37 Kor c* -X. IN THE PUBLISHED BY PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION RICHMOND. VA. TEXARKANA, ARK.-TEX. LIST OF Missionary Booklets Covering the Work of the Southern Presbyterian Church, By REV. H. F. WILLIAMS, Editor of The Missionary. 1 — Along the Grand Canal (our Mid-China Mission). 2 — North of the Yangtze (our North Kiangsu Mission). 3 — In the Hermit Land (our Korea Mission). 4 — In the Mikado’s Empire (our Japan Mission). 5 — In Mexico and Cuba (our Near-Home Missons). 6 — In South America (our Missions in Brazil). 7 — In the Congo (our Mission in Africa). Price, 5 cents each. Postpaid. In Four Continents (Text-Book 1912-13) — The Foreign Mission Work of the Southern Presbyterian Church. Cloth, 50c. Paper, 35c. FOR OUTLINE OF THIS BOOK, WITH HELPS, SEE PAGE 32. Published by the Presbyterian Committee of Publication, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. TEXARKANA. ARK.-TEX. IN THE HERMIT LAND The Korea Mission of the Presbyterian Church in the United States By HENRY F. WILLIAMS Published by PRESBYTERIAN COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION Richmond. Va. Texarkana, Ark. -Tex. HAx^I-GYKNG H\YANGcH(\I> 1 ^' ^YENG'^ r iis>-K�rA Kuug-ju ’CHIIUXG-CHHENG •|ic\-*-T AIISSION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. U. Eapsved by Ednin Na3li%*ille Texm Scale of Miles 50 100 150 “In her boasted history of ‘four thousand years,’ the little kingdom has too often been the Ireland of China, so far as misgovernment on the one side, and fretful and spasmodic resistance on the other, are considered. Yet ancient Corea has also been an Ireland to Japan, in the better sense of giving to her the art, letters, science and ethics of continental civilization. As of old, went forth from Tai’a’s halls to the British Isles and the continent, the bard and the monk to elevate and civilize Europe with the culture of Borne and the religion of Christianity, so for centuries there has crossed the sea from the ])eninsula a .stream of scholars, artists, and mission- aries who brought to Japan the social culture of Chosen, the literature of China, and the religion of India .” — William Elliott Griffis. Rev. W. D. Reynolds and Ilis Korean Assistants Translating the Uiblo. KOREA The Geography of Korea. Korea is a compaiatively small peninsula extending from north to south, hounded on the east hy the Sea of Jai)an, the Yellow Sea on the west, and by Manchuria and Siberia on the north. Korea might properly be called an island. A stream finding its source in a lake on the boundary line between Korea and ^lauchuria is the source from which a river flows to the sea. In the same lake the Yaln Kiver, of historic memory in connec- tion with the recent war between .Japan and Kussia, finds its source and Hows southwest, eni])tying into the Yellow Sea. To travel around the border of Korea would reciuire a journey of 1,750 miles. Within the boundary there is an area of about 00,(100 s(piare miles. The area is not earance of the land. Hut Korea is far from being an unattractive country. On the other hand, it is highly I)ictures(ine. The traveler in the interior will find a combination of beauty in the low mountain ranges, the hills and rich valleys. One will travel far before see- ing anything moi-e beautiful than the valleys hedged in by low ranges of mountains. es])ecially whcm the rice is ri]iening and being harvested. The climate of Korea, with the exception of one or two months in the summer, when the rainy season pre- viiils, is delightful. In the north it is v^ery cold, but not so frigid as the location of the country on the maj) st*ems to indicate. The mildness of the climate is accounted for in the fact that the warm stream in the Pacific, which corresponds to the gulf stream on the eastern shore of our country, strikes the east shores of Japan and gives to that country its warm, damj) cli- mate, which clothes the island with a very paradise of verdure. This same current gives Korea, especially the southern ]>art of it, a most delightful climate. 8 lx THE HeUMIT l^AXl) KoREA. Early History. The liistoi-y of Korea is lost in the misty past. The first (lawn of Korea's history was about the time that Samnel called the elders of Israel toj^ether, 1122 B.C. There is much tradition and mystery connected with the history of these early times. A <>reat man named Kija came into Korea from China. Wild tribes occupied the country; among these i>eople the great Kija took up his abode and established his capital in Pyeng-yang, and called his kingdom “Cho.sen.'’ He reigned fifty- thiw years, ^'isitors to Pyeng-yan find great interest in going to the grave of Kiga, outside the walls of the city. The Chinese ideas and mysticisms that are found in Korea were brought into it by this first king. Kija’s Well. The couiitry has not existed as a sejiarate government for over two hundred years. During this iieriod of Korean his- tory there were freipient wars. Jajian on the east and China on the west were both endeavoring to coiupier Korea. There were some great naval battles in those times, and it is worth mentioning that the first armored battleshi]) of which there is any record was constructed by a Korean admiral, who, with his sheet-iron jirotected ship, demolished the Jajianese fleet on the west shore of Korea. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 9 The Country Opened. Just one liuiidred years before Colmiibus crossed the Atlantic there was a change in the Korean dynasty, and the caiiitol was removed to Seoul, now Iw far the largest city in “Chosen.’’ In 187(i Korea made a treaty with Japan, which was the first relation established with the outside world. Six years later the United States suc- ceeded in making a treaty with Korea, and a Govern- ment representative was sent to the “Hermit Kingdom.” Early Korean Christians. From “The Call of Korea,” by Kev. II. G. Underwood, I). I)., we take the following extract, which tells the story of the first Korean Christians: "In the year 1782 some Koreans, having secuit'd Chinese books that told of Christianity, sent to Pekin to imiuire further. There, in 178J, the tii-st Korean was bajitized and named Peter. Two hundred years previous to this Komanist mission- aries, following in the wake of the Ja])anese army, had administered the sacraments to the Ja]>anese who pro- fessed a faitli in Christ, bnt we find no record of a result of any seed- sowing which may have Ikhmi done among the Koi-eans. Peter, w h o was ba])tized in 1781, was seized, thrown into jail, and suffered inai- tyrd(»m in 17!M. Others, nevertheless, songhi ba])- tism. Prominent among them were l*aul and Korean Christian Famiiy. 10 Ix THE IIeumit Land — Korea. •liUMiues Kim, wlio wen* exti-eniely active in sjireadiiift a knowledjic of the tnith, so that in the first ten years after the baptism of Peter it is estimated that there were ovei" four thousand followers of Christ amonji the Koreans." The new religion, which re(iuired the f>ivinf>- np of ancestral wor- sliij), aroused oi»])o.sition. which rapidly grew to perse- cution. From ISOO to IStid there was continued per.se- cution of Catholic adhei-ents to the Koman faith. Girls from Kwangju School. Fir.st Protestant Missionary. Korea was o])eiied to l*rotestant missions in a remark- able way. Pijiitei, a Korean, was sent to reiiresent his government in dajian. Soon after reaching the country some Christian books fell into his liands. He read them with eager interest and was introduced to one of the .Vmerican missionaries, from whom he received instruc- tion. He accepted Christianity and was baptized, ffijutei immediately began to juejiare a Ifible which his Ix THE Hermit Land — Korea. 11 coiuiti-ymen could read, and begged that missionaries might be sent to Korea, and Dr. H. N. Allen, then living in China, was sent in 1884. The American Minister ai)])ointed him physician to the legation, which insured his safety. Soon after his arrival a number of Koreans were wounded in a political outbreak, among them a nephew of the king. He and several others recovered from their wounds under Dr. Allen’s care. His skill gained him the favor of the king and his court, and opened the way f(»r Protestant missions. The first ordained missionary arrived in Korea in the spring of 1885; The first convert was ba])tized in duly, 1886; the first church organized (Presbyterian! in the fall of 1887, and before the close of 1888 the first bajdized converts of the two missions. Presbyterian and Methodist, num- bered over inn. Earlier M issioxaries. Dr. Allen was the first resident I’rotestant missionary in Korea, but efidrts were made by Protestant mission aries to enter the country long before he was sent to Seoul. A Prussian udssiouary named Gutzlaff landed in Korea in 18 .”,l', remaining a mouth. In 18(i(i Kev. .Mr. Thomas, of the Loudon .Mi.ssioiiary Society, became interested in the Koreans, studied the language, and was sent to Korea in the early ’sixties. lie was given passage on the ill-fated American schooner, the General t^heniian^ on couditiou that he would act as interpreter. This schooner, passengers nor crew, were never heard from after they reached Korea, and it is a generally accepted fact that they w(*re murdered by the Koreans. Mr. Thomas was