Morning Calm v.20 no.121(1909 Jul.)

Son Won Church

In the last number of MORNING CALM an earnest appeal was made to the friends of the Mission to relieve the Bishop of the anxiety of meeting the debt on the building of the Church of St. Stephen, Sou Won. As we reported at the time, the St. Peter's Foreign Missionary Association, as soon as the need was made known, started a Shilling Fund. Their many friends responded so well and so liberally that a sum of ₤140 was raised before the Festival. The S.P.C.K. also made a grant of £50, and another £50 was sent direct to the Bishop. The Executive Committee have decided that any balance remaining, when the debt on the building shall have been paid, shall be used : (1) towards the debt on the Chapel buildings in the Sou Won district : (2) to form a nucleus for a Fund for the enlargement of St. Stephen's, a work which will, apparently, have to be undertaken almost immediately.

The appeal for Men

It can be no longer said that the Church at Home does not know of the urgent need of men. Many branches of the Junior Clergy Missionary Association have been addressed by Canon Brooks, Dr. Weir, Rev. M. L. Trollope and the Organising Secretary, who have made the necessity for at least four experienced priests not the least prominent feature of their appeal. One is driven to ask, in view of the absence of any response, whether the enthusiasm for the Catholic Missions of the Church was exhausted by the Pan-Anglican Congress. It seems, indeed, pitiful that such an opportunity as is now before the Church in Corea should be lost for lack of men. The need is, at the moment, even greater than when the appeal was first made, for, owing to the illness of his mother, Mr. Hewlett finds himself unable to go out for the present. Mr. Frank Weston was ordained Deacon in St. Paul's on Trinity Sunday, and will go out in the Autumn. We still hope that he may not go out alone, but that the four priests needed will be set apart for the work by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The Annual Festival

The decision to hold on the Annual Festival on Cross Day-according to tradition- was carried into effect. The arrangements made seemed to be adequate. One could have wished for a larger attendance of the friends of the Mission. No doubt when the custom has become once more established all will make a point of being present. Perhaps the fact of May 3 falling upon a Monday prevented not a few from coming up to London. For the future the Central Committee will always meet on the day of the Festival, and the Annual Report will then be presented. The Choral Eucharist at St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey was a most impressive and beautiful service; and the Bishop of Stepney's Sermon was singularly helpful and sympathetic.

A short account of the Festival appears in another column.

‘Morning Calm and the Annual Report’ Owing to the abundance of material which comes each quarter from Corea, and to the serious loss, annually, upon the production of MORNING CALM, it has been thought advisable to reserve all accounts, acknowledgments of contributions and lists of new members of the different Associations for the Annual Report. We therefore ask our supporters to look for these in the Report instead of - as formerly-in MORNING CALM.

Home Expenses

For some time the loss on the sale of MORNING CALM has been causing great uneasiness to those responsible for its production. It amounts to something like ₤60 a year. It was felt that it was not right to allow this loss to be met from the General Fund which thus provided money for a purpose for which it was not subscribed. The Executive Committee therefore have decided to create a Fund for Home Expenses. This will provide the Organising Secretary's stipend, office expenses, and will meet the loss on any publications issued, such as MORNING CALM and the Annual Report. A sum of at least ₤150 per annum will be required.

The late Arch deacon Small There passed to his Test on April 29, in the sixtieth year of his age, one who, by ties of sympathy and affection, was closely connected with the work of the Church of England in Corea. Richard Small joined Bishop Corfe on his way out to Corea in 1890, having made his acquaintance as he passed through New Westminster (British Columbia). His sojourn in Corea was short, lasting not more than a year. In that time he evoked a love and admiration from his fellow-workers and the Coreans, second only to that affection in which he was held by his Indian flock in Columbia. So piteous and so urgent were the appeals to him to return to his work in New Westminster, that he yielded to their petition and went back in 1891, where he worked and died. Brief as was his Corean experience, his extraordinary goodness and piety left an indelible impression on all who met him.

"The call," says the "Church Times," "came to him quite suddenly. He contracted pneumonia through exposure in his efforts to help put out a fire that destroyed two Indian houses and threatened to burn half the village of Lytton, including the church. Shortly before midnight, on April 29, he said, ‘I will try and take a little rest,' and falling asleep in a few minutes, he quietly breathed his last without ever waking. It was just such a beautiful death as was fitting to his beautiful life." R.I.P.

The Festival.

ABOUT thirty or forty friends of the Mission were present in the Chapel of St. Faith (crypt) St. Paul's Cathedral, on Monday, May 3, at 8 P.M., when Canon C. E. Broke celebrated the Holy Eucharist, with Rev. M. N. Trollope and Rev. W. P. Besley as gospeller and epistoler, the Organising Secretary assisting at the administration. At the Choral Eucharist at St. Nicholas Cole-Abbey, the rector, Rev. C. N. Kelly, was the celebrant, while the Bishop of Stepney pontificated and preached the sermon. The Plain Song (Merbecke) was sung by a choir of some twenty priests. The effect produced seemed to prove that an elaborate and well-paid choir is not indispensable to the efficient and effective rendering of church music. The Bishop's sermon was based on Rev. iv. 8. He perceived two results from the Pan-Anglican Congress: (1) That there was now more system, more principle, more science in the conduct of missions. They had heard principles and theories expounded. (2) Practical results had been gained. At last it was understood what missionary opportunity meant. From this second result they understood the enormous importance of the Church of England Mission to Corea. Politically, every one wanted Corea. It was a land greatly to be desired; but the Japanese seemed likely to have, for a long time, the predominant interest. From a religious standpoint. Corea seemed to invite them forward. For Confucianism was an invitation to the living power of the Cross of Jesus Christ. They could not help comparing Confucianism with the Law of Moses. One emphasized “conduct," the other behaviour." Both made a demand on men which could not fail to create a desire for things spiritual. They could sympathize with the man who, at least, aimed at being nice, at never being out of temper, at being well-balanced and self-controlled-who saw the force of those things without arriving at the real principle. He needed the impulse of the love of God.

In Confucianism there was a real invitation to the Church to go forward.They loved the thought of that open door. The Church in Corea, like the Church at Philadelphia, was small; it had no reproach, it was faithful. Its reward-like all God's rewards-was a call to work. "Behold I have set before thee an open door." The open door in Corea was the physical condition. Like Philadelphia, it lay on the way to cities of enormous importance. There was such an attraction about an open door. There was something pathetic about the early door of a theatre. And how eagerly a man who finds a door opening commercially took advantage of it.

So there was now an open door to the Hermit Kingdom, which had been shut up unto a salvation yet to be revealed. It was a constant process of God's. He kept them shut up - not under condemnation - but that we might find them there ready for the revelation. St. Helena, on finding the three Crosses-the True Cross no longer identified by His title affixed-proved the distinction by laying them all upon a dead body. The Cross of our Lord, when it touched the body, caused it to revive. So they tested the Cross of Christ. They laid it, with its merciful power, its irresistible attraction, upon the Hermit Land: and lo! the Land is awakening.

The Annual General Meeting was held in the Hall of the National Society, Great Peter Street, at 3 P.M., the Central Committee having previously met and accepted the Report of the Executive Committee. The meeting was remarkable chiefly for the remarks of the Chairman, Bishop Montgomery, who, refraining from speaking of the future, said that the story of the Church's Mission to Corea was not a happy one. It was a story of humiliation. There were classes of sins for which they must humble themselves. The great sin was when they had left a diocese denuded of workers; where the people went back to heathenism; where churches fell in ruins, as in Burmah and Borneo. He did not say this of Corea, though the situation was almost as bad. They (the S.P.G.) had given it the lowest possible. The opportunities had never been risen to. They took away from the Navy one of the best Chaplains the Service ever had. They gave him a higher work, and left him without money and without workers. Where other Missions were splendidly staffed, this was starved, though the work done was as wonderful as the work in Uganda; from the first the Mission had been starved. Bishop Corfe had never been a "good beggar." His was a type of greatness which saw not a duty in begging. Bishop Corfe had that limitation-a noble one. When a Missionary Bishop is appointed he must ask for as much as he can, and the Church should back him to the fullest extent. It was right to refuse to put up with neglect. If the friends of the Mission helped the S.P.G. to make Corea a strong Diocese, they would be doing a great work. The Report of the Commissaries was read by the Organising Secretary; its adoption moved by Admiral Freemantle and seconded by the Rev. M. N. Trollope. Miss J. Robertson Macdonald and Dr. Weir also addressed the meeting.

