Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-02-11
Origin of the China Rebellion

The Rev Mr.. Tyson Yates, an American Bap-
fist missionary at Shangae, has sent home the
following account of what he believes to be the
true origin Of the present movement in China ::
SHANGHAI, 22d Sep. 1853.
"Yhere are present stopping in our mission,
two lads, whose identity is not known, except
to our mission One. a boy Of fifteen, is the
son of the Southern King; the other, lad of
eighteen or twenty, who was, on last Sabbath,
received into our church by baptism, is the ne
Zone Of the four great leaders Of the rebellion
in China.) From these young men, (the' elder
of whom, is well acquainted With all the cir
cumstances that led to the first hostile demon
STATIONS, we have been able to get correct in
formation, touching the origin Of the rebel
lion.
From these young men, we learn that Hung
Su-Chuen, lat present know as Tai-pin Wong
having embraced the Christian religion, destroy
ed every sign of idolatry about his house and
school room, flor he was teacher Of high
school,) and gave much attention to publishing
the gospel. Disciples to the new doctrine multi
piled rapidly. Soon this innovation upon the
ancient customs attracted the attention Of the
authorities Of Quang See, flor it was In this in
terror province, far removed from foreign intiu-
ence, that this new thing started
sThe authorities in question, attempted to
crush this new religion by persecution, but this
only attracted attention to it. Finding that the
1.-THE civil and military authorities,) beheaded
two of the disciples thinking that this rigid
measure would suppress this disorderly body.
But SO far from having this effect, they 1.-THE
Christians, who had increased by this time to
quite q considerable number took up arms in
defence of their religion and called upon God to
aid and defend them.
''The imperialists in an engagement with
them were routed with great loss. The Chris
tan army increased rapidly, till they were able
to Withstand any force that might be brought
against them. The christian army was now
fairly committed. They well knew that they
must be delivered from the bondage of the inn
perial yoke, both civil and religious, or death
was certain. They formed the design of SUBJ
verting the government, with the intention of
establishing in its stead liberal and christian
government.
"They issued tracts and circulars, in which
they attacked the abuses and corruptions of the
civil authorities and the religious teachers, SC.
They destroyed idols and circulated portions of
the scriptures and religious tracts, and preached
to the people purer religion. All this, strange
to say, secured them the favor of the people,
and their thousand was soon multiplied. Thus,
Hung Su Chuen commenced about three years
ago Since then he has fought many ba: ties.
sin every place he exposes the corruptions of
the mandarins and priests, destroys idols cir
culates the scriptures and religious tracts (many
Of which are his own productions, in which, of
course, there are many errors, and breaches
the gospel. His main army is now before Pc
kin. Considering all the circumstances of the
present rebellion in China, viewed either in
civil or religious point of view, it is without
parallel in the history of the world r.