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October 6, 1909. THE PRESBYTER
It is difficult to tell about the real moral life of. a
city like Paris. London seems much more moral, and
yet a thoughtful friend of mine who has known both
cities for many years, and who has sounded the depths
of both, assures me that he regards Paris a much better
city morally than London. I do not know about
this. I know that London seems a great deal better.
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j. iic visnur who goes 10 raris win nave no lack ot
invitations to sec real Paris, which is Paris by night.
I had not been there many hours until I had an invitation
from a guide to join a party of ladies and gentlemen
who were going out that night to see Paris as
she is. He assured me that T would get back to my
room by two o'clock in the niorning. The next day I
had an invitation to join a party of gentlemen only. I
am still wondering who they took me for. But the
astonishing thing about it all is how many Christian
people accept these invitations and wade through cesspools
in Paris that* they would never dream of wading
* through at home.
Just before I left home I saw going the rounds the
story of a little girl and her prayer. After the regulation
prayer was said she always put in a few impromptu
petitions of her own. We who have little
children in our homes understand this thoroughly. On
the given night when she had finished her prayer she
said in her childish accents: "Good-bye, God, we are
going to Atlantic City tomorrow." I am afraid that
too many of us go on our vacations in that spirit. Yet
I will not be pessimistic. In London, and again in
Paris, there roomed beside me a devoted Christian
man and his wife. They were from my own city.
Every morning before breakfast the Bible was taken
down and they had their family prayers exactly as if
they had been at home. Henry Drummond was right
when he said: "The best evidence of Christianity is a
Christian."
My face is now turned towards home. When I
think of the castles and palaces and landed estates and
dukes and lords of this old world, with all that they
mean, I go back a better American. When 1 think of
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tituicurais ana images ana monasteries ana superstitions,
I go back a better Protestant. When I think of
the privileges and opportunities I have enjoyed and of
the continual goodness of God to me, I trust that I may
go back a better Christian and a better minister.
Very sincerely yours,
Walter L. Lingle.
The American Federation of Catholic Societies recently
assembled in Pittsburg, Pa. The membership is
composed mainly of laymen. In addition to declarations
of loyalty to the Catholic Church and its institutions,
the Federation pledged itself "to the abatement of the
evil of profanity, to assist in the war against the white
slave trade, to opposition to the misuse of the Lord's
day, and to the spread of offenses against public morality,
immoral theatrical shows, and to unclean journalism."
The Romanists probably have a greater field
for influence in these particulars than do Protestants,
for obvious reasons, and when they sincerely address
themselves to the promotion of reform in morals, farreaching
results may be expected.
. . ^
IAN OF THE SOUTH. 5
Missionary
THE KOREAN MISSION OF THE SOUTHERN
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. H. F. Williams, Editor "The Missionary."
The Journey to the Field.
The journey from Kobe. Japan, to our station in
Korea may be made by rail along the northern shore
of the Inland Sea to Shimonoseki and across the strait
to Fusan, or one may go, as I did, by the little Japanese
steamer that leaves Kobe in the afternoon, stop
ping a few hours at Shimonoseki the next day, and
then across the Korean Strait to Fusan, where the
steamer ysually stays a day discharging and receiving
freight. Missionaries have told us of the sense of
desolation and strangeness that came over them on
arrival at Fusan. It is a desolate looking place, with
almost nothing in the way of scenery or people to
arouse missionary enthusiasm. However, the day may
he most pleasantly spent by a visit to the Northern
Presbvterian Mission, where the pvanorpiictiV m;ce;o,r.=
the splendid hospital in charge of Dr. Irvine and the
IS
LITTLE WEST GATE, SEOUL, KOREA.
very attractive school of Korean girls in charge
of Mrs. Irvine, will give one a very agreeable
introductory touch of missionary life in
Korea. Mokpo being the best port of entrance
to our mission field, we continue our voyage on the
steamer, leaving Fusan a little while before sundown.
Neptune permitting, the traveler will stay on deckuntil
a late hour, viewing the mainland and islands.
The morning, if the day be calm and beautiful, as it
was ' when I had the privilege of taking the trip,
brings charming views of the islands of the Korean
archipelago. On the islands of the Korean archipelago
in our field there is a large population, estimated from
75,000 to 100,000. Except as Korean Christians have
gone over from the mainland and made known the gospel,
these people have not been visited by missionaries
until recentlv. Our mission has taki?n nn thic
and assigned to the island field, Rev. H. D. McCallie.
At the time I visited the Missions in Korea, Mr.
McCallie was only beginning his work, and was dependent
upon a hired boat. He is now the happy
owner of a comfortable boat, a present from his father
?certainly an appropriate and most useful gift.
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