Morning Calm v.1 no.3(1890 Sep.)

THE MORNING CALM. No. 3, VOL. I.] SEPTEMBER 1890. [PRICE Id. The Bishop's Letter. No. XIV. New York, July 25.

DEAR FRIENDS,

I arrived here to-day, the Feast of St. James - a good day, surely, for a missionary to make his first halt in the long journey from England to Korea. In England, surrounded by one's friends, it was difficult to realise that we had "left all " in obedience to the "calling of Jesus Christ." But for the last eight days I have been getting farther and farther from England, and to-day I find myself amongst strangers who, all unconsciously, remind me what this giving up is likely to mean. You must now begin to pray very earnestly for us that in our renunciation we may be more and more ready to follow His "holy commandments." But it has been a great encouragement to me to have been brought to the end of the first stage of my journey on a day so full of heavenly teaching. By such coincidences God is always cheering us on.

For cleanliness, civility, and comfort commend me to the s.s. “ Britannic.” Indeed I have special reason to be grateful to the company of the White Star Line, and I hope you will not fail to ask God's blessing upon them for the care which they have taken of your poor missionary. But what a wet welcome we received in New York! The fogs which enveloped us nearly the whole way from Liverpool were exchanged, as we entered this harbour, for torrents of the most persistent rain. We felt indeed that we were in the West Country. But if the welcome was wet it was also warm, I received a kind invitation to stay at the rectory of the Church of the Transfiguration, known to every NewYorker, however, as "the little church round the corner" - a name prompted by the affection and respect which they all have for it. There is a pretty story about the origin of this name which fear of the Editor alone prevents me from telling you. But as an evidence of how well the church is known by this name, nine years ago I landed in New York on a Sunday evening, and, being in Wall Street, I asked the first man I met how to find "the little church round the corner," and he, without any hesitation, directed me, though it was some three or four miles away. Here, then, I am staying, enjoying the kind hospitality of good Dr. Houghton, who ever receives with the same open-hearted kindness those who have a claim on it, and those like myself who have none.

Sunday, July 27.—This morning I had the privilege of celebrating the Holy Eucharist in his church, and for the first time used the office book given me by my late colleagues, the Chaplains of the Royal Navy. I think I told you of this, but it will bear repetition. They presented me with a printing press, a portable altar, vessels, &c., and a book containing the service of Holy Communion: a press with which to print the Word, a book from which to read the Word, and a paten and chalice wherewith to distribute the Word. And as I used the book to-day I prayed for all the kind donors whose names are written on the first page of it. But I must bring your minds back to the dear "little church round the corner," for I want you to pray specially for its rector and congregation. I am to preach to them this morning, and I can already see that they are as kindly disposed towards me as you have been. They make me feel that, though a stranger in a foreign land, I am in the midst of brethren who hold the same faith, who worship mostly in the same words, and who are helping me on my way with their sympathy and their prayers. To-morrow I leave for Philadelphia, and in my next letter I hope to tell you how far I have been able to gain the object which made me choose this route to Korea instead of by way of the Suez Canal. I am very well and very happy, and I pray that it may be the same with you all.

Your affectionate * C. J. CORFE.

• Association of Prayer and work for Korea. REPORT FROM ST. MARY'S, STOKE NEWINGTON. LONDON (MISSION DISTRICT), July 1, 1890.

We started working for the Korea Mission just three months ago. At first we asked for Associates (subscription, Is. a year), and I am pleased to say we have been successful in getting up to the present time 31. Then we commenced Working Parties. It was thought advisable to have these meetings at our homes to make them more sociable, and, after finding four friends who could accommodate us, we began working up the party, and, with the money we had in hand, bought materials and cut out things which were most saleable, namely, aprons, as they are soon made; and the money soon came back with profit. Then we solicited orders, which we have never been without, and at the present time we have orders to be executed that will keep us going for two months. Just a word as to the working of our parties. There is one for adults on Monday afternoons, from half-past two till half-past four. At this meeting we have a cup of tea, which, we find, helps us on with our work ; and on Friday evenings we have a party for young people in business, from eight o'clock till half-past nine. At each meeting a box is placed on the table, and last month we collected 4s. We try to make our meetings as attractive as possible ; sometimes we have music, and at others reading; and we find that all our workers look forward to them. The Rev. J. A. Le Couteur, who first interested us in this Mission, visits us during the meeting, and intercession is made for the work in Korea.

