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himselfheard the confession of the mothe...
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CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA. Christianity in C...
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THE FORTUNES OF GLENCOKE. The Fortunes o...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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India And China Seem Likely To Occupy A ...
believe it " We venture to say it is not only almost , but quite impossible to believe this ; and that the most trustworthy traditions of his life and character contradict the supposition . . In his letter , however , the Reviewer unconsciously gives upthe ^ pomt in dispute , for he says expressly that both in India and China " Buddhism , as soon as it became a popular religion , had to speak a more human language than that of metaphysical Pyrrhonism . " But why was it obbged to speak a more human language as soon as it became popular , if this necessity did not t it must that
really exist befo re ? If the statement has any force aaU , mean << more human language » _ in other words , a rejection of the negative doctrine-was a necessary condition of its popularity ; and if so , this must have been adopted at the outset , and the doctrine vanishes altogether . The Reviewer is thus reduced to the alternative of holding the more positive doctrine of Buddhism to be at once the condition and the result of its success—the offspring being in fact its own parent ; or of giving up a position which demands such a suicidal line of defence .
As we have already said , the most trustworthy traditions of Bxtoj > ha—the best records of his life and character , his teaching and last words , confirm the belief that he himself held no doctrine of real annihilation—that Nirvana was , in his view , simply a state of being free from all the conditions of earthly life —a condition of supreme and undisturbed repose .
Himselfheard The Confession Of The Mothe...
himselfheard the confession of the mothe THE LEADER . [ No . 371 , Saturday ,
Christianity In China. Christianity In C...
CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA . Christianity in China , Tartary , and Thibet . By M . 1 ' AbW Hue . 2 ^^ ^ We rank the Abbe' Hue among the best writers on China . He has incurred judgment from certain self-sufficient authorities ; but Orientalists of the highest class concur with him in bis views of Chinese history and civilization . At a Roman Catholic , he of course allows a particular bias to influence his narrative of Christian missions ; but in all that relates intrinsically to China he is unprejudiced , far-sighted , and informing . We do not care to be told " hat he once mistook the colour of a mandarin ' s button or the chimeras painted on a warrior ' s tunic ; bis relation of Travels in China and Thibet may take rank among the most fascinating books in the library of adventure and observation , and to that work this is a fitting companion . It is simply few assertions respecting
histor ical , unless we regard as controversy a positive the Catholic propagand , in its rivalry with the Protestant religious organizations at work in Northern and Eastern Asia . It is , m fact , a Catholic version ; a Protestant version , in all probability , would be at least as unfair . The Abbe has been judicious enough to avoid all discussion of the actual civil war and its causes . Such discussions are really premature . -Loo little information has been diffused in the West to justify an absolute opinion We have had monstrous fables concerning the visions and ecstasies of Hung-Tseu-Tuen , and all the wonderful coincidences , to use the mildest word , that have marked his career ; but the subject lies under a mystery . It is not known whether the rebellion had one or many sources , one or many leaders , one or many objects , —who started it , where it began , what it aims at how it prospers , how far it has extended . A great deal is authontativelvwritten about it . but assuredly very little is understood . M . Hue cuts
short his narrative at the ascent of the Ming dynasty ; he begins it , however , far before the period of historical reference , among the doubts and traditions of the pre-Christian era . Even after that date the religious annals of the Chinese are enveloped for several hundred years in dense obscurity . . It is still disputed whether St . Thomas ever visited those shores ; the inscription discovered at Si-guan Fou points , however , to the preaching of certain upostles as early as the seventh century . In 1625 , some Chinese workmen , engaged in digging the foundation of a house at Si-guan Fou , in tlie province of Chansi , discovered a large dark-coloured monumental tablet of marble , bearin g ^ a duplicate inscription in ancient Chinese , and in the characters called Estranghelos , commonly found on early Syriac manuscripts , testify ing to the mission of Olopen , who travelled from a distant empire to China , preaching Christianity , and attended by a train of Syrian priests , whose names fill ninety line * . The empire alluded to may have been Rome or Judaja , or even Persia ; but there can be little question that the stone is a genuine monument . The Chinese were at all times exposed to
