THE work in Korea continues to develop in a wonderful manner. In response to the urgent invitation received, as reported in the REVIEW recently, Brother Kuniya sailed for Korea, reaching Chinnampo, August 10. Four days later he wrote me concerning conditions as he found them; so I decided to join him in the work, and see the needs for myself. I arrived last evening after a very pleasant voyage of over a week from Kobe. The distance is not so great, but considerable time is required to discharge and receive cargo at intervening ports.
KOREAN BRETHREN WHO LEARNED THE TRUTH IN JAPAN
During the five weeks that Brother Kuniya has been here, two of the brethren first interested have been with him almost constantly; and together they have gone from village to village, presenting present truth to the people. In all, sixteen places have been visited, the farthest being about fifteen miles from here. As results thus far, forty-nine have received baptism, four are to be baptized here to-day, and twenty-three more request baptism. These believers live in thirteen of the localities visited. This brief statement will give a general idea of the present state of the work. Others are inquiring, and we are planning to start to-morrow for Ping Yang, an important city a day's journey up the Tadong River. Here reside most of the foreign missionaries in these parts. Our brethren have friends here, who desire to hear. To present the truth to these and other inquirers, to prepare over twenty believers for baptism, to further instruct and organize the whole body of believers, is the work before us; so we expect to be very busy during the fortnight we are planning to remain.
In the work here, the brethren have met the same experiences that accompany the work in other fields. The people have appealed to their teachers for reasons for Sunday observance, baptism by sprinkling, etc., with the usual result. Some who were interested at first have drawn back rather than lift the cross. Some of the believers were using tobacco, although members in good standing in other churches. But there is power in the third angel's message to raise people to a higher standard.
It certainly seems that the time has come for the third angel's message to be presented to this people. The Koreans are a noble race in many respects; but centuries of oppression and misrule have well-nigh broken their spirit. Dishonest officials rob the people of their possessions, often leaving barely enough for a meager living. Under such conditions the people have lost heart, and make but feeble efforts to better their affairs, knowing that their extra gains would be extorted from them. So, being generally poor in this world's goods, and having little hope of earthly enjoyment, they gladly receive the good news of salvation, and the hope of eternal life.
We feel somewhat perplexed to know how the work here is to be continued. We ought to have workers located here as soon as possible. I hope to have some definite recommendations to make at the close of our stay in this place. But there needs to be no delay in starting a fund to support the work here; and we trust that God will move upon some hearts to respond to this call. We are praying also that the Lord of the harvest will send some laborers to this part of his vineyard. F. W. FIELD.
