The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-15
POOR JOHNS WOES.
Recent Bold Assaults
on Worcester Chi
namGn.
AFTER THE ASSAILANTS.
Twenty Years Mission
Work With Celes-
tials.
AFTER THE ASSISTANTS.

The recent assault on a Chinaman,
at the corner of Main and Park streets,
by four boys, has brought the matter
of Cinnamon being molested on the
street by young ruffians to the atten-
ton of some of the prominent business
men of the city, and a reward of S25
was offered by c. H. Carpenter, of the
firm of j. H. Clarke & Co., for informa-
ton that would lead to the arrest of
the guilty parties.
1t is just 20 years ago that the first
Chinaman was taken into Grace
Church, and an attempt made to teach
him Christianity
This was a success, and it led in a
short time to the establishment of the
Chinese Sunday school in Grace
Church with c. H. Carpenter at its
head. 1t took a long time and hard Ia
Dor on the part of those interested in
the work to induce many of the Chin
ese of the city to go to the Sunday
school, but as one Of these men was
taken into the school and got acquaint-
ed he soon spread the news, and
through his influence others came to
the church.
But it was some time before any large
number could be induced to enter the
school. They have a natural timidity
for the Americans, and this fear is in
creased by the frequent assaults COM
mitted upon them by the hoodlum ele-
ment of the city.
The first thing that the teachers in
the Sunday schools had TO do was to
quiet their fears on this question and
make them feel that all Americans
were not alike, and that the Sunday
schools were conducted only for their
own good
Mr. Carpenter was an active worker
in this line, and it was due mainly to
his efforts that the Chinese Sunday
school is a permanent feature Of our
churches. He made it an object to go
to the laundries and try to get them
into the Sunday school, In a short
time a flourishing school was in prog
ress at Grace Church.
The first Chinaman that came to
Grace Church went through the instru-
mentality of Mr.. Carpenter. The man
kept a store on Front street and was
asked one Saturday night if he would
not like to go to church the next day
in company with Mr.. Carpenter He
was very much surprised at first, but
consented after a while and said that
he would be at Mr. Carpenters home
at TO- 80 o'clock the next morning. True
to his word he presented himself at the
door the next morning and went to
church. In order to do this, it was
found out later that he had got up at
o'clock that morning, completed his
ironing and delivered some of his goods
down to Quinsigamond and Lincoln
square. This was before the electric
cars We're in operation, and of course
he had to walk all the way. After 60
ing NAe Sunday he went every Sunday
and became a Christian.
Through his influence several more
were induced to come to the church,
and on Sunday an hour was devoted to
teaching the gospel to these men. Chin
Lee soon became a good Christian, and
as soon as a new Chinaman would
come and locate in Worcester they
would be brought to Mr.. Carpenter or
he would take him to church
Several of these men became prom
inent church members, and after re-
ceiving a small education in the Sun
day school they wished for a higher
education and went to school in other
cities. One of these young men is to-
day the manager of a large grocery
store in New Jersey, and others have
gone into business for themselves.
The education received in the Sun
day school taught them that there was
little to be gained in playing fan tan"
one man saved up 5000, and then went
back to China and got his little boy
and brought him to this country to be
educated The young fellow was the
first Chinaman to be educated in the
public schools here. He profted by the
efforts spent by his teacher in instruct
ing him, and today he occupies prom
inent position in Philadelphia. store.
Other churches in the city soon fol-
lowed in the work of Grace Church
and today it is being carried on in
Trinity and the First Baptist churches.
Although it is very uphill work in
structing the men, 1t is not without it's
results. Every Sunday afternoon an
hour is devoted to this work by lady
teachers.
After the assault of last week a well
known business man of this city Of
fered a reward of S25 to any one who