, Laymen’s Missionary Movement After two months of journeyings in Japan and China, including attendance upon the World’s Student Christian Federation Conference in Tokyo and the Centenary Conference at Shanghai, came the never-to-be-forgotten week in Korea — the climax of our trip — giving us the proof of the power of the gospel to literally transform great sections of a heathen nation in a single generation. Our first day was a Sunday. Fortunately for us it was the day upon which members were being received into the Methodist Church in Seoul. Forty-five men and twenty women stood before the altar and took upon themselves the obligations of church membership. All of them had been on probation for two years, and we were told that most, if not all of them, had been the means of bringing others into the Christian life before they had been themselves admitted into the fellowship of the Church. Then came the trip to Pyeng Yang, where the year before a revival, comparable only to the wonderful Welsh revival, had taken place. Fifteen years previously this town of fifty thousand people was the most wicked and debased place in all Korea — now it was filled with happy Christians, with six or seven churches, Christian schools for boys and girls, where before there were no schools at all; a hospital in place of utter neglect in all matters of sanitation and health; a college for boys, and a theological seminary with eighty students. Thirty-three hundred people met in mid-week prayer meeting every week. All the churches were crowded on Sunday. A missionary work in all the outlying country was 15 conducted by Korean Christians themselves, while rapid extension of schools and organization of churches for groups of Christians in all the country round about was in progress. This is a story in brief outline of a marvelous transforma- tion. It is typical. All Korea is ready for the gospel. We have no assurance that the w^ay will alwa3^s be as open as it is now. Every consideration of economy" and strategy urges us to an immediate and complete occupation of a field “ripe unto the harvest.” Washington, D. C. NO CHRISTIAN DEFECTION IN KOREA BY GEORGE HEBER JONES Missionary to Korea and Executive Secretary of the Korea Quarter-Centennial ^lovement The Independent has made the follow- ing statement : “It will be very interesting to observe what will be the effect of the annexation of Korea by Japan on Chris- tian Missions in that country. The people had been going over to Christian- ity by the tens of thousands, and it was the design to work to secure a million new adherents this jTar. But doubtless many who professed Christianity did so for political reasons, because they got the idea it would help Korea against Japan. We have feared that annexation would be followed by a falling away, and such may be the case. A Japanese paper publishes a telegram from Che- mulpo that ‘the Christians in Korea continue to fall away, in spite of severe attempts of the missionaries to thwart their defection. It seems to have grown to be quite a fashion there, and even in the district of Chemulpo, the port of Seoul, a falling off of forty per cent in the number of adherents is noted.’ ” 16 The facts made known to us from the missionaries, who are best acquainted with the whole situation, are as follows: The paper from which the rumor given currency by The Independent emanates has been known for its violent anti- Christian sentiments, and on at least one occasion of which we have knowledge, it was censured by the Governor- General for circulating mischievous and false statements concerning Christianity in Korea. Over against the state- ment of the paper that there has been a falling off of forty per cent in the Christian adherents in Chemulpo is the direct statement from the Rev. W. A. Noble, district superintend- ent of the work in that region, to the effect that not only has there been no defection among the Christians, but that as the result of the recent special evangelistic movement, several hundred were added to our Church in the city of Chemulpo itself. Furthermore, at the last session of the Korea Annual Conference the three Methodist Episcopal churches in the city of Seoul showed a net gain in membership of 2,500. During the month of October a special evan- gelistic campaign was carried on in the capital city, in which the ]\Iethodist and Presbyterian churches united, during which over ten thousand Koreans signed cards expressing their determination to become Christians, and it is reported that fully five hundred of these have already joined the Church. Following the campaign in Seoul special efforts were undertaken in other missionary centers. At Pyeng Yang it is reported that two thousand have been added to the Christian Church. In one of the country districts over a thousand have given up heathenism to become followers of our Lord. These reports might be multiplied. The suggestion that many who have joined the Church may have done so for political reasons, because they got the idea that it would help Korea against Japan, is misleading, for if thus it is intended to claim that the only motive im- pelling these people to join the Christian Church is that of lodging a protest against Japan or of securing a base by 17 "which they may operate against the new government, the claim is utterly aside from the facts of the situation. It is the universal testimony of many laymen and tourists who have visited Korea, as well as of the missionaries, that the Korean converts are men animated by sincere and genuine motives in accepting Christianity. There is no doubt that the political sorrows of their nation have led the Koreans to turn to the comfort and consolation and the hope of better things found only in the Christian gospel. But never with the idea of political betterment. The Independent also alludes questioningly to the Million Movement — the movement undertaken to add one million