FROM CHRISTIANITY TO BUDDHISM —A NOVEL SPECTACLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 266, 16 November 1878, Page 5

FROM CHRISTIANITY TO BUDDHISM —A NOVEL SPECTACLE.

The Bangkok correspondent of the Straits Chronicle (Singapore), writes: — •" The great event of the year, so far, in Sinm, has been the conversion to Buddhism of European Christian, add hia formal instalment into the priesthood, which took place on the Bth of July. I forbear to give his namp, for the simple reason that the man's vanity is so great that ha would be delighted to hear that his name was trumpeted abroad, even affixed to so questionable a transaction as this. Not only that, but having renounced the sacrament of his baptism, I doubt whether he is entitled to any of the relics of his once Christianity even of so trifling a nature as a name. Suffice it to say, that in country he is an Austrian, and in sect was a Koman Catholic. He was usually designated among the Siamese, Phr'a Kow-tow, a name and title given him in mockery for bis servile predilections. One could have understood the motives for thia conversion hal this man been a low class ignorant person, only anxious to find favour in the eyes of the Siamese for monetary purposes, but, on the contrary, he is a superb scholar, a mnn of rare attainments in the various walka of science, literature, &nd ait; a perfect draughtsman, end accomplished linguist, and a thorough scientist; with powers of memory and acquisition so strong that he picked up the Siamese language in a very few months, although it is notoriously the most difficult of nil the Eastern tongues, nrt even excepting the Chinese. Hia avowed object, to his friends, is to obtain a more thorough knowledge of the Bali language, which can only be obtained in the higher grades of the priesthood. That some motive of thiskind, rather than a devout oonvicfion of the deity of Buddha, influenced hia course was so strongly Buepected by the principal members of the hierarchy that for » long time he was unable to obtain admittance to a temple, until the King took compassion on him, and allowed him to pass his novitiate in his own magniGcent place of worship, situated in the palace grounds. On the Bth of July, the installation took place, with even more than the usual ceremonies, and barbaric grandeur. The procession was a most magnificent one, and the bands of music belonging to both Kings filled the streets with music during the entire day and night. All Si»m flocked to witness ruu t«reiuo«y, ii.at i H native Siam; the foreigners kept rigidly away, disgusted and onragec), that a Christian, could be found who was willing to abjure bis God and bis Saviour, to take up the tenets of beallieuistxu During the four years for which he remains secluded from the world, ft is hoped that reflection may induce repentance."