The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
The Methodist Mission 20 c3.ins.

A very interesting missionary meeting vas held
on Wednesday night, the 18th inst, ia the NJ 4.
Church OF Columbus Geo.
The exercises were opened byDr. W. NJ. Wight
man, by reading the 9th psalm, singing the I6ith
hymn, and an appropriate prayer
Dr. Lovick Pierce introduced To the audience ~
Taylor, missionary TO China, who said.
l am impressed by the contrast wnich THIS scene
offers to those with which am familiar. ! anl ac-
customed to temples as large or larger tnan TINS,
consecrated TO idols ana not 10 the living God and
Whaee walls are backened with the smoke OF the
incense which has been offered up to them for ages;
and TO CONGREGATIONS OF dusky worshppers ten times
as large as this who come together, not to worship
the true God, but to join in the festivities Of
the heather deties-who having eyes, see not
and ears hear not; and hands, handle not. A
few. missionaries stationed at the five ports open
ed to them, have been endeavoring for few years
past TO kinde few sparks OF truth along the ex-
tended coast Of China, which would lumine the
great mass of darkness which lies beyond. They
had prayed preached lifted up the cross aud trans
lated books in the hope that they might kindle these
sparks into flame. The chances were all against
rs; we were crmped and crippled in all our efforts
the work seemed too onerous; the means employed
seemed TOO small to accomplish it; but we still la
bored on, and did not despond, trusting in the pro-
misc that the whole earth should be filed with the
glory Of Cod and though there were 60 900 900 peo
pie in China who were in heathenish darkness Gods
word was pledged and we knew that I'LL He had pro-
missed He would bring to pass We therefore labored
on, and were surprised on looking beyond the dark
ness that encompassed Us to see a sudden blaze or
light springing up, which illumined the whole hori-
zon. We were surprised to find that the insnf-
rection which commenced in the southwest and
gradually approached Pekin, had strong clements
Of religious Truth in it. We received proclamitions
from the rebel chief, and were amazed to ma
that he contemplated not only the overthrow OF
the Tartar dynasty but the destruction OF dolatry
and the establishment OF the worship OF the true
God. Yet the proclamations were In manuscript,
and bore upon their fnce no marks of their genu-
ineness. The insunoction gradually approached
Shanghae; Nanki,i, the ancient capital of China,
was taken, and understood that the rebel chief
intended tn make it his capital The disposition Of
n-Wang towards the foreign population OF China
was unknown. The imperialists had taken pains to
circulate the report that the rebels had determined
to extermnate all foreigners, and to this end had
forged proclamatons to suit their views 1t was,
therefore, deemed advisable by the British authori-
ties to send a steamer to Nankin to ascertain the
feelings of the insurgents towards foreigners. In
the meantime Ching-kiang-fu had fallen into their
hands. As the Hermes passed this city, followed
by Chimes junks the rebels fired into her, which the
junks returned. The Hermes did not return the
fire, but passed on. At Nankin the Hermes was
again fired into, but instead Of returning the fire,
made signals that her purpose was not hostile and
Immediately friendly communications were opened.
Books were given to the officers of the Hermes, to
show The foreigners their views word was also sent
to Ching kang-fu not to fire on the Hermes. When
the Hermes reached the city, the authorities did fire
into her. and the fife was returned with vigor. Two
miles be.ow the city white flag was see n waving
upon the bank An apology was received from the
that the me sage was not received from the insur-
gent camp at the time she passed the city. The
Hermes returned to Shanghai. The books present
ed purported to be written by the rebel leader. One
contained translation Of some chapters from Gene
SIS. We discovered that they inculcated many doc
trines incompatible with Christianity and supposed
that they had not copy of the New Testament. We
determined to give IT EN- the whole Bible In the
mean time the rebel chief sent for Mr.. Roberts,
of the missionaries who had instructed him in Chris
tlanity several years previous. We therefore con-
cluded that he was no imposter, but sincere man,
though in error. 1t was difficult to reach him. He
was surrounded by land and water by the imperial
lists determined to go in boat and carry the
Bible to him. In five days | came in sight Of the
imperialist fleet My boatmen were much alarmed.
We anchored below the feet, and at night, with a
stiff gale, ran through the blockade; not, however,
without exciting the suspicion of the imperialists,
who occasionally threw a shot across our bows.
just before day, under the dim light of the gray
moon reached Silver Island, and crossed over to
the opposite shore just at daylight here took leave
OF my boatmen who never expected to see me again.
l had before seen foreigner who had been as high
up a. Silver Island, who told me that the insurgents
had offered five hundred dollars for the head Of a
foreigner as o revenge for the damage done by the
fire of the Hermes upon Ching-kiang-fu. | believed
would be able to persuade the insurgents that my
mission was peaceable. got on shore and followed
a narrow path through the tall weeds towards the
city. There a high dyke near the path, upon
which could have walked more comfortably, but
the imperialists were encamped half mile distant,
and therefore avoided it. In short time | came
within five hundred yards of n hill on which the
rebels had fortress. At this point, no longer fear
ing the observation of the imperalists, got upon
the dyke, which here wdened out into large road,
which, however, was filed with OBJ tructions. was
observed by the insurgents on the HILL l put down
my carpet bag, and motioned to them to come and
help me.
They sent down man to assist me, and following
him was soon inside the rebel fortress. Very soon
large body of troops gathered round me, inquiring
who was and where had come FROM | was still
vrf nv
to death but felt that my object warranted the
risk, and knew that If it were the will Of God hi
could preserve my life and if nSt, felt calm and
sweet assurance that all would be well. replied
that / came from Shanghai and brought intelli
gence Of great importance to their chief 1t is very
difficult in China to see distinguished personages
was assured that the Emperor Of China did no,
know that there were any foreigners in his do
make my mission known to any inferior parsonage
and thus force them to bring me into the presence
Of the General. was conducted into an open hall
into the presence of captain, who again interro
gated me to my mission refused to make my
business known to him, and insisted upon seeing the
chief / was then furnished with guard and en-
tered the city. discovered in the streets the dis
membered limbs Of the idols which had been destroy
and heard the people singing In their houses Upon
inquiry | learned that they were performing theil
morning devotions to the great God of Heaven and
Earth. At length was conducted into magnia-
cent court, adorned with beautiful flowers, and light
ed with lamps, and hung with yellow drapery. l
was again Intercepted, but still refused to make
known my mission, except to the chief. He shortly
made his appearance, and was arrayed in his uni
form. He was a general in command of 10000
fighting men. | gave him my books, which he re-
ceived with pleasure. was ushercd into private
apartment to prepare for breakfast, and while en-
gagged in my ablutions heard singing in the court.
returned and found the chief and his officers en-
gagged in their morning worship. At the close. of
Che hymn heard distinctly the long metre doxolo-
gy. An individual then took q book and read a
chapter, whereupon every man took his cushion and
placed il upon the pavement, and kneeling, with
eyes turned to heaven, joined in prayer, which one
Of them led as we do. All then arose and went to
breakfast. was surprised and amazed to find thou
sands in that heather land engaged in Christian wor-
shib. At breakfast waited for blessing, and find
ing they did not begin the meal explained to them
our custom. They were pleased with it, and
requested me to ask a blessing. At dinner the same
ceremony was repeated at the request Of the Chi
nese. was now at liberty to visit any part of the
city, and availed myself Of the privilege. ] re-
turned to my boat to get more books. As was