Page:Village life in Korea (1911).djvu/258

220 things. Thus he was able to break away from the customs of his country, as men of weaker courage were not able to do. He was one of the first among Korean Christians to cut his hair, thereby forsaking the much-treasured topknot. Ten years ago, when I came to Korea, there were but four men among our Christians who had cut their hair, he being one of that number. It took a man with courage in those days to use the scissors on his topknot. I mention this to show that Mr. Yun was a man of courage, as his Christian life often proved him to be.

His progress in the study of the Scriptures was nothing short of marvelous. I remember with what joy he received the entire New Testament when the first edition came from the press. I now recall how he took a copy and tried it in his huge pocket to see if it would be possible for him to carry it there and thus have it always with him. He not only read the Word, but he remembered it. Not only did he remember the words, but he remembered the chapter, and the verse, so that he became nothing short of a walking concordance. He also sought for the meaning of the truth, and when he could not be sure he marked the passage and inquired of the first missionary he met. It was a great joy and privilege to travel in the country with him, as I have done many days, and see with what zeal he entered into his work. He both inspired and made me ashamed when I contrasted my lack of zeal with the way he threw his whole soul into the business of studying and preaching the Word. In those days we used to make long