The citizen. [volume], May 04, 1922, Page Page Two, Image 2

About The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958

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fat Two
THE CITIZEN
May 4, 1922
MY CHII PHOOD IN A NON
CHRISTIAN LAND
By (nun W. Cho. Berea College
Berea College
This if personal account ef my
own childhood which had fallen under
the bondage of heathenism and suf
fered its sorrow and degradation.
For most of you reader perhar this
is the first chance you have had to
jret first-hand information of the
superstitions which are playirjr a ter
rible trapedy upon the childhood in
the heathen lands. I hop it will he
of some interest to you; that it may
deepen your relation and love to God;
that you will thank Him for not hav.
ing been a heathen child, and that it
may rouse your humane and Christ
hke sympathy for those children in
the heathen countries who are made
the sad victims of deadly superstitions.
As I w-Tite this article, I cannot help
having a profound jrratitude' for the
Christian love of America in sending
us their missionaries, who not only
save the older people but also bring
our children by hundred and thou
sands out of misery and darkness in
to the arms of Christ.
When I was five years of age, just
about the period my childhood began
to bloom and to possess the experi
ences of the outer world, a lady and
my close relative imprinted upon my
mind a sad picture of death. She
had no conception of future life
whatever and she regarded mortality
a the greatest woe and tragedy to
man. 'Her interpretation of death
was fearful enough to sadden and
horrify any child. Certainly it was
a frost blighting my flowery youth.
There was no other thought that
occupied my mind more than the fear
of death. One night I woke up suddenly
in the midnight and had a thought of
a strange tendency. Our little cottage
wag buried in the sable curtains of
the night. My father and mother
were overcome by heavy slumber,
with no sensation of the outer world.
The dark miserable night swayed her
scepter over the earth, seeming as
tho' there was .no life in the world.
There suddenly returned to my mind
the same old fear of death. I began
to think myself "I am now a crea
ture with the fcenses of love, joy, sor
row, and emotion, but when my death
comes, which will come sooner or
later I will be out of existence for
ever. I shall have no more the pleas
ant memories of nature, no more
friends to enjoy, and no mother to
love." The more I thought of death,
the sadder I became. I sighed and
sighed, MAhegho uma! ahegho uma!"
(ah, mama! ah, mama!) was the cry.
I sighed long and loud enough to
awaken my mother who was in deep
slumber, although it seemed nothing
was possible to disturb her peace in
the last moments.
"My child," said she with a mother
ly love, "what is the matter? Are
you hungry?" (I went to bed with
out supper that night). "Shall I
bring you something to eat?"
"No, mama," I Teplied.
"What is it, then?" my mother in
quired again.
I did not tell her what I was sighing
about. I do not know why I did not
tell, but even had I told her, I could
BEREA COLLEGE
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not have gotten any satisfactory an
swer from her because ahe, too, was
a believer in superstition and had no
conception of eternal life. My sor
row never ceased that night until 1
was worn out with weariness and the
fatigue which brought me to ileep
again.
i One day when I was about i
' years old, I brought a decayed piece
of wood into our house. One of my
p'aymates, who waa then four years
older than I. called my attention to
another horrible superstition; that
the household gods get angry at the
person who carries such unclean
things into the house and they bring
death upon that person. This play
mate told me, with a sort of boyish,
heedless sarcasm, that I was surely
going to be the victim of our house
hold gods for the unclean deed I hadj
committed against them. Ah, just,
imagine how I felt then! My cldj
enemy, tne tear oi neain, iw "
overswayed me again. My heart felt
as heavy as tho it had a thousand
tons of burden. Waiting for the
death to come, I rassed many sod
drys with the pitiful murmurs of sor
row. In one summer I was very much
afflicted with malaria fever. My
father believed, as other Koreans
usually do, that the evil spirits got
into my body and caused a hokgil
(fierce illness). He believed also
that he could scare and drive the evil
spirits out of me by applying a sys
tem of superstition. One morning
early, when it was rery dark, my
father railed me out of bed, com
manding me to go out to the grave
yard alone and roll over the grave
three times. In our country the
father's commands are absolute. I
was compelled to obey my father, in
spite of my fear to go to the grave
yard when it was utterly dark.
