THE LATTER-DAY SAINTS' MILLENNIAL STAR. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets... The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy ?"—AMOS No. 13, Vol. XXV. Saturday, March 28, 1863. Price One Penny. THE KINGDOM OF GOD-ITS INTERNAL CONDITION-THE PROGRESS AND PURIFICATION OF ITS CITIZENS. once likened by its future King-who certainly ought to understand its character and laws better than we do-to a net cast into the sea which gathered fish of every kind both good and bad; that our Father's children have been gathered to the "mountain of the Lord's house" from almost every nation under heaven with all their peculiarities, prejudices, weaknesses, failings and propensities; that they have come there, not because they are perfect, but because they love truth and want to learn, and there is the great school where they may be taught in God's ways, or the ways of truth, and walk in his paths, or the paths of wisdom and peace that in due time they may become worthy the appellation of "Saints." There are many who, when the Spirit of the Lord has rested upon them, have had visionary glimpses of the beauty and glory of Zion as it will be when it is, as it certainly will become, the "joy of the whole earth," and they have vainly When men and women first embrace the Gospel in its purity and in the sincerity of their hearts, they are so charmed by its glorious and heavenly principles themselves, that they imagine it to be impossible for any who believe as they do to live otherwise than in accordance with the teachings and commands of the Author of the system they have received; and, realising, as they do, its beauty and harmony, and conscious of the integrity of their own motives, they cannot conceive it possible for any individuals to have united themselves with the people of God through any other feeling than the love of truth, and consequently expect, when they gather with the Church, to find a community whose members are, almost without exception, living in perfect obedience to the mandates of Heaven. We do not say that all who receive the Gospel view their brethren and sisters in this light, but many of them do and, as a natural consequence, when they gather to Zion they are grievously dis-imagined that they are about to be appointed, and because they do not find everybody and everything precisely as they expected, they are ready to conclude that this cannot be the kingdom of God nor these the people of God's peculiar choice. Such individuals forget that the kingdom of Heaven was suddenly transported from the surrounding world of sin and care and corruption to a spot so charmed and hallowed, by what may properly be called a supernatural miracle, that the moment any set their feet within its sacred bounds they are at once changed from decrepit age to blooming youth, and from corrupt desires and wicked habits to purity of heart and perfection of life, like our sectarian brethren who expect to be translated at once, quicker than the lightning's flash, from the corruptions of earth and mortality, to the presence of God and the light and immortality that surround his throne. No doubt there are many who would indignantly repel the charge of ever having entertained such ideas as these, as an imputation upon their sanity; but at the same time they cherish equally as unreasonable expectations. They see the imperfections and weaknesses which characterise here even the mass of those who are honestly striving to live like Saints, as well as the baseness of those who through some sinister motives have in every age, been found creeping in among the people of God; yet from their language it is evident they entertain the absurd notion that the mere change of place, the removal from one side of the world to the other, a voyage across the ocean and a journey across the plains ought to effect a wonderful change in the character of individuals, | and that either on their way to, or after their arrival in, Utah, the impure should become pure, the dishonest should become honest, and the victim of vice should suddenly become the lover of virtue. The Spirit of God has shown many what Zion is to be, without revealing to them all the means by which it is to be built up and purified, or all the minuties of duties and trials which it may be necessary for its citizens to perform and endure before either it or they can be what they desire and expect. Just so, the distant mountain, clothed in its azure hue, with its forest clad summit and its dancing streamlets sparkling like silver in the glistening rays of the sun, presents a charming view and tempts the adventurous lover of the sublime and beautiful to climb its rugged sides, that he may revel in the inspiring beauty of the magnificent landscape that would lie spread out as a map before him; but his eye glances at once from his position to the mountain's peak and sees not all the difficulties that intervene, all the gullies and torrents, the rocks and precipices, the dangers and toils that beset his path; but as he progresses in his journey he