VISIT TO KOREA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

VISIT TO KOREA.

PROGRJiaiS o_' OHiUtiilAxNlii:. llio following letter from Mr J. it. i Moll, general obureiai-y oi tue WoilUi. • Ouri6ti«u c. tuuenis Utuerution, iui«i ue^n . receiv^u oy a _New Zealand syuipa.niisci . "Un my way to lVianiui 1 tui-nea uaiiie • to visit ivorea." 1 wenc irom i)i_an viI rect to iseoul, tlie capital ox tue country; ■ on the new Japanese railway, wmeu tina ' ueen extendea t>ulce tue yrur nam orie enu ■ ol tne coimtry to tue otner. All my wuie Was spent m tuis capicul city, wmen k> 1 one oi tne most oeauuioily itycutea cities, m tne world, ano wmcu donunates tne Hie ox Jvoiea. under tne ninuence oi Japan, extensive rexpims m government, eaucauoli, ana coiumerciai iciatiorw aio being insiituted on every lioiiu. UiriiitiariiDy is niasmg marveiioiw. advances m ail purts of trie country. • i was torn by tue leader, of one denomination tuatf tue number of meiribei'S m nis uenbnunation had increased uui'iilg trie past year from just under. 10,000 to just under _U,vtXJ. ■ibis" represents fa. larger increase by this one denomination m xvorea than uy an denominations m Japan during tne same period. I venture to predict that unless some unforeseen obstacles are interposed, Korea will be tlie first non-Ohristian country evangelised. ""We arrived after 10 o'clock -on a bitterly cold night,' and weie met at tlie station not only by a deputation of the leading missionaries, including the Bishop of Eorea and other Christian leaders, but also by hundreds of Korean Christians from the Association And from all the churches, bearing Oriental- lanterns. They escorted us. to tne hotel, where addresses of welcome were given, by a member ol the Privy Council arid by one of the lead, ing Korean pastors . r'While m Seoul I spent a great deal of time with; the' secretaries of our Associi^tion • movement there, ' discussing the problems ;and, plans for the deyelopmerit of the work. " Time was also spent with the Board.of. Directors and with tlie foreigri residerite, emphasising the most, approved Association principles and methods. The progress already achieved has been truly wonderful. An Association of over 900 members has .been built up. Few Associations, either m. the East or West include m their membership as large a proportion, of ,the most influential classes of men, .socially, intellectually, .and politically, ito Association has received larger recognition from the G^verrurient authorities.. LaVview of the needs of Korea and v the present .plastic' ©onditioh ...of the country, and m view of the uriprecedented popularity, of the Association with men of riigh standing, it. is m a position to exert a greater national influence than possibly ariy r other one local Association m the world. When the new building, made possible by fMr Wanamaker's giltof 40,'00b dollars, is erected, it will enable the Association to lead the country ; m educational and moral betterment work, and will greatly augment its results along religious lines, s "You ;Will be 'interested .m the two , meetings for evangelism which I. held ; -with Korean young men. ' ' t sliall refer m particular.^to^one,. pL these .which, m some ways, was : the most notable meeting ; of ats kind I have ever, held m; any. ■ country! We rriet "m :ihe . largest public hall of Seoul, located over a mile outside the old city wall,' and which was crowded to its uttermost limits with over 2500 young :-." men. Seated .on .the ; floor, according to. Korean cub- ' torn, over twice as many were packedf into the' hall as Would have .been seated m an American audience. Every window and other" openirig was also occu- : Eied. Although the meeting was not to egin iintil two o'clock, the hall- was ' completely ffilfeif at rioqiir arid many be- . gan .to come to the riie^ting as early as nine o'clock m the 'rabyning. In addition to the. large number m the hall, : it' is estimated that there were at" least 3500 who could not enter. These were organized, at the last . minute into ;two « overflow ineet-ings, one m a neighboring building, arid ariqther m the open air, although exposed to the piercing cold of the Korea wiriterf , The most significant thing about this vast attendance, is the fact th.at no person was admitted without ' a ticket and tickets were sent only to the most important classes of men m the city— officrals;,' students, gentry -nc. others. I had to go out to speak briefly to one of these overflow meetings and -, then returri to give my address. in the main hall. This meeting, including my ; following up wo^k, lasted ' nearly three 'hours. Most' fortunately Iffha^-'.as; my ' interpreter Yini Chi Ho,' an old Vanderbilt University man. He was price 'Anl;: '-. fing Miriister; o( : Foreign "Affairs and might, havei been Prime Miriister oi ' Korea. He had- just founded a/Christian' college which promises to be the leading educational institution of the Eiripire. ! The meeting was one of increasing solemnity and powei.. Although I' ap- ' plied mostfdiflicult tests, it. resulted m ' the decision of over 200 young men to , become disciples of Jesus Christ. The ' chief impression I formed m Korea was that it is" a. dead-ripe field and that all the. forces of pure Chriistianity interested • m that country shouiu press, their advantage.. „,.;, ' j

"The Emperor of Korea, learning -..- about my work, indicated his desire togive me an audience. This was finally arranged for the last day of my. visit. His Majesty asked me a riumberf of questions,, which gave me full opportunity to lay be fore him the. programme of , our Associatipri work m Korea and facts concerning its progress iri other lands. .At the dose he thanked me- heartily for the interest shown m the young, men of his country .' It is hoped that this Imperial recognition will still further strengthen the hands of our movement. in that field."