Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 69

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Benevolent Societies.

JAN.

ART. VIII. Benevolent Societies: Medical Missionary 'Society ; Morrison Education Society; Useful Knowledge Society; Sin- gapore Institution Free School; the Anglo-Chinese College. THE several benevolent institutions in China, hitherto supported chiefly by the foreign residents, have been kept very much from public view, by the disturbed state of political affairs, during the last two years; it is matter for congratulation, however, to know that in the meantime their operations have been only in part suspended. With the restoration of peace and a thrifty commerce, we trust the friends and patrons of these institutions will have the satisfaction of seeing them prospering and extending their influence more than ever before-an influence as salutary as it is benevolent, acting with nearly equal power both upon the benefactor and the beneficiary. Charity is like the exercise of mercy-'tis twice blessed. It is a pleasure to know, that there are in the foreign community not a few, who are not only ready as they have opportunity, but who seek for occasions, to do, or to aid in doing, those acts of mercy and of chari- ty which are ever due to the poor, the ignorant, and the afflicted.

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By the Medical Missionary Society, a very great amount of suffer- ing has been alleviated or removed. The Society has established hospitals in three places-one in Canton, one in Macao, and one in Chusan,—at all of which collectively there have been received more than ten thousand patients. Most of them have been, from among the poorer classes, but there have been some from the highest ranks. The late imperial high commissioner and governor of these pro- vinces has, very recently, even since his removal from office, sought for medical aid from foreign practitioners. Four medical officers are connected with the Society,-two of whom are, for the time being, absent from China.

The Morrison Education Society, attracting less public notice, has not been less successful in its sphere. The effects of its labors are designed to be of the most beneficial and permanent character, for they touch the mainsprings of society, and give form and shape to the intellectual machinery of those who are to be the organs of com- munication between this and other nations. It is of great importance that such persons should be thoroughly trained. Hence we think the Society has acted wisely, in resolving so to limit the number of its pupils as to make their education as thorough and complete as pos- sible. In this plan we have had full opportunity to observe its pra-