The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
From the North China Herald, May2s.
LATEST VIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS
AND MORAL El.EMENTS

The nature of this Instruction, of which the
essence is its religious element, has compelled
us to trench on subjects not usually discussed
in newspaper. We wish it to be distinctly
understood that we commit ourselves to no o.
pinion whatsoever on the reality and precise
nature OF the Teen-wang's mission. We feel
certain, however, that he has not lived and act
ed in spite of the Almighty. In like manner
we commit ourselves to no settled opinion on
the Book Of Divine Communications, in which
we DO not wish to ignore the existence of much
that, viewed by our light, would seem TO be
mere human invention or delusion. But we
certainly cannot convince ourselves that cold
and deliberate imposture could have originated
and maintained an intense and extensive move.
ment like that we are considering And we
protest earnestly against all hasty uncharitable.
or it may be, presumptuous decisions in matters
which it is beyond the powers of human Ian
guage to grasp, because branching on all sides
into the inscrutable and incomprehensibIe.-
What mainly concerns us is, that these Chinese
Christians do worship the same God as our.
selves; that they have, like ourselves, taken
the Ten Commandments as their moral code :;
and that they wage war against immortality with
an earnestness at present altogether strange to
US. 1t was indeed said at Nankin-and passa-
ges In their books corroborate the statement
that the sovereign himself has thirty-six concu-
bines, the parsonage next in rank twelve, and
some eight or ten Of the higher officers each
smaller number. But this poligamy is 10 be
confined to about ten or twelve persons in a
population of 360,00O,OOO and it is by no
means an essential part of the system that il
should continue to exist even in this limited ex-
tent. The teachings of one devoted missona-
ry, or even the distribution of New Testaments.
might originate change; for it is to be re-
m, rod hat botb IN ffor, ,,I ,,,I ~.
utterly destroying the men, women, and chill
dren' of their enemies, they appear to follow
the dictates of the book of Moses more than the
precepts of the New Dispensation. Until bet
ter taught they, among whom polygamy has ex-
listed from Oldest times, may very naturally be.
lieve that in the eyes of Him to whom FIVE
thousand years are shut as day." the plurali-
ty of wives which in the patriarch Abraham
was in the morning no fault, cannot in the eve
ming be crime.
The great wonder is, in truth, that they have
SO completely separated themselves from most
of the ancient vices and superstitions. In a few
sentences in the introduction to their calendar
they dispose of the whole system Of divination,
fortune telling, and lucky days, which many of
US have had cause to know is a practical tram
mel on the unchristianized Chinese. The idols
have been all destroyed in the cities they hold,
and with them, many of the temples. All the
females have been quartered in separate build
ings, where they work and receive rations under
the superintendent of the seniors and while
all have been told that this measure is
but temporary to prevent abuses, 9TH
erwlse sure to ensue, in the existing con.
fusion, it is for the present certain death for
any male to enter these establishments, even as
husband or father. So rigorous are the leaders
in carrying out their principles, that several
prevalent vices of the Chinese have already been
cured even in the large numbers of new follow
ers at Nankin. One term of abuse was evil
IDENTIFY allowed-"wang patan'-literally, egg
OF tortoise, metaphorical expression for ssson
OF cuckhold." But of all the gross obscenities
that used TO garnish the ordinary language of
both sexes, not one was heard either by our
countrymen, or by their Chinese Attendants
Nor was any gambling seen and there was, in
short, enough ascertained during the few days
stay of the Hermes, to prove that the Ten Com.
as moral code, will assuredly be
enforced in all strictness and integrity.