The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-10-29
CONVERSION OF THE CHINESE
GREAT MOVEMENT AMONG THE

y gandism rs a system, there can be no doab
e that it has ever been the active instrument O
9 civilization. Whilst, therefore, we may no
: always approve the steps taken by the differ
= cnt Christian churches to iiffuse their doc
/ tines amongst the various barbarious tribe
, and nations, we csnnst hep recognizing tn
, benefits which, on tlc whole, they have con
: ferred upon the ccmgss epf the world auc
aPo"Ts''v Interests OF hdinanity generally.--
We, in course, tn common with the rest o
mankind, have leaning towards particular
J creed; but we nevertheless regard with salts
faction the ,ifarts OF all the various denomi
nations OF Christians to open up new field,
for their labors amongst the vast masse.
of human beings who are still plunged in
the darkness and intellectual. soth of pa.
ganism.
One Of the most promising results of the
recent treaties with China is the esgerness
which has been displayed by the dilfercu,
Christian sects to avail themselves Of the
opportunities afforded by them of carrying
the light of the gospel into the heart of that
vast empire. The ink on those instruments
was scarcely dry when vast preparations were
everywhere set on foot to recruit mssionn-
ries for this grent work. The Pope, alive 10
the importance of drawing within the folds
of the Catholic Church population out
numbering that Of Europe, and speculating
probably on adding something substantial to
its patrimony, Immediately Sc: about organ.
zing grand scheme Of pecuniary contribu-
tons all over the world, with the view of
enabling him to send an immense army of
Catholic missionaries to this new field And
in order to facilitate the work OF proselytism,
the Jesuiis, already established there, dis
patched four native students to Rome in or
Ger that they may be better educated for the
priesthood and sent back to aid in the spirit
ual regeneration Of their coun,rymen.-
France, to whose efforts the most important
OF the religious privileges wrung from the
Chinese are due, is also about to forward
Immediately, with the sanction of his Holi.
ness, n number Of young priests, drilled un-
der the supervision of her archbishops, md
who will remain directly under their orders.
The mission will be protected by war vessels,
led by the 'cisb gpyerHmenr- less control
similar movement has been iiiauga ga,l., ,-.....--
durinp the recent sit of the Gar to Mos
cow. the pa,riac ,f that city, in a sermon
delivered before he Emperor. abjured-naN
almost commnded-him to immediately
march a legion of missionaries to China to
convert the people to the Greek church. Nor
are the churclmen in this country behind
their Europed brethren in the zeal and
,-omp,itude O .her efforts. Already the
Epis,,pol Mehodists of New York have
sent out the lev. Mr.. Baldwin ard four fe'
male teachers. The American Dutch Re-
formed church Iave also forwarded TO the old
stations frea reinforcement of three mis-
sionar,es and teir wives, and it is only ii few
weeks since III Rev. Mr.. Vrooman, of Can.
ton Mission, aked the American people for
$4,000 missionaries TO convert China TO
Christianity, AMI 10000 yearly recruits TO
keep the number complete. In addition to
these he demands 3,000,0O0 of teachers--n
n number suilicieu, we should think, to
keep up the reputation Of the church mill
tant, in case persuasive measures should
fail.
The magnitude Of these preparations,
backed as they will We by the authority Of
treaties and the presence of numerous ves-
sells Of war, leaves no toubt Ms to the proxi.
mate opening up Of tbs immense empire to
the purifying influences of Christianity and
the benefits of Westen civilization. Where
the missionaries once obtain a footing, we
may reckon upon the,e results following in
his train. But TIE missionary would be pow
crless in China, and elsewhere, without the
presence and aid of the sword Much as the
profession of the soldier is decried, and The
rayages he is compelled 10 commit gronned
over, il is he who is in reality the pioneer
...li..;1... "oll of ,...-...-.--- -a -
ilzntion. In the march Of human progress
the soldier moves first, then the missionary,
and after him the merchant. II is n hopeful
and cheering feature in the solution Of this
Chinese problem-a problem which has vex.
ed the world for centures--that these sue
cessive conditions Of progression are being
fulfilled Once inundate China with mis-
sionaries. and is adhesion to Western ideas
and principles will follow rs n matter Of
course. II is not simply the propagandism
of religious doeirincs, but Of the political
aud commrrcia sysiems' of their respective
countries that hey will carry out. Some of
these political systems may, and undoubtedly
will prevail, 10 the exclusion of others: but
the less favor,d natinns may console them
selves with Tho reflection that the CONNER.
cial adyantages,w hieh will be secured by tie
labors of the nissonarics can be monopoiz-
ed by none, md that the world gensroiiy
mus, participate ia their benefits.
RArugR Hen pRicEp.--A. keene Rich.
,rds. of Georgetown, KY, has determined TO
nurehnse the celebrated English race horse,
Fisherman. and bring him to this county,
Tbe price to be- paid for him is $4,000.
| -l-~-------=------a-
,as- "Whtt's that you've got in ynnr
hand, my loyrl" said an old lady to her daugh'
Ter, the other day.
eIt's bny.doux, ma" lisred Miss So
phronia.