The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-19
THE CHINESE REVOLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS.

Visit Of the British Steamer IIermes to Nankin,
and her Observation-Disclosures Character Of
the lnsurgents-Thelr Moral COde-Origin or
their Christian Kn8vVieugv,-Commissio
from GOd-FricndIy SOclctlcs--IOoks Of
Written I.~ws-Hcnvsniy Appearances, &c
The WRIT Of her Britannia Majesty's steamer
Hermcs to Nankin has opened new scene in the
great Chinese drama. II has served 10 establish the
truth Of previous surmiscs, that large number OF
the Chinese are enlightened Christians, and destroy
ers Of IDOLS This class OF the rcvoutonist5 had been
known for some time before az the "Shangt Brother
hood" and had made statement of their views and
principles in two proclamati on3-one issued by
Yang, the eastern king, and the other by Sian the
western king, in the early part Of the present year
However, the reception given by them 10 the officers
and men Of the IIermcs and their greeting them as
"iorcign brethren gives matter of fact reality TO
the hitherto pleasing idea Of their enlightenment.
We publish some most curious and highly interest
ing extracts relative TO their religious belief pre-
ccpts, and moral code, extracted from the most au-
thentic sources
THE ORIGIN OF THEIR CHRIsTIAN KSowLEDG
From the correspondeat Of the Overland China Mall
May ~
II will perhaps prove interesting TO you TO learn
what is known Of the origin of their Christian know
ledge Their chief on earth, Hung Siutsiuen who IL
sly led the TAPPING Wang, and " TO whom a kind Of
divine origin and mission IN ascrbed," IL native Of
IIwahien, district Of kwang .chau department in
Canton province lie came 70 the residence Of mis-.
sonary In Canton, In 1896 ~ learn the Christian doc
trncs lie remained In this missonarys house seve-
raj months supported by him. and was daily engaged
in memorziDg the Holy Scriptures and receiving in
struction in them. When he came to the missionary,
he gave him paper in Chinese, stating that his a
tention had first been directed To these doctrines by
n tract, entitled " Good words exhorting the age ~
t.I. LuL
in Canton when he was attending the literary exa
minaton; that the doctrines which taught in
this tract, viz that there only one true God.
that Jesus was the Saviour the folly of idoatry-
the duty OF repentance, &c-wcre farther impressed
upon his mind in a vision which he had subsequently,
during spell Of sickness; and that, having heard
that there was foreign teacher in Canton, he had
come TO be instructed in these doctrines This paper
was unfortunately lost After several months in
struction he requested baptism; but the missionary
wa. not satisfied that he proper subcc for
that ordinance, and wished to wait for decided
evidence Of faith and repentance. He afterwards
left Canton for kwangd. He was a small man. OF
good appearance aud address, and of considerable
attainments IN Chinese literature, but In no way very
remarkable.
In September of 1862, a man of the same surname
IA Hung Siu-tsucn. camesto Hong Kong. lie pro-
icssod 10 be friend OF the chief aud also 10 be be-
lever In Christianity. He made the acquaintance Of
n missionary In Hong Kong, and requested baptism
Of him, which request not granted far IA am
informed. During his intercourse with this mission
my lie gave him two papers in Chinese-onc con
tanning some notice OF the conversion Of Hung Siu.
tsiuon, aud the other containing some account Of
himself, the commencement If their preaching aud
the attendant prosecutions and their sub ,equcnt con
Meeting themselves With the robbers In kwang 81 In
1880.
The first paper, in addition to the particulars above
given, ~ communicated by Hung Su.tsuen himself
10 the missionary In Canton In Isle states that he
was student from bis youth, and mln of tran.
soendnni ability after he returned from Canton
10 kwanPsi he commenced teaching aud preaching
that lac wrote many books explaining Christian
doctrines, and eXhorting men to believe thcn-that
he met with opposition, and that he worked miracles
iorctold future events, and saw visions.
Of hWsclf he states in the second napcr that
he was teacher; and that after Hung had explain
| ed To him the doctrines of the tract he had re-
| ceiycd at the examination, and the substance OF
| his Subsequent vision, he immediately believed
| the doctrines, and discarded the vor4hip of Con-
| iucus from his school room, and the idols
| from his house, and commenced exhortng
| his friends and relations to believe and do
| likewise. Some believed, but others oDnoled. In
| The year 1916, he and two others, he having given
up bis school, commenced preaching these doctrines
| from village TO village III IYu.hen district, and
| afterwards they went 10 kwany.si where they had
much greater success IN prpparatng Tho doctrines
! than IN kwang .tung. They went and came several
Tunes between the two provinces. Wherever nun.
Ter believed, they destroyed the idols and the tom
| pies. At frat the magistrates did not m1lest them
| admitting they were good people. and taat thc doc.
| ti,rcs we're good; bit That afterwards twlca tho
robbers were 50 numcrnH) under the prcteNtoi aup.
pressing the robbers they pcrsccutci thcm and two
81 their number. rrnnn,d Ia and Wang died under
| uoir sul'fnrs from th"c prosecutions. a. Art
! thcN bad M i6icuu0u0 ubc ng ahltnst the govern
! r".li 3rt '"n1 Hoadcl VI n ~ tHe'r pcfrauioot
! "y' tf.it 4. "h t#"a f1l. X. r.
thor a. T. OF rG.bfrs IN w4gg Oil p,.e ,,u9t,tgy,I