The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-10
THE BUDDHIST RELIGION
IT Is EXPLAINED BY A CHINAMAN.

[From the New York Times of 3Oth ult]
A select circle of Theesophists gathered in
Nine. Blavatsk'ys cozy apartments in West
Forty-seventh street, last evening, to listen
to short discourse on 'sChina and the Chi
nese Religion by Wong Chin Foo, The ma
tive missionary, who has been announced as
being on the Grand of converting the
100000 Christians OF this country to
Buddhism. The parlor or boudoir in which
Nine. Blavatsky received her guests bore
evidence of the untrammeled tastes OF its
owner in the shape of huge tigers head
imbedded over the door, a miniature croco-
die swinging from the ceiling, and elegant
and curious 5ric-obrac and articles of vert~
distributed about on ths3eGlls and mantel-
pieces. In the ante-rgOn into which the
guests were first conducted were figures of
elephants, mystic triads, and other orna-
mental symbols, most of which Yefe sup
posed by the uninjtiated amonl ) visitors
to be the verttable idols 70 which the
young heather missionary paid his deyo-
tions. Occupying a capacious armchair in
the centre Of the ,'parlor, the genial Nine.
Blavatsky received her guests with true
French courtesy. A delicate paper Cigar
cite was held deity between the thumb, and
forefpger of her left hand, fnd as she tSyed
with it she delivered her opinion of orthodox
ministers and missionaries III somewhat de:
predatory terms ''Thsy may say as much
as they please against hhe Buddhists. The
Buddhists don't believe in eternal hell, nor
do their priests speYa their time running
after other mems wives"
The majority of the audience seemed to
approve of chs sentiment, and then the at
.tracti9f of the evepng, Wong Chin Foo,
was 4hered in Joy Col. Olcott, and. intro
dyced to each Ady and gentlemen present.
Wong was dressed in dark suit, in shape
not unlike that Of the ordinary Chinaman,
though Of richer material and more elabo-
rate make. His only jeyelry consisted of a
gold watch and rich neek-chain Of the same
metal. He appeared/to the audience as a
young, courteous, and well-bred Monaghan
Of about 26, with a thoughtful cast of fea-
lures and an expressive countenance. He
was graceful in his movements, perfect
~ self-possessed, and comported himself
throughout with as much tact and propriety
as though he had been ''society man" Of
years. standing. His English was generally
fluent and well-chosen, but he experienced
some difficulty in conveying certain ideas in
clear and unambiguous language. He does
not pretend, as has been enormously report
ed, to represent the Buddhist priesthood Of
his native country. His acquaintance with
the theology and polemics OF Buddhism, he
expressly states, is no more than that Of any
other young Chinainan Of good family and
ordinary education. He has merely entered
upon his present course for the purpose Of
disabusing the American mind of the gross
errors and absurdties respecting the religion
of China, which have been so long current.
He does not attack the missionaries or OBJ
ject to their making as many converts as
they choose he only objects to their SIAN
dering and villifying the intelligent classes
of China by representing them to be de-
graded and idolatrous people. His personal
history is long and interesting one. He
has visited this country twice, has been an
officer Of the Imperial Government at Shang-
hal, and a rebel against the present Tartar
Emperor. For this last act reward OF
s., 500 was put on his head, and he was
hunted through his native country for months.
At one time he went to the English mission
aries at Hong Ko for shelter. He says these
pious men told him at first that they were
his friends and would protect him, but on
finding out who he was, announced that
they must give him up to the Emperor, al
though they knew he would be tortured in
the most horrible manner and cut into Is
pieces. They said, however, that they would
get his sentence reduced to simple decapita-
ton, and then left him in room OF the mis-
sion, after locking the doors and windows,
and telling him 6 to put his trust in Jesus. "
In the night he broke loose, and, at the FISK
of his life, escaped. After wandering about
the country for weeks, he finally escaped TO