HANOVERSTREET BAPTIST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13927, 12 June 1907, Page 3

HANOVERSTREET BAPTIST CHURCH

' ANNUAL CHINESE SOCIAL. The annual social in connection with the Hanovor Street Baptist Chinese Class is regarded as one- of the most attractive and entertaining of all the socials of tho year. The Cliincso notions of melody and their achievements in the realm of music are so different from those which commend themselves to cultivated Er.glieh tastes that their efforts always create interest if they do not furnish amusement. It wsa no surprise therefore that the hall was crowded on Monday night to its utmost capacity. In addition to members of tho class, somo 25 visiting Chinamen were also present. Tho Rev. William Hay presided, and beside him on the pintform wero Messrs A. S. Adams, Walter Paterson. H. H. Driver, J. Reid, 8.A., und Dr Kirk.

After a hymn had been sung and prayer offered by the liev. Jf. A. Davis, Miss Buchanan prcEoi:*cd the twelfth annual report, which stated that there wero 31 Chinese on tlio roll, with 19 in average attendance. There were 23 teachers, with an average attoiidanco of 17. One schola-r liad been converted during the year, and one had died. The annual picnic hod been held at St. Leonards on Easter Monday, and proved very cnjoya-ble. Literature had been imported from China and ditributcd among the Chinese in the city. The work was full of encouragement, and several of tho scholars had now become teachers in tho class.

Miss Wiji'iro-e (the treasurer) reported that the ordinary receipts had been JEI3, in addition to which the class had raiaed £13 towards tho debt on the schoolroom and ±7 5s towardfl tho China Fnraino Fund, making a total of £33—tho largest amount yet raised in any one year.

In commonting on the report, the chairman apologised for'the absence of Jlr K. C. O'Connor, tho leader of the class, through illness, Rnd the Revs. A. Don, W. Perry, and E. H. Hobday. He expressed his belief that the class was doing iv splendid work, end that the results justified every effort made.

Mr A. S. Adams, superintendent of tho Sunday School, said tba-t few realised the immensity of the Chinese race. China waa a mighty nation before tbo great civilisations of (he present day began to be. Her philosophers hnd taught ethics and philosophy c-arlier than the great sl-hical teachers of Greece and Rome. In tho matter of Government she had been in advance of other nations, for her laws were ba.sed upon tlw will of tho people. In inventions she bad anticipated other nations. Five centuries before Gutenberg invented printing, China had practised the art of printing from blocks. She made gunpowder, used the mariner's compass, and excelled in silks nnd satins nnd embroidery while- our ancestors wero living in barbarism, As a nation they merited our respect. It was to ta hoped that whenever GHiha aroso to n senso of her imnortaneo and took her rightful place in the comity of nations she. would be permeated by Christian teaching. 'Ilio speaker urged the teachers to set high store by the privilege that was theirs of helping in any way to evangelise the people of China.

The class sang several selections in English and Chinese, with remarkable accuracy. Matthew Clung Hoy said thai the Chinese bad come hero to make money, but few of them made much.—(Laughter.) Ho would have been better off if he had stayed in his own land, but ho was glad lie. had come because heie he had been led to the class, and (hero had learned to trust in Jesus Christ. Mr Joseph AVong Tape greatly delighted the audience by a skilful performance on a Chinese dulcimer. Hβ appeared in native coatume with 'queue, unfolded and reaching to hie feet. His piece, was heartily applauded mid encored. ilr W'altor Paierson, ivho has long been an enthusiast for the evangelisation of tho local Chinese, exhibited a bible printed in Romanised characters by lopers connected with tho Pakhoy Mission, nnd a number of letters from leper girls who had been many years in tho mission hospital. After refreshments had been bountifully provided by the class and social intercourse had l»en indulged in, Messrs David Yat Lee, Ben Sins, Joo Gow, J. Wong Tape, and Yun Look sang in Chinese " Take tho name of Jesus with you." Mr Bur-t then recited " Jimmy Douglas." and Ernest Yip read in English and Chinese tho story of tho "Prodigal Son."

Mr John Ileitl, 8.A., eaicl thai the Christian publio wero deeply indebted to the Otago Daily Times (or Ilio splendid help it. had recently given to tho China Famine Fund, and thanked the church and tic class for the £18 they had contributed to the fund. ITo rejoiced in the suews of the class, and wished it growing prosperity.

Dr Kirk said everything in tho meeting had stirred him. Alter addressing a few word.q to tho Chinese hi their own tonguo he Eaid tho claw was doing a great -work for the missionaries in breaking down the barriers of Fuspicinn and prejudice that roso between China and tho English race. Sister Alice said she hoped to bo used of Ocd in nursing tho Chincso when they fell sielc.

Mr Mnclaren assured the teachers of tho olass that they had tho entire confidence and sympathy of the church in tho lioblo ■work they were doing. Mr ll.'Falla expressed (ho thanks of iho class for all the encouragement tho meeting had yielded them, and the cbxology iind benediction brought a. most successful anniversary to a closo at linlf-past 1(1. Tho hall was very tastefully decorate! and over the platform hung (lie beautiful embroidered tenner presented some time ago to tho church b> , tho class. Miss M. Buchanan acted as organist during tho evening.