(2)
Hong Kong is a desirable and convenient locality to be made the fulcrum of this moral lever. Although the spoken dialects are very dissimilar in different districts, the written characters—being the symbolical representatives of ideas, and not alphabetic combinations of sounds—are everywhere the same. The Holy Scriptures and Christian Books, translated into the Chinese character, will therefore be understood everywhere by the educated portion of the Chinese. The ability to read is very general in Chinese cities; and none but the poorest classes neglect the education of their male offspring.
Both these objects, however, the Christian Press, and oral instruction by living teachers, must, as far as possible, be blended together in their due proportions.
In the rural districts it is a common circumstance to find the great majority of the villagers sunk in abject poverty, and unable to read. That class of our fellow-heirs of sin and sorrow, to whom the Gospel was designed to be preached as well as to ourselves, are consequently shut out from a most important channel of Religious Instruction. An extract from the writer's published volume on China may here be appropriately introduced to explain his views on this part of the subject:-
"During the Author's journeyings and residence in the northern ports, the following facts were impressed constantly on his mind:-1. The very partial prevalence of education among the bulk of the lower classes of people in the villages, though in the towns the ability to read was much more general; 2. The consequent importance of direct preaching to the people; and, 3. The expediency of providing means for the systematic preparation of Native Evangelists to accompany and assist European Missionaries in the work of oral instruction. These considerations point out the importance, at some future period, of a good 'Anglo-Chinese Missionary Institution,' in which an able Missionary should devote his principal endeavours to the work of imparting the benefits of a first-rate education to a limited number of youths of promising talent and disposition. At present there is a want of materials for such an Institution, as the first elements of education have to be previously imparted in common Schools, before any Seminary or College can be raised. To reverse the order of these two distinct kinds of Educational Agency, is to confound the natural course of things. Such materials, though not existing at the commencement, may ere long be raised up about the families of Missionaries, and among the children of Converts. A proficiency in the more elementary branches of Education, conveyed to them through the medium of books composed by Missionaries, in the Chinese language, and a lengthened test, under the eye of Missionaries, of the mental powers and moral disposition of individual pupils, will in due time point out proper subjects for receiving the more solid advantages which a thorough education in the science and theology of the West, through the medium of the English language, will confer on Native Youths in their endeavours to diffuse the Gospel among their fellow-countrymen. For this higher course of education it may be expedient to form a Missionary Seminary at a distance from the place of their nativity, where a few pupils of promising piety and ability may be collected together in one place, from the several Stations on the Coast of China, and at the same time be detached from the unfavourable influences of kindred and home. Hong Kong, though replete with dangers from European intercourse and the inconveniences of distance, yet may possibly hereafter afford the greatest facilities for carrying out such a plan.
"The system of Central Education is generally open to objections; but the circumstances of the China Mission are regarded as being peculiar, and dissimilar from other Missions. A Missionary, occupying the post of Principal of such an Institution, might hold daily Family Services, and occasional Public Services, at his own house, for the benefit of such Chinese as might be induced to attend. The youths thus carefully educated and trained, with a view to personal dedication to the work of evangelizing their countrymen, might, on the completion of the necessary course of instruction, return to the Missionaries on the Continent of China; where, by the Divine Blessing on the means employed in their preparation, they might become valuable and efficient aids to the European Missionaries."-Pp. 520-522
(3)
The Institution, of which, in 1846, the writer gave the afore-mentioned outline in prospect, is now about to be realized, under more favourable circumstances, and on a larger scale, than he then was authorised in contemplating. An Episcopal College, of which the Bishop of Victoria is to be ex-officio Warden, is now about to be established at Hong Kong. The Special Committee of the China Bishopric Fund having succeeded in raising, from voluntary sources, the necessary endowment for the newly-constituted See, have also directed their attention to this important object, and have taken initiatory measures for obtaining Contributions towards the Episcopal College. The commencement of such an Institution already exists, in a School erected under the superintendence of the Rev. Vincent Stanton, the Colonial Chaplain, at an expense of nearly £3000, to which he himself contributed the munificent sum of £1000. Stanton having been informed of the probability of a Bishop being speedily nominated for Hong Kong, has recently written to the Trustees in England, in whom the building is vested, expressing his wish that it might be made the foundation of the proposed Episcopal College. He states that the ground and building are in every respect excellent; that there is abundant room for separate buildings, or an enlargement of the present building; and that the house is well situated for the present residence of the Bishop.