[Owing to want of space, we have had to hold over the reports of these speeches.-ED MORNING CALM.]

One of our great needs in Seoul is a proper church for Corean services, and the Coreans are continually saying, "When will you build one?" Money is as often the difficulty, for when we do build we must have a really good church. Will any one start the Seoul Cathedral Fund with a large donation ?

The Bishop's Letter.Ⅰ.

CHONG DONG, SEOUL, COREA,. MY DEAR FRIENDS,—

Let my first letter for this quarter be on a subject which is not of, perhaps, immediate interest to many, as it does not concern the purely missionary aspect of our work in Corea ; but on the other hand, it is of great importance as affecting the principles on which the Mission has been, and is being carried on ; and on such a matter I feel that our supporters and friends at home should have the fullest information. When, at Archbishop Benson's request, Bishop Corfe undertook the new venture of the Church of England in Corea, he determined that the work should be carried on, if possible, on community lines, in some such way as the Universities' Mission to Central Africa is conducted. All who joined the Mission agreed to work here in that way, undertaking to remain unmarried and without a salary, only receiving their board and lodging, and sufficient pocket-money to cover necessary personal expenses for clothes, &c. That is, so far as the clerical staff was concerned. When one of the staff, after several years' work here, felt he could no longer remain unmarried and that he could do better work here or elsewhere as a married man, the question arose whether we could spare him from the already diminished staff or whether some change should be made in the basis on which we had hitherto been working, and include married men among our clergy. After much thought and consultation with the S.P.G., the Bishop decided to allow the priest in question to marry, but he felt he ought at the same time to ask all the priests on the staff, if, under these circumstances, they would prefer to go on working as they had done before, or to receive a salary on the same basis as the clergy in North China. Two men said they would like to receive a salary, the rest preferring to go on as before. The S.P.G., on being referred to on the matter, deprecated any change being made, unless it was necessary, and in spite of the expressed desire of these two men no change was made. When I came here as Bishop, the only salaried members of the Mission were the Bishop, one married Priest, and the Doctor.

However, since then the feeling has grown stronger that a change should be made. As the work developed the community life became less and less possible, and each man was living by himself, or with, at the most, one other with him, and it was considered by some members of the Mission that it would be as economical and more fair all round, if a regular salary, small but sufficient, were given to all members of the staff. I consulted the S.P.G. Committee at home, and they left the matter in my hands, to deal with as I thought fit on my return to Corea. Accordingly I wrote to all concerned, and found that some were anxious to make the change, some were not, and I have decided that it will be best to work on a dual basis, whereby we shall have some men working as salaried and some as unsalaried, at any rate for this year. In June of this year those who wish to remain unsalaried will meet and discuss the possibility of forming a Brotherhood, with rules of its own, whereby they shall be enabled to control their own affairs (but of this I shall write more fully for the September number of MORNING CALM), and when the whole scheme is formulated for both, salaried and unsalaried, it will be printed in MORNING CALM and in the S.P.G. Regulations.

One thing I must guard against, that is, letting you think that the salaried members of the Mission will be rich men ! The largest salary now given to unmarried men is ₤140, and as expenses of living have gone up and are still going up in Corea, no man on such a salary can be called rich. The difference is that he can spend the money as he likes, with no supervision from the Treasurer or Financial Committee of the Mission, while the others have to send in their accounts quarterly to the Treasurer, and in future they will have to obey the rules of the Brotherhood, if and when it is formed. Another thing we all shall have to guard against is any feeling of difference between the members of the Mission itself, because of what I have called this dual basis. I do not fear it myself, knowing the men out here as I do, but we have to look to the future, and I would ask you to pray that we may be guided rightly in our coming deliberation, and that we may all continue to work together to the glory of God and the good of His Church.

I could write a great deal on the advantages and disadvantages of married or unmarried life, of salaried and unsalaried workers in the Mission Field, but I spare you. I am only trying to tell you the facts of the case, and leave you to theorise for yourselves.

I am yours truly, ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

Ⅱ.

CHONG DONG, SEOUL, COREA. MY DEAR FRIENDS, -

I have had many matters, great and small, to attend to since my return. I have been to all the stations for confirmations and to talk matters over with the Clergy in charge, and to see any old and new friends among the Coreans, and I have found that everywhere there are signs of progress in numbers and in depth and reality, though of this latter it is of course more difficult to judge.

One thing which has taken up a large amount of time has been in connection with the Schools. The Japanese and the Government have been very anxious to unify all the Educational work in the country, and with that end in view have been putting pressure on all schools to register at the educational department, giving full particulars as to founders, teachers, curriculum, &c.

As this is the first time such a thing has been done it has given a good deal of trouble all round, but we are, I hope, in sight of the end now. There has been a good deal of opposition on the part of Coreans, as they feel that it is required by the Japanese chiefly for the purpose of suppressing the national and patriotic spirit of the people, eliminating all books and teaching which shall foster the same. No doubt this is largely so, for it was found that the schools started by the Coreans were, in not a few cases, centres of disaffection.

But there were two questions we had to consider: (1) Would such registration really benefit Corea and its people by bringing all schools into line? and (2) Would it help the pupils by getting them a better standing than they would have in an unauthorized school?

I came to the conclusion that it would be advantageous in both ways. The second question was whether it would interfere with the religious instruction we desire to give in the schools. I consulted with the French Bishop and the heads of the American Missions here, and found that they were satisfied on this point that there would be no interference in this matter at all, and I received an assurance from the authorities to the same effect.

Now we shall see what the result will be ; but I am not afraid of any harm arising from registration, and I hope good may come from it. If any harm arises we can withdraw, and cither close the schools, or carry them on under any disabilities that may result from separation from the National system of education.

The question of education is a burning one at present. Wherever I go I find the people anxious to found schools, from the lowest to the highest; but money is terribly scarce in the country. The Government cannot afford to found more schools, and the magistrates, while anxious to do so, have no funds to carry them on, and are unable to check the corruption of those whom they have to put in charge, while the people cannot afford to pay more taxes, and if they can, they won't, because they know as well as the magistrate the danger of the money being “eaten” by the school officials and not by the teachers. I could give instances in which a large proportion of the money collected has gone to adorn the director's own house, or pay old debts, or start a new and flourishing business, while the school has been starved. Gradually, no doubt, the Government will extend its efforts, but schools are demanded everywhere at once, and money is scarce and trained teachers are scarcer.

We have now three schools running for boys; at On Sou Tong, Sou Won and Chinchun. I don't think any of them are what we should call thoroughly satisfactory, but they are all doing good work, so far as the power of the teaching staff goes, and we and they shall learn by experience. I want a school here in Seoul badly, where we could train our own teachers and bring them up in the Faith at the same time. It is a matter of real importance, but it would take a considerable sum of money to start and run it, and I fear I have never yet put the scheme in such a shape before our friends at home as to call forth that help that we need. We may get further forward with it this year, and I hear Dr. Weir is working hard in favour of it at home. May his efforts be successful.

I feel that our efforts at present are more or less tentative, and that changes may be necessary; but all the same. I am sure we ought to do what we can in educational work. The call of the Corean girl for education is as loud as that of the boy, and the Sisters in Seoul are gradually forming a school in combination with the Orphanage, and further, by the generosity of our old friend Miss Cooke, we are building a girls' school at Sou Won where we have at present some 40 girls in two rooms, one 8 by 16, and one 8 by 8, close to Mr. Bridle's study! And I hear from Mrs. Hillary that they hope to open one in On Sou Tong after Ascension Day. This, the Coreans say, they will maintain themselves. We have given them some little help in putting up a building. So the work goes on, increasing gradually in all departments, throwing more responsibility of various kinds on all our workers. God give them strength for it all.

I am, yours truly, ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

Ⅲ.

Sou Won, March 7, 1909. MY DEAR FRIENDS, -

I am writing from Sou Won, and this letter shall be a diary of my last week's work. It will give my friends at home an idea of the way much of my time is spent. It has been very enjoyable, but not without its attendant worries, which always come in these sort of trips. Business cannot be avoided even when the special purpose is pastoral work, Confirmations, etc.

