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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
hundred years ago. In a History of the 19th ary Society and said they had not met there that Century, within by Robert Mackenzie, occurs, day to disenss missions as carried on by differ- incidentally, a short chapter on Christian Misent societies; plans and methods differed, but sions, and I will, with your permission, read a the principle of missions to such a people as brief extract. Speaking of Protestant Missions, the Chinese was the same in all. His Lordship he says" In the foremost rank of powers des spoke at length on the importance of mission tined to change the face of the world stand work, especially amongst the Chinese, and, Christian Missions. These may almost be regard referring to Mr. Hayllar's article in the ed as products of this century and the imposing Nineteenth Century and the passage "There magnitude which they have gained is altogether do not exist any reasons for the christianizing recent. Their beginnings were so small as of China except from the standpoint of the generally to avert hostility by securing the missionaries themselves," he said that all the contemptuous indifference of those who might reason for the christianizing of the Roman have been unfriendly. There are few things in Empire, by which England and other countries human history that wear an aspect of higher of Europe have benefited, still existed for the moral grandeur than the opening of what are christianization of China. In conclusion his lord- now our great Missions. One or two men sent ship said—I do not know if there are any here old by this church and by that are seen going forth enough to remember in connection with former in obedience to a command spoken eighteen troubles in Ireland the title of cheap police" hundred years ago to begin the enormous work as applied to certain ministers of the gospel of undermining heathenism and reclaiming the there. Their teachings and their influence did world to God. Among the glories of the cen far more towards the quieting of the country tury is none greater than this. All other than all the efforts of the Government, and enterprises of beneficence must yield to this they cost the Government nothing. Mission magnificent attempt to expel debasing supersti- aries are the "cheap police of civilization in tions and convey into every heart the ennobling China. They live among people in country influences of the Christian religion. The suc towns and villages, and use every effort to cess already attained gives sure promise of make friends among the people. They show results the greatness of which we, as yet, but themselves friendly, they open schools, they teach dimly perceive. The early suggestion of Mis all that will listen, they give medical help to the sions was received with disfavour. When in sick. They get but small remuneration from their 1795 some good men invited the Church of Societies. Many as we know have to take their Scotland to give encouragement to such en- lives in their hands in isolating themselves from terprises the representatives of that body the open ports, just as the early missionaries did declined the invitation. They could not in the Roman Empire. Sometimes these lead well argue against imparting to heathens to naval demonstrations or demands for compen- that gospel which it was the business of their sation, but the protection of foreigners as such, own lives to teach. Nevertheless the proposal and not as missionaries, is the object aimed at. was unacceptable. One clergyman deemed it The last outrage-more awful in some of its de- visionary; another wished the result to be tails than any ever perpetrated in China-is attained by prayer and waiting; a third saw outside of any possible compensation. No blood- revolutionary tendencies in every form of money, however large, will ever be accepted. and united action and trembled for the Constitu- no compensation in any form will ever be even tion. On grounds such as these the Church discussed. It is men and women of this kind of Soctland by an overwhelming majority who are laying and will continue to lay the refused to sanction missionary effort But foundations of christianity in China. (Loud Scotland has nobly made up for that since. applause.) A year or two later a young Scottish gentle- men-Robert Waldane-resolved to sell his patrimonial estate and, along with two friends. to spend the remainder of his days in teaching the gospel to the people of Bengal. applied to the dievctons of the East Indis Company for permission to reside in the country and follow this ocupation. The directors declined for weighty and substantial reasons to admit within their demain auy mau cute ou ench au ormand Now this
[March 12, 1896. industrial arts as in South Africa. And it has not been backed by a powerful church us when it came to our own forefathers in Kent. Its history here has, in fact, resembled the general history of the colony. Situated as this island is just outside a great empire, it has been a good starting point, both as regards commerce and Christianity, for reaching the south of China. But the history of evangelization in the colony itself has not been for that reason withouts interest. Three of the great English societies--the Church, the London, and the Wesleyan Missionary Societies have made a home here. They have had 88 com- rades the Basel Mission, the Rhenish Mis- sion, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Baptists, the Female Education Society, and the Berlin Foundling House, as well as the assistance of the Morrison Education Society and the Hong- kong Tract Society, the latter of which has been supported by the two great institutions which do so much for Christian work in every land-the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Religious Tract Society. By their efforts have been founded five native churches in the island with over 600 members, who contribute the cost of their own public worship, help their own poorer members, supply teachers for schools, nurses for the sick, and evangelists' for their own brethren on the mainland. From the very first it has been evident that to preach the gospel to adults and gather them into churches without at the same time affording to their children a Christian education was only to ensure that the work had to be done over and over again. And, cousequently, you have in this colony over eighty schools here over 3,000 children (and many more before the plague) receive a Christian education. As with the schools, so with the hospitals. Over 75,000 out-cases and 6,000 in-cases (individual cases) have been dealt with in the last eight years. These are departments of philanthropic work which in England owe their origin, and very largely their continuance, to those, great voluntary associa- tions of which many of you are justly proud. Dr. EITEL, in seronding the resolution, con
Lu Hongkong you very largely owe both to the gratulated the London Missionary Society ou
efforts of the agents of the missions which are having completed its centenary and referred in represented here to-day. Some of these repre- ealogistic terms to the good work which had soutatives have already spoken to you, and
others will follow. He been accomplished by the Hongkong brauch
They may well look to you for a full hearty, and unanimous recognition of the difficulties they have faced, of the services they have done both you and the nation at whose doors we stand, and of the success which, at God's hands, has followed their work.