The opportune transfer of this building is a valuable commencement; but increased funds will be required to enlarge it to the scale contemplated. A debt of £643 is due on the present building; and £3000 more, at least, will be required to erect apartments for the Tutors, and for an increased number of Students. The needful sum, therefore, for originating the Institution, and supporting its current expenditure for the first year or two, cannot be estimated at less than £5000. Independent of this Building Fund, there will be required a permanent Sustentation Fund, in the form of Annual Subscriptions. For a portion of this annual expense the Founders of the College look to the liberality of British Residents in China, who have never shown themselves reluctant to support any charitable object which has commended itself to their approval. It is also deemed no premature nor unreasonable expectation to hope that Her Majesty's Government will assist, with an annual pecuniary grant, an Institution which will have an important influence in improving the tone of international intercourse between the subjects of the two countries. But it is believed that the support of the College will mainly devolve on Christians residing in Great Britain.
The China Mission is as yet in a state of infancy, and the course of education pursued in the Institution will necessarily, for some little time, be of an elementary kind. For a few years Missionary Labours at Hong Kong will be to a great extent a work of preparation; and the present generation of Labourers may be privileged only to plough the soil, and sow the seed, of which the next generation may reap the harvest. The writer deems it expedient to content himself with this general exposition of his views, and to leave further details to be modified according to circumstances and corrected by future experience.
As no Public Society is likely at present to undertake a Mission of the Church of England at Hong Kong, the scale of operations in the proposed College must be altogether adapted to the amount of Voluntary Contributions. It is, however, the earnest desire of the Bishop to take with him to China at least two Clerical fellow-labourers in the College, as Sub-warden and Tutor, to be associated with him in the blessed work of preparing the future Native Evangelists of China. He will also gladly attend to the proposals and cherish the offer of any zealous and well-qualified Labourers, who, with their support guaranteed by a Public Society, or by friends at home, may be desirous of consecrating themselves to the service of God abroad, and of being sent forth as Ordained Ministers of our Church, to labour among British Seamen and Soldiers, or among the Heathen in China.
287
(2)
Kong is a desirable and convenient locality to be made the fulcrum of this moral lever. Although the spoken dialects are very dissimilar in different districts, the written characters- being the symbolical representatives of ideas, and not alphabetic combinations of sounds—are everywhere the same. The Holy Scriptures and Christian Books, translated into the Chinese character, will therefore be understood everywhere by the educated portion of the Chinese The ability to read is very general in Chinese cities; and none but the poorest classes neglect the education of their male offspring.
race.
Both these objects, however, the Christian Press, and oral instruction by living teachers, must, as far as possible, be blended together in their due proportions.
In the rural districts it is a common circumstance to find the great majority of the villagers sunk in abject poverty, and unable to read. That class of our fellow-heirs of sin and sorrow, to whom the Gospel was designed to be preached as well as to ourselves, are consequently shut out from a most important channel of Religious Instruction. An extract from the writer's published volume on China may here be appropriately introduced to explain his views on this part of the subject:-
"During the Author's journeyings and residence in the northern ports, the following facts were impressed constantly on his mind:-1. The very partial prevalence of education among the bulk of the lower classes of people in the villages, though in the towns the ability to read was much more general; 2. The consequent importance of direct preaching to the people; and, 3. The expediency of providing means for the systematic preparation of Native Evangelists to accompany and assist European Missionaries in the work of oral instruction. These considerations point out the impor- tance, at some future period, of a good "Auglo-Chinese Missionary Institution," in which an able Missionary should devote his principal endeavours to the work of imparting the benefits of a first- rate education to a limited number of youths of promising talent and disposition. At present there is a want of materials for such an Institution, as the first elements of education have to be previously imparted in common Schools, before any Seminary or College can be raised. To reverse the order of these two distinct kinds of Educational Agency, is to confound the natural course of things. Such materials, though not existing at the commencement, may ere long be raised up about the families of Missionaries, and among the children of Converts. A proficiency in the more elementary branches of Education, conveyed to them through the medium of books composed by Missionaries, in the Chinese language, and a lengthened test, under the eye of Missionaries, of the mental powers and moral disposition of individual pupils, will in due time point out proper subjects for receiving the more solid advantages which a thorough education in the science and theology of the West, through the medium of the English language, will confer on Native Youths in their endeavours to diffuse the Gospel among their fellow-countrymen. For this higher course of education it may be expedient to form a Missionary Seminary at a distance from the place of their nativity, where a few pupils of promising piety and ability may be collected together in one place, from the several Stations on the Coast of China, and at the same time be detached from the unfa- vourable influences of kindred and home. Hong Kong, though replete with dangers from European intercourse and the inconveniences of distance, yet may possibly hereafter afford the greatest facilities for carrying out such a plan.
