Lights and shadows of spiritualism

JXDIA AND CHINA. 25cities IVom Lis foct. retired to pass the remainder of his lifoin religious calm. Yet, altliough the hibourer had turned IjucIcfrom the sowing of the seed, the harvest of such elibrts as ho hadiilready made was in no long time reaped. A religious awakeningtook place, and the sceptical and vicious public mind was stirredto its inmost depths. Then appeared Confucius, the great purilierof the morals of the empire, as Lao-tse had been of its metaphysics.He inculcated the necessity of honouring parents, of bemg truthfulin every business of life, of actively fulfilling all social and naturalduties, of keeping faith with others, and of rendering obedience tothe laws of man and God. In his waitings the most striking of theancient Chinese legends are transmitted to modern times. Thesetraditions speak like the Hebrew Scriptures of the fall of man, andthe hurling down into misery and darkness of an angelic host whohad rebelled against the Supreme.Lao-tse and Confucius are alike in their deep belief in the nearnessof the spiritual world. All truth respecting the future state,says the former, has been brought down to man by the messengersof God. Prayer and self-denial arc the charms which open theeyes of the mind to the spiritual beings around us. Apparitionshave occured since the creation of the globe. Invisible to the dimeyes of the flesh, spirits, evil and good, constantly hover abovethe earth, checking or aiding the advancement of man. Thelimitless universe constitutes but one family ; earth, heaven,the spu'its yet in the flesh, the spirits of the dead, form a singleempire ordered by the eternal reason of Schang-ti. The beings«ver near man watch constantly his deeds. Do we give way toevil, the evil spirits enter, and become strong within us, by reasonof their ufliuity to the darkness of our souls. If, despising temptation,we drive from us these demons, ministering angels constantlyattend us, and cherish within our bosoms a light thatgleams brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.Such were the high and wise teachings of the two chief prophetsof the Celestial Empire.They so fiir succeeded in their mission asto implant in Chinese bosoms a faith in the supermundane which,if anything, has grown stronger with the lapse of ages. Inter-