The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-03-05

for their converts, together with their totally differ
ent ideas rs to the respective rights of the govern
ing and the governed are responsible for many a
clash with the Korean authorities. While perhaps
unavoidable from their point of view, this does
great hurt to their mission work. not only III anita
gonzing the government and educated classes, but
principally because it attracts to all foreign church.
undesirable characters and even evlldoers, who
make their religion cloak for their misdeeds, and
when Justly punished by the local authorities, raise
the cry of religious persecution. In most large
! Christian communities the position of magistrate
with the best of intentions, is of exceed
ing delicacy, and requires great tact, conflict
Is inevitable The missionaries overzealous to pro-
tect their hockS, religious hatred often where it
does not exist, and the authorities where
otherwise tolerant of religion, often too ready
to political motives behind this alienation of
the people. Such mutual distrust more easily leads
to conflict II the missionary be young, ardent
defender of free Institutions and too recently az
rived from home and college to understand the peo
pie whom he has come to convert.
Given, then, such conditions two contradictory
religions in field, an undiscipned and occa-
slonalIy lawless following, and government an
tagonstic to both, and it is easy to understand how
out of very small matter may arise serious quar-
rel.
Such case has recently occurred in the Whang-
Hal province of this country. For two years the
Catholic mission has carried a struggle with the
"Peddlars" in Whang- Hal who have sworn to force
have not hesitated to Use violence, and twice the
military authorities have been forced to interfere
to rescue the native priests from the hands of the
mob. The military officers, may add are almost
without exception of the progressive party and
have protited by the liberal and modern education
afforded them by the military college Whatever
their private opinion may be in regard to foreign
ers and foreign religion" they disapprove of law
lessness. In the early part of this year some trou
bic broke out among native Christians in the alb
oft hon
no doubt, many reprehensibe acts committed on |
both sides. Accusations were brought to the Pres
Dyterlan mission by their converts against the Cath
ono mission. lhe Catholic priest sent to the Pres
byterlan pastor to meet him and sif the matter so
that they might punish Jointly al those at fan1t
The Presbyerians declined to discuss the matter
with hlm, and laid charges before the provincial
governor, man who is we'll known in SeouI as .
cordlal mater OF missionaries and of everything for
elgn. This gentleman seized the opportunity with
alacrlty, and instituted system of wholesale ar
rests, accompanied by the grosses disorders ON the
part OF the "Peddlars" employed. Grave charges
having been brought against the Catholic priest.
T ather Wilhelm. of torture, extortion etc. the
french legation insisted on fair Investigation and
cessation OF the law'less acts which were forcing
ne Chrlstlahs INTO open revolt against the govern
nent. Accordingly an official sent by the govern
nent from Seoul and attended by members of the
1fesbyterlan mission examined the charges against
'ather Wilhelm, and they were not only not nrovnd
uC counter charges We're brought and suit insti-
uted for defamation of character, which is now in
rogress.
1hls affair has been made the subject of a news
aper article III which the public were supplied with
nslntormation in regard to it. There is strong
eact!on IN Korea at present against foreign infu-
nee IN general, and against Christianity in particu-
II; therefore such articles seem to me especially
l-advlsed> at this time, the more so as they convey
4 absolutely false impression b
nave, perhaps, at too great length endeavored L
explain both the political and religious situation t
the country in an impartial manner in order o
lat It may be understood how such troubles arise t
"hen the condition of affairs is correctly known s.
le mag be able to draw ones own conclusions fo, V
e stories Of persecution" by missionaries which
me from Korea