ID | 179071 |
Title Proper | With All Your Heart |
Other Title Information | American Missionaries and the State in Mission Fields |
Language | ENG |
Author | Kim, Sejoo |
Summary / Abstract (Note) | On a summer day in 1935, James Gordon Holdcroft, an American Presbyterian missionary in colonial Korea, hurried to the Educational Bureau of the Government-General. He had an urgent meeting with its chief, Watanabe Toyohiko, to discuss the recent change of tone in the government’s educational policy, which mandated all students without exception to salute at the shrines of State Shinto. Believing that such a ritual marked no ordinary gesture of respect for fallen soldiers but an act of pagan worship honoring spirits, Holdcroft found the policy hard to accept for mission schools. Deeply troubled about its consequences, he hoped to hear from the authorities more about the matter. At the bureau, after the usual welcoming remarks, the educational chief reassured him that mission schools would be exempted from any rite that could offend Christians. Holdcroft felt relieved and returned to his office.1 Yet in late fall, he realized that Watanabe’s promise failed to materialize. Mission schools received orders from the government to participate in shrine ceremonies. Holdcroft’s fear came true. |
`In' analytical Note | Diplomatic History Vol. 45, No.1; Jan 2021: p.162–185 |
Journal Source | Diplomatic History Vol: 45 No 1 |
Key Words | American Missionaries ; State in Mission Fields |