Rock Island Argus., 1906-12-22

The following letter from Raymond
c. Kicker. the Rock Island boy who is
now a missionary in China. has been
received by the Epworth League of the
First Methodist church:
Mt. Omei. West China. Aug. Il, 1906.
Epworth league. Rock Island, Ill.-My
Dear Friends: Mt. OmeI is The grcas
cacred mountain Of west Cliina d0
not suppose many who may read this
letter have had opportunity to see such
strange and interesting sights as |
have cen IN the lest few weeks. nor
have many seen such con- binations of
plain, Cliff. aEi sreea cIli r.nnntlin,
+ together with glacier and Alpine glo-
ries. as may be seen in one grand pan
Drama from the top of this wonderful
mountain.
We came here a few weeks ago to
escape the awful heat that is SO trying
to those of other climes. The heat on
the plain for five and half days Of
travel was almost unbearable. but n
the temple on one of the foothills.
where we are staying, the air is much
cooler and more invigorating. As
many of the foreigners in this part OF
the country have gradually found this
place 10 be accessible and a good lOcd-
ton. they have increased in numbers;
and now the old priest has built Il large
and commodious temple. which is
largely occupied by foreigners during
the hot spell. Except for size. this
temple is OF no especial interest to the
Chinese. unless the many pilgrims
making TIE rounds of the temples on
the mountains and seeing foreigners
for the first time. may find it so. There
are plenty of these. and they seem TO
find more to see in us than in all the
combined wonders of Omei and the
snowy peaks of Thibet.
In Form of Diary.
l think that. if l am to give anything
like clear description of the place.
shall need to write somewhat in the
form of a diary.
The journey from Tsicheo is through
country as constantly changing in ap-
pearance as IN all the other places l
have seen; the range of mountains
crossed just before reaching Jia Ding
a
peciaIly fine. AS we cross the wide
river to enter Jia Ding. the great Bud
dha carved on the cliff and the fine
pagOda OF the top are seen. and ahead.
the three peaks of Omei stretching out
in the hazy distance. Proceeding. after
a days rest, the view over the plain, |
green as q lawn with new rice. broken |
by occasional hills and rivers. and dot
ted with trees and farm houses. is in |
itself fine. but with the gradually |
clearing detail of the mountains miles |
away. il became a scene of wondrous
beauty. Foothills and cliffs thousands |
of feet appeared. and while we were
yet several miles away on the plain, |
the twin temples on the cliff peak, or
Golden Summit. became visible. That !
point is the goal OF pilgrims from all /
parts of SEE Chuan and even from the
coast Thibetans also come from the
west every winter TO worship at the :
top
But to get back to the beginning
Coming into the first gorge. what beau
ties; the stream, clear as crystal, so
unlike the rivers. now high and full Of
mud; fed by water gushing from the
rocks in a dozen places: immense
ferns ard bracken growing on the
sides. and here and there the bare rock
showing through openings in the dense
foliage An iron suspension bridge
over hundred feet in length is a sur
prising feature. The heavy rods are
all horizontal. instead of hung from
piers at either end.
Had Hard Climb.
After two and half hours climb,
we reached our temple. Da o ST (Tem-
pie of the great Omei) The old priest
was formerly an official and is well
educated according TO the old Chinese
ideals; so is versed in all the intrica-
cies of etiquette that are so burden
some to a foreigner. However. we get
along very nicely with him. and he
wishes us to feel that we are his guests
while here. He is very devoted to his
religion. and still very superstitious,
though his contact with foreigners has
evidently changed his ideas in many Of
these things. There are few of the
priests whose faces reveal any real