Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 869

[LVI]

to establish a Society, calling it rightly the "Good-Protecting." Though working with greater zeal at the present time, ours is not a new institution, having been begun in 1878, in connection with the Tung Wa Hospital, and made a separate establishment in 1887. Its rules of procedure have become gradually more numerous and more minute, and its scope and pursuits more extensive, everywhere on land and water, and with the help of many old and young of both sexes secretly seeking out the vile vermin, and saving their victims-intercepting them in their course, taking care of the rescued, hand- ing cases over to the authorities, carrying out instructions, getting some married, and sending others home to their friends.

But the granary is empty and the hungry still crowd round waiting for its opening. The fountain is dry and the drawers of water still clamour for the digging of wells. Therefore the new and the old members of our humble institution had a meeting in the Tung Wa Hospital of the gentry and merchants to discuss the question of collecting funds, and making application far and near from Canton to Foochow to all generous people in all wealthy places. And to such we now make our appeal. Fill your pens, and open your purses. Let us have large subscriptions, like timely rain falling on the parched trees. Let the funds flow in like full streams that fill the rivers and the sea. Sow liberally and you will reap liberally. Who is there who has no parents, and does not know that by bringing comfort to others' parents we bless our own? Who is there who has not a wife and children, or does not know that in saving others' children we protect our own? And be sure that virtue while seeking no reward always gets one in the end; things will work round to this equitable adjustment, just as surely as the clouds result in rain. No one lives a virtuous life merely for the present advantage to himself; but as the evil doer will ultimately be extinguished in shame and ignominy so certainly the good will be glorified. In hope of a seasonable response, we bow our heads and open our hearts by means of these few humble remarks, which we venture respectfully to put forth.

Notice. The Tung Wa Hospital is authorized to collect and receive all monies sub- scribed for the purposes of the Pó Léung Kuk. All contributors are therefore respect- fully requested to pay the amount of their contributions to the Treasurer of that Hospital who will issue receipts for the same.

(Signed) The Members of the

Translated by

J. CHALMERS, LL.D.

PÓ LEUNG KUK.