A RELIGIOUS CONTEST IN TARTAR Y. 235 silver cross, with a crucifix ; but that had brought him into disgrace with the Nestorian priests, since they do not admit of crucifixes in their churches. Rubruk also mentions, among the works of Boucher, a sculptured image of the holy Virgin, with the principal facts of the Gospel history carved round it ; and he made a pyx and a ciborium for the Franciscans. On Holy Thursday and Easter Day, Rubruk celebrated the sacred mysteries in the Nestorian baptistry, and administered the com- munion to the faithful. An opportunity soon presented itself for the envoys of St. Louis to make their solemn profession of faith in the presence of the court. Mangou-Khan seeing around him the representatives of various religions, all claiming the truth as their possession, determined on bringing them face to face, and making them explain their various pretensions in the presence of the people. He ordered that a public discussion should take place between the Christians, Mahometans, and Buddhists, and even re- quired the ministers of these various creeds to send him in writing a statement of their articles of faith. Rubruk, who was well-informed, eloquent, and of a subtle turn of mind, wished to have a previous under- standing with the Nestorians, as to the course they meant to pursue in the discussion. The Nestorians proposed to attack the Mahometans first, and then the idolaters ; but the Franciscans opposed this course, alleging that the Mussulmans agreed with Christians as to the unity of God ; and this point being granted by them, it was desirable to prove the existence of God to the Bonzes, who saw the Divine essence in virtue, perfection, and the soul of each individual being, thus maintaining a system of extensive pantheism.
