C. L. BUTTERFIELD by C. L. Butterfield

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1911

C. L. BUTTERFIELD

By C. L. Butterfield

Korea

C. L. BUTTERFIELD

It was the writer's privilege, in company with Elder F. H. DeVinney, of Japan, to visit Elder W. R. Smith's station at Wonsan on the east coast, the last week in June. Wonsan is not quite two hundred miles from Seoul; yet to go there one must travel by rail to Fusan, 275 miles, and then by sea to Wonsan, a distance of three hundred miles. Boats do not go every day, and we could get only a small craft. This should have made the trip in thirty-six hours; but a storm arose when we had been out about ten hours, and the sea was so rough that the captain anchored in a little bay, where we remained forty hours, making us quite late in getting to Wonsan.

We were glad to meet Brother and Sister Smith and the native workers and believers on the east coast. Brother Smith moved to Wonsan after returning from the last General Conference, and now there are two organized churches over there, one at Wonsan and one about two hundred miles north, at East Won. The membership of these two places is about thirty-five, and many interested persons are being labored for. Eight days were pleasantly spent with the company at Wonsan; then we returned to Fusan, from which place Elder DeVinney returned to his work in Japan.

I then went on to Keum Chyon, 165 miles south of Seoul, to meet Brother R. C. Wangerin. Two days were spent in looking up a suitable place for another mission station. Three suitable places were found, and it is planned to buy a site, and build a house for Brother Wangerin soon.

With three native helpers, Brother Wangerin remained in the south to work for a few days with the summer special magazine. I returned to Seoul just in time for the beginning of the campaign. Several companies of agents went to different parts of the field, and excellent sales are being reported; but the summer rains are early, and are somewhat retarding the work. One of the native Bible women sold sixty copies in one day. The price is five sen, or two and one-half cents.

On my return to Seoul, after an absence of a few months, I was pleased to find a good company ready for baptism. Last fall the first baptismal service was held there, thirteen persons being baptized, and a church of thirty-two members organized. In October, Brother H. A. Oberg, who has charge of the work in Seoul, with Brother Wangerin and native helpers, held a series of meetings, at which time most of the nineteen just baptized began to keep the Sabbath. The Seoul church now has over fifty members, and others are preparing for baptism.

If you could see the building in which they meet for worship, you would be surprised that anything could be accomplished in it. Buildings suitable for churches can not be obtained here, and we have nothing with which to build. A good building would be a wonderful help. Don't you think that you could help to win souls in Seoul, by helping to provide a place to hold meetings?