Directory_and_Chronicle_1845 — Page 413

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Connected with the several religious establishments, above enum- erated and with others of the same sort, there is a very large amount - of property, a voluntary tax not less probably than that usually paid in Christian countries for religious purposes-we say perhaps, be- cause, having no statistics, and judging from appearances, we may, in this matter, be far from the truth. Besides the Sz', Kwán, and Ngan, numbering more than thirty in Shanghái, there are a great many others, having different names, such as Táng, ; Ynen, B; Kung, Koh,; Tsz', ; ete. Taking into account the whole of these religious houses, both great and small, with the priesthood and their current expenditure, the sum total would be very large.

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The Tung jin táng,, “Hall of United Benevolence," stands conspicuously, and quite alone as it regards the extent of its operations. In volume fourteenth of the Repository, one of its Re- ports, kindly translated by a friend in Shanghái, was published, and will furnish the reader with ample details regarding both its origin and its present scale of expenditures. A full developement of the motives that have given rise to and sustain such an establishment, among such a people as the Chinese, would be a very curious and interesting document. To write such, however, would require the ablest pen of one most intimately acquainted with the philosophy of the Chinese and with their religious and social habits.

The Hall of United Benevolence is situated about equally distant from the two southern gates of Shánghái, and not far from the walls of the city. It comprises a large collection of spacious and commodi- ous buildings. Connected with it are numerous burying grounds and other property, all voluntary contributions. The Report, above referred to, will show the various methods that have been adopted both to secure aid, and to distribute these public charities.

One thing, in the mangement of this institution, has struck us as being especially worthy of notice; we refer to the small amount of good accomplished, considering the capital invested. There never was a people more greedy of gain, or more indefatigable in its pur- suit than the Chinese. Even in their religious acts, the strictest regard is had to profit; and this is estimated, not by the net return, but by the expenditure, little or no regard being had to the methods or motives that regulate the same. On examination of their charita- ble schemes, it will be found that a large part of the accumulated charity is consumed by the distributing agents. This is especially remarkable with the imperial bounties. We have known, instances