Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-10
ornrrA Anp nER PKoPLR.

nav willis G. Noble Of Rek1ms CMAA1s
 as tme college Street Church-The
 Land Awakening to Civilization
 Early Missions - Government - mar"
 riage SuperstitIOns = The Curse or
 Opium.
 After the usual preliminary service of song and prayer at the College street church last evening, during which an excellent solo was rendered by Miss Nellie Reyes with full cho- rus accompaniment, the pastor introduceo Rev. Willis G. Noble of Pekin, China, who briefly portrayed some of China's customs and people. A synopsis of his remarks is here given. -
 l. China is a country of which little is known
 -a country of fantastic costumes and queer customs, country whose people are walled in by the ancient traditions and grabbed laws of prehistoric age. It required the pressure of Europe, the fire of the Russian bivouAcs to singe the Mongolian eyebrow before the pulse
 of the country began to beat with other na- tious. It is now beginning to be power whose foundations axe laid deep in the rock of an ever-incrsaging Christianity. The whole energies of the Roman Catholic missions of the thirteenth century were dl- rected toward the Mongols. Two hundred ysars later the Jesuits began to arrive in Can ton, and the good work has gone on untl there are now Protestants as well as Catholics on this field of God. E. 0. Bridgeman was
 the first missionary sent by the American board to China and this was in 1854. Now there are four missions there, but the north one, consisting of seven stations and sxtend. n. ing from the Yellow river on the south to the borders of Mongolia on the north, will receive our attention tonight. The physical aspects are most inviting, fertile plains, picturesque peaks and broad table land stretching towards the North, East and West. Its climate is salubrious, and this portion has ssventy-seven million inhabitants. The fruits, vegetables and ami malls are almost the same as ours excepting the Mongolian camel. Horses are plentiful, selling from $25 to $50 each, while the mules are large, handsome animals, valued from &100 ta &20D apiece.
 The government under dynasties has ex- looked upon as the son of heaven, and no ono but the nobility and members of the roy- al family are allowed to look upon him. A council of officials and high dignitaries meets every morning at o'clock in the royal pal ace. Officers are not elected by the peoples suffrage, but examinations on essays assigned by royal dignitaries axe held, and one must past first two literary degrees before becom. Ing an official. s4sF @a The customs and habits of the people gre very interesting. The threshfng floors and field are alive with laborers and the plains pieId fruitfully to the sowing hand. There are two principal events in their lives, mar riage and death. Young men never settle
 down till marriage, and in most cases the bride never sees her husband till the day of
 marriage. Everything is arranged by rela- tives and friends. Wives are unhappily sub- iuQated to the rule of mothers-in-law and become their slaves. Daughters are of little value, and she is indeed unfortunate who doesn't have son. Sons are the great bles- sing and joy of women's lives.
 Superstitions are many and varied. Ami nal worship is universally valued and be- lieved. The dragon is king of scaly tribes and the god of rain. The unicorn, though seldom seen, is king of beasts; the phoenix king of birds. Scorpions, centiPedes, toads, snakes and lizards are known as the i've poisonous creatures and worshipped once 8 year. Some kinds of animals are thought to have influence over people at certain times, or to "possess" them. In this condition they are specially fond of whisky. I once saw e woman that was thought to be pos sessed who drank whisky by the quart and didn't show the least sign of intemperance.
 Intoxication isn't general but opium smok- ing is prevalent and makes wreck of It's vo- tary. The British government derives an immense income from its dealings in this ar- ticle and in one year alone its manufacturers received &5, ,849, ,s29 for their products. Thir- ty-three per cent of the population are con- sumers of this drug and it yearly costs them ssventy-seven million dollars. Its baleful ef fects are seen on every side. At one time the amoUnt of land given up for it's cultivation was so large that famine was caused and thousands of people perished. The sur roundings are touched by the hand of God with great beauty, but made terrible by the criminal hand of man. Such is the country where our missions are established and such the evils among which we are working.