I came down from Seoul a week ago, and arrived at dusk, to find Cooper and some Coreans waiting to escort me from the station. After a meal and a little talk with Bridle about arrangements, we retired early, for 6 AM is the hour to move in the morning, about sunrise just now. The Corean service on Sunday is about 7 A.M., and I am to celebrate ; then Matins, Litany and sermon; breakfast is about 9 or 9.30. There were a few people to be confirmed, so that service took the place of Matins. After breakfast followed the catechumen's service, at which I said a few words and then retired, leaving Bridle to finish, while I read and wrote letters until lunch. The afternoon was quiet, Cooper being in Seoul, and Bridle was out visiting a sick man and a poor madman, who will only obey Bridle's orders. I took Evensong at 4 P.M., while Bridle sat at the bottom of the church - a privilege he does not often get.

Monday morning I spent reading and writing, delightfully free from the ordinary interruptions of Seoul. Later I called on the Roman Catholic priest who has lately opened a church and school here. I went to see him about the registering of our school under the Government's new regulations and to hear what they were going to do. He was out, but we went to the school and found the teacher and a friend from Seoul who gave us some advice. They are at present only in a small Corean house which was being thatched, and the dust got into the tea they gave us, but it was refreshing even without milk or sugar.

Tuesday I visited the school for an hour and saw the Sisters for two hours, and we were excited by the arrival of the new bell which has been given for the church by a friend of Bridle's at Shanghai. It weighs 350 lbs., and the question is how and where to hang it. Some temporary place must be found until the church is enlarged. We also had to find out how to enlarge the Sisters' kitchen, and how to prevent the hillside garden being washed away by the heavy summer rains.

Wednesday morning we were to have started together for Chun-An station, some forty miles down the line. I had much writing to do, and Bridle had classes to hold and men to see there; so he went first and I followed by a later train. One great feature of these outings, and one which tries our sensitive Western people, is that all the able-bodied people go to the station, or a long way on the road to welcome one. It is polite but trying when some forty or fifty people, most of them strangers, bend double before you in the road and greet you in the humblest possible way, while you mumble some unintelligible greeting which at any rate is meant to be polite. The Christians had all gone out to Chun-An station with flags waving, boys and men, and found only Bridle! Great disappointment, but I was saved, for only one man came to meet me, with a jiggy coon to carry my load. This was a fairly heavy one, vestments-bed-clothes, a stretcher bed, a quilt padded with cotton wool, etc. However, he loaded it on his jiggy, and away we went. It was a long three-mile walk to Poutori (rich land village), and I did not escape all the greetings, as outside a village we passed, named Sai Soul Mak, we met six men who joined us, and a mile from Poutori was a large contingent with the school boys. They all bent double except the boys, who stood in marshalled line and took off the caps they all wear in schools now, and then bent double and greeted me with one voice. There was only just room on the “road” for me to pass. I found Bridle at the chapel, where he was lamenting because his men had been out to meet me instead of listening to his instructions. However, we soon settled down after a cup of tea-I to read and to talk to the church wardens, and he to see individuals. At 7 P.M. we had the baptism of infants (about twelve); they could not come before, as their mothers had to get the food ready. Then Bridle went on seeing people and preparing them finally for baptism or for the next morning's Communion, while I had the school teacher in to talk about school matters and registration.

Thursday came the adult baptisms, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. We could not miss the latter, as Bridle can only get down there once a month. We began about 7 A.M. and had breakfast about 10. A long service, but the Coreans do not generally breakfast in the winter until about that time. It was very cold at first, as the chapel has a wooden floor and no stove; but it warmed up, and in my cope I kept warm for the Confirmation and Holy Communion, while for the baptisms I wrapped myself in my new cape, which is excellent. The Coreans are wonderfully reverent, and listened to my stumbling address with great patience. One longs for many things at such a time -the heart of a St. John and the mouth of a St. Chrysostom- and one longs, too, to stir in them the burning zeal which can alone destroy the old vices and old superstitions. Bridle says one wants other things. He is troubled with a very keen sense of smell, and wishes he had no nose. This does not trouble me, but certainly after three hours in a small and crowded chapel (it is some 16 feet by 20 feet), I was glad to get into the open air, and I was sorry for the Sisters, who were right among the women. In the small sanctuary we had a few feet of space round us to breathe in; they had hardly any. Breakfast followed, and we got away about 12 A.M. for the next village, about 11 miles, where there are two men to be confirmed and others to receive their Communion. We had the usual farewells, alter the same fashion as the greetings, only they do not come so far.

Our party consisted of Bridle and myself, with the catechist and his servant Peter, and our two luggage-laden porters. The roads about the country are all much alike, about a foot broad, except between two big towns, where it may be six or even ten feet wide. They get well trodden, and one can bicycle, but with frequent dismounts for streams or drains, which are never bridged except near a village or on the main roads; and one has to mind the wheel so constantly that one cannot look at the country. At this time of year there is not much to see: brown rolling hills, with distant brown higher hills behind them, while the tracks lead up and round and over these lower hills, and, where one comes to a valley, in and out and round about the rice fields, which are banked up in all shapes and sizes. Here and there one comes to a small village in the sheltered spots, for the most part consisting of from 10 to 100 straw-thatched hovels. That is a hard word for some of the houses, which are really fairly roomy, and in which I could live myself quite comfortably, but they have the appearance of hovels.

With two short rests we reached San Chik Mal a little after three, Bridle going on ahead to get the water boiled and have some tea ready, while I walked with the catechist John Chun and had some talk with him. We met the first deputation from the village about three miles from home. They must have been waiting a long time for us, as we were so late in getting away. After the usual bendings and inarticulate responses, we went on together, picking up a few late-comers, till we had a tale of some thirty or forty by the time we arrived. At the last stream we met the old men, of whom one is John's great-uncle, who could not go elsewhere to be confirmed. He is nearly seventy. We found others in the village, arriving from various adjoining hamlets, who attend service at this centre. We have in this district now four chapels, about ten or twelve miles apart, where the priest can go and stay for a night or two and give instructions to beginners and celebrate for the Christians. There are two catechists, John Chun and Peter Kang (Paul Kim works in the district near Sou Won itself), and they stay in their own villages one or two Sundays in the month, and go to other centres on the other Sundays and between-whiles. There are in each chapelry, other places where those who cannot go so far have prayers on Sundays, only, when baptized, going to the centre for the combined Eucharist whenever the priest can come to them. These visits are busy times for the priest, for he has to see them before they make their Communion, separately, if possible, and help them with their preparation. He has to see the catechumens, and admit new people after examination as to their knowledge and life. Often there are questions of business to be attended to, which require listening to and careful inquiry, and often tender handling. Our catechists are young in years and experience, and cannot always be trusted to act wisely in the many cases in which advice and help is needed, which include law cases, etc.

I am thankful to say that with the new regime it is becoming less and less necessary or advisable for us to mix ourselves up in these matters, and we can nearly always refuse to give any assistance. Indeed, as a rule, the authorities are beginning to resent interference on our part, and I am thankful it should be so, for it is most difficult to get at the bottom of many of these cases, and I sympathise sincerely with the Corean magistrates and their Japanese advisers. Our work at San Chik Mal was much the same as at Poutori, except that we took the Confirmations in the evening of Thursday-old Mr. Chun and a boy called Andrew, I gave a long address to the people gathered there. There were only a few Christians, the rest being catechumens and inquirers. Those are our three stages. Three years ago in that village there were no followers of the Faith. Now nearly all the houses have someone who comes to learn, though there are only five men baptized and one woman-John Chun's wife, a nice young woman, who is learning to teach the others. John lives there and works in a district some fifteen miles east and west and four or five north and south. Many small villages contain a few followers, and only by strict injunctions can we keep the work within bounds, but I feel we cannot load him or Bridle with more work until we have more men to take the responsibility. It is hard work, but most interesting, though it is often trying to the patience and love of the priest. Many of the people are intensely dull and stupid, and it will only gradually be possible for them to understand all that Christianity means. But already one sees signs that the teaching and discipline are raising the standard of their life and of their ideals. To give an instance of how it affects even the heathen, let me tell you a story. Two women quarrelled, a Christian and a heathen. They had not made it up, and the Christian proposed to make her Communion one Sunday. The day before, the heathen woman met her, and asked if this was true. She said "Yes." Then the heathen turned on her and said: “You must not do it. That is not right. Is there such a custom among you as to receive the Communion before you have made peace with your enemies? and you have not made peace with me." That is an excellent example of how Christian teaching is gradually permeating and influencing the people, not only inside but outside the Church.

