So far as the Cathedral is concerned, I beg to assure your Grace that being put out of it is to me a very small consideration. If nothing else were involved, you should not be troubled by any letter from me on the subject. I did not come here to be an English preacher. I came here to carry on Missionary work.
I was prepared on my arrival to do what I could for my fellow-countrymen, if only I could do it in a way consistent with my position as Bishop, but my main desire was to advance the cause of Christian Missions to the Chinese. With this end in view, I have involved myself to a considerable amount pecuniarily in order to put this house in a decent state of repair so as to enable me to commence Missionary work in it. I opened a day-school the other day in it with forty lads, but I have already determined to increase the number to eighty. I shall have five Teachers—one English and four Chinese. Scriptural Instruction will form a part of the daily routine of the school. I have also a small class of Christian Students whom I hope to train as catechists, and ultimately, if found worthy, to ordain as Missionaries to their fellow-countrymen.
I cannot expect to train natives for work in the whole of China or even in that half which is supposed to belong to my Diocese, or in Japan. This would be as feasible as, supposing Europe were all heathen, having a small College with a Bishop and one solitary schoolmaster in one of the Channel Islands for the training of Native Missionaries for all its different nationalities! But I have the southern-most Province of China before me. This is as large as Great Britain and has probably as large a population. If I can train Native Catechists and Missionaries and scatter them even over the Southern part of that Province, shall I not be doing a genuinely Missionary work and advancing, so far as one man with very few means at his disposal can, the Christian civilization of China?
But what if this work is taken from me? What if this property on which St. Paul's College is built is resumed by the Government on the ground that in the Trust deed the property is given to the Lord Bishop of Victoria as created by the Letters Patent "a Body Corporate," and that I hold no such position? There is no doubt that by this Trust deed the local government have me completely in their power, and if they were disposed to be unfriendly, they could after three months' notice and more or less compensation (if indeed the law would not release them from granting me compensation) eject me from the building. But whether compensation were given or not, would any compensation make up for the frustration of my plans and the disappointment of any hopes?
Your Grace may think that I am disposed to take too serious a view of the matter. But I must say I can see nothing impossible or even improbable in the view I have presented. If the Letters Patent of an English Bishop were suddenly withdrawn and no legislative action taken to protect him in using the property of the Bishopric, very awkward questions would very soon present themselves. This is exactly my position, and I trust your Grace will see the importance of doing your utmost to place me on a better footing, so that the work I have marked out for myself may not be rudely interrupted and this house taken from me.
That I am not wholly without grounds for my anxiety on this point, I may mention that a short time ago, one in a high position in the Colony begged me not to spend too much money on the house, as the opinion had been expressed that "the house had been forfeited." I could not ask for an explanation, but I have little doubt it referred to the right I have to reside here. The withdrawal of the Letters Patent without express legislation on the subject virtually deprives the Bishop of the house just as much as it shuts him out of the Cathedral.
It may seem mercenary to allude to my having on the same ground no legal right to my salary, but your Grace will not think my allusion to it unreasonable. If my salary were stopped to-morrow, I could have no legal redress.
I put it to your Grace if this is a right position in which to place a man, especially as this Bishopric came to me from no seeking or even in the least degree desiring of mine.
Once more. If I am not legally Bishop of Victoria, my so signing myself is worthless, and all documents that I have so signed might be disallowed in law. My will, my insurance policy, my letters of orders, my ... all might be disputed, if it becomes generally known that the law does not acknowledge me as Bishop of Victoria.
You will remember that I brought this subject under your Grace's notice through Mr. Lee last autumn before I left England. Your Grace was good enough to give to me also through Mr. Lee answers to my questions, which I thought it right to show to the Governor here and the Clergy in my Diocese in the hope that your statements might strengthen my position. They have not done so, however. The Government, as I have said, do not recognize me at all, and the Clergy in Hongkong, while acknowledging me as a Bishop, and in words as their Bishop, have not as a Body recognized me, and cannot do so. They not only did not meet me, as a body, on my arrival here, but actually were not able to answer collectively the letter I wrote to them announcing the fact of my presence among them as their Bishop. I come not appointed by the present nor elected by them or any Church Body here, and they acknowledge the right of no one else to send a Bishop here. They have not said this in so many words, but this opinion—though not held perhaps by all—was the cause, I believe, of my being accorded no reception, public or private, by Clergy, some of them asked me, and I hope your Grace will forgive my repeating it, on what principle the Arch-Bishop appointed and designated me as Bishop of Victoria: was it as a kind of Pope, or by authority specially delegated to him by the Queen? I could not answer his question, as I never was told in what way the Colonial Secretary intimated to your Grace his wish about filling up the vacancy under the altered circumstances of the Bishopric.
