people were divided, some following the radicals and the Japanese and others remaining true to the old, established conservatism of the past.
The year 1885 marks the date of many important events in the history of Korea, none of which are more important than the coming of Dr. Horace N. Allen, the first Protestant missionary to enter the Hermit Kingdom. He was the representative of the American Presbyterian Mission, and was soon followed by other members of that mission and at the same time by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In April of this year commissioners representing China and Japan met in Tien-tsin and signed an agreement that both parties would evacuate Korea and not send troops there again without previously notifying each other. It was the breaking of this agreement by China that led to the Japan-China War in 1894. For some years matters went on as they were. The people were divided, and there was no likelihood of any substantial reforms being undertaken and carried out by the ruling party.
Toward the close of the year 1893 a society called the Tong Haks, which had arisen in 1864 in opposition to everything foreign, began to come to the front again. They posted bills in the city of Chun-ju calling upon all right-minded men to join them in a march against the capital for the purpose of expelling all foreigners from the country. At the same time placards were fastened to the gates of foreigners in Seoul denouncing the Christian religion and warning them to leave the country. The king sent soldiers
