Sailing of the Chinese Sailors, Belonging to the Cochin China Junk.
Dwight’s American Magazine, and Family Newspaper, for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and Moral and Religious Principles
SAILING OF THE CHINESE SAILORS, BELONGING TO THE COCHIN CHINA JUNK.--The return of the Chinese sailors to their native land, in the bark Candace, Capt. Gardiner, on Monday, the 4th of October, having been arranged by the owners of the Chinese junk, they all attended the Floating Church of this city, on the preceding Sunday afternoon. It was interesting to see them there with the large number of other sailors who were then present, as some of them must come within the range of Bishop Boone's mission on their return to Shang-Hai,--and the impression of the church services could not fail of being remembered, and of producing a solemn effect on their minds. They were accompanied by Mr. Lin-King-Chew, a devoted Christian, as far as he understands Christianity, having embraced our religion through the instrumentality of some faithful missionary in his native land. His efforts in behalf of his countrymen, were chiefly directed to their spiritual welfare. He presented each of them a Testament in their own language, a portion of which he daily read and explained to them, while they were boarding at the Sailor's Home. Mr. Lin-King-Chew is a Chinese gentleman of education, and of distinction and property in his own country, who has been in New York about two months, learning our language, and who, since their difficulties, has very much interested himself in their welfare. Capt. and Mrs. Richardson, of the New York Sailor's Home in Cherry street, where they have been residing the last three weeks, at their request also accompanied them. From the paternal and maternal care they have experienced from them, they have expressed themselves, through their interpreter, in strong terms of gratitude. After divine service, Rev. Mr. Parker, the chaplain, presented each of them, 26 in number, with the Protestant Churchman of April, 1845, which contains two beautiful wood cuts, originally engraved for the Ladies' Magazine, of a view of the exterior and interior of the Ploating Church of this city, accompanied by an extended description of the Floating Church, and the efforts making in the Episcopal Church throughout America for the spiritual benefit of seamen. It was an impressive reflection, said Rev. Mr. Parker, (in a short statement he made to the congregation, after the benediction,) of the present circumstances of the interesting strangers who were then present, and who were to leave our shores on, the morrow, in the ship that lay alongside of the Floating Church, where they were, for cities under our feet on the other side of the globe, that though they saw before them persons who excited a deep curiosity, from their peculiar complexion, mode of dress and physiognomy, that they belonged to a race which, in numbers, at the present time, equalled one-third of the whole population of our earth.