2
1st Monday. Cloud. Pale sun. Windy―Very cool.
3
Seoul home. This morning Hong Pyong Sun called and for the first time he unbosomed himself to me about Cynn. What he said so tallied with what Hyon had been telling me that I felt glad that Hyon hadn't exaggerated anything. Among other things Hong said (1) that if Hyon had to leave the Central Y. it would be merely a question of time that he(Hong) should also have to go. (2) When Cynn left the Pai-Chai Higher Common School in 1919, after he had been its principal for 7 or 8 years, nobody in the faculty regretted his leaving. (3) When the Committee on my "jubilee" so called, had to elect its chairman some months ago, Hyon asked Cynn to take the position. Cynn declined. Hyon then asked Ryang who gladly consented. Just an hour before the Committee met Cynn asked Hyon to elect him, the chairman! Hyon had to persuade Ryang to cancel his acceptance. After Cynn had been elected the chairman, he quite audibly said as he came out of the room "I had to accept the chairmanship because I was asked to"!(하라니간 햇지) . Cynn is a dangerous man!
5
2nd. Tuesday. Pale sun. Very cool.
6
Seoul home. Three of the chief reasons why Cynn so dislikes Hyon I suspect to be(and Hyon agrees with me) (1st) . Hyon's blunt admonition to Miss P.I.D. not to scandalize the Y. by coming to the Central Y. every morning about 10 to be closeted with Cynn behind a locked door until 3 or 4 p.m. (2nd) . Hyon's refusal to join the Juk Kuk Band to obey Cynn unconditionally. (3rd) . Hyon's starting the rather unwise movement for the celebration of my so called jubilee. Everybody Hong P.S. and Hyon included, now knows that Cynn is suspicious, jealous and arrogant. Cousin N. 4 (致昞) tells me that he and Cynn were great chums in their Pai-Chai Hak Dang days. They ate and slept together often in our home. After Cynn became "great", he wouldn't design to ever notice Chi-Byongi, When they happen to meet in some place.
8
3rd. Wednesday. Pale sun. Very cool.
9
Seoul home. 9 a.m. the 2nd General Conference of the Korean Methodist Church began its session in the Seminary Chapel. 80 delegates. So glad to see Bishop Welch and his wife present. God bless the Conference, the Church and the Delegates and all! Dr. Ryang gave an excellent address in print which he took nearly an hour and half to read. Very sensible recommendations, showing how carefully and thoroughly he has worked out the details. There is nobody in the whole Church who could have done so well during the last four years and there is nobody in the whol Church who will do as well as he in the four years to come.
10
From 5 p.m. to 7:30 a welcome supper for the delegates in the Myong Wol Kwan given by the churches of Seoul.
12
4th. Thursday. Pretty.
13
Seoul home. 9 a.m. went to the Conference. The Conference, I guess Dr. Ryang, sprung a surprize on four of us, Bishop Welch, Dr. Hardie, Dr. Noble and me, by giving each a gold Conference badge. To me the compliment was as embarrassing as it was unexpected. But this token of appreciation was thoughtfully and gracefully given to the three Americans who deserved it.
14
The Mai-Il-Shin-Po has a list of school teachers who have lately been promoted to higher ranks. Over 200 names and only 26 or about 10% of them Koreans.
17
Seoul home. 9:30 a.m. to the Conference.
18
Lunch at Dr. Hardie's.
19
An American journalists' party composed of 26 prominent editors and their wives etc. on their way to Manchukuo broke their journey in Seoul, for two days. They were lionized in Tokyo and other big centres with that gracefulness and hospitality which the leadders of Japanese propaganda know so well how and where and in whom to lavish. During the short stop-over the party has in this city they are dined, wined and speechified. Remarkable that not a single Korean news-paper man, not a single Korean who speak English was given a chance to interview the visitors.
21
6th. Saturday. Lovely.
22
Seoul home. 10:30 a.m. to the Conference.
23
I have sold―or rather have signed contract to sell the Chin-An(鎭安) plantation to Choi Nam(崔楠) for 120,000.00 Yen. My reasons: (1) The plantation is too far out of the way from here. (2) As the rent in rice is collected every year by the sight-estimation of my agent there is always danger of quarreling with the tenants. (3) So hard to get capable and honest man to go so far to collect the rent from so many tenants.
26
Seoul home. With 寶, 瑛, 珽 went to Bu Am Jung 10 a.m. We all enjoyed the lovely and refreshing air and scenery of our place. Returned home 4:30.
