Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

Moral and Religious.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN REGISTER.

LAMAISM.

The worshippers of the Grand Lama are supposed to embrace one third of the human family. Grand Lama is a name given to the Sovereign Pontiff, or High Priest. of the Thibetian Tartars. His residence is Pateli, in Thibet, a vast palace on a mountain near the banks of Braumpooter. The Grand Lama is worshipped not only by the Thibetians but by the various tribes of'Tartars who roam over the vast extent of the continent that stretches from the banks of the Wolga to Corea, on the sea of Japan.

The more remote Tartars are said to regard him as the Deity himself, and call him " God the everlasting Father of Heaven." He is believed to be endowed with all knowledge and virtue, though he does not condescend to converse with the greatest monarch of Asia. "He would never deign to pay the least attention to frail mortals, were it not to bestow on them forgiveness of sin, mercy and consolation." He is rarely if ever seen by common worshippers. Those who annually come a thousand miles, with large presents, return highly gratified if they are permitted even partially to see his face. : He is visited by the Kings of Tartary with rich gifts for his blessing. which he 'bestows by putting his hand on the top of their heads.

The residence of the Grand Lama is properly an immense pile of temples covering the top of the mountain. A- round this there are circles of buildings of superb structure, receding and enlarging as they descend, till they reach the plain. According to Bentick more than 20,000 Lamas reside in these several circles which surround the mountain.

" Every circle is embellished with parallel rows of shady trees, and inhabited by Lamas who dress according to the rank of their respective circles. Those Lamas who reside in the higher circles, possess great wealth and sanctity of character, and to maintain these high pretensions to holiness, they seldom appear before the multitude. We can hardly imagine a scene better calculated to overwhelm the mind of the superstitious worshipper than the ascent of the holy mountain.- Every step becomes more and more sacred, and brings him nearer and nearer to his eternal sovereign."

The worshippers of the Grand Lama believe that he never dies, but when the body he inhabits grows infirm and decays, the soul forsakes it and becomes the occupant of the body of some child.

All books printed in the Thibetian language are considered sacred. This circumstance is considered of great importance as an aid to the introduction of Christianity into Thibet and China. As Thibet is the only country that enjoys a free intercourse with China, and as the Emperor'and Court look to Thibet or their religion, it is thought that the most practicable method of introducing Christianity into China, will be that of first introducing it into Thibet.

In a dissertation lately read before the Society of Inquiry in the Theological Seminary at Andover, the writer suggests the importance of a mission to Thibet. " If the gospel could be introduced into Thibet," says the writer. "it would flow in the deserted channels of Lamaism all over China and Tartary. If a Thibetian mission should be instrumental in the conversion of the Lamas, the Paganism of all Asia would tremble to its foundation."

We have the best wishes for the success of such an undertaking, though we cannot but look upon it as visionary to expect any signal success from any of these missions, so long as we remember the fact, that Dr. Morrison has laboured as a Chinese missionary, fifteen years without obtaining but two converts. We think there is no doubt that this plan of Christianizing China would be much more likely to succeed than a direct attempt upon China itself. We cannot but think, however, that most of these missionary plans are premature. The progress of Christianity must be extremely slow in all the older and partially civilized nations, and whatever may be the devotedness, the labours and sacrifices of its friends, can, we think, hardly be expected to prevail, only in the same proportion that these nations become enlightened and 'improved by more extensive intercourse with christian nations, and the cultivation of their literature and arts, and the adoption of many of their habits and rules in the economy of life. Their minds being thus expanded, and sensibly feeling the advantages of our science and general intellectual cultivation, will the more readily perceive the truth and embrace the doctrines and rules of our moral and religious systems.