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6 THE PRESBYTERIA]
. i>? .1 . ...
x d^siui; uirougn numerous channels, the passage
seems so intricate that we wonder how the pilot finds
the way, but in due time we catch the first glimpse of
Mokpo. The little ship anchors a little distance from
the local church. All is gladness and good cheer and
"sampan," and we are received and taken ashore with
invflll wplfnmo 'I'lia o/.U^1K ?: * l- '1?-- 1
j ?j? ... w?>v i nt atuuuiuuvs, wun ineir leacners,
are there to give welcome to the visitors. Near at
hand are the officers and leading Korean workers of
the local church. All is gladness and good cheer and
we have arrived in Korea, and are 011 our mission field.
Our Territory.
The field assigned to the Southern Presbyterian
Church in Korea is the southwestern section of the
peninsula, a very choice part of the country. Our four
ii.oaiun siiiuons are lvioKpo, JS.wangju, Kunsan and
Chunju. Mokpo is a port city of importance. Kwangju
is the nearest station to Mokpo. The trip is made
in a little Japanese launch going up the river some
twenty-five miles from Mokpo to Yungpo. A good
road has been constructed by the Japanese from Yung
EMM^fe'lM KhI
|M ' 7^u^ |TWi M^^MM
KOREAN GENTLEMAN AND WIFE.
po to Kwangju, another twenty-five miles across the
level plain of rice fields, and then into hills and mountains,
from valley to valley, and in sight of villages al
wunout numoer. irom one point I counted
twenty-seven. The general direction of Kwangju
from Mokpo is a little north of east. From Kwangju
to Chunju is a horseback or chair ride for the ladies, of
about seventy miles. This is a conservative, historical
town and one of great importance from the missionary
point of view.. It is beautifully situated in the
mountains. Our fourth station is Kunsan, a little
northeast of Chunju. Our mission is not located in the
town, but in the village of Kunmal, about two miles
from the city. This is a port town and has, as in all
port cities, a Japanese and Korean section. The trip
from Chunju to Kunsan is made over the fine road
built by the Japanese. Notice the location of our four
mission stations: Mokpo, then generally east to
Kwangju, north to Chunju, and west to Kunsan. It
will be seen that we completely occupy the southwestern
part of Korea, a splendid country with a fine
%
N OF TiiE SOUTH. October 6, 1909.
people, and a missionary work that should make us
rrritofu 1 1 ? ' -* r '
s.ai?.iu> mat, in uie providence 01 uod, it has been
assigned to our Southern Presbyterian Church.
The Work at the Station.
At Mokpo we have a nourishing church with a growing
membership. The church was enlarged, but already
it is impossible to accommodate the congregations,
and further enlargement will be absolutely necessary.
The officers of the church are faithful and devout
Christian men. The work among the women is
greatly blessed. The John Watson Academy is an
excellent school. The school building, the best 1 saw
in Korea, is a well built, conveniently arranged stone
sii utiurc. i ne giris scnool is in great need of a
building. It seems impossible that so much could
have been done in the inadequate and badly located
Korean house in which the school has been conducted.
In the dispensary there is a fine work being done.
At Kwangju we have a flourishing church with a
building altogether too small to accommodate the con- ?
gregations. There is a good Sunday-school. The
bookroom adjoining the church is the center for the
distribution of religious literature. The boys' school
is doing well?as well as is possible with the meager
facilities. There is also a small trirls' school The
dispensary is visited by as many patients as can possibly
be treated. There are no hospital facilities.
At Chunju we have a good church with a large and
increasing membership. The Sunday-school, Bible
Training Classes, and other work are all prosperous.
The boys' school is doing splendidly, as may be said
also of the girls' school. The new buildings in process
of erection for these two schools will add immeasurably
to the educational work. Until recently there has
been a very large work in connection with the dispensary,
which has been temporarily discontinued, there
being no doctor at Chunju.
The work at Kunsan is, in general, much like the
work at the other stations. The village church, though
not large as a building, is the center of religious activity.
The Frances Bridges Memorial Hospital and Dispensary
is one of the most useful agencies we have in
Korea. Dr. Oh, a Korean physician, educated in the
United States, is in charge of the work in the absence
of Dr. Daniel, who has been at home for a surgical
operation. There is a boys' and also a girls' school in
which fine work is being done, notwithstanding the
limited quarters.
j n tne anove sketches ot the stations mention has
not been made of what is our largest work in Korea,
i. e., that of the out-stations. Our missionaries divide
up the territory in districts, radiating out from the station.
The most interesting part of the visit to Korea
was the time spent with the brethren in the out-station
work. Village after village was visited. Delegations
from schools and churches came out to meet us, sometimes
miles away from the village. The churches were
crowded to ovecflowing with people, most of them
Christians. The preaching, with a missionary as in
i:?* * *
ivijy.m,!, w<19 nsiciicu lu wun an interest tnat was
most gratifying. The travel on horseback, through
valleys on the paths dividing the little rice fields, and
bver the picturesque mountain passes was so exhilarating
to the spirit that bodily weariness was almost forgotten.