We are now trying to get subscribers for the Magazine, and sincerely hope we may be successful as hitherto. CLARA HURFORD, Local Secretary. N.B.- One hundred copies of Morning Calm having been ordered, and ninetyseven taken up in this parish during the first week in July, I think we may say that Mr. Le Couteur and Mrs. Hurford have obtained the success they hoped for. M. M. CIIAMBERS HOGETTS, General Secretary.

• LIST OF NEW MEMBERS.

Mrs. Edwin Allen. Mr, Bird. Mr. H. Clark. Miss Edith Aryton. Mr. Boyce. Mrs. Chandler, Fleet - Paymaster W. B. Mr. Bryant, Miss Chandler, Autridge, Mrs. Barriball. Miss A. Clark. Miss Belinda Alford. Miss Barriball. Mr. Edwin Cruwys. Mrs. Boyce. Miss Bryce. Miss Banks. Mrs. E. H. Damaresq. Mrs. Broughton. J. Baker, WardroomSteward. Miss J. P. Dewdney. Alice Bode. Mrs. Bedford. Mrs. Drew. Hester Sophia Bowles. The Rev. W. David. Mrs. Browning. Miss Cahusac. Mrs. Dampier. Miss Barnes. The Rev. Canon Crowford. Mr. H. Bolitho. Mrs. Crowford. Miss Dowling Mrs. Bigland. Miss Cadenhead. R A. Bignold, Esq. T. Le Couteur, Esq. Rev, D. Elsdale. Mrs. Bylon. Mr. H. Clark. Miss Elsdale. Mrs, Wynne Baxter, Mrs. Clark. Miss Evans. Mr. Barriball. Miss Clark. Miss M. Evans. Mr. Bennett. Mr. G. Clark. Mrs. Francis Eyre. LIST OF NEW MEMBERS--continued. Miss Finnimore. Miss E. A. Mackett, Mrs. Rush. Mr. H. Ferris. Mrs. Le Mesurier. Rev. E. K. R. Reynolds. Miss Florey. Miss Moore. Mrs. Reynolds. Miss Fitzmaurice. Mrs. Matthew. Miss Matthew Miss Solly, Miss Goodrich. Rev. Arundell St. John Miss S. Stevens. Miss Greenway. Mildmay. Annie Symonds, Arthur Gurfil, Esq. Mary Milman. Miss A. Spenser. Miss Golding, Mrs. McCansh. Miss A. Sibson. Miss Agnes Gibbs Mrs. Milbourne Miss Mary Stedman, Miss Gascoigne. Mr. Sheppard. Miss Holland. Miss Nation. Rev. G. M. Sutton. Miss E. M. Hill. Miss Nixon. H. T. Savory, Esq. Miss Hall. Mrs. Newnham, Mrs. Shelford. Miss C. Heasman. Mrs. Nankivell. Rev. Sidney Harrington. Rev. Canon Nevile. Miss E. M. Tarver. Rev. Ernest Havergal. Lieut. H. I. W. Nevile. Miss D. Tarver, Rev. Eustace Havergal. Miss R. Nevile. Miss M. Tarver Rev, Preb. Hutchinson. Miss Nash. Miss Kate Trobridge. J. Flurford. Mrs. Nye. Miss A. E. Trodd, Mrs. Hughes. Miss Nye, Miss Thompson. Mrs. Hayles. Miss M. Nye. Mrs. Uthwatt. Mrs. Hulford. Miss Holland. Mrs. Oxenham. Mrs. Venables Rev. W. R. Innes. Mrs. Vaughan Miss Phillips. Arthur L. Vaughan. Louisa Caroline Johnson. Mrs. Pickering Mildred A. Vaughan. Miss Joyce. Miss Paul. E. Dean Jones, Esq. Mrs. Puttock. Mrs. Woodin, Miss Jacob. Rev. Canon Palmer. Miss Mary Williams. Miss Jeafferson. Thomas Poppy, Mrs. Walkey. Miss A. Jeafferson. Mrs. Prime. Ada Washer, Miss Jordan. Miss Eliza Parsons. Miss A. Wilks. Mrs. Keymer. Emily Perrott. Miss Woodward. Mrs. Kavanagh. Miss Pease. Miss Waters. Miss Fanny E. Keymer. Rev. W. H. B. Proby. Mrs. Woodman. Miss Charlotte A. Keymer. Miss A. Wrightson. Miss Rodd. Miss Julia H. Waters. The Lord Bishop of Lincoln. Mrs. Robertson Miss Lowe. Mr. Robinson, Rev. J. G. Young Reginald Moakes. Boy, Miss Ryder. Mrs. Young, Class. Miss M. Ryder, Miss A. E. Young.