followed by two other Scotchmen, who eutei-ed Korea from ^lukden — Messrs. Loss and McIntyre. ('onsiderable work was done by these early 12 In the Hermit Land — Korea. missionaries in the way of translation, and there were a number of converts as a result of their work. Among the number was Mr. Soh Sang Eyim. Of this man Dr. Underwood says: “After his conversion he stayed awhile, assisting in the preparation and iirintiug of books, and finally told Mr. Eoss that he must take a few books and go home and tell his friends about the Saviour of whom he had learned. Mr. Soh si>ent some little while traveling around the northern province, jireaching and distributing books; vis- ited the capital, where he found quite a number who were at least willing to hear what he had to tell : and later settled with his fam- ily at the village of Sorai or Pine Stream, in the County of Chang Yun, on the Yellow Sea. Here he preached and lived Christ, and laid the foundations for the work in this village that has since become world renowned. Such were the beginnings of mission work in the land of the ‘]Morn- ing Calm,’ and while the efforts put forth were meager and feeble, the results gave promise of the speedy dawn and morning light that Hood much of the laud today.” Interesting items regarding other missionary work in Korea must be passed over and our further account begin with what has been called the "Wide Seed-sowing Period.” There was so much opposition to Christianity in the early days that the first converts were baptized behind closed doors. Long itineraries were made into Korean Beggar Boy. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 13 the interior, and converts multiplied beyond the bright- est hopes of the missionaries. The year 1890 is given as the end of the period of seed sowing. It was found that the Koreans were not so much opposed to religion as they were to a people without a religion. As the tirst live years was a period of .seed sowing, the second five years is called by Dr. Underwood that of “Expecta- tions.” Missionaries of other denominations entered the field, and the Word was widely preached, and re- ceived by great numbers. Our Field in Korea. A chain of mountains extends through the whole length of Korea. Of the eight ]»rovinces into which the country is divided, three lie east of the mountains and five west. In the division of the countiw among the denominations doing foreign mission work in Korea, the two favored ])rovinces in the southeast. North and South Chulla, were assigned to the Southern Presbyte- rian Church. Our first missionaries to Korea were sent out in the fall of 1892. Owing to the disturbed conditions of the country resulting from the hostilities between China and Japan, they were detained at Seoul until 1895, when, following the advice of the Council of Presbyterian Mis- Alexander School. Village School. Kunsan. 14 In the Hermit Land — Korea. Panorama of Kunsan sions ill Korea, they ojieiied work in the jn-ovince of Chnlla, occupying' Kiinsan a.s the first station — a coast town ahont two hundred miles smith of ('hemnlpo. The field in which the missionaries of the Southern Presbyterian Church are working, by the aiiijortionment of the various mission Boards having missions in Korea, is our exclusive territory. It includes two in-ovinces. North and South Chulla, and six counties of an adjoin- ing province. There is not to be found in all Korea a better section of country. The region is known as the "Granary of Korea,’’ and is the most densely populated part of the country, the y)Oi)ulation niimljeriug. approx- imately, 2,243.000 peojile. There are four itrincijial stations, with a town and field iioi)iilation as follows: Kunsan, 336,000; Chunju, 632,000; ^lokpo. 340.000; Kwangju, 03o,000. STATION SKETCHES. Kunsan. Kunsan, our first station, opened in 1896. is pictur- esquely located near the mouth of the Changpo Biver. Being the only natural outlet for the products of a thickly populated section of the country, the Japanese In the Hermit Land — Korea. 