the only religion acknowledged by the Chinese is demerits. It is no
answer
School
to this
to
that there
say
"Sacred Scriptures are the ordinary of the Chinese. The only practical purpose their books serve in China is to
keep up
the number of Confucianists and of Officials.
the Knowledge of
gives
them
hardly
in our sense,
but it does keep up the religion
of China and love of this we
are paying immense
sums annually. Moreover, we do not
consult the Chinese as to anything
of the Government. They, like
strangers
are treated
by
the Europeans,
are more sojourners,
and, with the happy knowledge
that they are
not being taxed to death.
being fairly experienced, they
had
- not till they came under British rule - will - they pay without questioning
whatever
whatever taxes are required of
them. It would be
idle
to suggest to them that "the burden of
maintaining the Church of England
is thrown
and that the British Government
does nothing for their religion="
No one,
Portuguese
or Chinese conformist.
or Chinese has been
injured by the small Ecclesiastical Church of England.
grant
to the
in this place, and so long the Government cannot,
not possibly
free itself from Ecclesiastical grant
of
some sort, I see not
why
except in the one most important
matter
of a Church
of nomination
by some Body here to the appointment,
any change should be made in
the existing arrangements.
I have etc.
(Signed) I. S. Victoria
Hongshing
of
44
Page 357