Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-14
BUDDHISM.
Abstract of an Address Delivered
by Geo. II. Almond before the
Methodist Improvement society
Last Friday Evening.

1t was announced before election day
that in his turn George r. Almond, Esq,
would lecture to the Methodist Improve
ment people on the subject Of National
Aggregation" but for reasons below stated
he changed subjects, and on the occasion
Of last Friday evening took up one which
was well received, and which has been the
subject Of much conversation ever since its
delivery. The discourse was pleasurable
to hear, and it is very interesting to read,
hence we give it considerable space for a
Sunday topic to digest
1t is barely possible that the audience
may be disappointed in the lecture, but /
can safely say that there is no possibility,
recent, remote or otherwise, which can ex-
press the opinion of your humble servant
when he appeared before a Republican
Convention Of the county Of Eureka, and
in the language of my esteemed friend, the
self-constituted President of an organiza-
ton which glories in pyrotechnic displays.
fre-crackers, ETC., yours truly got
horsed." John is very expressive, and /
indulge the hope that a fellow-feeling
makes us wondrous kind. don't mean o
fellow feeling for your pocket-book. If /
had one, and found a fellows hand in my
pocket l should feel the very reverse Of the
proposition above stated, and might be
tempted to commit what in law is called an
overt act. In other words, l would take a
tumble.
This much by way Of preface, and now
to a subject, less understood, perhaps, by
the lecturer than the intelligent audience
which by the courtesy OF the Rev. Mr..
Kicker, l have been called upon to address.
l crave your indulgence but defy your crit
icism, giving more for the former than the
latter, but if it is possible for me to say
anything new or good, ! claim no credit
for it, l always demand cash in advance
for reference see your worthy pastor.
When it was first announced that l was
second on the list named as a lecturer,
this was before the election, spontane-
| ously and spasmodically l stated that my
| subject would be " National Aggregation
but the paper changed the National in
to Natural" hence 1 feel that l am COM
mitting no breach Of propriety, and in no
way guilty Of offense in the selection Of a
new subject, and this subject is
BUDDHISM"
Some years ago in the city OF Brooklyn,
New York, it was my good fortune to form
the acquaintance of DIR. Charles Vrooman,
a member Of DR.. Cuyler's Church. He
had been sent to Siam as a medical mis-
sionary, possessing every qualification to
the proper transaction Of his duties as a
| professional man, and to the Church Of
Christ, who entrusted him with full power
to convert 450, 900, 900 of the human race.
(See Professor Max Muller, Chips from
a German Workshop" vol. /, page 214).
DR.. Vrooman and myself resided under
the same roof, he at the time q member of
DR.. Cuyler's Church, and your humble
servant a member of that whose arch
springs from horizon to horizon, and whose
roof is bespangled with the never fading
lights of grander worlds than ours.
The Doctor had spent three years in
Siam, and in our winter evenings we had
many conversations concerning his resi-
dence abroad, and l say to you now if /
can entertain you to one-half the extent
that DR.. Vrooman entertained me, this at
tempt at a lecture will not have been IN
vain.
The Buddhists comprise two classes of
the inhabitants Of Ceylon, Siam, and
Burma, which comprise the southern, and
Nepal, Tibet and China and japan, the
northern.
The religion arose from the pbilosophi-
cal and ethical teachings of Guatama Bud
dha, who was the eldest son Of a chief of q
tribe, existing about 700 years before the
coming of Christ, on the banks OF the
Kohana, about 100 miles north Of the city
of Beuares, and about so miles south of
t1e foot of the Himalaya Mountains.
In the outset it may be roper to remind
you that as with founders of other relig-
ions, Buddha has been called a myth, and
a certain distinguished Englishman, Pro-
fessor Wilson, of Oxford, claimed that
Buddha himself was merely an imaginary
being. No one now, however, agrees with
the distinguished Professor, and our mis-
sionaries and travellers, scientists and phi
losophers. scholars and gentlemen in every
branch Of science, controvert his theory.
Then what is the wondrous religion
which holds in close compact 450, DOC, 900
people? What this philosophical and ethi-
cal sentiment against which the religion of
our Divine Master, in point Of worshipers,
stands grander?
The same marvellous stories which we as
Christians attribute to the birth of our
Savior; the prophecies Of Ssints, and how
the courses of nature wers changed in
order that a shadow might arpetually re-
main over his cradle, are me.ters OF his
tory; but time does not permit me to
dwell upon these particulars. At the age
of 10 years he married his cousin, and in
dulged in all the luxuries OF an Oriental
life.
He lived entirely for pleasure OF life and
its surroundings withoutlearning anything
of which his relations complained, and
asked what such q Prince would do If war
arose. Buddha hearing OF these COM
plants, appointed a day for the noisiest of
these co~mplainants to compete with him in
x..-t, nxa~n,aaa and ournaaainO than all
only in physical prowess, but his
display Of mental knowledge won back the
good opinion of all. We now pass q de-
cade, aud il is related of him that in his
29th year, while driving to his pleasure
grounds one day, he was struck by the
sight of q man utterly broken down by age,
on another occasion by q man suffering
from a loathsome disease, and some months
after by the horrible sighto a decomposing
corpse. Each time he was told by his
charioteer that such was the fate of all liv-
ing beings. 1t is said that soon after, he
saw walking in q calm and dignifed man.
ner what we to- day would claim as q clergy-
man or priest. His eharioteer upon being
asked by Ruddha his character and aims,
informed the young prince, and this infor-
nation seems to have penetrated his in
most soul. What If / should say right
here that this Prince had 80, 00g wives, and
that he was surrounded with all the luxu-
ries and opulence Of an oriental court Let
ma see what use he made Of all this great
wealth and luxury. 1t is said that he had
visions. and one afternoon, after having
bathed in his pleasure grounds by the river
side, he entered his chariot to return home.
Just then a messenger arrived with the
news that his wife whether the first of the
so. 900 or the last I cannot say had given
birth to a son, his only child. Guatama
| said, .sthere is a new and strong tie I shall
| have to break The people were greatly
| delighted at the birth Of the young heir,
| the Rajah's only grandson.
Guatama's return was a complete ovation,