The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-08-28
Chinese Religion.

-MoNGoL MIRACLES IN
SAN FRANCISCO.
There are few cities on the face of
the globe, says the San Francisco
Chronicle, which can confess such
cosmopolitan liberality as San Francis.
co in the matter of religion. Russian
and Greek Catholicism; Judaism, Ro-
man Catholicism, Presbyterianism,
Episcopalianism, Methodism, Lutheran
ism, Brahmism, eclecticism, agnostic-
ism and atheism, these and other forms
of religion or irreligion are represented.
And among all this host of various
''isms,' Confucianism, Buddhism and
Taoulsm claim at least $4,000 votaries.
That the Mongolian horde in our midst
protesting these forms of belief are
strongly attached TO their pagan creeds
is simply proved by the fact that out
of population of 10000 Celestials
only lis have been converted to Chris
tianity by the united efforts of Chris
tian ministers during period of II
years, and this is not including back
sliders. And yet there is nothing so
attractive in the two principal religions
of China, Buddhism and Taouism (for
Confucianism is rather body of cere-
monies and code of morals prescribing
filial piety and ancestral worship than
form of religion), to induce them to
adhere with such tenacity to such a
farrago of superstition and ceremonial
observance. Buddhism is merely a
complex form of the dogma of the
transmigration of souls, admitting.
however, heaven, or nirvana, of COM
pleto rest. and hell, where the wicked
are tortured. The imperfect mortal is
gradually purified by being reproduced
in higher or lower state of existence,
until, having passed through all the
different stages of perfection, he is
reapy for celestial bliss. Taouism is a
modified form of rationalism, and mum.
bers but few votaries among the Mon
golians. Almost all the celestials in
the city are Buddhists, there being
comparatively few Taouists. These
two religions, however, are 80 insep-
arably intermingled and mixed up,
Taouist deities often elbowing Budd
hist goods in the same temple, who, in
their turn, stand cheek-by-jowl with
Buddhist saints, that it is difficult to
draw any hard-and-fast line. Confuc-
ianism permeates both religions. For
merly there were no priests of any
Chinese sect in Chinatown. Now
there are four Buddhist priests who
may readily be distinguished by their
cleanly-shaven heads, and seven Taouist
priests, and three or four Nam-mo-
loos, class of ecclesiastical pariahs
who attend solely to the rites connected
with Mongolian obsequies. Neither
Buddhist or Taouist can be distin-
gulshed in the street by their attire
from ordinary Chinese, though the GER
emonial costume of both classes is ex-
tremely rich; while the Taouists when
officiating at any rites, fasten their hair
into knot with a wooden comb, re-
scmbling the back of tortoise.
There is now in the Chinese quarter
q thoroughly representative Buddhist
priest. Kock Leang is the archabbot
of the Wah Lam Tzoo, monastery
near Canton, for both Taouist and
Buddhist sects strongly resemble Ro-
man Catholics in that they have not
only monks, nuns, abbots, monasteries,
nunnerics, but even holy water, rosar,
les, invocation of saints, etc. 1t was
suggested to the writer that most in
ter,sting interview could be obtained
with the Mongolian dignitary. Ac.
cordially. accompanied by friend
who thoroughly understood the Chi.
\nese language, the reporter visited the
archahbot at the drug store of Houg
Yen Hong, where he makes his head
quarters The friends knowledge Of
the language was an open sesame tC
the Chinese heart. The visitors were
courteously received and directed to
an upper chamber, where the archab
bot, assisted by his uncle, was holding
levee of invalid patients, The Chi
nese prelate was discovered in young
man six feet high, certainly not NOR,
than thirty years of age, who, grace
fully waving the Caucasian guests Il
chair, begged them IL be seated
On his closely-shaven skull he wore ,
soft black scull cap, strongly suggest
i've Of the Catholic biretta, while hi
attire consisted of long, gray robe o
some cotton fabric, crossed over tn,
breast, with linen alb underneath
and bound round the waist by girdl
resembling a bishops sash. 1t ma,
be stated that Buddhist priests ar,
supposed only to live on vegetables
and are forbidden by the tenets of thei
creed TO wear any fabric woven of tn
hair Of animals.
"You are the archabbot of larg
Chinese monastery" queried the in
teppreter.
81 would not dare to acknowledge t
he head Of our community. We ar
all equal was the reply, given in
quiet d' prccatory tone, which immedi
ately suggested to the mind the Servu
Ser0or,tm Del of the Roman pontifi
Tho reason ! have come here" COT
tinued he, in response to furthe
queries. "Hearing there was a grea
deal of sickness over here | came I
cure it. Yes, | am a skilled physical
but ask no pay for my services.
give them graluitiously 10 the poor
The rich, undoubtedly, when cure
make me presentations of money, bu
this ! receive only to give to the poo
again. l came here TO do as muc
good as ! could, and bear no enmit
To white men. We are all alike, a