The New York herald., 1877-04-30
BUDDHISM.

WONG CHING zoos ARRIVAL IN THIS C1TY--A
BUDDHIST observation-disclosures AND
CHRISTIANITY ALIKE IN ALL ESSENTIAL PAR
r1cJLARs-H1s APPEARANCE AND HIS LIFE.
In the parlors OF NINE. Traratski. al No 302 West
street, last evening, there gathered
small company OF ladies and gentlemen who had
been invited to moet with Wong Ching Foo, Chinese
or rank and education, and TO hear his
explanation OF the principles OF tho Buddhist
belief II will be remembered that at tho
regular meeting OF tho Baptist ministers OF this city
on the 10th Of April the question was debated as to
whether adult heather not having the advantages of
conversion would meet with cternal damnation and
the question decided In the Affirmative. The oh.
ject OF Wong Ching Foo il coming before the public
here s 10 contend that the followers OF Buddhist
religion are not heather any sense OF the word.
WONG CHING 200.
Wong Ching Foo is twenty six years OF age, and
little taller perhaps than the average height Of Chi.
nese His dress is in strict conformity with the GUS
toms of his country and exhibits that and rich
ness that marks the Chincse upper classes His mau.
nor is refined and courteous and exceedingly pleasing
especially In conversation. HIS knowledge Of the
English language enables him to converse with auency
and caso and even tho most rapid utterances there
IL n musical cadence TO his voice that both
marked and pleasing. HIS face Is mobile, and his
ewes exceedingly
Hc dressed last evening In coat and wastcoat of
black velvet embroidered with sk silk gown reach
ing to the ankles. and wore upon his feet Chinese
shoes OF velvet, elegantly workou IN coiored silk
Around his neck suspended gold chain, To which
was attached watch Al his neck, casping scarf of
silly sparkled u small diamond. His hair braided
INTO queue and hung down hts back almost reaching
tho floor and on hts head he wore skull cap OF dead
black silk.
Although but twenty-six years OF age his life and
particularly The past few years Of H. has been one OF
trust IN the Chinese Imperial Army, and sent Hong
Ching Foo TO private school In China While there
he developed unusual talent anu IN iooc ne WIS sent
D. e. Whilo there he III q short timo thoroughly
mastered the English language, and upon his return 20
CHINA, year later was made an interpreter al the
imperial court Being strongly IN favor with the
Emperor nc advanced until he became Chief inter-
prctcr and member OF the imperial household. Upon
Inc succession OF the present Tartar dynasty he be-
came involved In conspiracy, which, being discov-
cred, he was Obliged to seek safety IN light Alter
months OF hiding and dangerous Situations which hs
very graphically tells, he escaped 10 this country,
no Will be obliged 10 remain until change oc-
ours IN the Chinese government
DOCTRINES OF BUDDHISM.
IIo was introduced 10 tho company last evening by
Colonel Olcott who stated that Wong Ching Foo
wished to present hs ideas properly to the Christian
people, SO as TO awaken unnecessary prejudice.
Wong Ching Foo then spoke Ut length OF his fuith
Many questions were asked HIM during the CONVERSE
ton 10 all OF which no replied promptly and point
edly. He stated that NO was not a Buddhist
nr,est and had not been educated for one IL
was h,s object 70 show the people OF tho
United states that tho Chinese were not
beathen, and that their religion was the same in all
essential points as that OF the Christians lie thought
that the principles Christ taught were most excellent,
and shoulu be followed The Chinese people iclt vey
grateful TO the Americans Tor sending them mission
arios and wished to send some here return SO that
the people could learn the true principles OF Budd
hism Speaking oil the eternal dannaton of
all adult heather, as believed by the Baptist
ministers, Wong Ching Foo stated that 'our Almighty
Father had not intended to take care OF few persons
and leave countless millions 10 perish God Ind pre-
pared religion Tor people suitable TO them, and ma
lions that worshipped God alter their own manner
wero as sincere the Christian race. Man could and
would be saved by sincerity OF works, no matter
whether he had heard the name OF Jesus Christ
or not Tho missionaries in China did great
injustice to tho nation in the reports they
sent home. They came IN contact there with the
lower classes and formed their opinions and ideas OF
the whole country by them. Of course there was
and there just as there were IN New Y0rk.
but the majority oi people that came contact with
the missionaries no more represented the Chinese ma
tion than tho denizcns OF Baxter or Water streets
represented the American natiCn. Few OF them
THE missionares) understood Buddhism, because
thcy did not make IL study, and the
priests OF Buddha wore obliged TO study Tor
to enter the priesthood aud then they only
considered entering the portals OF the great mys-
ter,es Buddhism was the only religion Of the Chinese
nation. Confucius rather moral philosopher
than a religious leader. Wong CHING Foo further
stated that hc hoped the people would come to hear
him when he lectured unless, he added with smile,
they arc AFRAID oil ocing converted In reply 10 qucs-
tion the morals Of China, he replied very ear
nestly:-
IL challenge any man 10 say that he ever heard a
Chinese man, woman or child take the name OF
Almighty God In vain, unless II the English Ian
guuge after he had become dcmOralized- +"
The Buddhist religion had all tue Ten Command.
menis OF Moses long before Moses existed, and tho
golden rule Of Jesus was spoken and taught by Coniu
cus $50 years before Jesus was born. Arrangements
will be made for him 10 address the public next
Sunday evening