Year: 1874

UNDER the heading The Namcless
Sect an account of a singular religious
sect in Shantung," the North Ghtna Her
all publishes letter respecting much
prosecuted body of people residing in
China. The writer says:


cit has been remarked as singular
fact that of the sect Of HISTORIAN Chris
tians who flourished extensively in China
during the thirteenth century little or
nothing is known at the present day
That they enjoyed the protection and re-
ccived the fostering care of the luen
dynasty, and were in turn cruelty perse-
cutcd and finally extcrminated by the
Mings, is all that we know of them. The
few tablets and monuments erected by
them which still survive stand as dumb
witnesses to the fact that they existed at
one time; but they give no trace OF their
devoted faith There now exists, how
ever, in the southern border OF the
province of Shantung peculiar society
or sect who profess to have received their
doctrine originally from the West. They
are known as the Nameless Sect, and are
unable to give the date of the introduc-
ton of their religion into China. They
have knowledge of an Invisible,
Omnipresent, Almighty Being, whom
they worship This god whom they
worship is known amongst them by three
names-the Living Buddha of the West,
the One Not Born of Father or Mother,
and the Heavenly Father-all meaning
and pointing to the one God, who is eter
nal. They do not worship idols. Each
| member of this sect repeats daily a
| HYMN or moral discourse, in which such
| sentiments as the following occur: Do
not iniure others in order to benefit your
SELF Abstain from evil thoughts, words,
or deeds;' Let none covet earth's pleas
ures, but set your hearts firmly on the
Heavenly Paradise when the Savior
comes from the West, men will have
peace These people believe in future
rewards and punishments, but they have
10 clearly-defined notions of the happi-
ness which awaits the faithful. They
speak of Savior to come from the West.
They have no temples, but three times
each day every one, in sitting posture,
with eyes closed, silently offers up


prayers to God, and on the 1st and 18th
of each moon they burn incense to Him,


but they have no affairs, nor do they make


use of paper money.


Every member of the sect is expected


to contribute money according to his


ability. but there is no compulsion, and


each one is left to determine for himself


the amount of his contribution. These


contributions are paid to the leader un


der whose guidance the members con.


tributing may be at the time. The ag.


gregate amount contributed by the mem


bcrs is paid to the highest officer of the


district, who takes the whole amount


west, and pays it again to another who is


supposed in turn to take it still further
west, and pay it over to the proper per


son, and so on until it reaches its tina


destination. 1t is little singular, bu


no one appears to know what use is to bt
made of this money, or just where it,
! final destination is. All agree that tht


money is to go to the West and that i
! is a meritorious act to give literally 1t il
, understood that each leader retains


certain percentage of the amount whicl
! passes through his hands for his owl
E benefit; in which case it is not Difficult
}. to see that the money will in time fail t
: 90 beyond certain point. These lead
), ers or officers hold position accordin
{ to the number OF. converts or member


each is able to gain to the sect. Fac
9 leader has q special oversight over b