Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-02
The chlness nevola,lon and Its Eneets.-

The visit of her Britannia Majesty's steamer
Hernes to Nankin has opened new scene in the
great Chinese drama. 1t has served to establIsh
the truth of previous surmses. that large number
of the Chinese are enlightened Christians, and de-
stroyers Of idols This class of the reyoutionists
had been known for some time before as the Shang-
ii Brotherhood,'' and had made statement OF their
views and principles ID two proclamations-on is
sued bv Yang, the eastern king and the other by
Sian the king in the early part of the pre-
sent year.
We publish some most curious and highly inter-
esng extracts relative to their religious belief pre-
cepts, and moral code extracted from the most au-
thentic sources
From the Correspondent of the Overland China Mall
May 24th.1
THE ORIGIN OF THEIR CHRISTIAN kNowLEDGE.-s
1t will perhaps prove interesting to you to learn
what is known of the origin of their Christian know-
edge. Their chief on earth, Hung Slu-tisuen, who
is styled the 1aisp'ing Wang, and " to whom kind
Of divine origin and mission is ascrbed is native
of Hwahien, district of Kwang shau department.
in Canton province H. to the residence of q
missionary in Canton. in 1896 to learn the Chris
tian doctrines. He remained in the mssionarys
house several months, supported by him, and was
daily engaged in memorzlng the Holy Scriptures,
and receiving instruction in them. When he came
to the missionary, he gave him paper in Chinese
stating that his attention had frs been directed to
these doctrines by tract, entitled g Good words
horting the age," which had been given him, seve
raj years previously in Canton when he was attend
which tau ght in this tract viz that there was
only one true God-that Jesus was the Saviour-the5
folly of idolatry-the duty of repentance, &c.
were farther impressed upon his mind in vision
which he had Sd bsequently. during spell of sick-
ness; and that, having heard that there was for
egn teacher in Canton, he had come to be instruct
ed in these doctrines. This paper was unfortunate
ly lost. After several months instruction, he re-
quested baptism; but the missionary was not salts
fed that he was proper subject for that ordnance
and wished to wait for decided evidence of faith
and repentance. He afterwards left Canton f r
Kwangsi. He was small man, of good appearances
and address, and of considerable attanments in
Chinese literature. but in way very remarkable.
In September of 1852, man of the same SUR
name as Hung Su-tasinen, came to Hong Kong -
He professed to be friend of the chief and also to
be believer in Christianity. He made the acquaint-
ance of missionary in Hong Kong, and requested
baptism of him. which request not granted so
far as am informed. During his intercourse with
this missionary, he gave him two papers in Chinese
one containing some notice of the conversion of
Hong Siu-tsinen, and the other containing ac-
count of himself the commencement of their preach
ing, and the attendant prosecutions and their sub
sequent connecting themselves with the robbers in
Kwangsi in 1850.
The first paper in addition to the particulars above
given, as communicated by Hong Siu-tsnen himself
TO the missionary in Canton in 1896 states that be
a student from his youth, and man of trans
cendant abity-hat after he returned from Canton TO
kwang- he commenced teaching and pfeaching-
that he wrote many books, explaining Christian doc
trnes, and exhorting to believe them-that he
met with opposition, and that he worked miracles
tore;od future events, and visions.
Ot himself, he states in the second paper, that he
was teacher: and that after Hung had explained TO
him the doctrines OF the tract he had received at the
examinations and the substance OF his subsequent Wis
ion, be Immediately believed the doctrines, discarded
the worship of CONTIGUOUS from his school room, and
the idols from his house, and commenced exhorting
his friends and relations believe and do likewise
Some believed. hers Tn fha Q
he and two others. he having given up his school,,
commenced preaching these doctrines from village to
village IN Hwa hIen district and afterwards they went
10 kWangsl, where they had much greater success in
propagating the doctrines than in Kwang-tung They
went and came several times between the two
provinces.
Wherever number believed, they DESTROYED the
idols and the temples. At first. the magistrates did
not modest them, admitting they good people,
and that the doctrines were good but that afterwards
(When the robbers were numerous) under the pre-.
text OF suppressng the robbers they prosecuted them
anu TWO OF their number, surnamed Lu and Wang,
died under their suferings from these prosecutions
All first they had intention of rebeng against the
government but being goaded by their persecu-
tlons. and finding in 1850 of thousands gathered
together G of robbers in Kwang si) they consider
ed them as wing of protection, attached themselves
10 them and became their leaders, organizing them
selves with the proessed object of overturning the
government SO far from regarding these insurgents
with tavor, on account of their professed acknowl-
euSeIeNt ol one ana tnelr nellet IN the Sacred
Scriptures cannot regard these facts but with the
deepest socItude, as calculated TO seriously compro-
mise the character of our holy religion in the eyes of
this heather nation
| Their COMMISSION FROM COP The revoiutjoniss
claim TO be commissioned from God, and assert that
lie has mlracuouSly assisted them. In one of the
procamations referred to above enumerating the des
tructon OF the world by the food the deiverance of
the lsraees from Egypt, and the incarnation of the
Lord Jesus IN the Land of Judea, three great inter-
positions of God in human affairs, they proceed To-
state: " In the later ages he has again manifested his
Indignation. and in the year 837 the great God sent a
celestial messenger, who was commissioned by the
Lord OF Heaven, when he ascended on high to put 10
! death the hend'sh bands Again he has sent the
celestial king to take the lead of the empire and save
the people: From A. D. 184S.'51 the great God has
compasslonated the calamtes of the peopIe who
have been entanged in the meshes of the devils ne
on the third month of the year 1851 the exalted Lord
and great Emperor appeared and in the month of the
same year, Jesus the Saviour of the world manifest
ed himself, exerting nnumerabIe acts Of power, and
slaughterng great number of impsh fends in sew
eral pitched bates." In the account Of the Hermes'
VISIT II is stated that in recounting their miraculous
escape from Yung -ngan city, they say, Our Heay-
emily Father came down and showed us the way to
break out"
MORTALITY OF New YoRK-The report of the
City inspector of New York shows that nine hundr ed
and si1ty-nine persons died in that city during the
last week Arranged according 10 sex, there were
three hundred and sixty two men, one hundred and
hftv-siX women. two hundred and thirty eight bows
and two hundred and thirteen girls amongst the de-
ceased. Compared with the return of the preceding
seven days the general total exhibits an excess Of
mortality amounting to three hundred and eigh-
ty-four cases The predisposing causes of disease