• Korea-(continuea).

SPEAKING of mountains, Mr. Carles mentions a curious fact. He says: “The remark about the position of the hills was one of many heard at different times, which all showed how great is the influence of natural objects upon the life of the Koreans. It is not merely that they delight in beautiful scenery, but that they feel that a harmony is required between the works of nature and of their king. Where the king lives, mountains must stand behind his chair, and hills be his footstool. It is but natural that they should do him homage, and, if his palace is pitched where homage cannot be paid to him by them, the site is wrongly chosen. The same rule seemed to govern the choice of the sites of all official buildings, and thus in many cases the towns are divided into two portions a mile or more apart, the one resting against a hill and the other near the high road." (“Life in Korea.") Is it out of the question that any idea of the healthiness of a high and yet sheltered position influences this poetic custom? In accordance with this notion we find that Söul, the capital, is situated "at the foot of a steep range on the north, from which run low spars, one of which joins hands with a hill nine hundred feet high, at the south of the city.” “Firwoods and the absence of houses give it a parklike appearance, and the hill is used as a lounge and picnicing place by the many lovers of scenery in the city." The suburbs are of a "very poor sort." "The city gates are massive structures in masonry, with towers of two stories, in Chinese style, pierced for guns, and the city wall, some twenty-five feet high, is also solidly built of stone, though its face shows that repairs have often been needed. On first passing through the gate, a most striking contrast is felt between these substantial defensive works with their idea of confinement and the low-thatched cottages, broad roads and open view, hindered by no buildings or trees, which are found in the main streets within the walls. . . . The side streets are narrow winding lanes, frequently following the banks of rivulets, which serve as open drains and washing grounds.” “On crossing a bridge over a small stream that runs the whole length of the city, we saw a number of women washing clothes in the water and beating them with sticks of wood. Though the stream was low and its bed served as a dung-heap, water was also being carried away from it for household uses, and there was evidence on every side that, according to all the rules of sanitation, the population of the city should by rights have ceased to exist." Adding to these facts the badness of the water, which Père Dallet says renders "even the fruit and vegetables dangerous," we can understand the unhealthiness of Korea, although the climate is said to be excellent, notwithstanding its great extremes of heat and cold. We will again, and willingly, pass outside the city walls, for the country in Korea presents many charms. “The hills round" (Chemulpho), says Mr. Carles, “were rich in flowers." The wild rose, the lily of the valley, the tiger lily, the wild peony, the tiny blue gentian," and other lovely blooms seem to grow in great profusion. "The land seemed a true paradise of flowers in comparison with Shanghai; and of trees there were an abundant variety also." Further north, approaching Wi-ju again, Mr. Carles describes "thorough Welsh scenery of hills and brooks ... delicious greenery formed by limes, birches, and other trees . . . a gorgeous wall of red maple,” which explains "a saying, common near Söul, of the maples in autumn being more lovely than the azaleas in spring." One last "natural feature" shall be noticed. "Puzzles of one kind and another were constantly presenting themselves at Chemulpho. Why does the tide, which is hardly perceptible at Fusan and Gensan, increase in force along the western coast as it advances further north, until at Chemulpho the rise and fall is thirty feet? Can the immense volume of the Yellow River be driven back north by the Yangtze and by that part of the Formosan current which passes west of Japan? Is the strength of the tide in part owing to the evaporation constantly going on in this shallow sea? ... One glorious afternoon in June, at high tide, I sat down on a rock to admire the beauty of the scene. Not a cloud was visible, and the sky was a marvellous blue. I got up and hunted for flowers along the foot of a little hill which stood back from the sea. The hill was between me and the sea, and when I had made its circuit, which could not have exceeded three hundred yards, I found black night … we could not see forty yards ahead, though the sun had not set ... These sudden fogs are, I suppose, due to the immense extent of ground which is left uncovered by the ebb tide and exposed to the sun. The evaporation must be very rapid under such circumstances, and the sudden effect produced on the atmosphere by the rush of the incoming tide would, I presume, be not unlikely to produce fogs of this kind. With so much of interest on all sides, I could not help regretting that no information was ever asked for by the outside world on points which the opening up of Korea would be likely to clear up.... If scientific men would follow the example set by chambers of commerce, and ask for information which they expect to be within the reach of men at out-of-the-way ports ... they might sometimes learn what they sought for.” (“Life in Korea.”)

