NEWS CLIPPINGS:

THE KOREAN SUMMER ENCAMPMENTS

13 KOREANS GRADUATED: SUMMER SCHOOL CLOSES WITH TONIGHT’S EXERCISES – August 16, 1912

At the commencement exercises at Hastings College, beginning at 8 o’clock this evening, a class of thirteen young Koreans will be graduated in military tactics. Commencement exercises will mark the close of a very successful summer school session. Thirty-four students have been on the roll, and more are expected to attend the summer school next year.

The commencement exercises began Saturday evening when a four-act play, "Ahu Choong Khun" (with a cast of seventeen characters) was mounted at the College Chapel. This is a patriotic drama narrating the brave deeds of a Korean hero who lost his life in fighting the Japanese. It required an hour and a half to put on this play.

Last night a banquet was enjoyed in honor of Dr. Syngman Rhee and Y.M. Park, the former Korean delegate to the international missionary convention held at Minneapolis last summer. Dr. Rhee acted as toastmaster and responses were made by several persons, including Y.M. Park, President Crone of Hastings College, and the Reverend Mr. Kilburn of Doniphan. Covers were laid for sixteen.

This afternoon a military review was given in honor of the Kearney Military Academy, whose director will deliver the commencement address.

STATE SUMMER SCHOOL IS PROJECTED FOR HASTINGS – 1912

Plans are being considered for the establishing in Hastings of a state summer school for the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor.

It is proposed to organize a school here along the lines of those maintained in other states. The institution will be primarily for members of the Society who can not attend school during the regular session and those who wish to supplement their regular work with summer study.

If the plans are put into operation, it is probable that the school will be established at Hastings College to hold throughout the college vacation period. It is now too late to complete preparations for such a school this year, but efforts will be made to organize the project for 1913.

SUMMER CAMP FOR KOREANS TO BE ESTABLISHED HERE – 1912

A three-month encampment will be a feature of the forthcoming summer school for Koreans in this city. Heretofore, the Koreans have used the dormitories of Hastings College during the school period but next summer the entire Korean student body will camp north of the college gymnasium and for the most part the recitations will be held in the open air.

The camp has been planned as a part of the military training of the Korean cadets. They already have had two years of field drill.

Y.M. Park, one of the foremost Koreans of the state, who is now attending the state university, will arrive here early in June to superintend the Korean school. About fifty Koreans are expected to attend. Nine Koreans attended school here year-round.

December 9, 1910

Y.M. Park, who was at the head of the military school held here last summer and who is now a student at the State University, was in the city the forepart of the week in conference with the College authorities. Mr. Park said that between thirty and forty Koreans will attend school here next summer. The Editor of the Korean News, San Francisco, who accompanied Mr. Park to Hastings, will go to San Francisco in a few days to assist in editing a new Korean magazine.

NOTED KOREAN AT BAPTIST CHURCH – Hastings Daily Tribune, August 4, 1910

Dr. Syngman Rhee, the distinguished Korean who was in Hastings Monday, will lecture at the Baptist Church tomorrow night. All of the churches of the city will unite in this meeting and a large attendance is expected.

Dr. Rhee is one of the great patriots of Korea, and is thoroughly posted concerning the relations of Korea and Japan. He is now on his return to Korea after a prolonged absence.

CLOSE OF KOREAN SUMMER SCHOOL – THE HASTINGS DAILY REPUBLICAN, AUGUST 19, 1911

Today marked the close of the Korean Summer School at Hastings College.

Forty-two young men (native Koreans) have been in attendance at the Summer School. The course of instruction has been most thorough – along literary as well as military lines.

The faculty state that the Koreans have proven to be apt and intelligent pupils and made remarkable advancement. Today will be devoted to final examinations.

A fine program has been arranged for the evening to which the public is invited. At sundown the flag will be lowered from the College flag pole with military honors. At 7:30 the final exercises will be given in the College Chapel. Certificates will be given by Y.M. Park, the gifted young Korean, who is Head Master of the Summer School.

There will be a special musical program, and two Koreans will deliver addresses in the Korean language and two will speak in English.

The Koreans performing tonight are the same Koreans that made up the military company that executed such fine military maneuvers during the aviation meet witnessed by many thousands of spectators.

AWAKENING IN KOREA: LEADER OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT IN TOWN TODAY – August 22, 1911

Dr. Syngman Rhee, a native Korean who has taken degrees in several leading American colleges, stopped off here today to visit the summer school for Koreans at Hastings College. He is en route back to the so-called "hermit nation."

Koreans are just awakening to their possibilities, according to Dr. Rhee. They have made rapid progress in many lines in the last few years and much of the inspiration and encouragement for their progress has come from the United States. Hundreds of Koreans are now studying in American educational institutions and a large number of them will return to their own land and aid in the forward movement.

As a result of his leadership in the Korean Independence Club, Rhee was put into prison and kept there for several years. While in confinement he converted and educated many prisoners, preaching the gospel of Christ and teaching them the English language wherever he had an opportunity.

When Rhee first came to the United States in 1905 he studied at Washington University. He took his Bachelor’s Degree in 1907, receiving his Master’s Degree from Harvard University. He recently received a Doctor’s Degree from Princeton. He was a delegate from Korea to the Portsmouth Conference held after the conclusion of the Japanese-Russian War. There, he aided in preserving national rights for his people.

After a visit of a few days here, Dr. Rhee will resume his journey to Korea via England.

Dr. Rhee was met at the depot this morning by a delegation of students from the summer school, all clad in military uniform.

KOREAN SCHOOL IS A FIXTURE – (No Date)

The Young Korean’s Military School is now well established at Hastings College. A strict course of college preparatory study has been outlined and over thirty Koreans are in attendance.

An interesting feature of the school is the military drill, which takes place on the campus each afternoon between 4 and 6. The young men drill under the command of Lieutenant Kim, a graduate of the Blees Military Academy and a veteran of the Japan-Russian War.

The men in charge are well satisfied with the attendance and the facilities offered for the school here. The school will be reopened next summer, probably with a much larger enrollment.

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