, 1860-10-09

shout cne-third Of the population ofthe world
Place them nix feet apart, and = Gordon OF liv.
ing beings encirc!es the glooe eighteen times.
Tbs character Of thepeople themselves is moi
these multlsudes and learns them by obsefra
ton and the student who simply reads the page
! Of the faithful historian are alike impressed bl
their wonderful character. The fact that pow,
erful and polished nation has grown u2 here, i
= great degree uniudueneed bJ other govern
nents, Is one Of the most Interesting problem.
which can engage tho mud Of the historian sui
the phi:osopher. Tbs popular estimate Of thei,
charac' er u highly erroneous.
They arc colonzing people; Japan, Siam
| Burmah, Cochin China, aud tbs islands of thl
] South Sea represent their influence. Tho la1l
| Of Japan are written in the Chinese charActers
They have tina: something about them that ab
| sorbs everything. Within the laat few year.
| the Chinese have commenced emigratin1 to ths
western coast Of America While 10 hare beer
discussing tho propriety Of sending missiona,
| ries to them, thsy hare sent their missioaariel
to Us, initiating centres Of ido1asrous influence
in our land.
They arc = commercial people, notably desi
rous Of foreign trade and Intercourse till the
advent of Aanenu Tartar dynasties. Theil
preiud1ces are fast vanishing away. Foreign
inventions, arts aud sciencts are, to great ex,
tent, known and appreciated, and are gradually
entering among the people.
They arc very keen and sh.ewd. While va
may e1:el them in practical application Of
arts ard sciences, in native talent we do not.
He who takes them to ba fools or rerd1nt ia
mistaken. They are the Yankee Nation Of that
region. He must rise early in the morning
who intends to get to the windwa1d Of Chins.
nan before night-fa1l.
They are an intelligent people. Education is
4 necessity OF official preferment. The student
graduates suecesslvtly frcm County, State, and
National institutions, aud then passes cour1e
at Pek,n to receive an honorary title cor1es-
LLD'a all the civil officers Of government arc
chosen. These compare with our best scholars
and diplomsttsts, who always return from Chi
na. astonianedly confe.aing the fact. Indeed.
till the advent Of Europeans and Americans in
their land. the Chinese had never met their
equals. Numerous sgsnts Of scientific societies
are now in China, ensiehing the literature and
learning Of the West BY the contributions Of
that far OF land. Their newspapers CON-
pare favorably with our orn. China il
the oldest civilized nation in tho world.
When Britain and Ea1ope were sa.age wilds,
China had her aonrishirg & schools, her we'll en-
dowed colleges, aud her hslls Of literature
throrged with ingenious youth. Within her
ter1itory the arts have flouriahed and the peo.
pie become wealthy and refined, while most Of
the surrounding nations hare been In etate of
barbarian. The invention Of her written char
actera dates back many centuries before the
birth of cur Saviour. From the1r earlies. htz-
tory they have bestowed the most careful atten-
ton to literature. Their sages have lived in ey.
cry period Of the worlds history siaca tho de-
luge. Regular literary examinations are held
in al the provinces by the authority Of the
State. Prescribed degrees are conferred, Sc
curing to the successful candidates for literary
distinction certain privileges aud honors. Their
respect for lteratusc and 1ite1aEy men is re-
maEkabfe.
) The Chinese possess most Of the arts. aud
many Of the refreshments aud Injuries Of life.
Their government is unique in form and ef1lc cient
in action. Popu}ous cities cover their plaias.
The student, farmer, merchant, tr4desman and
domestic have their appropriate places. Many
are learned in the liserAturo Of the country,
some are wealthy, the majority possess ths com.
forts Of physical life, while few suffer from
want
A remarkable feature Of the nation. and ouo
that has arrested the attsntion of every travel.
er, il the total absence Of any sJstem Of cust;
An Institution presenting, wherever 1t ex:ste,
ono OF the most formidable difficulties with
which Christianity ID cslled to grzpple.
