The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-04

ing desire to learn about western civ
nization- So great is this interest that
a newly organized branch of the Young
Mems Christian association at Seoul
has a membership of over 500, four.
f1fths Of whom are not processing
Christians, but are drawn TO the insti-
tuition because 1t gives them a chance
to study western problems and meth
DDS. Mr. Wanamaker, the merchant
prince Of Philadelphia, has just offered
to supply the money necessary for a
permanent Y. NJ. G. A bpilding IN
Seoul and, having attended a meeting
IN the present crowded quarters, I can
testify that q new hall Is badly needed.
The Chinese characters are used in
writing, but the Koreans have a spoken
language which is quite different
There Is no extensive literature that
can be called Korean, although Dr.
Allen, for many years American min
lister at Seoul, has published in a vol
ume entitled Korea; Facts and Fan
cies.'' a number Of delightful folk lore
stories, which show an appreciation Of
the love story and a very clear recog-
milton OF the personal virtues as Illus
trated In daily life. Mr.. Aliens book
also contains an interesting chronology
OF the principal events, but II is sig
nificant Of the change wrought by for
eign influence that it only requires
tioning from the beginning of the
Christian era down to 1876, while eighty
pages are devoted to the things that
| have transpired since.
In examining the pages devoted to
the last century one is struck with the
| Discrimination Of the Korean govern
ment to accept the offers Of intercourse
made by the various nations Of Europe
since 1876, and with the number OF mis-
/ sionaries who suffered for religions
| sake prior to that date. Persecution,
| however, seems to have increased rath-
er than diminished the zeal OF the va
rious denominations, and today Korea
| Is regarded as one of the most promts-
| ing of the missionary fields. While
| Confucianism has Influenced Korea,
Buddhism never gained such a foothold
| in this country as in China. and Japan.
| There are no gorgeous temples here,
and for SEQ years (and until recently
Buddhist priests were not allowed
within the walls of Seoul. There are
missionary stations throughout the
| country, and at Peng Yang there is a
native congregation of 1,500. At Seoul
a modern hospital, built with money
given by Mr.. Severance Of Cleveland,
O., has been opened by DR.. AVisOn
where, besides care of the sick, med
/ zeal training is furnished to natives
who desire to fit themselves for this
! pTOISSSlOH- was dSSuIGu DN LII. ANl-
son and by missionaries residing here
that young Koreans, both men and
women, learn quickly and are faithful
| assistants. The medical missionary
being in an excellent position to show
his Christian spirit by helpful service
is doing much to aid In the propaga-
| ton of our religion in the Orient. In
this connection 1 might add that DR.
Allen went to Korea as a medical mis-
sionary and became the emperor's ply
sician This intimate relation gave our
country a good standing here when the
doctor afterwards became the Ameri-
can minister. These friendly relations
are still maintained through present
Minister Morgan.
The government of Korea Is an abso-
lutte monarchy and has a reigning fam
lily which has held the throne foI
about 500 years. All authority ema-
mates from the emperor and is exer-
cised through ministers, governors and