The Rev. Y. J. Allen delivered a very interesting discourse at the Church of the Strangers on the religion, manners and customs of the Chinese. Dr. Allen is engaged in the preparation of scientific books to be published by the Chinese Government for the use of the schools. He commenced by saying that the Chinese consider their country not as equal but as superior to the surrounding nations diffusing eiviliz: tion through the Mongolian races. The Eterary, the agricultural, the laboring or pulation is divided into four classes—the
artisan, and the trading class, The last is regarded as the lowest, because traders are considered in the light of intruders. 'The Chinese are a moral people, cultivated, well bred and of good manners. We have not the dignity, the bearing, the self-respect or the good manners of the Chinese. 'They denounce our immorality, bad manners and our many vices. They' never laid any restrictions on trade that we would not have deae; they simply protected the rights and interests of the nation, According to recent treaties foreigners are not amenable to the laws of the Empire, An offender if of foreign birth must be handed over to the nearest Consul. The same rule obtains in Turkey, Persia and Japan, and it is regarded asa grievous injustice. Japan has offered to throw open its ports if this unjust claim beabrogated. 'There is no just reason why people should not be amenable to the law in China as in other countries. Our conduct has been such as to justify China in keeping us out. 'They are' very jealous of Russia and they hate England. "Politically they regard their country as unsafe, While we are ahead in material improvements, such as full reade, steamboats and canals, we are behind them in morality. The attitude of China towards foreign nations has been wonderfully changed. It is now thrown open to commerce, to the Church and to progress. The Chinese women lead secluded life. They are not seen on the streets, in the theatres, the temples or other places of public gatherings, he press has accomplished more for China the past ten years than in the previous a fifty. The literary works most needed just now are treatises on chemistry, physics and graphy, and these are being prepared. hina never had a newspaper or literary press. The great want in China is a band of Christian men, not sects. A large proportion of the population belong to the literary class. Out of 20,000 students in Nankin only 260 are graduates. The arts and sciences are entirely ignored in the curriculum. The cramping of the women's feet originated in the legend that a beautiful Empress once had very small feet, which were greatly admired, and the desire to imitate her in that respect made the custom. national. The religion of the Chinese is simply the worship of their ancestry, to whose shades they offer incense. Take that away and nothing is left.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.