KOREA

Southland Times, Issue 18930, 2 May 1923, Page 6

KOREA

ADDRESS BY COMMISSIONER HOGGARD. A very interesting and instructive address on Korea was delivered before a large audience in the Salvation Army Barracks on Monday evening by Commissioner Hoggard, who has only recently assumed the position of Territorial Leader of the Salvation Army in New Zealand. The chair was taken by the Hon J. A. Hanan, who had associated with him on the platfonh, Councillor and Mrs J. Miller, Dr A. Stewart of Bluff and Mr W. A. Ott. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Mayor elect, Mr Andrew Bain and Councillor Fdrrant. In the course of a very interesting address Commissioner Hoggard told his hearers of the early efforts made by the Roman Catholics to found a church in Korea and later qf the setback they received. Some thirty years later American missionaries had matraged to get a foothold in the country but for a very long time their efforts did not meet with very much success as the Korean was a particularly difficult person to influence. Commissioner Hoggard also spoke of the trials difficulties which had beset both Mrs Hoggard and himself and their Corps when they were sent out to Korea some 12 years ago by i the late General Booth to commence missionary work there on behalf of the Salvation Army. It took them seven weeks to reach Korea by way of Japan from England , and when they arrived there the conditions of living were so awful that it was only their devotion to their work that had kept them at their post and the knowledge that the cause was one from which they could not retract. Speaking in regard to the activities of the Salvation Army, Commissioner Hog gard stated that the Army in Korea to-day had seventy-six churches established with between 4000 and 5000 Salvationists organised for work, while out of their own poverty and their devotion to God they had paid for and secured for themselves from the Japanese Government, the deeds of some fifty properties. “The Korean,” continued Commissioner Hoggard, “ is not like the Japanese but is more like the Chinese. There is no doubt that he is a man of a real sturdy character and given an opportunity for education and other facilities for improving his knowledge of life will make his presence felt in the Far East not only as an Empire bvit in sending missionaries and helping China.” On the motion of Dr Stewart a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Commissioner Hoggard for his very interesting and useful address.