The times., 1901-06-23
A BUDDHIST TURNS MORMON.
A Student From the ORR, mt Changes
His Faith.


Ten years spent on two hemispheres in
the study of all the religions of mankind
has convinced r. s. Nyaka that Mormon
ism is the highest form OF religious be-
lief. He has ceased. for the while. his
studies at the University of Chicago,
where he has been a student for two
years, to devote all his time to the ac-
quirement of a deeper knowledge of the
creed of his new faith.
Nyaka, the son of a wealthy merchant
of Colombo, Ceylon, and reputed to be a
descendant Of a one-time reigning family
of the island, was originally a Buddhist
He entered theological school known as
Viddyevdaya, which means 'the rising of
knowledge" soon after his sixteenth
birthday. and there commenced his search
for religious truth. Although Buddhism Is
the dominant creed of the land and he was
intended by his parents for a priest of
that faith, he was free to study at that
institution the spiritual beliefs of all peo-
Piles. He is now past twenty-six years
of age, and most OF his time since then
has been given to religious research.
To India and the countries of Asia he
went in quest of truth. He studied the
creed of Zoroaster. and watched the fire
worshiping Parsees at their devotions
He saw the Mohammedans bow to the ris-
ing sun and sing the praises of Allah, but
could find no sufficient reason for their
deyotions. He examined the sacredotaI
philosophy of the Brahmins and absorbed
the doctrines expounded In the Vedas
The pagan rites of the ancient tribes in
Asia and Africa attracted his attention
for a time and then he pursued his en-
quiries among such of those as had en-
| braced the belief of Christianity.
After studying Confucius teachings and
the various oriental fatalistic theories he
came to the United States and continued
| his enquiries. At the Chicago University
he sought instruction as to the varying
credal beliefs of the Christian denomina-
| tions, and recently heard of the Mormons.
! When he heard that they were among the
plaInest and most worshipfui of the fol-
| lowers of Jesus he determined to go to
their services. After attending several
meetings in a humble temple at 116 Wood
Street he cast aside the religions of all
! other lands and climes and bent suppli-
cant knee to the God of Joseph Smith and
his strange followers.
Nyaka is small, with intelligent eyes,
| high forehead and a complexion the col
| or of coffee. The little English he knows
he speaks carefully and with perfect
| enunciation. He wants it clearly under
stood that he is a member of the church
| founded by the original Joseph Smith. or
the Iowa faction of Mormons. known as
| Latter-Day Saints. The members of this
| church regard the Utah Mormons. the
| polygamists, as renegades.
| Nyaka viii leave the university at the
| end of next year and when he returns to
! Ceylon he will organize a branch of the
| Mormon Church among his own people.
! OF his acceptance of the Mormon creed he
| says:
| After carefully studying the manifold
| phases of religion for more than ten years
l have finally reached the conclusion that
| the doctrines of the Latter-Day Saints or
Mormons are those of true Christianity
| In the most exalted sense of the term.
| They are, in fact, the teachings of Jesus
Christ untrammeled by any narrow sec
/ tartan bias or dogma. In turning from
| Buddhism to MormOnism l feel that
| have embraced the highest form of relig-
ion | have not the slightest doubt but
| the number of Latter-Day Saints VIII
| rapidly increase as the years go on and
| hope to see many of my countrymen
| follow my example.
| THE book of Moroni Is more than q
| great book 1t stands like a beacon ligh'
| far above all works of religious faltn
! with. Of course. the exception of the Bi
| Bible. II is the religious history OF one
| half of the world, and the book OF Mo-
roni is the history OF the other half.
while the New Testament tells OF the
| coming of Jesus Christ TO redeem tht
world, it neglects to tell Of His visit e
| the Western Hemisphere as well as the
! Eastern. For He did visit the race whicf
once inhabited the two continents OF thl.
Jerusalem II is this gap which the booi
| of MOroni ls'-The Chicago Chronicle.