27
Supper at Mr. Hong Pyong Sun's home. Dr. Ryang, H.K. Lyu, Rev. Oh Ki Sun. Pai Hyong Sik, Kim Duk Soo, Hyon Dong Wan were also present. Heard that no Korean, except Frank Kim, the editor of the Seoul Press, was allowed to meet the American journalists' party durng their stay in Seoul. Can you wonder why the Korean papers, Dong-A and Joong-Ang in particular, are so indifferent to the collection of relief fund for the cyclone sufferers of the Kwan Sai district of Japan?
30
Seoul home. Went to the Station 6:30 to meet Bishop Moore of M.E. Ch. South who has come to represent his church in the General Conference of the Korea Methodist Church. He started his career as a car conductor. Seeting a good stuff in him a lady sent him to Emory College for education. He got impatient with mere book learning. He quit the school unfinished and went about preaching as an evangelist. His success in that line was phenomenal. In 1909 he offered himself to the Board of Missions asking to be sent to Korea as missionary. He was turned down on the ground that he had no college education. Lo and behold, he is in Korea today as the super-intendent of missionaries not only in Korea but of those in Japan and China working under the B. of M. of M.E. Church South. God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform!
31
Wife and I entertained the members of the General Conference to a Chinese banquet at Pong Nai Kak from 6 to 8 p.m. 105 guests in all. Hyon Dong Wan with the help of 黃泳洙, 李基台 and Kim Ung Jip, looked after the arrangement of the banquet. Cost ￥118.00.
32
The election of the General Superintendent took place this noon. Of the 83 votes cast Dr. Ryang 58, Kim Jong Woo 23, Noble 1, Pyon Sung OK, 1. Ryang's re-election showed how disgusted the people were at the subterranean plots of Cynnites.
34
9th. Tuesday. Cloudy a.m. Sun p.m.
35
Seoul home. Mr. 柳瀅董 was elected the General Secretary of the Bureau of Education yesterday. Kim In Yung, Cynn's man was also defeated.
37
10th. Wednesday. Beautiful.
38
Seoul home. To the General Conference form 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Yesterday afternoon 邊成玉, 裵亨湜 and others made strong and stirring pleas for the Korean work in Manchuria and asked for 3,000 Yen over and above the pitiful annual allowance of ￥1,200.00. A collection was started. ￥3,567.00 subscribed inside of half an hour. This morning the collection reached 3,865.00
39
At 11:30 a brief service was held to congratulate Dr. Ryang for his re-election. I read to the Conference the little statement which Ryang had written on the 28th August, 1901 in Chinese and which he presented to the Faculty of A.C.C. giving his reasons for having gone to Shanghai. Mr. G. Bell sent it to me in Wonsan, 1901. The little paper is certainly a valuable document in the biography of Ryang.
41
11th Thursday. Cloudy a.m.
42
Seoul home. The last day of the 2nd General Conference. The Conference was closed with a prayer meeting addressed by Bish. Welch. He congratulated the Conference for the organization and arrangement for the preparation of reports; for the orderly, dignified and sensible debates; for the leaders chosen for the next four years; for the re-election of Dr. Ryang; for the fine spirit that has been manifested during the sessions; for the love of the Church and the memorable subscription for the work in Manchuria. He closed his fatherly address by quoting the Wesley's saying "the best of all is God is with us". The conference was formally closed at 4:30 p.m. The Manchurian collection reached ￥4,013.00!
44
12th. Friday. Beautiful.
46
With wife, 文姬 and 珽善 went to the C.C.C. to attend the inauguration ceremony of Dr. H.H. Underwood as the President and of Mr. Yu Uk-Kyum as the Vice President of the College. The service was held at the outdoor Theater. The weather was perfect and the ceremony quite impressive. There were eleven addresses of congratulation which kept the retiring President, Dr. Avison and the two new officials on feet for two solid hours. The addresses, except that of Miss Appenzeller and of mine, were unreasonably long! Returned home about 4:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m. went to Myong Wol Kwan where the faculty and alumni of the C.C.C. gave a welcome feast in honor of the incoming Presidents. I had to leave the restaurant about 8:30, as we had a memorial family meeting in honor of our grandmother.
