Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-08

government are ofthis clsss,-no unlearn.
ed man can hold office. Schools are album
dant, but all are private, public schools
being unknown. A teacher who last year
received from eight TO ten dollars month,
quite a respectable salary may this year
be a viceroy with thirty millions of people
under him. Yet with all their advantages
the Chinese are pagans, degraded and fee
BILE. This nation of four hundred millions
have been twice conquered by the English
with four thousand men. In 1859 an army
of three thousand took their capital. To-
day an army OF ten thousand could march
through their empire and take and keep
their capital. AS they are the weakest so
they are the most ignorant of people, for
in all their schools nothing is taught but
their own history and literature; nothing
of the history of other lands, of chemistry,
astronomy, mathematics or natural scien-
ces. Their ignorance and superstition are
something wonderful. They hold In firm
faith an absurd superstition called the
"Doctrinc Of Wind and Water" almost
their only work of Natural Philosophy.
Ira house overtops another near il, or If a
house is situated very near mountain,
evil influence will tend to disturb the low
or house. Owing TO this unfortunate be-
lief tho Chinese have no chimnies. A learn
ed Chinese Of high position once came be-
fore a consul entering complaint against
missionary whose chimney overtopped the
injured mans gate. "But the chimney
cannot interfere with you in any manner"
replied the consul. Eyes, but it does,
Al. L.. r
TO como out, making, as you see, four places
for evil influences which will corrupt my
house," and no suggested that a subterra-
mean chimney be contrived TO convey the
smoke away under ground. Heathenism
necessarily brings such ignorance about;
not merely concerning good and evil, but
relating TO nature and its various sciences.
The Chinese still believe the earth to he a
fiat dsc,-a theory long ago abandoned by
students of other nations.
This people is perhaps the most misera-
bic of all the world, as well as one of the
most ignorant. The farmers live in wretch
ed mud huts Of the same primitive con-
sruclion as was seen three thousand years
ago One can readily imagine himself in
the antedeluvian world, for nothing except
the dress of the people has materially
changed since the empire originated. They
were compelled by the Tartars TO adopt the
dress OF Tartary.
The question is often asked, "Can you
succeed in Outstanding tho Chinese?"
five cannot it would be great loss Of
both time and money TO attempt it. But
in proof of their success the missionaries
call your attention 10 the fourteen thousand
Chinese converts who have accepted the
religion Of Christ in the past fifteen years,
notwithst andng the difficulties in the way
of convert and missionary. One trouble Is
the exceedingly complicated language
which must be learned before work in
earnest can be attempted. Its peculiarities
are many,-in structure, pronunciation,
and idiom. Iu writing their language the
Chinese use sixty thousand or more differ
ent characters, but probably no one man
knows them all. But it is necessary to
know at least five thousand characters in
order TO speak with intelligence; and
twelve thousand must be acquired would
one read their books. A Chinese intones
his words, using four tones, TO interpret
which requires nice distinctions of ear.
Another difficulty is the great national
prejudice of both government aud people
to foreigners. They regard it as the great
est impotence on the Iart of all such 10
teach them any thing rather than 10 learn
of them. The government looks upon
missionary with suspicion; he may be an
agent employed by his government to pre-
pare the way for the overthrow of :he en-
pire. Yet great change has already been
wrought in the minds of the people, and
they are thinking more favorably of west
ern nations. Forty years ago it was death
TO European TO venture alone into the
streets remote from his counting-room or
factory now he can travel any where
throughout the country. There are now
two hundred and fifty Protestant mission
aries, six of them of the Protestant Episco-
pal church. a college of this church is
greatly needed there as well as more gath
erers for reaping the great harvest which
awaits faithful labor. The South Sea Is
landers, the American Indians and the
tribes of Africa disappear before civiliza-
ton and its restraints; but the Chinese,
having already high degree of civiliza-
ton need but the elevating power of Chrisrs
religion 10 enable them TO keep step with
rival nations in the worlds swift progress
toward universal light and truth.
The address of Bishop Schereschewsky
was supplemented by interesting remarks
by Rev. DIR. living on the general subject
Of missions. L. Il. b.