HOW THE GOSPEL CAME TO PANG YENG.
By H. G. Underwood
BY H. G. UNDERWOOD, D.D., Some few years ago, during one of the many political upheavals and turmoils in Korea, where the patriot of to-day is the rebel of to-morrow, and in turn is apt to be the patriot of the day after, a number of officials were sentenced to banishment for life to various islands on the coast of Korea. Among these was an official who belonged neither to the highest nor lowest ranks, but at the same time one who had not sufficient influence at court to cause his sentence to be commuted. His son-in-law had sometime before become a Christian, and had often spoken to his father-in-law of God, of Christ, of sin, and of salvation. The old gentleman had politely listened to what had been said, but it had really had no effect. On his sentence to banishment, his son-in-law inserted a copy of the Scriptures in his baggage, and the official went down to what was likely to be his lifelong island home. The island to which he was banished is called “Pang Yeng,” or “White Wing,” and is on the west coast of Korea, about thirty miles from the mainland. It is opposite the well-known country of Kang Yun, where there are several large and flourishing, self-supporting Presbyterian Churches, centering around the Presbyterian Church of Sorai. After arriving at the island, the official was led to read his Bible, for the sake of passing away the time. It was not long before he became convinced of the truth of what the Bible said, and anxious that its new truth should be known to his new neighbors, and to the people of the island. He began to tell them, as fully as he could, of the new religion, of the new faith, of the new hope that he found in the Bible, and he told them that if they wanted to know the truth they would better cross over by boat to the village of Sorai, and inquire further from an elder in the church there, named Saw Kyeng Jo. He also told them that they had a number of books that would throw light upon the subject. So, taking money for the purchase of books, some islanders crossed over to the mainland, and paid a visit to the church at Sorai. The people of the congregation gladly received them, entertained them as long as they were willing to stay, and, having provided them with books, sent them home. Most earnest were their requests for a teacher. Pressure of work, however, prevented Jo or any of the leaders from going over to the island, but frequent visits to the mainland were made by the islanders in search of more light. Gradually a number of believers were gathered together, with the official as their leader. About two years after the first visit, Elder Saw, with one or two others, was enabled to visit the island. It was the fall of 1899, and a large number of the islanders had completed preparations for the annual offerings to the deity that the people believed presided over their destinies. A large amount of food had been gathered together, beer had been brewed, stronger liquor distilled, and a large number of pigs brought together for the sacrifices. All was ready at the time when Jo landed. The few Christians had done their best to oppose the preparations, and they hailed the coming of Elder Saw as of one sent from God. Taking him to the concourse of people that had assembled for the sacrifices, they besought for him a hearing. This was willingly given by the islanders, and, after a few words of prayer, Elder Saw addressed them in his strong, forceful, Korean manner, pointed out the uselessness of what they were doing, and gradually led them to see the real sin which they were about to commit. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so manifested that they at once said: “What must we do to be saved?” The beer and liquor was speedily poured into the sea; the pigs that had been proposed as a sacrifice for heathen deities were sold for food, and the money was handed over to the company of Christians as the first funds toward the erection of a church for the worship of the true God. A large proportion at once destroyed every vestige of heathen worship, and asked for instruction as to how they should worship God. Brother Saw spent a number of days in their midst, instructing them in the truth, and when he returned to the mainland he had seen the beginning of the preparations for the foundation for a Christian church, the building committee accompanying him in the boat to make the necessary purchases. It must not be thought that all these people are earnest Christians (many of them still are in heathen darkness), but they are feeling for the light. Some have seen a little light, and are firmly trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and we believe that He who has begun a good work in them will also complete it. All up and down the coast of Korea there are a large number of islands on which there is a large opportunity for work among the primitive inhabitants. There is a wide door through the length and breadth of Korea to-day, and the Koreans are realizing more and more the uselessness of their old heathen worship; they are feeling after the true God, and it is the privilege of the church of Christ to-day to give this Gospel to them.—Missionary Review.