Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

PAGAN FEARLESSNESS OF DEATH. 421PAGAN FEARLESSNESS OF DEATH.Opinion of Jfr. Hue, a Christian Priest, that it is thrir religion whichmakes Christians moix /car/ul of death than the Chinese, (740.)2052. Parson Berg and Bishop Mcllvaine unjustly represent the doctrinesof futurity, held by Christians, as causing those who believe ineternal punishment—in the horrible hell described by Josephus, and sanctionedby the gospel, with the precarious notions of heaven derived fromthe same authority—to have less fear of death than deists, by them calledinjidcls. But I have known many deists die, and certainly I have neverseen any believer in Christianity meet death with more firmness than thosewho did not believe. Some of the last-mentioned class have died of painfulcomplaints with the most admirable equanimity. But to illustrate theinjustice of these reverend gentlemen in their undue assumption of thesuperior fearlessness of death of those persons who believe in the gospelover those who do not so believe, I will here quote a passage from thetravels of a Christian missionary, which describes the equanimity withwhich the Chinese meet death. From the work of the French missionary,Mr. Hue, it will be seen that death is contemplated with far less fearfulapprehension in China than in Christendom.Observations of the Missionary, Mr. Hue, to ichom reference has justbeen made.2053. ^'In no other country than China, perhaps, could men be heardexchanging compliments on the subject of a coffin. People (in Christendom)are most shy of mentioning the lugubrious objects destined to containthe mortal remains of a relation or friend ; and when death does enterthe house, the coffin is got in in secresy and silence, in order to spare thefeelings of the mourning family. But it is quite otherwise in Chinathere a coffin is simply an article of the first necessity to the dead, and ofluxury and fancy to the living. In the great towns you see them displayedin the shops with all sorts of tasteful decorations, painted, and varnished,and polished, and trimmed up to attract the eyes of passengers, and givethem the fancy to buy themselves one.2054. "People in easy circumstances, who have money to spare fortheir pleasures, scarcely ever fail to provide themselves beforehand with acoffin to suit their own taste, and which they consider becoming; and,until the moment arrives for lying down in it, it is kept in the house ; notas an article of immediate necessity, but as one that cannot fail to be consolingand pleasant to the eye in a nicely-furnished apartment.2055. '^ For well-brought up children, it is a favourite method of expressingthe fervour of their filial piety toward the authors of their bein"-,a sweet and tender consolation for the heart of a son, to be able to purchasea beautiful coffin for an aged father or mother, and come in state to presentthe gift at the moment when they least expect such an agreeable sur-