KANOhW CM EMU The Methodist Episcopal Church C f & Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/koreamissionofOOappe Rev. HENRY O. APPENZELLER, D.D. THE KOREA MISSION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IiY The Rev. HENRY G. APPENZELLER, D.D. Published by the OPEN DOOR EMERGENCY COMMISSION 150 Fifth Avenue, New York Price ..ENTS. Dr. Appenzeller was the leader in found- ing and developing the Korea Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; serving for a number of years as superintendent of the mission and president of the college at Seoul. In every department of the work his active influence was felt. He combined high scholar- ship and devotion to the spiritual interests of the people with rare ability and service in public affairs, and was held in peculiar honor and esteem by the Emperor, whom he was able to assist in a time of disturbance. It trives a pathetic interest to this careful sketch of Korean missionary progress to know that it was among the last things coming from his pen before the sad event of his drowning by the sinking of the Kumagawa, the boat upon which he was en routt to the session of a com- mittee engaged in translating the Scriptures. This occurred on the evening of June 11th, 1902. KOREA MISSION I. PHYSICAL FEATURES AND GOVERNMENT Korea, or Great Han, is a small country in the eastern part of Asia. Situated between Japan and China, its geo- graphical position is important. The country, a peninsula, lies between the parallels of 34° 17' and 43° Position north latitude, and is, roughly speaking, about 600 and miles in length from north to south and 135 miles Coast Line in width from east to west. Its greatest width is at the north. It has 1,740 miles of sea border and some good harbors. The east coast is steep and rocky, the tide rises and falls from one to two feet only ; the west coast is level and the tide rises and falls from twenty-six to thirty-eight feet. In area Korea contains about 80,000 square miles, being somewhat smaller than New York and Pennsyl vania combined. It touches Russian territory on the northeast for eleven miles. The Tumen, a shal Area, Rivers, low stream, separates Korea from Russia on the and east, and the Yalu, a swift stream, separates her Mountains from China on the west. Both rivers have their sources in the sacred mountain Paik-to-san (Ever White Head Peak), an extinct volcano, 8,000 feet high. In the crater, at a depth of a hundred feet or more, is a lake of great depth and of surpassing beauty. The country is hilly throughout, having been likened unto the sea in a tierce gale. A mountain range runs nearly parallel to the eastern coast and forms the backbone of the country. A few of the highest peaks reach an altitude of 5,000 feet, but the majority do not exceed 4,000 feet. The most famous of all the mountains in Korea are the Diamond Mountains in the province of Kang-Wen, “a region containing exquisite mountain and sylvan scenery,” to quote the gifted author of “Korea and Her Neighbors,” who made an extensive visit to them. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WELL. There are no plains worthy the name and no lakes at all. There are no long rivers, and besides the two mentioned above, we may name the Tai tong, on whose beautiful banks stands Pyeng yang, the most important city in northern Korea; the Han, which Hows within a few miles b of Seoul and empties its Hood into the Yellow Sea, sixty miles below the capital , and the Nak-tong, in the southern part, providing water for the extensive and productive rice fields of North and South Kyeng-Sang provinces. The climate varies from tropic heat in the south to severe cold in the distant north. In the extreme south there is little or no snow, while in the valleys and moun- tains of the far north the ground is covered with Climate snow and ice from three to four months. In Seoul, situated between the parallels of 37 u and 38° north latitude, the thermometer goes down as low as zero, but only for a few days. For a month or six weeks residents of the capital boast of good, crisp winter weather. In the fall, as the days shorten, the cold slowly and steadily tightens its grip until the extreme point is reached in January. A cloudless sky and a clear sun go far to give a Korean winter the reputation for being “absolutely superb.” The “early rains” are in March or April, and the “latter rains” in July and August, when at times the windows of heaven seem to be open and the rain descends in torrents. Korea is an empire with a population of about twelve millions, and is known by its people as Great Han. There are thirteen gubernatorial and three hundred and sixty-four magisterial districts. The Emperor Form of rules as absolute monarch and the system of Government government is patriarchal. The Emperor is father or head ; the official class, the oldest sons ; the remaining sons and daughters, i. e., the common people, are the ones to be ruled. The Emperor rules by virtue of a right from heaven and he can never do wrong. There may be corruption in the several departments; there may be petty or heavy oppression of the people; there may be misgovernment everywhere, but these are one and all attributed to the officials who neglect or refuse to carry out the benevolent laws promulgated by their gracious master. I have heard of and read most scathing denunciations of rapacious and unscrupulous officials, but never an unkind word or even an implied censure of the conduct or rule of their sovereign. “The King can never do wrong, and he who says the King has not done well is to be treated as an enemy.” This tenet is believed by patrician’and plebian alike and governs political utterance and action in the empire to-day. The family, not the in- dividual, is the unit in Korea. The father is responsible for the conduct of his family. A prodigal son, an over- ALTAR USED AT THE CORONATION SERVICE, ambitious office seeker, may waste the resources of the family, but the father, the representative head, must make good the losses sustained. His Majesty the Emperor belongs to the ruling or Ye dynasty, which came into power in 1892. The Emperor, whom I have seen in audiences accorded at various times, was born in 1851; chosen king in 1864; married