Margarete Ward met a Chinese priest at a Joss House

Before we left the temple we would throw some coins in the big box that stood in front of the high altar. I think this system of collecting money for the church is so much nicer than ours because it does away with the embarrassment that goes with having a collection basket put in front of you at church while the congregation nearest you watch to see how much you contribute.

At this Joss house, or temple, I met a Chinese priest. His name was Low and he welcomed me the same as the Chinese ladies. He had a small square board on which was a design composed of little squares. He closed his eyes in meditation. Then he wrote in Chinese characters on a small piece of paper and handed one to each of us in turn. Mrs. Ching interpreted what he had written for me. To my amazement, everything he predicted happened that day.

I became so interested in this priest's strange powers that I asked Mr. Kwan Tsi Ching about it. He went into great detail to explain that these temple priests were men who lived good lives and who had studied to commune with the spirits that had passed on. He also said he knew a priest in Shanghai, where he lived, who advised him on every business transaction he made. If the priest said it would be prosperous, he would make the deal, but if the priest said it would fail, he would let it go by.

He told me that by taking the priest's advice he had made millions of dollars, and in appreciation for that advice he supported a large orphanage, a church and his immense household. He then went into great detail to tell me how much rice was cooked and consumed in his large community kitchen. I was astonished to find out how many relatives and friends he supported.

He also told me that his religion meant "love they neighbor." I told him that I would like to study under one of these temple priests and learn his secrets of prediction. Mr. Ching said if I were serious he would arrange it, but that there would be hard work and many trials if I were to learn their way of thought.

When the priest at Soo Chow heard I wanted to study his religion he said he would send a brother priest to teach me. So one day, soon after, my head servant came to me and announced the arrival of the priest. My servant looked at me very inquisitively and said in Pidgin English, "This man said he sleep on floor in servants' quarters, have got bed." I asked "Have you no bed for him?" The boy said, "He no want bed. He sleep on floor. All same very poor man." I did not question my head servant, for I knew in the course of study with the priest, I would find out why he wanted to sleep on the floor.

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