Weeks before that eventful day the Avison boys decided that it must be a great big holiday. And what do you suppose was the one thing needful to make it such? You will never guess, so I will tell you: it was to have their father, for once in a year, leave the Hospital long enough to join them in their play. They had it all planned beforehand. Papa was to get off that day and skating with them! O! you say, but there might not be any ice at Christmas time! That did not worry the boys any. They have faith as a large element in their makeup, and so finally decided the matter in advance.

But the good doctor was making plans too. He had a mind to make the day one long to be remembered by every patient in the Hospital, as well as by the doctor, nurses, helpers, wives and children all united. He was planning that everyone of them should have the biggest dinner of their lives; and that good followship should prevail from rector to coolie. Thus plans developed.

There had been some clear cold days, skating was good, and the boys were in high glee. But a few days before Christmas the weather became warmer and the ice softened; still their faith wavered not. On Saturday, two days before Christmas, horseloads of green boughs and mistletoe found their way into the hospital. These, when judiciously distributed, worked a wonderful transformation in that abode of suffering. Sunday was a quiet day surcharqed with expectation. The services in the Hospital

were given a distinctively Christmas flavor, and yet were led to special rejoicing by the news, received late the night before, that His Majesty the Emperor had sent a thousand dollars to help the sick and afflicted, wishing them a happy Christmas. Fervent prayers went up to God from many a Korean lip and heart for His goodness in revealing to their country the mystery of the Christ and His saving power. Nor did they forget to ask for a blessing upon His Majesty the King.

At last it was the very morning of Christmas day. The four Avison boys were up bright and early. Many were their shouts of joy; the weather had turned cold in the night. The ice had been strengthened and Papa could go skating! They could scarcely await the completion of the time honored custom of gathering the entire family in the parlor around the Christmas tree, servants all there to witness the unloading of the presents by Santa Claus. Morning prayers, for one, to the boys, was a questionable performance, even if the singing was unusually appropriate; but when ended the expected group crowded near the parlor door to rush in pell mell as it opened. Even the baby Edward only six months old was brought down to see the pretty things.

The distribution over, the Doctor managed to slip away, while the boys were engrossed with their new presents. He proceeded to the Hospital, there to put in motion the final plans for the day. The three West rooms in the basement were prepared for reception. Tables were improvised in true Korean style, long and low, so that the guests could sit on the floor along either side and easily help themselves from the good things to be supplied. All the Hospital staff was pressed into service. Some worked in the kitchen; others in the laundry, the stoves of which were added to the culinary department for the occasion. Boys were sent hither and yon for this delicacy and that, Korean, Japanese and foreign. In the midst of it all, the Avison boys rushed in and claimed their father for the long promised skate. They carried him off in triumph. In fact, they came near carrying off their mother too, that she might be a girl once more and skim like the wind over crystal fields. But they compromised by taking Mr. Moore and his three boys. They were happy crowd, all talking at once, and trying to see which could boast the loudest of what they were going to do on the ice. It was not far to the paddy fields and soon the whole company were slipping, sliding and skating about to the immense delight of a large crowd of admiring Koreans. An hour thus spent made the Doctor think that he had been a boy long enough for one day. He discovered that he weighed more than he used to do, and it was a good deal like work pushing himself around on skates. He accordingly raised the cry of "Dinner" and by that means succeeded in getting the boys homeward bound.

Returning to the Hospital, it was discovered that all was life and bustle. Odors of strange viands pervaded the atmosphere and happy smiles wreathed every face. At the house, a combination dinner was spread. The Moore family had sent down their dinner and merged it into the Avison's. Mr. and Mrs. Clark dropped in to join the crowd, making fifteen in all. Everyone was happy -- plenty to eat and good appetites for the sauce.

By 3:30 the spread at the Hospital was ready. The assembled host one hundred strong were impatient for the fray. Besides the Hospital people, there was a representative from each of our city churches. No long speeches were indulged in, but just a simple grace in Korean by Mr. Moore and then the attack began. Such a sight! Not to mention the most Korean yangbans, high class ladies, doctors and students, with aprons on, serving out food to boys, coolies, beggars, poor countrymen and the lowest hospital servants! Where else in all Korea could such a sight be revealed. What other power than the power of Christ could ever bring such a thing to pass! And so they had enjoyed it. When they could eat no more, they had their pockets and aprons filled with oranges, nuts, candies and cakes.

At intervals during the meal Mr. Moore inserted his jews harp and delighted the diners with sweet music. Mrs. Avison and the boys sat down on the floor with the Koreans and joined them in the feast, while the Doctor presided at the operating table, this time, however, carving only a roast of beef. Darkness was settling down before it was all over, and everybody said that it was a rare Christmas treat. The Hospital boys sat up late discussing it and living it all over again in story.

Subsequently a memorial of thanks was sent to His Majesty for his part in it; and we all thanked God and took courage, going forward in the hope that the coming year may be the best that we have ever known.

【역주 및 지명】

의료선교: Severance Memorial Hospital (세브란스기념병원) - 당시 서울의 주요 미션 의료기관 / 에이비슨(Avison) 가족 - 캐나다 의료선교사 아비슨 가족 / Pony: 당시 한반도에서의 교통 수단

October 28th left with Mr. Kearns for a trip over the Sak Ju circuit, visiting seven groups of Christians and traveling two hundred and sixty miles on horseback. It was my first attempt at riding a pony, and it was with fear and trembling that I first mounted the little pony that was to serve as my steed. I had heard of so many tricky ponies and of so many backward somersaults that for the first mile or so I clung to the rope under me which served to tie the load securely to the horse. But gradually grew bolder, until I became

so interested in the scenery that I forgot I was riding a pony. The pack was so high and the pony so far beneath me that unless I looked down I was not conscious of being on a horse.

