The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-08-01

out comment, the missionary began
the work of examining the 40 appli.
cants for baptism. The three lead.
ers' of the local church, and a 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 a man of 40 who had
learned to read in order to read the
Bible, a common experience among
the Korean converts. The next was
boy of II, son of Christian parents
Then came a young man of %, then
an old man, A bright boy of IL. with
his hair up in a 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-
stonary instructed them to do SO until
they have reached the marriageable
age fixed by the church, which is 16
years for girl and Is for a man
Many such practical problems as
these arise among a people fresh from
rank heathenism.
After watching the examinations for
several hours, and having the ques
tions 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 10 become a member of
church in America. l told the mis-
sionary that would not risk it my.
self; he requires almost a 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 IL retained in the catechu-
men class for while longer. Just
hnfnrn AncH .ln1hnr
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. think shall
remember the sight OF the procession
Of white-robcd villagers with Bibles
and hymn books under their arms,
filing down the hill from the church at
sunset.
When we hastened away from the
village, the people gathered with
many good wishes. The simplicity,
open-heartedness. and affection of
these child-like Christians is really al.
fecting. Because | was with Mr. Hall
they considered me a missionary-in-
law, suppose, and they sent me OF
with such demonstrations of interest
and such repeated benedictious as do
not often fall to the lot of Journalist
1t was a new sensation. really liked
it so that when on the day following,
boy carrying on his back two Is,
foot timbers of telegraph-pole thick
ness Ia Korean coole will carry four
times his weight and six times his
bulk) stopped me with beaming face
and squeezed my arm, took it for
granted that he had seen me az
church and responded with the salu.
tatlon 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 sInceli
ty. 2. The thoroughness of the work
of the missionary, and the vigilance
with which church membership is
guarded. g. The remarkable fact
that the missionary has no time to go
after people or do any pioneer evan.
gelistic work; the church Is propa.
eating itself. Here, in two decades
has been created native church that
is wholly self.supporting and self ex
tending. have no doubt that If the
present missionary force in Korea
were quadrupled or sextupled at once,
practically the whole nation would be.
come Christian in less than score OF
years. !"
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.l