Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 376

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What I have Scen in Shanghai.

JUNE,

The mission from the American Episcopal Church nas received both affliction and blessing from the Lord's hand. In addition to the loss of Mr. Spalding, and the temporary absence of Miss Morse, the state of Bp. Boone's health has prevented him from sitting with the Committee of Delegates, and limited his preaching to occasional ser- vices in the school-house chapel. At Wangka Moda, consequent up- on the death of Mr. Spalding and the opening of the new church, preaching has been discontinued, and the mission chapel there closed. 'The new church, called Kituh Túng, i. e. Christ's Church, was public- ly dedicated on the first Sunday in January. The services on that occasion were conducted by Bp. Boone, assisted by the Rev. Messrs. Syle and McClatchie. Since that time, Mr. Syle has sustained them alone; he restricts his preaching to one occasion each week, at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, but gives systematic instruction almost daily; then on each Tuesday a class of candidates for baptism is as sembled, and he converses with them one by one; so on Friday, a class of

poor people, pensioners on the communion alms receive instruction ; and so again on Sabbath morning, the pupils of a day-school, about twenty in number, together with the two above named classes and others, are all brought together to hear the doctrines of the Bible, on which occasion the people in the neighborhood and those who may chance to be passing the church, are invited to attend. At specified hours daily Mr. Syle opens the vestry for whoever may wish to receive religious instruction.

The boarding-school of this mission, numbering forty-six boys and six girls-has been of late the scene of more than ordinary interest. The system of education is the same as that pursued formerly by Mr. Brown in the school of the Morrison Education Society in Hongkong. This is the only school in Shánghái in which the education of the pu- pils is conducted in both the English and Chinese languages. For many months past unusual seriousness has prevailed among the pupils, and has extended to other Chinese connected with the mission, the result of which has been a considerable increase in the number of na- tive converts. The number of those admitted to the native church is now fifteen-teachers, pupils, servants, and others, among whom is the one already mentioned as having been a member of Mr. Spalding's Bible class. Nine of the fifteen were members of the school; of these two have died, both leaving behind them the most pleasing evidence of genuine faith in the Lord Jesus. Of this little company of believers, six came forward at the same time to make their public avowal of dis- cipleship and faith in Christ. It was in the school-house chapel, and