Notwithstanding all this, however, I feel I have a grand sphere of usefulness truly if I am left undisturbed. I am busy learning the Southern Chinese Dialect which may bring me into direct contact with hundreds of thousands in the Province of Canton. I have the School to superintend. I have the small number of Christian students to teach and train for the Ministry, whom I intend by and by to take out with me on itinerating excursions. The private chapel of the College in which for the present at least I am supreme, I purpose opening soon for Divine Service in English and Chinese. Canton, Swatow, Amoy, Foochow, Formosa, and the different parts in Japan I will try to visit as I get time, though in all these places I can only make a very brief sojourn and be guided by the need that may from time to time arise for Episcopal Visitation. The only actual Missionary work that I can do personally will be that which I can, in any sense worth the name, "oversee," the work namely, that I have indicated in the Canton Province, if only I can get means to carry it out.
I am sorry to send you so long a letter. I fear you may not have time to read it. I trust, however, that you will see the importance of it, and that you will be able to put this Bishopric on a more satisfactory footing.
Believe me,
My dear Lord ARCHBISHOP,
Your Grace's devoted Servant,
J. S. BURDON, Bishop of Victoria.
Hongkong,
To His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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So far as the Cathedral is concerned, I beg to assure your Grace that being put out of it is to me a very small consideration. If nothing else were involved, you should not be troubled by any letter from me on the subject. I did not come here to be an English preacher. I came here to carry on Missionary work.
I was prepared on my arrival to do what I could for my fellow-countrymen, if only I could do it in a way consistent with my position as Bishop, but my main desire was to advance the cause of Christian Missions to fle Chinese. With this end in view I have involved myself to a considerable amount pecuniarily in order to put this house in a decent state of repair so as to onable me to commence Missionary work in it. Topened a day-school the other day in it with forty lads, but I have already determined to increase the number to eighty. I shall have Ave Teachers--one English and four Chinese. Scriptural Instruction will form a part of the daily routine of the school, I have also a small class of Christian Students whom I hope to train as catechists, and ultimately if found worthy, to ordain as Missionaries to their fellow-countrymen. I cannot expect to train natives for work in the whole of China or even in that half which is supposed to belong to my Diocese, or in Japan. This would be as feasible as, supposing Europe were all heathen, having a small College with a Bishop and one solitary schoolmaster in one of the Channel Islands for the training of Native Missionaries: for all its different nationalities! But I have the southern- most Province of China before me. This is as large as Great Britain and has probably as large a panlation. 11 can train Native Cutechists and Missionaries and scatter them even over the Southern part of that Province, shall I not be doing a genuinely Missionary work and advancing, so far as one man with very few means at his disposal. can, the Christian civilization of China?
But what if this work is taken from me? What if this property on which St. Paul's College is built is resumed by the Government on the ground that in the Trust deed the property is given to the Lord Bishop of Victoria as created by the Letters Patent a Body Corporate," and that I hold no such position There is no doubt that by this Trust deed the local government have me completely in their power, and if they were disposed to be unfriendly they could after three months' notice and more or less compensation if indeed the law would not releas them from granting me compensation--eject me from the building. But whether compensation were given or not, would any compensation make up for the frustration of my plans and the disappointment of any hopes?
Your Grace may think that I am disposed to tuke too serious a view of the matter. But I must say I cau sec nothing impossible or even improbable in the view i have presented. If the Letters Patent of an English Bishop were suddenly withdrawn and no legislative action taken to protect him in using the property of the Bishoprie, very awkward questions would very soon present themselves. This is exactly my position, and 1 trust your Grace will see the importance of doing your utmost to place me on a better footing, so that the work 1 have marked out for myself may not be rudely interrupted and this house taken from me,
That I am not wholly without grounds for my anxiety on this point, I may meation that a short time ago, one in a high position in the Colony begged me not to spend too much money on the house, as the opinion had twen expressed that "the house had been forfeiter." I could not ask for an explanation, but I have little doubt it referred to the right I have to reside here. The withdrawal of the Letters Patent without express legislation on the subject virtually deprives the Bishop of the house just as much as it shots him out of the Cathedral.
