The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-08
Religious Riot in China.

Religious Riot in China.
A correspondent of the Hong Kong
Daily Press, writing from Canton under
date of November Is, says:
have to record a riot, in connection
with religious establishment, of more
than ordinary Importance, as it has re-
suited in the partial destruction of one of
the finest monasteries in this city-name-
ly, that of Cheung Sou Tez, or the Temple
of Longevity, building well known to
foreigners. This Buddhist monastery
and temple, situated in the western sub
urb, occupied some fifteen acres of ground,
and was one of the finest edifces of the
kind in Canton. At the back of the tenn
pie is a large pond or lake and an extern
sive garden in which the monks-about
one hundred in number-raised vegeta-
bles and fruit for their own consumption
The inmates of the establishment, howev-
er, fairly we'll blessed with the good
things of this life, had grown fat, lazy, and
corrupt Instead of being devout the
monks were hcentious, and it had for
some time been a matter of notoriety
among the natives that they were any
thing but suitable spiritual guides for
their wives or daughters. The monks had
in consequence been In bad odor, and
several disputes have occurred between
them and the people during the past four
known to the authorities, for only recent
ly proclamation has been issued pro-
hibiting women from going to worship at
the monasteries.
con Tuesday the long smoldering in
dignation of the populace was famed into
flame. Early on the afternoon of the
day, several women were observed to
enter the monastery temple to worship,
and several hours elapsing without any
sign of their temperance, the watchers,
whose numbers had augmented in the
meantime, became suspicious and began to
make a noise, indulging in uncomplimen-
tary remarks about the priests Eventual
ly they entered the temple and demanded
from the priests there the production of
the women, and angrily drew attention
to the proclamation then posted on the
temple walls forbidding females TO wor-
ship there. This request and demand
for admission to the inner part of the
monastery were both fatty refused by
the monks, who had assembled in force
High words then ensued, and from this
the mob, all the time increasing in num-
bers and fury, began to stone the priests.
The latter who had armed themselves
with knives and bamboos, attempted to
drive back the crowd, and in the struggle
wounded several persons. By this time
the crowd had become very large and
very angry, breaking presently into I'M
restrained fury, pelting the monks, break
ing everything they could lay hands on,
and threatening to destroy the entire
building. A body of soldiers arrived on
the scene, but they were powerless to
suppress the riot, which continued until
three o'clock on Wednesday morning
About six o'clock on Wednesday
morning the mob resumed the riot, their
numbers having doubled, and proceeded
to pull down the premises, admittance
having again been denied to them. The
two side ranges Of buildings were torn
down, the rioters all the time maintain
ing terrific hubbub and uttering loud
threats of vengeance against the priests
About three P. NJ, being impatient Of
slower methods OF destruction, they set
fire to the remaining buildings, and when
the fire engines arrived they were not
allowed by the mob to approach within
reach of the flames, nor were the goDgs
permitted to be sounded. The conAagra-
ton ragged until about half past seven P.
M, by which time more than a third Of
the monastery was destroyed All the
va Ina ble ornaments from tbo foroy,1o a. -
fittings furniture, and even the vest
ments Of the priests, were carried out by
the eager rioters and burned. During
the search made by the rioters in one Of
the apartments, womens clothing, shoes
and ornaments were found, and the dis
covery elected roars Of indignation from
the excited crowd. The priests, about
twenty Of whom were injured in the strug-
gle with the people, took fight when the