512
EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS IN
HONGKONG.
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The Government's proposition to increase school fees is not well received by local Chinese, and a meeting of those interested at the Com- mercial Union decided to make a representation to the Government on the subject. Their views, so far as can be gathered, are set forth as
follows:
(1) With the exception of private Chinese Schools and those established under the auspices of the Tung Wah Hospital and the Confucian Society, there is still no high Chinese Schoo established by the Government. What have been established are Anglo-Chinese schools, in which the English language takes the leading part, so that Chinese boys, after obtaining a smattering of their own language, are transfer- red to these schools. The boys attending these schools belong mainly to the middle and lower
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
WANCHAI CHURCH. HONGKONG.
ANNUAL MISSIONARY MEETING.
The annual missionary meeting was held at Wanchai Wesleyan Church on Monday. This was the last of a series of meetings. All have been splendidly attended, the Church being quite full on Sunday night when Dr. Anderson preached on "The unsearchable riches of Christ." At the meeting on Monday there were about 200 persons present. Mr. J. C. Joughin took the chair.
After the Rev. T. W. Scholes had led the meeting in prayer the Rev. J. A. A. Baker gave an outline of the growth of the work carried on by the Wesleyan Missionary Society for the past 96 years. The Methodist Churches in Canada and Australia, which are among the first in point of numbers and influence in those Colonies, were started by missionaries of this Society; now they are self-supporting and have missions of their own. At present the
parts of the world. The success in the foreign field turned the decrease in Church members in Great Britain into an increase of the Church as a whole. At Wanchai the missionary spirit is very strong. The Foreign Field (the monthly missionary publication of the Society) which is sold with an inset containing 6 pages of printed matter recording the doings of the Church and S. & S. Home, has, through the efforts of Mr Makeham, a circulation of 100 monthly, the majority of these being taken by sailors and soldiers.
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[December 11, 1909.
showed the difficulty and discouragement that attended preaching, such as when one has been preaching with all one's heart and soul; sometimes the only result seemed a com- ment on the preacher, "what tight trousers ho wears.' He advocated self-supporting hospitals, and passed on to show the need of educa- tional work. China believed to-day that if sho was educated she would be saved. Her educa tion was undermining her belief in idols. We have an unparalleled opportunity to influence her at the present time; the danger was that in giving them universities we should simply give thom a great power without giving them character-so, the need of Christian teaching. A fine address was brought to a close by an earnest appeal for consecration to this great work.
If large congregations, enthusiasm, good collections and good speaking can make a suc- cessful anniversary, then Wanchai Church has had a very successful anniversary. The Mission-
classes, and the earnings of their parents are | Society has 331 missionaries working in all ary Society will benefit to the extent of $170 by
quite insignificant. If the school fees are increased, will it be detrimental to the interests of these people?
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(2) As a rule the majority of the well-to-do Chinese send their sons to schools where high fees are charged, such as the Diocesan School and St. Stephen's. In so doing their object differs from that of the middle and lower classes. Being well off, they wish to educate their sons with a view to filling official positions, while the middle and lower classes can only give their sons an education which is just sufficient to enable them to earn a living. A high education naturally entails high costs, and were the fees of such schools not increased the well-to-do class would agitate for their increase. It would therefore matter little if the Government in- creased the fees in higher grade schools and did not do so in the case of the lower grade.
(3) Of all the schools opened by the Chinese, the Ellis Kadoorie is the only one which com- pares favourably with the Government schools. At the outset that school was intended solely for the middle and lower classes and no fee was charged, but through want of funds and the difficulty subsequently experienced in raising the same a nominal fee of two dollars per month has been charged, relying partly upon the annual grant made by the Government as a set-off against the expenses of the school. Further increase of the fee will be in conflict with the primary object of the promoters, but if the fee is not increased the Government may find an
The Chairman, Mr. JOUGHIN, then gave an address. He said that before he came to Hong kong he was strongly prejudiced against mission aries, and he had formed his opinions from seafaring men. He had found now that most of these men had scarcely ever been off the sear front and had picked up and believed any idle stories that were being circulated. How easy it was to come to China and see practically nothing of missionaries and their work. He had been to North China, and wherever he went he tried to find out the truth about missionaries and their work. He had seen enough in Hankow alone to convince him of the good work that was being done Mr. Joughin then gave incidents he had seen in Dr. Rees' work in Wuchow and that of Dr. Ander- son's in Fatshan, which had made him a strong believer in the work. As this was the last occasion he might have to say publicly what he wanted to, he wished to say that the time he has been associated with Wanchai Church has
these meetings -Contributed.
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE EYESORE ON THE PRAYA.