The groups we visited were mostly small ones, and while Mr. Kearns was examining for baptism and catechumenate and settling the troublesome questions they always have for him! I spent some time in getting acquainted, for I was the first foreign woman to travel over that mountainous circuit and the groups are so far from Syen Chyun that the women have not been able to attend the classes there. So I satisfied their curiosity first by letting them feel the material of my dress and by answering their many questions as to how old I was, where I had come from and why, whether my parents were living, if I had any babies, etc., etc. I was always glad to tell them all about little Joe and how he had just before I started on this trip, and many a mother's eyes filled with tears out of sincere sympathy. I found these mountain women densely ignorant of the simplest truths of the Gospel, but they were so eager for every little grain of truth that it was indeed a pleasure to teach them.

At most of these places all the pastoral work could be done in two or three days, so we were almost constantly on the move; but at Sak Ju we held a six days' class, teaching the women, while Mr. Kearns studied with the men. Sak Ju has always had the reputation of being a very wicked little city, about one third of its inhabitants being soldiers and dancing girls. The sight seers had always been so unmanageable that it was thought best not to send our single ladies to hold classes there until after a married woman had opened the way with her husband. I had the privilege, and we were glad to

report that we had almost as quiet and peaceful a time there as at any of the groups on the trip. The women of the church are stronger than the men, and had been praying for a class for a long time, so they welcomed me with open arms, and we had an interesting and profitable study in the Gospel of Mark, with about thirty-five women in attendance. Very pathetic were their farewells and their requests for me to come again next year. We were literally buried in the mountains that month. Our rock path -- we had very little road -- was a succession of ups and downs. One pass I remember we were an hour climbing, but the view from the top more than repaid us for the tiresome ascent. To stand at the top of one of these high passes and look down on our little narrow path winding for miles beside a brook in the long narrow valley, with ridge on ridge of mountains succeeding each other as far as the eye could reach, made our hearts fill with rapture. It made us glad we were alive. If but to see such a picture.

We reached home November 22nd, in time to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. We entertained the station that day. Had a thanksgiving service at noon instead of the regular lunch, and then feasted at four o'clock. The evening was spent in singing the national songs, playing games, and having a good time. Christmas day was spent at the Starbucks home. There was a Christmas tree for the children, up at little, a four o'clock dinner, a large bag from which Santa Claus dispensed gifts to all, and a pleasant evening spent in enjoying the lighted tree and playing games.

December 26th, Mr. Kearns and I started for Pyeng Yang by pony again. Mr. Kearns was to help in the winter class for men, and I was to have some work done on a tooth that had been causing a great deal of trouble. I was very glad, indeed to see Pyeng Yang in the busy season and get an idea of the working of the station. While there I conducted the opening exercises at the boarding school for girls and women. I was especially interested in the women's Sunday School and in Mrs. Moffett's catechumen class. February 27th, found me again traveling, this time alone, going to assist Miss Samuels in the class at Eui Ju. The class was from the first to the eighth of March. Owing to the disturbed condition and the great number of soldiers at Eui Ju, the attendance was not as large as we expected. One hundred twenty eight women were enrolled. We divided them into two classes. Miss Samuels and I each teaching twice daily, besides singing and cathecheisics, and taking our part in the evening services. Korean women are natural orators and often speak more eloquently than many American who have had years of drill.

At the close of this class I joined Mr. Kearns, who was then at Sin Chang, a large group about twenty miles from Eui Ju. I traveled with him all over the western Eui Ju circuit, visiting nine churches, most of them large and all of them growing beyond their present quarters. I found these women very different from those met on the former trip. They are bright and intelligent and ready for advanced study, having attended the classes at Syen Chyun and other places. We studied John's Gospel in this circuit and I had to answer many difficult but reasonable questions. I was so glad for the opportunity of visiting this interesting Eui Ju circuit, with its wealthy families, and advanced stage of civilization compared with other parts of the country, and its numerous churches, often more than two miles apart.

We reached home March 21st, after a most tiresome and dusty journey from Eui Ju. In all I traveled 660 American miles, all by horse except 50 miles or so, and visited 15 churches.

【역주 및 지명】

삭주(Sak Ju): 현재 평안북도 삭주군 / 평양(Pyeng Yang): 평양 / 의주(Eui Ju): 현재 평안북도 의주군 / 신창(Sin Chang): 의주 지역의 작은 마을 / 선천(Syen Chyun): 현재 평안북도 선천군 / 모펫(Moffett): 당시 선교사 / 사무엘(Samuels): 당시 여성 선교사

While holding a Bible study class in the little village of Poo Pyong village of Poo Pyong I was deeply interested in a woman who sat daily listening to the teaching of the Word. It was the peaceful happy expression on her face which first won me to her. She had been a follower of the "Jesus doctrine." "Just three months," she replied. Before she had time to continue, "that," her spiritual mother, began the story with much enthusiasm.

