Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-04-28
9ailp Siraiuiau.
Death of Abbe Hue.

VII INV iSt w august, 1910. thtic Nhs ooiu ~
Toulouse in France. u child destined to he one of
the most intrepid and intelligent Of tho many
brave missionaries ofthe Roman Catholic Church.
Evaristo Regis Hue to whose birth we refer, en-
tered the ccelcsascal ranks at very early age
When about twentv-,x years old he was ordained
priest, md, in week from tho timo OF his or
dination was on his wav to the mission ut Macao
Arrived in China, his active and jealous mnd
aroused to the spiritual necessities Of tho in
numerabe population Of that vnst empire. lilo
closely studied tho religious doctrines OF the nco-
pie, aud observing that the principal inspirations
OF their crccds seemed 10 emanate from the Grand
Iamancsque in n,,iru,inns Of Thibet, he conceived
the bold idea Of visiting tho interior of the coun-
try, and even penetrating to tho great city of
Lha Ssn, where tho Grnnd Lama OF Thbet lived
With NJ. Gabct, another missionary aud Sandal.
chiemba. converted native of rather dubious
Christianity. he undertook tho journey. Ills
wanderings of five years duration he has recorded
in his "Iogdgc 'n 3drtarie, ie htbet, ct IL Ch'ne.
pendent les dnness 1874, 1915 a 1916" This was
published in various languages aud it is by this
work that Abbc lluo became known to the
world
Seldom if over, has book of travels been
written in which, while utterly free from egotsm.
the author has given his readers such an insight
into his own character. No one can read his
charming narrative without gaining an accurate
idea Of the character OF the writer himself Pious
zeal. simplicity. and delicate sense Of humor are
the distinguishing features Of his style.
Certainly few men have been placed in more
perilous situation than NJ. Hue. lie explorod,with
limited mems, part of tho world thnt Ind hith-
erto been almost totally unknown to tho western
world. lie examined into tho mysteries and ccre-
monies ota religion probably older than Christian
ity. and throughout all his troubles and ndycn.
turcs maintained nm uuvarying cheeriulness and
hone. His book contains statements which require
n large exercise Of faith To believe in, and which
are vet too singular and too minutoy describod TO
render il probable TINT they the work OF fc-
ton. even were not the author'a character n guar
anty for his crcdiLility. NJ. liuc was actuatcd,
throughout all hH career hy n simple zeal that
has seldom been surpassed ana which, had oc
casion required. would have enabled him to en-
dure the death Of n triumphant martyr. On one
occasion he sought such n fate. Az festi-
val in honor Of Buddha, at ore of tho Chinese
towns whore he was stopping. number Of dcvo-
tees performed revolving rites, cutting upon their
bodies, taking their bowels out, and then closing
up the wound. with few movements of the hnnd.
All this the simple Able could only explain by
nttributing il to tie direct intervention Of the dew
H. and his pious anger was aroused at the thought
of such black art influencing the ignorant null
tituhe He therefore determined tn interpose and
decided that NJ the hour when the ceremonies
were performed h" would rnsh up to the altar md
publickly proclaim that tho priests md deyo;ccs
were soreerors. that Buldha was n scnscless idol
and that the only true God was tho God of the
| CHRISTMAS Had not some unexpected incident,
| that delayed the Able beyond the hour Of tho bn-
decentralization rites intcrvencd, it il very nearly
certain that NJ. Hue would have been killed on the
spot for sacrl &c. aud the world deprived Of one oi
the most remal kablc and charming books of travel
ever written.
In the year 1913. when China WINS the theatre Of
intestine wars. lie was recalled by the Emperor to
Pekn His nrdnnns travels had effected his health
and in 1851 he returned Ia europe, After the pub
ica,ion Of his Toydge 7dr'pie, he published
The Chinese Empire" work not so we'll known
though it Won for the Able n prize in the French
Academy. His last work. "Christianity in China,"
was written in 1897.
Able Hue died few weeks ago. aged forty
seven wears. In many respects he was the most
ardent pouecr Of the Christian faith. and the most
adventurous and practically useful traveller If the
present century J.! real hard work IN the cause
to which he devoted his life be considered. he de-
serves special honors from his Church far more
than those holy men whose lives have been spent
in passive piey in tho cell or convent. LISA hap
nv circumstance for the reading world thAt he could
separate the priest from the traveller the mission
nrv from the explorer. and could leave works in
which his remarkable discoveries and statements
are not buried among the of the ligious pla-
ti,udos that render so much Of the literature OF mis-
sionarcs of but little interest to those outside Of
their own Church.