The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-26

Time. remarks that Notwithstanding the
prolongation of the Chinese instruction anu
a knowledge ofthe important fact that ohahs
hal. the seat Of the Protestant Episoopai
Mission to the Celestial Empire. has remain
ed in the continued occupation OF 'he ieoeiS'
we are without a definite surmise ~ 10 the
distinctive religious tendencies OF that popu'
lar movement That the attempt 10 oethrone
the existing dynasty emanates solely frompo-
litical causes, is denied by peculiarly ethi-
cal character impaired to the proclamations
and current documents promulgated in the
name of the revolutionists. wherever their
triumphal entry has demanded provincialpa-
cification. Up to this present moment, a lack
of personal intercourse with the insurgents,
Il meritorious enterprise we had hoped our
missionaries would have effected instantane.
ously upon the occurrence of available OPP
portunities, leaves US in doubt as to the pre-
dominating theologic element actuating the
leaders of the new era in their evident cru
SADIE against Paganism. Their destructive
tendencies have been duly chronicled; tenn
Piles have been cast down and idols broken
to the dust-still their creative talents, and
particularly the precise character of the wor-
ship forced in substitution to that so energet-
ically annihilated, appear to elicit no com,
ments from reliable sources. Indeed, in the
few surmises attainable by US, confusion of
theory pervades speculation, magnifying the
difficulties encircling a rational conclusion
As to the definite character of the ethico,r eli-
gious morality attempted to be engrafted up
on the reformatory legislation
The Tim0is probably not aware that let
ter has been written by Bishop Boone, the
head of the Protestant Episcopal Mission in
China, which has been published by some OF
| the papers ofthat church in this country, and
which gives the opinion of this intelligent
and estimable prelate in full of the religious
character of the insurgent movement. We
have not that letter before US, but the Bishop
has no faith at all in the christianity of the in
surgents, either in theory, tendency or prao
| tioe, and looks upon them morally as much
worse set of men than the imperialists. tie
has had good opportunity of judging, and
the rebels, from his showing, and we know
no better authority in all China, are about as
irredeemable set of scapegraces as can be
found anywhere, except perhaps, among the
Fighting men of New York.
The Times says that q wide spread impress
sion has seized upon American minds thai
one high in authority, if not the pretendel
personally, is native convert of Mr.. Gutz
lah Still, remarks the Times, the example
| of an isolated instance of Christianity will in
no wise authorize the broad assertion of its
prevalence among a body, augmented from
every discontinued source, and cemented by
a conciliatory regard for existing prejudices
1t is said to be certain that the Pretender
claims authority by the grace of Supreme
Ruler, dispenser of good and of evil; and in
the "Trimetrical Classic" he is represented
to have been taken up in 1887 to Heaven,
and there personally instructed by the "Great
God" in the legislation of the Celestial
Spheres. Assuredly, says the Times, if this
statement is to be accepted as an enuncia-
ton of faith, the religion of the Pretender is
tainted more deeply with egotistic Mahomet-
anism than is consistent with the primitive
creed of Christianity, and evinces itself a
| Chinese fabric of Eclocticism-a base COM
| mingling of heather tradition with the truths
| of Revelation.