The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24
our RELIG|ON IN
FAVOR IN KOREA
American Missionaries Closest to
the Ruler Of the Hermit
Kingdom.
ROYAL GIFTS 10 HOSPITAL
Great Men Sit Side BY Side With
Lowly on Church
Floor.
ROYAL GIFTS TO HOSPITAL
Floor.
ITI..s
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS. n

I7NUTSIDE Of one or two minor states
4 in Africa. there is probably no
- mission field where Christianity Is
accorded so great O degree OF royal favor
as in Korea. From tt. hegi:lnins u. the 4
opening of Korea to the world, a little
more than twenty years ago, until the
present time, the closest friends of the
Emperor, to whom he has turned in every
crisis, have been the American mission I
aries. He is not yet Christian, although
he reads the Bible and has received soma
instruction in Christianity. In ATTENDANCE 3
upon the Seoul churches to-day may be 4
found members Of the royal family, as |
we'll as leaders OF the nobility.
This Is one of the remarkable facts ,
about the recent phenomenal religious
history of this country. While enjoying !
the favor of the court to Il marked de-
gree, the missionaries have yet devoted
themselves chiefly to work among tho
plain people. The latter lave ben con-
verted by thousands-the number of ac-
tual commandments. and not merely adj
herents, Is now given as about $4,000
and gradually Christianity has worked
| from the bottom up, until to-day all OF
| Korea seems favorable and hospitabe to-
| ward 1t.
/ When interviewing the man who had
| been indicated to me by natives. Japan
ese officials and missionaries as probably
.
| ing OF the growth of Christianity ana
i Christian. schools, '"rhe only lights In
Korea,s black sky are the churches.
i The opinion widely prevails that the real
Transformation Of Korea will be effected,
not by Japan, but by Christianity. me
4, missionaries are Weakening up ana MT
ing up the natives; and they assert thue
1 the latter have greater potentialltles tnan
!. either the Japanese to the south or the
1 Chinese to thetnorth.
i A Canadian Who Doctors a King.
With the situation throughout Korea,
previous articles have dealt; this final
ono has to do with some OF the outstand-
"A Ing works and marks OF missions In the
. CAPITAL itself. Here It is noteworthy that
the missionaries constitute the dominant
I'd Anglo saxon community. There arc at
this capital more missionaries than al
other white foreigners combined. Because
OF their homogeneousness, us wen az
!. because OF their activity and long resi-
i dence, they are the best known to the
r Koreans. While there Is a small and no.
: very closely-knit consular set, and busi.
r ness set. as In other capitals. they RAM
$ after the missionary set, and. In fact, ~
in more intimate relations; with II tha1
: usual
. A missionary physician Is the DOCTOR :, =
d tho white community. This Is DR.. y. \
t Avison. head OF the Severance Menoria
: hospital. which is spoken OF IN Seoul a
IS "the hospital" though the Methodist
( also conduct busy and successful nos
n nital here. There Is no lack Of work 70
T. the medical missionary In Korea. IN
10 Severance Hospital, which IS the gl'
g Of Louis N. Severance. we!l-Kno"
d. Presbyterian layman Of Clevelnnd, oh''
Ig a. m1ilt and equipped on the lines OF
lg 1rst- GLASS American hospital. It's patient
4 include the best people In Seoul, and y
& Avison Is physician to His Majesty.
y Tho King recently made a gift OF $l,6l
" 70 the hospital and another OF like amour
id to DR., Avison himself. The latter ne
III boen through dramatic and bloody sceh'
Is Mt the Korean court. but always as
n. personal fricnd OF tho Emperor; nc s't:
he that he and tho Emperor never talk po
e, itios Associated with DR.. Avison. wi
m is a Canadian. is DR. ]. w. Hirst.
or philnd elphia, and these. with traint
IS nurse. Miss +. L. Shields, of Lewisbur
a. Pa, constitute the responsible heads 4
tho hospital. II,
r) In connection with his hospital duti
! Dr. Avson conducts q medical collep
He is having translated into Korean a
n,imeographed complete set OF mode
~. medical text books, and his ambition
in. ia turn out a set Of competent natl
Ir- nhvaicians, who can, with tho llterntu
Mt. thus at their command. build up a *
B, rean modern medical profession along u
in to-date lines. With such an ambition
nd this, a man Is not to be blamed for wor
W. ing far into the night, as DR.. Avis
1eT does. &
III Government Support for the
Mr., Y. M. C. A,
lr- Conspicuous among the rellgious' emit
ON pr,ses of Seoul Is the Young Mems Chr
INC tInn Association, which Is ut prcst
me housed In some little old Korean hui
~ inss, but which Is about to break grou
wy for tho erection OF u modern structl
oue the gift OF John Wanamaker OF PM
tae dephia. Tho association has 800 me
~, ~. bers, including moro than fifty memb
ny of the highest rank of Korean noblli
1sr rho Emperors nephew teaches a 81
Ia class in the association. Twice the u
she peror has given subscriptions to tho
MA runI2r4tion, and the Japanese continue
MAJ give. from the Korean funds, an ann
and subscription Of $4,000.
he The nvldlty with which Korean 20,
hat men turn TO the Young Mems Christ
~. 4 s.oolat ton would Indicate, oven to