2
1st. Monday. Gloomy. Cold.
3
Seoul home. Dr. Hugh Cynn(申興雨) invited about 80 persons to a Korean feast at the 明月本館. He was unable to come on account of illness. His wife with two little children acted hostess in his absence. He worked too hard during the sessions of the Joint Commission as its official interpreter. His absence in the General Conference will be felt very much. I do hope he may get well enough to attend the meetings before important business get started.
5
2nd. Tuesday. Lovely. Very cold.
6
Seoul home. The First General Conference of the United Korean Methodist Church began its sessions at 10 a.m. in the Union Methodist Seminary. Bishop Welch in the Chair.
7
After devotional exercises the Lord's Supper was celebrated. Meeting 2:30 p.m. About 4 p.m. the formal statement or proclamation from the Joint Commission was read in English by Bishop Welch and in Korea by me. The statement declaring the abolishing of the two Methodist Annual Conferences and the establishment of the Korea Methodist Church was prepared by Judge Maddin. It was a very dignified solemn announcement.
9
3rd. Wednesday. Bright. Mild.
10
Seoul home. The Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Subcommittees appointed to examine and report on the various propositions which the Joint Commission had prepared.
11
Mr. Hugh Cynn too sick to be present. We will miss him very much. What, if the spirit of Bolshevism should get hold of some of the younger men and turn the First Conference into a pandemonium? Many a gathering of this kind has been wrecked by this demon spirit.
13
4th. Thursday. Bright. Mild.
14
Seoul home. The Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. I addressed the Conference giving them a brief review of the spirit and scope of the Joint Commission. I frankly told them that the plan for the new Korea Methodist Church was more practical than logical―we had to devise a plan by which the new church can be an autonomous church having at the same time a vital relation with the mother churches.
15
I pleaded that whatever the General Conference might decide to do, they should do nothing that may hurt the feelings or pain the heart of the good representatives of the mother churches.
17
5th. Friday. Bright. Mild.
18
Seoul home. General Conference from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m.
20
6th. Saturday. Bright. Mild.
21
Seoul home. Genl. Conference from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The whole p.m. given to parade of the Methodist Sunday School children and school boys from the Pai Chai School ground to the 訓練院 Square.
23
7th. Sunday. Bright. Mild.
24
Seoul home. Worshipped at the 宗橋 Church.
26
8th. Monday. Bright. Mild.
27
Seoul home. At 3 p.m. the Genl. Conference cast votes for the Genl. Superintendent of the Korean Methodist Church. At the 4th ballot, Rev. 梁柱三 was elected by the 2/3 votes of the Conference viz: 65. No doubt he is the best possible candidate for the important office.
29
9th. Tuesday. Bright. Mild.
30
Seoul home. Genl. Conference from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m.
32
10th. Wednesday. Cloudy. Mild.
33
Seoul home. Genl. Conference from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m. The inauguration service for the new 總理師 or Genl. Superintendent, Mr. 梁柱三 was conducted at the 貞洞 Church with appropriate ceremonies.
35
11th. Thursday. Gloomy. Rain a little p.m. Chilly but mild.
36
Seoul home. The Conference from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m.
38
12th. Friday. Gloomy. Mild―chilly.
39
Seoul home. The Genl. Conference from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m. Again from 7:30 to 10:30. This Conference was closed with an hour of Thanks-giving and prayers. God be praised that the First Genl. Conference after a session of ten days came to a peaceful close. I went to the Conference with much fear and trembling lest it might finish in disorder and despair, but came out of it with cheer and hopefulness. May this be prophetic of the future of the new Church!
41
13th. Saturday. Bright. Cold.
44
14th. Sunday. Cloudy. Cold.
45
Seoul home. Snow between 3 and 8 p.m.
47
15th. Monday. Bright a.m. Cloudy p.m. Mild.