The Emperor in 1866 to Princess Min ; he is somewhat be- yond fifty years of age, and has reigned about forty years. He is, as compared with the ordinary Korean, 8 rather under size, being about five feet three or four inches high. His face is handsome; when composed, the expression is somewhat inanimate, but when engaged in conversation it brightens into a kindly and pleasing smile. His voice is pleasant, well modulated, and he speaks TEMPLE WHERE THE EMPEROR WORSHIPS. rapidly, readily and distinctly. In talking, he is vivacious and speaks with nervous energy. His Majesty has always been very accessible to for- eigners. Many audiences have been extended not only to the diplomatic representatives, on his birthdays and other national holidays or birthdays, but also to unofficial resi- dents and distinguished visitors to the capital. But 9 little ceremony is required at these audiences, and his majesty is affable and unceremonious, always kindly ad- dressing more or less conversation to each person admitted. The Emperor, like most of his subjects, is a Confucian- ist, but in the strict sense of the term there is no state or national religion. Toleration in religious matters has marked his reign. The persecution of the Cath- Spirit of olics in 1866 was carried on during the regency Toleration of his father, the national Grand Duke or Tai Wun Knu, and before the present ruler assumed full control. On the occasion of the audience accorded to our own Bishop Ninde in the early part of 1895, His Majesty not only expressed his appreciation of the good work done by the “teachers,” as he terms the missionaries, but uttered those memorable words which the Church cannot and must not be permitted to forget, “Send more teachers.” Seoul, or Soul (so-oul) means capital, that is, the resi- dence of the ruler. It is the largest city in the empire, is situated three miles from the Han River, and twenty five miles from Chemulpo, the port, and has a population Seoul, the of about 200.000. It was founded in 1395 in the third Capital year of the reign of the founder of the present dy- nasty, when he discarded Song-do, the capital of the last dynasty, for a more favorable site. It is a walled city. The wall, we are told by the chroniclers, is 9,975 yards, or nearly six miles long, forty-two feet high, pierced by eight massive gates, and was built in nine months, no less than 198 000 men taking part in its construction. Seoul is pleasantly situated between the mountain peaks of Poukhan on the north and Namsan on the south; the city wall climbs the most precipitous ridges ; the views from it, both within and without the city, are varied and ex- tensive; the imperial palaces with their imposing audience halls, spacious grounds and beautiful trees are in marked contrast with the straw huts of the humble subjects; the main streets leading from the principal gates are fifty-six feet wide, and form the great thoroughfares of travel and 10 traffic; electric cars, pack ponies, officials in sedan chairs, departmental clerks in jinrikishas, common people on foot, foreigners on bicycles, coolies with heavy burdens on their jiggies, women with bundles of clothing on their heads, small boys going to or returning from school or on errands for parents or employers fill the streets all day long. Seoul is known as the city of 3,000 officials, that being the num- ber of men re- quired to ad- minister public affairs in the capital, while Hot ) suffice for the rest of the country. As in Italy all the roads lead to Rome, so in Korea Molds everything Public leads to Thought Seoul, and everybody longs to go to Seoul. As the Emperor and his cabinet re- side here, Seoul naturally does the thinking for the whole people. What Seoul does what Seoul carrying the baby. ll thinks, the country does and thinks. Shortly after the close of the war between Japan and China, when the progressive spirit was ascendant, I suggested to an in- telligent Christian in Pyeng-yang that the initiative in a certain reform movement might be taken by them. His answer was characteristic as showing the mental attitude of the country people: “Seoul must take the lead and we will follow.” The same feeling is forcibly illustrated in the example given in one of the reports read at an annual meet- ing of our mission. The literati of Kyo-dang Island when they met to offer the semi-annual sacrifices at the temple of Confucius were much excited at the Methodist Christian attempting to come among them. They determined to run him off the island. To this end they appointed a committee to wait on the prefect and call his attention to the Christian, and petition that the intruder be cast out. The answer of the prefect was that the Christians have built churches beside the very palace in Seoul, showing that His Majesty the Emperor is pleased to have them among his people. If the Christians have the right to dwell in Seoul and carry on their work, it is folly to attempt to drive them out of a third grade pre fecture. No further interference was attempted. The objective of Christian effort should be to take the capital for the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything, com- mercial, educational, official, centers and culminates in Seoul. Spiritual and active churches, strong schools, and well equipped hospitals are of supreme importance in the largest and most influential city of the Empire. Success here means success everywhere. II. NATIVE RELIGIONS The visitor to Korea at first fails to see any visible signs of religious life among the people. Naturally and properly he looks for this manifestation in Seoul. But there is nothing in the capital that looks like a temple ; aside from the temple to the god of war outside the 12 13 NATIVE SCHOOL. south gate, there is little or nothing to attract the atten- tion of the casual observer. He is apt to jump to the conclusion, as has been done, that here is a people without a religion, a conclusion both hasty and unwar- First ranted. He has failed to see in the back yard of Impression the better class houses a small building detached Misleading from the rest and kept in better repair. This is the ancestral tablet house, containing wooden tablets in the shape of a cross of the last four generations of the