Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09

MISSIONARY WORK IN KOREA
DESCRIBED BY EYE WITNESS

church, which seats I, 400, to q house with
two rooms. Round rafters show inside the
mud roof, and the toists are OF massive
timbers. When seen with bare mud walls.
often full Of cracks, the effect cannot be
described as beautiful, but when the beams
are vanished and the walls tastefully pa
pered 1t is altogether pleasing. The curved
ridges and caves of the roof have pic
turesQue appearance, though to the eye
Of the foreigner accustomed to straight
lines the sag gives an impression Of insta-
bility. The feature Of the compound IL
the academy. a two-story building con-
structed under the supervision OF Mr.. Ora
ham Lee. and the problem Of protecting q
high mud wall from the weather has been
successfully solved. 1t stands on rising
ground and resembles one Of the big gates
Of the city.
The missionaries and their wives ana
families occupy q cluster Of houses on
the higher ground OF the property. and
them. No one works independently Of the
Others and all plans for work are debat Sd
by q full meeting before being carried
into effect. Unanimity Of aim and action
Is the rule.
-
The principle Of SELF support IL one
which is taught thoroughly at this mia-
sion, and consideration of its effect
gives one a clear insight into the Korean
character. In supporting their churches,
in providing for the education of the
next generation. and in their whole
hearted interest in the welfare of their
professins e Christian mo to the blush one
woman who had been turned into the streets
from her husbands house because she re-
fused to offer incense to the idols and to
Ping Yang and supported herself and
her two little children by washing and
sewing. In this way she made the bar
est possible living. but at the end Of a year
sum OF one hundred cash. or eight cents
gold. The subscriptions for the nav
church were being received, and she JOY
full? gave the whole amount.
often given rings Of silver. and If they
ever manage to save money IN this pow
erty-stricken country they have the sill
VI made up into a ring which they can
OF these rings have been given by woln-
en- toward building funds OF the support
OF an evangelist. Another woman sold
her Switch without which no Korean
to pay something toward her daughters
education. Instances like these show
how the Koreans appreciate the efforts
made to improve their condition. Gem
have made them suspicious Of every one.
and there Is no incentive toward material
advance because the exactions of corrupt
officials will soon reduce a man to beg
gary. There are few wealthy men in Ko-
rea, and one Of these. a Christian, was
commanded to pay 100000 yen to the gov
eminent. He was accused Of no crime,
but the government wanted money. and
must have 1t. He paid $4,000 yen. and was
then imprisoned and three times beaten
within an inch Of his life because he did
not pay more. Eventually. to save his life,
he promised to try to find the money. and
was released on parole. He is now selling
every stick he has and borrowing from
friends, and he and his aged parents, whom
he has been supporting, will have to end
their days in poverty.
Another interesting example OF the ma
tive Korean who has come into the