To return to my visit at San Chik Mal, I felt there, especially, that the Holy Spirit was with us as that old man and young lad made their Baptismal vows, and, kneeling before me, received the grace of Confirmation. May He indeed keep them strong and faithful unto the end!

Friday morning we had the Celebration with the Litany, breakfast, and then started out for our next station, Paik Sok Po, about eight miles on the extreme edge of Bridle's district, though some miles farther on other people are asking for teaching, and we met some of them there. The usual greetings on the road and in the village were quickly followed by tea, and then Bridle went to the newly-built chapel to see the people one by one, while I had visits from various people I did not know, and prepared what I had to say at the Confirmations. Work has only been going on there for two years, and only six have been baptized. Of these, four had been confirmed at Sou Won, so only two candidates remained, an old man and a boy, as at San Chik Mal. The congregation again consisted of men of all three grades, and I spoke to them of the necessity of repentance, faith, and determination to amend in the power of that faith, and I hope they were able to understand. An illustration of the difficulty Coreans have of understanding us at first was given here. I was staying in an old gentleman's house near the church, and one or two lads were there who were anxious to see the foreigners. Mr. Bridle, who speaks Corean fluently, much more so than I do, asked one of them the usual questions:

“How old are you?" "Have you studied the Chinese character ?" &c., and he stared in open-mouthed astonishment. It was only after some hours that he realised that Mr. Bridle was talking Corean, and took in what he was saying to him. If that was the case with the average boy, I felt many of those in church, including the old men and the stupid men, would find much difficulty in following my words. I think they were Corean, and partly at any rate grammatical and correct, but we all speak with a certain amount of foreign accent. It is here that the individual work of the priest becomes of such great importance, for when face to face with one man one can see if he does understand, and can put the questions on the teaching in different ways until one gets an answer or drives home one's meaning.

I was in excellent quarters at Paik Sok Po. An old gentleman, who many years ago held high office at court, lent me his guest room. I expect I shall see him in Seoul soon, as he is going to live there with his family. One rather bright looking boy especially he wants me to take an interest in, just married at sixteen years old, called Myong Pok, or Bright Blessings-a good name if he lives up to it. There are many temptations in a country place like Paik Sok Po, where gambling seems to be especially rife, but he will not find life in Seoul free from them either. I wish we had a residential school to which such boys could come to get them out of their unclean home surroundings for a few years. We must hope for it and work for it and pray for it.

Saturday morning we had our Celebration, and then started for Pyung Taik, some twelve miles, visiting two villages on our way. It had snowed a little in the night, and we had a cold wind behind us, but it only helped us, and kept us from getting too hot, for the sun shone out brightly. These villages are all on an arm of the sea, which runs a long way inland, and near here the Chinese troops landed at the beginning of the Chinese and Japanese War, and the first battles were fought not far away. They are said to be very pleasant in the summer, and free from mosquitoes. The usual greetings a mile or two from Sin Keung Po, varied by a deputation of some eight little girls (the women there are said to attend very regularly and to be much in earnest), brought the usual company to honourably escort us into the first village. There are no baptized yet, but they have a nice room lent by one of the men, who with a friend acts as churchwarden there. They all seem to be very earnest, and we may hope for results in a year or two. Mr. Yee, the owner of the house, came on with us to the next stopping place, called Toun Po. There we have had a lot of trouble with the people as to providing a chapel, chiefly caused by one or two men who were trying to use our influence for their own ends. These men have been, I hope, shaken off, and they have provided a building, but it is not finished, and we are not going to help them until they have shown signs of real repentance and determination to learn and follow the doctrine steadily. We had a short service at which I said a few words, finding it very difficult not to be hard on them, and to encourage without depressing them. Pyung Taik, our destination, was four miles farther on. We said good-bye to John Chun at Toun Po, the boundary of his district, and outside Pyung Taik we were met by Peter Kang and the usual deputation, who had been waiting an hour and a - half in the cold wind. With him were men from the other villages of which he is in charge under Mr. Bridle. After tea came the baptism of infants, admission of catechumens, and the Confirmation of nine men and thirteen women, and I had a long talk with Peter Kang about the extension of the work in his district, where two or three places are demanding help. Afterwards came the church wardens from Yong Meri (Dragon's Head village), where they want help to build a prayer-room, and then, after a long day, we turned in, and I must bring this long letter to a close with a few words about Sunday. I said the Litany and celebrated, and after breakfast started on a ten miles walk to a new sub-station, where they have bought a house and prepared part of it for a chapel, where people from neighbouring villages can come for their Communions. To such centres we give what help we can, but we have to be chary with our grants this year, for money, as the Coreans say, is valuable. Three more miles brought us to the station, and we all felt glad to find ourselves in the train on our way home to Sou Won once more, to a refreshing cup of tea and a still more refreshing wash. Just one more long chat with Mr. Bridle about the various places we have seen and the prospects of future work (there are any number of openings if we could take advantage of them, but one cannot ask Bridle to go farther afield). I have seen clearly on this journey how great the pressure of the work is, and to spread the work wider is to be in danger of weakening its force and power. We must deepen and strengthen the people we have got, and they must teach others by their changed lives. The train for Seoul will be waiting, and I must send this to post.

I remain, yours sincerely, ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

Hospital Naval Fund.

THE Quarterly Meeting of the Executive Committee was held at the Royal United Service Institution at 3 P.M. on Wednesday, April 14. Present: J. R. Clark, Esq., Capt. J. H. Corfe, Rev. S. Kenah, and, by invitation of the Committee, Dr. Hugh H. Weir. The business transacted was mostly routine, but the Committee also considered and passed some special literature to be distributed among friends of Bishop Corfe and others interested or likely to be interested in the medical work. Should any of the Local Secretaries wish for copies of the above will they kindly apply to Capt. J. H. Corfe, Junior United Service Club, London, S.W.? Bishop Corfe has once more migrated to the East, and was last heard from at Newchwang. The Committee regret his absence from England, as his organising powers are much missed, and they hope he may be returning home again before very long ; at, too, the same time they gratefully recognise that he is always working for the H.N.F., whether at home or abroad. The Annual Report of the Mission has been published and sent to all subscribers to the fund. The Editor of MORNING CALM having decided that in future lists of subscriptions received will be published in the Annual Report, and not in the Quarterly Journal, subscribers will kindly look in that Report for acknowledgment of their subscriptions, instead of to the Journal as hitherto. J. H. CORFE Hon. Sec. for General Purposes and Hon, Treas., H.N.F. C. E. BAXTER, Hon. Sec. Ex. Com.

Association of Prayer and Work for Corea.

THE Needlework Secretary will be glad to have parcels of work sent into her either during July or August, and as there is to be a stall for the sale of fancy needlework, &c, at the S.P.G. Missionary Exhibition to be held at the Battersea Town Hall in November, parcels of useful and fancy articles will be most gratefully received, and should be sent either to me or Miss Newman during September if possible. If any member has not yet received a copy of the Annual Report I shall be very glad to supply them on receipt of name and address. GERTRUDE M. SECCOMBE, Hon. Sec.

Children's Branch.

MY DEAR CHILDREN, –

I am only writing you quite a short letter, but in it I want to talk to you about the hospital work in Corea. I expect you know that in many parts of the world where there are clergymen missionaries, there are medical missionaries working with them ; but I wonder whether you have ever heard anything about the good work that our doctors and nurses are doing in Corea? At Chemulpo, which is a busy port, there is a hospital in which a great many Corean people are cared for. These poor Coreans are, many of them, so thankful to be properly treated when they are ill, that they will travel very many miles in order to see the English doctor. One poor patient who could not walk crawled along the road for three miles to reach the hospital; another was carried by his friends in a fruit basket swung on a pule at each end, and sometimes they are carried on a plank of wood used as a stretcher. Children, too, are often brought to the hospital and sent away quite well; but if there were no mission hospital for them to go to, they would generally have to suffer a great deal of pain because their friends do not know how to take proper care of them when they are ill. The medical missionaries often find, too, that they are able not only to spare the people a great deal of suffering, but that they have many opportunities of teaching them at the same time of the love of Jesus Christ for them. They tell them how when He was on earth He went about doing good, and how He longs to bring them all into His fold. I want you to remember what a great work our doctors and nurses are doing, and to pray God to bless them all and especially those who are working in Corea, as well as all the patients who are treated by them, that they may be brought to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

I am, always, your affectionate friend, MAUD I . FALWASSER.

