MISSIONARY MEETING ON. BEHALF OF THE CHINESE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 162, 16 March 1871, Page 5

MISSIONARY MEETING ON BEHALF OF THE CHINESE.

A^BCblic meeting was held in the SchJßuom Lawrence, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of forming a Missionary Association, in aid of the Chinese Mission Fund of the Presbyterian Synod. There was a good attendance. The Rev. Dr. Copland was called to the chair, and called on tho Rev. Mr. Menzies to open the proceedings with prayer. After reading the advertisement calling the meeting, the Chairman stated that after the arrival of the Chinese in Otago, it was the earnest question of many christains, what could be done to enlighten them in the truths of salvation. The Presbyterian Synod had resolved to get a Chinese Missionary for them, and had sent to Victoria to procure one, but two years had elapsed before one was obramed. Now, one eminently qualiaed had been procured, and was now labouring among them. He was quite aware that many Christians of other churcliL-3 took us warm an interest in the work as they did, and he felt it was not riuiH that they should be ignored. The Rev. .Mr. Menzies had suggested on a public occasion that all Christians should have an opportunity of manifesting practically their sympathy, and as this had been warmly received by m-my others, the present meeting was the result. By <:o-nperati(«n in such missionary work, they would show thar. while the various churches were ouch labouviucj at their allotted parts of the wall, and raising scaffolding of different kinds as tlu-y deemed most suitable, they were all building up the wall vi the same Jerusalem, and were ready to obey the s.iuio

trumpet call to go forth against the common enemy of ignorance, vice, and heathenism, in objdienco io the same Captain of their salvation, lie called on the Rev. Mr. Menzies to move the iirst

resolution. Tli3 Rev. Mr. Menzies, after giving an interesting account of what had been done by the London Missionaiy Society, and by many devoted men, for the conversion of China, anil expressing the deep interest he had ever felt iv that s range peoplo, moved the following rjsolution : — "That this meeting expresses its gratification that a Chinese Missionary has been obtained to labour among the Chinese in this province, and resolves that an association be now formed

to raise funds in aid of the Chinese Mission Fund of the Pivsbytaiian Synod, that has undertaken the support of the present Missionary. " Mr. P. Robertson, in seconding this resolution, said that before the arrival of the Chinese many had strongly opposed their coming. For himself lib had always thought they had the samo right to the country as ourselves, or as we had to trade or take up land in China, lie had been told that he would never be <-.!>'o to keep a fowl or pig after they came, from their thievish pi opensities. lie was liappy tt) say, however, he had never lost one, nor had fear tf doing so. He had ia all his dealings with tliam found his j.ioney sure, and paid ah once, which he

cmild not say for ail his other customers. lie found, too, lh-it Merchants, once opjjfi^d to tlieia, dedaied they ware their jwMPKniatomers. He thought it was' their duty to do what they could to teach them the Gospel, and he wo-ild be happy to give his mite for that paipose.

The resolution was Iheii put to th_> meeting and carried. The Rev. Mr. Keall moved—" That efforts be made to raise such an amount for this object as may induct, the Synod 1o procure one or more additional Chinese Missionaries to labour among the Chinese in other parts of the province." This was seconded by Mr. M'Nicol, and agreed to. Mr. Bloxham then proposed that the following office buareis be elected, viz. : — President, Rev. Dr. Copland ; Vicepresidents, Rev. Mr. Meuzies and ilie Rev. Mr. Keall ; Treasurer, Mr. Stenhouse; which was seconded by Mr. M'Kinlay and agreed to. The Chairman then introduced Paul Ah Chin, ths Chinese Missionary, who delivered an interesting address. He had himself, like his countrymen, worshipped idols. He showed one ~ hieh he had received from a Ciiinama.n, who was a miner in Victoria, who had besn ac-

customed, when he succeeded in getting gold, to give the credit of it to this idol ; hut when v; i\icces i »ful, he turned his idol upside do 1 ,/ >i. He said that all the Missionary effor 4 " in China, which was chiefly on the coast, was just like a spoon-

ful of water thrown on a burning house. Many of the Chinese here came from parts which European Missionaries had never reached. If they were christianised they mi£;ht bear back the truth to many dark souls in China. It was then moved by M>r. Jamison, and seconded by Mr. M'Nicol, "That the following ladies be elected collectors, and that, as far as practicable, the collection be made once a quartes, viz. : — Mesdames Copland, Menzies, M'Kinlay, Jamison, Syrett, Thomson, Bloxhatn, W. G. Anderson, Dale, Jeffery, Goldsmith, Burns, and Riddell, and Misses Gillies, Darton, and Fowler. The meeting was then closed with prayer.