Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-10-18
TIE CIVILIZED AEarAen-
mo Chuslsn Americans Coutrasted
with Buddhists-Adironaack Murray's
New Lecture.

I Tho chususn Americans Coutraste
with Buddhists-Adironaa Murray
New Lecture.
Rev. Mr.. Murray has delivered lectur
10 Boston withthe above title. Mr.. Murra
began by stating that he had Intended
originally, TO open up the inner life an
character of the American people. a
that the faults In each might he seen AM
avoided. But after Investigation, he hal
found the picture SO dark that he shranl
from holding II ny 10 view. We live
said be, In a missioniklng age. Thl
privilege TO civilize nations Il based OF
the assumption that our civilization. on
religion, our financial practices, on
domestic life, are better than theirs. III
doubted that that assumption would bea
a test Investigation and comparisou, liz
designed TO show this by inviting atten
ton 10 one religion and one country, hntl
called heather, Buddhism aud China
He intended TO show both were agalns
America and the American religion. n,
most OF use the name OF Buddhq suggest
nothing but dark rites aud mvstt rips
strange and heathenish but religion
which claims the assent Of more thar
one-third OF the people under the canOpl
OF Code heaven, numbers nine natiOnl
as Its followers. and has leveloDnd more
OF art and science than we shli for BOG
years 10 come, must be treated with
respect. Our religion may find in II
some things worthy TO be copied. New
England may 20 to school to China
Japan aud Ceylon. The basal idea oI
this religion is "The infinite cap-citv Of
the human intellect I" IL has about II
nothing sensational or emotional. II
always appeals 10 reason tolarates no
debased passion OF undue appetite seeks
to win converts only by arguments aud
persuasion. Its weapon is the sermon,
It's champion the brain; It's reliance,
argument. For $500 ycars IL has known
but one religious war, and that of so Little
Importance that in our day hut little can
be discovered of its'orgin, its course or It's
results. Compare this record with Eu.
ropcau history, with the records Of our
own Boston. Buddhism never prosecuted,
never deceived, never debased or dis.
couraged literature; never appealed to
prejudice or passion never had recourse
to the sword. II this he heathcnsm, il
Is civilized heathenism
But Buddhism is more than this. lts
whoever Possesses intellect. 1t Is only of
late years that We have discovered that
the church and State could exist apart,
but the Buddhist rel igion has had no con.
nectlon with the Government for 5000
years. We establish hospitals for suffer
ing humans-they for suffering brutes as
well. Our magazines are Just beginning
TO advocate the planting Of shade trees,
and we shall do IL, if at all. as a matter
oftaste. They have done ii from a sense of
duty for thirty-three centuries. Thor
homes, from the lowest to the highest, are
always open, and they receive every
stranger as the guest Of Ghd. TO be given
the best Of everything. We, too, enter
tain strangers-at hotels and at our
homes, II they come armed with letters
ofintroduction from wofldly-great people.
The testimony Of missiouafiOs who have
spent years nmoug them ID that they are
extremely polite, almost universally tenn
perate, and shat indeceucies Of word or
act are seldom, almost never, seen
Here, In the Commonwealth Of " tssa
ehusetts, II is almost Impossible 10 main
ain law prohibiting the sale Of iutoxi-
eating drink, but China long ago refused
to license the sale Of opium, refusing to
receive d dollar from what miures the
people. Whence came the power 10 lift
them up above christians and christian
morals
But, leaving religion. let us compar
ourselves as a nation with the Chinese
There are many reasons whg at this tiue
We SHOULD lake great Interest In them.
The Heather hintc are at our door ;
moreover we are eager TO Chrietiauizp
tuelh 10 change Their .mo'ais, habit,
gu to,ue 70 Put new forces ana hgnfes
lu'o tnelI literature IN snort to NnEllclzc
anu aug AnerlcahiNe ihen' All these things
IN hHke great changes. Alr mWms
thls Is assuming that our morals, fashions
ana customs arr bellrr than theirs. China
is twice the size of the United States,
ana includes within lis border, 5,o0O.uUO
square miles. II as deu7cly populated.
containing 5U0,OOOOOO Inhabitants halt
tue popuial Ion VI The globe. This j. the
mass winch we propose TO teach. As a
nation 1t has naturally outlivrd history.
Rome, Greece and other nations which
We call ancient have passed away, but
China still stands the same. Not an ari
mas been lost, not science forgotten
nothing has gone. It's oral language has
been preserved without the change of a
tonsei its mechanical triumpbs are un.
lNalledi its greet wall stun staude, u
magnificent work. u.s. longest cana! l.
longer than the Erie. Two Thousand
years ago, the country was perforated
WIN srlesian wells, and we have becu
!'elieu 70 20 10 Emma 10 learn tn"ii
stooj tbr circ',ia,5.',' ~ - ui 81 ',,ir
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