For five years she had been a sorceress -- an obedient servant of Satan, walking up and down the country, searching for the sick and distressed ones upon whom to practice her works of magic. So busy was she that all the household cares were left to her husband. He took the mother's place in the home, preparing the rice and comforting the hearts which were troubled because of the long absences of their mother. When she returned to her home it was only to be more surely under Satan's control and usually under his wrath. Satan never rests nor does he want his followers to do as tired body down to rest, her muscles would become contracted, her hands clenched, her eyes set and for hours she would remain in a semi-conscious condition. Upon regaining consciousness, the devil would say to her, "Why are you lying here? Go out and be about your work." At such times how she wanted to loose herself from his power! More than once did she burn her body with red hot irons, thinking by so doing the demon would become offended and take his departure, but she soon found that his is not a sensitive nature.

After five years of such service the Christians of that neighborhood banded themselves together to pray for and with her. Every night they went to her home. At this point in the story the woman herself said "I can not tell how peaceful I felt when those hymns were being sung." But the devil was always displeased and said that he refused to always listen. On the memorable night, just before being loosed from the power of the "great devil," in the agony of mind she rolled upon the floor, beat her head with her hands and pulled out locks of hair. Repeatedly and in the decidel tones she said, "Depart from me! Depart from me!" All night long the Christians prayed and sang with her. At the time when light was breaking through the eastern sky, there came the light of the Lord Jesus into her troubled heart.

I said to her, "How did you know that it was Satan who was leading you? Did you see him, or did you hear his voice?" She answered, "You know, teacher, when we believe in Jesus, He gives us the Holy Spirit and we know when He is leading us. It is when Satan is in our hearts. We know it is he who is leading us. O! I am so happy now, and all my family believe in Jesus, the Savior of the world."

【역주 및 지명】

푸평(Poo Pyong): 당시 한반도의 작은 마을 / 무당(Sorceress): 당시 한반도의 민간 종교 전문가 / 화성포(Chemulpo): 현재 인천시 지역

Officers' class at Chilwun, South Kyung Sang Province, December 6-14, was nothing if it was not enthusiastic. The helpers, colporteurs, leaders and treasurers in connection with the American work in South Kyung Sang Province, about 40 in all, were met to study, discuss and plan.

We had enthusiasm in the music, taking for our class song a translation of "Are you washed in the Blood," made by Mr. Ko of Fusan, and we sang ourselves hoarse. We had enthusiastic preaching, for Elder Choo, of Pyengyang, is a magnetic speaker. We had planning to capture half province for Christ, and 937 days of free preaching subscribed for; and it was determined to press the matter of volunteer preaching on all the congregations under our care. We were eager and enthusiastic as we found that in seven counties of our province groups of Christians had had sprung up for the first time within the year, and that our church had grown 40 per cent in size. Enthusiasm grew as we decided to send out a native missionary to heathen communities this year. It given more at we thought of sending men to Seoul next year to attend the September meeting of Council, and the expenses of two men were rapidly agreed on, and Messrs. Su and Kim Fusan, Helper Pang as the elect in the first time we have ever tried any representative move of this sort.

We discussed marriage, that topic of so much importance to our church, after conference together, formulated after conference together, formulated after conference together, formulated several rules in addition to those already adopted by the Korean church as a whole. Here are a few. "Do not betroth children before they are of a suitable age for marriage." "Although parents must generally arrange for marriages, they must not force their children to marry." "To wait year years of age is better than to hurry marriage." "Baptized girls must not be engaged to unbaptized boys." "Widows and widowers must have the marriage ceremony as well as those marrying for the first time, and they have no more right to obtain heirlooming companions than those marrying for the first time." And many other rules were decided on, some of which would be meaningless to American readers -- so different are marriage customs here -- all rules growing out of a felt need.

The mourner's big hat found no one to defend it, and so it will go. Several men said, "I will never wear it," and others, "All will tell my sons not to wear it." This badge of sin, proclaiming "I have killed my father," or "I have killed my mother," is a bad thing also because it is heavy, a fine play thing for the wind, a hindrance to a man in his business and church work; this comical and comical hat seems to have fallen into sudden disfavor, and the sooner it disappears from Christian heads the better.

It was easy to see that our leading Christians have grown much during the year. They are now men of convictions, knowledge growing, stamina increasing, not leaning on the missionary so helplessly as before, advancing in grace, developing in power. I never was quite sure before that there was real backbone and grace in the Korean. Christianity is making some men real men, and the church is growing fast in numbers and in power.

Very enthusiasm, unbounded, deep and strong! Southern Korea ought to take long strides ahead this year.

【역주 및 지명】

칠원(Chilwun): 현재 경상남도 칠원 지역 / 부산(Fusan): 부산 / 평양(Pyengyang): 평양 / 고(Ko): 당시 부산의 선교사 / 추(Choo): 평양의 장로

Having seen recently some timely articles showing the necessity of developing the native workers rather than expecting to reach the mass of the people through a large increase of foreign workers, it is his occurred to me that the friends at home might be interested in learning more of what is being done along this line in Korea.

I am not prepared to speak of the work of the Methodist Church, and of the Presbyterian outside our Mission, (the Southern Presbyterian), I can speak in general terms only.

At the last meeting of the Presbyterian Council there were reported 540 congregations under the charge of 46 ministers. Our Mission reported 65 congregations and 9 ministers. As each congregation has preaching from once to three times a week and many of them have Bible school), it appears at once that a great many native workers must be employed to conduct all the services, not to speak of going out to preach to the heathen.

