The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
Rev. Jones of New York Tells
of Conditions.
CHARACTER OF PEOPLE
He Believes War Will Drive
Them to Christianity

1855 is now in the United States on iuf-
Tough. making his home here Or. Jones
began his work in Korea only four years
after the country was opened TO mission
effort. In response to a request, he has
made the following statement concern
ing foreign ministers and missionaries IN
that empire:
The present missionary forces in Korea
are grouped in four bodies: % PTesbyter-
fans. % Methouists, 90 Anglicans, %
Catholics. These four bodies maintain
Il large staff Of American and European
workers with a widely distributed ma
tive church of fully 5000 professed con-
yerts who with the adherents, embracing
tnquirers and seekers after Christian
truth, attendants on the various congre-
f;ations, relatives and friends OF Chris
tians not yet in the church but favor
able to Christianity make up total
Christian population of 100000 or approx
Iuately two per cent of the entire popu-
Jation of the empire The greater por-
tdon of these have been won to Chris
DAINTY since 1850. the Christian popula-
zion previous to that year numbering not
more than 25.00O all told, so that the
growth numerically has been unparalel-
led by any other mission field during the
same period Of time.
The various missions of these Chris
tan bodies carry on work along all the
lines of Christian activity. a large pro-
norton Of the workers are engaged IN
the direct work of preaching, large num-
bers of the Korean people being open to
approach and disposed to consider the
claims Of Christianity upon them. Schools
are maintained ranging from the primary
day-school carried on by native churches
In the villages and hamlets, up to the
higher seminaries and institutions for adj
vanced education. As there are no pub
lie schools these institutions have d large
field of usefulness. This has been par
ticularIy the case in schools for girls.
the Christian schools being the only ones
where girls may obtain an education
Hospitals and dispensaries to the number
of twelve are maintained by the various
Christian bodies where $1,000 patients are
treated every year. Special corps or
trained workers teachers, doctors, nurses
and various Sisterhoods carry on large
work among Korean women and have
had gratifying success. a large and pop
ular Christian literature Is peing created
by the missionaries their writings and
publications in various forms exceeding
the output Of all other literature in the
empire
The Koreans rs a rule make earnest
sturdy Christians. There are not lacking
dishonest and tricky fellows who man
age to deceive the churches for a time
and get enrolled as converts. but they
are few in number, are soon discovered,
and as soon expelled, for the Korean
Christians try TO maintain a high level
Of discipline in the local churches. There
Is much petty persecution because the
conversation Of a Korean very often re-
suits in a serious dslocation of the clan
as well as of social and religious rela-
tionships Of the community, but il is
rarely that a Korean is forced TO apos-
tacize, once he has taken the step Of
destroying his household gods and fetch
es. and this all converts do before they
are recognized even as catechumens. The
dominant characteristic of the native
church is that of large and successful
activity in spreading the gospel They
do this voluntarily and TO them must be
accorded some of the praise for the Won
derfuI spread of Christianity among the
Koreans.
1t is to be hoped that war between Rus
Eia and Japan may be averted. for if
collision occurs Korea viii be necessarily
involved, either as the base of the Japan
csc in their operations against the Rus
SLAMS in Manchuria, or else as the theater
where the land forces of the two powers
viii grapple in death struggle. The Kor-
cans themselves will necessarily be much
disturbed by the conflict Emissaries Of
either or both parties may seize the
opportunity TO agitate the Koreans And
II will not be a thing 10 be wondered at
II the Koreans, rendered desperate by the
possible loss of their country and not
knowing where to turn. may become very
much disturbed by the course of events.
for without foreign complications there
are always enough feuds among the vari-
Gus clans and factions in Korea to set the
land abiaze at any time. There is no
doubt but that both the contending par
ties VIII respect the rights of the mis-
sionarics and the safety of the Christian
church. Splendid men guard the inter-
ests of foreign nations in Korea Hon
Horance y. Allen. the present United
States minister. first went To Korea TWEEN
~ years ago as the founder of the Pres
byterian church mission there He has
achieved high distinction in the service
both of the Korean and the United States
governments. Hon. J. y. Jordan. {. N
G.. the British minister is a Christian
gentleman Of the highest character and
OF wide experience in diplomatic affairs
in the Far East. H Hayashi. the Japan
est minister. has always been the friend
and ally OF his American and British
colleagues where the interests Of mis-
Etons are concerned
il is the conviction Of the writer that
the result of the present complications
and trials through which the Koreans
are being called TO pass viii he the turn
Ing Of immense numbers OF the Koreans
20 the sure hope, comfort, and iuspira-
tion. and the newer and better life found
only under Christianity. The greatest
problem Of the missionary situated in
Korea IS this: Suppose We should awake
some morning 10 find the 5000 or 5l0 go
Koreans standing on the front doors OF
evangelical churches demanding admit
tance 10 the privileges aud blessings Of
Christianity, are the churches in America
ready and willing 20 measure up TO their
responsibilities IL the case. and enter up
on the larger activity which such a de-
Eeiopment would impose upon them
COMING tn ECnh-