The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30

enter the human ear. The procession halted
at the door Of the huts. The occupants
came out and made obeisance and presented
small contributions. In return therefor the
priest sprlnkled ashes upon the children
who came forward, this evidently form OF
benediction. Then the procession, led on
by the priest, started again. More noise.
mora ashes. more genunectton. however
keen ones sense of the ludicrous, he could
find nothing to excite even smile IN the
movements OF such procession. MeanlnS-
less, oppressive squalld, filthy, sad.
Returning to our carriage, we rode on Tor
a few moments, and We came on another
procession, kindly lady leading groups OF
native children. all clean. bright, happy,
laughing. They were Chr stian school out
fo- exercise. There seemed rs much intell1-
pence, refinement and happiness IN thar reg
iment OF young Cingalese as you would nnd
In the ranks OF any young ladies' seminary
being ehaperoned on their afternoon WALK
through Central Park. New YORK, OF ayae
Park, London. The Hindoo procession IL
Illustrated on asmall scale something OF what
Hindooism can do for the world. The Chris
tian procession illustrates on smal! scale
something Of what Christianity can do for
the world. But those two professions were
only fragments oftwo great professions ever
marching across our world, the procession
blasted Of superstition and the procession
blessed OF gospel light. I saw them In one
afternoon In Ceylon. They are to be seen IN
all nations.
Nothing is of more thrilling interest than
the Christian achievements In this Island;
The Episcopal church was here tne national
church, but disestabl blishment has taken place,
and since Mr.. Gladstone's accomplishment
of that fact in 1880 ali denominations are on
equal platform, and all are doing mighty
work. America is second to no other nation
In what has been done for Ceylon. Since
1916 she has had her religious agents in the
Jaffna peninsula OF Ceylon. The Spauld-
ings, the Howlands, the Drs. Poor, the
Saunders, and others just as good and strong
have been fighting back monsters OF super
stition and cruelty greater than any that
ever swung the tusk orroared IN the jungles.
The American missionaries in Ceylon
struction and are doing wonders In driving
back the horrors of heather surgery. Cases
Of suffering were formerly given over to the
devil wors6ipers and such tortures inflicted
as may not be described. The patient was
trampled by the feet of the medical atten-
dants. It Is only of Gods mercy that there
Is living mother in Ceylon. Oh, how
much Ceylon needs doctors, and the medi-
cal classes of native students under the care
OF those who follow the EXAMPLE OF the late
Samuel Fish Green are providing them, 80
that all the allevistions and kindly minis.
tries and scientific acumen that can be found
In American and English hospitals WILL soon
bless all Ceylon.
school, 210 Church OF England schools, 2A
Wesleyan schools, 2S4 Roman Catholic
schools. Ah, the schools decide most every.
thing! How suggestive the incident that
came to me in Ceylon. In school under
the care Of the Episcopal church two boys
were converted to Christ and were to be
baptized. An Intelligent Buddhist boy said
in the school, Let all the boys on Buddh&'s
side come to, this part OF the room and all
the boys on Christ's side go to the other
part Of the ROOM"
Ali the boys except two went on Buddha's
side, and when the two boys who were to be
baptized were scoffed at and derlded one OF
them yielded and retired to Buddha's stda
But aiterward that boy was sorry that ss
had Yielded to the persecution, and when
the day Of baptism came stood up beside the
boy who remained firm. Some one said to
the boy who had vacillsted In his choice be-
tween Buddha and Christ, "You are o
coward and not flt for either side," but he
replied, 81 was overcome Of temptation, but
repent and believe" Then botn boys were
baptized, and from that time the ANGLICAN
mission moved on more and more vigorously.
I will not say which OF all the denomina-
tions of Christians Is doing the most for the
evangelization Of that island, but know this
-Ceylon will be taken for Christ Sing
Bishop Heber's hymn:
no., What though the spicy breezes
Blow soft over Ceylon's islei
Among the first places I visited was a
Buddhist college, about 100 men studying to
become priests gathered around the teachers
Stepping into the building where the high
priest was instructing The GLASS, we were
apolegetic and told him we were Americans
and would like to see his mode Of teaching
II he had no objections, whereupon he be-
gam. doubled up as he was on lounge, with
his right hand playing with his foot. In his
left hand he held package of bamboo
leaves, on which were written the words Of
the lesson, each student holding similar
package Of bamboo leaves. The high priest
first read, and then one OF his students read.
A group Of as finely formed young men as
ever saw surrounded the instructor. The
last word of each sentence was intoned.
There was In the whole scene an earnestness
which impressed me. Not able to under
stand word Of what was said, there is a
book of language and intonation that Is the
same among all races. That the BuddhIsts
have full faith in their religion no one can
doubt. That is, in their opinion, the way to
heaven. What Mohammed is to the Mo-
hammedan, and what Christ Is to the Chris
tisn, Buddha is to the Buddhist We wait
ed for pause in the recitation, and then
expressing our thanks retired.
Nearby Is Buddhist temple. on the altar
OF which before the image Of Buddha are Of
ferings of flowers. As night was coming on
we came up to Hindoo temple. First We
were prohibited going farther than the out.
side steps, but we gradually advanced until
The worshipers we're making obeisance. The
tamtams were wildly beaten, and shrlll pipes
were blown, and several other instruments
were In full bang and blare, and there was
an indescribable hubbub and the most labor
ious style Of worship I had ever seen or
heard. The dim lights. and the jargon, and
the glooms, and the fitting figures mingled
for eye and ear horror which 1t Is difficult
to shake of. All this was only suggestive OF
what would there transpire after the toilers
of the day had ceased work and had time to
appear at the temple. That such things
should be supposed to please the Lord or
have any power to console or help the wor-
shippers Is only another mystery inthis world
OF mysteries. But we came away saddened
with the spectacle, sadness which did not
leave US until we arrived ut a place where a
Christian missionary was preaching in the
street to group Of natives.
I had that morning expressed a wish to
witness such scene, and here 1t was. Stand
ing on IN elevation, the good man was ad-
dressing the crowd. All was attention and
silence and reverence. A religion OF relief
and Joy was being commended, and the dusky
faces were illumined with the sentiments OF
,pacifcation and reinforcement. It was the
rose OF Sharon after walking among nettlss
1t was the morning light after thick dark
ness. 1t was the gospel after Hindooism.
But passing up and down the streets oil
Ceylon you find all styles Of people within