family. This house is visited on the anniversary of the death of the father or mother, and during the twenty-seven months, the period of greater mourning, wailings, prostrations and sacrifices are here observed on the first and fifteenth of each month. He did not notice the small stake in the yard around which straw is wrapped and capped with a discarded sandal and a small piece of white paper with a sentiment on it to act as a charm. This stake represents a form of fetichism and is placed there to the honor of the god of site, whose good will is assured by proper obeisance and sacrifices. He saw a heap of stones at the top of high passes, rude shrines containing bright pictures of mythical beings, large distorted trees with bits of rags and old shoes tied to the limbs and stones thrown at the base; he Signs of saw passers-by bow to, and sometimes spit at. Shamanism these trees; he noticed rows of grotesque figures on the ridgepoles of imperial buildings, govern- ment buildings, and on the roofs of the city gates. He watched blind men, sorcerers, feeling their way along the street with a long staff to the house of some high official, to cast out, by means of wand and divining tortoise box, some foul spirit that brought misfortune or serious illness to the family; or perchance he may be on a more con- genial mission of selecting a lucky day for the nuptials of two high contracting parties. The visitor heard before he reached Seoul beating drums and clanging cymbals; he saw costly and elaborate offerings of wine and fruit ; he looked upon the sorceress, who, with whirling dance 11 in the midst of the anxious inmates of the house, and an indifferent, gaping crowd outside, essayed to cast out the spirit that brought the disaster to the home — all these tilings are external manifestations of the cult known as KOREAN SCHOLAR. Shamanism. It busies itself with securing and retaining the good will of innumerable spirits that have their abode in earth and sky. in umbrageous tree by the roadside and in peaceful agricultural valley, in tiled roof of the patrician and in the straw thatch of the humble peasant. 15 Now turn from the main road, follow yonder man in grass cloth, shaven head, beehive-shaped hat, rosary around his neck and staff in hand. He bows low Buddhist and speaks pleasantly to acquaintances. He climbs Priest and the mountain path, descends a ravine and finally Temple comes to several large buildings in a shady re- treat or in a mountain fortress. The man is a Buddhist priest and the buildings are a Buddhist temple. Buddhism was introduced from China in 371 A.D. It has had its seasons of influence and its periods of decline; of favor at court and with common people : of large and prosperous monasteries and of neglected and ruined Fortunes temples. There were times when monks filled of civil and military positions; many had families, and Buddhism the inventor of the twenty-five letters of the Korean alphabet — Syel-chong — was a son of an eminent Buddhist priest. They meddled in politics, which was one of the leading causes of the downfall of the last dynasty more than 500 years ago and of their rigid ex- clusion from Seoul for more than five centuries. In ancient times, so the classics tell us, there lived a king whose name was Paruri. Visiting Buddha, he said, “ My kingdom is small and for several years has been ravaged by pestilence. Grain is scarce, the people are weary and I am never at ease. The treasury of the law is deep and wide. I have not had the ability to cultivate my conduct, but I now wish to understand the law, Its Law even to its minutest part.” To this Buddha replied, “Ah, what a great king. If you wish all your doubts and perplexities to be destroyed, string up suitably 108 beads. Keep them continually with you and with your heart and mind reverently chant; Hail Buddha! Hail Dharma! HailSangha! Then slowly take the beads one by one until by degrees you will have counted ten and twenty. After you have been able to count twenty myriads you will be tranquil, not disturbed in either mind or body, and there will be complete destruction of all evil desires in your heart. At the end of time, when you J6 descend (i. e., die) to be born in Yama (the heaven of good time), if you are able to recite the rosary 100 myriad times you will avoid the 108 places (». e., attain Nirvana), and will attain to the great fruit of everlasting bliss.” The king said, “ I will receive this law.” Korea has “received this law.” The priests in their temples in the mountain retreats form processions, chant the virtue of Buddha, bow before the expressionless image, present offerings of the fruits of the ground, burn incense, make numerous and humble prostrations, count the rosary and drone over their prayers, Om mahni padmi hum, “Hail, thou jewel in the Lotus.” This is Buddhism in action. Confucianism is a system of ethics. It is not a religion ; it teaches nothing of a man’s duty to a higher being. It is true that a vast difference is recognized between the “superior man” and the ordinary mortal, but Confucianism no explanation for the difference is offered. Con- fucianism has given to the Korean his “concep- tion of duty and his standard of morality.” My personal friend and fellow-worker of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Hon. T. H. Yun, a man of commanding ability and undoubted patriotism, in an article published several years ago maintains that “Confucianism is agnostic ; that it makes no clear distinction between things mental and things moral, that it knows no higher ideal than man ; that in trying to make men keep the impossible doctrine of the mean, it makes them mean, narrow, calculating, revengeful, ever ready with specious excuses and never given to generous adventures.” Confucianism degrades woman by classifying her with menials and slaves and by making her virtuous in proportion to her stupidity. Mr. Yun thinks that “a system of ethics yielding the fruit of agnosticism, selfishness, arrogance, despotism, degrada- tion of woman, cannot be pronounced good. If other countries can make a better use of it, Korea is or ought to be willing enough to part with it.” Christian missions, by teaching a purer, holier and better system, are helping Korea to get