New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18

which is likely 10 affect him the most deeply
and most profoundly to impress not merely his
four hundred million fellow countrymen but
likewise people throughout the length and
breadth Of Asia. From time irnTnemorial. rev.
e-ence for the last resting places Of ones an
cestors and OF the members Of ones family has
been regarded as a sacred dutv and custom in
all parts Of the globe irrespective OF cline or
creed. In the earliest Biblical ages the dehle-
ment Of ancestral ton1bs was mentioned as one
Of the most appalling punishments that it was
possible to conceive.
In Christian, Mahometan, Buddhist and Jew
ish countries the tombs are the bourne Of pill
grimages. while even here in the United States
the Interference with the last rest Of the dead
is considered as one Of the greatest tndignities
that can be inflicted upon the surviving rela-
tives. The extraordinary precautions adopted TO
preserve the tornbs Of Cornelius Vanderbilt OF
Jay Gould and of other rich men from the
ghouIsh outrage to which the remains Of A. T.
Stewart were subjected, constitute an eloquent
demonstration of the horror and dread enter
tanned by people even here in New-York for
anything that could be construed as the desecra-
ton and deiIement Of the tombs of the members
of their family and Of their ancestors.
In no part Of the world however, is the
veneration Of parents. and, above all, Of an
cestors carried to such an extent as in China.
Buddhism found it already firmly established in
the Celestial Empire and incorporated IL as an
important and integral feature OF its ritual,
while the doctrines Of Confucius, which may be
regarded as the cult OF the higher classes Of the
Middle Kingdom, likewise approve and recon-
mend veneration Of ones ancestors. In fact
the real religion OF the Chinese, that in which
more than anything else they trust and to which
they look for consolation and reward, is the
worship OF ancestors. 1t is a worship that tends
TO increase parental authority, and throughout
China the belief prevails that success in worldly
affairs depends on the support given TO parental
spirits in Hades. and that these parental spirits
viii not fail to resent neglect or any indignity
inflicted upon their tombs shrines by with
holding their blessing Just in the same way
that in all rich houses in Europe there is
private chapel or, II not that, oratory. so in
all well-to-do houses IN China is there a room
set apart for the worship Of ancestors. the walls
being adorned with tablets bearing the names Of
the ancestors 10 be venerated.
Whenever a journey is about TO be under
taken some important enterprise about 20 be
entered upon; whenever, in fact. the support
and blessing Of supernatural powers are constd
cred TO be needed, the family proceeds 70 make
a pilgrimage to the tOmbs Of It's ancestors, or
else burns incense and offers up prayers before
the tablets in the ancestral room of its house
IN fact reverence for ancestors may be de-
scribed as the keynote Of Chinese character and
Chinese life. and to such degree is il carried
that when the sovereign wishes 20 confer any
exceptional distinction or honor upon a states
man, civil servant, or successful general, he
proceeds 10 ennoble and 10 confer titles. not upon
himself but upon his ancestors There is q con-
siderable amount OF sound in this even
according 70 European ideas. For when the
Queen OF England or the Emperor OF Germany
confers title upon commoner. the latter be-
comes merely a noble, since his ancestry re-
mains plebeian. whereas the Chinese Govern
rnent by enrolling the ancestors OF the man
whom 1t wishes 10 distinguish, transforms him
ipsO factO into an aristocrat
In the same way. when the Chinese Govern
ment wishes 70 infiict unusually severe punish
ment upon man. as in the case of the reformer
Wang ii is not content with putting him 70
death but proceeds 10 degrade his ancestors, de-
priving them OF all distinctions. ante-mortem or
post rnorten, which they may have possessed
and in extreme cases orders the Dissertation and
the dehement OF the tombs OF these ancestors
so that the latter's curse. rather than blessing
may rest upon the entire family.
Ex-ATTACHE