15 Station Buildings. and Korean towns are steadily jirowing-. Onr work at Knnsan consists of a clmrcli and a dis])ensary in the city. At Kun<>nml, a villajie ahont a mile from Knnsan. where the princijial hnildinjis of this station are located, there is a chnrch, vilhifit* school, school for hoys, acad- emy for hoys, a jiirls' school, the Frances I>ride of one of the largest, most thickly pop- ulated rice ])lants in the whole country, just at the base of the “Pine Pid<>e'’ of the ])rovince. The work at ('hnnjn consists of a lar<>e and prosperous chnrch, with a second smaller chnrch in another jiart of the city. The Girls' School and academy for hoys are eqnipjied Avilh <>()od hnildiiifis. An adequate hosjiital hnilding' has heini recently erected. The missionary homes occnjiy a convenient and beautiful location adjoining the city. 16 Ix THE Hermit Land — Korea. Mokpo. Hokpo, oiK?ned iii 1eniusula. As in all the impor- tant port cities, there are separate Japanese and Korean towns. There is a good harbor, with many picturesque islands near at hand. Our work at Mokpo includes a large church, the John Watkins Academy for Boys, an adequate school building for girls, a number of mis- sionary residences, a small building for clinics, with ground purchased and appropriations made for a hospital. Kwang.iu. Kwangju, opened in IShS, the capital of South Chulla, is an important city. There is a prosijerous church, adequate buildings for a hoys’ and girls’ schools, the Ellen Lavine Graham Memorial Hospital, with an ade(]uate supply of missionary residences. SOONCHUX. The new station, Soonchun, is sixty miles east of Kwangju. Land has Ix^en bought for this station. Kecent reports from this station tell of the great ojiening The John Watkins Academy Students, Mokpo. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 17 for mission work, the readiness of the people to receive the gospel and be organized into groups of believers. The station property is described as being beautifully located with an abundant sui)ply of good water. Starting on an Itinerary. Itinerating. The work at each of the central stations in Korea is a small i»art of what is done by the missionaries. Ka- diating in different dii-ections from each station, the district is divided into fields that are placed in charge of a resident missionary who, with his native helfiers. makes journeys to the organized groujis of believers, and preaches the gospel at new centers. The male missionaries are assisted by the native evangelists, and the women who do visitation work are iiccomiianied by the native Bible women. The extent of the itinerating work and the results are shown on a niaj) printed on another page, on which the i>rincipal stations are indi- cated and the out-stations, where there are groups of believers, are represented by .«mall dots. 18 In the Hermit Land — Korea. Native Helpers. The i)iiiicipal of self-ia-oiiagation adopted by all the mi.ssioiiai-ies at the begiiiniDg necessitated the use of the the native Christians. In the schools, Bible study meetings, and the rnion Theological Seminary at Pyeng Yang, a strong force of native evangelists and teachers has been prepared for the work. In the work among women there has been a corresi)onding develojmient of efficient native workers, and these Bible women, either alone or in the comjtany of the women missionaries, have been instrumental in bringing the knowledge of Christ to thousands of the women and girls of Korea. The test (piestion asked of candidates for bai)tism is, “Have you led anyone to Christ?’’ The missionaries hesitate to bajitize any candidate who must give a neg- ative answer. The readiness of the Korean Christian to be a “witness," and the results of their work, will be .seen in the following extracts taken from a recent Annual Bei)oi-t : “In one year twelve ordained evangel- i.sts baptized adults and received .‘bllh ‘catechu- mens.’ ” These results were due in very large measure An Out-Station Group. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 19 to the iiersoiial work of the rank and tile of the church. At the Hihle Conferences it is the cnstoin to ask for v'olunteers to jiledge ja-eaching days. Tliis means a pledge to the Lord of so many days to be devoted to j)reaching or testifying at one’s own expense. The Korean Christian does not count Sunday in this vol- unteer jtledge, for they say: “That day belongs to the Lord already.” J‘>ii!LE Study. A system of Hible study ado]ited by the Korea .Mission caniKtt be better stated than in the following jiaragrajth from the Laymen's i)am]ihlet on Korea : "The system of Hible insfrtictioti in use in Korea is, in brief, as follows: “(1) Sunday school classes and classes for those j)re- ]»aring for entrance into the church are held in each gronj), conducted by the local leaders. “(2) Local llible Classes in each station, for men and for women, condncted by the resident missionaries, chietly the ladies. These are held weekly, for instruc- tion of catechnmens, ba])tized members, helpers, Itible wometi, and Sunday school teachers. There are at least half a dozen in each station. “(.”,1 District classes, which are held at strategic jioints and participiited in by the neighboring