rid of this baneful system of ethics. ir Shamanism, Buddhism and Confucianism are the three religions in Korea to-day. They have had undisputed sway over the hearts and minds of the people, and what is the result? Superstitions of the grossest forms; Results licentiousness and immorality universal; corruption of False and oppression everywhere. From the hour of his Faiths birth until the spirit leaves the body the Korean is surrounded and tormented by the innumerable spirits with which Shamanism fills the air and Buddhism his mind. Poverty is general. Woman is held in low esteem, GROUP OF CHRISTIAN GRANDMOTHERS. life and property are insecure, and political intrigue of every form is practised. A Bishop of our church, while on an Episcopal tour here, saw the dilapidated and wretched condition of the mud and straw huts, beheld the low condition of the people and said, they are “the heel of humanity.” And yet Korea is a well watered country; her valleys yield abundant crops of excellent rice ; her plains, even under the indifferent cultivation of the average husbandman, yield good returns. 18 III. METHODIST EPISCOPAL MISSION We begin with our own Church. The honor of propos- ing the opening of mission work in Korea belongs to the Rev. John F. Goucher, D.D., of Baltimore. In 1883 he was traveling across the continent and met the first Opening Korean Embassy on its way to Washington. He of the made the acquaintance of the members, chief of Work whom was Prince Min Yong Ik. He became interested in the story they told of themselves and their country, and invited them to visit him at his home. But his interest did not end there. He wrote to the Superin- tendent of the Japan Mission, the Rev. R. S. Maclay, D.D., requesting him to visit Korea to “spy out the land,” and judge of the possibilities for Christian work. This was in 1883, and in June, the next year, Dr. Maclay, ac- companied by Mrs. Maclay, visited Korea. They were made welcome at the United States Legation in Seoul by Minister Foote and his wife. A paper setting forth the desires and object of Christian missionaries was sent to the King, and assurance was given that mission work might be opened, and that medical and educational work would be especially acceptable. Dr. Maclay was thus able to make a favorable report. Dr. Goucher in the meantime made a special donation to the missionary society of §2,000, so that the Board had, with the ap- propriation made in 1883, §5,000 at its disposition to open work in the Hermit Nation. The way was now open, and toward the close of 1884, William B. Scranton, M.D., and the Rev. H. G. Appenzeller were appointed the first missionaries. At the very time when Dr. Scranton was ordained in New York, First the entente on Dec. 4th took place in Seoul; Missionaries the leaders of the progressive party were not only driven from power, but from the country as well. The missionaries, ignorant of the full import of these changes, continued their preparations to leave their homes. They sailed from San Francisco, Feb. 3, 1885, 19 MAP OF KOREA J 1 eiut £ •fUwlom.e tr & Co .EdiuT arrived in Japan and counseled with Dr. Maclay and the friends there. It was a time of anxiety. The greatest uneasiness and uncertainty prevailed about Korea. Japan- ese and Chinese troops in Seoul had come into collision ; high Korean officials of both progressive and conservative parties had been killed, and the royal palace itself as- saulted. After tarrying a month in Japan it was deemed advisable for the missionary party to divide, and the preacher and his wife went on ahead. They arrived safely at Chemulpo on Easter Sunday, the 5th of April. Doctor Scranton arrived a month later, and went on to Seoul, where he arrived May 3d. In the capital the mission was located in the western part of the city by the purchase of real estate. There was much to do and little with which to do it. Native houses had to be repaired or “ made over,” as a room eight Pioneer feet square was not thought sufficiently large; the Problems language had to be studied; dispensary and hospital opened; school had to be begun. There were no books and tracts available. The missionaries had to make their tools before they could begin their work. They went out to gain converts to Christ, but, as everywhere else, they found that the language had to be acquired be- fore they could do much with the people. Dr. Scranton “opened ” medical work by treating in his own home the first sick man who came seeking relief, and the teacher gave instruction, thus “ opening ” school to the first pupils who came to him. It was the day of beginnings, of small things, but the missionaries were unspeakably happy in being in the counfry and in taking these first steps of the great work of evangelizing the millions in this land. The first annual meeting was held in August, 1885. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society sent Mrs. M. F. Scranton, mother of Dr. Scranton, at the same time to Korea to begin missionary work among the women and girls. Mrs. Scranton brought to the service the Woman’s most ample preparation of mind and heart, and Work was pre eminently successful in laying broad and 22 deep and sure the foundations. She founded Ewa School, now the foremost girls’ school in the country. One of its students, Dr. Esther Kim Pak, has taken a medical course in the United States, being the first woman of Korea to receive such training, and displays remarkable ability and mental power, in both medical and regular missionary work in and about Seoul. In their early days, when there were few foreigners in the country, and the object of missionaries was unknown, or at best was but partially known, wrong impressions were inevitable, and unwarranted inferences natural. It was given out at one time that women desiring more instruc- tion in the Bible than could lie imparted at the Sunday services, might come to the school during the winter months and be taught. Some came saying they believed, but to study more might displease their friends; would the lady, therefore, kindly “agree to keep them a long time, or even always, and by and by give them employ- ment ? ” One woman felt her social rank demanded the attention of a servant; would the lady provide her with one ? To such and many others the ladies felt they had no call. The first baptism was administered in the summer of 1887, while on Christmas following the first sermon in Korean ever preached by a Methodist preacher was preached from the text, “ Thou shalt call his First Baptism name Jesus, for he shall save his people from and Quarterly their sins.” It is believed that the gracious Conference success given to the mission is due to the faithful preaching of the doctrine taught in this verse. Two years later, that is, in 1889, the first quarterly conference was organized, so that in less than five years from the date of entrance Methodism had a foothold in Seoul. With a foothold in the capital the missionaries were not content. In 1886 Dr. Scranton made an overland trip from Seoul to Weu-san, the northeastern port, a distance of 150 miles. The next year Mr. Appenzeller New Centers. visited Pyeng-yang. the largest and most im- Pyeng-yang portant city in northern Korea. It was founded by a fugitive Chinese statesman who came over with five thousand followers in the days when David was king at Jerusalem. His name is Kija, and he is re- garded as the founder of Korean civilization. His well is still at Pyeng-yang, and on a high hill to the north of the city is his tomb. Pyeng-yang is the second city in the Empire. It has a population of between 75,000 and 80,000 inhabitants ; its people are free and independent, full of energy and spirit. The writer, who was the first missionary to visit the city, was deeply impressed with its strength. In 1888 the city was visited and some Chris- tian work attempted. Other members of the mission made occasional visits, but it was not until 1892 that a man was appointed there. This man was William William J. Hall, M.D. He located in the city, secured prop- J. Hall erty, healed the sick, won the good will of some and succeeded in gaining the ill will of others. These were the means of imprisoning and torturing one of our 24 native workers. Dr. Hall labored earnest ly for two years. Immediately after the great battle between the Japanese and Chi- nese armies here in Sep- tember, 185)4, Dr. Hall, with two missionaries of the Presbyterian Church, visited his field. The little company of believers was most glad to see him, and it re- joiced his heart to find them so faithful and firm “under such trying circumstances — true heroes for Christ.” He writes: “My patients are increasing daily. I have several cases of gunshot wounds. I use my bamboo cot for a stretcher and our ( hristians are the ambulance staff.” He baptized three men ami a boy the last Sunday he was in the city. On the journey back to Seoul he contracted typhus fever and he reached home but to die. But E. Douglas Follwell, M.D., followed and took up the work, and the Rev. W. A. Noble has also labored in this field as missionary and presiding elder of the North Korea District. M bile missionaries were turning their attention to the north of Korea, they could not overlook Chemulpo, for being the port of Seoul, they “must needs go through" it on their way to the capital. Chemulpo is the Chemulpo most important open port in the country. In 1882, and when the treaty was signed there, it had a few Kanghwa fishermen s huts : now it is a cosmopolitan center, Japanese, Chinese, Europeans and Koreans being found there in large numbers. The Korean portion of the town' has a population of about 15,000, and it is at once DR. WILLIAM J. HALL. 25 composed of the best and worst elements in the Empire. The superintendent of the mission, recognizing the strat- egical importance of the place, secured a foothold, and in 1889 located a native worker there. In 1S91 a chape was built, and in 1892 the Rev. George Heber Jones began his labors there, and in the Island of Kanghwa, which he once described as “a Methodist preacher’s paradise.” AVen-san, the northeastern port, was early visited but could not be occupied until 1892, when W. B. McGill, 51. D., moved there. For nearly ten years he healed the sick, traveled the country for miles and miles Wen-san around, teaching the people, selling Scriptures and tracts by the thousands, winning for himself the en- viable reputation as one of the most successful distributers of Christian literature in the country. In order to con- serve our own energy and promote the interest of our common Methodism, the mission recommended the trans- ference of this station to the Mission of the Methodist PYENG-YAXG HATS. •J6 Episcopal Church, South. This was acted upon favorably in 1901 and our sister church is now entrusted with this part of our Korean field. This is our understanding of comity or union on the mission field. In 1893 Dr. Scranton traveled a circuit to the south of Seoul and started several preaching places. Several years later this was enlarged, the Rev. W. C. Swearer being as- signed to it. It now extends south of Seoul a hundred miles, and has been formed into the South Korea District. Let us come back again to the capital. The handful of Christians whom we left there in 1889, at the organiza- tion of the first quarterly conference, has grown so that now we have three churches fully organized Later and doing effective work. The school in 1887 Developments received its name, given by the King. It is Pai at Seoul Chai Hakdang, and may be freely translated, “Hall for Rearing Useful Men.” Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop, the famous English traveler and writer, vis- ited Korea four times while gathering material for her book, “ Korea and Her Neighbors.” She has a chapter on “Education and Foreign Trade,” and after speaking of all the schools then (1807) in the capital, says of this one: " Undoubtedly the establishment which has exercised and is exercising the most powerful educational, moral and intellectual influence in Korea is the Pai Chai College, so named by the King in 1887. This, which belongs to the American Methodist Episcopal Church, has had the ad vantage of the services of one principal for eleven years. This college is undoubtedly making a decided impression, and is giving, besides a liberal education, a measure of that broader intellectual view and deepened moral sense which may yet prove the salvation of Korea. Christian instruction is given in Korean and attendance at chapel is compulsory.” The conservative spirit, now very strong in government circles, has acted unfavorably upon the number in attendance, which is not as large as it was when Mrs. Bishop wrote. The school was never more imbued with a Christian spirit than at present, and some of tlie brightest Christians and most efficient workers were converted while in school. The Methodist Publishing House of Korea, the only Christian institution of its kind in the country, was started in 1889 as an aid to the needy students in the school. It has now grown beyond its first stage as an indus- Publishing trial department, though worthy students still House find work to do. This house is already recognized as an essential factor in the evangelization of this people. The agents, the Rev. D. A. Bunker and the Rev. S. A. Beck, are pushing the interests of Christian literature; the output in Scriptures and books has already run up into millions of pages. Since 1894 a general bookstore has been maintained in the center of the city. Books in Clii nese as well as in the native Enmun character are sold. Books on medicine, science, history and geography are eagerly purchased by Koreans who as yet have not mani- fested any direct interest in the Christian religion. The aim is to supply good literature. The annual sales amount to over three thousand volumes. Thus far we have spoken of outward growth of out- work. A few words about the native workers are neces- sary, for it is truth accepted everywhere that the great and heavy part of the work of evangelizing the Native country must be done by its own people. Metal- workers odism is raising up in Korea a band of consecrated, earnest workers. The Epworth League among the young is tiaining men and women for great future use- fulness. In 1887 a young man twenty-three years of age came seeking admittance to our school in Seoul. His name was Kang Chei Hyong. He came from Quelpart, the large island south of Korea. He hoped to secure rank by pass- ing the civil service examination, but found he was stranded financially long before he reached his goal. He was directed to the foreigners, of whom he had vague and most uncomplimentary notions, but necessity urged him thither. He was admitted to the school and was soon 28 found to lie an apt student. He applied to the principal for help, and a Christian book was given him to be trans- lated. He took the book, looked it over, saw its contents, in a general way, at least, and returned it to the The Apt teacher with the remark that he would be decapitated Student if the government knew he had such a book in his possession. This undoubtedly represented the attitude of the people towards Christianity in these early days of our labors. It is well known that the high class students in the Royal College, opened in 1886, drew the pencil across the word Cod and refused to pronounce it when they came to it in their reading. A year later Hyong received baptism, proved himself a most proficient student, was given a local preacher’s license, and when a missionary was lo- cated at Chemulpo, he was made junior preacher on that circuit, where he labored with zeal and increasing fidelity until his death in 1895. He died before he was thirty one years old, but lived long enough to illustrate in his own life the transforming power of divine grace in the Korean heart. At the annual meeting in 1901 Bishop Moore ordained two local preachers deacons. They are men of iron, as the name Kim implies. Both have endured with firm- ness and one has been tried as by fire. The first, Kim Men Chang Sik, is a man somewhat advanced in years, of Iron Early in the nineties he was coming to Seoul, found a string of cash in the road, picked it up, and when he met the owner a little fur- ther on he restored it to him. The two then continued their journey to the capi tal. In return for the restoration of the money the man from the country was in- troduced by his new-found friend to a missionary, and he was given the position of gateman. In the missionary’s home he saw Chinese New Testaments ; his curios ity prompted examination ; curiosity de veloped into interest. He bought one, which he read in his own room. He was convicted of sin, or, as he said, “he felt a pain in his heart.” The more he read the worse the pain grew. He went to the missionary. Confession, repentance, faith and prayer were prescribed and observed. The “pain” was taken away; he was saved from sin. The new power made him a better servant and sent him forth to tell his friends. In 1894 he was sent to his old home in Pyeng-yang to help Dr. Hall in his work there. He went gladly, but certain “lewd fellows of the baser sort” stirred up strife and the people against the missionary and his helpers. Kim, with several others, was arrested because they were associated with the foreigner and were Christians. They were put into prison, beaten and placed in the stocks. “Curse God and forsake the service of the foreigner, and you will be released.” The others yielded, but Kim, though he had been removed to the death cell, from which he had no reason to hope he would come out alive, in the same glorious spirit that was in Polycarp of old, said to his tormentors and judges, “ God loves me and has for- given me my sins; how can I curse Him? The foreigner is kind and pays my honest wages; why should I forsake him?” This noble confession was made in the courtyard before the mayor and his attendants. Orders to release the men had been sent from Seoul, and the mayor was glad to dismiss his prisoner. On his way home he was severely stoned, but he had borne faithful testimony to his Lord and Saviour, and though bruised in body he was calm in spirit. This brave confession made an immense impression upon the people of the city. Is it any wonder that this man’s preaching is believed ? From that day to this, now nearly eight years, he has grown steadily in grace and efficiency. He travels a large circuit, and never skips a village or hamlet. His life and zeal are an inspiration to our church. The second man ordained last year is one of the gentlest and meekest of our Korean Christians. He lived 30 in Chemulpo ten years ago. Church services were held by the superintendent, who