Ashurst, Winchester : June, 1909.

St. Peter's Community foreign Mission Association.

SEOUL: May 7, 1909.

It is not my fault that an account of the Sisters' work amongst women and girls in 1908 has not reached England sooner; it was on the point of being written when the local editor here told me there was already too much “copy” for April MORNING CALM, and it could not be inserted until July.

Our work in teaching intelligent native women capable of being trained to teach others becomes more important as village after village asks for instruction, and the Christian men implore the Sisters to help their women. From the Rev. W N. Gurney's large district round Chin Chyen, some eighty miles to the south of Seoul, women who showed some power of teaching have been sent up three and four at a time for a fortnight or three weeks, have studied hard themselves, and have had three lessons a day from Sister Margaretta, as well as giving lessons to each other before her, and some of them have taught their neighbours on their return. All the Mission women from Chin Chyen and Chemulpo came to join with the Seoul teachers for ten days' instruction in September; only ten assembled then, but their number has increased, and this year at least twenty are due to come. We hope to have the classes early in October, and that we shall have the prayers of many friends in England. The Rev. S. J. Badcock has promised to help with the instruction, and the Sisters will take the women after each class and see that they have understood and are able to make practical use for others of what they have learned. Three of the Chin Chyen women who came to study early in 1908 were baptised here on Easter eve, and did good work amongst their friends when they returned home. Two Sisters went down in July and found the catechumens considerably advanced in knowledge and earnestness. They did all the teaching that was possible in a short visit of three weeks, and went again in November, when the weather was cooler, and they could travel about through the scattered villages, taking a chair with them and walking and riding by turns.

This visit was marked by the first Christian marriage in Chin Chyen. The Sisters took with them Maria Ye, the eldest of our orphans, to be married to Barnabas Im, one of a Christian family living in a Christian village some miles from the town. The wedding took place in St. Paul's Church, Chin Chyen, early, followed by a celebration of the Holy Communion, at which both bride and bridegroom communicated. Maria was exempted from the usual hired gay bridal clothing, painted face, and sealed eyes, which are the fashion at a Corean heathen wedding. The wedding feast was held at the bridegroom's village home. Theresa Kim, who has been with us six years, is to be married here on June 17. The bridegroom and his mother are to come up to Seoul, and the marriage and Eucharist will be early enough for them to travel by train in time for the social part of the wedding, in spite of a walk of some fifteen or twenty miles beyond the station in Corean chairs. Another of our girls, Magdalene Chung, was married after Easter 1908. Her home is only three miles off, at Mapo, near our Mission House by the river; so she comes in regularly for her Communions every month, and on greater festivals, sleeping at the Orphanage, which she regards as her second home. In a few years she will be allowed to walk in alone, but a bride under thirty is still kept in seclusion here. Her husband was the only Christian in his family, when he married ; now his mother and brothers are catechumens, coming regularly to church, and hoping to be baptized this year.

The average number in St. Peter's Orphanage has been twenty-three: four children of our Christian servants living in the compound come as day scholars. We have also tried to meet a great need in this country, and taken in three young widows under twenty years of age, and are training them to earn their own living by teaching or needlework, and foreign washing, &c. Another, Deborah, who has been with us several years, is now able to teach the new comers, and helps in classes for inquirers, but, like all Coreans, requires a good deal of superintendence herself! They all take life so easily: details do not signify: if a child does not care to eat, or take its medicine, never mind for a few days! Why should woollen clothing be treated differently from their own cotton garments in the laundry ? and you find them shrunk and bard when they had already done them properly many times! So training needs time; and it is difficult to make industrial work self-supporting. The Orphanage earnings last year amounted to nearly £30, or more strictly a net profit of £25, deducting the price of materials. We find that, with the increased prices of food and fuel, £6 each for every inmate would cover all expenses. Little more than half of the children have been "adopted” by friends in England and elsewhere, and are paid for £5 a year-ample when the children were small and rice was cheap, but not now. Still we have never really wanted food or clothing, and, thanks to our kind friends, had a small balance in hand on December 31.

Education is the cry now in Corea, and as soon as the Sisters were settled in Sou Won last May they opened a girls' school in a room built for women's classes, and only 16 feet by 8 feet. The women literally could no longer get in and had to migrate to the boys' school on Saturdays and Sundays, and could use the girls' school in small numbers after 4 P.M. Soon an influx of thirty children found the room too small, and a comer of the temporary church was curtained off as a class-room for the elder girls learning Chinese. When St. Stephen's Church was opened in August, two more - 8 feet square, or one “kan” -rooms were available for the girls; it was all a makeshift and inconvenient in many ways, so we rejoiced when an Associate in England generously gave ₤100 to help the Sisters' work abroad, and were unanimous in saying, "Let us build a girls' school in Sou Won." Nothing is done in a hurry in Corea, and we had to wait for the spring. Now a large native house is being built in the church compound which will amply accommodate the day scholars and also have space for boarders coming from distant villages; a dispensary is added, where Sisters can see their numerous out-patients and administer simple remedies, dressings, &c.

Hitherto a "one kan" room in their Mission House has had more than "a double debt to pay," for it has been laundry, dispensary, and class-room for women all day long as well as an occasional extra bedroom! The school children pay a trifle weekly, about one halfpenny, and another half farthing each for such accomplishments as knitting, embroidery, or a little English: it is not much, but keeps them in slates, pencils, and the solid ink and brushes with which they write.

The outpatients also contribute something, chiefly eggs and chickens, We try not to pauperise the people, but some are very poor and we do not enlighten them as to the value of a halfpenny in providing medicines and dressings.

The British and Foreign Bible Society helps us considerably in our work for women by providing salaries for four native workers and travelling expenses for another.

Eunice Cho still teaches both out- and in-patients at St. Luke's Hospital, Chemulpo, and follows them to their homes when they wish for further instruction:

Elizabeth Ye works in Seoul and the villages round, helping in the Sisters' classes and teaching inquirers and catechumens to read; only the old folks are excused from being able to read their Unmoun Bibles and Prayer-books before their baptism. Any Chinese words or expressions so frequently used in hymns, prayers, and religious books have to be carefully explained to all the women; hence some knowledge of Chinese with its ideographs is necessary to the Sisters for teaching, and adds a good deal to the labour of language study.

Sarah, who had worked in Seoul, has been four years in Sou Won and taught a large number of women now Christians there, and in twelve villages within a radius of ten miles, she began a little school now merged into the larger one, where one of her scholars is doing her credit as a pupil teacher.

Helena was among the first Christians baptized at Sou Won. She wished to work, and we thought she might become a schoolmistress, but soon found she had no gift for children. She spoke well and with all her heart to the inquirers with whom she came into contact and so became a most useful Mission woman. She wished to give her services freely, so has only had a small sum to cover her travelling expenses, shoes, &c.

Inomia has been working in the villages, and gave a part of her time freely; she worked so well that, as numbers grew, we asked for her whole time, and the Bible Society has given a monthly salary to enable her to spend it in travelling round a number of small hamlets with Pyengtaik as a centre.

These are only a few out of the native women who are helping the Sisters in the various country districts. Those who can afford it give their services freely, others are provided with extra expenses of clothing and travelling by the S.P.F.M.A. All seem to be in earnest and doing good work, and certainly without their assistance it would be impossible for our little band of Sisters to teach all who want to learn. The most we can do is to go round the villages regularly, see what has been learned, set subjects for further teaching, and help the teachers to understand what is required of them. This constant itinerating is naturally expensive, and we have had to ask the S.P.F.M.A. to add another ₤50 a year to enable us to meet it. Every new village asking for its women to be taught is an Increased expense, especially as so many are beyond walking distance, and if our kind friends at home who have been so generous only heard their appeals I am sure they would make every effort to respond to the cry, "Come over and help us."

Yours most gratefully, NORA, Sister Superior,

Community of St. Peter.

