The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-03-25

quickly away since we reached Korea
They have been busy, happy months
III our continental adolescency. Some
lof the things that have made them so
may be OF interest to you, hence this
epistlc.
School opened the second day after
Jour arrival, and Mr.. Lawton entered
at once upon his duties in the school
room. They gave me il little longer
breathing spell. but have been in the
harness Tor some time now. Mr.
LaWton gives practically five forenoons
Ia week to this work. while | have a
little less than four forenoons Mr..
Lawton's teaching is divided between
Pal Chat Boys high school and the
first Methodist college founded in
Korea, and mine between the boys
high school and the girls school. the
latter being under the management of
the Women's Board This is English
work. of course, or we would not be
able To do it. The pupils knowledge
lof English Is very limited. however, SO
that the work of the classrooms is both
slow and difficult. But Inasmuch as
we, also are struggling with Il new Ian
iguage our sympathy for them is quite
natural, and SO we get along happily
together doing what we can and not
Irctting over the rest. | cannot tell
which | enjoy more, the work among
the boys (many of whom are married
mem or that among the girls: all soon
become dear so that without any effort
to do so | find myself taking an eager
Interest in their advancement The real
lby the students. Their thought was
well put up by one of the BOYS in Il
short composition the other day when
he said, 1.-The subject of Pal CHA is
preach the Christianity" Preaching as
the term is used here. means not only
sermons by pastors, but also personal
work by anyone. There has been u
splendid spiritual work among the girls
Eduring the recent two weeks that were
set aside for that purpose. The girls
ieIn Methodist schools were also
IiEcluded The services were conducted
Iby man who is wholly Gods and
those who were privileged to be associ-
lated with him in the work say that
the manifestations of the power of
the Holy Spirit to convict and to pur
lily were very marked. Not only dur
ing the meetings was this evident. but
as the girls would gather of their own
accord in groups or i'll Il body and
pray until Il OF II o'clock at night.
In addition to the above mentioned
work, Mr.. Lawton has been appointed
Foreign pastor of the largest of the
three Methodist churches located in
Seoul While this means work, it also
gives us opportunities of being brought
into touch with the people in special
ways. The Sunday school is very pros
IperOus so much so that it is too
large for the church building. SO the
men have their sessions before the
preaching service. and the women and
lchildren hold theirs after the preach
ing service. 1t does one good to see a
church packed full at morning SER
vice; even the floor space between the
seats and the altar is well filled with
boys on one side and elderly women on
the other. The latter prefer to sit there
partly because some of them Go not
hear well, but more especially because
they are used to sittin" Oh the floor
and find it more comfortable than the
seats. | feel quite clated now that !
can find the place for song OF Scripture
reading for some of these same women
who find it very difficult. In ii Korean
service, the worshippers nearly all fol-
low the reading; so many Bibles in the
congregation is quite an advance over
American custom. They do as well by
the singing it is usually follow
even to half line in arrears. Or the
more active may gain two or three
words Oh the leader, but they sing
anyway, or make joyful noise unto
the Lord, and they all do it and do 1T
Justify. There is something about it
that often gives me a real spiritual up
lift. Their prayer meeting is held
"Wednesday evening; the usual attend
ance is little over $50. We attend
most of the time. Mr.. LAYTON has
preached five or six times through an
interpreter, and | made my maiden
public speech before the Sunday school
last Sunday with the aid OF the same
interpreter, who is also our teacher.
Christmas Long before the day it.
self came, the Christmas spirit was i'll
the air. had hardly expected to find
lit here, but the presence i'll the heart
of Him who was The Christ child brings
the JOY of Christmas anywhere. 1t
was really contagious hcre-expectancy
Joy. love, VIC revelled in it, The Sun
lday school of our church had a pro-
Igram two evenings long, SO the chill
dren gave their part on Christmas eve
and the young people theirs on Christ
mas night. Not since | was child
have / felt so much like one; before
the service began | wanted to throw
my hat in the air and shout, and after
they had started 4 could scarcely con-
tain myself. The people themselves
are SO chldlikc in their enjoyment of