The First Sabbath in Hong Kong

原來，喜嘉理牧師常有向當年加州的一份名為"The Pacific"的公理會報刊投稿，可惜在網上找不到早年The Pacific的存檔；經多年尋問，透過美國波士頓Congregational Library的librarian的無私協助，我們喜獲當中數期喜牧文章的照片，其中這篇喜牧寫到他剛踏足香港的首主日的見聞和感受，文中提到不少重要的人物，包括溫清溪等；而提到溫老的這段就曾被施其樂牧師（Rev. Carl Smith）在其著作"Chinese Christians: Elites, Middlemen, and the Church in Hong Kong"中引述過：

[For The Pacific]
The First Sabbath in Hong Kong.
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We may well judge a country or city by the manner in which it keeps its Sabbath. Is the day properly observed as a day of sacred rest, then may we hope to find a people who are thrifty and prosperous. Is it unheeded and even despised, then is it a veritable fact that the country or city is tainted with an immoral atmosphere. I do not know how many times, since my short stay here, I have thought of the question asked me by Dr. Farnham, at my ordination: “Do you believe in keeping the Sabbath, in a loose manner, or do you hold to its strict religious observance?" I wondered very much at the time that any one should ask such a question, but, since coming here I see what led to the Doctor’s question. The Sabbath! why you would scarcely know it from any other day. I have a faint recollection of being aroused from my slumbers on the Sabbath morning of April 1st by a carnival of street noises, and for a moment I was bewildered to know whether it was really the Lord’s day. The streets were thronged with passers-by, every one being intent upon his own particular business. Most of these, however, were Chinese, as the English do observe some sort of a Sabbath, although they allow the Chinese to do Government work on that day. Pure English customs are in vogue here, at the hotels as well as in private families. A Chinaman came into my room to get my shoes to polish them I thought of a story about one of our college Presidents, with reference to blacking a certain English divine’s boots. Some years ago, when Dr. _____ was in the United State, he was the guest of one of our college Presidents. The President, having no servant, took the boots and polished them for his guest, and, on the following morning, the English divine found his boots all nicely cleaned, but he never dreamed that his host had been hie servant. For some time the story was kept a secret, but after a while it found its way among the students and to this day, I believe they are telling this simple story in honour of their noble President.

After I had carefully made my toilet, and quietly surveyed the scene from a third-story verandah, and been invited to partake of a little breakfast-tea, I repaired to the house of Mr. Wang Ching Kai (a California Chinese) and found Lee Sam there. The family were all gathered together for morning worship, and, though the place was far from being anything like our own American rooms, still it was quite comfortable and pleasant. The family consisted of the father and his two sons, a nephew, and the wife of his eldest son. Two other sons belong to the family, but they were not present. The married son is one of the returned Chinese American students who have been engaged in teaching in the Government school, but leaves soon for Shanghai, to engage in mechanics there. His wife is a pupil of Miss Noyer, from Canton, and appears to be a very pleasant lady, though she cannot talk a word of English. Her husband speak English quite distinctly. I was asked to unite in prayer with the family, after we had listened to an exposition of 2 Tim. ii: 1 (a part of the same text that Dr. Mooar chose in giving his charge to me). I do not know whether comments were alike, but while she spoke on the text, I thought of some of the things the Doctor’s counsel contained, having had little time for protracted meditation on shipboard. Then we sang “Gates Ajar," in Chinese, as well we could, after which we were led in prayer by Lee Sam. I enjoyed the service very much, though I could understand but little. Would that all the families of China were thus devoted to the cause of their Master. I have thus spoken at length of this family because I have been the recipient of many kindnesses from them, and they are much in sympathy with our work, and will do much help us, though belonging to the London Mission Church.

At 11 o’clock I attended the Union church, of Hongkong, whose present pastor has the reputation of not being entirely orthodox, but it was my good fortune to listen to the Secretary of the London Missionary Society, who is now traveling through China inspecting the various missions. He reached an able discourse on the text, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another." It was read out, forcibly and impressively delivered. The sermon was followed by the Lord’s Supper administered to about thirty persons — rather a small number when it is considered the church sittings are about 250 to 300, and that about 150 were at the first service. I remained to engage in the simple rite of remembering the atoning work of Christ. I was, however, very much surprised that there was no prayer offered over the bread and wine, but concluded that I had entered strange city, and must expect to see strange things; still I could not forget that our Lord had given thanks before he gave the bread and the cup to the disciples. There was one thing, however, that impressed me very favorably with English service, and that is, before any one retires from the church the whole congregation engages for a few minutes in silent prayer. It adds very much to the solemnity of the service, and is certainly far better than our own hurried dismissal from church. At the close of every service this is universal custom from Japan to Hongkong, and I regard it as an excellent practice, and hope some one will introduce it into our American Congregational churches.

From two to three o’clock the London Missionary Society held a communion service for the Chinese in the game place, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the house well filled, and most of them partaking of the sacrament. It seemed such a pleasant contrast to the few who had gathered in the morning. Rev. E. C. Edge conducted the exercises, while his wife led the singing, beating time with her fan, in a vigorous manner. Mr. Thompson spoke a few words to the Chinese on Christianity and how much it had done for the people in India, where he had recently visited the missions.

After the Chinese service, there was a Sunday-school, but it hardly deserves the name, as there were only thirty or forty present, when the room should have been filled. I noticed only one Chinese class among the small number of classes. There were a few older ones present, but they were mostly sailors and soldiers. I cannot account for this small number of scholars, except by referring it to the want of interest of the English people in the Sunday-school. It furnished me considerable food for meditation, as I pondered how I might open a Sunday-school especially for the Chinese. At present, until the close of the year, the Chinese are allowed in the Union church, but after that it been decided that they must meet elsewhere. I find there is considerable caste-feeling here, but that is vain human nature everywhere. The Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school is an American, and it did me good to extend to him the fraternal hand of a countryman.

In the evening it was my business to attend a religious service held at a temperance hall conducted by the Hongkong Christian Association. It was a good place to be in; the preaching was not metaphysical, but pure gospel, and I trust some felt the power of the truth. I need not say that, the preacher was an American ( Rev. D. D. Jones). Some, of the more active and earnest Christians of Hongkong bold such services in several parts of the city during the week, and ministers and missionaries are invited to officiate about once a month, and hence the name, “Hongkong Christian Association."

As I returned to my room after the service. I was gladdened and cheered to know that Hongkong has some earnest Christians, who love the salvation of white souls more than their own ease; yet as I saw again the hundreds and thousands of Chinamen pursuing their evening business, I yearned for the same salvation to come to them, and may that prayer be soon answered.

C. R. HAGER.

(Extracts from The Pacific, Vol. 32, No. 24 June 13, 1883)