In company with Brother F. W. Field, of Japan, it was my privilege to attend the meeting of the Korean workers, which was held in Seoul, August 5-13. This was the largest and most generally attended meeting that we have yet held in Korea. All the native workers, and all the foreign workers but two, were present during the entire meeting.
SEOUL PRINTING EQUIPMENT
The last Sabbath was a good day for all. At the close of the forenoon service every person in the congregation reconsecrated himself to the Lord. At the close of the afternoon service, just at sunset, Dr. Riley Russell was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. We believe Dr. Russell has proved himself to be a real soul-winner; and it seemed necessary, in organizing our work for the future, to place heavy responsibilities upon him; therefore the brethren were united in recommending his ordination.
Korea has never had a periodical to circulate among its believers. Two years ago it was recommended that a paper be published; but conditions had not seemed to warrant the undertaking until the present time. As soon as possible, an eight-page paper will be published, which, it is hoped, will prove a great blessing to our work in this field.
WORKERS, BOTH NATIVE AND FOREIGN, IN ATTENDANCE AT THE KOREAN GENERAL MEETING
Miss Mimi Scharffenberg was appointed editor, with Elder C. L. Butterfield as assistant editor. A special will be published just before the Korean new year, and it is hoped that the believers will give it a large circulation.
Our denominational literature in the Korean language is limited, and it seemed imperative that something be done to increase the amount of reading-matter on the message. Accordingly, studies on Daniel and the Revelation will be issued during the coming year, and printed in pamphlet form. It will not be profitable to publish a verse-by-verse study of these important books at the present time; but an outline of Daniel 2, 7, 8, 9, and 11 will be brought out, special emphasis being given to points that bear on the second coming of the Lord. It was also recommended that studies from Revelation be published covering the seven seals, the seven trumpets, also chapters twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-one. Our Korean brethren greatly desired a verse-by-verse study of these books, but it was not thought wise to undertake so great a task at the present time. Several small tracts will also be published as soon as possible.
Colporteurs are to be selected, trained, and sent out to sell these publications to the people. It will probably be necessary to support these agents, in part, until they obtain experience, when it is hoped that most of them will be nearly, if not entirely, self-supporting.
Something must be done soon to provide a better equipment for the Korean printing-plant. At the present time it is compressed in a room eight by twelve feet. The press is an old-fashioned George Washington proof-press; and the cutting and trimming are done by hand with a knife. Truly, it seems a great pity to see men compelled to work with such inadequate facilities, while in many places there is an abundance of equipment, much of which is used but occasionally. These men have to work from twelve to fourteen hours a day, in order to get the matter printed, and then they are unable to supply anything like the demand. It is evident that until we can have a properly equipped printing plant, the work will be greatly retarded.
A portion of the $300,000 Fund was appropriated to Korea; and as soon as it can receive a remittance on its appropriation, some of these distressing conditions will be remedied.
At this meeting, the Korean field was divided into four parts, and a man was appointed to have charge of each division. Elder W. R. Smith was assigned to the work on the east coast, with the exception of the southern part; Brother R. C. Wangerin was appointed director of the southern part; C. L. Butterfield will supervise the work in the central part of the state; and Dr. Russell will have charge of the work in the northwestern portion. Native workers, Bible women, colporteurs, and licensed preachers will assist in the various divisions as fast as they are developed. Elder Butterfield will have the general supervision of the field. Two Korean brethren were placed on the advisory committee, and it is hoped they will be of service as counselors.
Dr. Russell will have charge of the school during the coming year, thus giving Brother Howard Lee an opportunity for a more thorough study of the language than would be possible if he were to take charge of the school this year.
BOYS’ DORMITORY, SOONAN
We see no reason why there should not be a large ingathering of souls in Korea during the next few years. The foreign workers have done well in mastering the language, and some can both speak and write it with a fair degree of proficiency. The school will soon have students who are qualified to work as evangelists, Bible teachers, and colporteurs. With a continuation of the Lord’s blessing, and more of the pentecostal power, great things can be done in Korea.