The next moming he called me out
again to try another superstition. He
laid me on the ground and covered
me with a carpet, then he drove a big
heavy cow over me. What would have
happened if the cow had stepped her
heavy feet on my chest or neck or
head? My body thrills as with an
electric fhock every time I think of
that moment. I do not know whether
it scared the evil spirits or not, but
it almost scared me to death!
If an American preacher expects
his son to become a Christian, a
Korean father is far anore anxious
to have his son follow his ways. He
not only wants but compels his son
to be an ancestor worshiper as he is.
Under the leadership of my father,
who was the priest in our family, I
became a "little ancestor worshiper."
When the New Year came my father
took me, my brother, cousins and
other relative around to the differ
ent tombs of our ancestors to pay our
worship, asking blessings for the
New Year. In one straight line we
stood and made two bows, each time
getting down on our knees.
One festival was arranged for
every ancestor each year. The day
before the death of the deceased is
made the date of the festival and the
ceremony takes place in the night.
One time, I, with my two older
brothers, appeared in ritual robe be
fore the altar, on which was spread
First Term Opens June 16, 1922
Special Attention Given to Teacher Training and Community Service
COURSES OFFERED IN ALL THE SCHOOLS OF BEREA COLLEGE
COLLEGE-Botany, Chemistry, Education, Eng- LOCATION: Berea College is located in the
lish, French, Mathematics, Psychology, Ag- beautiful little town of Berea, Ky., on the
riculture, Public Speaking. dividing ridge between the Mountains and
' vaduai crun n , nut the Blue Grass. The situation is admirably
NORMAL SCHOOL Education, Psychology, adapted for summer study.
Mathematics, Science, English, Drawing, jhe spacious grounds, coof shades, pleasant
Play and Games, Recreation, Weaving, waikS( and nc drjves are ideal for recre-
Cooking and Nutrition, History, Rural Soci- at anj pleasure. A trip to Anglin Falls,
0,8y- Brush Creek Caves, Boonesboro Fort and
ACADEMY History, Algebra, Geometry, Phys- "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will never be forgot-
ics, English, Latin. ten. The large library, comfortable class-
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL-Commerce, Home "gKmthnltSne,t'nK instructors promote
wrSvvSa" Stenography' TyP6- All coursew are standard, leading to secondary
writing, eaving. diplomas or College degrees.
FOUNDATION SCHOOL-For making up de- The Normal courses are on a level with State
ficiencies necessary for entrance in a sec- Normal School requirements and lead to
ondary school. State Certificates.
SUMMER SCHOOL EXPENSES
Fire Weeks Tea Weeks
Incidental Fee $ 7JQ 1U0
Room Rent I.0v 10.M
Table Board (Wobms) '.. 15.00 10.00
Total for Worn f 27J0 I IU0
Table Board for Ma 11.28 IU0
Total for Mea 20.71 U.N
Write for accommodations or other information to
MARSHALL E. VAUGHN.
CLOYD N. MCALLISTER Secretary Berea College
Director Summer School Berea, Kentucky
'.aa
a fascinating table of food for
fice. Aa the exercises were in proc-
ess, I began to question myself, "Is
It true that the spirits of our anees-jhome
tors come to consume this food on
the altar we spread for them? If
so, why cannot I see their presence?
If it is impossible to disclose the
truth physically, why not thru aotr.e'We may not see each other again
spiritual means of revealment? I here on earth, but let us meet again
became restless, and at that momert before our Comforter up there in
mv attention was called to the won- i
ders of nature which were so fasci-
nating that niK'ht. I saw the host of;
1. 1
ding her innumerable beams upon a .
calm sea. making millions of silvery
sparkles down below. In it reflec- j
tion it seemed to carry the thought
tome that there 1 some unseen
Power in the universe. But there
was no one then who could tell me
there is God. Author of all things,
Giver of eternal life, Father of all
mankind; there was no one to tell me,
also, that heathenism is
g and j
I
vain pursuit.
