Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02
KOREAN MISSION WORK
EXPERIENCES OF TWO EvANGEL-
lists IN THE INTERIOR.

Special Correspondence of The Star
NEW YORK, July 1, 1905
DIR. Woodbridge o. Johnson medical
missionary in Korea, sends to friends here
an interesting account of a trip into the
country made by himself, an evangelistic
helper and the Rev. Addison Parker of
Richmond, Indiana. Before they started
there was much discussion as to how Mr..
Parker should travel 1t was too far to
walk, and if he were to have chair car
ried by coolies the natives would be shy,
thinking him an official. Riding pony
was dangerous, as roads are bad and a
fall always possible, but that mode was
decided upon, DR.. Johnson providing boys
saddle and Mrs. Johnson saddle blanket
made from a red-fringed table cloth. DR.
Johnson says: Mr.. Parker took off his
coat as soon we left the city and rode
In front a picture / shall not soon forget:
A stout man in shirt sleeves, almost as
broad of beam as the pony was long, on a
boys saddle with stirrups almost touching
the ground, big white helmet above, a
bright red table cloth below, little Korean
pony led by a bareheaded, barefooted boy!
1t is worthy of note that everywhere along
the road the man and the pony caparisoned
with the red fringe excited much admra-
ton
Night at a Monastery.
A stop was made for the night at Bud
dhist monastery. Buddhist temples in Ko-
rea" says DIR. Johnson. "are always de-
lightfully located high up among the hills,
surrounded by woods and by springs of
pure water. They open to all travellers
or passersby, and being almost always free
from insects. in marked contrast to the
wayside inns, their spare rooms are gem
orally full Four or five shaver monks met
lG n n hD md c
bowed almost to the ground in welcome.
We were escorted to room, where we had
supper. eating the food we had brought
with us. The priests supply travellers with
rice and vegetables at very moderate
charge and ask nothing for their rooms
We inquired when services were held. But
once day, in the morning, we were told.
How many priests connected with the mo-
mastery? Twenty-Five, but only six now
there. The rest were travelling and engaged
in business at various market places. 1t
is customary for priests to engage in bust
ness, and many of them are away from
their temples much. Except on special
days. one in the spring and one in the fall,
Buddhist monasteries are almost without
worshipers, except near the capital, Seoul,
where the king gives large donations to
some of the temples and l am told the
worshipers are numerous"
Under Presbyterian Board.
DR.. Johnson is doing medical work in
Korea under the Presbyterian board of
foreign missions. On this trip he went to
market in a town. There are no stores
and all business is transacted there He
says: I'VE took our box of books and
drugs, spread our straw mat and soon had
a curious crowd around. The case of in
struments and the tooth forceps excited
much comment. l invited all who had ach-
Ing teeth to come forward and have them
pulled without charge. Many responded
and the crowd. with jokes and laughter at
the patients, got much fun out of It, also
saw number of sick PEOPLE, some of whom
were there given medicine, and others. re-
quiring operation or prolonged treatment,
were directed to go TO the dispensary at
Taiku.
THE last patient l saw was a poor leper
with face and hands thickly swollen and
red. He had front tooth which pro-
jected back SO as to render IL almost inn
possible for him TO close his mouth firmly