The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-03
THE MISSION FIELD

HE CHINESE FEAST OF ALL Souls
The Buddhlsts and Tao lists contrive to keep the
subject OF religion constantly before the people
by establishing celebrations at regular intervals
during the year, and they make these popular
by external show, professions, etc. Theoretical
ly, Buddhism and Tao ism are largely religions
of contemplation, eDoining solitude and self.
denial practically, they are wholly different
they pander to the wishes of the people in all
things, to their Incidence, their indulgence in
sin, and especially to thelf love of show and
noise.
Just now the Chinese are taken up with their
Festival for All Souls. For many DAYS iaring
yellow posters have been pasted up on the
street corners, announcing that on such dav
the Yu Ian Whay" would hold celebration
at the Cantonese Club House, or the Fukienese
Guild, or the Charity Ferry headquarters. The
priests teach the people that on the first dav OF
the seventh month, (now, in August the door
of hell is opened on the last day of the month
it - closed again During this month, the
devils and hungry ghosts of the lower regions
are let loose, and rush unrestrained over tn o
whole empire. These spirits are the souls OF
criminals and of unfortunate men who have died
at sea or by violence, and who have been denied
proper burial, so that in their misery, or in re-
sentiment at neglect, they do great harm causing
pestllence, death, drought, failure of crops. etc
1T Ii highly important, therefore, that these
dangerous visitors should be paciGed. This can
only be done through the priests, who invoking
the power OF Buddha, can release souls from
purgatory, restrain devils, and even gain for
departed spirits second birth on earth.
AT the bidding of the priests, the people have
professions, carry the idols through the streets
with banners and bands of music burn great
quantities of paper money, and have public and
private masses for the souls of the dead The
paper money, by burning, is converted into
money for the use of the dead in the other
world. The departed are thus supplied with
food drink, and ali necessary things, their
miseries are relieved, and they cease to nAict
damage on the people who thus appease these.
The priests reap a rich harvest and many
thousands Of dollars are wasted by people who
can barely keep soul and body together with
their little pittance Of a living. These super
stltions show the power of custom I often
think as l see a man in the prime of life keen
merchant, sitting making paper money to wor-
ship devils with, how can sane man believe
In such nonsense p Think of practical man
OF the world going through in earnest what a
little glrl OF ten years at home will do in plav
with her doll. The answer is, custom here il
an iron law. They don't truly believe it the
mass Of the people have no convictions they do
1t because they know Of nothing better, and be-
cause their fathers do it. The leaven of the
Gospel has not begun to work among them vet.
There ls no generation nor love in all that they
60 through with theirs is emphatically a
spirit Of bondage again to fear" a worship of
evil spirits and not of Him whose service is
perfect freedom" 1 need only hint the identity
Of heather masses with Romish masses for the
dead, and all will recognize the impress of the
cloven hoof Of the a." Father Of lies" on both
Rev. H. NJ Woods, IN The Missionary for No
vem6er.
LACE MADE BY HINDU WOMEN
Rev o. Newport, Of Madras in recent ad.
dress before an audience in England said :
Missionaries are the very best friends that
India has Two days ago ] went to the Colonial
and Indian Exhibition, which was opened last
week by the Empress Of India herself, and it
was great delight to me to see what India has
put there as a proof Of what her own sons and
her own daughters are able to produce Rut
there ls one particular case in that Exhibition
to which / should like to direct the ladies' at
tention. 1t is filled with nothing but lace
and wondrous lace it is-gold lace, silver lace.
and various other kinds Of lace It is exhibited
by the Government Of Travancore; but / know
that all that lace was manufactured by the
hands OF christian women in connection with
the London Missionary Society. / know, too,
that the lady who taught the women of Mayer
coil to make such lace was q missionary wife.