Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/244

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Village Life in Korea.

following denominations have founded missions here: the Presbyterian (South), the Australian Presbyterian, the Canadian Presbyterian, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Church of England, Independent Baptist, the British Evangelical Mission, the Seventh-Day Adventist, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Salvation Army. The relation of most of these bodies with one another is most cordial. The four bodies of Presbyterians have united and founded one native Presbyterian Church. The two Methodist missions work in the closest relation, being united in their efforts to build up the Church without any overlapping of territory or waste of means and men. There is a General Council of Missions, composed of nearly all these missions, which directs the publication of Sunday school literature, Church papers, and a common hymnal, which is used in all the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. The British and Foreign and the American Bible Societies have been interested in the work from the very beginning, and both have an agency here at the present time. Without the help of these societies it would have been impossible for the different missions to have carried on their work as they have.

Mention should be made of the work done by Rev. John Ross, of Manchuria, who had been deeply interested in the Koreans whom he had met in Manchuria. Even before Dr. Allen reached Korea Mr. Ross had with the aid of Koreans translated the New Testament, and many copies had found their way into Korea. No doubt these .books did much toward prepar-