The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-08-02

|
like the hangings of an old fashioned
pullman car. His headgear was Jap
anese military cap. Korean children,
like their elders, sit on the floor dur
ing service with the foot of one leg
crossed over the thigh of the other;
and, like their elders, they are quiet
and attentive.
Putting Converts Through the Mill.
After the service was over, the cid.
ers gathered around the missionary
and proffered formal request that he
come as soon as possible and spend a
few days In teaching them the Bible.
Mr.. Hall had to put them off with a
vague promise, as his field is toe
large for him to do more than look
over it. l was interested to note that.
while elsewhere missionaries have to
adopt various devices to attract hear.
ers, such as English classes, cooking
classes, ETC., in Korea the people seem
to want simply the Bible; and the
missionaries are unable to meet the
demand for the teaching of 1t.
Early the next morning, after a
night which in the interest of deli.
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, common experience among
: the Korean converts. The next was
a boy of IL, son of Christian parents
Then came young man of %, then
an old man. A bright boy of II, with
his hair up in top-knot, in token OF
being "a man." had been married a
year to girl of Is, also a 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 Is 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 mitch
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 1 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; 1t
would be easy otherwise to turn Chris
was pleased to note that the strict
ness of the examination was abated
in the case of some ignorant peasant
women. One had been 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 IL retained in the catechu-
men class for a while longer. Just
before dusk a leader went out and
blew 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. 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 l was with Mr.. Hall
they considered me missionary-in-
law, 1 suppose, and they sent me off
with such demonstrations of interest
and such repeated benedictions as do
not often fall to the lot of a journalist
1t was new sensation. 1 really liked
it so that when on the day following,
boy carrying on his back two Is.
foot timbers of telegraph-pole thick
ness Ca Korean coolie will carry four
times his weight and six times his
bulky stopped me with beaming face
and squeezed my arm, I took it for
granted that he had seen me at
church and I responded with the salu.
tation of Peace" which I 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
rocapfiyity IF tho Koraon, +o,,o.5