Old Hong Kong-5 — Page 155

Old Hong Kong 昔日香港 All AI Reviewed

CHURCHS

(Continuation)

154

in company with the famous Rev. C. Gutzlaff (see 18-7-33) and (4-11-33) and as he gives us an insight into the conditions of the Chinese inhabitants of these shores at the time, I propose to quote substantial extracts from the record.

It is interesting to note that the Rev. George Smith was first sent out here by the Church Missionary Society to survey the prospects of Protestant missionary enterprise in China. He covered a wide field in the course of his investigations, and returning to England, drew up an extensive report which was published in 1847, in book form. As a consequence of this report, it was decided to make Hongkong a Bishopric and the Rev. Mr. Smith was consecrated Bishop in 1849, returning to the Colony next year (March 1850) as the first to hold that office locally. He consecrated St. John's Cathedral in September 1850 (see 2-9-33). It is of importance to note that Bishop Smith was so appointed expressly for supervising the conversion of the Chinese to the Christian faith, and the European residents were not officially within his jurisdiction, it being left to them to decide whether they would accept his suzerainty: and it is on record that some of them at first refused to acknowledge the new Bishop. That original charter, for the conversion of the Chinese, stands even to-day.

Under the terms of his appointment, it is only natural to read in a subsequent comment that "with the arrival of the Bishop ..... a period of increased missionary and educational activity set in, for Bishop Smith possessed stimulating energy and looked upon the whole of China, as well as Hongkong, as his diocese."

We come then to the Rev. George Smith's record of his first few years in China, from which I take the following extracts of purely local interest:

* On the morning of December 2 (1844) I left Macao, for Hongkong in a native passage-boat, crowded with Chinese passengers who pretty well divided their whole time between eating, smoking and gambling.... The next day at noon we arrived at Hongkong, and I was soon after domiciled in the residence of the Colonial Chaplain the Rev. Vincent Standon, (see 2-9-33) who with his excellent wife paid me unremitting kindness, during my protracted sojourn beneath their hospitable roof. My friend Mr. M'Clatchie, arriving from Canton, joined me at Hongkong on December 20 and on the 20th February following embarked for Shanghai, in order to fix his permanent abode and to pursue his Chinese studies at that port, which, on the whole seemed most likely to become one of the contemplated Stations of the Church Missionary Society. The exploratory work of visiting all the newly opened ports of China was left to me which, however, the continued weakness of my health prevented my attempting till after the close of the unfavourable monsoon, later in the spring.

"The ordinary incidents of my residence in Hongkong, though they must ever be deeply impressed on my own mind in the retrospect of its many mercies and privileges, I shall pass over, as being of a nature little calculated to give information concerning China and the Chinese. A few particulars will be given illustrative of the general position of Missionaries and the character of Missionary pursuits in this recently acquired appendage to the colonial empire of Britain.

"During the period of my temporary residence at Hongkong I enjoyed the valuable privilege of continued intercourse with the various Missionaries who were at this time assembled at Hongkong in more than their ordinary number; many of them being

