Page 78 - Duncan "Korea" MacRae, Missionary from Baddeck

ISSUE : Issue 67

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1994/8/1

change. Prisoners were lined up against the outside walls of the prison, crouched behind 18 inch thick planks with their heads projecting through a hole in the lumber. In this position they were confined, unprotected from blazing sun, drenching rains, swarming flies, and winter's bitter cold. At the sight of these shackled men, Duncan was moved by pity but he was also baf? fled: "Fettered and yoked he languishes in the filth of a heathen prison and apparentiy unconcemed, awaits his punishment." Prior to leaving Hamhung, Duncan took a stroll up the spiny ridge of Dragon Mountain for a last view of the panoramic scene which lay before him: the magnificent plain stretching out to the sea; the winding Sungchun River; and nearby, the ancient crum? bling walls, gates, watch towers and beacons. As he viewed the scene he looked forward to the day when he might retum to live permanently among the people of this charming old city. From the outset, he met experiences which revealed negative aspects of Western influence in Korea. A tragedy had entered the life of a Christian convert, a young man who had developed dementia praecox with a religious bent. With Bible in hand he had gone to the mountains to fast and pray. Three days passed and there was no sign of his retum. With grave concem. Dr. Gale, Dr. Grierson, Duncan, and several Korean Christians set off to search for him. Dr. Gale was the first to catch sight of him. Duncan lost no time in bounding over the mountain ridge. Unnoticed by the de? ranged man, the missionary was soon at his side to prevent his escape. The lad "was trembling like a leaf and "looked kind of bad." Speaking in quiet reassuring tones and using only polite Korean phrases, Duncan held his attention until otiiers arrived on the scene. When every effort to persuade the youth to retum home failed. CapeBrekn for your complimentary copy of "Retiring to Cape Breton." send name & address to: Cape Breton Connections P. 0. Box 627, Sydney, N. S. BIP 6H7 (902) 567-0165 The mission of Cape Breton Connections is to enhance the ties be? tween resident and non-resident Cape Bretoners, so as to have a positive impact on tlie culture and economy of Cape Breton Island. Cape Breton Connections Is part of Sydney & Area Community Futures • a not-for-profit economic development agency. Duncan and Edith's daughter, Helen MacRae Haslam, visits the mili? tary hospital near Seoul. She is with four alumni members of the for? mer Women's Bible Institute from Hamheung. What this picture can? not show is all the work these women did to convince hospital officials to allow them to be of service there. They volunteered to wash clothes, to do the most menial work. Eventually, they made themselves indispensable. They read, wrote letters and so forth, for the men, many of whom were veterans of the Viet Nam War. To Helen, it was a privilege to be taken into the hospital by these women, to visit some of the patients. She saw it as confirmation that "the Christian faith had borne fruit in this way under the drastic conditions of war." Duncan seized one arm and Dr. Grierson grabbed the other. It was necessary to take him down from the mountain by force. To their astonishment, although without food for days, their captive proved to be desperately "strong & kicked like a steer." Consequentiy the three men lost their footing and thus slid down the almost perpendicular mountainside. Dr. Gale hung onto Duncan's coat in an effort to curb tiieir speed. In a further effort to slow their momentum, each man sat on his haunches • but in vain. "It was a wild time" but never at any moment did the Canadians lose their grip on the young man. [ After he was given medication and food, the lad was then placed in the care of the Christian community in the city. Early next moming the disturbed victim appeared at Mah Moksa's (Duncan MacRae's) door. The previous day's experience had left an impression on the bewildered man. He feared but also respected strength and he had come to place himself under Mah Moksa's care. Following the dictates of common sense, Dun? can gave the lad physical work to distract his mind from prob? lems with religion and to make him weary enough at night to sleep soundly. Duncan and Dr. Grierson kept the youth busy with chores and as Duncan later reported: "ever since he has been working here and improving nicely.... He is [a] young lad and I hope he will get all right again." A Tiger on Dragon Mountain is available in paperback for $16.95, and in hardcover for $39.00. The price includes postage. Tiger s a 258-page book with many excellent photographs. To order by mail, write to Helen F. Haslam, Melville Heights, 24 Ramsgate Lane, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3P 2R6. Our thanks to Helen Haslam for permission to reprint from her book, and for supplying the photographs. Our thanks also to Lloyd MacEachern, Blue Heron Gift & Book Shop, for bringing A Tiger on Dragon Mountain to our attention. Your Cape Breton Highlands Vacation Resort... GkdM I I RESORT LTD. INGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA TEL: 285-2049 • 90 Units • Licensed Dining Room] • Gift Shop • Golfing • Private Ocean Beach • Swimming Pool GLENGHORM Scottish Gaelic Translation "THE GREEN AND THE BLUE" The green lawns rolling down to meet the blue of the ocean. More than just a place to stay overnight: a vacation resort

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