The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-30
MISSIONARIES ARE
CONVERTING KOREA
Splendid Progress of the Evangelical Anglican and Roman Caho
lie Missions Hermit NationWar Between Russia and
japan Will Be Bad for the Koreans issionarys

reans. They care for church of
over $4,000 communicates.
The Greek Catholics are represented
by the Russian church which has
started a small mission in Seoul. The
numbers of their converts have fluc-
tuated owing to the tendency of the
as the door to political favor with
Russia. Recent news from Korea
speaks of a number of officials in Ko-
rea who, frightened by the impending
conflict between Russia and Japan,
Joined the Greek church in Seoul on
the principle Of getting in out Of the
wet before the storm breaks. This is
not condoned by the missionaries and
only occasions them grief when they
discover 1t.
The Koreans as rule make earnest,
sturdy Christians. There are not
lacking dishonest and tricky fellows
for a time and get enrolled as con-
verts, but they are few in number,
are soon discovered, and as soon eN-
PEELED, for the Korean Christians try
to maintain a high level of discipline
in the local churches. There is much
petty persecution because the CONVEX
sion Of q Korean very often results In
a serious dislocation Of the clan as
we'll as of social and religious relation
ships Of the community, but 1t is rare
ly that Korean Is forced to aposta-
tise, once he has taken the step of de-
stroying his household gods and fe-
tiches, and this all converts do before
they are recognized even as catechu-
mems 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 wonderful spread of
| fI1@
1t is to be hoped that war between
Russia and Japan may be averted
! for if collision occurs Korea will be
necessarily involved, either as the base
of the Japanese in their operations
against the Russians in Manchuria, or
else as the theater where the land
forces Of the two powers will grapple
in death struggle. The Koreans them
selves will necessarily be much dis.
turbed by the conflict. Emissaries OF
I either or both parties may seize the
. opportunity to agitate the = Koreans
And it will not be thing to be won.
dered at If the Koreans, rendered
| desperate by the possible loss of their
| country and not knowing where tt
I turn, may become very much dis
turbed by the course Of events, fol
without foreign complications ther'
are always enough feuds among the
various clans and factions in Kores
to set the land ablaze at any time
There is no doubt but that both. the
contending parties will respect thu
rights Of the missionaries and thu
safety Of the Christian church. Spleen
did men guard the interests of for
eign nations in Korea. Horace n
i Allen, the present United States min
ister first went to Korea twenty year
ago as the founder of the Presby
terrain church mission there. He -ha
tachieved high distinction in the serV
lice both of the Korean and the Unitet
States governments. J. N. Jordan, c
M. G., the British. minister, is q
Christian gentleman Of the highes
Il Diplomatic affairs in the far east. M
,Hayashi, the Japanese minister, ha
always been the friend and ally of hi
American and British colleague
| where the interests Of missions ar
, | concerned.
T. 1t is the conviction Of the write
that the result of the present compli
) cations and trials thru which the Ko
, the turning of immense numbers 9
! the Koreans to the sure hope, comfor
t and inspiration, and the newer an
better life found only under Chris
l tianity. The greatest problem of tn
= missionary situation in Korea is this
: Suppose we should awake some morn
!, ing to find $4,000 or 100000 Korean
: standing on the front doors of evar
i ge1ical churches demanding admit
t. lance to the privileges and blessing
t Of Christianity. are the churches !
s America ready and willing to measur
! up to their responsibilities in the cas-
e and enter upon sthe51larger activi1
r which such a development would in
e pose upon them? Ga