The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-03
CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA.

DISCOURSE BY REV. DIR. NEWMAN AT THE CEN
COUNT OF HABITS AND CUSTOMS IN THE
''rLowERY KINGDOM"
4 Continuing his series OF discourses on "rhe Seven
| Great Religions OF tho World" Rev. Dr. Newman at
the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, Seventh
avenue ana Fourteenth street, last evening spoke on
.schrisianity In China" 10 an immense audiences.
Taking his Isaiah, Xix, 12-"Benold these
shall como from far: and, 10. these from the north
and from tho west; and these from the land OF
Sinim'-Dr Newman said This text Is a prophecy
OF the conversion Of tho Chinese to Christ sinim Is
nayno by which the Empire was known in tho West,
and originated with merchants from Central Asia, who
called the country after the gning famiiyTsin, or
Chin, iron which comes Sinlm. This poweriur
family camc TO the throne $50 years before Christ,
but long PRIOR that known the merchants Of
the West for Its wealth and influence. That this is
western designation is evident from the fact that the
Maays. Hindoos, Porstans and Arabians speak OF
China by other term than jim, Chin, Sin or Sina
But The Chinese speak Of their country China,
but Call It tho Middle Kingdom-the geographical
centre OF the world and OF civilization II
is reasonable TO suppose that people SO
ancient and numerous as the Chinese should
place the prophetic writings indicating Gods
thought OF thon and that thoy would be Christ,an-
lied. There nre three powerful reasons why China
needs Christianity Hcr civilization Is Inadequate 10
save from tho prevalence and dominance ofvice. She
has organized government. system Of education and
the useful and ntal arts, but she Is rotten
tho core She has had the advantage OF having two
tho greatest moral philosophers in pagan lands but
they not saved her from the grosses vices ana
the most degrading supsrssitions Confucius and
Lao-tse contemporaries and eminent for their
talents, their teachings and their influence. Both
were born poor both learned both founded sys-
TENS Of philosophy which still survives hut In tom
! principles they taught they unlike. Confu-
cius slorncd proprcty; Lao-tsc deifed reason.
Conucius held that virtue and happiness IN the
observance OF the natural relations Of lifc
| recommended retirement and contemplation as the
mos. ensc.ua means 70 purity our spiritual nature
desired result. China had knowledge of God and of
immortality, but these have boon perverted into the
| most degrading superstitions.
sPIRrTUALIsM CHINA.
China IS q land OF ghosts, who are supposed 10 in
fict all the evils TO which is heir Spirituusm
has prevailed in China for thods nds OF years. and
there is there chio magician who claims authority
the devils and let you their The Chinese
seek written communications from the spirit land by
means OF pencil suspended over table covered with
| sand and the pencil Is moved by the spirits Thcy
believe the spirits manifest themselves by rappings
| ana flames OF fire. They have their female mediums
and whom persons anxious their future they
are permitted TO sleep IN the temples. that their for
| tune may be revealed in their dreams Nor is SUPER
stition confined TO the ignorant OF China Tor
The learned believe in Fung Shuy, which mean wind
|
ethereal influence that brings good fortune to the
finder This power Is invoked TO secure
fortunate burial place the nrst thing Chinese does
cover aucky place OF BURIAL for he believes that
The tomb is tho future fortune OF the family The de-
strabe place Is where the south wind blows tho
water flows In given direction, or tho hills have
particular formation High prices arc paid for such
place.
corpse kept in the house in coffin Theoretically
sealed until the lucky spot is found China is one
vas, cemetery Tho dead are buried in the highways
or wherever the teachers Of Fung Snuy indicate.
This is the reason why the Chinese are opposed 10
railroads No marvel that there million Of ide
temples China valued at billion OF dollars In gold
that sl5s 900, 600 annually spent proptate Tho
spirits OF tho dead and that superstition, fepr and
poverty everywhere prevail.
Hrst heard OF the Gospel in tho year 90 OF era,
when Embassy was sent 70 invite Christ 10 the
Empire. Tins inssll, s may have come through
or through The jewish colony in China III the
province OF Honan. which had It's syDaeOgues and
Hebrew manuscripts But, whatever the
fact that the HISTORIAN missionaries arrived in
nissions continued. The Emperor Ta,-sung approved
the pronunciation Of their religion and during their
perors Of the Tang dynasty. They translated the
Bible built cnnrcnes and converted many princes.
but IN Sl5 the Emperor Wu-sune opposed Christianity
and banished the priests
PHoGRgss OF. CHRISTIANITY.
Persecution followed persecution dvwn to the six
tccnih century. when not HISTORIAN church lett
In the Empire. Christianity was again introduced In
1851 by the jesuit katner Matteo kiccl. through
whom Rome gained in the East what she lost tn
West. Ricci received by the Emperor Waneih,
who assigned him residence and a stipend. He was
followed by the learned Schaal, who ap-
pointed royal astronomer 10 rckin. Many churches
built, and many converts baptized. One Chinese
lady appropriate fortune In binding thirty
churches and in printing 100 Christian works sub.
sequently the wiIc, mother and son oil tho Emperor
Shunchi received baptism, and the Empress wrote 10
Pope Alexander VII. praying that tho Empire might
bs placed under the protection OF God At later
period prosecutions followed. Some OF the priests
were executed, others banishcd and Christian mis-
sions interdicted
Seventy years ago Christianity again introduced
by DR.. Morrison, VINO translated tho Bible into
Chinese. twenty-five years ago there were not
twenty. nve Protestant converts In the whole Empire
but there 500 missionaries 600 pative preach
ers IL 900 converts A. the present rate of>in-
crease OF there Will be IN 1900 million and q
halt OF native Christians Tne Doctor then gavc his
interview with Rev. MT. Wong-P gSam and Row. Mr..
| sa-Sek-0ng whom he found intelligent Christians.
10 conclusion SAID, 1.-THE day OF triumph will
come Like the workmon who tunnolied ITO Alps
from either side TIL they met ana shouted In the
centre when the work was done, SO will the mission
arcs from tue North and from the South meet in the
centre Empire and rejoice IN tho redemption OF
| China1
| THE pRIESTI,Y OFFICE.