My miserable childhood was over
now, and I was a boy of seventeen
.... m. . .
when I had the first opportunity of
hearing the glad tidings of Jesus,
O, how fortunate! Thank God thnt
the American missionaries came to
tell us about the new faith, nee joy,
and new life! We teieived the mis
sionaries with a heartjr welcome a
tho they were sent by the angel
that proclaimed on Christmas Eve,
"Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace among men." Our whole
family became Christians at once. I
was then the happiest lad in the
world. I sang and sang. Now
Christianity began to mark new
era in my life.
The missionaries not only unveiled
the truth of Christ hut also reflected
the culture and the ideal life of,
America. Their influence on me was!
strong, and my ambition was to come
to America to train and develop my
self to make the best of my capacity
for service to God and humanity.
But against my plan the chief dif
fieulty was two-fold: (1) obstruction:
from the Japanese government; (2) i
opposition from my parents. The!
first was overcome thru escape. The
t n ry of my escape is romantic and j
thrilling, but I cannot tell it here
owing to the limited space. Concern-1
ing the second difficulty, I may say a j
few words. t)ne moming I had a
quiet and sincere conference with my
mother and father. I made my besti
, i
effort to convert them to my cause.
At first my mother was unwillingj
to give me up. Her motherly n-(
treaties were so strong that it
indeed a considerable difficulty to '
leave her for an unknown length of'
time, and a remote unseen world.
"My son," said my mother, with a
trembling voice, as she sobbed, tear
running down her cheeks; "my son,"
she continued, "when you were at
tending the missionary schools for
the last five years, you came home
every summer when the apricots were
ripe." (We had an apricot tree on
our lot). As she was pointing her
fincera to the anrirot tree, she said.
"Every season I have eagerly lookeJ
and watched it budding, blossom.
and it fruiting, because it told me the
time and the nearness of your coming I
iacri-'bome. And now, when you art there
across the water, the apricot tree will
blossom again, but you may come
no more." She sobbed again,
Finally she controlled her sorrow
, and said encouragingly, "I give you
, my consent because you are goinr to
Amern a with a purpose worth while,
heaven."
I i't for a moment. I
thanked my father and mother for
their thoughtful consent. 1 bade
them adieu.
I the wide, wide Tacific
Ocean, and finally reached the) shore of
America on whicl) great I hrisuan
Republic is built upon the principles
!" '' f I mT
joy to learn and cherish the Christian
h'1'"1" in uth nA America. I
America for her high ideals.
I praise America, for it is the home
irrr m rr .mi.i ihii w
shipped in peace and freedom. What
a pride to see the Star Spangled
Banner unfurling its glory over the
world, proclaiming
'
motto! "In
Note. Mr. Chung W. Cho has been)
a student in Berea College for three
ars. He graduated from the phil
osophical course and was pursuing
his senior work for the degree of
B.A. when this article was written.
He was one of the most reliable stu
dents in the institution, and one up
on whom the college may safely de
pend for carrying her ideals and prin
ciples to the far corners of the earth.
Marshall E. Vaughn,
Secretary of Berea College
Two Men Die
Hathoni, IVm - To men tuirtied to
oVatli at tt.e vVirin.iistf r flying field
when their nirpl;ine nnrt into flume
at ii li ultitude of 7Mi feet unit cnth.l
to enrth. The vi.nims were Omrles
V.m Ier Vere, .1 former army pilot, am,
Harry I. Scluerf.r. of riiiludolti:a. a
pasoeiicer Vim iler Vere luul taken a
number of puasei.xera on fachts during
the iifiern.N.ti un.l a ili.wn others were
ailing their turn
Hi Deduction.
"Sister AiiiHiidtt Klleti writes that
Niece (i.mliline. who Is coining Ic
visit us next week, Ims timl eighteen
love affair." sjiIiI Mr. llornheHk.
