CO129-018 - Others - 1846 — Page 298

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ing race, wedded by custom to foolish idolatry, but never wil- ling seriously to defend its practice. Present appearances lead me to coincide with the general opinion of the Missionaries, that nowhere in the IIeathen world can a congregation of attentive hearers be more easily obtained than in China. There is, of course, at the commencement of a Missionary's career in China, a longer period of delay in acquiring the language than elsewhere. A person of quick perception, retentive memory, and habits of method and analysis, may in one year, with good health, begin to feel some satisfactory and encouraging indications of his speedy progress toward eminent usefulness. Never, again, were there so many proofs, as at the present time, of the willing, attentive ear, on the part of the Chinese. The places of public worship for Natives, in connexion with the Protestant Missions at Hong Kong, are always full of Chinese hearers; and we believe the in- struction conveyed may be in the soil dormant for a time, but will not be wholly fruitless.

Instruments, however, are only responsible for the use of their talents, whether one or ten- the singleness of their aim- and not for the measure of success. Results it is our happy privilege to leave in the hand of Infinite Wisdom and Love, assured that, Isaiah lvi. 10, 11.

I remain, &c.

(Signed)

GEORGE SMITH.

REV. DR. BRIDGMAN TO REV. G. SMITH.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Hong Kong, March 17, 1845.

IN returning the Letter you so kindly placed in my hands, and knowing from experience how good it is to have the countenance of Christian friends, however humble, I feel that I should be wanting in my duty, as a Missionary, did I forbear to express to you the feelings inspired by its repeated perusal. Having one Lord, one faith, one bap- tism, one God and Father, our best endeavours are required

me.

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for

to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace;

I cannot tell there is one body, and one Spirit, NOT TWO. you, dear Brother, how much pleasure your letter has afforded It has touched and animated the best feelings of my heart; and I feel bound to say, and without any reserve, that I most heartily concur in its whole tenor and spirit. Thou- sands and thousands of labourers are needed in a field so vast, and I cordially unite with you in praying the Lord of the harvest to send forth more labourers; and if a word to your Brethren in the Churches at home, from one who has been more than fifteen years in this field, can be of any and help us. The fields are already avail, say, Come over, white; Come over, and help us. Accept my best thanks for the Letter, and believe me, &c.

(Signed.)

E. V. BRIDGMAN.

The following very important document, giving tolera- tion to the Chinese to profess Christianity, and sanctioning Missionary labour in the five Consular Ports, was transmitted to the Committee by the Rev. G. SMITH.

Ke-Ying, High Imperial Commissioner and Governor General of the Two Kwang, respectfully addresses the throne for the purpose of presenting a Memorial. He finds on exa- mination that the religion of the Lord of Heaven is that which all the Western nations adore and receive, that its object is principally is to admonish to good, and to condemn evil : that, therefore, from the time when it was introduced into China, during the previous Ming dynasty, it had hitherto not been prohibited; that subsequently because some of these Chinese who practised the religion, took advantage of that religion to do wickedly, even to the seducing and defiling of men's wives and daughters, and the using a cheat to take out the pupils of sick men's eyes; the Government did then search out and punish them, of which there is record, that in the reign of the Kea King, a special clause was for the first time laid