Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-22
THE DES MONIES COURIER.
The Chinese Revolution.

he visit of Her Britannia Maiesty's
steamer Hermes to Nankin has opened
a new scene in the great Chinese drama.
1t has served to establish the truth of
previous surmises, that large number
of Chinese are enlightened Christians,
and destroy ers Of idols. This class of
the revolulionis,s had been known for
some time before as the "Shanti-ti Broth
erhood," and had made statement of
their principles and views in two proc
lamations--one issued by Yang, the east
ern king, and the other by Sian, the west
ern king-in The early part Of the pres
ent year. Mr.. Meadows, the Interpret
err If Sir George Bonham, had an inter-
view with some OF their chiefs, and was
filed with admiration at their appear.
ance and language. They gave him the
strongest assurances OF the most friendly
feelings and intentions towards the for
eigners, and told him that they were their
Christian Brothers! as
Mr.. Meadows was astonisf ed al the
evidence he witnessed of the sincerity
of their belief, and of their PRACTICAL con
sistency. lie brough*Hwsay several OF
their religious books; one of which, call
ed The Religious Prccepts of the Tae-
Ping Dynasty, has been translated by
DR.. Medhurst. 1t is compilation, by
the Chinese themselves. of their ideas
of religion, as drawn from the Bible
There appears not the least sign of the
hand of foreigner in il; on the contra
ry; the internal evidence is very strong
tba, no foreign missionary. Romish or
Protestant, could have dictated il in any
way.
Ii does not come forward 10 announce
TO the Chinese world the "glad tidings
that a Saviour is born" and that light
has come into the world TO show them
the way to Heaven; but appears to take
it for granted that the Holy Scriptures
are known to exis. and that Christ is
the Redeemer. II says, NOV the Great
God has made righteous communica.
tlon TO man, and whatsoever repents not Of
his sins, &c., shall most certainly be
sent TO He'll" (Which of these is bes,
and which the worst, we leave il for you
to juGgeH' ... ..... ....... -.
1t then goes into an argument adapted
to the Chinese mind, to show the reason
ableness OF the new doetr,ne, and de.
clares "tha, all the people throughout
the world, no matter whether they be
male or female, Chinese or foreigners,
must worship the Great God"
Their doctrines are chiefly drawn from
the Old Testament, ami their references
to Christ appear to be merely inciden
tai. They have many forms OF PRAYER,
some Of which are beautiful, especially
that for ''penitent sinner all are in
the main scriptursl--,he chief objection
being the occasional requisilion of '.of.
ierng reveren.ly OF animals, tea, Wine
and rice, 10 the Great God of our Heav-
emily Father ....
Then follow the ten Commandments,
which are ordered to be strictly obsers.
ed. Each commandn ent is written out,
well explained and accompanied by a
hymn. One singular feature in their ex-
PLANTATION is, that in defining the meaning
of The Seventh Commandment, they say
it forbids, among other things, the smok
ing OF opium. Some of their other
books exhibit extlavagant notions; bu!
we must not expect among people like
the Chinese, SO full OF superstition, and
so itnbued with the inherited darkness of
ages, that there should not at first be
some perversion of understanding in ref.
erence TO the new religion.