Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-05-12


name given to the Sovereign Pontiff, o!
High Priest, of the Thbetian Tartars
His residence is Pateli, in Thibet, q
vast palace on mountain near the banks
of Braumpooter. The Grand Lama i,
worshipped not only by the Thibetians
but by the various tribes Of Tartars who
roam over the vast extent of the CONT
.nent that stretches from the banks Of
the WoIga to Corea, on the sen of Jap.
an. The. more remote Tartars are
said to regard him as the Deity him.
self, and call him "God the everlasting
Father of Heaven.'' He is believed to
be endowed with all knowledge and
virtue, though he does not condescend
to converse with the greatest monarch
of Asia. He would n2ver deign to
pay the least attention to frail mortals,
were it not 10 bestow on them forgive
ness of sin, mercy and consolation" He
is rarely if ever seen by common wof-
shippers. Those who annually come a
thousand miles, with large presents, re-
turn highly grati6ed if they are permit
ted even partially to see his face. He
is visited by the Kings of Tartary with
rich gifts for his blessing, which he be-
slows by putting his hand on the top OF
their heads.
The residence of the Grand Lama is
properly an immense pile of temples
covering the top of the mountain. A
round this there are circles of build
ings Of superb structure, receding and
enlargins as they descend, Till they
reach the plain. According TO Bentick
more than 10000 Lamas reside in these
several circles which surround the noun
tain.
every circle is embellished with
parallel rows Of shady trees, and inhab-
tied by Lamas who dress according to
the rank of their respective circles.
Those Lamas who reside in the higher
circles, possess great wealth and sancti-
ty of character, and 10 maintain these
high pretensions to holiness, they sell
dom appear before the multitude. We
can hardly imagine scene better cal
culated to overwhelm the mind of the
superstitious worshipper than the ascent
Of the holy mountain. Every step be,
comes more and more sacred, and brings
him nearer and nearer to his eternal
sovereign
The worshippers of the Grand Lama
believe that he never dies, but when
the body he inhabits grows infrm and
decays, the soul forsakes it andbecomes
the occupant of the body Of some child.
All books printed in the Thibetlan
language are considered sacred. This
circumstance is considered of great i'm
portance as an aid TO the introduction
Of Christianity into Tibet and China.
As Thibet is the only country that en-
Joys free intercourse with China, and
as the Emperoran and Court look to Thib-
ct for their religion, it is thought that
the most practicable method Of intro
dncing Christianity into China, will be
that Of first introducing it into Thibet.
In dissertation lately read before
the Society of Inquiry in the Theolog-
ical Seminary at Andoyer, the writer
suggests the importance of a mission to
Thibet. "If the gospel could be intro
duced into Thibet," says The writer,
sit would flow in the deserted channels
of Lamaisn all over China and Tartary
Ii a Thibetian mission should be instru.
mental in the conversion of the Lamas,
the Paganism of all Asia would tremble
to its foundation"
We have the best wishes for the sue.
cess of such an undertaking, though we
cannot but look upon it as visionary ia
expect any signal success from any Of
these missions, so long as we remember
the fact, that DR.. MORRISON has labour-
ed as Chinese missionary, fifteen year:
without obtaining but two converts. We
think there is no doubt that this plan Of
Outstanding China would be much
more likely TO succeed than direct at.
tempt upon China itself. We cannot
but think, howev that most Of these
missionary plans are premature. The
progress of Christianity must be ex.
treme ly slow in all the older and par
TALLY civilized nations, and whatever
may be the devotedness, the Iabours and
sacrifices Of its friends, can, we think,
hardly be expected to prevail, only III
the same proportion that these nations
become enlightened and improved by
more extensive intercourse with christ
ian nations, and the cultivation Of their
literature and arts, and the adoption oil
many of their habits and rules in the
economy of life Their minds being
thus expanded, and sensibly feeling the
advantages of our science and general
intellectual cultivation, will the more
readily perceive the truth and embrace
the doctrines and rules oi our moral and