lived in Seoul. At the end of the year the only visible results of his labors was this man, who gave his name as a probationer. He was Varied sick, and his confession was, “Whether I recover Talents from this sickness or not, I must do this doctrine.” When a missionary went to live at Chemulpo, this man received special attention, and he soon developed into a faithful disciple. In Chemulpo, in Wen-san, in the Yellow Province he is making full proof of his ministry, and may God spare him for many years of usefulness. There are others following; men from the literary class and men from the farm; men who have declined official promotion and pecuniary advancement, in order to be free to preach the blessed Gospel. They are coming up by the way of the class leader, exhorter, local preacher, tried and tested at every point; men who have experience ami men who realize that courage and devotion, and the power of the Holy Spirit are needed to save this land from its lost condition. It is less than fifteen years since the first man was baptized; a few months more than twelve years since the first Quarterly Conference was organized. We Summary have now (statistics of 1902) three presiding elders’ of districts, 1,296 members ; 4,559 proba- Results tioners ; 14 local preachers ; 47 Sunday- schools, and 47 churches. The church contributed for pastoral support, current ex- penses, church buildings and benevolent causes, 3,220 yen, or §1,600. “What hath God wrought! ” IV. WORK OF OTHER CHURCHES AND AGENCIES In the summer of 1884 II. N. Allen, M.D., of Nanking, China, visited Korea, and decided to remain, and to him belongs the honor of begin- ning the first mission and of opening the country 31 "l * rp O SYEK HYENG. Local Preacher. to medical and Christian work. At the time of the emeute the following December he rendered such eminent, skillful and successful services to Prince Min Yong Ik, who was horribly mutilated in the melee, that Presbyterian he attracted the immediate and favorable at- Churches tention of the court. In April the next year the Royal Government Hospital was opened under the directorship of Dr. Allen. Over 10,000 patients were treated the first year and great good was done in breaking down the stupid and unreasoning preju- dice against foreigners. In the spring of this same year the Rev. H. G. Underwood and J. AY. Heron, M.D., came to Korea. The former engaged in evangelistic work, and the latter at once entered the hospital. About the year 1890 the movement towards the evangelization of those beyond Seoul began. In Pyeng-yang, under the leadership of the Rev. S. A. Moffett, D.D., one of the greatest works of grace found anywhere in the whole world has gone on and has spi'ead over fifty-four counties. In the southern part of the Empire the mission has stations at Fusan and Taiku. This is the strongest Protestant mission in the country, though all the Presbyterian missions in Korea work together and do not overlap. This mission in 1901 had 4,784 members, and numbered 17 559 catechumens and adherents. These contributed for all purposes $6,400. The Australian Presbyterian Mission was founded by Rev. John Henry Davies and his sister in 1889. The mis- sion has but one station, and that is at Fusan. The Southern Presbyterian Mission was opened in 1*92 by the arrival of six missionaries. They remained in Seoul for a few years, and then moved to the two Chel-La provinces in the southwestern part of Korea. Here they have three well manned and well located stations at Chen ju, the capital, Mok-po and Kun san. The Presbyterian Church of Xova Scotia began work in AVen-san in 1897 and have the whole northeastern country allotted to them. They have stations at AVen-san, Ham- heung and Seng-chen. The Methodist Episcopal Church. South, visited Korea in 1895 in the persons of Bishop Hendrix and the Rev. C. F. Reid, D.D. The mission was opened the next year with Dr. Reid as superintendent. They have three Methodist stations, Seoul, Song-do and Wen-san, and an Episcopal extensive and rapidly growing country work. Church, South The mission had, in the year 1901, seventeen foreign workers, 900 members and probationers and raised the preceding year nearly 8300 for the support of the Gospel. The two Methodist missions are working in harmony in Korea. In theological classes for helpers the two combine. May they unite in a general educational policy. The Young Men’s Christian Association entered Korea in 1900 by the appointment of Mr. Phillip L. Gillett. general secretary. The work of the Bible Societies must not be over- looked in a review of the agencies at work in evan- gelizing this country. The American Bible Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the National Association Bible Society of Scotland, are carrying on the and Bible work of translating, publishing and circulating the Societies Scriptures. On the Board of Translators have served the Rev. H. G. Underwood, D.D. , and the Rev. J. S. Gale of the North Presby- terian Mission ; the Rev. W. B. Scran- ton, D.D., and the Rev. H. G. Appen- zeller of the Methodist Episcopal Mis- sion ; and the Rev. W. D. Reynolds of the Presbyterian Church, South. The New Testament has been completed and much work done on the Old. The cir- culation in Bibles and Old Testaments (Chinese), 371; New Testaments, 5,384; portions of Scriptures, 23,272 ; or a grand total of 29,027 books as the total output for one year. The Church of England Mission in 33 SUSAN NO. Pyeng-yang Bible Woman. Korea was started in the winter of 1890-91 by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Charles John Corfe, D.D., sometime chaplain in the Royal Navy. Six missionaries and two doctors Church of formed the original staff. It has three stations, England Seoul, Chemulpo and on the island of Kanghwa. There are twenty-four workers in the mission, and medical work is receiving special attention. The mission of the Roman Catholic Church is the oldest and the largest Christian mission in Korea. The first European missionary reached the Hermit Kingdom in 1863, but work had been done here long before that Roman time. The mission is conducted by the missionaries Catholic of the Societe des Missions des Estrangeres of France, Mission and not, as is frequently