The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 123

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 123

seems to be able to impart his enthusiasm for mis-
sions to others, would it not be possible to devise
means of choosing a number of men specially en-
dowed with the power to present the claims of mis-
sions inspiringly and convincingly? ‘The writer’s
idea is not at all that these men should have any-
thing to do with the raising of funds; for he is
convinced that once the converts are secured and
the indifferent aroused, the money end of the propo-
sition will take care of itself. F.J.L.

How the Bible and Christianity
Came to Korea.

The Bible came to Korea before the Christian
missionary. ‘That was in the days when there were
sign-posts all over Korea with this legend:

“Tf you mect a foreigner, kill him; he who has
friendly relations with him is a traitor to this
country.”

This, of course, barred the missionary in living
form, but not the silent missionary, the Bible. And
if they had but known it, this silent missionary was
more highly charged with life than any flesh-and-
blood foreigner.

But you will want to know how it came about
that the Bible got to Korea. It was in this way.
A Korean official by the name of Rijutei made a visit
to Japan. There one day he saw a part of the New
Testament lettered on a scroll belonging to a high
Japanese official who had embraced Christianity.
The words had a wonderful effect on Rijutei.
He sought out the Japanese pastor of a Christian
church, was by him instructed and in due time bap-
tized. No sooner had he become a Christian than he
immediately began to plan how he might carry the
message of the Gospel to his people in Korea. Not
only had he learned to pray, “Thy kingdom come,”
but he sought to do all he could that this prayer of
his might be fulfilled.

The way was soon found. Rijutei was a man of
considerable literary accomplishments, and he him-
self undertook the translation of the Gospel of
St. Mark into Korean and the translation of the

“entire New Testament into Chino-Korean.

This work having been completed, Rijutei ad-
dressed an earnest appeal to the churches of America
to send missionaries to his country. Missionaries
had long desired to come, regardless of the risk, but
the American Legation requested them not to do so.
However, two years after Rijutei’s appeal the first
missionaries were allowed to enter the country.

They launched their work with Rijutei’s transla-
tions, and thus began one of the most remarkable
of Christian missionary triumphs that any country
has ever seen. The Korean Christian Church ex-
presses itself with a fervor and a devotion that is
the marvel of the day. Only a generation removed
from heathenism, the Korean Church is zealous in
its endeavors to bring the Gospel of Jesus wherever
it finds an open door. F.J.L.

Items of Missionary Interest.
By the Eprror.

Atlanta, Ga. — We are pleased to announce that
building operations on the new church at this sta-
tion will probably have been begun when this
reaches our readers.

Charlotte, N.C. — Candidate Voorhies was re-
cently installed at Charlotte. The people are glad
to have a pastor again, and as a token of their
gratitude they intend to make certain much-needed
improvements in and about their church property.

Greensboro, N. C. — The Editor received a tele-
gram from Winfield, Kans., informing him that
Prof. F. C. Lankenau, who was teacher of English
and History at Immanuel Lutheran College for the
past six years, has been chosen to a professorship
at St. John’s College, Winfield, Kans.

Greensboro, N.C.—The Girls’ Dormitory is
rapidly nearing completion and will probably be
ready for occupancy at the beginning of the new
school-year. The dedication ceremonies will un-
doubtedly be one of the features of the early days
of September, and it is to be hoped that Director
Drewes will be in a position to be present upon the ~
happy occasion. — We understand that the congre-
gations of the Southeastern Field are intending to
furnish the new dormitory. St. Matthew’s, Meher-
rin, Va., has already contributed $130 for this
purpose, and the Kannapolis congregation intends
to contribute the same sum. Should all the con-
gregations fall in line, the furnishing of the Dor-
mitory is an assured fact.

Buffalo, N. Y. — Our mission at Buffalo is hold-
ing its own. The Saturday-school is attended by
twenty-one pupils, and the Sunday-school has an
enrolment of thirty-five. The services are being well
attended. What the work here needs is a whole-
time worker, since Superintendent Wind is not able
to give it the attention it demands. We have reason
to believe that the Mission Board will do what it