** HONGKONG [TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS."]
Hongkong, 7th December, 1909. SIR,- In your editorial comment on last Thursday's debate in Council you truly remarked that the speech of the Honourable the Co onial Secretary promised little improvement in the condition of things on the Praya for, some time to come. That being the impression which the speech made upon me, it was only upon the strength of His Excellency Governor's promise to investigate the the matter personally, and to cause to be re- moved whatever can be removed, that I allowed the motion to drop. Your reference to this suggests that I was too easily satisfied. It may so turn out. But a week is too short a time in which to judge. His Excellency must have time to conduct enquiries. I regarded his un- dertaking and promise as important, because believe that independent investigation will show be removed at once that the débris can from every part of the plot in question," except that portion which is leased to the Post Office contractor. The untidy remains of the now-disused tar factory, which will surely never
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excuse to reduce the grant. How is this difficulty been, one of great joy; if it were not for the be used again, can be removed at once, and so
to be solved?
(4) It is the duty of the State to allot part of the revenue for educational purposes. If the Exchequer is at its ebb there is no reason why it should be replenished by taxing the schools, inasmuch as the revenue to be derived from increased fees cannot be a very great help to the Government, while the increased fees must inflict a hardship on those who have to pay them. The Government should effect a saving
in directions other than education.
(5) As to the contention that a low fee may induce the Chinese to come from the mainland to be educated, and that there is no reason why the Colony should sacrifice its revenue for their sake, it should be remembered that there is no proper Anglo-Chinese School in the interior of China, excepting the American Missionary School and the Ellis Kadoorie School at Honan in Canton. The other scholastic establishments are for beginners. There the fess charged are about the same as in Hong kong, but house rent and food are cheaper, so that those who come down here to be educated do not come for the sake of cheap fees, but because the standard of education is higher. Moreover, most of the students who come here only do so because their fathers and relatives trade in Hongkong, and in such cases if they benefit by the Colony's revenue they are ertitled to it, as they are taxpayers in common with others so long as they are residing in the Colony. Even if they had no relatives trading here when they come to reside in the Colony, they become taxpayers if not directly, indirectly. In short, the influx of students can be conducive only to the prosperity of the Colony. This is another point that should be taken into con- sideration.
[A leading article deals with this question.
strength and help he had received at the services here in times of temptation and trial he would have failed. When he and his wife returned to England they would do their best to break down the prejudice that existed in many parts against missionary work and to help forward It was a strong and outspoken the work.
close utterance and was listened to with attention and appreciation.
The Rev. WEBB ANDERSON, M.D., who has charge of the large hospital in Fatshan, then addressed the meeting, He said foreign mis sionary enterprise was vital to the success of any Church. Lord urzon had written that the selection of a single text from the preaching of the Founder of the Faith as a basis of movement against all other faiths is to be condemned. Dr. Anderson pointed out forcibly that to imagine that missionary work is done simply because Our Lord said. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel," is a mistake. Our defence of our work was not simply that our Lord had given a command. The whole genius of the New Testament is such that the Church established by Jesus Christ is bound to be world-wide a its operations. He said that Church history vindicated the policy of missionary work, for whenever a Church put that work in the front that Church succeeded and its life at home was vigorous. Their object was not to make Methodists, but simply to make devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The work was not easy and to do it they wanted the most brilliant men they could get and men full of passion.
The Doctor then went on to picture to the audience the way the work was done, giving many illustrations, some of them very humorous, but they all shed light on the main truths he brought home, to the hearts of his hearers, He
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can the Praya Reclamation Office. Honourable the Colonial Secretary said so. “This can now be done" were his words. These words
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taken in conjunction with His Excellency's state- ment constitute a definite promise, Indefiniteness can only creep in over the interpretation of the word "now." I am sure His Excellency will not sanction any quibbling over that. As regards the alleged necessity for the Post Office contractor remaining where he is until the completion of the new building, would it not be. possible to induce him to transfer himself to the open space immediately to the West of the site? I understand that he could procure it for half the amount he pays to the Government as rent for the offending matsheds. If he displays resistance to the idea of moving,
can it be because he fears he would be sharply looked after as the tenant of the P. & O. Co., whereas now he feels that he is protected by the inertia of the P.W.D.? I allowed my motion to drop not because I was put off by special pleading, but because my hopes were set on the one thing needful. The one thing needful is a word of command, and His Excellency will earn the gratitude of the whole European community if, after investiga- tion, he can see his way to give it. Yours truly,
M. STEWART.
The Chefoo Post in its Dairen Notes says:- Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Shanghai,' will in a few days take over their local interests from the hands of Messrs. Cornabe, Eckford & Co., and intend to open a branch office here next door to Messrs Butterfield and Swires under the charge of Mr. E. U. Reid,