Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/243

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The Village Church.
205

fetich for the images ordered by Rome, but the change in the life of the convert is not so apparent. They now claim something more than fifty thousand converts.

This chapter is not intended to be a history of the rise and growth of Protestant missions in Korea. And yet, for the benefit of those who have not followed this modern miracle of missions, a few facts of history are here given. It was in September, 1884, the 22d day, that Horace N. Allen, M.D., who has the honor of being the first Protestant missionary to the Hermit Kingdom, arrived in Seoul. He was transferred from China by the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church (North), and he had no little part in founding our village Church. Not only in the capacity of a skilled physician did he take part in laying the foundations of the Church, but in after years, when he entered the consular service of the United States and rose from Secretary to the Legation to Minister of the United States, he was always the friend of the missionary and the cause he represents. And I may truthfully add that he was the friend of every one who had truth and right on his side. In the spring of 1885 Rev. H. G. Underwood, of the Presbyterian Church, and W. B. Scranton, M.D., with his wife and mother, and Rev. H. G. Appenzeller and wife, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, arrived in Korea and began their work as missionaries. From that time to this the eyes of the Church in Christian lands have been turned toward this country, and the growth in the force of missionaries has been steady. Since the coming of the above-named missionaries the