It is hardly necessary to add anything to this interesting letter, and the two summer quarters are naturally the least active for home work: but it is good to have welcomed ten new members in the London Branch only, and one word must be said as to the happy result of the effort made by the S.P.F.M.A. to clear off the debt on the Church of St. Stephen, Sou Won. As was put forth in the April number of MORNING CALM, a Shilling Fund was started early in March, and was so well and quickly supported that the Reverend Mother was able to send £140 to the Organising Secretary at the end of April. This ready response to appeal encourages us to hope that a like success may attend the effort to raise the additional ₤50 for the General Fund to which the Sister Superior refers, and of which we have heard before from Bishop Turner. The lists of subscriptions &c., hitherto published quarterly, will not be included in MORNING CALM in future, but will appear in the Annual Report. The Secretary would like to draw attention to the fact that the receipts for the last three months only amounted to ₤19 4s. There was a meeting at Cheddar on Easter Monday, when Dr. and Mrs. Weir kindly came to St. Michael's Home and gave delightful accounts of work in Corea generally, and their own in Chemulpo in particular, also showing curios, and delighting the audience with a hymn in Corean. SISTER HELEN CONSTANCE, Secretary S.P.E.M.A.

Correspondence.

DEAR MR. EDITOR, The letter from the Archbishop of Canterbury has given us all much cheer out here, and I feel sure our friends will all be glad to see how much interest is being taken in our work here in Corea. Doubtless at the present time no part of the Far East gives so good a field for missionary work, but with our few workers the discouragements are many, and such a letter from the Archbishop means much to us as showing that the Church at home realises our opportunities and our needs and is trying to supply them.

I am, yours truly, ARTHUR B. TURNER, Bishop.

The letter referred to is the one printed in the Appeal recently issued, a copy of which was sent with the last mumber of MORNING CALM. _ ED.

Local Notes.

Seoul. - The attendance of Christians and Catechumens during Holy Week and Easter was very good, and the people most devout. There were daily Services in the Corean Church, the principal ones being - Holy Eucharist . . . . Maundy Thursday. Ante - Communion and Litany. - Good Friday. Ante Communion and Baptisms. - Easter Eve.

On Good Friday there was a Service at 12 o'clock, with Addresses by the Rev. J. S. Badcock on "The Seven Words from the Cross, ending with Evensong. The reverent and devout attendance at this Service was particularly good, and after it the people went home very quietly, as if impressed with the solemnity of the occasion. On Easter Eve, after AnteCommunion Service in the Corean Church at 7 A.M., the congregation went to the Church of the Advent for Baptisms, as it was thought wiser to use the stone font in the English Church, there not being a proper font in the Corean Church. The Church of the Advent, being used now only by foreigners, is furnished with chairs, and as the Coreans are not accustomed to them, there was some confusion among the women when they found themselves in foreign surroundings. The Candidates for Baptism were so much in earnest that external things did not upset them, and they maintained their calm reverence throughout. Nine men, nine women, and six children were baptized, and it is hoped the adults will receive Confirmation at Whitsuntide.

Easter Services began with Choral Evensong at 3 P. M. on Easter Eve, followed by Preparation for Holy Communion. At the beginning of the latter Service, Zachariah Song, former Catechist, made his public Confession and received Absolution, and is now restored to the rank of Catechumen. On Easter Day the Celebration was at 7 A.M., and was fully choral. The number of communicants was forty-eight-a few Christians who could not be present on Easter Day made their Communion on Easter Monday. All the newly-baptized were present, including a very old woman (over seventy years of age) who had received Baptism a short time ago, when apparently "in extremis." She walked about seven miles on Easter Eve in order to make her first appearance in Church at Easter. The mid-day Service was extremely well attended; between seventy and eighty women came, nearly all staying for a Class afterwards, followed by Evensong at 4 P.M. As on Good Friday they had seemed impressed with the solemnity of the Day, so were they evidently filled with the real joy of Easter.

On Easter Monday, Yee Moses and his wife Pora (who had been baptized on Easter Eve) were married according to Christian rite at 7 A.M., although they had been married some years ago in accordance with Corean heathen custom. The marriage was followed by the Holy Eucharist, which was sung, and the newly - married couple received their Communion together. Later on in the day a good many Christians walked out to the Cemetery, where they formed in procession and had a Service in commemoration of the Faithful Departed.

CHEMULPO -. On Palm Sunday the Rev. J. S. Badcock celebrated the Holy Eucharist at 7 A.M. in Corean. In the afternoon Sin Lydia was baptized, and there was a Corean marriage in Church, the wife being a Christian and the husband a Catechumen, who, it is hoped, will receive Baptism before very long. On Maundy Thursday there was an English Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Celebrant being the Rev. S. H. Cart wright. During the day the Bishop arrived, and stayed in Chemulpo till Easter Tuesday. He said Evensong on Thursday night in English, and gave an Address. On Good Friday there was a Corean Service at 7 A.M. and a Japanese Service at 9.30. At twelve o'clock there was another Service for Coreans, when the Bishop gave them Addresses on the Words from the Cross. There was a fairly good attendance and the people were very reverent. The Service lasted over an hour, and from then till two o'clock most of the congregation remained in Church for private meditation. Just before two o'clock the Coreans left, and the Three Hours were concluded by an English Service, the Bishop giving Addresses to the foreigners on the Words from the Cross. On Easter Day the Holy Eucharist was celebrated in Corean at 7 A.M. The greater number of the Communicants were Coreans, but five English and one Japanese made their Communion with them. At 9.30 there was Matins, as usual, for the Japanese, Mr. Aoyama taking the Service and giving an Address. At eleven, the Bishop took English Matins and preached a short sermon. In the afternoon there was the usual Corean Catechumen Service, to which a large number of people came. On Easter Monday the Holy Eucharist was celebrated in English, by the Bishop, for the benefit of foreigners who do not understand Corean. There were eight Communicants.

KANGHWA DISTRICT.-Good Friday. The Services in the City were taken by the Catechist, owing to the illness of the Priest. There were special addresses at the Three Hours’ Service. In ON Sou Tong there were very good attendances at the Services held on Good Friday, especially at the one held in the early morning. Easter Day. Easter in the City began on Easter Eve by a solemn Evensong, followed by Preparation Service for those people who were to make their Communion on the following day. There was a Procession on Easter Day before the Holy Eucharist. There were many Communicants, and good attendances both at the Eucharist and the Mission Service later, when special addresses were given. On Easter Monday the Priest and many Christians went to the Cemetery and held a Memorial Service for the departed. Easter was kept at Ankol on the following Thursday, but owing to an unfortunate mistake in the date given, two of the neighbouring villages were unrepresented, so that only about half the usual number of Communicants came. Easter at On Sou Tong was kept a week later. On the eve of Low Sunday solemn Evensong was sung, followed by Preparation Service for Communicants. Low Sunday was extremely wet, but still very few of the Christians were prevented by the deluge from attending Church. Nearly all came clad in their old clothes, which they changed in the porch, and appeared in Church arrayed in clean garments befitting the occasion. There was a Procession, with Choral Celebration and Sermon. After the Holy Eucharist there was to have been a big Mission Service, but owing to the heavy downpour of rain only some very bold spirits braved the elements, and listened patiently in their wet clothes to a long, long sermon from the Catechist.

(N.B. - The district of Kangwha is now divided into four large centres, and the people from the neighbouring villages attend the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist at the centre nearest them.) New Chapels are being built in the South of Kanghwa, at Changkot and Hoowhang, and another at Saumyengkol, in Tongchin, on the mainland. There will be further news of these Chapels when they are opened. A Chancel and Priest's-room have been added to the Chapel of St. Patrick at Ankol, which will allow more space in the main building for the growing congregation and also improve the appearance of the Chapel.

Girls' School at On Son Tong. This was started two years ago, but until now has been held in various people's houses, as there was no proper building for it. This year a small building is being erected, in the expense of which we have been helped by the children of Kirk Hammerton, Yorks, who sent their Pan Anglican offering for special work in On Sou Tong. A great deal of the work of the building has been done by the people themselves. We hope to put a teacher in charge of the School as soon as it is completed, and the girls will be taught not only the three R's, but sewing, cooking, and weaving, in addition. The building will probably be opened by the Bishop after Ascension-tide, and a fuller account will be sent after the opening.

Sou Won.-On Passion Sunday several men, eight women and three children were baptized. On Good Friday there was a fairly good congregation at the service at 6.30 A.M. There was a service for children at 10 A.M. On Easter Eve, Evensong at 4 was followed by the Service of Preparation for Holy Communion. On Easter Day the Holy Eucharist was celebrated at 7 A.M. There was a very large congregation and a great many Communicants ; several little girls made their first Communion. It was a very bright, joyful service, with no children present to disturb the peace! At the children's service later, the thirty-seven little schoolgirls came arrayed in new clothes, looking truly festive, as befitted the day. On Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, there was a Corean Celebration of Holy Eucharist at 6.30 A.M. At 9 A.M. the churchwarden's daughter was married to the little server. The bride is seventeen, was baptized on Passion Sunday, and is called Ella; she is a tall, pretty girl. The bridegroom was baptized at Christmas and called Anselm; he is only fifteen, and very small for his age. They both behaved very well. Crowds of people came to the Church to witness the ceremony, and went to the house afterwards.

