New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-25
Curiosities Of History.
coNfrnrs, THE ANcIENr PROPHET OF CHINA

cONPUCfCs, THE ASCIENT PROPHET OF CHINA.
In the present asakeningof the Celestial En-
pire, from its profound sleep Of ages, and the
prospect of complete oyerturn and change Of
dynasty, with new modes Of life AMI the infn-
sion Of new principles, and new knowledge. con.
sequent on the throwing open Of that vast king.
dom 70 the commerce and intercourse of the
world, everything connected with it, in the his
tory OF the past, becomes matter OF increasing
interest. All nations have their great names.
Most nations who can date their origin in remote
ages. can point to some ilnstrious person in the
dim past, some half prophet, half philosopher,
whose memory they yenerate, and whose instruc
tions have remained as q lasting treasure,
vfyifying influence, to mould successive ages as
they came upon the stage The name occupying
this position in the history Of China is that Of
Ccnfuoius.
This noble ndinspired philosopher lived about
500 years before Christ, and was about cotem-
porary with Socrates The religion which ne
taught is still that Of the Iierasa M lnxoss 81
rank in 6ipay - fenaGfn. ~ consists in q
fdsep inward veneration Of the one God or King
Of Heaven, and in the practice Of every moral
virtue. They have neither temples nor priests,
nor any external form of worship, but every one
adores the Supreme Being as he likes best, Con-
fucius did not dive into abstruse doctrines He
contented himself with teaching the deepest love
and veneration for the Great Author Of all be-
ing whom he represents as the essence Of all
purity, and the source and fountain Of all things
Ills providence is over all his creatures and to
Him all are responsible for their conduct. No
act or thought, however secret, is hidden from
him, and His goodness and justice are such that
he can let no virtue go unrewarded, nor vice un-
punished
The principal writings of Confucius remain
! ing to our day are "The King or classical
| books, and the Szeshoo, or moral books He
strieflv i1ni daiG
| Of men nevertheless, his more ignorant follow
ers persisted in deifying him /; and at the pres
/ ent day, according to DR.. Milne, on the authori-
/ ty Of their own writer's, there are more than
| fifteen hundred and sixty temples, dedicated to
him; and sixty-two thousand animals, chiefly
| pigs and rabbits, are annually sacrificed to his
| memory.
| The most touching and interesting point in
the life of this great man, is the fact, in his dy-
1 ing moments he encouraged his disciples, as he
had also done before, by prophecying of the
coming of Christ. He predicted that '' in the
West, the Holy One would appear"
! A reference TO this singular fact is frequent
in the Chinese writings. In the Cung -yuHg,
written by grandson Of Confueius, is the fol-
lowing passage: GA good prince lays the basis
of his conduct in himself; he establishes among
his people the authority of his own example; he
regulates himself, though without blind obsti-
macy, by the founders of the first three dynas-
ties; he directs his actions increasingly accord
ing to heaven and earth; he rules over minds,
and finds no reason for doubt OF inquietude,
confidently expecting the Holy Man, pho is
to appear at tie end Of ages"
In the Ching or '' True
Interpretation of the Divine Law" is the follow
ing " The Minister Pc consulted Confucius,
saying Master, are you not a holy man" He
replied Whatever effort | make, my memory
cannot recall any one worthy of this title.
But returned the Minister, were not the
three kings founders Of the early dynasties Of
Hea, Shang and Chow saints'' These three
kings replied Confucius, endowed with excel
lent goodness, were filled with enlightened pru
dence and individual force; bat know not thai
they were saints Tie Minister agains asked
y Wegs not the five lords five emperors win
reigned in China antecedent to the first dynasty
a SAINTS The five emrerors,, said Confucius
Q endowed with excellent goodness, exaeted
! divine charity and unalterable justice but
It know not that they were saints The Ministe
" still asked: We're not the three august ont
Of {personages in Chinese NEUROLOGICAL histor,
ut saintsi' The three august ones,' replied Coz
at fucius, may have made use Of their time q.
s. we'll employed long life); but | am ignora
5 whether they were saints The Minister, asto
Sc ished, said to him. If this be the case, who ef
lc be called saint - ConfiIcius. somewhat move
It replied with gentleness have heard say, th
Fl in the Western Countries there has been {,
:, there will be) a Holy Man, who without exert
o ing any act Of government, will prevent troubles
, who without speaking, will inspire spontaneou
r faith; who, without working any (volent
1 changes, will produce ocean of (good) actions
No man is able to tell his name; but ] hay
e heard say that this was (or will be- the Tru
r Saint" Sunday Dispatch.