The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-02-23
CHINA AND CHRISTEANITy.
An Abstract of the Address of Rev. j. H.
Stuart at the First Presbyterian Church.
Columbia Register, Feb. Is,

C9tHhlbid heyiatf, fco. io'
In view of the present special interest
existing here in relation to the work of
foreign missions, place is given to the
following abstract of the discourse of
Rev. j. l.. Stuart, delivered at The First
Presbyterian Church Sunday night, the
publication of which yesterday was pre-
vented by the lack ofspace:
The returned missionary chose as his
text from the second chapter of Joshua,
in which is related the circumstances at
tending the sending ont of two spies by
Joshua to view The country Of Jericho.
He said that he had to say that something
of the same kind was going on in China.
1t seems to be The mos. opportune time
for Christians to 60 in and secure that
land for Christ.
There we're lhers 3oO,000,00o souls.
These people have for long time dwelt,
as it were, alone. There we're natural
boundaries which rendered them isolated,
and by their great wall and their prohi-
biLion of the entrance of foreigners they
had, until comparatively recent years,
maintained their seclusiou. There lad
been thereby caused the pride and pref
udice and exc!usivcness which so spe.
cialIy characterized this people, but he
hoped to be able 10 show that these
characteristics were q. least promising 10
be broken down.
The speaker detailed at some length
the history of the admission of foreigners
to the Empire. The frat step, an iGiqui'
tous cause with what has proved in some
directions good effect, was the opium
war, when England obliged The country
to admit opium by the arguments OF
soldiers and big guns, and Eve ports were
opened 10 foreigners.
The second step was when in another
var waged by England and France
against China, and in which the invaders
with 10000 men really conquered the
! country and occupied Pekin, resulted in
the opening Of seven additional ports and
! other concessions.
A third step was au event of incalcl-
| liable lmportance-the great rebellion So
| called. This originated in the knowledge
gained by student, who came 10 one Of
the ports TO pass bis examination, Of the
| contents of some foreign books he there
obtained. So wrought upon was thalstu.
dent by what he impsrfect!y uuderstood
that he returned aud studied for months
! with missionary. At last he thought
he vas ready to become Christian, but
was refused baptism by the missionary,
who did not think him sufficiently con.
versant with charity, He again returned
to his bone in the interior ard late,
shared his knowledge with fellow
student. They baptised each other ard
started out to preacL Shat they consider
cd Christianity, or at least new religion
Soon they merged their religious work
into political one, and determined tc
overthrow the existing government and
! take the reins themselves. Thousands
focked to their standard and these semi
Christians gained power in fifteen out ol
the eighteen provinces ir China. They
carried on their war, however, with the
most horrible barbarities, burning aud
scourging the country and in the course
of the struggle it is estimated 33.0O0,00C
people lost their lives. They burned
temples and hacked the idols to pieces
with their swords. The rebellion did not
succeed in the end, however, but it was
only put down by the aid Of foreigner
Gen. Gordon, who afterwards persisted
! in the Soudan.
There we're three great effects from this
rebellion First, the shock to Chinese
pride that they we're only aaved from
destruction by foreign intervention
Second, the shock to idoiatry, for never
since has there been so much belief aud
veneration for idols, for they reason easi.
ly if as we have seen these idols had nc
power TO protect themselves, how eau
they have power to do aught for US
Third, the fact that in the confusion fol.
lowing the conclusion of the rebellion a
number of missionaries got into the
interior, where they had never been
| allowed before, but gained such a foot.
bhold there that they have been allowed
to stay.
They live In those interior cities by
sufferance and not by right, but it has
continued so long it is regarded as safe
and no danger is spprehended of being
driven away.
Another event in China's history thai
had an effect for good iu the missionary
work was the great famine Of 1868
and by which, 10 some provinces, starva
ton and terrible suffering were caused
The missionaries by going to the rescue
three died then from the famine fevsl
by securing from abroad means 10 bu,
food to send to the famished, and 10 come
cases going to distribute it. won the res
pect of the Chinese and gained stropge,
! hold than eger before. Even this mis-
fortune, then, WAS p,oyident;sl, ant
| Gods work.
An event more recently which had
similar effect was the inundalion Of sew
eral provinces along the Hosng Ho, @
Fellow River, by which grea. misery wa
caused. It was remarkable that ,h'
province Of Honan, where the damage
and suffering was greatest, was that Pro
vince Of all the Empire where existed tht
most opposition TO missionaries, mher'
they were prevented from residing
where, indeed, il is wei. nigh certain tH'
I,,.o l,.,n ,rrrdarnl Tn,