Mr. F._Axpersos.- solution V which reads as follows Resolution ¥.—That the Council be and is hereby authorised forthwith to undertake tery of a Mortuary Chapel to reserved for Christian services, it being derstood that the existing building in this \etery shall, upon completion of the proposed new Chapel, open to the use of all members of the Foreign Com: nunity, irrespective of nationality or creed.
The correspondence which was recently published regarding the use of the Morruary Chapel wil] explain to you why the resolution which T have just read is submitted to you to-day. For the first time as far as we are aware in the history of the Settlement the permission of the Council to use the Mortuary Chapel for non-Christian services was asked by some of our fellow-residents. The Council fully appreciates the good feeling which th Ratepayers showed in the form in which Fequest was made, and in the fact that they refrained from claiming the use of the Chapel as a right, which perhaps they might have been justly entitled to do, They, equally with the Council, this asa new departure, and seel they asked the Council' to give its permission I trust this meeting will agree in considering that the decision arrived at as & just and proper one under the circumstances. The view whatever our personal opinions might be this was clearly a question which should be definitely decided by the Ratepayers as a body and not by an individual wiember of the Council or even by the full Council. At first it was intended that the Council should take no action in the matter, but should Leave the question to be bro forward by private Ratepayers; we were, however, informed by those immediately interested that they would greatly prefer that the Council should bring forward resolution on the subject, and we have reason to helieve.that they are satisfied by the resolution which is now before you. The Council was given to understand that if non-Christian services were held there the great majority ut those who had hitherto used the Chapel would be unable to use it in future. The practical result of throwing the Chapel open to all residents would therefore be that only a small minority would probably use it in future and that a large number of residents would suffer the inconvenience of being obliged to hold services for the dead ata considerable distance from the Cemetery. Under these circumstances, taking into consideration the fact that the Chapel is much smaller than the Old Mort Chapel, which was built whea the coi munity' was very considerably less tha is now, and as the expenditure involved is comparatively unimportant, the Council is
settle the question ina spirit of compro-of opinion that it would be expedient to mise, by throwing the present Chapel open toall members of the foreign community and building a new Chapel for Christian services. With these remarks we submit the matter to you for decision.
Mr. Hewerr—I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution.
Mr. E. Davis—I beg to propose as an amendment to the resolution put before you, the following—
Resolved, thet the Council be and is hereby authorised to throw open to the use of all members of the For pective of nationality Mortuary Chapel and Crematorium in Bubbling Well Cemetery.
My task, I think, will be an easy one, because I feel Ihave your sympathy. I do not wish to say what I feel about the action of the Council in refusing, because I believe that they did it with the best intentions, and I am afraid, from what the Chairman has just now told us, that they were rather threatened and did it under pressure. The letters that were written the Japanese gentleman were most temperate. Another letter was written by Mr. Rex, which many of you read, and am sure that voiced what I now say and what I think you all feel. I object to the proposal on two grounds; first of all, although Mr. Anderson has said it will cost a stall sum, I see no need of expenditure. The present Mortuary Chapel, as I understand it, is not consecrated." If there is any time when we should sink differences of race or religion it is by the side of the grave and be he who he may let him come and let that service be conducted there. Will any one get up here and tell me that the service Japanese pollute the chapel? (Cries performed by the Renan Catholics or the
of **No, no.") I think then it is inexpedient on the' score of expense. We come out here to show these Eastern nations the better way. Our clergymen and missionaries preach of the virtue of charity and brotherly love, and we at once start in by saying: "Phot is our Chapel; you may not go there." Why, let every religion ask for a chapel. Why should not the Roman Catholics have one built for then? Why not these Japanese gentlemen ask for a mortuary chapel? T think, Gentlemen, it will be w slur on the community. T feel rather strongly on the subject, and I hope you will support my amendment. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. Buctaxax—I beg to second the amendment. I think the Council have acted wrongly in the course they have taken, and that this meeting will say that they agree with Mr. Davis and myself in supporting this. There are many different religions in Shanghai besides Christinnity. If the Jews asked for the thing would it be refused? Happily they have burial ground of their own, and it is not necessary for them to ask for the use of this chapel.
Mr. F. Axpersox.—On behalf of the Council, and in reply to the remarks which have been. made, Y can only any that the opinions of the Council personally were perhaps very much the sime us. theirs wore, but the Council thought that it was their duty to act in the interests of the greatest number of people, and when they received the following communication which I will read to you, they considered that the practical effect of passing such a resolution as Mr. Davis has proposed is that the chapel would he reserved for the use of a comparatively small number of the population. 'The letter to which I referred is this, which Mr. Hodges sent to the Council' and authorised them to parlish. We have not done so because wwe thought it might not be necessary to do so, In my remarks I referred to this letter when I said that we had received a certain intimation, The letter reads The Deanery, 11th October, 1999, To the CHatrwas of the Municipal Coun Dear Sim,—With reference to the question that been raised as to the granting of the Mortuary Chapel for services other than Christian, T think it only right to inform you that if the Chapel is ever used for non. Christian funeral rites I cowl not again uso inn funeral. As I have reason that Dry Muirhead and the Rev.
Darwent take the sume view as I do, Tmay point out to you that under these circumstaners the opening of the Chapel for funeral services of uny and every description would seriously i niece, and be a hardship to the majority of the residents in this Settlement, as was undoubtedly never contemplated when the Chapel was erected that any but Chistian services would Lo performed in i Tam, dear sir, Yours faithfully, H. C. Hovoxs.
(Cries of Shame "Oh!" and groans and hisses).
Mr. H. P. Winxtssos—Quite right! Quite right!
Mr. F. Axpensos—I can only say after that letter that the Council wished the matter to be settled in a spirit of compromise, and that is the reason it submitted
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.