A Glimpse at Heathenism by Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1911

A Glimpse at Heathenism

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

R. F. COTTRELL

About the middle of May, Mrs. Cottrell and I moved out of the crowded city of Chang-sha, onto the plot of land recently purchased by our mission. It is located on an island in the river, just opposite the business section of the city. While two cottages for workers are being constructed, we are living in a little house, twelve by twenty-four feet. Later this will serve for some of our Chinese helpers.

It has seemed most refreshing to live again in closer communion with nature, where some of the beautiful things that God has created may appeal to and gladden our senses. Here the trees and grass are just as green, the birds chatter just as merrily, the sunset scenes above the western hills are just as beautiful, and the heavens at night tell of our God in grandeur just as marked, as that which pleases eye and ear in other lands.

Then why call this “dark China”? Here, again, the evidences are all about us. We can not forget them, nor shake them off.

Running past one end of our property, is a long, narrow strip of land, once used as a burying-ground, but now as a sort of “city commons.” Near each end of this cemetery is a small shrine, one of which appears to be most popular with the Chang-sha people.

Hither come the ancestral worshippers, or those who have lost some relative by death, bringing paper houses, furniture, servants, sedan-chairs, horses, money, and all other things that the soul of the departed is supposed to need in his spiritual abode. The outfit looks very gay, but it is all a sham, mostly paper pasted over very light strips of bamboo. When all is arranged, the match is applied; the flames devour rapidly, and thus in a few moments the whole outfit is supposed to be transferred into the spirit world.

One of the annual Chinese celebrations is known as the Dragon Boat Festival, which, according to our calendar, usually occurs sometime in May. Aside from the feasting, visiting, and giving of presents, the popular interest centers in the boat-races. Long, very narrow, canoe-shaped boats, with a seating capacity of about twenty-four men each, are especially constructed for the Dragon Boat races. The men are provided with broad paddles, and when well trained in keeping stroke, they send their canoes through the water at a surprising speed.

This year at Chang-sha, three boats participated in the races. By accident, one of them capsized, and when the unfortunates succeeded in reaching shore, it was found that one of their number was missing. Buddhist priests were summoned, and only a little way from us a shed of mats and boards was quickly built.

Here the priests erected a small shrine, brought an image, a large temple bell weighing several hundred pounds, gongs, candles, and other temple paraphernalia. From twelve o’clock noon until twelve o’clock midnight they beat a small gong continuously, struck the large bell about once in every two minutes, and performed various other sacred rites. Their object, as stated, was to cause the body of the deceased to be found if possible; and at any rate to call in the soul of the departed from its dark and wandering state. They purpose to continue this ceremony for several months, or until the body is found.

A few days later in a neighboring house, a mother and her new-born babe both died. This was thought to betoken great ill to the community; the country about must certainly be infected with demons of the worst kind, and therefore another mat shed and shrine were erected in the old burying-ground, and a service quite similar to the above was carried forward for forty-nine days, the object of this being to rid the country of troublesome spirits.

Some weeks afterward, a third tent with its idol and shrine was set up, this one still nearer our place. The Chang-sha commissioner of customs, an Englishman, lost ten dollars, and the guilt seemed to rest on a young Chinese in his employ. The boy protested that he

was innocent, and fearing that he would be turned over to the Chinese officials for a beating, turned to the gods for protection.

Night and day either he or some of his relatives worshiped continually at the shrine. During the day they were fairly quiet; but at night from fifty to one hundred of his friends would come to assist in the demonstration. They paraded the idol up and down the commons, marched it around in short circles, and joggled it up and down to make it reveal, so they said, the guilty person. A goodly number joined in the beating of drums and the shooting of firecrackers. Two receptacles were placed before the shrine, in one of which were several quarts of rice. Every night from sunset to sunrise, the accused devoted himself to bowing before the altar, making a complete prostration each time. His mother knelt beside him and for each prostration, transferred one kernel of rice from one receptacle to the other. This was continued until the first receptacle was empty, two weeks being the time required.

But these are not the only scenes witnessed this year upon the commons. When the weather is fair, each Sabbath afternoon at five o’clock, a little company gathers in the shade of a large mulberry-tree to sing hymns of praise. The music soon attracts a large audience, and to these we tell the story of creation, the fall, the price of redemption, and of our soon-coming Saviour. We exhort them to flee from the dreadful torment and slavery of idol-worship, to the Jesus who loves, and the Lord who delivers. An interest is awakened, and the seed-sowing will be followed by the harvest.

In one hundred thousand other places of China, these same heathen ceremonies are enacted, and to every one of these cities and towns is due the message, “Prepare to meet thy God.”

From the Bible in the World
A BIBLE COLPORTEUR TRAVELING IN BRAZIL — From the Bible in the World A BIBLE COLPORTEUR TRAVELING IN BRAZIL

My brother, my sister, were you surrounded by such scenes as these, would not your soul be stirred, and your sympathies fully enlisted? Could you at night lie down to rest with a clear conscience if you realized you had in a measure been negligent or indifferent to those about you who have lost their way, and are groping about in superstition and ignorance, and who will certainly perish unless you in the name of Jesus lead them out of darkness?—No; could you visit China, or could you have a true vision of the conditions, I am confident there would be a missionary awakening throughout our churches such as has never been known. But just such an experience must come, if we are to do the work to which God has appointed us.

Those who go to battle and those who abide by the stuff have an equal responsibility; and each, if faithful, will share in the spoils of victory. China’s need means my opportunity, your opportunity.

Chang-sha, Hunan.