78 



EEV. ARTHHE ELWIN ON ANCESTKAL WOESHIP. 



But it is time to bring this paper to a close. Very much 

 more might be said on this very interesting subject, but time 

 forbids. I trust enough lias been said to make us thankful for 

 the light that shines in England, for we cannot help contrasting 

 this belief of the Chinese with the glorious hope brought 

 before us in the Bible. The poor Chinaman, when leaving this 

 world, can only hope that he will not be forgotten by his 

 friends, that the necessary offerings will be sent after him, that 

 he may not become hungry and destitute in the yjlace to which 

 he is going, but the Christian knows that iu that place to 

 which he is going every want will be supplied, and he can look 

 forward without fear to the time when he will join the great 

 company who have come out of great tribulation, and who have 

 washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the 

 Lamb ; of whom it is written : " therefore are they before the 

 throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple ; 

 and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 

 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither 

 shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which 

 is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead 

 them unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe 

 away all tears from their eyes." 



Discussion. 



The Chairman. — Ladies and gentlemen, I think you have almost 

 anticipated me by the hearty manner in which you have applauded 

 this very interesting paper on ancestral worship in China. I am 

 sure I, for one, have learnt a great deal of a subject of which I was 

 extremely ignorant before. I think we have all got a great deal of 

 information to-night on superstitious and hereditary practices of 

 one of the most ancient nations of the globe, and of their ideas of 

 the future state. 



I invite anyone who wishes to speak to take part in the 

 discussion. 



Colonel Mackinlay. — I should like to thank the author and to 

 ask him three questions. Whether he considers that the Thummim 

 mentioned in the Bible resembles the present ancestral worship, and 

 when these tablets are placed in their houses, do they take them 