was the date of things at the Very the London Mis-onary Sodely was fouried in 17:4 That Soiety BAS founded in UC setariau prit Its founders and first constituents were connected with the Church of England. with various sections of the Presbyterians, and with the Congregational body, and the constitution of the Society was strictly uudenominational. If christianity is
on.
a true religion surely its truths should be made known to all nations. The object of the London Missionary Society is the same as that of the Baptist Missionary Society, which is slightly its senior, the same as that of the many other societies which were founded later I take that object to be to spread the knowledge and benefits of christianity among the millions to whom they are alike unknown. Is not that a noble and beneficent object? Missionaries are human, and must sometimes make mistakes. But that is the noble and beneficent object of their ambition. To attain that object the London Missionary Society has laboured for a hundred years and it is to com. memorate the centenary of that Society that we are assembled here to-day, I now call upon the Right Reverend Bishop to propose the first resolution.
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The resolution: ou being puf to the meeting was carried unanunously.
The Her Dr CHALMERS dēknowledged the resolmiou on tehulí of the London Mission, Society
The CBAARMAS---1 and slow call m Secretary to make a stap.a recarling missions in Hongkong.
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The Rev. J. G. WILLIAMS proposed the following resolution :-” That this meeting ex presses it appreciation of the objects and the work of Christian Missious in this colony, and its hopes for their continued success."
The resolution was seconded by Commander RISK and supported by Mr. WONG SKING, and was carried unanimously.
The Rev. C. BENNETT replied on behalf of the Church Missionary Society and the Rev.
W. PEARCE on behalf the London Mis- A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed D. R. F. CRAWFORD, brought the proceedings by the Rev. W. Musson and seconded by Mr.
to a close.
ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE OF THE
SCHOONER “ESMERALDA.”
Mr WAUNG. Ine of the fen. Se returtes of the Committee promoting the meeting, said -It has been arranged thất ak this point of the tory of Christian missions in Hongkong shall meeting a brief statement concerning the his
be placed before you. That history is altoge ther different from that of many-perhaps of most-missions, and you will fail to appreciate. the work done in this colony unless those differ.sionary Society. stance, in India, in Polynesia, in Madagascar, ences are clearly understood While, for in- and South Africa alike, the first Christian mis- sionaries found old races long in possession of the soil; those who came to this island have from the first had to deal with a shifting and variable population, of recent importation, of differing languages, of (to a large extent) unsettled docu- pations, and possessing few of those charac- teristics of a long established community which in every age and country have been found to facilitate the introduction of Christianity: They have had to deal with men drawn by commercial and industrial considerations from their homes in the towns and villages of south-east China; men whose deepest interests lie in those homes, and who frequently return to them. Such re- The Right Rev. Bishop BURDON, who was movals may help to spread the gospel in China, received with applause, moved the following but they necessarily tend to weaken the young resolution: That this meeting congratulates! ahurches here. And the constant tendency is to the London Missionary Society on having con- swamp the Christian community by fresh bodies pleted one hundred years of work among the of men and women drawn from the enormous heathen; and with feelings of deep thankfulness population of the mainland. Nor has Chris to Almighty God for the blessing with which, in Lianity had many adventitious aids in its pro- wany lands, that work has been attended, as-
gress here. It has not acquired its induce sures the Society of continand interest in its by creating a written language, as in the labours." He expressed the pleasure he had in islands of the South Seas, or both language and showing his sympathy with the London Mission-literature as in Madagascar, or by teaching
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TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW. The British schooner Esmeralda arrived in Hongkong on the morning of the 9th March after a most sensational voyage, during which provisions ran short and the crew were literally starving. The Esmeralda trades between the Marianna Islands and Yokohama, and on this particular voyage she was taking a cargo of copra to Yokohama for Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. The last place of call was Pagan Island, - which was left on December 27th, and the course was made direct for Yokohama. Light variable winds blew and very fair weather was experienced until January 6th, when the wind blow with tremendous force, and the small vassel was continually diving into the heavy confused sea. On that day Yokohama was within twenty-four hours' sail, but as events proved the vessel was not destined to get there. The storm increased in-fury, and
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