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CHURCHS (Continuation) 154 in company with the famous Rev. C. Gutzlaff (see 18-7-33) and (4-11-33) and as he gives us an insight into the conditions of the Chinese inhabitants of these shores at the time, I propose to quote substantial extracts from the record. It is interesting to note that the Rev. George Smith was first sent out here by the Church Missionary Society to survey the prospects of Protestant missionary enterprise in China. He covered a wide field in the course of his investigations, and returning to England, drew up an extensive report which was published in 1847, in book form. As a consequence of this report, it was decided to make Hongkong a Bishopric and the Rev. Mr. Smith was consecrated Bishop in 1849, returning to the Colony next year (March 1850) as the first to hold that office locally. He consecrated St. John's Cathedral in September 1850 (see 2-9-33). It is of importance to note that Bishop Smith was so appointed expressly for supervising the conversion of the Chinese to the Christian faith, and the European residents were not officially within his jurisdiction, it being left to them to decide whether they would accept his suzerainty: and it is on record that some of them at first refused to acknowledge the new Bishop. That original charter, for the conversion of the Chinese, stands even to-day. Under the terms of his appointment, it is only natural to read in a subsequent comment that "with the arrival of the Bishop ..... a period of increased missionary and educational activity set in, for Bishop Smith possessed stimulating energy and looked upon the whole of China, as well as Hongkong, as his diocese." We come then to the Rev. George Smith's record of his first few years in China, from which I take the following extracts of purely local interest: * On the morning of December 2 (1844) I left Macao, for Hongkong in a native passage-boat, crowded with Chinese passengers who pretty well divided their whole time between eating, smoking and gambling.... The next day at noon we arrived at Hongkong, and I was soon after domiciled in the residence of the Colonial Chaplain the Rev. Vincent Standon, (see 2-9-33) who with his excellent wife paid me unremitting kindness, during my protracted sojourn beneath their hospitable roof. My friend Mr. M'Clatchie, arriving from Canton, joined me at Hongkong on December 20 and on the 20th February following embarked for Shanghai, in order to fix his permanent abode and to pursue his Chinese studies at that port, which, on the whole seemed most likely to become one of the contemplated Stations of the Church Missionary Society. The exploratory work of visiting all the newly opened ports of China was left to me which, however, the continued weakness of my health prevented my attempting till after the close of the unfavourable monsoon, later in the spring. "The ordinary incidents of my residence in Hongkong, though they must ever be deeply impressed on my own mind in the retrospect of its many mercies and privileges, I shall pass over, as being of a nature little calculated to give information concerning China and the Chinese. A few particulars will be given illustrative of the general position of Missionaries and the character of Missionary pursuits in this recently acquired appendage to the colonial empire of Britain. "During the period of my temporary residence at Hongkong I enjoyed the valuable privilege of continued intercourse with the various Missionaries who were at this time assembled at Hongkong in more than their ordinary number; many of them being Page 155 Page 156

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CHURCHS (Continuation ) 154 in company with the famous Rev. C. Gutzlaff (see 18-7-33 ) and (4-11-33) and as he gives us an insight into the conditions of the Chinese inhabitants of these shores at the time, I propose to quote substantial extracts from the record. It is interesting to note that the Rev. George Smith was first sent out here by the Church Missionary Society to survey the prospects of Protestant missionary enterprise in China, He covered a wide field in the course of his investi- gations, and returning to England, drew up an extensive report which was published in 1847, in book form. As a consequence of this report, it was decided to make Hongkong a Bishopric and the Rev. Mr. Smith was consecrated Bishop in 1849, return- ing to the Colony next year (March 1850) as the first to hold that office locally. He consecrated St. John's Cathedral in September 1850 ( see 2-9-33 ). It is of importance to note that Bishop Smith was so appointed expressly for supervising the conversion of the Chinese to the Christian faith, and the European residents were not officially within his jurisdiction it being left to them to decide whether they would accept his suzerainty : and it is on record that some of them at first refused to a cknowledge the new Bishop. That original charter, for the conversion of the Chinese, stands even to-day. Under the terms of his a ppointment, it is only natural to read in a subsequent comment that " with the arrival of the Bishop ..... a period of increased missionary and educational activity set in, for Bishop Smith possessed stimulating energy and looked upon the whole of China, as well as Hongkong, as his diocese. # We come then to the Rev. George Smith's record of his first few years in China, from which I take thefollowing extracts of purely local interest : * On the morning of December 2 (1844) I left Macao, for Hongkong in a native passage-boat, crowded with Chinese passengers who pretty well divided their whole time between eating, smoking and gambling.... The next day at noon we arrived at Hongkong, and I was soon after domiciled in the residence of theColonial Chaplain the Rev. Vincent Standon, ( see 2-9-33 ) who with his excellent wife paid me unremitting. kindness, during my protracted sojourn beneath their hospitable roof. My friend Mr. M'Clatchie, arriving from Canton, joined me at Hongkong on December, 20 and on the 20th February follow- ne embarked for Shanghai, in order to fix his permanent abode and to pursue his Chinese studies at that port, which, on the whole seemed most likely to become one of the most likely one of the contemplated Stations of the Church, Missionary Society, The exploratory work of visiting all the newly opened ports of China was left to me which, however, the continued weakness of my health prevented my attempting till after the close of the unfavourable monsoon, later in the spring. "The ordinary incidents of my residence in Hongkong, though they must aver be deeply impressed on my own mind in the retropesct of its many mercies andprivileges, I shall pass over, as being of a nature little calculated to give informa- tion concerning China and the Chinese. A few particulars will be given illustrative of the general position of Missionaries and the character of Missionary pursuits in this recently acquired appendage to the colonial empire of Britain. "During the period of my temporary residence at Hongkong I enjoyed the valuable privilege of continued intercourse with the various Missionaries who were at this time assembled at Hongkong in more than their ordinary number; many of them being Page 155Page 156