All this, however, is the bright t1de. In con-
ne1ion and mournfu' contrast with it, are the
moral depravity aud pollution which 80 fearful
cannot be overdraTn. The one bali Of it has
never bsen told It never will be. No audienco
or reader would brookit
No effective mission WIS established On the
soil Of China till 1912, labors having been sue
cess III only ia the outer colonies. This arose
from the determined opposition of the govern
ment, not Of the people. 1t il 4 promising
characteristic Of the missionary work in China
that BY means Of the press the gospel cau be
presched throughout the empire. Ii is most
interesting fact, that, while there are more To-
cal dialects than provinces, the writer language
is the same throughout the country. 4 back
printed 1t one Of our mission presses can be
read ~ every educated Chinaman. From this
source, streams Of Christian literature are h3w-
ing over the land: Bsbles, catechisms and
tracts are finding their way everywhere. Thou
sands arc thus circulating where the foot of tho
missionary has never jet trodden, paving the
WAY for his reception. Successive transAtipns
Of the Scriptures are from tjme to tins neces.
sary, ~ an increasing knowledge of the lau-
fuage reveals defects and errors.
Tue common people hear tho missionary
gladly. Thar hea1ts ars eager for the truth be
IpeAks. Wherever To may 20, few words in
the coiloqnisl dialect il sufficient to secure 4
favorable reception, both for himself snd his
doctrines. They SOON learn to repose conf.
dence in him, and gladly place their children
under his care. The minds ofthe educated and
intelligent are inqu,ring for purer filth. The
"fullntss Of time" for China seems Just At
hand.
The pregent insurrectioa in China Is due 10
Protestau: evangelists. In 1850, literary stu
dent cams TO attend the county exaoiustion.-
On the etreet, native colporserr handed him
tract, which he read snd laid one side 70. future
reference. After his examination the succeed
ing term OF six months study WAS duly fulfilled,
aud he returned home. Sickness aid its tSud
upon him, bringing thoughts aud fears of death.
That tract Of new aad strange teachings revert
Cd to his mind. Crawling 70 his desk, he drew
it from its place at deposit, aud re-readit. He
endor ed il, bsl.i'ed it, prayed, leuad pesse,
gathered around him, and the doctrines spread
to such an extent that Government took co9ni-
zhnce Of tho matter, aad imprisoned the
preachers.
Their g.o1s were broken open BY the people.
This collision with the authorities gave poiis-
strength Tho missionaries were not on hand
to dlrect, and it divefged into a political
scheme, With but faint remeubsanees ct its true
religious origin. Its folloFerAadopted the an
cient monolheistie faith Of Chira, stereo'yped
the Pentateueh, and everywhere, wi:L icono-
c1ostic zeal, threw down the idols. The relig-
ious outbreak terminated in national iasuT-
rection- The first act Of the insurgents, upon
the eonquest Of city, WAS to strip the temples
Of their idols Not q river in Chiaa bnt has
sent down upon its bosom their dissevered |
members, and ahips It sea wonder to meet the
Though heso Insurgents arc not Christians,
the missionaries aru taverAbiy impressed with
tho character, spirit and aims Of many Of them.
Thsy hare lett the grcasest superslitio1s and |
are preparing the way for = true faith. The |
fact that the Chinese mind h&s, partially 1t
least, struggled up from the reeking abornina-
tfons Of htathenisn aad, while rscei7ing the |
great truth that the world is governed By 4 su- |
rerior power, his learned that Al idol u moth
inF," seems t. present great eneoursgemeuts. |
Oar conversions and spiritual experiences IN |
China are the sane II here. Tho same :esr Of |
penitence aow1 down she cheek; the Same joy |
beams from tho eJe when God g1Tes peace; the |
game change Of character and Fife follow. Poa- |
aessing tte Fsasl Of g1ea: price, the converts |
constitute band OF earnest missionaries, whose /
holy lives and turning words throw over thA. |
dark land the light Of hfe Their christian char.
aetsf is stauneh, aud backslicings are rare.
Tho demands Of the China mission ara more |
Just appreciation Of its wants, morn earnest,
faithful prayer in its behalf, md = greatly en-
|arged field Of operation
To The Missionary it il joy enough that ho Is
permitted to work in such field. He asks rot /
|or place or emclument; only for bare support |
That responsibility rests on the Church.
We have heard missionary diseourecs mors
eloquent, moro rhetoEieally finished, bu. nsne
70 full of interest,", 10 fres from the begging Or.
laE Of this kind Of ard.1s, and ii holding "a N.
aisaes In 6xsd attention. Plain in his manner.
|upls in his talk, he won tbs symp.this4 Of
'rery one before hin. Evs1y time hia voica
Rsonblsd ws could feai tho ind4scribabie Thrill