The New York herald., 1876-12-24
CHINESE CHRISTIANS"
A CELESTIAL VERSION OF TEE FIFTH CON-
MASDMEET.

MASpMEHT
while 800 600 900 Of Christians preparing TO cele
brate tho nativity OF Christ far greater number OF
Chinese are simultaneously engaged In a religious
ceremony solemn and as obligatory among them as
is held throughout tho Christian world.
With recurrence OF the winter sols,ice
annual festival, and the TWO days following are de-
votcd to the memory OF Their fathers, TO
whom they bound 10 show the greatest
honor and 10 augment, far possible.
the idea OF G,al obedience. The great
Influx OF the followers OF Coniucius and uddha TO the
United States naturally draws attention TO their
soeas and religious customs and the OF their
observance on the Pacific coast. where many Of
them have found genial cline, the observance Is
more general than mere in New York, where in lesser
numbers and surrounded by such different influences
they fan away from the observance OF their
lgous festivals. Buddhism fayors the ia,iy by admit
ting them TO salvation and binding them TO the priests
They have among them male and female religious
servants who bound not swear curse. not 10
talk nonsense, not 10 be concupisccnt greedy OF
pleasure; not to be malignant and TO eschew super
beings IL lis nucleus 10 love even our cacmies 10
gain the greatest CT victories by conquerng ones SELF
to avoid all vices 10 cherish al! virtues 10 DC ooedent
10 sGpcriors, TO cherish and respect parents old age
learning and virtuous and holy men--such are tho
teachings OF their creed.
HUNTING rr THE cgLssriALs
HERALD reporter made II his mission last evening
to search among the houses OF almond ycd fei.
low citizens and relate the observation o. tho
festival concurrent with own merry Christmas. A
visit TO Captain Lowery, OF the Sixth precinct brought
about an introduction to Detective Handy, who Is
thoroughly familiar with the "ways that are dark"
which .eaa TO the haunts OF cheap labor, and who
volunteered to show him where the Johns
strand" dligent search failed to dis
cover any OF them engaged in religious de-
yog w ,ss a OF ns% % aam Ss: S
when they came TO 'Amelca'' they became .'Chst-
lians.' Thor occupations, however, gave contradc
tory evidence for IN every house visited the occupants
time was equally divided between opium smoking and
gambling at games the reporter iruthiuy did not
understand AT last he sought TO learn the location
OF the Joss house, where he would be apt lind
the Johns who had not deserted their faith
W." and w s the among Of M
Sin, each shook his head when asked, and
replied he did not KNOW One more takative than the
religious ceremonies stir observed, and detailed
todays observance Affairs set in their rooms,
and on them are placed bowls OF rice. Candles are
lighted and incense burned. Kitchen utensils
busy in the preparation OF rice cakes out OF respect
tho god OF the Nutchen who is no small deity with
them, and who IS associated with tho ceremonies.
The cakes worked into the forms Of balls, and
Is supposed that their shape has some refer.
rather indicates trnst in securing, during tho
next twelve months, plenty OF food Another
idea Is tha, il teaches by nsinuaton or inference the
importance OF the whole family old and young all
living together, the exercise OF al love and raternal
duty Married daughters wond be expected to return
10 the household on such festival fving at
able distance not at least TO send their parents several
bows OF the cakes as evidence OF undated lia anec
tion. Female members OF The household at home
assemble in red skirts and wide pnntaoons do tho
honors OF the occasion, after the fashion OF city
bellies on New Years Day.
PRosHLYrING.
Whatever may be said OF their beliefs somc OF their
teachings are ot ms high standard our No
religion is despised by them. Religious wars wagcd
against dissenters have never been known among
them. .Honor your own faith and do not slander
that OF o,hers is among their maxims. There is one
favor. Praying machines, consisting OF hollow bar
rel which turns axis and IN which the prayers
written turned about TO invoke speedily
Divinceaid. Some are large and work by means OF
wind and water others are stationed at intervals on
the roads to be kicked into motion by passcrsby, and
again possibly for emergencies others are made small
and carried IN the hand.