The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-11-18
Chinese Christians.

Mr.. Judging from the large number
of Chinese, young and old, male and female,
who attend the schools and church on Sundays
and other days that services are held, one
would naturally be held to believe that this i'm
portant element of our community were de-
voutly impressed with the principles of the
Christian religion. The Sunday school held in
the afternoon is invariably well attended, and
the pupils seem to appreciate the care and at
tention that is besto wed upon them. Mr..
Frank Damon, who has charge of this import
ant branch of their education, works with COM
mendable zeal, but in his enthusiasm for the
evangelization of these youths, he perhaps
overlooks the main object to which three~
fourths, or probably more of these youths as
pire. These mild and Acknowledged boys re-
ceive the instruction that is impaired to them
with an apparent sense of gratitude, but the
question is, in what direction does he purpose
to apply the knowledge that is gratuitously and
zealously impaired to him ? Are these youths
ever asked if they have renowned their faith in
Buddha ? To one who looks occasionally into
the inner life of these Celestials on Nuuanu
and Maunakea Streets, from whence many of
them come, it is but natural to infer that the
moral influences of the church impaired on one
day of the week, are entirely obliterated and
effaced by the immoral influences that surround
them at home. With all due Difference to the
good work that has been done, in the matter of
Outstanding Chinese in Honolulu, still it can
not be denied that the main object of the regu-
lar attendance at the Sunday afternoon school is
w @NoA ~" O'A 5000 o.
guage. The Chinaman comes to this country to
better his condition in life. He finds that he
can make money faster by acquiring that knowl-
edge, and when he finds that there is q free
church school where it is willingly impaired to
him, he is only too ready to avail himself of it.
It would be impossible to obtain from all the
attendants of this school, a pledge
of their sincerity to become Christians
and to openly renounce their adherence
to the worship of Joss, but such a demand
would tend to thin the numbers for a while and
assist in finding out who were the converts and
who still possessed faith in the creed of their
forefathers.
In connection with this matter it strikes a
stranger as peculiar, to say the least of it, that a
Chinaman, be he Christian or heather, is, when
called upon to speak the truth in the Courts of
this Kingdom, sworn upon the Holy Bible. To
the majority of them it is incomprehensible and
not binding in the least. Perhaps the interpre-
ter of the Honolulu Court, who is himself a
Christian, would willingly impart information as
to what is the custom in other courts where
heathens and Christians come in daily contact.
THE views and opinions OF our correspondent
in respect to the motives of Chinese in seeking
Christian association or instruction, are as appli-
cable to any other people, white or brown, as the
Chinese. What is evidently prompting CONVEX
sion in many churches is too plainly the selfish
desire 'to get on." Do not let us be looking al
the Chinese alone for the illustration of the use
of religion as a cloak. And what matter if some
will pervert a ~proffered blessing Let US not
weaken the hand of a jealous worker and let Us
hope hat whilst it is possible that Professor
Damon may have to deal with many hypocrites
he will surely bring forth and advance many
worthy Chinese natives who will be a blessing
to this and their own country through his Jealous
and faithful instruction.-ED. p. G.. A.