The Bible in Pekin.

Manawatu Herald, 19 March 1895, Page 3

The Bible in Pekin.

.•w ■ - A correspondent of the London Tim* in Pekin writes :— " The Testament for the Empress Dowager was sent to the Palace in Pekin on November 12. This " Jesus Religion Book " was received and immediately sent in to Her Majesty, who lost no time in examining its contents. The Emperor was anxious to see the book* but, on finding that Her Majesty was too busy looking over it, he got impatient and immediately ordered the head eunuch to go and purchase a copy, and to lose no time about it. Shortly afterwards one of the eunuchs named tii, dressed in hia official robes, made his appearance at an American Book Store and Bible Dep6t. He carried with him a slip of paper, on which was written in Ohinese characters, ' One Old Testament, and one New Testament.' The Chinese assistant at the store, who is very highly educated, was struck with the uncommon look of the characters, and out of curiosity asked who had written them. The eumlck replied " The Emperor." "Ob," said the assistant, "to-day the women of the Christian religion presented a beautiful copy of the New Testament to the Empress Dowager.' 4 Yes,' replied the eunuch, ' the Emperor has already ■een it, and now wishes to obtain copies of the books * Jesus religion.' ' The books were got ready, taken possession of, .and paid for. Just after noon the same day, the aunuch returned to the de"pofc with the New Testament, many of the leaves of which were turned up. He said his Majesty the Emperor had looked V through it, and that he had observed ft number of errors in the printing. The wsjfcant at once changed it, givingJfche eunuoh a more correct copy. :i Since then the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and other royal parsonages have been busy reading the Holy Scriptures."