'"' u' ,r"'" ,h Mx" fr"'" Ut
".fr,'1l1',,lI,', .
"Well. I sti il d wonder! Interested-
,y (.UH,, llOI1, yUTm ro-
wilHt In time cau she do with
eighteen Imitation ivory toilet aet7"
Kalis City Star.
NEWS RBVIBW
(Continued from Par One)
TTTiieet "the "situation, "t!ie" Rritlsh
asked a meeting In iciioa of the miw
era slgnutory to the Versailles treaty
to discus measure to he taken If
Germany doe not meet the rcpura
Hons coniini-Mi'ii'i demand hy May 31.
Iremler I 'olio are ohject to this plan.
f I.OYP ;KiiH;K seem honestly
M"" " the
peuce of Kurope ami to sutisfy the
,rH ,,,.,, f rislli wM,.h
Mt,er ure ,,, eX,,r, ,M.d hy Lord
Chun, elli.r nirkeiiheiol : "F.ngliiiid'a
SUMMER SCHOOL -
Suitable Courses to Meet All
ih-erate economic oinlitioti, In r le
pemli'iire upon nnrlil trmle as the onl
mm n of siistnliilng her life IiIihmI.
make hiierHtle the resumption of
lltlcnl and commer' Inl rt'tiitloiis with
soviet Itussln w hii'cver the clinrHc
ler of the government the Htilnii
rne to adopt." In his engernes for
these results, llliil perhaps cis-rced by
xllii'Hl condition at home, the pre
mier lays on France the l.liiine for the
threatened failure of the conferem e ;
and he Is voluhly supported In that by
the KiiKlli-h fihiiiiclnl "cmtI." John
Miiyiuird Kees, who. an'ordlng to the
I'uris press. Is In the pay of a group of
llerlln hunkers. At this distance one
is rather Inclined to accept the view
of the New York Tribune, which say a:
"The Frimeophohe ami the Tcuto
philes are the real factor threatening
disruption at (ii-ium."
llerlln illspati lies sny diplomatic re
lations hetweeti licrmany and Hnsshi
will he resumed at ome. I'rof. A.
Iternhard Wledetifeld will he the l,er
tniiti anihiindor In Moscow and l.eo
tild Krassiu the lliilnn ainhiinolor In
llerlln.
THE hundredth anniversary of the
hlrth of rio X. IJralit wn ob
served on Thurikiy In his birthplace
Point I'leasnnt. ; In Wahlngtoii and
In many other place throughout the
country. President Harding wont to
the 'Ohio town with a large party of
prominent men and women, viewed
what is left there of the hoiie III
whiih the soldier president was honi,
and then delivered an addres which
was "broadcast" over the land by
radio. In the national capital all gov
ernment business halted while all Im
mense throng gathered in the lotnnlc
gardens to w lines the dedication of
the magnificent t.mnt memorial, which
I virtually completed after 1. vears'
work. Vice President t'oolhlge and
Secretary Week made the chief ad
dresses, and the memorial was un
veiled I'y Princes t'aiitai iieiie, grand
daughter, and Primes Ida t'antncii
reiie. great granddaughter of ;eiierul
lirant.
UNLESS President Hsu Shlh fhang
Is able to avert it by hi appeal.
Just Issued, the Impending civil war In
4'hlna Is soon to culminate In what
will probably be the greatest battle
thHt country lias had In many .vears.
The big arinle of (Jon, t'hang To
Llti and Wu Pel Fel are prepared for
the conflict, near Peking. The presi
dent has called on them both to with
draw' from that vicinity and from
Chlhll province and to send mediators
for adjustment of Ihelr difference.
The acting premier ha asked the gov
ernor of a('ti of the 1H province to
send to Peking a commissioner to do
vise measure to rid the country of the
armies, which are now the largest In
the history of China. American, Itrlt
sh and t rem h warships have been
sent to Chinese water and the Amerl
run legation guard at Peking ha been
reinforced. If necessary, the allied
fleet will land troop to keep rotiiBiunl
cations ('U uctw.ea Peking and tlx
sea.