48
Seoul home. Dirty streets. Lunch at Chosen Hotel given by Mr. 梁柱三. Bishop Welch and Baker, their wives; Drs. Hardie; Noble, Van Buskirk, Gerdin and their wives; Mr. 邊年國 and I made up the party. Mrs. Ryang seemed very happy. She is certainly one of the sweetest tempered women I have known. The party dispersed about 3 p.m.
50
16th. Tuesday. Bright. Cold.
51
Seoul home. Went to the Station to see Bishop Welch and Baker leave. Humanly speaking the First Genl. Conference of the Korea Methodist Church owes 50% of its success to the wisdom and weight of the American Commission. Of that Commission Bishop W. was undoubtedly the leading star. Sad to see him go this time probably for good. May the new church which they helped to create prove its right of existence by its vigor and vitality, a pilar of cloud by day and a pilar of fire by night to the Korean people.
53
17th. Wednesday. Cloudy. Chilly.
54
Seoul home. Received a letter from Bishop Nicholson, one of the brainiest men I have seen. He was a power in the Joint Commission as well as in the Genl. Conference. He seemed full of sense and the spirit of the Gospel. I appreciate his good letter not that I deserve one tenth of his compliments but that I feel honored to be so kindly remembered by so good a man.
56
18th. Thursday. Gloomy―Thick fog and smoke. Mild.
57
Seoul home. 4 p.m. Chosen Hotel. Count Kodama entertained the members of the University Club to a tea.
58
The sale of the □□ medals by the Central Y.M.C.A. brought in ¥730.00 or more. A remarkable success, considering the scarcity of money among the Koreans.
60
19th. Friday. Bright a.m.―Cloud p.m. Mild.
63
20th. Saturday. Gloomy a.m. Sun late p.m. Chilly but mild.
66
21st. Sunday. Gloomy. Chilly but mild.
69
22nd. Monday. Pale. Very cold.
70
Seoul home. The real winter has begun.
72
23rd. Tuesday. Bright. Very cold.
73
Seoul home. Christmas celebration at Central Y.M.C.A. A son born to 致旺弟 at about 10 p.m.
75
24th. Wednesday. Bright. Very cold.
76
Seoul home. The biggest snow on the ground we have had so far.
78
25th. Thursday. Gloomy. Chilly.
79
Seoul home. Entertained Mr. and Mrs. 金基洙 from Hawaii to lunch at 白合園. I invited Mr. 李光洙 to meet the guests. Allen and Helen also present.
80
Helen spoiled my evening meal begging me to let her go to America. I would consent if (1) she had some reliable and definite invitation from some responsible person in America, or if (2) I were reasonably assured that she would get contented with some sort of job in the State so that she wouldn't fly back in a year or two as she has done during the past 4 years, once from Tokyo and again from Shanghai.
82
26th. Friday. Gloomy. Chilly but mild.
85
27th. Saturday. Gloomy. Mild.
86
Seoul home. Like a thawing spring day.
88
28th. Sunday. Pale sun. Mild.
91
29th. Monday. Bright. Bracing cold.
92
Seoul home. Supper at Mr. and Mrs. 崔容□’s home. She was ne’ 朴孝貞. I helped her school expenses for 3 years for which she shows me a great deal of gratitude―a rare thing. I have helped many a boy and not a few girls but only a few, very few, of them seem to have any sense of gratitude. One man whom I helped to go to America, on one occasion with ¥1,000.00 and on another with ¥500.00, came back without any sign of appreciation.
94
30th. Tuesday. Bright. Bracing cold.
97
31st. Wednesday. Pale sun. Cold.
98
Seoul home. This is the last day of the year 1930. This has been a record year of hardships in many parts of the world. Political insurrections in India. Civil war in China. Earthquakes in Italy and in Sizuoka Japan. Unemployment in all industrial countries. Fearful drought, fearful flood then fearful fall in the price of rice―3 sen per 斤 in 忠淸道 etc. 2 sen in mountain districts, making everybody suffer from money famine in Korea.
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