The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-06-07
A Chinaman's Views.

Wong Ching Foo, the enthusiastic
young Chinaman who was educated at
Harvard College some years ago, and
who has now undertaken to enlighten
the American people in regard to Bud
dhism, made his bow from the lecture plat
form at Steinway Hall last night to about
200 persons. He spoke in clear, loud
voice, and with a faultless accent, al
though his sentences were at times stilt-
ed or inverted. Apologizing for having
to introduce himself, he remarked that
he was initiating our missionaries who
had gone into China without any intro
duction. Besides, he said, it would be
difficult for any one to Introduce him on
account of his name being hard to pro-
nounce. The name announced was on
ly the conclusion of his name, which, in
full, was Ten-Ming- Trze- Way-Shim-
Shua-S hing-Tze- Way Shing- Shon-Tan
TIE Way Keo- Tan Ye- Che Pom Kow-
| Wong Ching-Foo. 1t was, he said, a
mistake of the newspapers to speak of
him as missionary, for he was not one.
He held that it was not necessary for
any nation to send missionaries to any
other. 1t was his desire, he said, SIM
ply to explain the doctrines of his faith,
which had been misunderstood by the
American people. Many things con-
corning his country were mis-
represented by Christian mission
aries, in order to obtain contributions.
A proper knowledge of the real state of
things in China would have the effect
of diminishing the receipts of the Board
of Foreign Missions. Wong enumerated
many false ideas in respect to his race
entertained by Americans. He spoke
with great earnestneSs, and at times had
to pause from sheer breathlessness. He
had occasionally to stop moment to
recall word, but as rule his speech
was remarkably fluent. The only ges-
lures he made were with his left arm,
and they were simple and graceful. 81
never knew he said, I" that puppies
were good to eat until | was told by
American people" Laughter. If
mistakes were entertained here about
such simple matters as the diet of the
Chinese, he argued that much greater
errors of belief would prevail in respect
to their religion and other abstruse mat
|
necessarily believe in God, and as
proof that there were intelligent men in
China, he pointed to her $50, 900, 900 of
people living under good Government,
ruled more easily and committing fewer
crimes than one-fourth the number liv-
ing under the American flag. God, he
claimed, had given to every race of men
a system of revelation according to their
peculiar wants and their peculiar ma
ture, and the practice of sending out
missionaries to other nations only tend
ed to confound matters in religion.
China and America, he remarked,
were the most opposed of nations. In
America gentleman took off his hat in
society; the man who should do that in
China would be counted barbarian
Here we shook our friends by the hand,
and made them suffer for making our
acquaintance, whereas Cinnamon shook
each his own hand and tortured himself
.. for his friend. (which is the most civ
ilized waypn asked the speaker, and the
audience laughed. At meals in Ameri
ca soup was eaten first; in China it was
the last dish to be partaken of. Here
wine was drank cold; there it was made
steaming hot. Here when man called
upon a friend he Immediately inquired
for the health of his wife; there wife is
+ considered too insignificant creature'to
mention. Here men married recklessly
, there they had to be careful, because
they could not get divorces so easily
Proceeding with his discourse, the gen
tleman argued that a certain denomina
ton in recently passing resolutions to the
, effect that all heathens would be damned
: impugned the goodness of God, who
would be made to appear as having for
gotten to reveal Himself to 100000, 00(
of souls. He commended that Buddhism
did not teach that the soul is annihilat
ed, and quoted from the Bible in sup
port of his declaration that Christ want
: ed men not to believe in his name mere
| ly, but to do good deeds. Confucianisn
2 and Buddhism taught the same doctrine
: SO that a man who lived up to the doc
? trines of either of these would lead jus
: such life as would a good Christian
! eff you do net believe there are goot
5 and intelligent Buddhists in Asia,'' sale
r Wong, go over and see." The audi
: ence smiled, and voice said, "Thanl
7 you! '-NeV York Herald.
, War Material from Cnnnoct;out