New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
CHRISTIANITYS GREAT GROWTH

While at supper a Corean Christian
entered with the news that in q small village
two hours further on where no missionary had
visited, group Of believers chat word is com
monty used in Corea) had recently sprung up.
numbering ten families They had been visited
each Sunday by the Christians from village
and received instruction, but they wanted the
missionary to visit them and establish a cat
echumen cess. Mr.. Halls programme was too
full on the present tour TO admit Of this. In
our stopping place. the elder further reported,
there were forty candidates for baptism be
examined. This particular community illus
trates the phenomenal Christianization Of this
country which is now less than generation
removed from the rank heathenism and seclu-
sion which earned for it the title of The Her
nit Nation" The settlement comprises thirty
eight houses, and Of these twenty-five are Chris
tan.
Practically the entire village turned out for
me evening service, most Of them carrying
Bibles and hymn books.
After the service was over the elders gathered
around the missionary and prOffered formal
quest that he come as soon as possible and
spend a few days in teaching them the Bible.
l was interested to note that while elsewhere
missionaries have TO adopt various devices TO
attract hearers such as English classes. cooking
classes, etc. in Corea the people seem TO want
simply the Bible, and the missionaries are I'M
able 10 meet the demand for the teaching Of it.
Early the next morning the missionary began
the work Of examining the forty applicants
Tor baptsIn. The three leaders" of the local
church and visiting elder from Seoul sat
the floor OF our sleeping room, and the candi-
dates were brought in one by one. The first was
a man OF forty who had learned TO read in order
10 read the Bible-a common experience among
the Corean converts. The next was boy OF
twelve, son Of Christian parents Then came
young man OF Jwenty-eight then an old man.
A bright boy Of twelve with his hair up in n
topllnot, IN token Of being "a man." had been
married a year 10 a girl OF fifteen, also be-
lever. Although married, these children reside
with their own parents; the missionary instruct
ed them to do so until they have reached the
maria geable age fixed by the Church, which is
sixteen years for girl and eighteen for a man.
Many such practical problems these arise
among a people fresh from rank heathenism.
After watching the examinations for several
hours and having the questions translated TO
me. must say that the fitness Of the candidates
for Church membership IS rigidly guarded. The
examination IS much more rigid than q per-
son has to undergo in order 70 become a mem
Der Of church IN America. I told the mission
airy that would not risk II myself; he requires
amost a theological education on the part Of
converts. This strctness is necessary, however
to keep the people from joining the Church
from un-Christian motives; 1t would be easy
otherwise to turn Christianity TO political uses
IN Corea
All day long the missionary worked over these
examinations and at 5 o'clock he had only got
through with twentv-siX personsi the others
would have to wait until his next visit. Four
teen Of the candidates were passed for baptism
and eleven retained IN the catechumen class lOT
An hours walk in the twilight and darkness
brought 10 the next settlement where the
experience Of the previous day was repeated
Out Of seventy families twenty-five are be-
levers and the village, which IS situated along
the river, and had long been notorious for It's
gambling, drinking and general "touGhness
had been entirely altered in its character by
Christianity. Here a crowded church-erected'
of course, like all others, by the Coreans' own
money and handiwOrk-awaited the missionary
After another night in a room similar to the one
IN which we had slept the night before the mis-
sionary started in again on similar grist OF
candidates for baptism, putting throngh
twenty less than half the waiting list, before
starting a half DAYS journey to the next VII
lage. where the same proceedings were dupli-
Gated.
Summing up the whole trip, three facts espe-
ciallv impressed me- First the recepttvtty OF
the Coreans toward Christianity IN eagerness
| and sincerity: second, the thoroughness OF the
work Of the missionary and the vigilance with
which Church membership is guarded, and.
third. the remarkable fact that the missionary
has no time TO go after people or do amy pioneer
evangestc work; the Church IS propagating
/ itself Here in two decades has been created
| a native church that IS wholly self-supporting
! and self-extending. I have no doubt that II the
present missionary force in Corea We're quad
! rupled or sextupled at once, practically the
whole nation would become Christian in less
than q OF wears