Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-08-21

plush scarf about his throat somewhat
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 MIL.
After the service was over, the eld-
ers gathered around the missionary
and proffered formal request that he
come as soon as possible and spend
few days in teaching them the Bible.
Mr.. Hall had to put them off with
vague promise, as his field is too
large for him to do more than look
over 1T. / 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 it.
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 a visit
| ing elder from Seoul, sat on the floor
OF our sleeping room, and the candi-
dates were brought in one by one.
W. Of he bod
learned to read in order to read the
Bible, common experience among
| the Korean converts. The next was
boy of IL, son of Christian parents.
Then came young man of %, then
an old man. A bright boy OF IL, with
his hair up in top-knot, in token OF
| being "a man." had been married
| year to girl of 10, 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 marriageable
| age fixed by the church. which is 16
years for girl and Is for 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-
| lions translated to me- / must say that
| the fitness of the candidates for
church membership is very vigidly
guarded The examination is much
more rigid than person has to under
go In order to become a member of
church in America. | told the mis-
sionary that | would not risk it N.Y.
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; IL
would be easy otherwise to turn Chris.
tianity to political uses in Korea I
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
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 / 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 ut
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 az.
fecting. Because | was with Mr.. Hall
they considered me a missionary.in.
law, l suppose. and they sent me OF
| with such demonstrations OF interest
and such repeated benedictions as do
not often fall TO the lot OF Journalist.
II was new sensation. really liked
It so that when on the day following.
a boy carrying on his back two 10
| foot timuers of tclegraph-pole thick
ness Ga Korean coolie will carry four
! times his weight and six times his
bulk) stopped me with beaming face
and squeezed my arm. ! took II for
granted that he had seen me at
church ard responded with the saIu
tation OF Peace" which / had
/ learned
As we went on our way from each
village some OF the elders would nc.
company us. as the Ephesian elders
accompanied the Apostle Paul. The
custom is an oriental one. as is also
the constantly repeated salutation of