The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-08-02

caCy would better be passed over with.
out comment, the missionary began
the work of examining the 40 appli-
cants for baptism. The three lead
ers' of the local church, and visit
ing elder from Seoul sat on the floor
of our sleeping room, and the candi-
dates were brought in one by one
The first was man of 40 who had
learned to read in order to read the
Bible, a common experience among
the Korean converts. The next was
a boy of II. son of Christian parents:
Then came a young man of %, then
an old man. A bright boy of II, with
his Nair up in top-knot, in token of
5efRK "a man." had been married a
year to girl of IS, also believer
Although married, these children re-
side With their own parents; the mis-
sionary instructed them to do so until
they have reached the manageable
age fixed by the church, which is 16
years for girl and 10 for a man.
Many such practical problems as
these arise among people fresh from
rank heathenism.
After watching the examinations for
several hours, and having the ques-
tons translated to me, must say that
the fitness of the candidates for
church membership is very rigidly
guarded. The examination is much
more rigid than person has to under
go in order to become a member of
a church in America. I told the mis-
sionary that I would not risk it my
self; he requires almost theological
education on the part of converts.
This strictness is necessary, however,
to keep the people from joining the
church from un-Christian motives: it
would be easy otherwise to turn Chris
tianity to political uses IN Korea.
was pleased to note that the strict
ness of the examination was abated
in the case of some ignorant peasant
women. One had been a believer nine
years, and the leaders testified to her
piety; SO, although she could not read
nor answer many of the questions, she
was taken into the church.
All day long the missionary worked
over these examinations, and at five
o'clock he had only got through 26
persons; the others would have to
wait until his next visit. Fourteen of
the candidates were passed for bap-
tism and II retained in the catechu-
men class for while longer. Just
before dusk leader went out and
blew a whistle to summon the village
to church, and the people laid aside
their labors and assembled for the
baptismal service. This was simple.
brief and impressive. I think I shall
remember the sight of the procession
of white-robed villagers with Bibles
and hymn books under their arms,
filing down the hill from the church at
sunset.
When we fastened away from the
village, the people gathered with
many good wishes. The simplicity,
open-heartedness and affection of
these child-like Christians is really af-
fecting. Because was with Mr.. Hall
they considered me missionary-in.
law, suppose, and they sent me off
with such demonstrations of interest
and such repeated benedictions as do
not often fall to the lot of journalist.
It was new sensation. l really liked
it so that when on the day following,
boy carrying on his back two 15-
foot timbers of telegraph-pole thick
ness "a Korean coolie will carry four
times his weight and six times his
bulk) stopped me with beaming face
and squeezed my arm, I took it for
granted that he had seen me at
church and responded with the salu-
tation of "Peace," which had
learned.
AS we went on our way from each
village some of the elders would &C.
company us, as the Ephesian elders
accompanied the Apostle Paul. The
custom is an oriental one, as is also
the constantly repeated salutation of
Peace! Peace!"
Summing up the whole trip, three
facts especially impressed me. 1. The
receptivity of the Koreans toward
Christianity, in eagerness and sinceri-
ty. 2. The thoroughness of the work
of the missionary, and the vigilance
with which church membership is
guarded. 3. The remarkable fact
that the missionary has no time to 20
after people or do any pioneer evan
gelistic work; the church is propa.
eating itself. Here, in two decades.
has been created a native church that
is wholly self-supporting and self-ex-
tending. I have no doubt that If the
present missionary forcs in Korea
were quadrupled or sextnpled at once.
practically the whole nation would be-.
come Christian in less than a score OF
years.
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
School Of Household Science.
Mrs. Tom L. Johnson, wife of the
mayor of Cleveland is one of the
many wealthy and prominent women
of that city who are packing a train,
ing school in household science. In