A Faithful Korean Quaker

A Faithful Korean Quaker
by Nan Elliott
Balby Monthly Meeting
The Friend
November 30, 2001

Ham Sok Hon - the name conjures up a portrait of a white-bearded, gentle, saintly looking old man. Here are two books which tell its more of the real man. Taken together they give us two clearer pictures - one displaying the twentieth-century history of Korea (both North and South) and the other, the life and spiritual growth of a man in that same period. In viewing these two pictures we are led to appreciate how the person and his environment are inextricably intertwined, and the inevitable outcome of this is the realisation (although unwritten) that the frame is true of ourselves and our environment.

These are expensive books. If you can afford only one, then buy the anthology. More than half of it is a collection of writings by or about Ham Sok Hon, and these provide the reference source for any consideration of his life and thought. The remainder of the book is an excellent biographical essay by Kim Sung Soo.

But for real philosophical stimulus, try also to buy the biography (also by Kim Sung Soo).  This provides a more extensive picture of Ham Sok Hon, with emphasis on his philosophy.

If we try to choose a label for him, Ham is probably a Quaker Universalist - seeing in Confucianism the value of its hierarchical view of time and our inheritance; finding in Taoism a source, of spiritual enlightenment; and responding warmly to the gospel of hive in Christianity and Buddhism. Appreciating all, finding a peaceable 'middle way', he had an ability to reconcile universalism and nationalism to a. degree which sometimes generated an antagonism in others, which he did not reciprocate. So Ham appeals to us, not as a leader (or Messiah) to be Followed, but rather as a teacher, a sower of seed, an interpreter of the other - and reading these writings by and about him one is stimulated to search. Open either book at random-cane seems to find every time souse phrase or sentence with the provocative quality of stimulating further thought. It is this very quality which makes one wish for the index which is not provided.

To Quakers, those parts (and they are many) which discuss Quaker ideas will he particularly interesting. Sometimes we have treated our Quakerism statistically, historically, romantically or religiously, but seldom have we been provided with such an excellent comparative view. The environment to which Ham Sok Hon was exposed was at first a childhood Christian upbringing amidst people practicing Buddhism, Confucianism or Taoism; as a young adult he existed in a country colonised, fought over, and divided; in his maturity he spent time in the USA living among Quakers at Pendle Hill, finding (as others have done before) that here were people aspiring to the same ideals as himself. His comment at that time is interesting: 'I like Quakerism because it is not interested in formalism, creed, and theological discussion. No priest, no Father, everyone is equal to the Friends'. And with reference to membership an American Friend said to him: 'You were already a Quaker before you became a Quaker'.

Within the books, in Ham's own. Writing about The Religious Society of Friends, we find lucid comparisons and similarities with other religions and philosophies. In the writing of his biographer, Kim Sung Soo, we find an admirably accurate portrayal of ourselves.

Whether we choose to read the two books as observed descriptive works or whether we use them as a provocation to personal spiritual search, they form a valuable addition to our Quaker literature.

Biography of a Korean Ouaker: Ham Sok Hon - Voice of the people and pioneer of religious pluralism in twentieth century Korea, by Kim Sung Soo, published by Samin Books, price $20 US

An Anthology of Ham Sok Hon, edition Ham Sok Hon Memorial Foundation, published by Samin Books, price $20 US