The evening times., 1899-06-19
A BELIEVER IN CHRIST.
China's Emperor Planned to Make
ChFistianity the National Religion.

Chiaa's Emperor Planned to Make
| Christianity the National Religion.
New York. June 19.-Considerabie space
in the forthcoming annual report of the
| American Bible Society will be devoted tc
the work Of the society in China and TO the
| progress Christianity is making i'm the
Flowery Kingdom. The report on China
| is written by the Rev. DIR. John r. Hykes
| general agent OF the society.
THE wonderful revolution inaugurated
| by the reform party" says DR.. Hykes. "and
| the tragic check it received in September
| last have attracted the attention Of the
world to China as perhaps never before.
The spirit of reform was in the air. Re-
form clubs were organized in many OF the
provinces. The young Emperor. in the Sc
clusion of his palace felt the influence CT
the movement and in the beginning Of the
year he gathered about him some of the
best. most able. and most progressive
! statesmen in the country to assist him in
reforming the empire. Following their ad-
vice. he issued a series of edicts which.
no matter what may be the final outcome
Of the reactionary movement, will immor-
talize him.
Among the reforms authorized by these
imperial edicts were the abolishing OF the
essay system OF examination. the establish
ment OF university for the study Of West
ern science in Pekin the establishment OF
a board for the translation OF books on
Western learning into Chinese, the estab-
Iishment Of a patent Office. the abolishment
OF useless Offices In both Pekin and the
provinces. the protection OF Christianity,
the sending abroad OF young Manchus for
study, and the adoption OF the Reform
Paper" as the official organ of the gov
ernment.
I'm addition to issuing these splendid
edicts. the Emperor went 50 far as to dis
cuss with his advisers the desirability OF
adopting Christianity as the national re-
ligion. He spent much time in the daily
study Of the Bible, and 1t was no secret
in the palace that he frequently retired TO
a quiet place TO pray to the true God.
When thus engaged the eunuchs had strict
orders that he must not be disturbed or
interrupted. His attitude toward Christi
anity is shown by the following interesting
incident. He was asked by one of his
statesmen:
What does Your Majesty think of the
religion of the Vest"
What mean you by religion" the En-
peror answered. There is no religion but
that Of God. II you have any other relis-
ion let me hear you explain it to me-
THE Emperor and some OF the chief re-
formers were convinced OF the truth OF
Christianity. and they were almost, if not
altogether. persuaded to accept it.
THE bright hopes were crushed by the
Empress Dowager. who, acting on the mis-
representations of the conservative party,
beheaded six of the reformers on Septem-
ber IS without trial. imprisoned some for
life. cashiered others from the public ser
vice. suppressed all newspapers. and. by
her manifestly anti-progressive policy.
created a bitter anti-foreign feeling all
over the country, which has eliminated in
massacre and rebellion.
This is cause of profound sorrow to
all true friends of China, but the impetus
given to all kinds of reform and improve
ment cannot be stayed What Tan Sz
Tunr. one OF the noble martyrs, said before
he was executed was true. He said:
The first reformers in all lands are
liable to suffer death. If my death will
save my country l do not regret it. For
every head cut off this day thousand men
will arise 10 carry on the work OF re-
form
Dr. Hykes then refers to the large order
FOR li0 volumes which the Emperor gave
last year to r. J. y. Gatrell. in charge of
the society's affairs in Pekin. OF the 10
books ordered from the Imperial Palace.
the agent was able TO procure l29. which
number included 50 publications. Of the So
cicty for the Diffusion of Christian and
General knowledge Among the Chinese.
among them four sermons by Mr.. Moody.
Mr. Gatrell. in charge of the depository
of the Bible Society, confirms fully Dr.
Hykes' account OF the purchase Of Chris
tian literature by the young Emperor. and
adds that every day since the presentation
to the Emperor Dowager of the splendidly
bound Bible in a casket of gold by the
Christian women in China the bookstore
has been visited by eunuchs and others
holding official positions every day. The
Emperor was reported to have been espe-
cially delighted with an illustrated life OF
Christ. which he ordered to be bound in
plush velvet and TO be put in convenient |
place in his library. He also appears TO
have gone deeply into the study of the |
various forms of Christianity, for he ap- |
piled at the store of the Bible Society for |
books treating of the differences between |
the Protestant and Roman Catholic |
churches. |