Heathen Temple

We present the following as a specimen of Heathen wisdom and art, somewhat ahead of christian improvement and light on the score of a place of worship.

"HEATHEN TEMPLE.-The Rev. Eugene Kincaid, for many years a missionary in the Burman Empire, has recently returned to this country, and is now lecturing on the condition of the heathen, to crowded auditoriums. In one of his recent discourses, he described a heathen temple, which we have never seen paralleled. It stands in the city of Arva, or the golden city, which, for six hundred years, has been the capitol of the Burmese Empire. The foundations of this temple are of solid masonry, composed of bricks of the best materials. It is two thousand feet square, the walls being eight feet thick and seventy feet high. On the top of the walls rest two rows of massive pillars. At each corner of the walls rises a beautiful spire.

On the top of each spire is placed a huge bar of iron, surmounting which is an iron net work ten feet in diameter, in the shape of a spread umbrella. On the bottom edge of this are suspended bells of every size and tone. A piece of bright copper is attached to every clapper, so arranged that when the wind is strong, every bell is set to ringing.

On the top of this temple is a second one, one hundred and fifty feet square, and fifty feet high; and on each corner rises a beautiful tower with its compliment of bells. On the top of this second, stands a third temple, one hundred and twenty feet square, and thirty feet square, and thirty feet high, each corner having its tower and bells; and surmounting this third, is a fourth and last temple, seventy-five feet square and ten feet high, each corner also having its spire and bells. From the top of this fourth temple ascends a magnificent spire, with an immense iron net-work at its summit-having numerous bells suspended from its edge. On walking along by the temple, when the wind is strong, and all these bells' comprising an endless variety of tones, are ringing, a wonderful sensation is produced, as though music was descending around from the clouds.

The whole interior of the temple is stuccoed, and has the appearance of polished marble. In the center is an immense throne, on which the King of Arva sits-on the throne is a gigantic image. Mr. Kincaid had the curiosity to climb up for the purpose of measuring some portions of it, and from the end of the thumb to the second joint, was a distance of eighteen inches. It was placed there at a cost of 140,000 rupees, or $60,000. Besides this, in the niches in the wall, are placed 500 other images, each one larger than life, each one upon a throne, with inscriptions on the wall directly above them. On the walls are other images in tiers, higher and higher, until they reach the lofty ceiling. Look about you which way you will, in this immense building, and it seems as though the Gods are looking down upon you, wherever you turn your eyes. Look up this 274 feet of solid mason work, dedicated to idolatry, and to the thousands upon thousands of worshippers, who pour in their offerings of gold like water, and fancy, if you can, the expense of this idolatrous worship.

The temple with all its images- the 2,000 bells- the sculpture which adorns the building within and without- the brick and stone work, and the lofty towers, cost more money than all the churches in New York.

It was begun and finished within two years. Thousands were making brick, and more laying them, and thousand upon thousands engaged in the various departments. We can hardly calculate the cost of the building. Thousands of poor men gave two months labor to the work, others four and few less.