The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-10-28
ilillon q Bibles for Ohiua.

ITO uob1NlcAtlAS et-rt-'
in China are gradually but efectnally
assuming shape which creates q deep
'interest, andwill Justify the commence
ment Of some practical efforts on the
part Of Christians, to take advantage
Of them, Though our knowledge Of
facts partakes Of much yagleness,
there Is In longer room to doubt that
the extinction Of the old Tartar dy-'
nasty Is al hand, and that the future
rulers Of China VIII inaugurate new
commercial and social relations with
the other nations Of the world, from
which she has been 50 long and so
,efectuaIly secluded. Whatever credit
we may attach to the professions Of
insurgents anxious to propitiate the
1 favor Of foreigners, whose active in
tervention they may yet need, there
will be motives enough of policy to
leave no room for doubt that the new
empire, If it shall ever become an EN-.
pire, will act upon far more liberal
principles, and that intercourse with
China will hencelorth become easier.
: There is reason to believe, also after
all reasonable deductions on the score
of ignorance or deceit, that the lead
ers, at least, of the insurrection, are
favorably disposed toward Christian
q ity. The books which have been OBJ
tanned from them evince an extraor-
dinary familiarity with the Old Testa-
ment, and with some Of the leading
facts Of the New; while their moral
precepts, liturgical forms and other
writings, discover grade Of Christian
morality that would scarcely dishonor
the teachings of a Protestant Chris
tian school. They are evidently not
Papists, and the whole moral appear
ance of the movement is as unlike
what might be expected from the in-
fuence Of Jesuits as possible. They
are everywhere and earnestly icon
oclasts; images and idols and devo-
tional paintings share their liveliest
abhorrence-a feature which Roman
SIN never having learned ITSELF would
pot not be likely to teach barbarious
neople. They profess the utmost
friendship to Protestant missionaries,
and certainly have permitted them a
freedom Of access, and given them a
fullne3s Of statement as to belief and
intentions, that would have been ex-
traordinary, without some previous
pre-possessions. Rev. Charles Tay-
lor, a Methodist clergyman from this
country, was received with cordiality
by the "Arranger of the Forces" at
CIing Keang, expressly upon the
ground that he was "fellow-wor-
shipper Of God, and brother" al |
though, being followed unfortunately |
by some hostile Imper.alist vessels,
his visit was not without suspicious
incidents, which might have justified
a far different reception, There would
seem to be something deeper than
policy in such conduct, and some
thing to give plausibility to the story /
that the great leader Of this insurrec. \
ton was himself a convert Of the cell /
ebrated Chinese missionary, Leang i
Afa, and was formerly connected with
the mission at Canton, and under the
teaching Of the Rev. Mr.. Roberts, a
Baptist missionary from this country. /
Though it cannot be said that his
knowledge Of the New Testament
does much honor to a missionary Il
teacher, it may still be true, and is al 4
together probable that portions of the
Scriptures issued by the missionaries,
have contributed to form the religious
opinions-and let us hope faith Of this
important mar. 1t is an additional
indication that the rebels wage war
against opium, the great foe Of the Chi
naman; observe carefully the Chris.
tian Sabbath; prescribe all immoral
.-I oLooono I,u0,1ofsa in tho 0arn N.