The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-30
Epe cial to The Journal.

George Heber Jones, Phi. D., of Che |
mulpo, Korea, and missionary OF the
Methodist Episcopal church to that
country since 1888, is now in the |
United States on .fur1ough, making his
home at Utica, n. Y. Dr.. Jones be-
gan his work in Korea only four years
after the country was opened to mis-
sion effort. In response to request,
he has made the following statement
concerning foreign missions and mis-
sionaries in that empire:
The present missionary forces in
Korea are grouped into four bodies:
CD Presbyterians, CD Methodists,
CD 'Anglicans, ca Catholics. These
four bodies maintain a large staff of
American and European workers.
with a widely distributed native
church of fully $4,000 professed CON
verts, who, with the adherents, en-
bracing inquirers and seekers after
Christian truth, attendants on the va
rious congregations, relatives and
friends Of Christians not yet in the
church but favorable to Christianity,
make up a total Christian population
Of 100000, or approximately 2 per
cent of the entire population Of the
empire. The greater portion Of these
have been won to Christianity since
1890 the Christian population previ-
Gus to that year numbering not more
than $4,000 all told, SO that the growth
lluHleTlCally mas DSSn ny
any other mission field during the
same period of time.
The various missions of these
Christian bodies carry on work along
all the lines of Christian activity. A
large proportion of the workers are
engaged In the direct work of CHI
Ing. large numbers of Korean people
being open to approach and disposed
10 consider the; claims of Christianity
NJ q n
ranging from the primary day school,
carried by native churches in the
villages and hamlets, up to the higher
seminaries ayd institutions for ad-
Vanced education. AS there are no
public schools, these institutions have
a large field of usefulness. This has
been particularly the case in schools
for girls, the Christian schools being
the only ones where girls may. obtain
an education. Hospitals and dispen-
saries to the number of twelve are
maintained by the various Christian
treated every year. Special corps of
trained workers, teachers, doctors
nurses and various sisterhoods carry
on large work among Korean wom-
en- and have had gratifying success
a. large and popular Christian litera-
ture is being created by the mission
aries, their writings and publications
of all other literature in the empire
The missions in Korea are domi-
mated by the best spirit of friendliness
and cooperation. Sectarian strife is
: virtually banished and denominational
peculiarities. are held at very. low
value. Stress is laid on the many
fundamental essentials Of religious
truth which all share in COM
mon. AS "a far as the non
Christian Korean can. see the, Chris
Gamps-the Evangelieals, the Roman
Catholics, and the Greek Catholics
THE missionaries Of all the evangelical
churches maintain various interde-
-nominational organizations; such as
the Korean Religious Tract society
and the Bible Committee Of Korea
+ where the missionaries meet al
brothers in one great work. The
Tract socieyt is now soliciting funds tc
erect q building in Seoul for it's ex
pandlng and important works.
T project worthy of the hearty supper
+ Of all lovers Of Christian unity.
Altho there are four Presbyterian
denomina atoms at work in Korea-th'
Northern and the Southern Presby
terrain churches of the United States
and the Churches of Canada and Aus
tralia. the missionaries are organized
into one Presbyterian council SO tina
distributed thruout the empire it IS bu
one church. The Korean field ha
\ been a great favorite among the Pres
byterians in America and they hav
< nobly sustained and expanded thei
work there. The personnel Of tn
Presbyterian missions is of a hig
order composing as noble BODY O
me mas ever undertook to found tn
Z Christian church in a pagan land. A
their head stand men like" Dr.. Horae
h~ G. Underwood, versatile and almos
( ubiquitous in his activities; DR.. Jane
G. Gale, scholar and lexicographel
a. most attractive personality; DR.. I
Z r. Avison, the physician, with repu
tation for good deeds that reaches t
the confines Of the empire; Or. w. |
translator, lent by his boardto til
Bible societies that he may devote a
his time to translating the Bible int
Korean: Samuel A. Moffett, pre-
eminent as pastor and evangelist, an
of about 100 foreign workers they al
covering the empire of Korea with
network of strong mission stations an
numerous native churches, maxim
of final and complete trump
fldent of final and complete trump
Their largest church Is in the city
Pvengyang and has a regular sunds
CONGREGATION of 1900 Worshlpers, ar
the average attendance at the mic
week prayer meeting is. 1900.
The Methodsts are not behind tt
preSbyter1anS IN the NIGH CIdld
of the workers they have sent
Korea. Two Methodist bodies are I
work. the Methodist Episcopal churc
x and the Methodist Episcopal churc
South, working on convergins lines
the founding of one Methodist churt
in Korea. These two bodies mainta
& 81. force of nearly fifty missionaries WI
have in their care fully 10000 of tt
10000 converts of evangelical Chrl
tianity in Korea. Imposing chruch
have been erected in Seoul, -Pyengya1
n and Chemulpo, where large congreg
tions gather each Sunday to heart
gospel preached. The Method
hosts are led by men like DR.. Villa
3. Scranton, a graduate OF ale' W
with his mother and the late l
Henry G. Appenzeller, were among t
founders Of Christian missions
Korea. Others of the leading Meth
dist missionaries are the Rev. Mess
", Arthur Noble, J. B. Moose, II.
ITardie, W. B. McGill. Collyer and
A.. Bunker, besides many younger mt
THESE men, are engaged in all lines,
n missionary activity, but especially
prea cheers both in English and koret
and about them gathers a body or +
rean preachers.
The international committee
K Young Mems Christian Associate
has recently established work at SEQ
the secretary in charge being r.,
Gillett. m
The Anglicans maintain We
manned mission at the head or %Wh