Search This Blog

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Korea, 1915

 

The Christian Movement in the Japanese Empire Including Korea and Formosa. A Year Book for 1916.

Korea

            The Government General promulgated a set of regulations concerning religious propagation which went into effect in October 1915. These regulations pertain to the organization of the churches and to the granting of permission to individual as propagandists.

            While the Constitution of Japan guarantees religious freedom yet the propagation of religions of all kinds is conducted under certain laws which are known as “propagation regulations.” These laws have been on the statute books of Japan Proper for a number of years. During the past year the same laws, somewhat amended, were promulgated in Korea. The laws apply equally to Buddhism, Christianity or any other recognized religion. All propagandists must secure “permission” from the Government General before they can propagate religion. This has reference to preachers, missionaries, priests, Bible Women, etc. whose life work is that of propagating religion. It has no intention of putting a limitation upon lay preaching, or personal work of any kind. Full liberty is guaranteed in this respect. At first through misunderstandings some were apprehensive “of an infringement upon the right of the Christian churches to appoint their own officers and decide upon their qualifications,” but after full and free conferences, which were willingly given by the Government officials, to persons officially reprinting the Federal Council of Missions, these apprehensions were allayed. It was recognized that it is “not the intention or aim of this ordinance to infringe upon the rights and privileges hereto enjoyed by the Christian Churches in Chosen, either officer or in their work of evangelization.”

            These regulations will curb the formation of societies which may be organized in the name of religion, but whose real object may be political or otherwise. These regulations also may be of value in keeping out of the country such “isms’ as Mormonism, Russellism, Mohammedanism and the like.

2 comments:

Liam C said...

Interesting time period, thanks for posting this.

Raymond S. said...

Certainly is interesting and it makes it plain enough. No "isms" of any kind. And today the issues are still there. Many thanks for the post.