The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1854-11-18
Lecture on the Chinese.

i've auditory, and the entire exercises OF
Intervening were Of an appropriate and
impressive character.
The reverend speaker selected his text
from the 18th verse of the 49th chapter of
Isaiah, which reads as follows:
behold these shall come from afar
and 10, these from the North, and from the
West; and these from the land of Sinim."
The speaker in explanation of the word
Sinin, stated that it literally meant China
that in the Southern country the as"
was aspirated and pronounced as "Ch,"
and that the Chinese, with little change,
pronounced it by the name now known.
He said that the Chinese were the most
peculiar in many respects Of any nation
on the face Of the earth. bat he should
consider them only as regarded thoir con-
nection with their spiritual interests.
Firstly, their origin was peculiar it
was utterly impossible to tell from whence
they came, OF how they originated. 1t
was surmised by some that they had their
origin in Egypt, inasmuch as relics bear
ing Chinese Hieroglyphics had been found
in tina, country.
Secondly, they were peculiar people
as regarded their population. They were
the most numerous Of any nation on the
globe, number ng three hundred and fifty
millions Of people, or more than one third
Of the entire population of the EARTH
They were peculiar as people in this
they had indeed two eyes in their heads,
looked ahead in the beaten path and were
human beings but in all else. were entire
ly different from the res, of the race.
Thirdly, they were peculiar people
in theiF=language and literature. Their
pecuiiarities OF language consisted in
their having IN one sense OF the word, no
letters. They had two hundred and four
teen radicals and eighty thousand charac-
ters-they had no affixes, suffixes, moods
or tenses-.heir language was cut up into
dialects, and these dialects were so un-
like, that oftlmes communities living but
fifty miles apart were totally unable to
understand each other. In many portions
OF the country their written language was
different from that spoken. Th's wa.i
peculiarly the case in Canton and some
OF the interior provinces, but not SO much
SO in Shanghae. Their literature is peeu-
liar in this. that it is tho most extensive
of any known 10 us. In illustration he
cited the fact that he had seen 100 vol
umes of an inch in thickness and of the
size Of quarto, which were only cata-
logues to the books in single library
There was much Of IT, however, which
Was valusless and not worth the pcrusal.
Fourthly. They were peealiar peo-
~ in their revolutions. In 1912, the
1nftars usurped the governments, and
tEat since that time L.ere had been no
change in the dynasty except that OF ru-
lers. The revolu,ionists contemplated no
political or religious changes. The pres
ent revolution was peculiarly Chinese
evolution. II originated in Canton. and
spread directly into the rural districts,
avoiding the large cities. 1t, however,
took Marking because the insurgents
were Drawer than the imperialisis, and
had less to lose by defeat. The revolution
is peculiar in this that the people are diyi-
ded into several bands, emily one Of which
have discarded the religion Of their an
cestOrs.
We can expect nothing to result from
this revolution but anarchy and confusion.
This latter band had indeed destroyed
their idols, and RACED their temples. but
then they had also put to death their
priests, and acted in such barbarous
manner that christianity had little 10 hope
from even these.
Fnthly, They were peculiar people
as regarded their religion. This was
classified under three divisions. Confuc-
msism, Taouism, and Buddhism. The
fvs, Of these derived their belief from
Confucius, fifteen hundred years ago, and
his devoted followers sacrificed millions
annually before his shrine. One Of the
great principles of their religion was ODE
Jieace to superiors. They believed there
was a supreme God, and supreme En-
peror, and they were very careful in be-
heying that the latter wa. peculiarly the
Emperor OF China The devolees Of this
religion were principally the civil and
military rulers.
The believers in Taouism had been for
ages endeavoring TO find out The Elixir
OF Life the use Of which would prolong
existence beyond its natural term ihey
had resorted to every cApedient, were
in effect alcheinists. but all TO no purpose.
The Taoutse mingled religious rites with
their pretended skill IN magic, and were,
M fact, the priests oil then sect. 10 tins
religion belonged the philosophers
The Buddnjs,s comprised the great masses
OF the Chinese. This was the religion
of the people. and consisted, as vas well
known. OF offering acriff,c 4 IDOLS.
The Chinese are exc' edingls tena1-
ious as regards Their religion. aud to all
Christian instruction they are wholly
averse. The spealsr stated that he lad
been treated with rali!eness and hospital
nv. Lut in relation 10 religious subjects
their conduct was exceeding peculiar.
We regret tia, we are unable IN thls
imperfect outline 70 DO justice TO The really
admirable lecture OF the reverend gentle
man, but as il was ex,empofe, we are, OF
course, preeluded from anything more
than 4 synopsis Of his ramarks. The
speaksr nus fluent delivery, and I'M