MICHAEL COLLINS, bead of tb
Irish Free State, recently accused
the t'lHter government of fulling to
live up to the peace agreement. This
Sir Jumes Craig Indignantly denied In
words that lead observer to believe
a direct break ha come. Sir Jumes
suld that, notwithstanding the under
taking, armed lie ursinn acrna the
l ister border continued and the bor
der outrage have had a deplorable ef
fect. He declared Sinn Felner hud
committed outrage against the pro
erty vf I'lster Cutludic to Intimidate
those who were anxlou to work III
harmony with the northern govern
i
ment.
Fighting between the Free State,
force and the "rebela" reached the
proortloii of a real battle on Thurs
day at Mullliigar. The regular cap
tured the town. I all El realm nief In
luiblln and heard reiort from the,
provisional minister, who severely
scored the element fighting the pr.
visional government. In Valera vraa
there, hut had little to say. Ill fol
lower. It was said, smiled and
chuckled at the arraignment of the
"rebels," who were accused of many
robberies, train wreck and other
crime. The Irish Catholic bishops la
sued a statement strongly' Indorsing
the treaty with England, and utteiilv
is ally condemning repuhllcun militar
ism. W A It NEK by kfivat Watson that
It would hefWk?""hlcr
the house soldiers' Ih.iiuii ause
.... . w, i .
the President would certainly veto It
-he had Just been talking with Mr.
Harding the Kcpuhllcan members if
the senate ftiiiilii-e committee lut week
began islderutieii of a new bill
formulated by Senator Mh 'umber.
Il outstanding feature Is that It would
repilre an outlay net year estimated
at imiisi, as compared with
the Treasury department's estimate of
j:ui,ii,iv required by the house hill.
Kepreseiilutlvea of the American Le
gion were consulted, but Seemed to
p-efer the house measure.
AN AFTEItM ATII of the West Vir
ginia ital Held war of l'.CI, thai
trial of nine miner union oltl iuls and
member on churge of treason, ha
oH'iied In Charles Town. W. Va. The
most prominent i f the defendant art)
C r rank Keeney, president, ami Frank
Mooiio), secretary of district 17. For
ty four other are accused of treusoo
and many others of murder and con
spiracy. Nome of these have not been
arrested and some have obtuined
change of venue. After notions to
quash the Indictments hail beeu denied
the court ruled for sepurate trials and
William lllizzard. known aa "gonenil
of the march against Logan," i so
le, ted a the first defendant.
IJHESll'ENT IIAKl'I.Ni: I working
out a plan for settling the coal
strike and preventing future atrlkea,
and which he hope will serve to sta
bilize the industry. lctalla of the
scheme have not been given out, but
It I known that it not Include
fedi-rul supervision of the coul Indus
try, but provides for a standing com
mission einiowerel to deal with wage
issues ami oilier dispute a they aria.
FEI'EKAL aid for the upbuilding
and .level, pinetit of the American
merchant murine is given approval by
I lie .Vint in all I arm llureuil federation,
which lion wired President Marling a
follow s :
"While opposed to any subaldy oa
principle, we realize the necessity for
developing the American merchant ma
rine us navul auxiliary ami a an
agent In the development of foreign
trade. We approve uld teiuMirarlly
until our ling iuii be established, on
the high sea, but no longer. Subsidies,
like tariff, should be flexible, and nia
continue ufter Industry become self
supporting. If subsidy be supported
on navul ground it la essential that
men hunt ships he available and used
for training of naval reserves."
Just now our merchant marine Is
engaged In a little rate war with the
Lamport K lb It line of (Ireat Hrttuln.
which slushed p.isscnger rute to
Smith America. Chairman I.asker of
the shipping board Immediately made
a cut below the Lamport & lblt rat
and told lliut tlriu be was In the fight
to a finish.
Needs
1 -vl '
iwhumi iiswvismsmsi ii '1