The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-07


devoted her talents and energy to mis-
sionary work, was attended by good
sized audience. composed mainly OF
women. No audience in Wheeling was
ever held closer nor interested more In
the subject than this one. Mrs. White
has seen phases OF life such as few wo-
men have experienced aud she eau tell
her story in most charming and inter-
esting manner.
Mrs. White opened her talk by
reference to the religious life OF the peo-
pie Of China. The two principle reiig-
ions are Confucianism and Buddhism.
Confucianism is the old Chinese relig-
ion and Buddhism is the new faith
that was brought from India. DR.. Mar
tin. one Of the Presbyterian missionar-
les in China, has made study OF the
old Chinese books, and it is found that
the Chinese printed from wooden types
centuries before our ancestors thought
OF the most primitive printing press.
DR.. Martin finds that in the year 63. A.
D., the then emperor OF China had
a dream or vision, and calling bis coun-
cilors to his side, told them Of 1t. 1t
seems this vision was Of new religion
that had been born in the far west, and
which the emperor was anxious for his
subjects to know OF. The advisers OF
the emperor journed westward In search
OF the new religion and coming TO India
found Buddhism, which they naturally
supposed was the new religion oil which
their master had dreamed. Thus 1t
was that Buddhism was introduced
into CHINA most wicked religion be-
lieyed in to-day by 450,000,00O people.
Mrs. White echoed the thought OF DR..
Martin, conveying the supposition that
the councillors might have gone further
west TO the Holy Land, where the
Christian religion might have been
taken to China with the result that to-
day China would be Christianized ma
ton. Mrs. White referred merely in
sentence to the Cbina-Japan war, say
ing that she did not undertake to un-
derstand it in all its phases, but ex-
pressed the hope that China would one
day become enlightened and Christian
lied. What buddhism has conquered
cannot Christianity do likewise?
Under the head "What are the Chi
nese Like?" Mrs. White was most inte-
resting, and told OF the Chinese as they
are in their homes and everyday life.
Before entering this branch OF her sub
iect, however, she gave q striking in
stance OF the present condition OF Ill
governed China. While in New York
not long ago she had seen letter. from
one Of the Chinese missionaries, located
in a city not three hundred miles from
Canton, in which he said that he had
only lust received the news OF the Chi
nese.Japanese war, and that had come
in letter from America. Just think OF
it. said Mrs. White, here was q city in
the heart OF the Chinese empire and its
inhabitants knew nothing OF the war in
which their country was involved.
Continuing, Mrs. White told OF her
arrival in China twelve years ago with
her husband, aud OF their voyage by
river from Canton three hundred miles
inland to Ling Chang, where the Chris
tian religion was unknown. The peo-
Pile would not allow them to live III their
town, and for long time they occupied
A boat meered at the bank, pursuing
their work under almost innumerable
difficulties. Twelve years has brought
about a change there. To-day there are
two mission houses in the city and one
native church, with eighty.nine conse-
Grated Christians, not the rice Chris
tians" that are sometimes heard OF from
carping critics in America.
In illustration Of the desire OF the Chi
nese for the true religion, Mrs. White
told an anecdote: Shortly after their ar
rival in Ling Chang, whilo they were
living in their boat, she saw an old wo-
man come down 10 the waters edge, get
down on her knees and pray earnestly.
Then she proceeded to fill three little
cups with tea and scatter the contents
around. Next she filled three similar
cups with rico aud scattered it about.
Finally she filled the cups with wine
of the rice and scattered it around.
Then taking out little Jacket the wo-
man shook it in the wind and went
away. OF course, said Mrs. White, this
was most mystifying She called her
Chinese companion and asked for an OK
PLANTATION. The woman was grand
mother and was praying for the recov-
erv of her sick grandchild 10 every
known God" From this it 10 plain
that il the Chinese are given the oppor-
tunity they will come to the true God.
Speaking OF the school life in China,
Mrs. White told OF young Chinese
woman, who in two lessons, committed
to memory sixty verses Of the book OF
Matthew. 1t is no uncommon thing
for the children to recite whole chapters
from the Bible. The speaker then con-
trasted the ability OF tho Chinese, when
-. A. an.o.t,n;ty with tim hating