proselytizing influences ; toleration was originally a law of the state , and scepticism a habit of the people , so that the old being fenced about with little reverence , the new was imported without much difficulty . At the same time , it proved impossible to inculcate a lasting faith among semi-barbarians so incredulous and bo conceited . The Dominican and Franciscan pilgrims explored their country , and the neighbouring regions of Tartary and Thibet , with infinite pertinacity and heroism , confronting with equal courage the Dalai Lama and the Khan of the Golden Horde ; there were multiplied martyrdoms ; and many an incident of picturesque romance varied the storv of the missionaries . The Abb 6 relates how Gazan , a persecutor of Christians in the East , contributed unwillingly to the glory of the Church : — Gazan had married a daughter of the King of Armenia , ft Christian princess , distinguished , it is aaid , by great piety and extraordinary beauty . She gave birth , however , to a child repulsively ugly and deformed , more like a little monster than a human being . " Gazan tenderly loved his wife , but was ashnmed and shocked at
having a son so hideous ; and his courtiers ( most of them Mussulmans ) thought they had now found a favourable opportunity of ruining the princess , who , as a devout Christian , and full of zeal for the propagation of her faith , was highly objectionable to them . They held a council , therefore , and declared that the child Just born must necessarily bo the offspring of adultery ; and both mothor and child were consequently condomncxtto bo burned alive . The pile -was prepared , and the victims led to torture , in the midst of an immense concourse of people , amongst whom very contradictory feelings - wore manifested ; for this tragic event , which was the triumph of the Mussulmans , had plunged the Christians into sorrow and dejection . The pile being on fire , crackled and blazed in all directions , awaiting its proy , when the unfortunate Princess of Armenia , with teats ' , besought her royal spouse to grant her one moment to fulfil the last duties of her religion , and to procure the grace of baptism for her poor child , oro she should dio with him in the midst of the flatnoa . Gazan , moved with compassion , granted his wife the favour oho implored : a minister of tho Christian
religion presented , r , and after having fortified her by the reception of the holy viaticum , administered the sacrament of baptism to the child . But scarcely had the holy water destined to regenerate the soul of that unfortunate creature flowed over his forehead , when a sudden and marvellous change took place in the sight of the multitude , who were anxiously awaiting the end of this frightful drama . God had given to the waters of baptism the power of embellishing the body ,- at the same time that it washed away the original stains from the soul . The child had suddenly become ravishingly beautiful ; the numerous witnesses of the miracle uttered cries of admiration , and Gazan , convinced of the virtue of hi 3 wife , led her back in triumph to his palace . From that time , he also determined to worship that God who had wrought such marvels , and he made a public profession of Christianity , along with a considerable number of his subjects .
" Mosheim relates the same fact , but does not appear to put any great faith in it , " says M . Hue . The ecclesiastical historian indeed asks whether it is not possible that , by some trickery , a beautiful child was substituted , at a convenient moment , for the infant monster : — Yes , assuredly the thing is very possible , but a miracle is still more so ; we have not , like Mosheim , an insuperable objection to miracles , and it is even difficult for us to comprehend the views of those who always prefer granting to the cunning of men what they refuse to the omnipotence of God . Among the most attractive chapters in M . Hue ' s work are the last two , in which he describes the fall of the great Ming dynasty under the blows of the Mantchu Tartars , and the ascendancy of the new power . All lines of barbaric monarchs are traced to a heavenly origin . The Mantchus , living for ages in simplicity , hunting and fishing in their vast forests and broad
rivers , and feeding their herds and flocks on endless pastures , conceived an ambition to become a ruling race . Poetic vanity supplied them with a pedigree . Three girls once descended from the skies to bathe ; two dipped their white forms in the Songali river , and resumed their tunics ; the third , Fegula , after bathing , saw a red fruit lying near her clothes ; she ate of it , and being thus deprived of power to quit the earth , remained alone until a son was born to her . Placing it on a little island , she directed it to wait until a man coming to fish should find and take it ' away . Then the celestial mother returned to the stars . The child became the parent of a nation and a dynasty , by which China was conquered , in an age when Christianity promised to supplant the ancient idolatry as well as the philosophy of Confucius . Father Schall , the Catholic , was the familiar companion of the
