RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Korea
in the hermit nation is almost like a romance. It was not, however, allowed to progress freely, and at the CTOseof that century, as well as at different times during the first half of the ninei. Roman teenth century, persecution broke out Catholic and threatened the life of the infant Missions, church. Many of the Koreans, however, remained firm, and, despite all persecutions and opposition, the progress was steady and constant. The latest of these severe persecutions occurred in 1866. Many attempts had been made from the very beginning of this work to introduce French priests, but this failed until 1835, after which in various guises and by various means, from time to time they entered Korea. Many of them suffered martyrdom, a notably large number met death in 1866. Roman Catholicism, however, did not give the Bible. It gave very little enlightenment outside of a few catechisms, and did not seem to lend itself to education and the general uplift of the people. There are still, however, in Korea a large number of Roman Catholics, and their figures total up to approximately 40,000.
Protestant Christianity made several attempts to enter the land. Notable was the effort of the intrepid pioneer, Gutzlaff, who landed from native boats on Korean soil, and sold copies of Scriptures and tracts in the Spanish language as early as 1832. Missionaries in China were also quite 2. Prot- concerned about their near neighbor, estant Korea, and the Rev. Dr. Thompson, of Missions, the London Mission School, was at his own earnest request permitted to make the attempt. He had learned the language, and just as he was ready to leave he was offered free passage if he would act as interpreter on the ill-fated ship "Sherman," and while there is no definite data to prove it, it is generally conceded that he was, with the others, massacred by the Koreans when the ship stranded in Pyeng-Yang. The treaty made by Japan with Korea in 1876, followed by the first treaty with a western power, that with the United States, made by Admiral (then Commodore) Shufeldt, of the United States Navy, opened Korea at last to the residence of missionaries. In the spring of 1884, J. W. Heron, M.D., of Tennessee was commissioned as the first missionary from a Protestant Church to the hermit nation. In June of the same year, the same board also appointed Rev. H. G. Underwood. Dr. H. N. Allen, stationed in Shanghai at the time, was transferred to Korea, and he, reaching Seoul with his family in the fall of 1884, became the first resident Protestant missionary. Just prior to Dr. Allen's arrival, however, Rev. R. S. McClay, D.D., of the Methodist Church, had been commissioned by his board to visit Korea, and make arrangements for the establishment of a mission in Seoul. He was warmly welcomed by the authorities, and was invited to establish medical and educational institutions in the country. Reporting this to his board they at once took action, and appointed the Rev. H. G. Appenzeller, and Wm. B. Scranton, M.D., while the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of the same church appointed Mrs. M. F Scranton as their representative. Thus it may be seen that these two churches began their mission work in Korea at
practically the same time, and to a large extent upon these same missions has devolved the bulk of the work during the past years. Very early in the history of the work, the missionaries were led to adopt what might be thought quite stringent rules, looking toward self-support. The many principles underlying these rules were: (1) to develop church missionary work only so fast as the natives were able to take care of it; (2) to plan church architecture along native lines; (3) to insist that the natives erect their own churches; (4) that native Evangelists be employed only so far as the natives were able to pay for them, and that the responsibility for the salvation of their neighbors be placed upon the native Christians.
Not only was Korea opened politically by the treaties that had been made, but in a marvelous way the missionaries seemed from the beginning to have entrance to the hearts of the people, and although there was no small amount of initiatory work to be undertaken, a literature to 3. Results, be prepared, the Bible to be translated, etc., yet from opening of work results in the way of conversions have been manifest. Although the first missionary, a physician, did not arrive until the summer of 1884, and the first clerical missionary in 1885, yet the first convert was baptized in July, 1886, and before the close of 1887 there were two regularly organized churches in Korea. Steadily the work has been going forward at increasing speed, gathering momentum as it advanced, until for some years past the speed at which the advance has been made has far exceeded the ability of the missionaries to keep up with it. The latest reports concerning the work for all denominations show considerably over 1,000 native churches with more than 120,000 Christians, and these Christians maintain, almost wholly at their own expense, over 500 schools for the education of the sons of the church. Students of the times believe that if the opportunities presented in Korea are met, this will be the first of modern eastern nations to become Christian.
The churches working there at the present time are the American Presbyterian North, the American Presbyterian Church South, The Methodist Episcopal, the Southern Methodist, the Canadian Presbyterian, the Australian Presbyterian, and the Church of England. As each of the Presbyterian churches has opened up work, it has united with the other Presbyterian forces and from the very beginning, ecclesiastically, these churches have been one. This oneness was crystallized in September, 1907, by the organization of the Presbyterians in Korea for their work there under authority derived from the four general assemblies. The two Methodist churches also work in harmony, and while at the present time ecclesiastically they are not yet united, it is expected that union will take place. There are those who are hoping for a still greater union, that of Methodists with Presbyterians, whereby the unity of the Church of Christ may be practically demonstrated to the people of Korea. H. G. Underwood.
Bibliography: The best work for a historical survey and
at the same time for a view of the people and their cua-
Koreshan Ecclesia KoBters