The title of the new society is Luh-chiao-tong-ili APG; but in bringing this amalgamation about he is really founding another church of which he proclaims himself the head (6%:). He is simply flooding the province with literature—tracts, booklets and books—some written in high literary style for consumption of scholars, others written in simple language (Bub) to. appeal to the man in the street.
Tong certainly seems to be a very clever fellow. Amongst other things, he predicts most. terrible happenings in the eighth moon, when two-thirds of the people of the earth will be destroyed. The calamitied predicted follow broadly the lines of Matthew AXIV, though considerably exaggerated. So closely does he follow Matthew XXIV that one would not be surprised to hear that he was a renegade church member. He has a very largo following though it seems to have had a set-back in this immediate neighbourhood. Large and enthusiastic meetings have been held to inaugurate the new society and many new members have been enrolled. Among the tenets of this new sect is a new exposition of the 40 days and nights fasting by our Lord in the wilderness. Mr. Tong tells us the Christian Church has never rightly understood this incident. What Jesus really meant to show was that men were not dependent on food, and in view of the overpopulated condition of China and the scarceness and dearness of food at the present time the example of Jesus fasting gives a necessary message." Moreover those who will heed this teaching and put it into practice may. acquire great merit.
AN INITIAL SET-BACK, Now for the set-back mentioned above. A wealthy gentleman of this district became a convert. He was first required to break off his opium, which of course reduced his physical strength. Then he began his experiment in fasting, but after a few days dropsy set in, he got weaker and weaker, and died last week. I understand that. enthusiasm for the Seventh Church has cooled down considerably as a result.
The lovely July skies, with the aid of a friend's telescope, gave your correspondent an opportunity for the study of astronomy. The mountain ranges and craters have been distinct on the surface of the moon. Jupiter, with four moons visible, has been fascinating study, while Saturn's ring has been plainly visible through the telescope.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.