The salaried helpers will average about two to the minister, while the service of the others is entirely a labor of love and most of them are poverty stricken. They cannot buy books, they cannot give much time to study. How to develop them is a serious problem.

The general plan has been to have training classes for them once or twice a year for two weeks or a month at a time. Our last annual meeting planned for three grades of classes.

The first class is to meet at Kunsan Jan. 1st. and to run three weeks. Only leaders and active church workers are to be enrolled. From the three stations about hundred and twenty five attendants are expected. There are to be four divisions according to advancement. Besides the members of this station, brethren from Chunjú and Kwangju and from Pyeng Yang of the Northern Presbyterian Mission are expected to assist in the teaching. Each attendant is to pay his traveling expenses and about two thirds of his board.

We are praying for and expecting a great blessing at that time.

The second grade classes are to be held at each of the three stations for their respective constituency. In these classes any member or catechumen may be enrolled. The attendance will probably be a hundred or more in each.

Classes of the third grade are to be held in as many of the churches as practicable and the more advanced helpers may be employed as teachers.

Five of the helpers have been admitted as candidates for the ministry. Four of them have taken the first of the five year course at Pyeng Yang, while one of them is attending the academy at the same place. The need of native workers is probably felt more by the missionary than by any one else. To develop them strenuous efforts are being made. The amount of patient laborious teaching that it takes to make of these men strong intelligent workers who can be trusted to build alone is appalling, but by the enlightening and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit it is being done and that at a gratifying rate.

At this revolutionary period of all things Korean, the strength of the workers is being tried almost to the breaking point. While not forgetting to be grateful for the reinforcements that have been sent us during the last two years, we hope that the Church at home will not stop to congratulate itself on what it has done, but will press on till the work so gloriously begun shall have been completed.

【역주 및 지명】

군산(Kunsan): 현재 전라북도 군산시 / 춘주(Chunjú): 현재 충청북도 제천시 인근 지역 / 광주(Kwangju): 현재 광주시 / 평양(Pyeng Yang): 평양

The time has fully come when every honest thinking man in Korea is confronted by a great problem:--the education of the people of this country. Let us consider three questions. What kind of education must they have? Who will do it? How can it be done?

What kind of education must they have? Educational institutions are the light of any country. Tell me what your education is and I will tell you what your people are. Korea's education has been in the past. She studies the Chinese classics, good in their way and in their day; but anyone who looks around in Korea will see the fruits which they have borne. Korea has lived in the past. She has thought of protecting an ancient tomb at the sacrifice of the dead. than she has thought of protecting the present and doing something for the living. She must not have something more than Chinese classics.

After a Rip Van Winkle sleep of centuries, Korea is waking up, rubbing her eyes, looking around and asking "Where am I?" She is crying for help, wisdom, knowledge and power.

Korea has few small schools and some teachers doing honest, faithful work; but nothing adequate to the situation. The schools where nothing but Chinese characters are taught have proved futility. The few Government schools are totally inadequate. They are not sending forth educated men. Students must have something besides a foreign language. Many of the Koreans have the idea that if they can speak English, Japanese or French that they are educated men. But this is a distorted and superficial conception of education.

True education makes a man a better man, a stronger man, a more useful man, and not a conceited one.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring." Korea needs an education that will save her country and strengthen men; an education that will inspire the heart and teach them how to do things.

Korea needs industrial education. Hon T. Yun says that education for the Koreans must be industrial. They can no longer spend a lifetime memorizing Chinese characters, and, at the same time, hold their own in business with the present influx of Chinese and Japanese into this country. Already the Koreans feel keenly their lack of industrial education. Chinese and Japanese are building good houses, carrying on the mercantile business, doing the banking and, hence, getting hold of the money. The Koreans must learn to do all of these things for their own people. They should learn to conduct their own scientific gardening, farming, fruit growing, and conduct their own mining operations. They should be able to develop their own sources and enrich their own people. This, I believe, can be done by industrial education.

The young men of Korea, also, need literary and professional education. They need to learn all the Western sciences until they have a broad liberal education and, after graduation, they need schools to fit them for the useful professions. Those who would enter the ministry need a Theological Seminary in which they can be well trained. Soon it will be in Korea, as it is in the West, that a man cannot step from the plough in to the pulpit and hold his congregation. The people will demand a better grade of preachers--trained, well equipped men. Oh, how long to see the native Church equipped with a strong native ministry!

The Koreans are demanding and will demand, more and more, medical schools, law schools, schools for the preparation of teachers and all kinds of schools such as other countries have. But, with all, education for Korea must be Christian.

Why so? The work of Christian education must be done by Christians. Therefore, the burden of the work for the Koreans falls upon the missionaries as leaders and upon the native Christians as they can be prepared. Facing this obligation, what shall we do? At this time the Church is doing some good educational work. There are about 2,000 pupils in Christian schools, but what is this compared with the millions that are growing up in ignorance and darkness? Or even what is this compared with the size of our Christian constituency? Every town and village ought to have its Primary School in which the children get a good thorough primary education. At each mission station, a Middle School should be established and taught by one or more of the missionaries. All of these schools should be preparatory to a large well equipped College or University, which should be located in the vicinity of Seoul, the Mecca of the Koreans. This school should meet the demands of the young men who want the best equipment for positions of usefulness in the country, in the church and in the state--the young men who are to be the scholars and leaders of the future.

