Fate of First Korean Missionary T he weeks since the Auca inci dent have served to bring the meaning of it into sharper focus. Today, almost without exception, Christian leaders see the deaths of the five young men as a great open ing wedge into this Stone Age tribe. Consider Korea 90 years ago. That would be 1866, the year the first Protestant missionary set foot on Korea proper. And this first mis sionary met swift death. His name was Robert J. Thomas and he was led to go to Korea after meeting two Koreans in the home of Rev. A. Williamson of the National Bi ble Society of Scotland in 1865. Thomas went on the Ameri can schooner General Sherman. The crew of the schooner foolishly picked a fight with the Koreans and more than 20 natives were killed. Meanwhile the ship became hope lessly grounded and the crew tried to make peace but by now the Ko- reans were in no mood for a truce. Instead they swooped down on the grounded ship with a scow loaded with burning pine branches. The crew (24 in all) of the schooner jumped overboard and were killed as they came ashore. Missionary Thomas came ashore and started passing out copies of the Scriptures. He offered one to the man assigned to kill him but it was refused. Thomas kneeled down and prayed. The man who killed him felt he had killed a good man and he took the Bible home with him. This man’s nephew, Yi Yung Tai, later became a Christian and assisted in Bible translation work. A 12-year-old boy who witnessed the execution and who had received three copies of the Scriptures from Thomas became afraid and gave them to a soldier who promptly tore the pages out to paper his room. The boy, Choi Chi Ryang, later became a Christian. And in Korea today the largest indigenous Christian movement of any place in the world since apos tolic times is going on. In fact many Christian leaders consider the Korean church a truly apostolic church — with a devotion to Christ little known in the western world.
Medicine, won national oratory contest, star athlete (6-foot-2, 190-pound, ran the 220 at Drake Relays in 22 flat), 2 children; Rete Fleming, 21, Seattle, Wash., M.A. in English from U. of Washington; Jim Elliot, 28, Portland, Ore., Wheaton graduate, 1 child. Last 3 from Christian Missions in Many Lands (Plymouth Brethren). Plans called for hiding guns and using them only to frighten off possible attacks by Aucas. It is not known why this last-ditch means of survival was never put into action.
Victors — u>e rest with Thee, through endless days.”
The burial took place on Friday, January 13. The ground party reached the site by 10:45 in the morning. It was a sad task and Dr. Art Johnston tells this story: “ The common grave was dug and the bodies recovered. At this point it became difficult to direct the Indians as they became listless and afraid. A tropical storm accompanied the scene. The bank of black clouds and strong winds made it dark at midday. But worse than that, an oppression fell upon the group. It was hard to move, hard to understand, to give or follow orders. The Indians who accompanied the group retreated to the beach. They have a superstition that the Aucas when planning an attack can bring on a sudden storm and they were resigned to their fate. The rains filled the open grave and it was with great difficulty that the four recovered bodies were laid to rest.” The Christian world had its object lesson. Christians were now aware of the need and they were aware of the down payment that had been made by the five. Around the world there was a mighty wave of prayer going up for the salvation of the Aucas. And as the wives carried on they had the quiet, sweet memory of that last night together with their men when they had sung the hymn:
W e rest on Thee -4- our Shield and our Defender! Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise W hen passing through the gates of pearly splendour, Victors — we rest with Thee, through endless days.
CONTINUED
15
APRIL, 1956
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