r, on portable tables, with baskets of
rice, oranges, bananas, all kinds of fruit and confectionery, and cups
of tea and wines. These were carried to the cemetery, to be presented to
the departed spirit at the grave, then jealously guarded for an
interval, finally in part given to the officiating priests, and in part
consumed at a feast held by the surviving members of the family. The
costlier the offerings, the better would the feast be enjoyed. There was
no lack of priests in this ceremonial. They were young and clean-shaven,
and looked as if they had enlisted for this very service. I thought I
could discern a sly twinkle in their eyes, as they inspected the
preparations for the feast, before the march began.

The mourners must not be forgotten. Among the Chinese, white, and not
black, is the appointed sign of mourning. The four wives of the deceased
and the members of his family were accordingly dressed in the coarsest
of white sackcloth, with ashes sprinkled over their faces, and they
walked behind the hearse, howling. It was a piteous spectacle, reminding
one of the professional and hired wailers in Palestine, where "the
mourners go about the streets," uttering dismal lamentations which can
be bought for money. Far be it from me to suggest that such was the
lamentation which we heard that day, for there is reason to believe that
in this case the deceased was respected and beloved.

This ceremonial had required long and elaborate preparation. The death
indeed occurred last July; the body had been embalmed; it had lain in
state and open to public inspection for four whole months; the funeral
did not take place until November. A vast amount of detail had been
attended to and provided for. Great packages of silken umbrellas had
been stored to shield the heads of guests and servants. All the bearers
of sedan-chairs, scores in number, were clad in silken uniforms; there
were banners, and inscriptions, and lanterns, galore. Everything was
done to impress the Chinese multitude with the greatness of the
occasion. But it was all a glorification of man and of his virtues.
There was no confession of sin, nor assurance of pardon; no
proclamation of a divine Redeemer; no promise of life and immortality
in Christ. Heathen religions are man's vain effort to win heaven by
merits of one's own. Only Christianity is God's revelation of salvation
"without money and without price," through the sacrifice and death of
his only Son. This