Korea ought to have an educational plant worth at least one hundred thousand dollars (U.S. gold), the to be enlarged as the exigencies of the future demand. In this institution all branches of Western science and the various languages should be taught in the academic department. And even now there is a demand for at least two university departments: namely, theological and medical. Others should be added later.

Since Korea has no university, the field is open to us to step in now with a Christian university and mold the education of Korea and leave it with the teachings of Christ. How can it be done?

Perhaps one Mission, alone, will never establish such an institution at this. Whether any one of the various Missions now at work on the field could or could not establish this institution we do not know. We do know that they have not done so, and we hear no promises for the future. But the Presbyterian and Methodist Missions by a united effort can do this; and, if it is possible, it is their bounded duty. These Churches, combined, could call upon the Koreans in such a way as to command their respect and enlist their financial interest.

The first money should come from Korea--from the missionary body. We who are the most interested in this cause would be glad to have the privilege of making the first contribution. Then the native Church will contribute. The Protestant Church in Korea will soon have a constituency of 100,000 people. Then moneyed men of this Empire who desire to educate their sons and who are anxious to establish schools, but who have no definite plan, would naturally be attracted by such a plan and stand by it with their money and their influence. A Korean friend recently entered my study and I told him my desire to see such an institution in Korea. He said: "Nothing could be better. I have just sent $800 (U.S. gold) to my brother who is in school in America. This is very expensive. Would it be possible to establish such a school here on furlough should raise one thousand and dollars for his Mission Board to put into this institution, it would over burden the Boards and the establishment of the institution would be assured.

The third money should come from one or more moneyed men in America who might not care to contribute to a purely denominational institution, but would contribute to a great educational plant that promises to bless a nation and serve as an enterprise of the people of Korea. If Mr. John Wanamaker contributes one hundred thousand dollars for a Y.M.C.A. building in Korea, Japan and China, is there not some benefactor who would come to the rescue of such an enterprise as this?

This institution could be controlled by a Board of Directors appointed by the several Missions interested. Also the native church should have a minority representation on the Board; thus putting, as far as possible, the responsibility of the work upon them and enlisting their hearty co-operation.

We have at present a Union School in Seoul which is being operated jointly by the Presbyterian and Methodist Missions for the education of boys and young men. My hope and aspiration is that this Union School will develop into the institution described above.

It may cost ten years of hard work to realize this ideal; but I believe it can be done. It will be a city set on a hill sending light and truth into every part of this Empire. If we seize the opportunity of the hour and command the educational field with such an institution, it will pitch the tune of education for Korea to the teachings of Jesus. If we fail to do this, Korea will by some means have education, but--without Christ.

The clock has struck twelve, the hour has come. This is the high noon of our opportunity. All the treaties, all the wars, all the preaching of the Gospel have converged to make this the hour of crisis for the establishment of the Kingdom of God in Korea.

"We are living, we are dwelling / In a grand and awful time, / In an age on ages telling / To be living is sublime."

This thought which has developed in the course of conversation with natives, with missionaries, with interested friends here in the home land and with Mission Board secretaries, is submitted to the missionary body and all who are interested in the education of Korea, for their thinking and prayerful consideration. If you think the suggestion worthy, will you not take the matter up and push it to a successful consummation.

원문 페이지 71-73에서 발췌

I wonder how many readers of the Korea Mission Field know there is a city called Ham Heung containing about forty thousand souls, most of them unsaved, away off up in Ham Kyung province, in northern Korea, of which it is the capital. I wonder if you know there is only one missionary and his wife with two single ladies doing mission work in that city and its surrounding territory. Those who have the Prayer Calendar will find us there, and I want first of all to ask that you will aid us by your ministry of intercession. Especially plead that we may be sent much needed fellow workers to help overtake the rapidly increasing demands upon us.

As I have said, many of you know nothing about our little church away up here; but O! God knows about us, and so richly has He been showering blessings upon us in that the burden of our song continually is "I will praise Thy Name; for thou hast done wonderful things." Spurgeon once said, "They say miracles are withdrawn, but the Holy Spirit is the standing miracle of the Church of God to-day." I never quite understood this until, like people of old, I saw, and now the sweet mystery seems very clear and simple.

The first of the Korean New Year was the time fixed upon to be set apart for special services. In Ham Heung circumstances led us to precipitate the date. Brother Gerdine of Wonsan having kindly consented to come up and spend the Week of Prayer with us. A new "Moksa" is a rare treat up here, so the Korean Christians were so less overjoyed we at the prospect. Meetings were planned for morning and night with street preaching in between, the whole trend to be evangelistic. After our Brother's arrival, however, it was decided rather to hold meetings for the Christians and those who had begun to attend our church, about three hundred in all, with a view to deepening spiritual life. Every morning and evening during the week men, women and children gathered together, Brother Gerdine conducting the services.

From the first the interest was marked. The people were evidently hungering for strong food, and as I have said never before did I realize the miracle of the Spirit's teaching as shown during those wonderful days. The morning service often continued on through the afternoon and ten, yes and eleven o'clock at night found untiring eager souls waiting before the Lord. As far as possible all other thoughts were put aside and a spirit of constant prayer persevered. Special meetings were also held for prayer with those who so earnestly sought the Spirit's anointing.