meets all of these, and if cowardly and vacillating he becomes discouraged and turns back, but if he be courageous and determined, these obstacles only add to the interest and excitement of the undertaking and he presses forward with increased ardor. Now there are many difficulties and obstacles in the way of every individual who is seeking to attain to that purity and excellence of character which are essential to every one who hopes to be a successful candidate for celestial glory, but they can be overcome; there are also many that have presented, and will yet present themselves to those who are, and will be, engaged in the building up and beautifying of Zion, but they will be surmounted as they have hitherto been, and Zion will assuredly yet become, as its name denotes, the abode of the pure in heart. But at present the wheat and the tares grow together, the righteous and the wicked, and it is all necessary and right; at the same time we are bold to say, that at no time nor in no place on the earth, since the days of Enoch, has there been a people who have made such progress in virtue, both public and private, social and political who have made such sacrifices of their own feelings, who have labored so unitedly and zealously for the good of their fellowbeings, and who have been so ready to listen to and so willing to obey the counsels and commandments of God and his servants. True, there have been many corrupt and dishonest persons connected with the Church, but were it not so the words of Jesus would not be fulfilled, for he says, "Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold." Now he could not be referring to the iniquity that exists in the midst of unbelievers and the world at large, because we do not expect to find anything but crime and corruption there, and no one who has embraced the Gospel feels his faith tried by the scenes he is compelled to witness in Babylon, on the contrary, if he possesses the spirit of his religion he is stirred up to greater diligence and faithfulness. But it was the iniquity which should "abound" amongst the professed children of God that he foresaw would try 80 many. It was the wickedness which they would meet with where they THE KINGDOM OF GOD. expected to find naught but purity and perfection which would cause the love of so many to wax cold." It is too often the case, that even those who from their age and experience ought to know better, when they witness the manifestation of any weakness or failing on the part of an erring brother, instead of kindly endeavouring to reclaim him and letting it be a warning to themselves to shun such unsaintlike conduct, will rather imitate his example and say, "O, if brother so and so can do that and still retain his standing in the Church, so can I," or, "If he can do that and be saved so can I," and instead of stemming the current of iniquity he, by his example and influence, is adding to its volume and its power. Thus individuals go on from step to step, wilfully giving way to what were probably thoughtless and bitterly repented acts on the part of those whose example they quote to justify themselves, until the Spirit of the Lord entirely withdraws from them, their love waxes cold and they separate themselves from the Church and people of God. Now, we wish to raise our voice against this pernicious, unmanly and debasing practice of imitating the foibles and follies of those with whom we may associate. We are commanded not to Go after a multitude to do evil;" and it is just as obligatory upon us to do right if not another individual in the whole world were disposed to do so, as it would be if all its inhabitants were submissive to the laws of God. We must learn to act for ourselves; to set up the standard of truth in our hearts and endeavor to live to it; to say with full purpose of heart, whatever others do, as for me and mine we will serve God and do right. Such alone will be able to endure to the end and gain that celestial crown which we are contending for. The dishonest and unfaithful may be permitted to have a place and name among the Saints for a time and for a wise purpose, but there is a time close at hand when "The sinners in Zion shall be afraid and fearfulness shall surprise the hypocrites." The Great Master Builder uses them now as 195 the tools with which to shape and mould and beautify the living stones of which Zion is to be built, or as the sand with which to polish them, but by-and-bye they will be cast aside, forgotten and neglected like the former, or trodden under foot and washed away like the latter. Let none be discouraged because of the imperfections they may see in their brethren and sisters; much less, let any deceive themselves by imagining that they can practise any iniquity however trifling and be saved in the fullest sense of the term, for it is an impossibility. None but the pure in heart shall see God; and no man can enter into the celestial kingdom of God until he is as pure and holy as the angels in heaven. At present we are battling against sin in every form; we