Newspaper Page Text
V ..
March 10, 1909. THE PRESBYTERI
out of the sea as a continuation of the mountains of
the mainland, exceed in picturesqueness anything of the
kind I have seen in a number of ocean voyages. The
arrival at Mokpo was a continuation of the cordial
greeting of the missionary with the Welcome of the
Korean Christians who with the school boys in line on
the sea-wall made a large company of people.
Our work at Mokpo and surrounding field is prosperous.
The following missionaries are located at this
station: ivev. ana Mrs. J. P. Preston, Rev. and Mrs.
Robt. Knox, Rev. H. A. McCallie, Miss Julia Martin
and Mr. W. A. Venable. Mr. Preston is a busy man
with the general charge of the station and the special
oversight of the local church, with the additional itinerating
work; Mr. Knox is studying the language and
itinerating; Mr. McCallie is also studying and spends
much of his time in visiting the islands on the southwest
coast, his assigned field; Miss Martin is diligently
studying; Mr. Venable, an appreciated fellow traveler,
is a hard student, and with the help of an interpreter is
teaching a class in physiology in the Boys' School.
Mokpo is an open port and consists of a mixed population
of Japanese and Koreans. Our mission is located
in the Korean part of the town. The building
includes two missionary homes, and quarters for a
missionary in the gate house; a small inadequate home
for the Girls' School: another Knrenn limtco fn*
.Boys' School and the excellent new John Watkins
academy into which the Boys' School will be moved;
a small dispensary building, a church seating about
four hundred built by the native Christians, and several
Korean thatched roof houses on land owned by the
mission.
The new school building is our best in Korea.
It is one story with an assembly hall 22x40 feet and
two smaller rooms 16x18 feet, an entrance hall 8x13
feet, arranged with sliding doors so the entire space
can be used as a large hall. The material used is.stone
and interior woodwork is of good quality. The location
or me building is near the church* and is one of the
principal structures of any kind in the town. The mission
appropriated $2,000.00 (gold) which was approved
by the executive committee. Of this amount only a
part has been paid on account of the lack of funds, but
so great was the need of room for the proper handling
of the ninety boys that Mr. Preston personally negotiated
a loan that the building might be ready for occupancy
as early as possible. These approved plans for
schoql buildings, missionary homes, etc., which cannot
be carried out until the executive committee is able to
send the money, have many times raised the question
as to how long will the church by withholding gifts,
delay the work both in nrpcpnt
? ? ... ?wv??b c* null dllU
future extension.
Notwithstanding the limited room in the dispensary
at Mokpo? a large medical work has been kept up. The
small building, erected about 1900 while Dr. Owen was
located here is used for a clinic and operating room.
Dr. F. H. Birdman has been in charge until his transfer
to Chunju last fall. Dr. Oh was transferred from
Kunsan to Mokpo until the arrival of Dr. Forsythe.
There are as many patients as can be given attention
Wf
AN OF THE SOUTH. n
including many minor surgical cases, and a considerable
number that require major operations. There is a
great need of a medium size hospital building having
up-to-date equipment.
There is not space to describe, nor is it possible to
express in writing, the deep spiritual impressions received
in the church services. The Sunday in Mokpo
was communion day. The church, though once enlarged,
is too small for the regular audience. On this
special day the room was crowded with as many worshipers
as could be comfortably seated on the matted
floor?the men and women separated by a curtain extending
from the platform to the rear of the building.
Of f:f?? -
my-acvcn examinations twelve had been held
over, twenty-two put in the catechumen class, and
twenty-three admitted for baptism. The examinations
are most carefully made, the requirements are such
that if applied to our home church members, would
prevent the reception of the large majority of those
who present themselves to our sessions. The baptism
service was most impressive. The Korean Christians
are, in the fullest meaning, a Bible loving and studying
people. The Scripture reading at the services is closely
followed by the entire congregation. Along with the
word of God is found the hymn book and it is used
by all. The singing of a Korean congregation is frequently
not melodious and never harmonious, but it is
always devotional. On this communion day such
nynins as "L-iirist recciveth sinful men" and "Loving
Kindness," had deeper meaning than ever b^/ore experienced,
for we had before us the greatest and
strongest evidence of our Savior's inviting, receiving
and saving loving kindness.
The journey through Korea and the visits to Our
mission stations at Kwangju, Chunju, and Kunsan will
be described in other letters, but let it be said and with
all possible emphasis, now is the day for opportunity
in Korea and it cannot be postponed.
TROUBLES AND TRIALS.
Another has said that people who make trouble always
talk of their trials. Making allowance for whatever
exaggeration the statement may contain, there is
enough.of truth left to make a good many ashamed of
themselves. The one who always has sentences about
his trials ready to roll off the tip of his tongue is the
one who is looking for sympathy and help. * He cares
very little how much trouble he causes others. The
main thing is to draw upon the world for sustenance
by imposing upon it a tale of woe, and this is a real
trouble to the world.
Most persons take delight in alleviating suffering and
lessening misery, but they wish to divine sorpe of this
for themselves, and not to have it thrust in their faces
at every turn. The one who sneaks oft of ViJc
t w* LI 1CL1C*
becomes a chronic grumbler before he knows it, and
is taken with some acute attacks even then. If we
follow the example of Jesus Christ, we will bear more
trials of others than we try to get them to carry for
us, and we will suffer trouble rather than create it.
The man who follows his Savior will not make mistakes
in this particular.?Religious Telescope.