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CHURCHS

(Continuation )

154

in company with the famous Rev. C. Gutzlaff (see 18-7-33 ) and (4-11-33) and as he gives us an insight into the conditions of the Chinese inhabitants of these shores at the time, I propose to quote substantial extracts from the record.

It is interesting to note that the Rev. George Smith was first sent out here by the Church Missionary Society to survey the prospects of Protestant missionary enterprise in China, He covered a wide field in the course of his investi- gations, and returning to England, drew up an extensive report which was published in 1847, in book form. As a consequence of this report, it was decided to make Hongkong a Bishopric and the Rev. Mr. Smith was consecrated Bishop in 1849, return- ing to the Colony next year (March 1850) as the first to hold that office locally. He consecrated St. John's Cathedral in September 1850 ( see 2-9-33 ). It is of importance to note that Bishop Smith was so appointed expressly for supervising the conversion of the Chinese to the Christian faith, and the European residents were not officially within his jurisdiction it being left to them to decide whether they would accept his suzerainty : and it is on record that some of them at first refused to a cknowledge the new Bishop. That original charter, for the conversion of the Chinese, stands even to-day.

Under the terms of his a ppointment, it is only natural to read in a subsequent comment that " with the arrival of the Bishop ..... a period of increased missionary and educational activity set in, for Bishop Smith possessed stimulating energy and looked upon the whole of China, as well as Hongkong, as his diocese. #

We come then to the Rev. George Smith's record of his first few years in China, from which I take thefollowing extracts of purely local interest :

* On the morning of December 2 (1844) I left Macao, for Hongkong in a native passage-boat, crowded with Chinese passengers who pretty well divided their whole time between eating, smoking and gambling.... The next day at noon we arrived at Hongkong, and I was soon after domiciled in the residence of theColonial Chaplain the Rev. Vincent Standon, ( see 2-9-33 ) who with his excellent wife paid me unremitting. kindness, during my protracted sojourn beneath their hospitable roof. My friend Mr. M'Clatchie, arriving from Canton, joined me at Hongkong on December, 20 and on the 20th February follow- ne embarked for Shanghai, in order to fix his permanent abode and to pursue his Chinese studies at that port, which, on the whole seemed most likely to become one of the most likely one of the contemplated Stations of the Church, Missionary Society, The exploratory work of visiting all the newly opened ports of China was left to me which, however, the continued weakness of my health prevented my attempting till after the close of the unfavourable monsoon, later in the spring.

"The ordinary incidents of my residence in Hongkong, though they must aver be deeply impressed on my own mind in the retropesct of its many mercies andprivileges, I shall pass over, as being of a nature little calculated to give informa- tion concerning China and the Chinese. A few particulars will be given illustrative of the general position of Missionaries and the character of Missionary pursuits in this recently acquired appendage to the colonial empire of Britain.

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