WITH CHRIST IN INDOCHINA - IndoChina1911

their appeal to Annamese nationalism by teaching
that this is the only purely Annamese religion; all
others have been imported from other countries.
The purest form of native religion to be found in
French Indo-China is the "Nam Giao," a ceremony
held once every three years, when the Emperor
makes a burnt offering of a number of bullocks to
the "God of Heaven." The origin of this ceremony
is lost in the dim ages of antiquity, but it is somewhat
similar to the ceremony that used to be performed
at Pekin by the Emperors of China. The
"God of Heaven" is recognized as the Supreme
Being, but no one dares approach Him except the
Emperor who offers this sacrifice as the representative
of his people. The missionaries have often been
able to use the "Nam Giao" as a starting place to
point the way to God who is the Supreme Being
whom the Annamese recognize, but do not know.
It would be difficult to overestimate the material
benefits that have accrued to French Indo-China
through the advent of the French. The country has
been developed along every line except, perhaps,
that of personal initiative on the part of the natives
themselves. The French Colonial Government is de¬
cidedly paternal, and does more for its subjects than
almost any other government. Free schools and free
hospitals are accessible to every community. Not
only are the elementary schools free, but higher
schools and colleges are available to all. If a stu-