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

lieve cases of great distress.
"Christ," continued he, in response
to a question as to what he thought of
the founder of Christianity, 81 place
on level with Buddha, and regard
him as an equally great prophet. We
have images of him side by side with
those of Buddba in our own temples.
As for those who worship the cross
they are in reality disciples of Fut Kah.
After ALL continued he, eve are all
striving for the same end, and all re-
llgions l regard as having some ele-
ment of good, though naturally l con.
slider my own creed the most perfect.
No; anything that benefits the human
race l recognize as good, but the es-
sential thing is to have a pure heart,
and to do as much good to your fellow
beings as possible
"What do you think of Taouism :
"Tah.Kah is merely another form OF
Buddhism, or Fut Kah; Confucianism
is for literary men" was the rejoindel
given with an air of great grace and
dignity.
"And what do you think of joss
houses?"
II do not believe in them
The archabbot also impaired much
information about the nirvana, OF
heaven, of the Buddhists, explained
the state of Buddha past, present and
future, and developed a number of Gu
rious Chinese medical theories, assert.
ing among other things that there
were three hundred pulses in the hu.
man body. The whole manner of the
Mongolian was excessively dignified
and refined, giving one the impression
of recluse who had entirely removed
himself from the cares of this world
He added that though the archabbot
was elected for a period of two years,
this rule was abrogated in his case
Though two years away, he still re.
tained the position, deputy appointed
by him acting as his vicegerent. He
would most probably soon return, as
he was only here on a visit to his un'
Gle, and reascend the abbatical throne
but he did not know whether he would
ever come back. Kock Leung is one
of the three chiefs of the Buddhist
creed in Canton. During the interview
he occasionally drew whiff Of tobac
co from heavily plated Chinese nick
ell pipe, and admitted in the course o1
the conversation that he sometimes in
dulged in opium.
This is the poetic and picture sque
side of Chinese religions, but 60 into
one of the numerous joss houses and
one will see the unattractive and un'
reasoning side of paganism in the
blindest superstition and grossest idola
try which have ever greeted Christian
eyes, which have been too frequently
described to demand repetition. The
kow-tow ceremony, as witnessed by the
reporter one day recently at temple
on Waverly place, will bear descrip-
ton. The guardian of the temple was
just sounding barrel-shaped drum
suspended from wooden framework
Having evoked a few dull, rolling
sounds, he wakened the echoes by
pulling massive bronze bell hanging
underneath. Then taking the sticks o.
incense, he placed mat on the flool
beside each idol, on which he knelt
first bowing down with hands joined
and then raising them above his head
He then performed the kow tow, which
consists OF knocking the head against
the floor six times before minor idolt
and nine times before major gods with
great rapidity and violence. The
Mongolian devotee fulfills his religious
task with no half-hearted zeal, making
the floor vibrate again as be introduces
his head to it. The thought would
naturally occur that this would bt
rather trying even to an opium-be
logged Chinese cerebrum; and passing
near the worshiper as he rose from hi.
task, it was noticed that he had on the
top of his head a abulging protuberanct
as large as an average fist-the result
of frequent and vigorous kow-towings
This must have become perfectly cal
lous, as in response to query on part
ing the custodian remarked that The
frequent humping was the cause of nc
pain or unpleasanthess. 1t will be
seen that Chinese priests position il
not sinecure and that he well earni
his salary. The term curator has beer
used advisedly, for there are no priests
attached to the joss-houses in this city
OF the eight or nine Chinese temple,
the majority are owned and connected
with one of the guilds of Six compa
MES, whll: few are run az matters o
private speculation by private individ
uals. DR.. Ii Bo Tai, for instance, ha.
large interest in one. The joss
bouses which are attached to a guile
or company form part of the com
pany's buildings, and are farmed ou,
every two years to the highest bidde
by the company. Tenders are called
for, and the lucky Mongol who Cal
give the highes. sum for the good, will
gets the contract The servant of the
gods, it may be readily imagined, is
frequently very illiterate man
Though not consecrated priest, he il
Douhu 10 KNOW something OF priest
craft, Buddhist rubrics, and Confucial
ceremonial. He is expected TO keel
the temple and its surroundings in re
pair during his term of office, being
enabled by the offerings and sales o
incense, candles, etc, to recoup himsel
for his outlay and reap considerable
profit.
BY far the handsomest aud mos
richly decorated shrines are the TEN
pies attached Ia the Kow Chow Asy
lum on Pine street, which il conse
Grated to Kwan Tai or Quon Kunp
the god If war, peace and commerce
and contains the Jrn. Shrr-Mar or re,
war god of the horse, which would al
low none TO ride it except Kwan Tat
and the PAX Tai temple in crook an'
st. Louis alley, the joss house attache
to tie Yang Wo company. The prir
cipal deity in this temple, also, i
Kwan Tai or Quon Kung, who seem
to be rather a popular god among tn
Chinese in this city. lie is the patro
sain, of most of the Chinese comps
| MICS and classes His hirh,],y ",