The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-19
LECTURES LAST NIGHT.

Lecture by Rev. DR.. Martin


and Statistical Society was crowded last evening to
hear lecture on China by the Rev. Dr. Martin for
merly Protestant missionary and now professor
Of the Imperial Institute at PekD, the capital Of
China. 1t was stated that the younger attaches OF
the Burlingame mission were pupils OF Dr. Martini
and acquired their knowledge OF English from him
In the absence Of Judge DAILY who was detained by
sickness, the Rev. DR.. Joseph B. Thompson took the
chair and by q few appropriate remarks intro
duced the lecturer. DR.. Martin stated that IN
cooquial manner he would string together
ideas and facts as on thread or narrative of his
travel from Pekin to Shangnae, beng the first fer
e,gner who made the overland trip through the heart
or the country. Tie trip undertaken In the win
ter OF 1866 10 visit the colony OF Jews at the city
OF KtFung- Fou on the yellow river He had heard
OF them on entering missionary hospital at Hong
Kong, where he met with an Israete inscription
Hear o Israel; the Lord tiny God Is one L0rd'
Having come to Pekln he embraced the first opp0r-
tunty to visit TINS Hebrew colony. He would not
enter INTO description OF Pekin; It was no mean
city, with Its many palaces, especially the imperial
residence, within concentric walls twenty-three
miles in circuit its gilded roofs and courtly splen
dor; nor would he speak OF the squalor the poverty
and ruins visible everywhere; there are greatness
and bitterness, wealth and poverty luxury and star
vaton everywhere. Thus, in fun view OF the south
gate OF the imperial palace Is aSplendd bridge OF
white polished marble 1.-THE bridge d poverty which
Is the raylng place OF all the lazzaro.i at Pekin,
and furnishes vivid picture OF wretchedness.
There was much barbaric greatness and much thai
not barbarc: there was an enlarged mind TO de-
yel0p tue great resources OF Tue country, and the
time Is approaching when lnnumeraoie railway
trains will rush the land waking the slumber Of
ages to action. He LEFT Pekin In a cart q box like
those In winch the American Minister, Mr.. Ward
and suite escorted into the city, drawn By two
mules harnessed tandem. 1t took him fifteen DAYS
to make the 4i0 miles to the Yellow river He often
dreamed OF the speed and comforts of railways
which. one OF the chief Officers OF the Enperor's
government told him, VIII soon be built; but they
must first educate their own people, so that for
caanical skill they should be less dependent on
foreigners on the road he met eleven other carts
bearing the So0cl0w embassy bearing the tribute
to Pekin, and beng compelled by old custom to
travel two thousand miles overland and
then cross the bridge Wan ko.Tihon, or Bridge
OF Ten Thousand Nations, TO honor to
the Emperor. The most powerful nations have
travelled IN the same way, but America
never. He travelled along the edge OF the great
alluval plain bounded by snow-clai mountains rls-
ing suddenly, with the marks OF the waves OF the
ocean sun visible in the dales and burrows In this
range OF mountains, four hundred miles In length Is
hidden untold observation-disclosures and anthracite
COAL Ignite gold, silver, iron limestone all await
ing the mpetuous enterprise OF winch the Chinese
are just beginning to catch the infection.
on crossing Yellow river, called Huaag-Ho,
he reached the city OF KLFung-Fou. 1t was
the capital OF the empire, and palace enclosed
by walls within walls had been erected for the
court. In this palace the colony OF Jews resided.
He at first inquired OF the people, but could hear
thing OF them. He.then applied to q mutt, or priest
Of q Mohammedan mosque who gave him the infor-
NATION, but denounced the Jews as kaphGrls lunhe-
lievers on whom Heaven frowns The lecturer found
the spot where the synagogue once stood Now
there Is lett only solitary gateway and stone,
WIN nlHtOrlc inscrlpuOHs III ncDIeN. WHICH states
That about two thousand years ago the Jews came 10
China from India AID wnen the sun dynasty made
KiFung-Fou the capital the Jews settled there
celvcd donations 81 money and land and built their
synagogue, which fell INTO decay several tines but
was rebuilt until the last tlme two hundred and
fifty years ago. since when IL was per-
mitted TO fail into ruins. There being no
rabbi the religious rites were forgotten, and
e9en the Hebrew language; they had some sacred
books, and the lecturer procured two scrolls writ
ten in square Hebrew characters, containing two
books Of Moses. The lecturer pad very high
the West, who had scattered the seed abroad and
irrigated thc whole earlh lie Warmly recommended
tina. wealthy israelitcs should look after their
cyrehgionsts IA Wilma, send them teachers and
funds and restore The Tabernacle VI DAVID IN pa.
gan China.
Ihe lecturer then proceeded on his trip 10 the
northeast 10 the tomb or Coniucius ON the eastern
pT0inonsOfy Of ShanIOng. aud ne detailed the very
remarkable phenomenon that the yellow river, since
1859. Das so completely changed It's channel aud
course that while formerly II lowed due eastward,
rs direction Is Almost TO the north, present
mouth Is six hundred miles further north than be-
lore that the changes oil this river two thousand
eight hundred mics IN length are no novelty IN
Chinese history, as every five hundred hundred
years II oscillaC; from its eastcrly course to he
tailed description OK the tomb o. Coliueius, whom
he called ''the most universally renowned MEMBER
81 tue human famiiy,r VINO had lived $50 years ba-
fore the CHRISTIAN cru, and whose principles
crning all he kingdoms aud empires OF Eastern Asia.
With a minute explanation 81 these principles and
statement OF the prevailing three systems OF reig
ious belief, cmbodying many highly interesting
allegations and description OF the Grand Canal, toe
lecture closed. Mr. A. A. Low noveda vOIe OF thanks
aud request for a copy OF the lecture TO be pub
seconded by Rev. DR.. Adams and carried unani
uOuNly