Page:Europe in China.djvu/412

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394
CHAPTER XVIII.

valuable library embodied in that of the equally moribund Morrison Education Society. Both libraries were stored at the London Mission Printing Office. The Morrison Education Society continued to exist for a few years longer in the form of a Committee administering, for purposes of religious education, the funds ($13,000) still in hand, and distinguished itself (December, 1860) by a narrow partisan spirit in excluding from support the schools of a missionary (Dr. A. Happer) who had given offence to a member of the Committee (J. Jardine) by inaccurate statements concerning the percentage of opium smokers in China. Dr. Legge made a last but futile effort to extend the scope of the Society by appealing to the public (December 27, 1861) for additional subscriptions.

St. John's Cathedral was enriched (in 1860) by the erection of a good organ which was inaugurated (December 25, 1860) under the direction of the newly arrived organist (C. F. A. Sangster) who soon after organized and trained an efficient choir which has been maintained ever since. Consequent upon the retirement of Bishop Smith, the Legislative Council voted (September 13, 1864) for the Bishop of Victoria a pension of £300 per annum. A suggestion was, however, embodied in this vote to the effect that the Home Government should pay half of the sum on the ground that the Bishop's services had been devoted as much to Imperial as to local interests. The charity of the community was strongly manifested (in 1862 and 1863) by a unanimous endeavour to afford all possible relief to the Lancashire and Cheshire operatives thrown out of employment in consequence of the cotton famine caused by the outbreak of the American war. All classes of foreign residents agreed to give, in addition to special donations, a regular monthly contribution of $2 per head. Special collections were made in all places of worship and concerts were given by amateurs of all nationalities to swell the funds. In this manner a sum of $15,000 was raised and forwarded to the Mansion House Committee in London in September, 1862, and further contributions amounting in the aggregate to $11,162 were