The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-05-09
Rev. n. B. williams' Lecture ON

were posted about town notifying the
that on Wednesday night, May
2, Rev. N. B. Williams, returned mission
airy from China, would deliver free
lecture in the Baptist church. The lec-y
turer was promptly on hand and was
cheered by the presence of large audi
enee. He was introduced by Rev. o. c.
Pope, who announced that the lecturer
desired to be Interrupted by questions
whenever any one desired particular in
formation on any subject. After reli-
gious services and the reading of APP
selections from the Old and
New Testaments, the lecturer explained
his motive in going to China as mis-
sionary in obedience to the command,
$50 We into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature" Six years ago
he graduated at Theological College in
Alabama, and had spent four and half
years in that interesting country known
as China. In approaching Canton, go
ing up the Hong Kong river, the first
thing which struck a stranger with sur
prise and amazement was the entire alb
sence of the original forest; the next was
the presence of miles and miles of boats
which served as residences to thousands
of people all their lives, every one of
which, outside and in, was as neat as
pin. These Chinese have a tradition
among them that away back in the ages,
so far back that discrepancies no men
ton of it,-their ancestors were the abb
origines of the country, and were over
whelmed by invasion and driven from
the land into their boats and not permit
ted to go ashore. The whole country for
hundreds of miles in southwest China is
bare of forest trees, though there are
fruit trees and vines in abundance. Wood
is RATED down the rivers hundreds of
miles. The country is intersected by a
navigation is the only mode of locomo-
ton for bulky freights, as they have nei-
ther highways nor beasts of burthen.
Only the mandarins, or officers of state,
have horses, the ownership of which is
a badge of distinction. The means of
private conveyance on land is by sedan
chairs. The humber travellers content
themselves with two coolies to convey
them, while each grade of officers has a
number corresponding with their impor-
lance, from three to eleven. Two cool
les viii convey a single passenger from
80 to 40 miles day China is now open
to foreigners, and missionaries can go
everywhere the "way" is open for
the spread of the gospel But there are
many kindrances to its spread beside
their, native religion, Buddhism, which
is GOO years older than the Christian era,
and is mixed with idolatry. One of these
hindrances is polygamy or plurality of
wives. The children are often "engag-
ed'' by their parents at three and four
years, which is as sacred as our marriage
ceremony, except the affianeed accident
ally meet, and then the engagement is
broken. Such betrothal is the husbands
real wife, yet he may take to himself as
many other wives or concubines as he
can support. These concubines become
their domestic servants, and all are ODE
dient to the first wife. 70
Missionaries are not agreed as to the
proper treatment of their male converts;
some demanding that they shall choose
the wife they love best and cleave to her
only, while others admit them to church
with all their wives. The
Roman Catholics succeed in gaining the
most converts, because their worship
consists, in part, of similar genufiec-
tions of the body exercised by the Chi
nese before their idols, and because the
Catholics also use pictures and images
in their houses OF. worship. The com
preston of the feet of the women was
also adverted to. A large foot. on
Chinese woman is an abomination, yet
the process to which these young girls
are compelled to-submit, is very painful.
Some few Chinese admit its folly, yet
dare not advocate its abolition, because
it would bring them into dishonor and
disgrace. All male Chinese are educat-
ed, but some only specifically. Educa-
ton is made a test for the civil service,
which is open to all, While the office
Of emperor is hereditary, the descend,
ANTS of the Emperor have to take their
places among the -commonalty, with |
very few exceptions. Other matters
we're touched upon, as they were called |
out by questions put to the lecturer, but |
China and the Chinese cannot be suffici- |
entity portrayed in single lecture, or in |
newspaper article. We think that all
Who heard the lecturer were edited and
Wished to hear more concerning this, to
Is, peculiar people, The lecturer said
hat it is too early to estimate the good
lready accomplished by the mission
ries, but progress had been made in the
of Chinese, and all who have
IMPLICIT faith in the doctrine of Christi
nifty must believe in winning all the
nds of the earth to the benign doctrines
f Christ. The lecture was concluded
y the recital, in Chinese language, of
The Prodigal Son" not one word of
yhich he who is supposed" to know
could understand. a col
ection was taken up in behalf of foreign
lissions. sr +
Proclamation,
The following proclamation was
4