Among the Churches in Korea by C. L. BUTTERFIELD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 10, 1910

Among the Churches in Korea

By C. L. BUTTERFIELD

C. L. BUTTERFIELD

HAVING been in this field about thirteen months, and during that time not able to visit all our churches, it seemed best for me to make a trip before the end of the year. Therefore, I left Seoul November 7, for—

Soonan

Since moving from Soonan to Seoul, this was my first visit to a local station. Dr. R. Russell and wife and Miss May Scott are at this place. I was met at the station by Dr. Russell and about twenty students from the school. Three days were spent there. I was much pleased with the progress being made. The school is in excellent condition. The students (about forty) are working in a commendable manner. Dr. Russell seemed to have things well in hand. The dormitory had just been finished, and the boys were moving in. It accommodates twenty students. I enjoyed my stay very much. The time to go came all too soon. From Soonan I went to—

Ping-Yang

One of the native helpers has been located here for some time. He told me he had decided to stop preaching. For several reasons it seemed best to accept his resignation. But after talking and studying with him for some time, he asked to be allowed to preach again. So it was decided for him to go to another place to labor. There is a church-school here of thirty boys and fifteen girls. I was much interested in this. The students are the making of a good church. Our church building is very small, only eight by twenty-four feet. The evening I was there, about seventy persons assembled in this little building. The ceiling is so low that one can scarcely stand without bumping his head. As this is next to the largest city in Korea, I think something should be done to assist our people there in putting up a suitable house of worship.

Chinnampo

Here I found Miss Scott spending a few days with the girls’ school. There are about twenty students in attendance at present. The teacher is one of our native Bible workers. Miss Scott is getting along nicely with the language, and was quite a help while there. I had spoken at each of the above-mentioned places in the Korean. But from here on I was to be among those who did not know a word of English. And as I know only a little Korean, I trembled at the thought of going. But I believed that God was leading, and I went on, trusting that he would be with me. And he was. One of our native laborers accompanied me to act as guide and helper.

Sundol

Our next stop was at this place, where the message first began in Korea. I met two more of our workers here, and spent two days with them. I had the privilege of speaking to this company on the second coming of Christ and the importance of our preparing for it, as it is not far distant. This is one of our largest churches. There are fourteen members, and about forty Sabbath-keepers in all. I had five more towns to visit,—Kan Dem Ero, Sam Mal, Yuppo, Nong Dong, and To Kae. At each I had interesting experiences, and especially at Nong Dong, where I spent Sabbath.

This is the home of my helper. I stayed with him. It was not a grand house, yet it was clean, and he made everything very pleasant for me. For a part of my food at his house, he presented me with two dozen nice persimmons and a few pears, which he had bought on our trip and carried home in his hand luggage.

Very likely that amount of fruit had not been in their house for some time, and it must have taken more than a day’s wages to purchase it. I shared it with them as much as they would allow me to. It is such things as this that show the appreciation of the people for our help, and it endears them to us.

The company, while small, is certainly alive and working. The women all read; but that is quite out of the ordinary, for there are not many women in Korea who can read. I felt much at home, and was sorry that I could not spend more time here.

While I should have been thankful had I known the language better, yet I enjoyed helping all I could, and God richly blessed my efforts to preach the truth. Next month I expect to take another trip, and shall then have visited all our companies except one. Most of them are sadly in need of instruction. But we hope soon to be able to give them the assistance they so much need, through our native helpers.

While it may seem that the message is going slowly in this field, yet it is making some progress, and a people is being prepared for the soon coming of our Saviour in the clouds of heaven. We are indeed grateful for the help that we have recently received in Brother R. C. and Sister Wangerin and Brother H. A. Oberg. We believe that God will abundantly bless their service in this field. We are well, and enjoying much of his blessing.

Seoul.