CHIN CHUN. - The total number of baptized in this district up to the present is 200, of whom ten have died, and one is living in Seoul. There are nineteen boys in the School.

On Easter Day, servers began to exercise their office in the Church. The Easter alms went towards the cost of a stonefont, made locally, and towards which the Bishop has personally given two-thirds of the money required. There has been fighting going on a little to the South of Chin Chun, but quiet prevails in the actual district. A feature here is the number of vigorous old widows who regularly walk many miles to worship in the various centres. A pig was purchased for a feast on Easter Day, and was daily visited and officially inspected by the Churchwardens. It succumbed to all these touching attentions in time for the feast!

JAPANESE WORK.

SEOUL. - On March 21 three people received the Sacrament of Baptism - man and his wife named Kashiwa, and another woman named Mrs. Matsuo. We had a very good congregation, too, and sixteen Japanese received the Holy Communion. The following Thursday, which was the Feast of the Annunciation, the Bishop was present, and confirmed the three newly baptized, and another woman who had been baptized long ago in Japan. Two others should have come, but as they were prevented, they were confirmed on Saturday afternoon, April 3. YONG SAN. -Miss Grosjean and Miss Inaba continue the work at the Sunday School and the Women's Meeting, as well as visiting, but there is no special change to record.

CHEMULPO. - Things continue as usual, but the numbers grow, both at Sunday morning Service, Sunday evening Bible lesson taken by Mr. Luke Aoyama, the lay reader, and on Wednesday evening. The Sunday School flourishes; Mr. Aoyama does the teaching, and Miss Pooley is always present. The children are a hard-bitten crew, regular street children, of the type familiar in any town in any country, but wonderfully interested in the Bible pictures and stories.

FUSAN. - There has been nothing special during the winter. The numbers are good, but as Enquirers and Catechumens come to the evening Service on Sunday, the Believers keep away. The Bishop came down on Low Sunday to hold a Confirmation. There were five candidates and a very large congregation.

MASAMPO. - Mr. Cartwright was unable to go there in February or March, but went on his way to Fusan in April, and administered the Holy Eucharist to the three people there.

Japanese Work in Seoul.

NAK TONG, SEOUL., April 20, 1909. During the last three months there has been an increase in our numbers of Christians in Seoul, partly due to new arrivals from Japan, and partly to the Baptisms in March. There was quite a good congregation on March 21 at the Baptism, which took place before the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, at which there were seventeen Japanese Communicants. Lately, some of the Yongsan people have come over to Seoul on Sunday mornings for the Celebration, and this is a thing we are very thankful for, as it means taking trouble, which is one of the things our congregation needed to learn the necessity of doing.

At Easter we had two celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, there being a second one on Easter Monday, and there were twenty Japanese Communicants in all, including one man who, being away on Post Office duty in the country at Eastertide, and so unable to come to the Japanese services, made his Communion at the English Church of the Advent on Low Sunday.

Nakamura San, the hospital nurse of whom I wrote last quarter, was able to make her Easter Communion, to her great joy, as it was the first opportunity she has had since she came to Corea a year ago, and I think she is really an earnest girl. It seems to have been mainly due to her good influence in the hospital that one of our keenest new learners, a woman who was nursed by her, gave in her name for instruction. It is not easy for the women to get regularly to Church, and many Sundays when Mr. Cartwright is away from Seoul there is no teaching for them when they come, so I feel it is very necessary that the women's instruction should be systematically carried on after Baptism and Confirmation, though, is the number of new learners increases, it is not possible to visit the others quite as often as one would wish. It certainly seems that the more carefully and thoroughly they are taught before Baptism, the more anxious they are to go on with their instruction afterwards.

Inaba San has made a good deal of progress with English during this winter, which is a great help to the work, as she can do much better preparation for her lessons and addresses to the women. On May 10 I hope to go to Fusan for a fortnight, and shall stay at the Mission House there and do what I can for the women. BEATRIX ELRINGTON.

The Spirit of Missions.

AN IMPRESSIVE INTERCESSION SERVICE.— The Bishop of Bombay arranged for the holding of a day of prayer for Missions at the Cathedral in the week which included St. Andrew's Day, of which the Rev. L B. Butcher gives the following account: "Different clergy were asked to conduct a service of intercession in turn lasting continuously right through the day. Africa, Asia, America, Australia, &c., being each remembered one by one, and the day ended with a united service in the evening, at which the Bishop himself gave a series of short Addresses on subjects of prime importance in connexion with missionary work at the present time, viz. ‘Penitence for our shortcoming in having failed to carry out our Saviour's last command.' ‘The advance of Mohammedanism in Africa, 'Nationalism in India,' and 'The crisis and opportunity in the Far East.' After each address the congregation were moved to secret prayer, and then led by the Bishop himself; the whole service being most impressive. "May God's richest blessing follow the Bishop in the earnest effort he is making to lead all his clergy and people to take a part in the Missionary Campaign."-(C.M.S. Gazette.) SIGNS OF RESULTS FROM THE MISSION-SCHOOL WORK.- The Rev. Norman-Tubbs, sub-warden of the Oxford and Cambridge Hostel, Allahabad, wrote on October 30: - Last Sunday we had an interesting service in our little Hindustani congregation. For some time I have been teaching a poor old woman in the bazaar, though our catechist has done much more than I have. Last Sunday she was baptized. To me it had special interest, as this is the first convert I have myself baptised. I had to choose a name for her and I decided on Lydia, as that seemed peculiarly appropriate. "Whose heart the Lord opened" describes exactly what had happened. She was so terribly ignorant at first, but she wanted to learn. Her girl had been brought up in a Mission-school and had become a Christian, so the poor old mother was attracted. It seemed so lonely to her to be going to the grave with no prospect of her child performing her usual religious ceremonies for their lost loved ones, and it is on a child's faithful performance of these that a parent depends for future happiness; hence the great desire of all Indians to have a son to carry out the death rites. Thus this old woman asked to be taught : "She cannot come to me, so I will go to her" was her feeling. More and more one feels the tremendous influence of Mission schools. People are often impatient at the slow results of these institutions, but for some time I have been keeping a careful watch to see signs of results from Mission-school work, and I have noticed that all our best hostellers are invariably old mission-school boys. The ones who are nearest Christianity and have the most Christian spirit and in every way are our strongest men are these old boys. I often think that missionaries who are in charge of schools little know how often we thank God for the excellent foundation that has been laid. It is the daily lesson in the class that has produced the sensitive conscience which the average Hindu lacks. There is no doubt that the Mission-school gives to Hindu boys what they do not get elsewhere-a sense of right and wrong.- (C.M.S. Gazette.) CHRISTIANS ONLY AT HOME.-Lately in a London police court some Chinamen were being tried for robbing and assaulting. The Chinese witnesses were asked their religion when the question arose as to what form of oath they should take. One man said that his religion was ancestor worship, but he had no religious belief. Another that he was a Christian in England, but a Confucian in China. Alas, that it can be said that many who call themselves Christians when they are at home are anything else abroad! This is the greatest of all hindrances to the spread of the Gospel — (The Church Abroad.) The Rev. W. S. Walsh, writes that China is on the verge of great changes, and that many are looking to Christianity for light. He was obliged last year to turn away 200 students from the Anglo-Chinese school at Fuh-chou for want of accommodation. He says, "These students were all willing to place themselves under Christian teachers, to attend Christian services and Bible classes, and to pay good fees for their instruction ; but I have had to send them away to schools where the name of Christ will be unknown, where in many cases the faint spiritual light now burning in them will be quenched in evil, and from which they will come forth in due time to be the Church's most formidable, because educated, antagonists in her holy war. As I turned them from our Christian school, one by one, with their eager, bright faces, and their anxious pleading, just to make room for one more, I could not help wondering what the angels think, what our Lord thinks. Of one thing I am certain, and that is that such a state of things should not be allowed to continue, or God's blessing will leave us." - (Home Workers' Gazette) "The following is a literal translation of a prayer composed by a native Mashona Christian for his own use. It was found in his place in Church-'God our Father we thank Thee. Thou who lovest the world and didst give Thine only Son to die for us on the Cross because of the sins of all men. Grant that we who pierced Him, and are piercing Him by our sins, may know ourselves what we have done, may be ashamed of it and sorry and repent and cast it all away. Fill us with Thine, and dwell and reign in our hearts. We pray to Thee for Thy Church, and may it be Thine truly-governed and guided by Thee - the Bishops and especially ours, the Priests and especially ours, the Deacons, Evangelists, Sisters, Christians and especially those here - clothe them in the wounds of Our Lord and show them the Passion and His Love-Kings, Thy children, the lame, the sick, those who have cast Thee away, and those who are learning, Catechumens, Hearers, Believers, and Unbelievers - may they be Thine Father, Son, and Spirit. Let us look at Thy Cross, through Jesus Christ our Lord.’” "HAD we eyes to see spirit beings and spirit conflicts we would constantly see the enemy's defeat in numberless instances through the persistent praying of someone allied to Jesus in the spirit of His life. Every time such a man prays it is a waving of the red-dyed flag of Jesus Christ above Satan's head in the spirit world. Every such man who freely gives himself over to God, and gives himself up to prayer is giving God a new spot in the contested territory on which to erect this banner of victory."-(S. D. Gordon.)