Emperor Chun-Tchc : — It frequently happened that he went in the evening , and the conversation was then often prolonged till the night was far advanced . Chun-Tche had then the consideration to send him home escorted by six of his guards , lest any accident should happen to him in going on horseback through the streets of the capital -, and he took care to advise the guards not to go too fast , and not to frighten the horse . Father Schall intimate friendand treated with the utmost
was always received at the palace as an , cordiality and there were cushions provided for him covered with sable , that he might not fatigue himself by sitting cross-legged in the Tartar fashion . The emperor often passed whole days in his company , taking lessons in astronomy and mathematics , assisting in chemical experiments , or manipulating drugs to make pills with ; and he would then invite the father to dine with him . One day when he was on horseback , hunting in the beautiful park adjoining the imperial palace , lather Schall was about to present a petition . " I will read it in the evening , Mafia , said the Emperor , smiling ; then , perceiving a hare leap through the underwood , he shot it with an arrow , quite pleased with the opportunity of showing his skill to
Maffa . The Emperor Chun-Tche died young . His funeral was magnificent : — To the solemn and sumptuous pomp of the Chinese rites , were added the extraordinary and barbarous ^ customs of the Tartars . Tragic scenes took place , in «{ "ctt many of the attendants of the late Emperor put themselves to death , that they might proceed to the other world , and continue their accustomed services to their masir . It is stated in the annals of China , that the empress mother , perceiving a youn * prince who had been the intimate friend and favourite of Chun- lchc , expressed to him , with strong emotion , her grief and astonishment at finding him alive . "Is it possible , " said she , » that you are still alive ? My son loved you , . ^ doubt less now waiting for you j-hastfen then to join him , and prove to him tl . at your affection was sincere and generous ! Kun and bid adieu to your Pf rent « ' ^ ^ have the courage to die ! Your friend , my son , is stretching out Ins arms towards you * . . .. ..,. _ * „? « , i ^ n nflY > rtionate and 7 these wordsuttered tone at pJfcrt » nate ^ Bd
According to the historian , , n a ^ y severe , caused great distress to the young man . He loved Chuii-lchd , but lie ^ oveu life also , and could not think of death without a terrible Bhnddor . H « rounded by his afflicted family , who were urging him to escape ^ fligh t trom s _ frightful a sacrifice , when tho empress mother sent to him a present of « box ornn mented with jewels , and containing a bowstring for him to strai g o 1 misc t Tho unfortunate young man still hesitated , for he was at «> ° »>» PP ^ f ^ . ™ s ° ^ and could not resolve to dio of his own accord , as the barbarous pie »«»««<» d nation required , but tho two officers who had brought him the fatal present ^ orders from the empress mother to help him out of this perplexity , a d fcive a i assistance to his courage should ho be unable to put himself to death , ana j helped him accordingly . . r-nUtics Whoever would comprehend the present phenomena oi Chinese pou and manners will do well to study the religious history oi the empno m t » u admirable and entertaining book .
The Fortunes Of Glencoke. The Fortunes O...
THE FORTUNES OF GLENCOKE . The Fortunes of Okncore . By Charles Lever . 8 Vols . Chapman and »• When men have been successful in one department , they often V ""?' ° " nJ could have succeeded bettor in another . The statist wearies oi nguics , » aapircs to oratory ; the mechanician thinks of art ; the poet cons <* £ J anexcellent statesman has been lost to tho world--they seldom mens themselves by the public standard . Mirabeou despised his o vn cloq « oDC but mistook his ugliness for beauty . We have many Miiabeiius no j > yanting only the eloquence—persona who arc clever in one pi olts ?» bu yearn to triumph in another . It . was long ago pud that Lo » d / io Itussell thought himself qualified to command the Channel licet . & iion ] V possession arc strange ; W , what is more strange , they nm > be cor liere is Mr . Charles tever , a humorist , teller of " tromendious I ish tow a prophet of the lively race which counted Ezekiel among the nou Romans , and Nicodomua among tho heathen gods , which apostro phwea maiden of chaste demeanour as tho divine Pinna among the grovu .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 2, 1857, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02051857/page/16/
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