Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-11-09
ONE OF cH1xA's STONE GODS.

Is not entirely without Its advantages to
the work OF the Christian missionary, The
denunciation Of all idolatry, the worship
of the true God, the observance OF the
Mohammedan Sabbath and the teaching
Of certain theological terms are all aids
to Christian preaching.
The trouble now is that these religions
are all mixed and interpreted with the
grossest superstition. This medley Of
faiths is to be seen in Chinese temples,
where Buddhist gods stand cheek by
jowl with Taoist saints; where, In addi-
ton TO these representatives of the two
great religions, numbers OF local deities
for the cure OF diseases, the preservation
OF crops and protection against disaster
are thrown In TO make confusion worse
COMPOUNDED.
Even the emperor, who would be out
ragged at the idea of being anything but a
Confucionist, modified by belief in
Shang I'll, or God, hobnobs with fairies
and all kinds of local deities and pro-
notes or degrades them In the divine
hierarchy with as much indifference as
though he were handling the fortunes OF
30 many viceroys or governors.
China is a country beset by multitudes
OF devils, which would soon destroy the
people, the crops and everything else
but for constant offerings made TO the
gods. The gods themselves are almost
equally numerous, and many of them are
Of ferocious aspect.
Chief Of these Is Nguk- Huong SionR
Ia, or the pearly emperor supreme ruler.
He Is referred to as the producer of all
things and the governor OF all things,
seen and unseen, terrestrial and ce-
hali
him to receive the reports of the
higher class gods In regard to the trans
actions done on the earth and to examine
Into the merits and dement's of mortals,
rewarding or Furnishing them according
to their deserts. He Is particularly pray
ed to In times OF drought, while on his
birthday the other gods are taken to wor-
ship him. The proper way of approach
Ing his august presence 10 by three kneel-
ings and nine knockings.
Tai Sang, his grandson, Is god of hell.
His duty Is to punish the wicked and
reward the good 1t Is said that he was
pnce great criminal himself and on ac-
count Of his sins he is still bound to
swallow a certain quantity of molten
metal every "a hours. In spite of his
peccadillos on earth he Is highly honor
ed by Cinnamon, since they know that
as supreme lord OF hell he can mete out
to them either most dreadful punish
ments or most desirable reward.
Ma Chu is the goddess of sailors and Is
extensively worshiped by them. She is
Of mortal descent, and during her life
time was a sort OF Grace Darling. She
has two assistants, "Favorable-W
Ear" and Thousand Mile Eye" remark
able for the respective acuteness Of their
senses.
A particularly hideous gentleman is
Wong Tieng Kung, or Kind Heavenly
Prince. He has three eyes, one in the
middle of his forehead. long, red whisk-
ers and a whip in his hand.
When 1t was lately announced that at
a season OF food the great viceroy, Ii
Hung Chang, had offered sacrifice with
much outward circumstance to a snake
which had found it's way into a Buddhist
temple, much surprise was expressed that
30 enlightened a man should have be-
haVed in so benighted a manner.