Wants Column.

Seoul. - For the Mission Library : Hasting's “Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics” ( now being published by Messrs. T. & T. Clark. Price 28s. per volume). Other new Theological Works of permanent value, Address, “Rev. S. J. Childs Clarke, 5. Amen Court, E.C."

CHEMULPO. - An air cushion and rubber hot water bottles for the Hospital. Address, “St. Luke's Hospital, Chemulpo, Corea."

KANGHWA.-Chalice and paten for Church at On Sou Tong. Chalice and paten for Church at Ankol. Ewers for the Fonts in the Churches of St. Peter and St. (), Kanghwa City, and St. Andrew's On Sou Tong.

Pieces of linen suitable for purificators and credence cloths (the work to be done by native Christian working party) Linen thread.

All kinds of silk suitable for Church work . – e.g. Banners, antependiums, alms bags, and silks for working them. Gold thread not necessary, as obtainable here. Address, “The Rev. F. R. Hillary, English Mission, Kanghwa, Corea.”

Sou Won- A set of Communion Vessels for St. Stephen's Church, Sou Won. A good carpet, about 9 feet by 15 feet, for the sanctuary of St. Stephen's Church, Sou Won. Tennis balls, old and new Pocket knives, and other things suitable presents for schoolboys. A bicycle for use in travelling through the district. Address “The Rev. G. Bridle.”

CHIN CHUN-Small crocifixer-any number-about 2 inches long, white figure on black metal cross preferred. Coloured pictures: The Annunciation, The Agony, Crorifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, &c., avoiding any with crowded canvas or made figures. Coloured slides for lantern, as “Oriental " in tones () possible Books. – “The Food of Immortality, W. B. Trevelyan, second edition, 7s.6d. “The Christian Church,” Darwell (), 7s.6d. The Oxford Church Text Books,” all or any, 1s, each. (All the above mentioned books published by Rivingtons) Address, The Rev. W. N. Gurney, Chin Chun, Corea.”

Thanks. To Mr. Cooper and Mr. Erie Few for footballs and bladders.

THANKSGIVINGS.

Sunday. Seoul. WE THANK THEE : - For the earnestness and joy shown by those baptized on Easter Eve. [] For the increase in attendance of women and for their zeal in learning For the Christian marriages of Simon and of Moses and Pora Yee. For the repentance and restoration of Zachariah Song. [] Chemulpo. For the repentance and restoration of an (uncommunicated) woman, who has long been prayed for. For the Baptism of Sin Lydia. Kangwha. For the Baptism, an Passion Sunday, of twenty eight persons at St. Peter's (). (These were the first baptisms in this district.) For the 170 () baptized at On Sou Tong. on St. Stark's Day.

Bishop Turner writes : - “ I suppose that there is no portion of the Far East where there is more abundant promise of harvest than is Corea.”] Thay the Church at Home may realise her responsibility, and respond to the appeal for Men and Women, and means to develop the work. [ The Archbishop of York says : - “ The Mission of our Church in Corea is one which has great claims upon (), and I trust that the Church at Home will recognize and respond to them.”] That wisdom and guidance may be given to the Bishop’s Commissaries, and to the Executive Committee. That grace, strength, wisdom, real, and perseverance may be graced to the Organising Secretary. That the Appeal for four Priests my meet with the response so earnestly desired. [The number of Priests seeked for at once is only four. But that is the minimum that could be () for if the work is not to suffer irreparably.] That a Medical Man may be found for work in the interior. [There should be the English doctor within reach of the Mission stations south of Seoul, if only to look after the health of our workers.] That the Holy Spirit may more the hearts of faithful women to offer themselves for the Mission. [The importance of the work among women cannot be ()-estimated. It is essential that help should be sent at once to Mrs. Hillary in Kang Hua, and the assistance of other ladies is as urgently () in other parts.]

Sou Won. For Peter Kim, Barbara Na, Gabriel Kim, who have fallen away. For the grace of perseverance for the newly Baptized and Confirmed.

Chin Chun For George Hewfell, who was so have been made Deacon at Trinky and to have joined () at (), but who has had to remain at home owing to the illness of this mother. For the perseverance and progress of the Baptized. For an increase in the willing offerings of goods and money for local Church purposes. For the band of helpers studying with the Priest during the summer months. For determination to attain the Kingdom by the many waiting Catechumens in () villages. For the peace and prospertity of Corea. For the faithful dead.

Thursday. At Home. We BESEECH THEE : - That the opportunity which () before the Church in Corea may not be last through the neglect and indifference of the Church at home. [The Archbishop of Canterbury in a letter to For the Baptism of sixty-three persons in the church of St. Peter and St. (). Kangwha City, on Sunday, May ().

Sou Won.

For Mr. Cooper’s rapid progress in learning the language of the country. For the men, women, and children Baptized in this district during the last quarter. For new work in this district.

Chin Chun

For the Baptism of sixty-six men, women, and children. For the perseverance of some of the Christian in () difficulties – isolation and oppositions. For the increased sales and interest taken in the Mission literature. For the good work done by Im Jacobo, the Catechist, and other helpers, male and female. For the prayers of many on our behalf. For the ordination of Frank Weston to the office of Deacon.

WE BESEECH THEE :- FOR THE JAPANESE WORK :

In Seoul – For Mrs. Ruth Matsuo. Joseph and Anna (), Peter Yamaguchi and his wife, and Mrs. Maria Harada, recently Baptized and Confirmed. For Miss () in her visit to Japan this summer. For Mr. Matsuo, husband of Ruth Mastuo that he may learn to believe, and submit to the guiding of the Holy Spirit. In Chemulpo. – For Miss (), recently admitted Catechumen whom we hope to use as a worker when she is Batised.

In Pusan. – For Mr. and Mrs. (), Mrs. () , and (), Baptized and lately Continued.

Saturday. General. WE BESEECH THEE : - For the Conference of the clergy to be held in Seoul, June 15-16. For the Retreat, to be conducted by Bishop () in the following week. For Laura Hodge in her sickness. For Sister Margaretta’s speedy recovery. For the additional help () for our work, in men and money. For grace and perseverance for Frank Weston, that he may use the office of Deacon well.

Seoul. Tuesday WE BESEECH THEE : - For the baptized at Faster and confirmed as (), that they may persevere and use the grace given them. For the women Christians, that there spiritual life may be deepened. For the Catechumens and inquirers, that they may persevere and continue to study with diligence. For the women at () and Changmachang, that may have a desire to learn and to receive Baptism.

Chemulpo.

For the newly baptized and for there shortly to be confirmed, steadfastness and the deepening of their spiritual life. For an excommunicated Christian, repentance and restoration ; that the () of a Christian woman, now preparing for Baptism, may become a sincere believer. For the work in the Women’s Ward ; that the woman in charge, now a Catechumen, may become a sincere Christian. For the Bible-woman, grace and tact for her work, and that she may have a real love for souls and desire to win them for Christ.

Kanghwa. Wednesday WE BESEECH THEE : - For the many Christians, Catechumens and inquirers in the various districts. For all these Baptized at Easter.