Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-21
The Middle Kingdom.

Facts About the Chfnese-Their Reltg-
 ions, Characteristics and Prospects D1s-
 cussed by $. c. Partridge at the Church
 of the Ascension.
 Mr. Sidney O. Partridge, 8 graduate of the class of 80, Yale college. having returned from a tour around the world, and special ly careful study of the Middle Kingdom and it's inhabitants, spoke at the Church of the Ascension yesterday about the Chinese, dwelling especially upon their religions and prospects of Christianizing the people. In the morning Mir. Partridge considered briefly the origin of the Chinese race. it's great an- tiquity and the extent of the territory inhab- ited by the people. The empire of China covers more than twice the area of the United States and is populated by over four hundred millions of people. One of the aree Chinese cities would populate the whole State of Connecticut and have enough left to populate two or three small towns. Over twenty millions were swept away by one famine, and yet the loss was scarcely ap- parent With the advance of civilization and an increased skill and knowledge of the tremble before the advance of this mighty people unless with civilization they become Christian One marked characteristic of the race is their antiring industry. They are the most industrious people in the world. Confucius taught them to give obedience to their fathers and elders and to live Tn ln- dustry. They are great farmers, and labor hard in whatever they undertake. We must not judge them by the laborers and coolles that come over to this country. Nearly all the emigrants are from single province Tn the southwestern part of the empire. The Chinese are not all liars and thieves, but are as a rule exceedingly truthful and honest The American traveller does not have to carry firearms for protection nor to use bolts and bars when he is in his room at night. There is no single Chinese religion. They have 8 mixture of four or five religions The Chinaman worsh1ps the emperor; he worships Confucius. The re- ligion of the latter is largely negative. His silver rule was ''Do not unto others what YOU would not have them do unto you" Connected with the religion of Oonfucius is the religion of Buddhism. This has been call ed the Light of Asia. It is theoretically just what the poet or painter makes of It. It may be represented as very beautiful. Poet1cally it is nothing of the kind. You cannot find
 
 Iy selfish and hypocritical. There does not exist greater system of fraud and hypocri sy. The Chinese are also very strong be- lievers in the spirits of wind and water. This superstition is great bar to progress. and clogs the wheels of government itself.
 They believe that the north winds of win ter come in straight lines and bring evil spirits with them. The balmy south winds of the spring come in undulating waves and bring the good spirits. Therefore they will do nothing in straight lines. They will tear up a railroad because of that supersti tion. There Is only one line of telegraph in the country. The people will do nothing without consulting the priests who are sup posed to control these spirits of the winds. It is scarcely possible for us in New England to realize what an immense hold this belief has upon the people and in how many ways it interferes with civilization. The people grow up in ignorance and die in superstition. But those who are in a position to know be- lieve that as pagan Rome so heathen China will be Christianized.
 Mr. Partridge further considered the work of Christianizing the people and exhorted his hearers to do their little share in helping along the great work.