The building up of an independent Korean Church

Abstract

The interest of the writer in different nationalities dates back to his early dates in his home in Montreal, Canada. At that time he saw something of work, in the American Presbyterian Church, carried on by a returned missionary from China, amongst the Chinese laundrymen from Canton. After graduation from McGill University, he engaged, amongst other occupations, in teaching in the French Protestant Schools at Pointe-aux-Trembles near his native city--Mission Schools under the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Following his theological studies in Montreal and during post graduate studies in Glasgow, he was appointed to Korea and left almost immediately to take up work there over twenty-three years ago. Hence the writer's interest in other nations dates from an early period and covers most of his life so far. The years of service in Korea and Manchuria, bringing him into touch with the Oriental nations of the Far East, have greatly deepened his appreciation of other peoples. Thus the interest in the Canton laundrymen in Montreal has broadened into a friendship with many Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and Russians whom he has learned to respect and love. Hence his interest in the subject under consideration. A Canadian business man, whom the writer knew in his pre-missionary days, told him of Chinese in Shanghai whom he had known and who, he felt, would, if necessary die for him. The writer since has formed a like conviction concerning certain Korean church workers, that they too would be willing to do the same for him, and this helps to shape one's attitude towards their race. For years he has realized the great importance of turning over, as fast as possible, the work of the Church to the native pastors and workers--a principle characteristic of Korean missionaries, and has tried, speaking humbly, to honor the native pastors, only to find that they are bound to not let the foreigner get into the background, ever seeking to push the missionary into places of honor in their presbyteries and in church work generally. Since coming on furlough various studies, such as the Rise of Religions, Customs & Cultures, Imperialism and Communism, have greatly deepened his interest in political and religious problems that are international or interracial. Amongst these is the problem of the passing over of the church work (which on his arrival in Korea was so much in the hands of foreigners) by the missionaries to the native church upon which he hopes his thesis may throw some light. An urgent, vital problem.