I have heard it said that Koreans are impossible, one cannot lead them to "Higher Ground." They say so dark! If they get saved that is as far as one need expect them to go. Friends it isn't true. We have seen, and we know and have never been that what we can pray them down to the depths and up to the heights. Such conviction of sin! Even the stupid ignorant women, whom we, in the smallness of our faith, feared could not understand, were manifestly taught of the Spirit.

What pen could picture that gathering of dark-skinned brethren and sisters just out of the depths of heathenism, gazing through the revealing Light of the Holy Spirit upon the blackness of their sin! Can we, born in Christian homes, form any conception of their agony! See the face of that strong man as with husky voice he tells of how he stoned the mother who bore him, desecrated every holy relationship and sunk into the vilest depths of sin. Turn from him to that dear wee girl quivering with sobs because she is so great a sinner in God's sight. She has beaten the drum for a sorceress and even since she has become a Christian, she has disobeyed her parents and teacher. See that weeping sister who can only whisper "Aphuo," "Aphuo," "It hurts, It hurts!"

Perhaps you will say it is only the result of emotional preaching. No, for the speaker has given his message in the quietest, gentlest style, and much was direct quotation from the Word. It was the Miracle of the Spirit convicting of sin.

But there is a brighter picture, more wonderful and harder still to paint: the consciousness of that sin forgiven, the happiness of complete surrender, and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The very simplicity of their faith makes this experience easy. The struggle was in no case a long one and through the prayer of faith many received of the fulness.

I wish you could have been at that Hallelujah Meeting! Surely this is the best picture of all and not the least part of the Miracle. Such manifest joy and exulting faith! "I am so happy," "I cannot conquer my joy," and one after another they sounded their note of praise for glorious liberty, their faces beaming with the glory reflected from within.

O joy! wonderful fruit of the Spirit, sweeter than all else in the burdened, toil-worn Korean woman's soul. Oh, Blessed Comforter! Peace has smoothed out the wrinkles from sin-hardened faces.

And now, readers, let me whisper that these are some of the results of Union in the truest sense of the word. I wish you could have seen this Methodist Brother working for the Lord in a Presbyterian Church. As we sat and listened to his earnest words and saw the eagerness with which he followed the testimonies and entered into the heart histories of our people, we all, Missionaries and Koreans alike, learned a sweet lesson of love. Then, as they gathered about him to say farewell, eagerly requesting him to "stay always" or "return quickly," could one dare even whisper denominationalism to such ears?

Rather today we rejoice in church full of Presbyterian faith and Methodist joy, and say with Brother Hugh Miller of Seoul "you need not be afraid of a Methodist." "And closer yet and closer the golden bonds shall be, / Enlinking all who love our Lord in pure sincerity. / And wider yet and wider shall the circling glory glow, / As more and more are taught of God that mighty love to know."

원문 페이지 73-75에서 발췌

Next to the City Church, I have given more time and thought to theological instruction than to anything else, not only during the session of the class, but with the committee in planning the work for the same. During the three month term I gave most of my time to this, teaching the Shorter Catechism for two months to the first year class, giving lectures in Medieval Church History for a month to the third year class, and conducting the exegesis of First and Second Timothy with discussion upon Church Government. I also gave them examinations, supplemented with lectures, upon their reading of Isaiah and Romans.

With the Council's endorsement of our plans for carrying on this work, our theological class has become a school which next year will have three classes, with a probable enrollment of forty students coming from all the Presbyterian Missions in Korea.

It is of the utmost importance that these men be given a thorough training, with instruction which takes into account the fact that they are not school boys, but grown men, with all the responsibilities of their family cares and of the work of the church in which they are leading the burden as well as the practical labors, evangelists, preachers, and leaders; a work which is taxing to the full their energies and draining all their resources, physical, mental, and spiritual.

I think our three years' experience with the advanced class shows us that by the time it has finished the five years' course as outlined we will have been able to take the next class over the same course in four years, so that while now two years behind, it will be able to finish the course the year following the advanced class, and the course become a four years' course. Later on, when the next part of the candidates for ministry come to us after completing an academic or collegiate course, there will be needed a readjustment of the curriculum and a change in length of term and number of years required.

원문 페이지 75-76에서 발췌

Not long ago I received a letter from one of the class leaders in Sin Chang saying that the church members of that place were in trouble. A man who was staying in our native church building as sexton and, who was also a probationer, had gone off to another village, stolen another man's wife and established her in the church building.

In Korea this is considered one of the greatest sins a man can commit, and there is a peculiar mode of punishment meted out to the offender. The bereaved husband gathers his friends and relatives, goes to the offender's house, destroys all furniture and property besides nearly beating the man to death. Sometimes the man dies from the effect of the beating. If the man is not killed in the process, the magistrate never interferes, even if the avenger and his friends join in terferes and may even take part if one of his friends is the avenger! This primitive method of getting revenge and delivering punishment is considered wholly legitimate.

Of course it makes no difference if the offender does live another's home or if his house is razed to the ground by the furious mob, just the same, for they reason that the owner ought to have known better than to have let such a man rent his house.

So you see of what my little group of Christians were afraid. The leader told me in his letter that the avenger had not arrived, but they were expecting him daily, and were much afraid they would lose their church. He said also that the offender would not leave the church building and that the Christians could not make him go without a disgraceful fight, as he, the sinner, had several big sons and a brother in the house with him. The heathen people added to the discomfort of the Christians by taunting words, such as, "You who believe in being good and holy have those among you who are worse than any of us."

