Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-18
cH1NArowa PREACHING.
Chinese Missionaries Ku-sluxed, but Not
Terrified.


Chinese Missionaries Ku-sluxed, but mol
Terrified.
The Chinese helpers or interpreters con-
nected with the Chinese Missions in this city
are in The habit of holding missionary
services, consisting Of reading the Scriptures
exbortation and singing, on Third street, near
I. each Sabbath afternoon, and their meet
Tags are generally quite largely attended by
their fellow-countrymen 1t seems that some
of the disciples of Confueius have however
become dissatisfied with the effect of these
meetings, and on Sunday last when the lead
ers came to the usual place to hold their
services they found posted up large white
piece of papsr covered with Chinese charac-
tiers, and which was solemn warning from
the adherents OF iGol worship against further
efforts by their waywatd Celestial brethren
to convert the Chinese 70 the ways CT Chris
tianity. 1t may not be generally known that
& white poster Of this class has the same
significance to the Chinese that black paper
of the same size of the Ku-klux Klan order,
and headed with skull and cross-bones, would
to the Southern colored voter, but such Is the
case. White is the emblem OF mourning
among the Chinese, the same as IN RUSSIA
and various other countries, and the pastlng
up of white paper, among the supeIsSitious
Chinese. is a warning TO them or impending
danger in the most expressive and terrifying
form. II was supposed, therefore, by those
who had put up this white death warning
that their missionary countrymen whom
they regard as led estray from the true
waY''-would, as soon as they saw the poster,
! IL. ha faor 0f fhp
white paper as formerly, and that then the
Christian street preaching would be brought
to q close. They found, however, apparently
to their great surprise, that in getting led
estray" from the common faith of the
Chinese the followers of the new religion had
also lost their superstitioUs fear Of white
paper placed upon q wall, and actual
iy. to the utter horror and breath
less assonishment OF those who had
solemnly placed it there, put their hands
upon il, and proceeded to take it down and
read it. This was too much fer the nerves OF
the so-called followers OF Confucius, who had
gathered in large numbers TO see the annihi-
iating effect of the Ku-klux scheme they had
set forth to stay the work of their energetic
kinsmen who had been converted to the new
tangled faith. The placard, whsn interpreted
and reduced to American comprehension,
read as follows:
sit is claimsd By the Christian preachers
that Christ is the Lord of heaven and earth
and the Greater They only preach to make
money. and it is useless to dispute with them,
but something must be said TO inform the
people against this new false religion. It is
learned from Christianity that Jesus was
born only l, SSl years ago, which proves that
it is false that he made the world and tell
ing q falsehood about this, they cannot be
believed about anything else. Or, If Jesus
was born before the world was made, then
first born, or for him to be upon, and his
parents would have starved to death. How
is it that you fellows keep so happy when
you preach such news as this to us?
Notice is hereby given that such of the
Chinese people as have been converted to
Christianity must not follow that way any
more. Moreover, this religion must not be
preached any more on the street, and if any
shall do so they WILL be arrested by the Six
Companies and punished for preaching false
doct ines and deceivny the people. They
shall be given eighty lasbes and then dragged
to the graveyard and burned alive their
bones shall not be taken back TO China, but
shall remain foreign ghosts forever. And
then they can believe in Jesus all they are a
Mid to. Whoever shall dare TO take this
father"
With the superstitious fear in which the
Chinese regard the white placard, and the
terrible doom it pronounced upon the iaYad-
ing Chinese converts, it was thought it would
prove an'ample and effective extermi1ator to
the young Christian zeal, but when the
leader of the small band took it down, and
holding It in his hands commenced reading it
out loud to the audience, ard arguing IN favor
OF the new faith, the superstiti0us hearers be-
gan to fall back toward the opposite side OF
the street. evidently expecting that such q
presumption would result in the earth open
Ing and swallowing them and that part Of
Chinatown up.
Two Christian Chinese then spoke for some
time to the large number that gathered, and
endeavored to make strong point towards
breaking down their superstitious fears, show
ing that white posters were harmless and
also that the idols which they worship were
no more account and could be destroyed by
any of them at any time, and hence could
not De gods that had any power to do them
good or evil They also told their hearers
that they were not followers CT Confucius,
as they claimed to be, for ne urged all men
to study and seek for the truth, but they pro-
posed TO commit crime to prevent their rsad-
lug and deciding for themselves.
The placard secured large audience, and
the speakers seized She opportunity 10 boldly
denouuca idol worship and the superstitioHs
ceremonies and beliefs connected with it.
They concluded by inviting these who wrote
and put up the white poster to come to the
Missions, and promising that they should be
kindly treated. Their opponents then dis
persed, having given very good attention, but
were exceedingly puzzled to know why the
white poster could be SO ignored and treated
without fatal results.