THE CHINESE CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14001, 6 September 1907, Page 7

THE CHINESE CHURCH.

Tho Chinese Church in Walker street presented a bright and animated appearance on Wednesday evening, when it was crowded to the dcors on f lie occasion ot tho animal meeting of tho Chineso congregation, a function of which advantage was taken to weloome Mr and .Mrs M'Neur, missionaries of Canton, at present on furlough, and to bid farewell to' Dr Kirk, who is leaving shortly for China to carry on tho work of tho late Dr Ings. Tho building was brightly decorated, and the tables were loaded with good things, which woro provided and dispensed by tho Chineso. Until tho arrival of the.Rev. W.' Howitson, convener of the Foreign Mis* sionary Committee, tho Rov. J. Chisholqj occupied the chair, and exprcFscd tho deep rcgrot that all felt at tho enforced absonco of the Rev. A. Don, minister of the church. Ho had no doubt that tlio great oxertions Mr Don had made in connection with tho Chineso Famine Fund woro largely responsible for the weak state in which an attack of tho prevailing sickness had left him. After tho annual report had been read by tho Rov. G. H. M'Ncur and adopted by flic congregation, 111- M'Ncur addressed' the meeting, first jn English and then in Chinese, and in the coursc of his remarks 6poko o£ China's awakening, and said that, whether people liked it or not, tho coming man was the Chinaman. He also emphasised tho value of the work done by his colleagues, Mr and Mrs Mawson, Miss Mawson, and Mifs Anderson. Tho second , address was delivered by Dr Kirk, who, like Mr M'Ncur, afterwards addressed the Chineso in their own language, which 'ho' has boon studying for only nine months. The last speaker was the Rev. W. Chan, who remarked that- , if the New Zealand Government continued its hostility to tho Chinese the beautiful church in whiih they were assembled would soon bo without a congregation. ' However, tho branch in Canton which the Presbyterian Church had founded would be everlasting. During, the evening vocal and instrumental items were contributed by Miss Williamson, A.T.C.L., Miss Jessie Don, Kong Sze-Yow, and Dr Kirk. Master Roi Don also played a muchappreciated organ solo. In the 'absence of Rev. A. Don, Mr P. Diclc conducted the Chinese choir, which sang two hymns. Dr Waddcll moved, and Mr John Wilkinson seconded, a vote of thanks to all who had contributed to tho suocces of tho ovoning, especially to Mrs Lo Kcong and the Chinese' who hud provided tho tea. The following is a copy of tho annual report: — This annual meeting is a month earlier than usual, to allow combination with tlra welcome to Mir and Mrs M'Neur and the farowoll to Dr John Kirk. Therefore this report covers only 11 months. Tho church work continues to go on very quietly. Excepting oil 18 Sundays tho Rev.' William Chan lias conducted tlic Krviccs,-'

For fire weeks, while Mr Oban was on. the .inland tour and Mr Don on tho West Coast, Mir T. F. Loie was back in his old placo. as preacher. Special services were hold on CninosolfewYea-T'BEve, February 12, and. on Good Friday. Tho afternoon attendance hag varied from 27 ta 61, with an average of nearly 44, an increase upon last year's 39; tho craning congregation from 13 to 41, averaging exactly 22, the same as last yeair. The number of .individual CWneee who havo attended .is 315, of whom 140 were visitors to Dunedin,- 70 of these off vessels in port, most of whom thus hearf the Goepol for thxs first time. Two members welcomed back from China last year have removed to Greymouth. We have hod the pleasure of welcoming Mrs Paul Chan, tho wifo of our worthy elder. Tho attendance at each of the .two communion services was 14. Mrs Don (as organist) and Mr H. White (as doerkeeper) havo regularly filled tho places taken when tho church was opened 10 years ago. The prayer meetings on Sunday and Wednesday evenings aro fairly well attended by thq church members. Mr Clrari'a Bible class mot 37 times, with numbers from 3 to 11, awl an average of 8. Tho study was ■ 2ndi Thcsealonians and Galat-ians. Bible Sunday was kopt on April 21, when a special collection of £210 a was made for the British and Foroign and Jsatimial Bible Societies. The Sunday school has now 12 scholars. Wo have lost several teachers by removal of residence, and one—Mts Gordon Mao don&ld—by death. "While mourning deeply, wo are ofeo deeply grateful for the years of sympathy, cheerfulness, and help 'that sho gave us so willingly and generously. The toarihors.now are: Mrs Lo Koong, Mias©3 H. liaing, M. Laing, E. Shaw, A. IJ.1 J . Don, and Young, with Mossrs P. Dick, C. G. Armour; W. Dunn, G. Horron, J. Bade, and Dr Kirk.

Tho Bibb class and prayer meeting social was hald on May 22, marked specially by Dr Kirk's first address in' Chinese, after less tlwn six months', study ,of the language. The animal ■ congregational picnic took place on January.l, at East Taiori glebe, where a. gathering numbering over GO had a very oujoyablo day, to which tho kindness and; attention of tho Rev. A. W. and Mrs Kinmoirt largely contributed. Sincere thanks are recorded to Mr and Mrs m'lliam Ings, and to Dr Kirk for valuable memorials of Dr Joseph Ings—to the former for tho. Chineso doorplate from Cantou, to tho tetter for a fine enlarged framed photograph.

Tho session and congregation' rejoice greatly at seeing again' the Kcv. G. H and Mrs M'Nour, with their infant daughter. We thank God for his preserving care during their, first term of service- at Canton, and pray that during their furlough He -will bless them richly with renewed strength and inspiration. Wo also rejoice that tho Lonl of tho Harvest has so soon filled tho post loft vac-ant when Dr Ings fell 011 sleep. Wo assuro Dr Kirk of a double measure of interest in him, for his own sake and for Mw sako of his predecessor, who was such k $TL fnend of the Chines© in Dunedin. Tho book and tract department has had a good year. £17 3s 6d was spant on re•plesiislang stock; while sales and magazine subscriptions brought m'£3s 16s 4d. Besides tho books sold, nmny were distributed free on the inland tour of Otago, on the West Coast, and to Chinese leaving for their homos in China,,

In P e , c ' llUTch mission library now contains 1% volumes-109 Chinese and 96 English, 40 having, been added during the year. These books are on loan ami for reference free to rrq Te9 k ■^' uro P oails as well as Chinese. Juie finances are healthy, Rooeipts from all sources, inoludiug the book and tract department, amount to £164 lGs lfld, of which the chief items are:-Church door collections (11 months), £ii 14s lid; speciwl wlloctions, £17 2s 6d; donations by eight "■f. donations by six Europeans, -10 ia\ giant for quinquennial "repairs, £37 Wj. Tho expenditure is £126 0s ™- which the principal items ore:— JJcoka for library, stock, and binding, £27 14s lid; repairs and renovation, £48 14s la; rates, £15 ss; grants and collections as follow: Canton Tillages 'Miesicoi (at watchnight service), '£) 18s; China famine relief, *8 14s 6d; Bible societies, £2 10s; Jiome mission and church extension, £2; DunedSn p. v"'"' youth of the church . futid, il; presbytery asrossment, £1. Owing, to short year, -several votes were omitted—viz Training Institute, Maori, Now Hebrides, and Indian missions. These win eliare next year, God, willing.