Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 319

1850.

Journal of Occurrences.

281

The early Christian writers used the word Deus, and yet neither do we now, nor did the early Christians by mistake worship Jupiter or Vulcan : the inspired Apostle himself used ɛog, but I much doubt whether he was ever supposed to allude to Zeug or Amoλλwv. Indeed it may be questioned whether it is possible for any heathen nation to have a word accurately describing Him that filleth heaven and earth with His presence: would it not, therefore, be the best course to select one, or even two, of the words that come nearest the correct idea, using such precautions by notes or verbal explanations, as to prevent mistakes?

I have the honor to be, Sir,

May 9th, 1850.

Your obedient Servant,

A LOOKER-ON.

(Vol. The inquiry of a Looker-on must, in our view of this question, be answered in the negative; we suppose he himself would not, either in En- glish or in Greek, indiscriminately use two words as the translation of elohim when applied to god, and the saine should be the rule in Chinese, since two generic terms for the same thing must breed confusion; especially when, as in this case, we are obliged, by definitions of a new and stricter character, to convey a new idea to the native word, and limit its signification to Him, who is a jealous elohim. Moreover Shángti is a proper name, while shin is a common game. If our correspondent will apply his own suggestion to the English or Greek versions of the Old Testament, he will, we think, perceive the difficulty of rendering the word elohim into Chinese by both the teris proposed.-Ed. Ch. Rep.}

ART. VII. Journal of Occurrences: departure of II. E. John W. Davis; ceremonies observed at Canton by the authorities upon the empress' death; last edict of Taukwáng; bounties conferred by the new emperor; notices of his family; epidemic at Canton.

THE American commissioner to China, H. E. John W. Davis, left China on the 24th inat, by the P. and O. str. Pekin to return to the United States. His successor had not been appointed by the last accounts, and Dr. Par- ker acts as chargé ad interim. A service of plate was presented to Mr. Davis on his departure by his countrymen residing in Canton. OrrICIAL rites in mourning for the empress-downger were observed at Canton on the 3d of March. The directions for the ceremonies were issued on sepa- rate sheets, a handbill having previously been circulated announcing the date of the arrival of the news, and the time when the period of mourning for her majesty was to commenco, and the offices to be closed. The detail of these fineral rites is given in the following papers, for which we are indebted to the China Mail.

VOL. XIX. NO, V.

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