The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-29

especially those relating TO religious or
quasi religious beliefs, has been dealt with
by many able pens Most educated people
have some acquaintance with the super
natural pretensions of people like Joanna
Southcote or Joe Smith. 1t may, however,
be safely alleged that scarcely one Euro
pcan in million has ever heard of most
angular instance Of popular crcdulity,
which. dating back 10 the first century.
has held sway even to the present day.
Probably the eorliest notice of the SO
called Master of Heaven" which appeared
in any European work is to be found in the
"Annales de la Foi' or missionary "Col-
lectanea" of the Jesuit priests, forwarded
In the shape of letters from various por-
tions of the beathen world. Writing in
| 1856. Father Demicourt described the then
| living master" in no favorable terms It
| was, however, reserved for the we'll known
authority on Chinese matters, Mr.. Chal-
mers, to first introduce the title and its
bearer to the notice of the English speak
ing world. A few months later Mr.. III.
Kopsch gave more detailed and extremely
interesting account of the whole subject.
As these papers arc quite inaccessible TO
the general public-one public library only
In England possessing a copy-the follow
ing details will doubtless be of interest:
a child was, according to the legend.
miraculously born of virgin mother in
the province Of Kiangsi AS with the
founder of Buddhism, his childhood was
distinguished by extraordinary precocity
and the power OF performing supernatural
feats BY the time he had reached 20 years
OF age he had attained the modest stature
OF feet inches. His personal appearance
otherwise was not less unusual Triangu-
lar eyes with green pupils, and a crimson
scalp, arms reaching below his knees, and
with an occipital bone of striking projec-
tion, he must have been at least note
worthy in the eyes of his neighbors
1t may, by the way, be noted that how
ever unveracious these details of his looks,
Chang Tao-ling actually existed. His career
is sketched in the annals Of the province in
quite the same vein as are his physical
characteristics. A scholar of profound cru
dition and able TO foretell coming events,
he sent in so mastery paper on the trou-
bles then besetting the empire "a. ID. 60) |
that the emperor appointed him governor |
of Kiang- Choo. After holding this ap- |
pointment for few years he resigned, and
then commenced the career which secured
for him the celebrity which has lasted till
the present day.
Leaving the scene of his government. he
became q hermit in the Pei-Mang noun
tains and devoted his time TO the study of
witchcraft and the discovery Of the elixir
OF life. He was next heard of on the
Dragon and Tiger mountain. Here he COM
pounded the mystic pill of immortality and
discovered the means of ruling the demons
Of the air and commanding the services of
devils and bogys. ong the supernatural
feats with which was credited was the
slaughter of million devils with one
stroke Of vermiion pencil. These, at the
tercession of their six kings, he
restC. } life upon condition that they
betook ...emselves to western countries
and left China alone.
It was at Mount Ho-Ning that Chang pro-
fessed to receive in person a divine com
mission as the Master Of Heaven" Among
the insignia OF his new office was a magic
seal which would impress 100 sheets OF paper
at once, although only touching one. The
seal, OF course, is claimed to be over 1,sO0
years old.
The masters son Heng succeeded his
father, who is alleged to have been taken
up into heaven after having attained the
age OF 123 years. son has in turn sue
ceeded until the present day. During the
Ming dynasty, which terminated in 1914.
The then master" was guardian of the
heir apparent to the throne. AS an Illus
tration of the duties devolving upoh the
occupants OF the masters post, the annals
record that In l707 the then master of
was directed to offer sacrifices on 1
he five great mountains Of China TO charm
away the ghost of the white sheep at
Hwangchow and to rid the Tai-hu lake of
he crimson monkey which haunted It'll
Another goblin called the Iron Lock- the
Tread and terror of the boat people, as IL
the key to the winds, was also '
to be got rid Of by the subtle I
'rts of this magician"
The TAPPING rebellion naturally induced 8
he superstitious ruling powers to consult r
he then representative of the long defunct
;hsng Tao-ling. II need scarcely be said !,
hat his charms and exorcisms failed to pro :
uce the slightest effect, and he ignomini-
usfy fled. The vicious lives led by the lat
r masters had already led to their being II
egarded with contempt by their Immediate q
but superstition dies hard in
,hina The present abode OF the wizard Is
tuated about 81 miles south OF Kiver XII. n
town In kianssi, in the Dragon and Tiger "
already mentioned. The two
nimals are represented by two hirs peaks.
nd between these lies the "Palats of Su.
rene Purity" as the masters temple is
AIMED. tr
The CRATE In which the mystic pill Of i'm
lortality was first refined is still shown, "a
also the ruins of the terrace whence a,
hang Tao-ling ascended to heaven. A g.
umber OF monasteries surround the
palace" but they are mostly in a state OF :,
cay Revenue accrucs to the "master' ~ ~
ON two sources. The first Is that de, w W
we'd from exercising ghosts from the a. -
buses OF the richer residents In the pro ~
nee, mandarins, etc, or otherwise avert
q Ill and inducing good luck to them tr
ho seek his service. The second and far au
ore lucrative source is the sale OF charms. be
The size Of charm as sold is foot o TIA
ches In length by inches in breadth, the tn
per being very common and fragils. The tn
nder alleges that, however undeciph. tn
able to human eyes, ghosts and goblins
n read the mystic characters, and will
take themselves elsewhere In doubl.