Mary Ann Wong and Daniel Wong

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OBITUARY

MRS. M. A. WONG

News has been received by Mr. Yue H. Jackson, of Wellington, of the death in Hong Kong of Mrs. Mary Ann Wong, at the age of 59. She will be- re- as assistant missioner to the Chinese in Wellington. Mrs. Wong was engaged in work at the Anglican Chinese Mission in Frederick Street for about 25 years and was much respected (and indeed beloved) by Chinese and others who came in contact with her in her work. She was. born in Australia and came to.New Zealand where she was married to the late Mr. Daniel Wong, who was at the time in charge of tho mission in Wellington. Mrs. Wong was particularly successful in her work among the Chinese women in Wellington. She would meet these women when arriving in New Zealand, and would give them a word of comfort as strangers in a strange land, and help th.cm. in every possible- way to accustom., themselves to their new and strange surroundings. Mrs. Wong left Wellington for Hong Kong in 1927 and joined the family of the Rev. E. Y. P. Lee, chaplain of St. Paul's College, Hong Kong. In his letter conveying the sad news, Mr. Lee informs Mr. Jackson that Mrs. Wong }died in the Hong Kong Hospital after an operation. She was buried in the Chinese Christian cemetery, in the beautiful "Happy Valley" of Hong Kong. News of Mrs. Wong's demise has been received by the Chinese in Wellington with great sorrow. Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1934, Page 15

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Death of a Chinese Missioner.

WELLINGTON, March 30. Obituary. — Daniel Wong, Anglican Chinese missioner. Deceased formerly laboured amongst the Chiuese of the West Coast. Fifteen months ago, he broke down, and in October last underwent an operation. Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12428, 30 March 1908, Page 5

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Gratitude is not one of the most pronounced features of Chinese character.. The Wellington Chinese, however, have manifested: its possession in a somewhat striking manner in connection with the death of Mr Wong, the Chinese Anglican missioner. The Post says that they, subscribed nearly £100 towards Mr Wong's medical expenses, they guaranteed his funeral expenses when he died, they have not forgotten his widow in her affliction, and they have undertaken to ke,ep his grave green and well tended: and very few of thmo were straight-out Christians. They closed up their places of amusement when he died, and they attended his funeral 200 strong. The spiritual side of the work is kept going by Mr Dai Chum, and' Mrs Wong is still devoting her time to visiting the sick and needy, and assisting' at the evening classes; but a successor to Mr Wong is needed to carry on the burden. Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 108, 8 May 1908, Page 7

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We understand that a^ telegram was received on Saturday stating that Mr Dauiel Wong, the Chinese Missionary, died in Wellington on ta-st day. No doubt many Neisonlaiio will remember him in connection with the work amongst the Chinese on the West Coast, carried on by the Anglicau Church. It was injlß96 tnat Mr Oneok Hong Cheong came from Melbourne and addressed meetings, and about September. 1897, Mr Daniel Wong, who whs a nephew of Mr Cheong, came over and he made his headquarters at Greymouth. where he won the respect of all by his gentlemanly-and Christian character. In consequence of the decrease in the number of his countrymen on the West Coast, Mr Wong's headquarters were transferred to Wellington at the close of 1901, where he faithfully labored until his death. Colonist, Volume L, Issue 12204, 30 March 1908, Page 2

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MEMORIAL SERVICE

THE LATE MRS. M. A. WONG

An impressive and dignified memorial service for the late Mrs. Mary Ann Wong-was held at the Chinese Anglican Mission Church last evening,1 his Lordship Bishop Sprott being present. The church was filled almost entirely by Chinese residents., Mr. Gee Chu read the service (in Chinese) according to the Book of Common Prayer, and Mr. Chiu Kwok Chu; missioner, read the lesson from John sv, 27. The memorial address was given by the Yen. Archdeacon Johnson, who spoke, not without ©motion, of the work that Mrs. Wong had done for the mission to Chinese in Wellington. Tho archduaeon began by expressing his heartfelt thanks to those of his Chinese friends who had come to the funeral service of his wife. They had helped him a great deal to realise that these friends of his had not forgotten him in the hour of his bereavement. They had met to-' getJier on the present occasion to think o± one whose presence had graced the mission for 25 years. The archdeacon said he first met Mrs Wong just after the death of her husband, and he was struck by the way in which she showed that • she ■ had the mission at heart, and with the late Mr Dyo Chum she ' had worked very hard for it. As a result of her work among tlie Chinese he was happy to say that two of his Chinese godsons were present at that service. He pictured the burial service held in Hong Kong for the late Mrs. Wong as it was conducted there by the Rev. E. P. Lee, who would have read the lesson from the Ist bpistle to the Corinthians (xv, 20) and come to the words, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Then there would be a pause, as the body^was laid in its place and theu the words would follow, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their works do follow them." Tho labour here mentioned did not mean hard work buffrather worries—worry in thinking whether one's work -would succeed.

The archdeacon then recalled the late Mrs. Wong's bright smile and her earnestness when she came,to see him about some Chinese whom she asked that they should be baptised. She would say how she had prayed for. them. She had indeed prayed, and her works did tollow her. At the social gatherings at the mission she would do all she could to make everyone happy and contented and they would never forget her and all that she did.

The archdeacon quoted from an authority on the Chinese people that they possessed three, great characteristics: sincerity, unselfishness, and greatness of heart. He himself realised how true au estimate this was of Mrs. Wong. She was entirely devoted to the service of her Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and- that was why she attracted people and made them "love her. . One never knew her do a. selfish thing or refuse to do anything because it would give her trouble. She never spared herself in her devotion to! the Chineso Mission and to the Chinese women. She placed herself wholly at the disposal of Jesus Christ. As to her greatness of heart, she never looked for faults in other people; on the other hand she would forgive and be gentle when things did not go as well as she had wished. For 25 years she supported the mission loyally because she knew the work was for her Master the Lord Jesus. '' .

'' Now she rests from her worries and her works do follow her, and we ourselves thank God that we havo known her—a real; Chinese-Christian lady. We think of-her with the greatest respect, gratitude, and love. She rests until that day comes when her Lord shall say, '.Come, ye, blessed children of My Father, receive tho kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.' lit humble trust.we leave her in Christ's keeping, thankful for her esample. "

..As a mark of respect, and at the invitation of the speaker, the congregation stood for a moment in silent j»rayer. The service concluded with the benediction pronounced by tho Bishop. Mr. Chuuhow H. Pao, Chinese Consul, was present. Archdeacon Johnson's address was interpreted into' Chinese by Mr. Yue H. Jackson', Vice-Consul.. The service was in Chinese. A large portrait of Mrs. Wong, draped not in crepe but wreathed in green leaves and flowers, was suspended from tho lectern. Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 1, 2 July 1934, Page 13

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Mr. Daniel Wong, _ who conducted a Chinese mission in Frederick-street under the auspices of. the Anglican Diocese, died on Saturday evening at his residence, in Mortimer-terrace. Mr. Wong broke down in health about fifteen months ago, and had been an invalid for,_ orbout a year. During his --illness the' excellent woik at the mission was carried on by Mr. Dai Chum, ono of the converts of the institution. Mr. Wong immigrated at a comparatively early age to Australia where he received his education and training at the Anglican Christian Mission. School. From Melbourne he went to the West Coast of the South Island, and afterwards came on to Wellington. Mr. Wong was about 40' years of age-. He was married five years ago to a quarter-caste Chinese frqm Melbourne. There were no children. Tho funeral is to take place on Tuesday, and a funeral service is to be held at St. Mark's, at 2.30 p.m. Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 76, 30 March 1908, Page 7