Evening star., 1899-03-27
BISHOP WILSON'S MISSION,
Report on Church Work in China
Japan and COrea.

One of the most interesting reports that
will be presented at the coming meeting of
the Baltimore conference of the NJ, E.
Church South which begins in this city
IN Mount Vernon Place Church April s.
will be that of Bishop A. w Wilson on the
mission stations of the denomination in
China, Japan and Corea. Bishop Wilson
reached his home in Baltimore this week,
alter an absence of ten months
In recent conversation, in referring to
Japan, Bishop Wilson said: Twas Impress
ed at once with the marked change in the
attitude of the people-those in official posi-
tionS and the masses-to America TO Amer
leans and to American missionaries par
ticuiarly, after Dewey's wonderful feat in
the Philippines. 1t completely changed the
aspect OF affairs. America @is respected
Tor DeWeys sake, and Americans are re-
spected and cultivated as a result of this
new appreciation of our Country Dewey
startled the east and produced a revolution
IN It's thoughts toward America which has
liol yer deveioped the proportions it is to
attain when the east learns how firmly the
nag has been placed in the Pacific '..,-..r
Regarding Corea DR.. Wilson remarked :
Cofea is today no better off than during
tns Gays OF Chinese control. Conditions
To-Day are excessively painful and uncertain.
The people are robbed and oppressed
the government weak and unstable Corea
IS one of the very few countries where the
people prefer to be poor Once man is
suspected of having means, persecution be-
gins. He is arrested and held under false
accusation His property is dissipated
through entaiIed neglect, and what money
ne may nave had sooner or later iineIes in
otner pockets. There is, therefore nothing
TO be gained by prosperity, and nobody
strives for it. '
Despite many unpropitious circum-
stances. mission work fiourishes in this
land. The people are hospitable and franz
and thoroughly accessible to the mission-
aries. Corea, like few eastern countries
mas no native religion. Buddhism at one
tifiie Hourlshed, but has been prohibited in
the cities, and is confined to a few monas-
terles among inland mountains.
In China, again, l was impressed by the
onange IN the thought and attitude of the
people toward America and Americans.
which was most noticeable as compared
with my last visit four years ago. Then
our efforts were confined to the poorest
classes. Today all classes welcome mis-
slonary workers, and Chinese missions as
a result are making vast strides
Much of the change is due TO the recent
war, though other Influences, together with
patient, faithful effort, have contributed a
share. One-half of China does not know
that Chinese-Japanese war occurred not
to speak of our little difficulty A vast
quantity OF literature on foreign lands and
Chinese trade relations and possibilities has
circulated in all psrtss of China of recent
years. and this has had great effect-so
markell that it may readily be prophessied
that the day is coming when China will as
a result of internal revolution in thought
and attitude toward foreign subjects demol-
sh her wall, forsake her notion that she
alone is worthy of the title celestial, and
will figure among the, enlightened, enter
prising nations of the world.