New-York tribune., 1900-04-23
CHRISTIANITY IN COREA.
THE REV. w NJ. BAIRD SAYS THAT A Ma
TIVE LEADERSHIP IS DESIRABLE

In an address incidents of Missionary Work
in Corea' yesterday morning in the Lafayette Pres
byterian Church, Brooklyn. the Rev. w. NJ Baird
who for eight years has been a Presbyterian mis-
sionary at Pyengyang. III Northern Corea and
who is a delegate 10 the Ecumencal Conference,
told Of the uplifting influences Of the Gospel upon
the native Corean women. He explained that the
introduction of the Gospel teachings had broken
down many social barriers and had been the means
of establishing the civic rights of the butcher
Glass; Mr.. Baird said that the Buddhstic idea
that II degrades to take life of any kind.
For that reason he said, the butchers had
status They did not formerly. he said, have the
right TO wear hats. which the sign Of Corean
citizenship. These hats, he said were broad
brimmed small crown, eauze hats Of score of
styles. The butcher class, Mr. Baird added,
had the right TO hats, and We're gaining other
privileges.
Coreans Mr.. Baird replied that that was problem
They had, he said, some of the traits of the
Chinese, and their language In respects
sembled that of the Chinese
1t not the thing in Corea. said Mr. Baird for
men TO speak to women in the streets. Churches
were built in the shape of l.. with the pulpit AZ
the angle and the sexes sat apart In the two corri
dors of the church. In churches a curtain
separated the men from the women. Only few
months ago. said Mr.. Baird. this curtain was re-
moved in the Presbyterian church at Pyengyang.
The Coreans." continued Mr.. Baird. ARE very
poor. Their richest men would be considered poor
native Christians gave literally to the fund in aid
OF the famine sufferers IN India of the native
Corean statisticiaus has estimated that average
income Of Corean family is 81 20 a month"
Mr.. Baird gave brief history of Presby-
terian missionary work in Corea The work. ne
said, was first commenced in 1884 by the Rev.
Horace G. Underwood ana DR.. H. y. Alien II was
on the lines Of literary translation, religious work
for women and teaching Only faith in God would
have sustained the missionaries in this work in the
face of countless obstacles. But with the increase
in the force Of the workers and the opening up of
the country 10 the influence of the Gospel, and
especially since lSi. signal instances of the power
Of the Gospel to work among men have been seen
there.
During 1894 The year Of the Japanese War
there few Christians in the larger centres
who were scattered abroad 20 the mountains and
other safe retreats 10 escape the soldiers of the
japanese and Chinese armies And they went,
everywhere these Christians told the simple story
Of Christ the Saviour from sin The result was that
IN number OF villages in the surrounding dis
tricts groups OF Christians were formed
Large credit must be given to the zeal and the
enthusiasm Of the native Christians There are at
present in connection with the Presbyterian Church
from $500 to 600 baptized Christians and ten
thousand native prCfesaed Christians who repre-
sent large number OF children. and others who
have been indirectly reached by the Gospel"
Mr. Baird ended his speecn with a strong argu-
ment in favor Of tho trimming of native leader
ship for the native church in Corea.