supposed, by the Jesuits. The most imposing as well as the most prominent building in Seoul is the cathedral, erected at a cost of about $40,000. Bishop G. Mutel is at the head of the mission, and he has a large corps of priests and nuns. Within the last decade several Koreans have been or- dained priests. They number 43,000 communicants and 7,000 catechumens. The Greek Church of Russia sent priests to Korea in 1896, not, as it was then alleged, with the primary object of converting Koreans, but for the benefit of the Greek Russians in Korea. The services are held in a part Church of the large legation building. In more recent years Koreans have been admitted, On a Sunday morning in 1901 at the hour for worship we were standing on our front porch. From the east came the sweet tones of the cathedral bell calling Catholics to their mass ; from the north the chimes at the Sabbath Russian Legation called “devout Greeks” to their Bells service ; from the hill opposite the house came the sounds of the bell calling the Methodists of First Church to their devotion. Thus, in this city where, when we first came, there were no cathedrals, temples or churches, now there are numerous places to which Koreans can go and worship the Lord their God. May 34 the day not be far distant when true worshippers from the east, from the north, from the south and from the west, shall everywhere crowd the courts of the Lord’s house on His day, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. V. THE CALL TO ADVANCE The last century marked a good beginning in Christian work in Korea. Strategical points were occupied. The ban- ner of our King was unfurled. We have some good Chris- tian tracts and the whole of the New Testament A Good in the native tongue ; we have hospitals in the Beginning chief cities, and a few schools begun ; we have places of worship in the principal cities and towns, and in many hamlets. The call now is for us to advance and take the whole Empire for the Lord Jesus Christ. We give a few reasons or tokens of encouragement. The wonderful success God has given His servants in the past should spur us on to greater efforts in the future. God has opened wide the doors that once were so tightly SEOUL CHRISTIAN WOJIEN AND GIRLS. 35 closed. The missionary goes every where and finds a ready hearing always. With this comes the greatest responsi- bility. The people are calling and we may not be in- different. They must be fed. The condition of the The Spur people is hopeless without the uplifting, refining, of Success sanctifying power of the Gospel. This is being and Need recognized more and more by the more progres- sive Koreans. A young man, formerly a member of our school, sent us recently an article written in intelli- gible English, in which he gives expression to this senti- ment: “As far as spiritual salvation is concerned Chris- tianity is the only foundation upon which the future prosperity of our country can be based.” He is simply stating an historical truth. Buddhism wrecked the last dynasty after a supremacy of four hundred and Heathen eighty years; Confucianism has held sway for more Religions than five hundred years, and has brought the country a Failure to the verge of ruin ; Shamanism, with its gods many and spirits innumerable, has failed to deliver its myriads of devotees from the deepest ignorance and darkest superstition. Property is insecure, the standard of education is low, corruption prevails everywhere, the people are oppressed, and life is neither safe nor sacred. Such is the awful condition of the country. Christianity alone can save the individual and the state. The zeal of the infant Church should inspire the workers on the field and the friends abroad. The Korean Christians are unceasingly active. A tract is accepted, a book is bought, a meeting is attended, an impression made, Zeal of a desire to know more aroused; then follow regu- Converts lar attendance, conversion and entrance into the church. But they do not stop here. Acquaintances, friends and relatives are sought, importuned and reasoned with on righteousness, temperance and judgment to come. They succeed in their efforts. Our people give liberally and cheerfully. It is safe to help those who help themselves, and this the Korean Church is doing more and more. Some of the leaders are making noble 37 REV. GEO ROE HEBEll JONES AND HELPERS. sacrifices for the spread of the Word. In the cold of winter and in the heat of summer; in the crowded city and at the country market ; in the library of the Con- fucian scholar and in the comfortless wayside inn ; in the lonely country farmhouse and in the privacy of the inner room, where the women are secure from molestation, they bear glad and cheerful testimony to the power of Christ to save from sin. They receive abuse, accept ostracism, endure cruel mockings, even bonds and imprisonments, in order to obtain a good report through faith. Twenty-one men attended our winter theological class here at Seoul. At the close of the session the question, “ Why are you constrained to go and preach the Gospel to your own people ? ” was asked. Though not Ministerial required, half of them wrote out their answers, Motives and they give probably the best reason why these men preach. Nearly every one of them places the divine command, “ Go ye into all the world,” first. Every one recognizes his call in this commission. Next comes the example set by our Saviour, and close to this comes the lost, helpless and ruined condition of the people as a powerful motive to take the Gospel to them. One based his call on John 3: 1(1, while one Boanerges, a man advanced in years, gave as his sufficient reason the cer- tainty of judgment to come and the necessity of being ready. These are the sentiments that actuate our leading preachers and helpers, and they no doubt are representa- tive of the feelings of the whole Church. LITERATURE Two excellent books on Korea, from the point of view of the missionaries, are Korean Sketches, J. S. Gale, $1.00; and Every-Day Life in Korea, D. L. Gifford, $1.25. Helpful works from the traveler and student are Korea and Her Neighbors, Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop, $2.00; and Corea, the Hermit Nation, W. E. Griffis, $2.50. 1