Kim D K, Kim T S
Department of Dermatology, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
Uisahak. 2000 Dec;9(2):205-11.
The purpose of this paper is to overview the life of John W. Heron, M. D. who was the first appointed medical missionary to Korea by the Presbyterian Church USA. Although he was a competent doctor as well as a devoted missionary, he is not well-known yet, because he died early after 5 years' service in Korea. Dr. Heron was born in Derbyshire, England on June 15, 1856. His father, Rev. E. S. Heron, was a Scotch Minister of Congregational Church. His family emigrated to America in 1870 when he was fourteen years old and settled in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 1881, he was admitted to the University of Tennessee Medical School and graduated with highest honors in 1883. After training in New York University Hospital, he refused the offer of professorship from the University of Tennessee to become a medical missionary to Korea. He arrived in Seoul on June 21, 1885 and began to work in Royal Government Hospital, Chejungwon, the predecessor of Severance Hospital. In 1887, he became the superintendent of the Hospital following Dr. Horace N. Allen. He also worked for the Royal family and sometimes traveled to the rural areas to care for the patients. He started Chejungwon Church which later became Namdaemoon Presbyterian Church. In 1887, Dr. Heron worked as a member of the Bible translation committee and in 1889, he was elected as the chairman of the Public Committee of the Presbyterian Churches. In 1890, he established 'The Korean Religious Tract Society (Chosunsyungkyoseohoi) with Underwood and Ohlinger. The society published and replenished Christian books, periodical magazines and booklets. In the Summer of 1890, Dr. Heron did his best to take care of the sick suffering from an epidemic dysentery and himself got infected because of the terrible overwork. He passed away on July 26th, 1890. On his deathbed, he told his soldier and native friends around him as follow: "Jesus loves you. He gave His life for you. Stand by Him!" The martyrdom of Dr. Heron should be remembered in the Korean history of mission, because he was the first victim among the foreign missionaries who had lived and worked in Seoul for Korean mission. Dr. Heron's mind of love, service and devotion should be remembered by the medical doctors working today in caring for the patients suffering from physical and spiritual illnesses.
本文旨在概述约翰·W·赫伦医生的生平。他是美国长老会任命的首位前往韩国的医学传教士。尽管他是一位称职的医生，也是一位虔诚的传教士，但他却鲜为人知，因为他在韩国服务五年后便早早离世。赫伦医生于1856年6月15日出生在英国德比郡。他的父亲E.S.赫伦牧师是苏格兰公理教会的牧师。1870年，他十四岁时，全家移民到美国，定居在田纳西州的诺克斯维尔。1881年，他被田纳西大学医学院录取，并于1883年以优异成绩毕业。在纽约大学医院接受培训后，他拒绝了田纳西大学的教授职位，成为一名前往韩国的医学传教士。1885年6月21日，他抵达首尔，开始在延世大学医院的前身——济众院皇家政府医院工作。1887年，继霍勒斯·N·艾伦医生之后，他成为该医院的院长。他还为王室服务，有时前往农村地区照顾病人。他创办了济众院教堂，该教堂后来成为南大门长老会教堂。1887年，赫伦医生担任圣经翻译委员会成员，1889年，他当选为长老会公共委员会主席。1890年，他与安德伍德和奥林格一起成立了“朝鲜宗教宣传协会（朝鲜圣书协会）”。该协会出版并补充基督教书籍、期刊杂志和小册子。1890年夏天，赫伦医生竭尽全力照顾患流行性痢疾的病人，由于过度劳累，他自己也被感染。1890年7月26日，他与世长辞。在弥留之际，他对身边的士兵和当地朋友说了如下的话：“耶稣爱你们。他为你们献出了生命。支持他！”赫伦医生的殉道事迹应被铭记在韩国传教历史中，因为他是在首尔为韩国传教而生活和工作的外国传教士中的首位受害者。如今从事医疗工作、照顾身心疾病患者的医生们，应该铭记赫伦医生的仁爱、服务和奉献精神。