churches. The.se are condncted by the missionary in charge, as- sisted by his hel]>ers. and often by one of the lady work- ers. with her heljim- in sjiecial work among the women. At other times the ladies conduct such a class se])arat(*ly. Attendance on the.se classes ranges from twenty-five to one hundred and fifty, and time of meeting is one week. Three stations rejtorted, foi- one year, thirty-seven of 20 In the Heumit Land — Korea. tliese classes held for women, with an attendance of 1, (»()(), and two stations reported fifty-five held for men, Avith an attendance of 2,G00. “(4) Station Bible Conferences. These are held yearly at each of the four stations, separately for men and for women. Delegates from every church in the territory of the station gather, at their own expense, for ten days of Bible study. All of them walk, covering distances for the round trip ranging from ten to two hundred miles, many of them bringing their rice on their Covenanter Band, Chunju. backs. The course is graded, coA’eriug six years, and the instructors are the missionaries and the theological students. The aggregate attendance of the four classes for men was 1,700, ranging from 200 to GOO, and of the four classes for Avomen, 000, ranging from 75 to 400. “(5) Leaders' Bible Confei'ences, held once a (piarter at each of the stations for seA^eral days, and once a year for a AA’cek. Attended by church officers, leaders, and picked men, and 1 aught by the missionaries. “(G) Bible Institutes. These are of tAvo kinds, one for men, designed especially for those helpers and lead- In the Hermit Land — Korea. 21 ers who do not attend the theological seminary ; and one for women, designed for Bible women and picked leaders among the women. They are held for a month, and taught by the missionaries.” Presbyteries and General Assembly. ^Vhen the Church in Korea had grown to a sufficient size, with the reipiisite number of church officers, esjie- cially elders and pastors, the Presbyterian bodies work- ing in Korea organized the I’resbytery of Korea. In connection with the organization of the presbytery, the country Avas divided into seven districts, the missionaries having in mind the training of church officers until the conditions Avonld Avarrant the organization of seA'en presbyteries. The hoi)es of the missionaries have been realized in this connection and the seven presbyteries haA'e been organized, and Ihe first General Assembly in Korea Avill be held in the fall of 1912. The ecclesias- tical organization of the Presbyterian Church in Korea does not include a synod. I )ISTANCES. From Kunsan to Chnnju the distance is thirty miles. The Jaiianese have constructed a good road, Avith bridges oA’er the streams, lietAAeen these places. The distance from Chuuju, south, to IvAvangju, is seAenly-tiA-e miles. The travel betAA’een these tAvo jilaces is jtartly oAer the Jaiianese roads, but the most of the Avay is by the Korean path crossing a number of mountain ranges. From H()k]io, on the coast, to Kwangju, the distance is fifty-eight miles. A good government road connects these places. 22 Ix THE Hermit Land — Korea. Kunsan Hospital Buildings. Railways. The ])i-incii)al railway in Korea extends from Fusan 1o Seoul, and tlienee through Korth Korea to a connec- tion at Jlarhin with the main line of the Siberian Eail- way, making the journey to Europe a comjiaratively brief and comfortable trij). A railroad is under construction heginning at Mokpo and extending northeast to join the main line a little north of Fusan. Population. The jiojuilation of that part t»f Korea which has been assigned to the Presbyterian Church F. S., is about the same as the population of the states of South Carolina and Florida. The total poinilations of the two states is 2,2(i7,000. The total poimlation in the provinces of North and South ('bulla is 2,243,000. At the time this comjiarison was made, there were 3,240 ordained min- isters in South ('arolina and Florida, and twelve or- dained ministers in Korea, or one ordained jueacher to 000 of the ]H)]uilation in the two states, and one ordained ju’eacher to 185,010 ]teo]ile in our Korea field. While recent additions to the Korea Mission Avill considerably Increase the working force in that held, it will be readily .seen how much larger is the task of the Korean missionary than of the minister at home. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 23 Christian Education. lu villages where there are groups of believers, the native Christians make early provision for the village school. While the Japanese goveruiiieiit has done much ill the way of providing school buildings and teachers for the Koreans, the Christians desire schools where their children will receive I>ible instruction. As a rule the Koreans will build the schoolhonse and pay Ihe salary of a native teacher. From these village sclntols there have come a large number who have en- tered. or are now {)repared for leadership in the Korean Church. The next step in the missionary school system is the opening of an academy at each of the principal stations. The academy is snpjiorled by the .Mission, and receives ])U])ils from the city and surrounding teriitoi-y worked from the station. Apjireciating the iichmI of higher education for those who wonld become jiastors and evangelists, a college is A Village School. 24 In the Hermit Land — Korea. oontemplated which will receive students that have completed the courses of study in the academies. It is not proposed to have more than one college in the ^lission. I'rovisiou has been made for the build- ings, and in the near fu- ture this part of the edu- cational system will be eipiipped and in oi)era- tion. The next .step in the educational system i s the provision for theo- logical training. This is provided for in a The- ological Seminary — a union movement of the Presbyterian Church U. S. ( Southern i and the Presbyterian Church C. S. A. (Northern), located at Pyeng Yang. The instructors in this Seminary are provided by the Missions of the two denominations and competent native instructors. The remarkable progress of our Mission in Korea is due largely to the consistent Christian life of the stu- dents in the schools. The following is quoted from the pamphlet referred to above : ‘Alost of these students are active Christian workers — all of them become so in time. The mother of one of the students, on lieing urged to believe, replied : ‘I am too old to learn a new doctrine ; let my two boys go to heaven if they wish, but I am too old to learn new things.’ The boy instantly replied : “P>ut, mother. I don't want to go to heaven alone; I want you to go with me.’ Through the A Village Christian Family. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 25 faithful and per.sisteiit testimony of this boy the mothei- was bronglit to Christ. The reply of this boy may well be taken as the key-note of Korean Christianity, and the secret of its success." Medical Work. The following statement regarding the medical work of the Korea Mission is taken from the excellent pam- phlet, “Korea,” issued by the Laymen's Missionary ^lovenient : “Ko one expects to treat the 2,400,000 people of our held with foreign physicians. We expect to use only six physicians from America, of whom four have arrived, and through them to train up an adequate force of Christian native i)hysicians. The twenty native med- ical assistants enumerated are all studying under our jihysicians, and are all Christians of standing. As to their ability, one physician testihes: ‘The six students of my medical class have all made encouraging progress. They are now able to till all the prescriptions, kee]t the stock conqxumds made u]), do the dressings, administer ame.sthetics, and perform minor operations, thus enabling the doctor to do treble the amount of work for- merly possible.' “.Medical work is incomparable in removing pi’eju- dices and misconceptions of the ]>eo]de and securing a hearing for the gosjtel. As a concrete exam])le of the es.s(MitialIy Christi:m sjiii'it of love and helpfulness, it is siuqily indispensable on the held. From the earliest day when Korea was oj)ened ‘at the ])oint of a lancet,' to the ]>resent time, the doctor's work has been the strong arm of missions in this country. “^fedical work is, therefore, not merely philanthropuc, but directly evangelistic, as witness the following testi- monies from our doctors: 26 In the Hermit Land — Korea. “ ‘We may say that the medical work not only heals their sick bodies,, but brings many a one to the "Great Physician.” If I were desirous of investing money for large returns in the evangelistic work, 1 know of no better place than in the medical work.’ “ ‘A well-to-do woman brought her four-year-old child to Kunsan for medical help. She said that she was the only one of her family who had accepted Christ, and her husband was a native doc- tor of much fame, but an unbeliever. After treating the child for two months, he had given up the case. 'Fhe mother begged him re- ] Heatedly to take the child to Kunsan in hope of saving its life. The husband finally consented, saying that if the child came back healed he would attend church and helieve the same doctrine his wife believed. By the goodness of God the child got well in twenty days. After the woman returned home, she wrote me a letter saying that her husband and all her family are attending church.’ ” The Island Work. To the south and along the western coast of the south- ern end of the peninsula of Korea the shores are fringed with islands. The Korean archiiielago was practically unknown until 1810, when adventurous captains of tv \‘0 vessels explored the southern extremity of the coast line Going to the Hospital. In the Hermit Land — Korea. 27 of Korea.* ‘‘A later visitor, and a naturalist, states that from a single island peak one mav count one hun- dred and thirty-five islets. Stretching far away to the north and to the south were groujis of dark-blue islets, risiug mistily from the surface of the water. The sea was covered with large, picturesque boats, which, crowded with natives in their white, fluttering robes, were putting off from the adjacent villages, and sculling across the pellucid waters to visit the stranger ship.” In these almost unnumbered islands there is a popula- tion variously estimated from seventy-five to a hundred thousand. Ko systematic missionary work was under- taken in this large population until our Korea Mission, recognizing the importance of the island work, assigned a missionary, who now gives his entire time to the evan- gelization of the ]»eo]»le on the islands, their organization into churches, etc. Tliis missionary, in a Koran san-pan, sails in and out among the islands, visiting the villages where there are groups of Christians, and also giving special attention to new ])laces. Let ween twenty-five and thirty groups of Christians have been already established. Korea has sometimes been called “the Italy of the East,” and (^uelpart, a large island some sixty miles south of the mainland, sustains something of the same relation to Korea that Sicily does to Italy. The in- habitants of this island differ in a number of character- istics from the jx^ople in Southern Korea, and it is re- garded by the Koreans as a missionary field. Out of the first company of men who were ordained by the I’resbytery of Korea, one of the best men was set apart for work in the island of Quelpart. He is supported by the churches of Korea, and so ray)idly have the jteople "From “Korea, the Hermit Nation.” 28 In the Hermit Land — Korea. received the gospel that heliiers, lioth men and women, have been sent by the native church to the assistance of the evangelist in charge. I’uNvuK TA Toyusso. “Translation all dona.’’ Outside effort was made to give the Koreans the Word of Ood in their own tongue as early as 18(55. Individual versions by various missionaries followed, and a production of the Kew Testament, pre- ])ared by an otticial board, was issued iu 1S81J. The authorized translation of the Old Testament, giving to the Koreans the entire lUble in their own tongue, was completed iu April, 1!)10. Kev. W, I). Keynolds, who did the linal translation of the Old Testament, gives the following account of its completion : “Pun- yuk ta toyusso was the message flashed over the wires from the Chunju section of the Board of Official Trans- lation of the Scriptures, Saturday evening, April 2, 11)10, announcing to the agent of the British and For- eign Bible Society at Seoul, Korea, the glad tidings that the task of translating the whole Bilile into the Korean language had Iieeu completed. True, some flnishing touches were yet to be put to the work in the way of careful cojiyiug and rapid revision of certain manuscripts iu preparation for the press; but the terse telegram, costing only live cents, accurately expressed the fact: “Translation all done.' Not quite tweuty- flve years had elapsed since the landing of the first ordained Protestant missionaries, just twenty-three years since the organization of the first Bible Com- mittee, about thirteen years since the reorganized Board began joint work uiion the New Testament, ami ])reci.sely five years, five months and sixteen days from start to ttnish u])on the translation of the Old Testa- ment.” In the Hermit Land — Korea. 29 Each of the 307 dots indicates a self-supporting church. Plate used by permission of Laymen’s Movement. 30 lx THE Hermit Land — Korea. THE KOREA MISSION FORWARD MOVE^^IENT. The progress of the gospel in Korea has been one of tlie most remarkable events in the history of modern missions. In this progress of the Kingdom in Korea our Mission has had its full share. The missionaries on the field became convinced that with adequate equip- ment and a sufficient number of missionaries there was opi)ortunity for a comparatively early complete evan- gelization of one of our fields. Moved by a mighty im- pulse, undoiditedly prompted by the Holy Spirit, the needs of the field in the way of equipment were carefully considered, and it was found that about .