The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-27

ing narrative of an interview between the Rev.
J. J. Roberts, an American Protestant mission
airy now in China, and Chung Wang, the mill
tary chief or the "Faithful King" as he is
styled, Of the Tae-Ping insurgents, as also a
curious letter from that revolutionary leader
to Lord Elgin, the British Plenipotentlary,
which throws considerable light upon the sub
ject of the beliefs and aspirations of his fol-
lowers The interview took place at 500 Chow
on the 22d of September last, and was conducted
with the pomp and ceremony betting SO OK
allied parsonage.
II was Saturday, and the Sabbath of the re-
bells, who follow the Jews instead of the Chris
tians, it would appear, in this matter. How
ever, the observance of every seventh day is in
itself significant. The missionary was conducted
to the palace by ''the Kings Secretary" who
informed him by the way that the Tae-Ping
army now included more than hundred thou
sand men. On their arrival they were saluted
with beat of gongs, and ushered into the re-
ceptiOn room, where the King was seated
with his crown and royal robes on. The
Secretary knelt down on the crimson
carpet before him; but says Mr.. Roberts,
IL simply pulled of my hat, and made obei
sance as l would have done to our President
The Secretary rose from his knees, and the mis-
sonary was invited to sit down, upon which
the mighty Chung Wang opened converse
ton that lasted for more than two hours, the
Secretary meanwhile acting as interpreter. A
Chinese is long and formal in the chain of COM
plments which he tenders to his friend when
ever they meet, and there was no exception to
the rule in the case before us; so that, as the
compliments were presented in the first in
stance, the interview was nearly half over be-
tore they came to business. Then the rebel
chief complained Of the injustice of foreigners
in charging him and his party with the evil
practices and wicked conduct of robbers in
no wise connected with the Tae-Ping army.
He was very anxious to know whether the Eng
lish and French intended to maintain strict
neutrality; and when Mr.. Roberts limited at the
possibility of the Allies attacking the
revolutionists, the expression of Chung
Wang's face grew very serious indeed,
and he spoke of the imperialists being
idolaters, and declared himself and his
followers to be of the same religion as
the foreigners at the same time remarking how
inconsistent it would be for Christians to fight
against each other, and asking if there were any
means by which he could address the Powers
concerned upon the subject, and plead the
merits of his case. The missionary suggested his
writing letter to Lord Egn, which he offered
TO translate and publish. This idea was eager
ly seized upon by the chief, and agreed to; and,
says Mr.. Roberts, after making some remarks
and dine with him, both of which did with
pleasure, and then we shook hands and parted
for the day." This appears to have been salts
factory termination of the meeting, of which we
could have wished for more copious account
than Mr.. Roberts has supplied
The letter to Lord Elgin resulting from this
interview commences like royal proclama.
ton, thus:-"The faithful King Chung-Wang,
and COMMANDMENT Chief of the imperial forces
of the Tae-Ping Teen Kok dynasty, to the
British Plenipotentiary, greeting" After
making allusion to the faith which, he hears,
has been promulgated for more than eighteen
hundred and sixty years in the West,
and the origin OF which wonderful doc
trine" he supposes is familiar to the
Western nations, he says:-"Our true
and holy Lord, Teen-Wang, in the year 1913,
was received by heavenly messenger into
Heaven, and himself had an interview with the
II eavenly Father and Heavenly Elder Brother,
and thence obtained commission to circulate
the true doctrine for the regulation of the whole
country" Teen-Wang, who appears to be a
sort of Mahommed among the Teachings, is
stated soon afterwards to have made his APP
pearance at Kwangsei whence he travelled to
Nankin and preached the "heavcnly" system
of religion-the spurious Christianity which
these insurgents profess-also cut blocks and
printed the Scriptures. Chung-Wang assures
us that the same system and principles of wor-
ship are involved in the doctrine of TeeN-Wang
as prevail among ourselves. In the next SEN
tence he says:-"When consider that for thou
sands of years our people had not obtained
this doctrine, it is to be regretted" This men,
ton of thousands of years" shows, as might
be expected. that Chung-Wang is by no means
familiarwith the history ofChristianity and that
when he says the Tae-Ping religion and ours are
the same, his assertion must be taken at con-
| siderable discount. He says that from
the year 1863 the desire to become
disciples of the Lord Jesus prevailed
and oil converts enrolled themselves
under the Tae-Ping banner During this
year." proceeds Chung-Wang, ''relying upon
the power Of Heaven, have succeeded in cap
turing SooChow and Hang-Chow and should
now be pleased that the missionaries of every
country would come forward and make known
the true principles of the Gospel to my people,
at which l should rejoice beyond expression
desiring that those who are of the same doc
trine might soon become of the same heart"
He prophesies that the PRONUNCIATION of the
doctrine would soon become general and the
right way be made clear, so that ere long the
whole of China would practise Christianity.