Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17
ON THE TRAIL OF THE
AMERICAN MISSIONARY

rocks went to Win, city north of here,
which figured often in the war dispatches.
I'm route they looked in upon some country
congregations. The first night, in little
village of about 1900 inhabitants, they
found a prayer meeting under way-the
regular midweek service-with no less than
bered, was in village where no mission
airy resides and where no white man visits
oftener than once quarter. The next
night they came, as unexpectedly as be-
fore, upon another village prayer meeting
with 500 persons in attendance. In these
villages, as in many others round about
the villagers, Christian and non-C Christian
are In the habit Of gathering in the church
for morning prayers before going out to
the fields for work.
1t seems as If religion has become the
very life of these people. 1t is certainly
their supreme interest and pleasure. They
hands Indeed, the Christian communities
throughout Korea probably come as near
communism in their simplicity and fra
ternity and cooperation as anything known
In this present day.
From Wiju I hear story that matches
the famous incident Of the delegation of
Indians to St. Louis years ago to seek
somebody to go back with them to teach
them the white mans book. The VIII
Christians have built themselves a commo-
dious church and have now established an
academy or higher school. Among them,
however, was nobody qualified to conduct
the latter. So at the annual meeting of
the Presbyterian mission a delegation was
sent down from Wiju to Seoul to plead for
missionary. The people agreed not only
to give him the heartiest Of welcomes and
to pay all his expenses but also to provide
his salary as well. Yet they were sent
back with their request denied. There are
m ov-fo 70
Here in Korea there is no hunting I'D of
people for the church; the people are clam
oring to come in. During the mission year
Just ended, one man in this region, Rev. c.
E. kearns, baptised LOO Koreans. Yet it
IS not made easy for a Korean to become a
Christian. Careful always lest men and
women should desire to enter the church
from unworthy motives, every applicant is
Obliged to become catechumen for at least
one year. Then he must pass a rigid exam
ination as to his character and his knowl-
edge OF Christian truth. The missionaries
impose what they say is the New Testa-
ment standard Of conduct upon the people.
Every Christion is required to be a total
absta1ner, to refrain from all forms of
gambling, to observe Sunday strictly and
to have a clean character morally An
oHendlng member is promptly disciplined.
When 1t is considered that these people
are just emerging from the raw heathenism
and devil worship which prevails around
them, these standards seem the more re-
markable. The Korean Christians here go
farther than their fellows in America. In
the big church" Of Pyeng Yang some of
the members have formed an anti-toba eco
society, for the Koreans, men and women.
are confirmed smokers. These people give
the money they thus save to the church,
and two colporteurs are so supported.
No distinction is made among classes. In
village near here the magistrate. who
Is the chief resident official, desires to be-
come Christian. The local church leaders
came to the missionary 10 ask what thew
should do, since this great man keeps a
concubine. The decision was immediate
and decisive that he could not be accented
as catechumen until he had conformed
to the church's standard in all respects No
matter how high his Office or how great his
wealth. $3.50
1t Is said that, with respect to the per.
centage of gifts and with respect to the ar
tiyity of the ordinary members of the
churches, Christianity in Korea ia far
ahead of Christianity in America. Ger
tainly for ingenious, open hearted. child
like Christianity, 1 have never seen anv-
thing to equal these Koreans Their man.
ner, their words and their work irresistibly
suggest the church of the apostolic age.