Then, too, a young woman church member met the backslider on the street and began to upbraid him for his sins, with the result that there was a great scene. At this you may not wonder that my poor class leader was nearly distracted. There was nothing for me to do but to go straightened things out and save the church building. I was so afraid I might be too late that I set out with but little preparation.

It had not rained for weeks before I started, so I did not prepare for rain as well as I might have done, as I did not expect to be gone many days. But I had not been out of Pyeng Yang more than an hour, when a severe wind and rain storm overtook me, causing me to stop in a little dirty wayside house until it cleared up. Then having started on my journey again I was soaked in another shower.

I climbed on my pack horse and rode in a drizzling rain until noon, when I stopped for dinner. I ate a cold dinner, as my boy could not get any charcoal to heat up the food. After dinner the sun came out auspiciously, but as fate would have it, about five p.m. another shower overtook us, and although I rode on the back horse and tried to keep under my umbrella, I was soon wet to the skin. I now began to look for a place to stay all night, as I could neither walk in the clay road nor ride on the already over burdened pony very far. But as it happened to be a day when all Koreans worship their household spirits, no one wanted to give me a spare room, and I had to worry along to the next village about three or four miles distant.

Somewhat discouraged and tired, I finally found an inn keeper in the village willing to take the risk of offending his ancestors, by taking in a foreigner, for a consideration. Few after getting me into his house and putting away his horse and furniture, I had no change of rainment and had no dry clothing. I laid down on the warm floor to dry my clothes by turning over frequently and by dint of perseverance; but meantime, the tiny inhabitants of the floor mats found fresh hunting ground, and all through that light I would not hesitate to call them small tigers, judging from their carnivorous instincts--disturbed my dreams.

I arose at 3:30 A.M. and the horse, my boy, my teacher and myself (named in order of importance) had eaten and were wending our way along the muddy path before six o'clock. This may not seem much of an accomplishment to one in the homelands, but if it is known that it always takes a Korean horse two hours to eat his beans and a native about three hours to get started after rising, you may understand that I had to exert myself.

Mud and streams were my chief foes on this day's trip. The mud was sticky and deep, while the streams were swollen and without bridges. At this time of the year the Koreans always take down the bridges, to save them from being washed away in the rainy season. This custom is all right from an economic stand-point, but rather annoying to the one who is unfortunate enough to have to travel at this season. There are three ways to get across a stream at this time: wade through the cold water, get on a native's back and be carried across in a way hard on the nerves, or get on the top of your little pack horse and run the risk of getting thrown off if your horse misses the ford. I have tried all three.

On this forenoon I got on the pack pony to cross a particularly wide stream, and would have gone through without any anxiety if the little beast had not left the usual ford and got into deeper water, out of which he extricated himself with difficulty, and only after I had decided that I was fated to take a cold water plunge.

After dinner we met another little storm at the beginning of which a particularly vicious bit of wind turned my umbrella inside out and rendered it less as a protection from the rain that followed. As I was not far from the English mines at this time I decided to reach that place, rain or no rain, so I walked about six miles over two mountain passes, and finally reached the English gold reservation, where I was given a change of clothing, and a good bed for the night. I spent a different kind of night from the one previous.

Arriving at my destination next day without any more serious trials, I found the avenger had not come, and was able to make the family vacate the church premises without any serious trouble, except that I had to stand quite a little reviling before peace was once again restored.

원문 페이지 76-78에서 발췌

I had just taken my seat in a boat to cross the Taitong River, in Korea, when two old people, a man and a woman, climbed in and sat in the stern. The boat was nearly filled with passengers, and the boatman stood looking at the swollen river, with the tide rushing out like a mill race. He gave a shrewd glance over his passengers, for the last addition seemed to promise cash enough to induce him to undertake the slow struggle across.

It was evident by the conversation between the last arrivals that they had just met after a long separation. They talked in the quavering tones of the old, though with animation in their voices as they spoke of people long known to both.

Finally, the man turned to his companion and abruptly asked, "Does your younger brother believe?"

"No," she replied.

"Then he must believe in the devil," he said, and added, "How did you first believe, like myself?"

She sat for some time watching the boatman, but twice she changed sides of the boat to escape a blow from his tiller as they struggled across. Finally, sitting down on the bottom of the boat, facing her questioner, she began her story, oblivious to the listeners.

"I will tell you how it was. You know how my lot was cast while young with people of my own social grade. There is nothing at all remarkable about my past. I did not choose my lot any more than I did my husband. Therein I have not been unlike the rest of womankind. It doesn't seem to me that I had much to do with my history either. The warp and woof have been always so fearfully tangled that I have been unable to follow its thread, much less order its direction, though, I am told, that I had a responsibility in the matter. I did not think much o my future; in fact, I did not think at all. As I reflect upon the maze through which I have come, I am astounded beyond measure that it is well with me now."

"You know I was married to Mr. Yi when we were children. Perhaps my mother-in-law was as kind to me as I was to my daughter-in-law, though it seems to me I was more just, or else my memory of my childhood is more clear. At least the pain of that period is fresh before me now."

"Some people deceive themselves when rejoicing over the birth of a son in thinking that his advent alone is the object of their delight. In my opinion it is most of all for the service of the daughter-in-law which he will some day bring home."

