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Dunstan Times, Issue 703, 8 October 1875, Page 2

One of the outcomes of the Diocesan Synod appears to bo the chmtiav.isation of the Chinese. The following from the Daily Times on the subject is rather amusing The Rev. E. G Penny had established a school in Dunedin for the Chinese, and the Bishop had a Chinese missionary twice a week at Bishopscourt and was learning their language. To be successful amongst the Chinese they must have a man of high education. Bishop Ncvill said they would have at least one accredited agent cf their Church shortly amongst the Chinese. Only the other day one young man who had been assisting him (Bishop Nevill) with the Chinese in this City related an incident showing that their labors were likely to be amply rewarded.” However highly commendable the action taken by the Rev. P. G. Penny and Bishop Nevill may be in respect to this matter, they have evidently set them-elves to the accomplishment of a task which is not 'ikely to be productive of milch fruit, even if it ever bears any at all. The evangelisation of the Chinese is by no means a new idea, and in Victoria especially after incurring an enormous expenditure, besides much loss of time and worry—it is very questionable even in one single instance where efforts thus directed have hi en thoroughly successful. It is by no means uncommon on the Victorian Goldfields to meet with what is designated a converted Chinaman going about preaching to his countrymen.the blessings of Christianitv, but ho scarcely • ever succeeds in making a convert—it Usually trails pires that the proselyte relapses back again to his former worship of Confucius. As a rule, a christianised Chinaman is held in very questionable estimation by his countrymen, many of whom are not slow to express their opinions that, the seemingly converted Heathen is only so from the result of gain. The Chinese we need scarcely mention as the oldest nation under the Sun, and although not progressive has kept itse'f together, while others have come and gone, notwithstanding they attain a high state of civilisation. Now for a great nation to preserve itself intact over so many centuries it must be very clear that its people are guided by some moral influence, greater than that of the civil government of the country, which, although, not in the form of what we understand as religion, exercises a power over the Celestial mind which we cannot understand, more than we know that the Chinese worship their great men. for the high and pure morality which they taught, With th-S3 facts before us, together wich the knowledge of the love a Mongolian bears to his country, and to those he left there behind him—his conversion to the Christian religion is not to he so very readily accomplished, however, it may seem desirable to do so, and we fancy that the efforts of Bishop Nevill and the Rev. G. F. Penny might be better directed towards the evangilasat.ion of some of their own countrymen, who evidently stand much in need. There are plenty of people living in Dunedin far lower in the scale of humanity than the “ Heathen Chinee.”