헤론의 생애와 내한 과정에 대한 고찰

Abstract

This article deals with the familial backgrounds and process of Dr. John W. Heron"s coming to Korea by careful analysis of primary data scarcely used in the previous studies. Dr. Heron was the eldest son in a devoted Christian family. His father was a pastor of an English Congregational Church, and a Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. of the time. Dr. Heron was a meticulous person with strong devotion and sometimes would show a tendency to focus on too much details and had hard time letting go of past events. Dr. Heron left the Maryville College halfway, and worked as a teacher for 5 years to save funds for entering Medical College. He entered the Medical Department of Tennessee University in 1881, and graduated with honours in 1883. He opened a clinic at Jonesboro, Tennessee, where gave special meanings to his life. Dr. Heron met Mrs. Rhea in Jonesboro, who influenced him the most becoming a medical missionary, and also Miss Harriett E. Gibson, the daughter of his partner Dr. Gibson. Harriett had a good understanding on the importance of missionary duty. The appointment of Dr. Heron as a missionary by Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. went not smoothly. Dr. Heron expressed his intention for a foreign missionary in the letter of May 2, 1883. But it was easily withdrawn by himself, and gave Dr. Frank F. Ellinwood, the Secretary, a reason to distrust Dr. Heron. Mr. Rijutei, the first Korean who baptized in Japan, sent an appeal to the American Church asking the starting of missionary work by American in Dec. 1883. This letter moved the mind of Mr. David W. McWilliams, who executed a will of Late Frederick Marquand, to donate $5,000 for the opening of Korea as a new mission field. This event facilitated the appointment of Dr. Heron as a first medical missionary to Korea on April 28, 1884. However, Dr. Horace N. Allen, who was dispatched to China in October 1883, was transferred to Korea in September 1884. The Board of Foreign Missions provided Dr. Heron took the course at New York Postgraduate Medical School from September 1884. Dr. Heron finished the course with excellent scores, and took a position of Associate Physician of Almshouse Hospital of Blackwell Island, New York. The Board of Foreign Missions decided to send Dr. Heron to Korea on February 2, 1885. After finishing the work at Almshouse Hospital, Dr. Heron married to Miss Harriet E. Gibson on April 23, and arrived at his mission field, Chemulpho, on the 20th of June.