"I faithfully sacrificed to the spirits, who were of little less terror to me than my mother-in-law. I knew there were a host of them which I was unable to propitiate."

"At my mother-in-law's death I regarded her previous treatment of me as incidental to life and tried to forget its bitterness. If while living she ordered such pain which might her vindictive spirit do if unpropitiated. I sacrificed to her grave the most, and wept the loudest of all."

"My husband was good to me, unless he had been drinking; and my husband has always much of anyone can say."

"When I married it was only a few doors to my husband's home, so that all my memory of seventy-two years is centered upon these surrounding hills and that city. She ignored the straw-roofed hut, but pointed to an elevated part of the city we were just leaving. She indicated her memory of the same and that she had previously told her companion she had been living for two years."

"You remember the time cholera swept over the city and it was nearly depopulated. I lost my parents and all the rest of my father's family, and my children, excepting the baby boy. You lost friends too. That was thirty years ago. My cup was full but not so bitter as at the time when I began to believe."

"Two years ago our son died, and to cover the funeral expenses we sold the tiled house and moved into the straw one. He left us our little granddaughter, two years old. She had never known her mother. We called her Sunie. She grew rapidly, like a bird flitting about the room all day. Her little tongue kept time all day long with her busy feet and hands, and beneath her childish chatter there was a sweet cadence like the vesper music at the Yamens at the closing of the gates of an city at evening that one with peace and rest."

"She would become quiet sometimes and turn her large, dark eyes to me with a question too profound for me to answer. It made me a little afraid, and I often thought, if she were a boy, what a disciple Confucius would have had, but she was only a girl. I made a little coat of many colors for her. When she saw it she danced with glee. Her grandfather would watch her from morning till night. He would sit on the floor at the door and follow her with his eyes as she danced in and out, and he was most happy when she could peruse the airy creature to rest for a moment in his arms. She almost made us forget our poverty. It was in times of special scarcity, when her little appetite was satisfied, then we would eat."

"It was this past summer, and she was nearly four years old. I suppose it was the poor food. Rice had been high, and I couldn't buy much. Such a little thing as she was. She should have been with her mother. Many children had been taken sick. I am old and perhaps I didn't notice she was drooping. But one night Sunie was sick; so sick! I watched her night and day. If Sunie couldn't eat I couldn't either. The neighbors wondered at my attention, seeming to say it was only a girl; but she was the last of our family. I scarcely knew the lapse of time. I saw finally, one night, that the morrow would be her last day. "I look her in my arms about daybreak and carried her about the room. Her little lips parted constantly in short gasps for breath. I carried her to the door and looked down into the yard where she had played. Her little footmarks were still plainly seen in the soft earth, and a tiny sandal lay near the door--my eyes ached--I couldn't look longer. The sun was rising and I looked down upon the great river and across to the distant mountains. Fog was moving in long columns up the narrow valleys and was wrapping the mountain peaks in white. I had seen it just so for seventy-two years. The anguish of my heart was bitterly calling to river, mountain, and all that I had held dear to share my child. Her grandfather stood by with a great hungry look in his eyes. Suddenly there was a quiet, like the breaking of a thread in my loom. And then one more long sigh came from Sunie's lips."

"I knew what had happened. I had heard it many times. I did not look down at her face; I looked away to the mountains. I might have stood there forever. The grandfather pulled the little body, laid it on the floor with a trembling sob, and I sat down opposite side, and watched him run his fingers through Sunie's hair, moaning piteously."

"My heart was like stone. I tried to sob, as custom demands I should do; but no sound would come. The grandfather wound the little form in a bundle of straw. I saw each movement of the trembling fingers but could not move. He put the mute bundle under his arm, picked up his hoe, and stepped to the door; then, turning, looked long at me; his face trembling and white. He turned away and I watched his bent form and stiff burden until they disappeared over a broken place in the city wall."

"I don't know how I spent the next few days. I sometimes knew every little thing that occurred; every slight sound; then again, I knew nothing and heard nothing. I am old, but only a few light streaks were found in my hair; but within a week it became as it is now, white as snow. I didn't sacrifice to the spirits; they couldn't hurt me any more. My husband has much changed since then. He often imagines himself a child again and goes about the yard calling for Sunie to play with him. Then, again, he seems to imagine himself a child again, and goes about the yard calling for Sunie to play with him. Then, again, before I could look at him, I had to stand quite a little reviling before peace was once again restored... I have many times stood on a mountain, and watched the sun go down in the sea. He would pause a moment and grow large with apprehension, struggling with the furious waves, and then sink into the deep. Bright sheets of light would linger where the sun had disappeared. Wind Spirit would hold her breath in fear. What if the sun should be lost in the great deep; where he travels through the dark. The sight always sent a shiver through me and a feeling of coming evil. That is like the ice that went to my heart when Sunie died. In my bitterness I visited the teacher. She greeted me with a smile I did not understand. Death, you know, had also claimed her baby. She told me all about a deep, sweet peace. That death was only a dark river, and that Sunie had gone over and would wait for me. I went many times to see the teacher. One day she sang about the meetings on the other side of the river. Then I believed."

Here the quavering voice stopped.

"Did you find the sweet peace?" her companion eagerly asked.

"Yes," she replied.

The old man laughed softly to himself, and brushed his sleeve across his eyes again and again.

The boatman had been listening, and the tide had carried us far down the river, below our proper landing place.

원문 페이지 78-80에서 발췌