aroundworldortra00peebiala-1

CHIKESE EELIGIONS AND INSTITUTIONS. 169
men evoke, scholars worship the god of letters, soldiers the
god of war, business-men the god of wealth, medical men
some Chinese Esculapius ; and even gamblers have their altars
and their gods, to whom they appeal, pleading for good luck.
Lau-tsze and Confucius rank highest among their gods.
The latter, generally called by them the Aneient Teacher, the
Perfect Sage^ is the most popular.
All these gods whom they worship were once men, famous
and renowned as heroes or sages.
It will be remembered by Americans that John Ward,
originally a Massachusetts sailor, and afterwards in league
with Walker in the wild undertaking of conquering Nicaragua
for slavery-extension purposes, took an active part in
the Tai-ping rebellion, fighting on the side of the emperor,
rather than in behalf of a more democratic government.
The rebellion, calling to its aid many scholars, soon assumed
gigantic proportions. These Tai-pings in their manifestoes
indorsed the Christian religion, abolished slavery, encouraged
education, and cautioned their soldiers against the inhuman
treatment of prisoners. Victories attended them.
But the American Ward, introducing into the emperor's
army European discipline and tactics, proved a martial
success, and a help to the imperial cause. Still the
rebellion continued. At first the French and English sympathized
with the Tai-pings. But when the emperor, trembling
for his throne, invited foreign assistance, the French
and English, in consideration of more open ports, and other
mammon-like interests in the line of finances, turned at once
against the " Christianity " and promised constitutional
government of the Tai-pings, in favor of the imperial reign,
and co-operated with the Chinese army in the capture of
cities held by the Tai-pings. Blood flowed in torrents.
During this Titanic struggle, in which a religio-spiritualism
formed a powerful element, Ward married a mandarin's
daughter, became immensely rich, and was promoted to the
army position of general. But, while reconnoitering a rebel