THIS is the first year of the organized Korean Mission, the work having previously been under the oversight of the Japan Mission. Elder C. L. Butterfield, the superintendent, says:—
In February, 1909, an institute was held for our native workers. During the institute the leading worker stirred up a revolution that for a time seemed to threaten the existence of our church in Korea. After much prayer and study, he was dismissed from the work. The other workers took their stand for the organization, and our people all lined up with us.
Two further workers’ meetings, of three days each, were held later in the season, and these were times of great blessing from God. Unity was brought in as never before. In September the26mission headquarters was moved from Soonan to Seoul, the capital, a city of two hundred thousand inhabitants, where suitable property was rented.
BLESSINGS OF MEDICAL WORK
Dr. Riley Russell and wife have had their hands full of work at the little Soonan dispensary. As soon as he arrived, the doctor was so beset by those needing help that it was with great difficulty that the necessary time for sleep and language study could be secured. He says:—
During the past year we have had 5,712 patients, and many interesting experiences. One man carried his mother to us on his back to have her treated. A woman brought her child (eight years old) on her back 200 li (70 miles). But as yet we have no place to treat such patients or give them lodging. We do what we can, and God has blessed our feeble efforts to a remarkable degree. A short time ago a man came for me to go to his home 40 li (15 miles) distant to see a sick person. I was away, and he waited two days for me. I rode a little Korean pony, and when about half way there, the pony plunged into a mud-hole, and the mud came almost over the saddle, leaving me stranded. We pulled the pony out, and at last I reached the place and saw my patient. A large company of the most influential people of the village gathered about, and I lost no time in distributing tracts and talking to them about the true God. Truly the medical work may be the means of reaching hearts, and our earnest desire is that we may never miss an opportunity to point souls to Christ.
Of other developments in this newly organized mission, Elder Butterfield says:—
SCHOOL WORK
A boys’ school was conducted at Soonan, Dr. Russell having oversight, while two Korean brethren acted as teachers. The attendance has reached thirty. Many more students wished to come, but we could not give them work. This must be made a good industrial school, for there are many bright young men who would come if they only had some means of paying their way. A dormitory was built, mostly by student labor, which accommodates twenty students. We have about twenty acres of land in connection with this school, and hope to get five acres more. The students are willing and anxious to work, although it is against custom for a student to work in this country.
Photo by H. A. Oberg
A girls’ school has been conducted at Chinnampo. Miss Scharffenberg went from Seoul to assist in the opening, and reported seventeen students the first week, with a very earnest Christian spirit. Besides these two schools for advanced students, we have eight church-schools, with an enrolment of 110.
BEGINNING A PRINTING PLANT
In the spring we received a small printing-press from the Japan Mission. It was with some misgivings that we entered upon this work, as we had had very little experience in it. But God has wonderfully blessed our efforts, and we have been able to print the following: 8,000 copies of “The Way of Salvation;” 5,000 each of the “Sinner’s Need of Christ” and “Jesus Is Soon Coming;” a 1,000 edition each of “Bell’s Bible Lessons,” Nos. 1 and 2; 13 studies from “Helps to Bible Study;” and “Sabbath-school Lessons on 1 John.” Besides these, Sabbath-school and church record books and a week-of-prayer reading have been printed.
INTO NEW REGIONS
One man who had but recently commenced to keep the Sabbath moved to another part. He took a supply of tracts, and not long after wrote that as the result of reading these tracts about twenty were keeping the Sabbath, and that they wanted some one to come and27teach them. Another man has taken hold of the truth who, fifteen years ago, bought a Bible, and having read it through, saw the Sabbath; but because the other denominations did not keep the Sabbath, he would not be a Christian. When he met one of our workers, however, he became a Christian, and is a firm believer in the message.
On the return of Elder W. R. Smith and wife from America, in October, 1909, they moved from Soonan to Won-san on the east coast, to begin a new work. As no suitable house could be obtained, they bought a piece of land, and built a wood-shed in which to camp while putting up a house. The winter came on, however, stopping building operations, and they have had to winter in the shed. “We can keep fairly comfortable,” he wrote, “by keeping a roaring fire.”
EVANGELIST LE PONG SEUNG AND FAMILY, KOREA
THE YEAR’S SUMMARY
During the year two new stations have been opened; three new workers have arrived in the field; four native workers have been added; about one hundred persons have begun the observance of the Sabbath; nineteen have been baptized; $629.98 has been received in tithes and offerings; over 60,000 pages of literature have been given away; about fifty dollars’ worth of literature has been sold; 5,172 patients have received treatment; and our schools have increased in number and size. Calls come to us like this: “Come at once and teach us the way of truth. If you do not come, souls will be lost.” To many of these we can only say: “Study your Bibles and pray much. We will send you help as soon as possible, but there is no one who can go now.”