• The Spirit of Missions.

It is pleasant to hear that Bishop TUCKER was able to visit the Central African Mission station at Kiungani and confirm the candidates there. But it is very sad to have to record the death of Mr. Hill, one of the four who left London in May to join Bishop Tucker. When the Bishop started for the interior Mr. Hill had to return to Zanzibar, having been struck down with fever, and news has since reached England of his death on Sunday, July 20. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." We believe and know that his short life will have done much for mission work. The following extract from a letter of the Rev. John Greeson, formerly a student at the Warminster Missionary College, to the Principal, gives a striking account of his work at Whatcheer. Mr. Greeson is rector of Oskaloosa, in Iowa, U.S.A., and Whatcheer is a township of some 6,000 people under his charge : "The Iowa prohibitory law, which forbids the sale of intoxicating liquors, was at this time (i.e. in 1888) making havoc of the saloons, and one of the most notorious in the heart of the city was for sale. Here was a chance for the Church to secure this defunct liquor concern, and to convert it into a church. So with the help of some English friends-notably the Bishop of Lichfield, who subscribed £10—the lot and house was secured. It was at this time that I was asked to take charge of Oskaloosa and Whatcheer. After paying a visit to the place I accepted the charge. The first work was to pull down the bar and clean out the building. This we did, turning the bar into the chancel, partitioning part off for a vestry. One good old Irish lady offered to subscribe for a carpet, whilst Muscatine gave us an altar. We were given some hangings and a cross, seats were procured, prayer-desk and lectern bought : thus we were ready for worship. A flourishing Sunday-school was organised, and I agreed to give the fourth Sunday in the month entirely to them, whilst the Rev. John Hochuly agreed to take the second Sunday in the month. This arrangement we have continued to the present time. Is not this an agreeable transformation? Outwardly the building has little appearance of a church, but once inside there is no mistaking that you are in a Catholic place of worship. A gentleman in Sioux City, Iowa, has recently given us an organ. We are still in need of a font, and it is proposed to build a priest's room, where there may be accommodation for the visiting priests. This is necessary, as accommodation is sadly lacking in this mining city of small wooden huts. "In March the Bishop made his annual visitation, and although the service was at a very unusual hour for these people to attend -eleven o'clock on a weekday-yet there was a goodly number assembled, and six adults were confirmed. Important as the work may be in Canada, and badly as men may there be needed, I think in the States there is far greater need for men of selfsacrificing principles, where thousands are waiting for the standard of the Church to be unfurled, and the Gospel presented in its entirety." Some interesting details appear in Church Work as to the spread of the Faith among the INDIANS in the diocese of Minnesota. The aged Bishop, who is known in America as "the father of the Indians," and has been called by our own Bishop Westcott "the most apostolic man I ever saw," has spent a lifetime preaching to them and pleading their cause, spiritual and temporal, in his own church, and his labours have been very fruitful. In his own diocese of Minnesota there are seven congregations of Indians, containing some 350 communicants and about 900 baptised persons. There are ten churches, eleven parsonage houses for native clergy (who are faithful priests and able preachers), and a free hospital for sick Indians. Yet the whole number of the people is scarcely equal to the population of some white villages, some 6,000 being scattered over a country more than 300 miles in extent. Here they live a quiet peaceful life, with little or no quarrelling or swearing. During the year 1889 the Bishop of CALCUTTA made two long visitation tours through Central India, Rajputana, Oudh, and the North-West Provinces, and in the course of them he travelled nearly 8,000 miles. About 2,000 candidates were confirmed, and five new churches were consecrated at Bhowarnpore, Ajmere, Bandikui, Mundhu, and Allahabad. On Monday, July 6, was held the annual meeting of a Mission differing somewhat in character from the above-the Archbishop's Mission to the ASSYRIAN Christians. These Christians are Nestorians, but their liturgy does not contain any trace of the heresy, nor (to all appearances) do they consciously retain Nestorian doctrine. They are plunged in the deepest ignorance, and suffer oppression on all hands-passive oppression from the Turks (which they know so well how to inflict), and active from the inroads of the Khurds and the intolerance of the Persians. Without help from others they could not exist many years more; for even if they escaped the Scylla of persecution, it would only be to fall into the Charybdis of absorption by the