CHINESE MISSION.

From" Colonist" Feb. 13th, 1903. At the Bishop's School last evenin" Mr Daniel Wong gave an address on the work carried on by him among his countrymen on the West Coast of this diocese and in Wellington- The Rev. J. P. Kempthorne presided, and offered prayer. The Rev. E C Robison then read a portion of the Scripture, and the Chairman briefly introduced Mr Wong, and in doing so stated that that gentleman had won the respect, love and affection of all his countrymen on the Coast, but as the number of Chinese was vastly greater in Wellington than on the Coast Mr Wong proposed in. future to spend more if not all of nis time there. Mr Wong then proceeded to give some description of his work. He explained his work in Wellington that on Sunday he held services in the Mission room in Haining street, and night school four times a week, the attendance being from 15 to 30 men. His daily routine was to study the Scriptures in the forenoon, and in the afternoon to visit his countrymen from shop to shop, or house to house, and tell them about Jesus, and in the evening holding classes for teaching the Chinese to read English, using for that purpose books of Scripture lessons, which He explains, and once a week to teach a class of English gentlemen to read Chinese in order to help him in the work When on the West Coast his work was chiefly visiting the Chinese in their huts and claims, and telling 'them the Gospel message. In Orreymouth he carried on a Similar work as in Wellington. At the Chinese festivals about 300 would assemble at Greymouth, and attend his service held in Trinity Church. He spoke in the highest terms of praise of the help rendered by the Rev. G.York, in the work, and of his kindness to his countrymen. In speaking of the school work in Wellington, he mentioned the great help received from Mr C White and the St. Andrew's Societj. In speaking of the mission work as a whole, Mr Wong said it was beset with difficulties, and a lot of patience and perseverance is required to carry it on to a successful issue. The wreck of the Ventnor and loss of so many Chinese bodies has opened a way for much sion with the Chinese. The Chinese believe that when their friends die their spirits remain with their bones, and so it is most unfortunate to die and be buried in a strange land away from their kindred, with no one to worship at their graves. Thus they believe in sending their bones back to China they are giving pleasure to the dead, and to their descendants to ten thousand generations. About 2t> years ago a club, Chong Sin Tong, was formed in New Zealand to collect and defray the cost of sending back the bones of dead Chinamen to China. The cargo of the lllfated Ventnor cost about £3,000 to collect and 'tranship. They never anticipated the Ventnor would be lost. At first when the news came they thought it must be a joke. When they found it was true many said the Chong Sin Tong Society had done something wrong, and the spirits had caused the ship to sink. Others said the late Sue Hoy had quarrelled with another Chinamen, and had said he would fight him until both their bodies were at the bottom of the great sea. Both these men's bodies were on board the Ventnor, so they say their spirits- caused the ship to sink For himself, Mr Wong believes it was God's wish that these bodies should not be sent to China, and so perpetuate the worship of their bones. Mr Wong expressed great pleasure and thankfulness that the law against opium smoking had been passed in New Zealand. Mr Wong also gave some encouraging and interesting facts about a Chinaman in Wellington, Dye Chum, who helped in the work greatly, and al though not yet admitted by baptism, is nevertheless a believer in the Christian religion. He it was who collected £6 to buy an organ for the mission room, and when there were several sick Chinese in Wellington, and the Hospital authorities helped them, he collected over £100 in one week from his countrymen for the hospital funds. In conclusion, he earnestly asked for prayers' for himself and for his countrymen. At the close prayers were offered 1 f°r mission work generally, and Mr I Wong answered several questions. Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10655, 2 March 1903, Page 1