"The system of Central Education is generally open to objections; but the circumstances of the China Mission are regarded as being peculiar, and dissimilar from other Missions. A Missionary, occupying the post of Principal of such an Institution, might hold daily Family Services, and occa- sional Public Services, at his own house, for the benefit of such Chinese as might be induced to attend. The youths thus carefully educated and trained, with a view to personal dedication to the work of evangelizing their countrymen, might, on the completion of the necessary course of instruc- tion, return to the Missionaries on the Continent of China; where, by the Divine Blessing on the means employed in their preparation, they might become valuable and efficient aids to the European Missionaries."-Pp. 520-522
(3)
The Institution, of which, in 1846, the writer gave the afore-mentioned outline in prospect, is now about to be realized, under more favourable circumstances, and on a larger scale, than he then was authorised in contemplating. An Episcopal College, of which the Bishop of Victoria is to be ex-officio Warden, is now about to be established at Hong Kong. The Special Committee of the China Bishopric Fund having succeeded in raising, from voluntary sources, the necessary endowment for the newly-constituted Sec, have also directed their attention to this important object, and have taken initiatory measures for obtaining Contributions towards the Episcopal College. The commencement of such an Institution already exists, in a School erected under the superintendence of the Rev. Vincent Stanton, the Colonial Chaplain, at an expense of nearly £3000, to which he himself contributed the munificent sum of £1000. Stanton having been informed of the probability of a Bishop being speedily nominated for Hong Kong, has recently written to the Trustees in England, in whom the building is vested, expressing his wish that it might be made the foundation of the proposed Episcopal College. He states that the ground and building are in every respect excellent; that there is abundant room for separate buildings, or an enlargement of the present building; and that the house is well situated for the present residence of the Bishop.
Mr.
The opportune transfer of this building is a valuable commencement; but increased funds will be required to enlarge it to the scale contemplated. A debt of £643 is due on the present building; and £3000 more, at least, will be required to erect apartments for the Tutors, and for an increased number of Students. The needful sum, therefore, for originating the Institution, and supporting its current expenditure for the first year or two, cannot be estimated at less than £5000. Independent of this Building Fund, there will be required a permanent Sustentation Fund, in the form of Annual Subscriptions. For a portion of this annual expense the Founders of the College look to the liberality of British Residents in China, who have never shown themselves reluctant to support any charitable object which has commended itself to their approval. It is also deemed no premature nor unreasonable expectation to hope that Her Majesty's Government will assist, with an annual pecuniary grant, an Institution which will have an important influence in improving the tone of international intercourse between the subjects of the two countries. But it is believed that the support of the College will mainly devolve on Christians residing in Great Britain..
The China Mission is as yet in a state of infancy, and the course of education pursued in the Institution will necessarily, for some little time, be of an elementary kind. For a few years Missionary Labours at Hong Kong will be to a great extent a work of preparation; and the present generation of Labourers may be privileged only to plough the soil, and sow the seed, of which the next generation may reap the harvest. The writer deems it expedient to content himself with this general exposition of his views, and to leave further details to be modified according to circumstances and corrected by future experience.
As no Public Society is likely at present to undertake a Mission of the Church of England at Hong Kong, the scale of operations in the proposed College must be altogether adapted to the amount of Voluntary Contributions. It is, however, the earnest desire of the Bishop
to take with him to China at least two Clerical fellow-labourers in the College, as Sub- warden and Tutor, to be associated with him in the blessed work of preparing the future Native Evangelists of China. He will also gladly attend to the proposals and cherish the offer of any zealous and well-qualified Labourers, who, with their support guaranteed by a Public Society, or by friends at home, may be desirous of consecrating themselves to the service of God abroad, and of being sent forth as Ordained Ministers of our Church, to labour among British Seamen and Soldiers, or among the Heathen in China.
287
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