“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”
Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.
President: Rev. J. K. McLean, D. D. Vice-Presidents: Rev. A. L. Stone, D. D., Thomas C. Wedderspoon, Esq., Rev. T. K. Noble, Hon. F. F. Low, Rev. L. E. Dwinell, D. D., Hon. Samuel Cross, Rev. S. H. Willey, D. D., Edward P. Flint, Esq., Rev. J. W. Hough, D. D., Jacob S. Taber, Esq.
Directors: Rev. George Moor, D. D., Hon. E. D. Sawyer, Rev. W. E. Ijams, James M. Haven, Esq., Rev. Joseph Rowell, E. P. Sanford, Esq., H. W. Severance, Esq.
Secretary: Rev. W. C. Pond. Treasurer: E. Palache, Esq.
We print the following letter from our Brother Pond, in regard to the need and call for a mission work in Hong Kong, not because the Executive Committee have formed any design of entering upon such a work in the name of the American Missionary Association, but only as these letters from converted Chinamen show to what earnestness of missionary zeal they have been converted, and so bear witness to the reality of their Christianization.
Even though we felt warranted in extending our work to embrace a limited foreign field on the Chinese Coast, as we do not, there are questions of comity which would forbid it. The English missionary societies occupy the Hong Kong field in force, and the Presbyterian Board have missionaries in the Canton district, from which the Chinese immigrants come to our Western coast. We shall be very glad if they, or either of them, will supply the want indicated by our correspondent, and for which the Chinese converts show such deep concern.—[Ed’s Am. Miss.]
MORE ABOUT A MISSION AT HONG KONG.
While studying the proposition which I ventured to broach last month, for a mission at Hong Kong, which should be in intimate relationship with our Californian Mission, I requested our helper, Bro. Fung Affoo, to consult the Chinese brethren on the subject and tell me what they thought. Soon after, letters began to pour in upon me, till now I have about twenty on file, and it has occurred to me that extracts from these would interest the readers of the Missionary. Some of them I can copy verbatim; some will need to be retouched a little in their English in order to be understood; but the ideas are their own, and the expressions will be modified as little as possible.
First of all, Affoo himself says: “I told the brethren at the meeting last Sunday what you said to me about establishing a mission at Hong Kong. They were very glad; their faces beamed with joy. They all wish, with one accord, that this enterprise will be accomplished before long.”
The first letter which I take from my file is from Wong Sam. He says “I wish you could establish a school in Hong Kong for a Young Men’s Christian Association, as we have here. Then we could hold all our brethren together when they go back to China, and they would not all scatter abroad. I am sure all our brethren will be glad to have one. I ask God all the time for it, if God is willing, for He knows what is best. We cannot do anything without the Holy One. Accept my warmest love and thanks for your kindness in expending so much on our account, and bringing us out of darkness. You will not lose your reward ‘in my Father’s kingdom,’ as Christ says.”
The next one which comes to hand is from Hong Sing, and addressed to Affoo. It reads as follows: “I heard you some time ago talking about if we would like have one American Association school in Hong Kong. I feel very glad, indeed, if we have one school in Hong Kong, that we may go back to our China and find a Christian Home. Canton and Hong Kong have two or three schools, but not our Congregational Association. You know how many of our Christian brothers have gone back to China. They find no Christian home; then they find very hard to be good, and bye-and-bye feel cold with Jesus.”
Joe Lee and Chin Quong write to say: “I like the idea of having a Christian school in Hong Kong very much, indeed. I think it will be great benefit, not only to the Christian boys, but also to the poor heathen boys there.” Chung Sun says: “I very glad; God very good to me. I like bye-and-bye go back China; tell father, mother, sister, brother, very good Jesus. If him all [i. e., his relatives] no like me I go Christian house, call Christian friend Help me tell father, mother, sister, brother, how very good Jesus is. If all man, woman love Him, bye-and-bye go heaven. If he all beat and lick me, I go to the Chinese Mission at Hong Kong; very good, all the same my own church.”
Ah King writes: “Dear Mr. Pond—I am very glad in heart that I heard missionary schools be opened in Hong Kong. I think you make these things for our Christian brethren, just like builder build a stone foundation of buildings—the wind cannot blow off it.” That is, the mission work at Hong Kong will tend to secure the results of our work here. Without this, the winds of contradiction and persecution in China will tend to blow our brethren who return there off the foundation.
Perhaps these will suffice as samples, and I think that all the points made in the other letters are referred to in these. But the tone differs in different letters, and the fact specially emphasized; thus, for example, the chief point with one is, “If it [mission at Hong Kong] can be, it can keep us doing good when we go back, and I thank God with all my heart.” With another, it is sorrow that we been without such a mission so long. “We plead,” he says, “our brethren to help us. I pray that God will bless you and open a way to make a mission in Hong Kong.” Another says, “If men can’t do it, we all hope God has an authority [has some way] do it for us. I hope our parents hear the gospel, receive it all, come to Him forever.” A refuge from persecution is often referred to. “We have great many trials, and I hope the Christians do this thing, then our brothers have a place to see each other. We are far from each other in China.”
I conclude with the following from Jee Gam, whose name is familiar to most of our readers—the helper longest in service with us; whose good judgment, Christian spirit, and untiring zeal, I have learned to greatly respect. He says: “I was very much pleased to hear that you have written to the A. M. A., requesting its permission and aid to establish a Chinese Mission in Hong Kong. Without attempting to add anything to what you have written, I will tell you what Ting Ki, the most active deacon of the London Mission at Hong Kong, said to me while I was there: that the best way to accomplish the most good is to open a mission and a Christian Association similar to ours here. He also said that the great need of the English language is now felt by most of the Chinese in that city, and in order to aid them, such schools as we have here should be established. This is the best way to reach them, so as to interest them in the Bible, which is our chief aim. As many of the people in that city are laboring people, they could attend school better in the evening than through the day. Ting Ki was very anxious to have me remain and establish such a mission-school, and teach them the English language. The brethren in the Oakland school all feel as I do about this matter, and they asked me to write for them, as well as for myself.”
I will add nothing to these expressions. I confess that as I read them over, they ring in my ears like the Macedonian cry, and I cannot but hope that our Association, hearing it, will endeavor immediately to go into this modern Macedonia, “assuredly gathering that the Lord has called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”—Acts xvi, 10.