W. R. SMITH by W. R. Smith

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 22, 1906

W. R. SMITH

By W. R. Smith

From “the Hermit Nation”

W. R. SMITH

No doubt many readers of the REVIEW know of the Macedonian calls that have come from Korea within the last year, and will be glad to learn what is being done to answer them.

Buffeted, as she has been for centuries, by the great nations about her, and oppressed as the people have been by their own rulers, Korea has for many years been tottering upon her foundations, and seems to have now fallen into the arms of Japan, who will assume a protectorate over her.

The area of Korea proper is about eighty-one thousand square miles, and she has a population estimated all the way from six to fourteen millions. Seoul, the capital, is a walled city of about two hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants.

A little more than one year ago a Korean learned something of the third angel's message from one of the native laborers of Japan. What he learned was soon carried to some of his countrymen, a goodly number of whom gladly accepted it as truth, and began calling for some one to come and teach them more. As well as possible, these calls have been answered by the brethren of Japan, where the work is already upon a firm basis in several places. But an urgent need was felt for some one to locate permanently in Korea, learn the language, and thus by the Lord's blessing be enabled to give them the help so much needed.

It was in July that we were asked to come to Korea. We felt the call was from the Lord, and on the eighteenth of September, with our little Willena, on the steamship “Athenian,” in company with Dr. Perrine and Miss Young, who were going to Kobe, Japan, to work in the cause of the Master, we set sail for our new field of labor. After eighteen days of very rough weather, during part of which time we all, with the exception of Miss Young and our little child, experienced what it is to be very seasick, we anchored in the port of Yokohama, Japan. There we were met by Elder Field and his wife, who took us to their home in Tokyo, and kindly entertained us until we had rested a few days, when we again resumed our journey to Korea, stopping at the Kobe Sanitarium over Sabbath and Sunday, where we were again made glad to see the truth of God shining so brightly in the midst of this heathen darkness.

It was midnight, November 17, when we reached Seoul. The next day we moved into the house which we expected to shelter us at least for one year. The house is what was once a Korean mansion. It was owned for several years by missionaries, and remodeled by them, but is now in the heart of the town, and owned by the king. Through the kindness of one of the resident missionaries, we were allowed to move into this place and occupy part of it free of rent, the king fearing that it would be taken from him if it were not occupied by foreigners. We had been in the house three weeks when Mr. Underwood, the missionary, told us of a place owned by one of the princes, lying to the outer edge of town, in a much more healthful location. Owing to fear of violent seizure of the house, it could be had for a very small rental. We felt that the Lord was in a very marked way providing for our temporal wants, and rented the property for five dollars a month. There are a comfortable house, magnificent lawn, beautiful grounds, a small orchard, and garden.

Our one task is to acquire the use of the language. So we have employed a native teacher, and are spending our energies early and late to accomplish this end.

Swiftly the final message of the “commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” is speeding to every tongue and tribe. And from this land we expect to reap fruitage for the heavenly garner.

“Heard ye the voice from over the sea, Not from the Flowery Land? ’Tis the Hermit Kingdom that calls to thee, From the land of the ‘Morning Calm,’ ‘Come over and help us.’ Heard ye the cry? ‘Come quickly. The harvest is white; Say not, Four months, or by and by;’ Korea asks now for the light.”