^75,000.00 would be a sufficient amount to be used for this purpose. This condition was presented to the Laymen’s Mission- ary 3Iovement with such force that it became a challenge which was promptly met, and the fund of .^75,000.00 for the material equipment of the Korea field was sub- scribed through the eft’orts of the laymen on condition that the Executive Committee of Foreign Missions would be able to send a sufficient force of men and women. The Committee, appreciating the unequal opportunity presented in the Korea field, approved of the Special Equipment Fund, and the call for rein- forcements. Mdth the money for equipment reaching the Mission in installments, designs wei*e made for fifteen new buildings, including hospitals, schools and missionary residences, and the erection of a number of these build- ings was begun. During the year 1911-12, returned missionaries from Korea cooperated with the Laymen's ^lovement in an efi'ort to secure twenty new missionaries In the Hermit Land — Korea. 31 — thirteen men and seven single women — which was considered the necessary force “to evangelize onr share of Korea in this generation.” One of the most stirring- experiences at the closing session of the Second General Convention of the Laymen’s Missionary Movement at Chattanooga was the pi’e.sentation on the idatform of the volunteers for the Korea field, sufficient in number to justify the announcement that these volunteers, with their supj)ort already provided, would he an adequate number of missionaries to meet the call of the Korea mission. As these lines are written, groups of these missionaries are either on the sea or prtqairing to sail en route to Korea. The prayer for adeiiuacy in equip- ment and for the reipiisite number of missionaries has been turned into ])rai.se. The ])rayer now is for such an enduement of the Holy Sj)irit ujion the missionaries, old and new, in Korea as will make possible the s]>eedy accomplishment of that for which we devoutly pray and hopefully look for, viz.: the evangelization of Korea in this generation. “IN FOUR CONTINENTS” THIRD EDITION. REVISED By REV. H. F. WILLIAMS A beautifully printed illustrated book of 230 pages, giving a concise and inspiring historical sketch of the origin and development of the missionary activities of the South- ern Presbyterian Church in the four continents in which our seven Missions are located, by Rev. Henry F. Williams, Editor of the publications of the Executive Committee of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. The first chapter recounts the initial step of the young and struggling Church in the establishment of mission stations. The remaining chapters give graphic sketches of the planting of stations in seven countries where we now sustain missions. The book is attractively printed and illustrated. Many of the pictures are from pho- tographs taken by the author while on his recent world missionary tour. Pastors and missionary workers will find in this book the information that has been so long needed to develop an intelligent and generous interest in the missionary enterprises of our Church Paper Binding, Postpaid, 35c. Cloth Binding, Postpaid, 50c. Map Studies of Mission Lands By REV. H. F. WILLIAMS An interesting and informing series of Maps, showing very clearly the location of all the Mission Stations of the Southern Presbyterian Church. Brief explanatory notes make the studies invaluable to all who would be fully informed about the foreign activ- ities of our Church. Price, 5 Cents, Postpaid. Helps for Leaders By REV. H. F. WILLIAMS Suggestions for the Leaders of Classes or Individuals engaged in the Study of “IN FOUR CONTINENTS” A helpful pamphlet prepared by Rev. H. F. Williams, giving suggestions about organ- izing and conducting Mission Study Classes, and brief directions for the study of each chapter. A list of the best books on missions for side reading is appended, and a table gives the correct pronunciations of the foreign names in the book. A set of review ques- tions provides for a complete resume of each chapter as studied. An invaluable aid to all who would make a thorough study of “In Four Continents.’, PRICE 10 CENTS, POSTPAID. A free copy of “Helps for Leaders” will be sent to every one ordering a supply of the book “In Four Continents” for class study. ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO Presbyterian Committee of Publication RICHMOND. VA. TEXARKANA. ARK. -TEXAS