Welsh Journals

The other main account supported by the Reformed churches of Korea and the Union of Welsh Independents relies heavily on an account provided by one of the soldiers present at the tragedy, Whang Myong Dae, who was twenty years old at the time and later became a Christian and a founding member of a church near P'yongyang. In 1926 when Myong Dae was eighty years old and sixty years after the event, 0 Moon Whan published a book, Reverend Thomas's Story, which drew on the memories of people who had witnessed the event and he quotes the elderly soldier thus: 'Thomas with his clothes on fire leapt overboard with his few remaining Bibles and frantically gave them out until he was captured and taken before the governor. All 24 crew members and the owner of the ship, a Mr Preston, were executed. Thomas humbly knelt down and begged the executioner to accept the last red Bible from him. Thomas shut his eyes and prayed, the executioner hesitated, but then had to do his duty and so Thomas was beheaded at only twenty seven years of age'. Other accounts stated that Thomas was knifed through the heart and that most of the crew was beaten to death by the angry mob. These versions see Robert Jermain as a martyr whose memory can edify successive generations. A number of accounts relate how the Bible found a place in the hearts of his executioners and how Protestantism became established in the country. He is certainly perceived as the founder of Protestantism in Korea and his status remains secure within most of the churches there. A memorial church was built in 1932 near P'yongyang and Korean Christians began to revive and revere his memory. It was erected on a site about seven miles below the city overlooking the island where Thomas lies buried. The word 'martyr' was applied to him for the simple reason that he had died handing out the Bible. Sadly the church in present day North Korea is no more, since Christianity is forbidden there, but in the Southern Republic, one of the most Christianized countries in the East, Protestantism flourishes with a number of churches seating over 10,000 and holding as many as seven services a day, and Robert Jermain Thomas is remembered as the first Protestant missionary and martyr. Korean Christians frequently visit Hanover and although the membership of the church is now small, Mrs Nancy Wilson, the secretary, with others, provides a wonderful voluntary service to the many visitors from Korea who wish to make the pilgrimage to the missionary's home church and village. She and her husband have greatly strengthened the links between Wales and Korea and were invited to visit that country in 2001, when they received an enthusiastic welcome. The church and the cemetery are beautifully maintained and items relating to Robert Jermain Thomas and the Korean connection are lovingly kept. Recent Research Since writing the above analysis, drawn largely from Welsh language nineteenth-