The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-16

but not eternal conflict between good and evil
both Jews and Persians exhibit temporary
recognition OF the duaistic principle. yet both
peoples worshipped but one God. As for Mo-
BANNED. whose very name for religion is Per-
sian word. III Din. his obligations 10 Mazdeism
are profound.
In his essay on Confucanism DIR. Matheson
adopts the common view in preference 10 that
OF DIR. Legge. He regards the creed OF Con.l-
cus az the substitution Of morality for a the
ology and disccrns in 1t an essential identity
with the agnosticism and positvsm OF the
nineteenth century. Confucianism like agnos-
ticism, does not dony the dogmas OF theology;
1t simply pronounccs them insusccptiblc OF
affirmation or Of negation. 1t looks upon them
rs beyond the reach Of human experience. and
therefore as no fit subject for the contompla-
ton Of man; and 1t proposes to put In their
room those rules for tho conduct of life
which are the peculiar province of
morality. Dr. NIatheson is at first disposed
to dcilno the ethical code promulgated
by Confucius as mere instrument for regu-
latng the governmental relations of society II
system OF political economy which regulates
tho mutual moral duties Of employer and en-
ployed..und prcscribcs who are to reign and
who TO serve. Subsequently he admits how
ever. that such limitations are transcribed
when Contuclus comes to deal with the relation
between friend and friend Then 1t Is that the
sage Of China strikes out that remarkable prin-
ciple which the Gospels have made familiar,
and which has come down to us by the name Of
the golden rule. That Christianity borrowed
this preccpt from Confucius Is pronounced in
disputable by the Scotch divine. One signin-
cant point OF difference between Confucius and
other religious rcformers is noted by DR.. Math-
eson. Christ Is worshippcd. so is Gautama
and special sanctity attaches to Mohammed
but Confucius is simply rcVCrenced rs q great
and good man. Again. the propagation OF
Confucianism seems to have owed almost
nothing to the personal efforts OF Its pro-
FOUNDER. 1t was not till he had passed away
that his countrymcn awakened to the percep-
ton that there was something in his teaching
worth perpetuating. 1t was in short, the mes
sage that gave value to the messenger; while
in the instances OF GautGma and Mo-
manned we may almost say the reverse was
the case. DR.. Matheson does not con-
cur with many orthodox theologians In
refusing to Confucanism place in
the science of religion. He thinks that Con-
fucius made real contribution to religious
thought by proclaiming that the chief end of
man is not merely or even m ainly. to prepare
for a future world. but that the immediate
task allotted to him is the Identifying and
clarifying OF the life which now is. We must not
forget. says DR.. Matheson. that there is an or
der in the world as we'll as beyond it, and that
the tracing Of this order is in itself a mode of
serving God. This. however. was precisely the
point which the religions Of the East did forget
and by announcing his morality OF daily
life Confucius called men out of their
pessimism and despair and pointed them to
action. How fatal the creed OF Confucius Is to
Itf,,t. Il, Ia.
fluence it exerts on Buddhism in China and
Japan. Here 1t has induced the Buddhist to
exchange his formless paradise of Nirvana for
the dream of a material heaven. beautiful with
earthly forms and glorihed with earthly
prospects. The Buddhist on the soil of China
has become infected with optimism. and is
willing 70 see this earthly existence perpetual
ed in eternity. because he has derived from his
contact with Confucanism the hope which has
made life an object of desire.
The extent to which monotheism underlay
the ancient religion OF Egypt is one OF the still
unsoved questions OF Egyptology. and in the
volume before us DR.. James Dodds of Glasgow
has merely undertaken to sum UP what is posi-
lively known respecting the esoteric creed and
exotcric worship of the Nile country under the
Pharaohs. He points out that. notwthstand-
ing the idolatries associated with its ritual the
Of what Christian revelation regards as truth
than any other OF the ancient faiths. In con-
nection with this topic he enlarges
on its teachings respecting the torma-
ton OF man. its assertion of the
unity Of mans complex nature. and its an
ticipation Of the Christian doctrines Of immor-
tality and resurrection. He recognizes too
the strange parallel to the Gospel narrative Of
Christ's uprising presented in the legend Of
tho death and resurrection Of Osiris. As re-
CARDS the Egyptian ethics. lie admits that some
OF their features Were reproduced by Moses in
his moral code and that others If higher ma
turc than any practisel by the early Hebrews
were prototypes Of Christian virtues. From
the defence made by the dead in the presence
Of Osiris, we learn that the Egyptian ideal Of
righteous conduct romrrchended plcty. char
ity gentlencss, se.f-commanl in word and
action. chastity. and the protection Of tho
weak. y specimen Of tho manner In which
the dead Justify themselves before Osiris is the
following: Not a little child did injure Not
a widow did Cypress. Not herdsman did |
ill-trcGt. There was no begsar in my lays. No
one starved in my time" Another says: Il
lave taken pleasure in speaking the truth.
Though great. have acted as if had been u
little one" Another: . WAS bread to the
hungry. water to the thirsty. clothes to the
liNtt u ItIutse W MN AIIhL Was III want, lIllL
which did 10 him the great God hath done to
mo-" referring 10 the social system OF ancient
Egypt Dr. Dodds naturally lays stress upon the
fact that caste in the strict sense ot the term did
not exist, the only class from which escape was
impossible being las the lecturer fJrscts to
notcj the small category Of those who exercised
certain functions in the treatment Of dead bod
les. With that exception. education WAS open
to all ranks, and, when turned to account re-.
peatedy raised men from the lowest to the
highest station, The lecturer might have add
ed that the institution II slavery has never
worna midcr aspect or been surrounded with
more guarantees for the well being Of the slave
than was the case under the pharaohs. An
equally remarkable feature OF Egyptian social
life is not overlooked by IN. Dodds
We refer to tho position accorded
to woman. which was higher than any
she has occupied among other ancient or
modern nations Of Asia or Africa. Under the F.
Pharaohs woman was regarded as mans friend /
and companion. and had equal rights of Prop
erty with him. Women olllciatcd In the tenn
pies and sat on the Egyptian throne No
where, in fact, except in Christian countries.