Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1857-04-11

Inc most important thing in the world is pub
lic opinion, and morality among men, both Of which
are injured by the distribution of the books of
Jesus. Unscrupulous barbarians and cunning
natives have banded together in their traitorous
schemes OF sedltlOn to scatter abroad these books
OF Jesus, and exhort men to join his religion,
which Is the same us inviting them to jDin the
Shanghai Association, "a. e. the Nankine Insur-
gents } and the disorders which have come from
those rebels owe their source to this wicked con-
duct 10 urge men TO destroy their idols, and pay
no worship To their ancestors. is like entreatinr
them to join troop of wild beasts, and is the de-
testable thing the Romanists constantly have done
Does not the circulation of the books of Jesus in
Jure public opinion and destroy the moral sense of
men! Still, if we do not describe the evil things
In these books, our own people will not know the
grounds OF their own reasnning and morality if
their errors are not eliminated how can the evils
which flow therefrOm be removed! Therefore do
not begrudge some trouble to show plainly to all
classes the bad results which flow from the doc
trines IN these books, so that none be heedlessly
entrapped in their willy mesheS and have cause to
rue ii. By so doing shall lend little help, too,
in saving public upiniun and morals from ruin
. Now this Jesus was worthy man who lived
In the countries of the barbarians When those
savages first had being, seantlng of the breath
and bounties of heaven were granted them At
this period they were Ignorant and uncivilized, in
nowiSe differing from the brutes; for though they
had had natures conferred on them they were rIbid
and cruel though they were human beings they
were coarse, groveling, and without Shame
Wherefore heaven specially brought forth this
person, Jesus, to humanize and reform them, to
teach them to observe the social relations to select
herbs to cure their maladies, to make and use I'M
plcWents to improve their mode Of living, and to
Instruct them how to take care Of their living and
give burial to the dead. He was still in the land
of Judea when he was taken up and used most
cruelty, nailed on a cross, cut with knives sawed
asunder, and seathed in caldron all of which,
in fact, only exhibited the wolfsl disposition Of
these people. After this, he died several times
and came to life again, showing his wondrous mir
acles, that he might reform their base and cruel
natures.
g After these things, many persons joined in re-
peatlng over his sayings among themselves and to
others, thus to reverence and obey him and for
thousands of years they have adopted his instruc-
ton. until all foreign lands have been brought to
adhere to him alone to the exclusion of every other
person, and they now reverence and adore him us
true God (chin shin.) 1t is by his power in Short
that these bArb.rians exhibitany good feelings and
know how to requte the virtue Of Jesus; it is
most proper, therefore, that he is worshipped and
served by them all.
81 But as to our land Of China, the Central
Flowery Kingdom, since the earliest times, many
holy men have been born among from age to age,
IN edc SUCCESSIVE uyIdSty, DDtn lnnaLely molly Sag
es, and worthless now departed, who have taught
us IN the fullest manner, explaining and enforcing
their books on reason and virtue in the clearest
style, so that we now govern the empire, and its
people have become acquainted with astronomy
and geography, (or astrology and geomancy,) use
dresses, robes uf ceremony, articles of furniture,
tools, Dishes and every other convenience observe
the rules of etiquette, prepare herbs for healing,
and have instituted civil ranks and military Offices,
all in the highest, completest manner.
Z" Furthermore, we Chinese were born under
sky where the most correct auspices of the five
elements prevailed, and natures are generous,
and we have deep sense of gratitude, and the
highest regard for prOpriety in consequence. We
exalt the holy and wise of antiquity, the loyal
statesmen and upright scholars who have deserved
we'll Of their race we cherish their virtues and
initiate their examples. 1t is for this reason that
we carve and mold their eigies to worship them
and the alteration paid to these images is simply
the expression of the reverence felt for these per-
sons 1t is true, however, that the spirits (Lmg-
hucdH) of the holy and wise, the loyal and just
who have done good to men, still abide among men
after death, protecting them from injury and over
seeing all calamitics and Omens which indicate mis-
fortune prosperity. Therefore the gods exhibit
their intelligence in Che influence felt by the wor-
shippers whose prayers are answered. Although
we carve and mold the images with q severe and
aspect and mien, it is that the divine
energy may have proper support and expression,
and cause the wOrshippers to feel due reverence
and awe in their presence
" What y vast difference between this and the |
unreasonable sayings of Jesus, who is |.
vanly called the Son of Shangtii Who, among
us Chinese have seen his works or believed in his
namel
a. As to the worship of ancestors, since men de- /
rive their blood in succession from to the other
it only exhibits the a affection of their hearts in
u clear mode; for if man never thinks Of his a
rents, or feels grateful to them for his being but
Joins the religion of Jesus, which does not require
him to worship them, what matter is it to him !
whether he has any sons or grandsons! From this
it is too plain that the tenets Of this religion teach
men to regard neither prince nor parent and to
profane the gods.
- Foreigners have lately come to China to dis !
seminate the books of Jesus ridicule our custom
of worshipping images and idols, and reverencing
our ancestors, and to exhort people to join this |
faith Their designs are malignant and their plans
deep and subtle, wishing to lead our people gradu
ally, and hatter thcm with enticing words rs they
can understand what is said with the offer OF
a little advantage, one would give sweetmeat
to child to induce people to oin this religion
without rrnce or parent, and obey its rules not to
worship the gods. This greatly tends to the det /
rinent of public opinion and good morals, mars
the beauty and disturbs the order of our cosmos, /
and utterly conf0unds what our holy and wise men
have taught respecting reason, virtue, humanity
and Justice. Those who circulate the books of Je-
sus are villainous, seditious barbIrians, whom
heaven or earth cannot endure, and who ought to
suffer the extreme penalty Of the laws of the
realm.
The vagabonds among us, lazy, dissipated fell /
lows, base, unpublished and stupid people, have
been deuded into joining this religion of Jesus,
aud listening to these foreign rebels who discard
both prince and parent, and have stirred up rebel