, 1877-05-20

| OF all the schemes resorted to BIZ the crooked
gentry the religious dodge appears to be the Sim
plest, most certain Of pecuniary results, and nj
| the same time the safest Does m out-at-elbows
confidence man exhaust all other OF beating
| the community. lie straigAtway calls upon tho
brethren to subscribe in book-anl cash on the
button-to some alleged religious religio chari
| table object Also when, In the plenitude Of
time, the believers get ''onto him." nnd, to
speak in metaphor the Jews refuse to receive him.
IL, he turncth unto the Gentiles, and turns IN
| honest penny by bleattng against
the other party. This takes quite as we'll with the
opponents Of religion the subscription dodge
does with the pious claases. Take it either way
you will, there is money for the expert confidence
operator one way or other on almost any side OF
the religious question. And he knows it: 4 most
gested IL furnished by the career Of certain gen
t1elnan OF Celestial origin, known to fame in this
country by the cuphonious name Of Wong Ching
d Buddhist Missionary. The following from the
Alliance Of May 10 shows what the present status
Of the almond-cyed Moody Is in the religious
world:
cited considerable continent Throughout Christian
America Gy his uttesances ~ New YORK: Whether he
managers matters far his remarks are con:
81 7as S Sn e
tmprcsses 1lost however Is that his efforts
T. Il ise Seey
The editor Of the Alliance win not wonder at the
snspicons excited IN big mind. pointed at in the
above paragraph, nor will the Christian people OF
this country longer bother themselves about the in
y 'auguratfon Of a!.hsathen mission system III our
cerned.-when they read a ssfcw brief remarks"
upon this distinguished Buddhist y; not as he
now is but as he was some three years ago.
Some time In the year 1874, anu probably In the
early autumn, when the crisp atmosphere. drives
people indoors, and the genial glow Of early fires
wnrms ths heart to hospitality, there appeared
ry5nI3c Slf
Rochester, n. T.. certain charming specimen
OF China, which at once set the maids and mat1ons
Of "trnly good - society asog with interest. It
IL, perhaps, needless to remark that this gem Of
phenomenal NJ. Wong Ching Foo.
of the town. and % Especially to the pa pastSr and peo
pic Of certain leading Presbyterian Church, with
touching story: It opened hEst the ears Of the
q course, the road was,, wide open TO
tne t flock. K season o{ unusual Chinese interest
lizn meetings would probably have been held to
somebody's great advantage but for circumstance
which will appear later.
not that element Of romance which is necessary
to the loosenng Of heartstrings, tho growth Of
sympathy. and the flow Ut contributions.
THE STORY, AS TOLD DY THE INTERESTING EXILE
one Sunday evening in the church referred to, and
before i large audience. was about as follows:
Mr.: Foo asscEtsd that he first saw the light in or
Rae cbnese eaasaon Tas Ws
ta0g y tbs youth but be asRsa
whereby he might acquire the English Language,
under tue auspices Of IN official who promised him
study made him master OF cur tongue; and in ac-
qniring it he also becanc convcrsant with enough
OF our sacred literature to awaken him to the |
vert. Not long after the time referred TO-, AIR.
Wong Ching Foo Joined what he supposed to be
bs fd o tue
revolutionary organization formed to overthrow
the reigning dynusty. iiorrihed ms he was, his
Closure. fearing, AZ lie dd, The vengeance of Ills
pig Gericht. 1t was not long before the
Government obtained information Of the Society's
who could be found were decapitated. Afr. Foo
fortunately succeeded in escaping. but ut the
sacrifice OF the lives Of Ills whole family, including
futher, mother, wife, and children. And now, |
after all these tfagica yicissitudes, Mr.. Foo was
In this country to preach the glad tidings to his
poor deladsd 81 sonntrymen who were r. stu wall1w
THIS of course, he must uc duly prepared for the
ministry, and rs he could not conscientously re-
who had been decapitated with the rest OF the
family. charitable donations from his Presbyterian
brothers and sisters would be thankfully received.
Wong Ching Foo stood in the pulpit dccked in all
the sensational picturcsgueness OF an embroidered
stlk gown, pis,tail, and the conventional Chinese
shoes; lie talked long and well, anu 30 interested
offered him. and, beyond that, the ladies Of the
Church at whose houses he bud been entertained. |
presented him with bouquets and flowers galore
Very praiscworthy was this, since the generous
sisters knew not tn what an alarming extent he
would illustrate by their buds tAat be wns still ut
1eatt buddhist.
Sud stories should be related In few words, and
It Is pity they should have to be told at all; but
alas poor human nature! That Sabbath night was
yel nigh over, and the enry Monday cock was |
almost due to crow, when Wong Ching Foo was
discovered spending lie donation in crime at a |
mansion Of ''gilt frame" around the corner FROM
he sanctuary In which he had been speaking, and
se had Furthermore bestowed his bouquets aud /
lowers ut,On tue inmates Of the saulc.
Due publicity given to these facts at the
inc by the local prcse- aud Mr. Wong Chin. Foo |
vas more tt,an likely thereby induced 10 forsake !
he Christian missionary Held aud return to the re-
igion OF Ills ancestors, which Is supposed 10 be
uoEe lenient to such little I,ccadi]oes as his. |
The alliance remarks: ''lnasmuch as he in- /
ends to visit various portions OF the country, we
hall doubtless have an opportunity to hear him !
eforc long, when his doctrine aud PURPOSES can |
e better determined Should the distinguished
'onfuciau and ex-Presbyicrian deign to visit Chi
ago he will enjoy an excellent opportunity
obsratc the statements in this article and to re-
lte how he came to forsake Christianity and bud
gain into Buddhist. in the way described.
C.. T. BOWEN.
SOMETHING ABOur THAT sroRTlnr