are contending against Satan and his hosts for the dominion of this earth; we are fighting on behalf of our Father and our God, who is its rightful owner and King, and we call for all the valiant-hearted lovers of truth who are not afraid to live for him as well as to die for him, and who are determined not to be seduced from their allegiance by secret traitors or open foes, to join our ranks and help us, with the aid of the Lord, to drive Satan and his dominion with its attendant horrors from the face of this beautiful planet, and to establish instead, the peaceful reign and blissful kingdom of Immanuel. We must expect to meet with internal foes, but let us not be discouraged on that account, far less swell their numbers by uniting with them. But with all their weaknesses the Saints are making rapid progress, and if we will be patient and faithful, we shall find that principles will be revealed, enforced and practised, as fast as we are prepared to receive them, which will put everything right which now may be wrong, organise us correctly and in our proper position and relationship to each other, and put us in possession of a Zion that will surpass in magnificence and purity the fondest hopes and the brightest expectations ever indulged in. AMBITION.-As men in sickness toss and roll from place to place, as if by change of situation they could get away from themselves, or fly from the disease, so in ambition, men hurried away with the false imagination of exalting their own nature, obtain no more than change of place or eminence of post. 196 CHAPTERS ON ASIA. CHAPTERS ON ASIA. BY ELDER MATTHEW M'CUNE. "As there is a law of continuity whereby in ascending we can only mount step by step, so is there a law of continuity whereby they who descend must sink, and that, too, with an ever increasing velocity. No propagation or multiplication is more rapid than that of evil, unless it be checked; no growth more certain. He who is in for a penny, to take another expression belonging to the same family, if he does not resolutely fly, will find he is in for a pound."-ANON. "Truth fears nothing but concealment."-FROM THE LATIN. The worshipers of Buddah-Gadama constitute a great portion of the inhabitants of the Continent of Asia, comprising some of the nations within the limits of China, Burmah, Siam, Assam, Arracan and the Island of Ceylon, also Japan, Nepaul and Thibet. They are an off-shoot of Hindooism. Buddah, the ninth incarnation of Vishnu, called "The Illustrious Lord of the Universe," taught that the soul, when sufficiently purified, shall lose all consciousness of a separate existence, and become incorporated into the essence of the Godhead. He also teaches that such a state of godlike perfection, can be attained by men, angels or demons. Buddhism, I presume, possesses more votaries than any other existing religion upon the earth; for statistics look at the population of the countries above-named. The Buddhists differ widely from the Hindoos with regard to caste, which they do not recognise in any shape or form. This is manifested by their associating freely with Europeans or other nations, eating of food of any kind, adopting the habits of strangers should they happen to strike their fancy, and in an entire absence of that conceited assumption of superiority so conspicuous in the Hindoo races or castes. Their whole-hearted devotion to their religion is worthy of admiration, shown in their providing abundantly for their priesthood and donating so freely of their means to the gods. They build the most costly edifices that they have any conception of, and, when finished, present them to their Poonghies or Priests; and on their festival days, after having lived themselves in the most economical manner, they will present to their gods presents of cloth, shawls, ornaments, ready-cooked food and numerous other articles, to the full amount of their savings since last feastday. I have frequently seen them on these occasions carrying a web of yellow cloth (the sacerdotal color) of from fifty to one hundred yards in length, in procession, preceded by a band of music, The Buddhists believe in the transmigration of souls, i.e., that the soul comes upon the earth at one time as a man, at another as a horse, an ox, a dog, a monkey, a worm, &c., &c. In consequence of this belief they are very careful not to take the life of any creature, for should they do so they know not but they may be killing their own father, mother, grandfather, grand-each one also carrying a plate of readymother, or some other near or distant relative. They teach and practice a sort of asceticism, manifested by becoming entirely abstracted from the world, spending their time in contemplation, or I would prefer calling it a sort of torpor or indifference to all around them, and so thoroughly have they schooled themselves, especially the Poonghies or Priests, that the most exciting occurrences may be taking place in front of them or at their side and they will not even glance their eyes in that direction, but keep them fixed upon