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ments for the charter had been made originally. Mr. Bonney came down to Hongkong and quickly sorted things out, so that the ship could leave with its load of emigrants.
A-chick left well supplied with letters of introduction from the bishop and Mr. Bonney to church people in San Francisco. Strangely enough his dismissal from Government service and his connection with the young brothel girl did not seem to put him out of favour with the Christian community. On June 29 1851, he and two of his fellow students at St. Paul's College had been baptised by the bishop.
On his arrival at San Francisco A-chick lost no time in using his letters of introduction. The one from the bishop he presented to the Rev. Dr. Van Mehr, rector of Grace Church Episcopal. Dr. Van Mehr wrote to the bishop about his meeting with A-chick.
"It was with no ordinary degree of pleasure that I made the acquaintance of a young Christian convert called A-chick, who brought an excellent letter of introduction from you. And I presume you feel deeply interested in his welfare. ... He came to see me as soon as he had arrived and has visited me almost daily.
"Knowing the spiritual temptation of this life-killing place, the very seat of Mammon, I have advised him to prepare for communion... As far as I can see, he is a converted man and promises to remain faithful. I shall do what I can to fulfil God's design with this redeemed soul, until he returns under your immediate care.”
Missionaries and clergymen were quick to seize upon any Chinese convert who showed signs of interest in the church. Unfortunately, for the hopes of Dr. Van Mehr, this was only a passing phase in the life of Tong A-chick. It was not long until the general welfare of the Chinese community in California was of more interest to him than the affairs of the church.
WHY A-CHICK STOOD OUT FROM HIS COUNTRYMEN
With his letters of introduction, interest in Christianity, knowledge of foreign manners and fluency in English, Tong A-chick was
186
CARL SMITH
ments for the charter had been made originally. Mr. Bonney came down to Hongkong and quickly sorted things out, so that the ship could leave with its load of emigrants.
A-chick left well supplied with letters of introduction from the bishop and Mr. Bonney to church people in San Francisco. Strangely enough his dismissal from Government service and his connection with the young brothel girl did not seem to put him out of favour with the Christian community. On June 29 1851, he and two of his fellow students at St. Paul's College had been baptised by the bishop.
On his arrival at San Francisco A-chick lost no time in using his letters of introduction. The one from the bishop he presented to the Rev. Dr. Van Mehr, rector of Grace Church Episcopal. Dr. Van Mehr wrote to the bishop about his meeting with A-chick.
"It was with no ordinary degree of pleasure that I made the acquaintance of a young Christian convert called A-chick, who brought an excellent letter of introduction from you. And I pre- sume you feel deeply interested in his welfare. . . He came to see me as soon as he had arrived and has visited me almost daily.
"Knowing the spiritual temptation of this life-killing place, the very seat of Mammon, I have advised him to prepare for commu- nion... As far as I can see, he is a converted man and promises to remain faithful. I shall do what I can to fulfil God's design with this redeemed soul, until he returns under your immediate care.”
Missionaries and clergymen were quick to seize upon any Chi- nese convert who showed signs of interest in the church. Unfortu- nately, for the hopes of Dr. Van Mehr, this was only a passing phase in the life of Tong A-chick. It was not long until the general welfare of the Chinese community in California was of more inter- est to him than the affairs of the church.
WHY A-CHICK STOOD OUT FROM HIS COUNTRYMEN
With his letters of introduction, interest in Christianity, knowl- edge of foreign manners and fluency in English, Tong A-chick was
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