From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions by Ruth A. Tucker

Author:Ruth A. Tucker [Tucker, Ruth A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2011-01-04T06:00:00+00:00

Horace and Lillias Horton Underwood

If Appenzeller was overly concerned about establishing the Methodist church in Korea—with the proper date corresponding to that of the Presbyterians, Horace Underwood was overly concerned about how he should properly impress the Korean people themselves. The mission secretary back home had received word that he was wearing “an Oxford coat and a ministerial dress generally,” and counseled him that “the true course for a Protestant American in a country where everything is yet so unsettled would be to throw off all ministerial dress and ministerial manner.”27

The competition between the Presbyterians and Methodists touched Underwood’s life in a very personal way. The Presbyterians, with the first medical doctor in Korea, had a decided advantage in the court of the king—a fact that was not overlooked by the Methodists. But both sides were very conscious that a male physician had severe limitations in matters that pertained to the queen and any other female royalty. So the race was on. Which side would be first to offer the court the services of a woman doctor? Appenzeller had written to the home board about the urgency of this matter because the Methodists were “at great disadvantage” to “our sister society.” Presbyterian Dr. Allen, however, had an ace in the deck in the person of his bachelor colleague: “If one [woman doctor] could come out soon and marry Mr. Underwood, our prospects here would be grand indeed.” With a touch of humor, he added, “If you are quick we may convert the Wicked Queen of Korea. Otherwise the Methodists may have that pleasure.”28

The Presbyterians won the prize when one of their own arrived to become the first woman “doctor” in Seoul. Allen was pleased to announce that “Dr.” Ellers would become the queen’s physician. There was only one problem—if indeed it was a problem. Annie Ellers was a nurse. But this fact apparently went unnoticed by the queen, and Ellers served her with distinction and married a missionary—though not Horace Underwood. But as Allen had hoped, Underwood would marry the first woman physician, Dr. Lillias Horton, who arrived in Korea in 1888 and served the queen as Ellers’ successor.

Horace Underwood (1859–1916) was born in London and emigrated with his family to America when he was a youth. After graduating from New York University, he continued his education at New Brunswick Theological Seminary and was ordained to the ministry in the Reformed Church in America. Unlike virtually every other denomination, however, the Reformed Church did not send missionaries overseas to perpetuate one more denomination. Rather, it supported missionaries to work with churches that were already established in other countries. Thus, it was natural for Underwood to be appointed to serve with the Presbyterian Church in Korea and to work with the Presbyterian mission board.

Learning the language was the greatest obstacle Underwood faced when he first arrived in Korea, but once he was able to communicate, the people showed unusual interest:

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