The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-31
n1rxov1Na ON cHRrsrrArrrY.


semi-savsgs People.
New York San.
Some rather curious results attend the
attempts OF pagans nominally converted by
missionaries to improve upon the Christian
religion. They sometimes make strange
mess with their admixture Of vague Chris
tan notions and pagan ideas.
About twenty -dve years ago many Of the
Maori in New Zealand. who were supposed
to be Christians, invented new religion.
Their leaders asserted that most of the
Christian religion was false, but that the
angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary were
gods who inspired their priests and gave
them protection. These percentages were
about al they retained of the Christian
religion. They wanted medium through
which they could communicate with the
angel Gabriel, and they therefore cut of
the head Of the unfortunate white mar
and the priests pretended to receive inspir-
alton from Gabriel through this head.
Soon after another sect arose on the
northern island of New Zealand. Tewhiti,
chief who had grown weary of Christi
anity a. it was taught to him, set up q re-
ligiOn of his own, called himself prophet
and declared it to be wicked to read any
book but the Bible. He attracted . large
missionaries much trouble with his peculiar
teaching of their faith. In the end, how
ever. as he did not regard himself amenable
to law, il was necessary TO deal severely
with him. He was suppressed by the gov
eminent, and his religion fell with him.
Another sect arose still later il New Tea
land, which was degradation of every
good thing taught by the missionaries.
These people pretended to have great rev.
erence for the Bible and spiritual things,
but the main purpose of the sect was to
indulge in the utmost license under the
cloak of religion, and it was necessary for
the government 70 suppress it.
In Burmah today is curious admixture
Of Christianity and Buddhism among one
sembIance to Christianity. except that the
Christian Sabbath is observed, and services
are held in imitation of those conducted by
the missionaries. This form of worship
has thousands of adherents, and ignorant
people are especially inclined to accept the
new teachings.
In India. while ago. the natives OF q
district that had embraced Christianits
conceived an idea that was Identical with
that of our Second Adventists. They made
up their minds, NOBODY knows how, that
the world was coming to an end on Sep
TENDER %, 1881. 1t was in vain that their
missionaries demonstrated with them.
The fanatics declared tn0t the world was
surely coming 90 An end, and large num-
Der Of people left their homes and went to
the ocean shore, where they awaited the
coming of the Lord. They had sold every
thing they possessed, keeping with them
only money enough TO buy food and iodg-
ing until the fatal day arrived. Most Of
their time was spent in fasting. prayer and
exhortation, and there was great excite
ment when the important day at length
dawned.
There they were gathered on the beach,
and waited all day for the Lord. Alright
fall, Is he did not appear. they finally de-
cided that they had been deceived, and re-
turned to the missionaries greatly humbled
and begging forgiveness.
1t is curious spectacle nowadays to see
in Angola, where missionaries nominally
converted thousands of the natives to
Christianity two or three centuries ago,
the poor people telling their beads and
kissing their crucifixes without the slight
est idea of the significance that Christian
people attach to these objects. The mean
ing of the cross was long ago forgotten by
their fathers. All that is left of the old
Roman Catholic faith among these natives
are the beads and cruciixes. which they re-
gard simplysas . sort of fetch that will
keep them from bodily injury. Only this
remains of the wonderful Christianizng
triumphs Of the Romish fathers, who two
centuries ago were SO proud of retaining
many thousands of African natives from
paganiSm