Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 511

1850.

Defense of an Essay, &c.

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title common to the chief gods of the two native sects, (i. e. Confucian- ism and Rationalism), can not be used as the rendering of Elohim and ɛog. There was everything, when the five ports were first opened, to induce the missionaries to make a full and fair trial of Sháng tí in their new fields of labor; our oldest and most distinguished mis- sionaries used this phrase for God in their version of the N. Test., and in their tracts and preaching. Our teachers were all sure to be Con- fucianists, and to favor Shángtí. When we told them anything of Shángtí that did not agree with their classics, they listened quietly, and took it for granted we should become more correct in our repre- sentations of him, when we became better acquainted with them. Thus everything conspired to induce the missionaries to make trial of Shangti, and this trial has induced the great majority of them to give it up-I am fully persuaded to give it up for good, and all with good Dr. Medhurst, and those who act with him, first gave it up for Tien-ti and Ti, and now, rejecting all native terms, for Aloho; in taking which last position, they assure their brethren at the five ports, that they "can not go wrong," they are unmistakably and incontro- vertibly right."

reason.

Soon after the opening of the ports, missionaries proceeded to Ningpo, Shanghái, and Amoy; they commenced preaching Shángtí as their seniors were accustomed to do, and the results were such as startled some of them in a manner never to be forgotten. A mission- ary at Ningpo, after being there only a short time, wrote to inform his brethren at the South, that the use of Shángtí must be abandoned; for that one of their number, having exhorted a man to the worship of Shángtí, and told him that Shángti had sent his Son to save us, was met by the offer on the part of this man to show him his god, who there- upon led him into a temple, and pointing to the image of Yuh-hwáng Shangtí (the chief god of the Rationalist sect) said, "There is the father of Jesus; there is THE god you worship.”

At other stations, without the slightest concert with each other, many of the missionaries complained of being thus misunderstood, from using this phrase Shángtí. A most painful of case of misapprehen sion occurred in our own mission. We were using a Catechism on the Creed, and put it into the hands of all who came to inquire of us our doctrines, to give them an idea of Christianity. The first Article was rendered thus: "I believe in Shángtí, the Father Almighty," &c. A man of some intelligence, who read his own language very well, after hearing us preach, applied to the Rev. Mr. Syle for special instruction; he gave him a copy of this Catechism, and requested him

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VOL. XIX. NO. IX.