Roman Church or dissolution at the hands of the American Presbyterians, who are now at work among them. They have appealed for many years to the Archbishops of Canterbury; and this Mission is Archbishop Benson's response to their cry for help. It has sent several learned priests (there are now six) to them, and latterly four sisters, to educate the Assyrian women. Their work embodies an eloquent lesson in self-abnegation. They do not "Anglicanise," nor do they in any way interfere in ecclesiastical matters, but give their whole time to the education and instruction of the Assyrian laity and clergy, many of whom are unable to understand their offices. Those who are taught become teachers in turn, and in this way some 200 schools are kept up. These English priests receive each £25 a year for personal expenses, and are supported out of a common fund. It is a noble work indeed, worthy of him who began it. And if the Assyrians can be raised out of their poverty and ignorance, and cleansed from the brand of their Nestorianism, we may hope that they will renew their great missionary life of times past, when the Nestorian missionaries preached in the very heart of India and China, and beyond the great wall. Already something has been done in another way. The goodwill of the Russians has been wonderfully gained, and owing to this Mission the Shah of Persia has been persuaded to proclaim toleration throughout his dominions-a decree to this effect being shortly expected. A strange outbreak of ill-feeling against the native Christians has taken place at Wuchang, in China. The Rev. S. C. Partridge, one of the American priests stationed there, tells how, in March last, the walls of the city were found to have been covered in the night with placards attacking the Faith in the vilest and most inflammatory terms. The native divinity students at once went out to search for them, but only found a few fragments. The following night a series of eight placards and two shameful cartoons appeared, the latter intended to represent the Crucifixion and Christian worship. "The cartoons," says Mr. Partridge, “were of the vilest character, and present a vivid picture of what heathenism really is. China in the nineteenth century echoes the sins of Corinth in the first. This should be a certain antidote for that fatal admiration of the Light of Asia and kindred heathen religions which has of late infected many." Impurities of all kinds are imputed to the Saviour of the world and His disciples. A sketch of the Lord's life is given, "too vile even to be quoted from-the foulest piece of work that the mind of man ever descended to." It is believed that these blasphemies have been circulated by men from the “benevolent societies” of Hunan, the great anti-Christian province of China. Copies of the placards were procured and translated, and laid before the foreign consuls in Hankow. Thanks to the prompt action of the missionary societies and the consuls, the publication of such things was once and for all prevented, a result largely owing to the resolute activity of the young men of the native Church. The S. P. G. has just received a legacy of more than ordinary interest, of a kind which will specially interest naval readers. The testator is a superannuated coastguardsman, named William Clements, who lived for many years at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, and died there on April 20. By his will he left to the S. P. G. one-third of all the money he had in any bank, besides a special legacy of £1 among some other £1 legacies, and the total amount of his gift was thus £70. 14s. From some particulars of his life, given by the Vicar of Bembridge, it appears that he was born of poor parents, who died while he was young. He entered the Royal Navy, bearing a good character, and obtaining several medals for service in war. He eventually joined the coastguard, served his full time, and was superannuated. “He and his wife were patterns of what Church people should be, and they always gave largely to all Church missionary objects. His wife died nearly three years ago, and they had no children."

• Naval fund for Hospitals.

At the quarterly meeting of the Executive Committee held on July 12, the usual business was transacted. A letter was read from the Archbishop of Canterbury in which His Grace desired "to say how much he rejoiced to hear of this most encouraging and efficient support of the Mission." A letter was also read from Bishop Corfe, written a few days before his departure from England, informing the Committee that he had seen Dr. Wiles off. The doctor would proceed straight to his destination, staying only a few days with Bishop Bickersteth, of Japan, to consult with him as to the possibility of beginning medical work among the Japanese who have colonised Fu San, the south-east treaty port of Korea. He will then go on to Chemulpho and Söul, where buildings suitable for hospitals will in due time be provided by the Hospital Naval Fund, and where he, with Dr. E. B. Landis, will shortly commence work. The amount of the fund will be found on page iii of the cover,