47
This morning Mr. Choi Rin called. The gist of his talk "We can't live by sentiment alone. If we are unable to gain independence, what is the Japanese policy in regard to Korea? Japan-extension(延長主義) policy which means treating Korea as a part of the main-land of Japan? Then no Governor General. At least 200 M.P. from Korea in the Diet, Japan can't stand that. Then Home Rule is the only rational policy for Korea. I have accepted a position in the Joong Choo Won not for pay but to show to the Japanese that I have turned from an anti-Japanese attitude to that of an out-and-out pro-Japanese. I want to be able to criticize Japan's doings in Korea from the stand-point of a friend, thus, getting the maximum good for our people!
49
13th. Saturday. A little pale sun. Heaty.
50
Seoul home. Breakfast at Chosen Hotel. Dr. Ryang entertained Bish. and Mrs. Welch and Bishop Moore. Quite a number of Southern Meth. Missionaries. Dr. Ryang and I besides Mr. 柳瀅董 were only Korean guests.
51
I understand the younger missionaries in Severance want Dr. Avison go home lest he be in their way. Here is a difference between the Occidental and the Oriental ways of treating old people. To our thinking, the mere presence of a man like Avison would be a benediction.
54
Seoul home. A little rain last night. Rain most of the day, begining from about 11:30.
55
Worshipped at the Jong Kyo Church.
56
Mr. Hong Pyong Sun called this morning and told me that by his mediation Hyon Dong Wan had consented to withdraw his resignation. Hong further said Cynn even shed tears when he spoke of Hyon's leaving the Y. after so many years of cooperation. Cynn is reported to have not wept when he lost his boys years ago.
57
Koo Ja Ok thinks Cynn can easily be the first man in Korean society today if he will only quit his repulsive, sulky manners and his ways of doing things in subterranean fashion.
58
So sorry to hear that Mr. Earnest Fisher who left Korea some months ago had divorced his wife, Bessie Hardie. Must be a great shock to Mrs. and Dr. Hardie!
60
15th. Monday. Cloudy most of the day.
61
Seoul home. 4 p.m. went to the Dong-A-Il-Po office to attend a meeting of the Executive Committee on the erection of a bronze statue in honor of Mr. Kim Ki Joong, the munificent donor of the endowments to the Joong Ang Higher Common School and the Bo-Sung College. Quite a number of Higher Common School principals present. Decided to have the unveiling ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 27th this month.
63
16th. Tuesday. Pretty―Cold.
64
Seoul home. Jung Kwang Hyon tells me that(if Jung Jai Hup is to be trusted) Kim Tai Woo, the Korean secretary of the Joong Choo Won who added a feather in his cap by getting Choi Rin harnessed to the pro-Japanese team, is scheming to force some kind of official cap on me.
65
Mr. Hyon Sang Yun, the Principal of Joong Ang H.C. School, told us that General Ukaki once visiting a Korean public cemetary found most of the tomb-stones dated in terms of Christian era or of 60-cycle while some fools used the year title of the last Emperor of Ming Dynasty. The Government General was reported to have further said he was so indignant that he was almost tempted to have all the tombstones so dated demolished because hardly any of them had the year title of the reigning Emperor of Japan.
66
The use of the Christian era is not necessarily a sign of anti-Japanese sentiment. It is a universal mode of dating document. Then it is so convenient to remember date. The year-titles are so hard to remember.
68
17th. Wednesday. Lovely. Very cool.
69
Seoul home. Cold enough in the morning to make a little fire pleasant.
70
9:30 a.m. went out to the C.C.C. stadium to preside over the Field-day Exercises of the Central Y. Night School. Returned to the Seoul Station per 11:53 train to say good bye to Bishop and Mrs. Welch leaving for Shanghai. Lunch at the Jong No Grill.
72
18th. Thursday. Pretty.
73
Seoul home. While it is a sign of insular Chauvinism unworthy of a modern statesmanship to insist on Koreans' using the year-title(年號) of the Emperor of Japan, we Koreans have no face to brag about our political independence in former days when there are still persons who cling to the habit of dating their tombstone etc. from the year-title of the last Emperor of Ming Dynasty. The disease of vassalage was implanted in the psychology of the Korean people near 15 centuries ago when Shin-la destroyed the Paik Chei Kingdow with the help of the Tang troops. Shin-la could or should have done so without outside help. That love of being dependent on somebody else dominated the policies of three dynasties, viz: of Shin-la, of Ko-ryu and of Chosun. Especially the Yi dynasty made itself in glorious by "surrenderism". Its Kings never led an army in person. They ran away at the first sign of invasion of some kind. The last act of servile dependency was invoking the Chinese help to suppress the Tong Hak insurrection.