It may seen mercenary to alinde to my having on the same ground no legal right to my salary, but your Grace will not think my allusion to it unreasonable. If my salary were stopped to-morrow, I could have no legal
redress.
I put it to your Grace if this is a right position in which to place a man, especially as this Bishoprie came to me from no seeking or even in the least degree desiring of wine.
Once more. If I am not legally Bishop of Victoria, my so signing myself is worthless, and all documents that I have so signed might be disallowed in law. My will, my insurance policy, my letters of orders, my stul- all might be disputed, if it becomes generally known that the law does not acknowledge me as Bishop of Victoria.
You will remember that I brought this subject under your Grace's notlee through Mr. Lee last autiniu before I left England. Your Grace was good enough to give to also through Mr. Lee answers to my questions, which I thought it right to show to the Governor here mod the Clergy in my Diocese in the hope that your statements might strengthen my position. They have not done so, however. The Government, as I have suid, do not recognize me at all, and the Clergy in Hongkong while acknowledging me as a Bishop, aut in words as their Bishop, bave not us a Body recognized me, and camiot do so. They not only did not meet nie, as a body, on my arrival here, but actually
were not able to answer collectively the letter I wrote to them announcing the fact of my presence among them as their Bishop. I conne not appointed by the fusent mor elected by thein or any Church Body here, and they acknow- ledge the right of no one else to send a Bishop here. They have not said this in so many words, but this opinion--- though not held perhaps by all was the erase. I believe, of my busing awarded no nception, public or private, by i lergy, the of them asked me, and I hope your Grace will forgive my repeating it, on what principle the Arch- Bishop appointed and designated me as Bishop of Victoria: was it as a kind of Pope, or by authority specially delegated to him by the Queen? I could not answer his question, as I never was told in what way the Colonial | Sucretary intimated to your Grave his wish about filling up the vacuucy under the altered, eircumstances of the Bishoprie. This question from one of the Clergy here, asked in no unfriendly spirit, will show your Grace how I am looked at, and it will I hope be on additional reason for taking immediate steps to have any position vnde plain. I am runde to feel from day to day that I am thing but a unit. I may work by myself, if I wish and if the government will not interfere with me, or with others, if I will be content to drop the Bishop and burome the I canot ask the Clergy to meet me for discussion of any subject or for the formation of any plans. Collectively I have received, as i love said, not the smallest courtesy at their hands and individually they have shown, almost without exception, that they recognize in me no authority whatever. I have had a series of annoyances und vexations sinec cong here which I feel I have done not only nothing to provoke but everything to prevent.
f'urate.
Notwithstanding all this however I feel I have a grund sphere of usefulness ituly I am left undisturbed. I am busy learning the Southern Chinese Dialect which many bring me into direct ensfart with hundeds of thousands in the Proviser of Canton. I have the School to superintend. I have the small number of Christian students to teach and train for the Ministry, whom I intend by and bye to take out with me on itinerating excursions. The private chapel of the College in which for the present at least I am supreme I purpose opening soon for Divine, Service in English and Chinese. Canton, Swatow, Aney, Fooehow, Fornesa and the different parts in Japan I will try to visit as I get time, though in all these places Jean only make a very brief sujoura and be guided by the ne that may from time to time arise for Episcopal Visitation. The only actual Missionary work that I can do personally will be that which I can, in any sense worth the mame, oversee," the work namely, that I have iwlicated in the Cantun Province, if only I can get means to carry it out.
I am sorry to send you so long a letter. I fear you may not have time to read it. I trust however that you will see the importance of it, awit that you will be able to put this Bishopric on a more satisfactory footing.
Believe me,
My dear Lord ARCHBISHOP.
Your Grace's Dedicat Mervant.
J. S. BURDON, Bishop of Victoria. Ilougkong,
To His Grace the An-unishop of Canterbury.
EXIS CLAS AT THE TORNA NA KICH, MON, NANG.
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