the ground. cooked food, fruit and other eatables to present to Gadama. Each one of the worshipers is provided with a string of wooden beads, which they count as they walk along, and also whilst at their prayers. The web of cloth is wound round the temple, the shawl placed upon some one of the many images which surround the Pagoda, and the food is placed upon some of the pedestals of the images or upon the parapet of the temple. I have frequently seen the soldiers in the East India Company's service take down the cloth, fold it up and carry it off before the eyes of In the Royal Pagoda at Ava, the capital of the Burmese Empire, the images are all of pure gold. put in by the members of the Royal family and the nobles and great men of the Court. The plan adopted was, Any man wishing to have the honorable privilege of putting an image of Gadama into the temple was required to step into one scale and heap bullion on the other until the man was weighed down; the gold was then cast into an image of Gadama, and put into the structure as it arose. That Pagoda is known to have immense wealth thus buried in it. the donators, but they in no instance | zontally, then placing four more vertitook the slightest notice of it, seeming cally around the edges of it; the gods to feel that they had done their duty in or images are now put in and another presenting it, and they cared not what slab laid horizontally on the top, thus became of it after it had been placed in covering them in. A number of these the hands of the gods. In like manner images will be thus placed on the same the food for Gadama would be devoured level in five or six different places in before their eyes by crows, or rather the circumference of the building. The a species of rooks very common in workmen then proceed with the work Asia, and by pariah dogs; but the until it reaches the required height, people are quite satisfied Gadama when another circle of apertures is gets the benefit of the food. In this prepared as before, the images put in, way there is food enough wasted every and so on until the Pagoda is completed; feast-day to feed thousands of people. consequently, when they go to the temple The Buddhist temples are curiosities to worship they bow down before the in their way-they are somewhat of a mass of masonry, knowing that the gods bell-shape, tapering off to a point at or images are buried in the building. the top, which is surmounted with a tee of iron or copper, which is gilt and hung round with bells of various sizes, the largest being at the bottom circle or band of the tee, and each circle of bells decreases in size until the top is reached, where they will be no larger than a woman's thimble. The lower circle will frequently be from ten to sixteen pounds weight, sometimes of pure gold, in other cases of silver, but more generally of bell-metal with a little of the pure metals mixed in their composition. Thus, when a casting of bells is about to take place near to a town or village, the people round will bring a little bit of gold or silver and cast it into the smelting pot whilst the metal is in a state of fusion. Others will take their ear-rings or finger-rings and cast them in, as such bells are sacred and those who contribute nothing towards the casting can have no interest in nor right to participate in the bless-guard whilst the Pagoda is being regilt. ings expected to spring from the performance of this duty. The gold and silver bells are the donations of the rich. I have seen some of the gold bells with the clapper or tongue entirely covered with precious stones. The Pagoda itself is a solid mass of masonry from bottom to top; there are no chambers inside, all is one solid mass. When it is in course of erection the gods, consisting of images, chiefly of Gadama and his wife, made of gold, silver, brass or bellmetal, marble, alabaster or composition (the inferior sorts being generally gilt), are placed in the Pagoda in the following manner. As the structure ascends, apertures are left or formed in the mass, by laying down a slab of stone hori The great Shoe Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon is an immense structure of the above kind, and is gilt every third year from bottom to top. It was on one of these occasions that I had the opportunity of inspecting the bells which surmount it, as they are then taken down and placed under a strong Each of the bells has a leaf of gilt copper or iron hung to the tongue; this is caught by the wind when it blows and keeps the whole of the bells ringing incessantly. Many of the bells are beautifully ornamented with engravings or inscriptions. The Burmese excel in this kind of work, whether upon metal, wood, or stone. The Poonghies or priests are a highly privileged class: they may devote themselves to the sacerdotal order at any period of life, but they cannot attain to a character for any high degree of sanctity or learning, unless they devote themselves to it from their youth up. It is quite common for boys to be devoted to the monastic life for a few |