76
Seoul home. Having consented, nearly three months ago, to attend the Jubilee celebration of the Presbyterians of Kyong Sang Book Do(慶尙北道) to be held in Tai-Ku, I had to leave Seoul for that city at 9:40 p.m. Our Grace 恩姬, sweetly consented to go with me. We boarded the 2nd class car but it was crowded.
78
20th. Saturday. Beautiful.
79
Tai-ku, Where we arrived about 6 a.m. after a more or less uncomfortable rest in the crowded 2nd class car. Met at the Station by niece(Sun huie) and her husband Dr. Cynn Tai Sick. Dr. Blair, the brother-in-law of Mr. Gillet and a few of the Korean pastors also welcomed us at the station. Declining Dr. B.'s kind invitation to go to his home, we went straight to our neice's home, we went straight to our neice's home. Found everything cleanly kept. Had a good cup of coffee with toast.
80
The First Church(第一禮拜堂) is a new building with a capacity for seating Korean fashion 1,000 people. I am booked on the program for three addresses, one at 9:30―10:30, another at 2:30―3:30 p.m. and the third at 7:30―9:30! The Church was comfortably full in the morning. The big crowd behaved remarkably well.
81
Lunch at Dr. Blair's Grace stayed with Sunhuie. I had to speak again at 2:30 p.m. Visited the leper asylum conducted by the missionaries. About 400 innates. I made a little talk to them. What a courage and Christian devotion the missionary doctor must have to do such a work on such a scale! Supper at niece's. Final address to a overflowing house at 7:30. Left Tai-ku per 11 express.
83
21st. Sunday. Beautiful.
84
Seoul home. Reached Seoul 6:45 a.m. Precious wife, 珽善, 文姬 and 光鉉 met us at the station.
86
22nd. Monday. Pretty. Pleasant.
87
Seoul home. This morning Cynn called. After a few remarks about the Korean Y. in Tokyo, he spoke of Hyon's withdrawal of resignation. Told him to let Hyon have charge of a department, say the industrial dept, so that he may devote his mind and energy and time to the success of that particular work.
88
Cynn surprized me very greatly by saying that Hong Pyong Sun had worked Hyon up to the resignation business(!) ; that Hong had several times told Cynn to divide the endowment fund of the Central Y. among themselves before leaving the institution as it would be a great pity to hand the money to some other fellows to gobble it up(!) ; that Hong plotting with Yu Hyong Ki, made the latter to sell to him a house belong to the Church worth 4,000 Yen, for ￥2,400.00 without consulting neither Dr. Cable, the chairman of the property Committee nor Dr. Ryang, the superintendent(!) ; that Hong and his wife bought for the Y.W.C.A. a house for ￥8,000.00(!) ; which could have been bought for ￥6,000.00(!) ; that Hong, when he was in Tokyo last time, told Kim Soo Chul a scheme by which they could pocket a considerable sum of money by selling the Tokyo Korean Y. building or site(!) . I have no high opinion for Hong's financial integrity, but I am not prepared to take Cynn's words at their face value to the length of believing that Hong actually proposed to devide among themselves the endowment fund of the Central Y. or to embezzle part of the money to be realized in case the Tokyo property is sold.
90
23rd. Tuesday. Cloudy a.m.
91
Seoul home. Wrote to niece(Sunhuie) and her husband and sent them a cheque for ￥20.00.
93
24th. Wednesday. Lovely.
94
Seoul home. About 10:30 called on Mr. Yi Kun Woo(李根雨) to ask him to identify the handwriting of His Highness 李載冕 Yi Jai Myon(the eldest son of Tai Won Koon) . Was very glad to find that the signature in my possession was genuine.
95
Was surprized but secretly annoyed that Mr. Yi K.W. asked me and other friends who happened to be present to take lunch at the Chiyoda Grill. Cousin No. 2 was also one of the guests. Mr. Yi K.W. is one of the few old fashioned men in Seoul who keeps up the old "sarang" style of social gathering where hours are whiled away in cracking jokes, criticising people with endless smoking.
97
25th. Thursday. Lovely.
