Reports of the member of priests at Longhoa vary, bat it is believed that between 150 and 200 are in cvntiousl residence there. Besides these, bow-ever, it is the headqaar'ers for priests errant, who, having toiled in the beat of the day, come hers to rest form eeawor. These are the reports which may be gleaned; as to their accuracy it impossible to vouch, At any rate, Visitors to Langhoa cannot bat have been atruck with the spectacle of a great congregation of priests at their devotions In the dim light of the monsstie building, many of them \Gndiog standing room in odd corners, hidden to extent by the many josses, the vations times of the day utter chaute, said to be as ancient as the place itself. In_ spite of all the talk of tonmmery their considerable amount of beauty in the melodies to which the chants are wet, There as t aspect, repeating the came thing day after day, the chant ever and anon punctuated by the beating of the wooden dram, it is an interesting core-tony, and one not to be missed. Now, however, throng a Ispse from the strict path of morality oe the part of one of Tooee in high sotbority, Longhee. threatened to be deprived of this viebarenqoe band. the reason given by the local ale for winning to eliot ap the monastery and for driving the priests Now, as a matter of fact, length of sbowiog that these pricste have not succeeded in mortifying the flesh to such an extent that they have exorcised sll worldly passions, and the cases which from time to time have come before the Court mentioned, prove that however upright they may be in body—thoogh many have grave doubts of this—there are black sheep i the new discovery, and loo)
bat at the present janctare it evidently came as s convenient excuse for acquiring the monastery for other purposes. As a matter of fact. it is reported that they want it for a school, and hence have resolved to drive the quirements of the local cache mirably. The priests are luth to go. and it is ssid that the people are oot all of one mind that a school would be better for the good of the district, than the benign influence of " body of pr The priests are not to give ap their ancient abode without a straggle. It is understood that the head of the order is now in Peking pleading the case of the monastery before the highest autho-ities io the land. Although the or er for their expulsion has been promolgated, they still remain in possession, and from present sppearsnces it may be satine considerable time before the officials will be able to pnt their will into effect.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.