98
Seoul home. At their request called on Miss Appenzeller and Helen Kim in Ewha parlors 9:30 a.m. They repeated, with that womanly persistence and persuasiveness so hard to resist by weak males like myself their suggestion that I assume the principalship of the Ewha College. As I know that the moment I assume such a position, I shall be expected, and in fact, called upon, to shoulder the financial burdens of the institution, I can't possibly accept their offer with my eyes open to the tremendous responsibility. But then I couldn't tell them all this in plain English.
99
The two ladies then took me in an auto to the new buildings now going on, to which the Ewha is to move in next Spring. The buildings are superb but they will prove a white elephant without an adequate endowment.
101
26th. Friday. Lovely.
102
Seoul home. Hyon D.W. this morning tells me that Helen Kim was closeted with Cynn for two solid hours in C.'s office the day before yesterday afternoon. How she had written me the letter that morning, I had sometime ago heard that there was a gradual re-rapprochement between Helen K. and Cynn whose exceedingly close relations of former days were temporarily(?) disturbed by the Helen Kim in her manaeuvers to entangle me in the meshes of the financial problems of the Ewha College?
103
To the Keijo Hotel 12:30 to attend the wedding ceremony of Mr. Yi Byong Mook's granddaughter. 3:30 p.m. another wedding at Dr. Both's home where An Sung Han's daughter was given away to the 6th son of Mr. Oh Hui Won. She is one of the prettiest brides I have see in Korea. Her father was one of my favorite pupils in the Anglo-Korean School 24 years ago.
104
5:30 p.m. the Board of Directors of the Central Y. met at the Lily Garden Restaurant.
106
27th. Saturday. Lovely.
107
Seoul home. 2 p.m. the ceremony of unveiling the bronze statue of Mr. Kim Kui Joong, the father of Mr. Kim Sung Soo was staged in front of the main building of the Joong Ang H.C.S. The statue, the pedestal and the railing all cost ￥ □□ contributed by those who are directly or indirectly engaged in educational work and personal friends of the Kim family.
109
28th. Sunday. Beautiful.
110
Seoul home. Worshipped at the Jong Kyo Church in the morning
111
5 p.m. with cousin No. 2 went to the home of Mr. Yen Taik Yung at the invitation of his brother, Mr. Yun Duk Yung, who gave an entertainment to some of his friends to celebrate the wedding his youngest nephew, Ui-sup(毅燮) . The table was set in the "an-pang" or the lady's room. Was surprized to see how untidy everything in the house was. The valets who served in the room and at the table were mere coolies in "tu-ru-maki", coarse, dirty and uncouth. Four kisaings and a few musicians provided music, songs and dances. I liked the archaicness and refinement of the style and words of old songs much better than the vulgar modernized songs.
112
By the way, it was nearly 37 years ago when the clever Yun Duk Yung was feeling his way toward fame and fortune that he, Mr. Min Yung Rin and I formed a kind of club, meeting in dinner parties turn and about in our homes for social chats. I remember still with pleasure the fine entertainment my darling Sieutsung and I had at Mr. Yun's home where we met his fine-looking mother. Yun now, rich and "great" is entirely a different man.
114
29th. Monday. Beautiful.
115
Seoul home. Sold our Wha-soon(和順) rice fields to Mr. 蘇 for ￥60,00.00. Contract signed this afternoon.
117
30th. Tuesday. Beautiful.
118
Seoul home. At the last meeting of the Central Y. Board of Directors, Cynn reported that Hong Pyong Duk was to be made the "kansa" of the Education Section of the Y. Hyon tells me today that Cynn had never mentioned the matter to him; and that the teachers in the night school and the day school as well are discontented with the new arrangement. Hong by embezzling every "sen" of the money belonging to the school had kept the teachers unpaid for several months. The school was actually ruined for want of fund. Cynn asked Hyon to take charge of the schools. Hyon by wise management restored the school to a paying basis even with a reserve fund. Now Cynn puts Hong back in the old position.
119
光鉉 and I entertained Mr. Tamura and two other gentlemen from Manchuria to a supper at the request of 明變. I liked Tamura's sensible talks.
121
31st. Wednesday. Cloudy a.m. Beautiful p.m.
122
Seoul home. With 珽善 went to Bu Am Jung 2 p.m. to enjoy the fresh air of the hills. Had a nap of two hours, so exhausted I felt. Returned home 5 : 30.
123
Hyon tells me that the teachers of the night and day schools of the Central Y. made such a vigorous protest against Hong's resuming the office of Educational kansa, that Cynn had to recant his decision. What's matter with Cynn?
124
Praise God from all blessings flow!
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