Telegram-herald., 1891-12-07
BUDDHISM ANO CHRISTIANITY.
A Review OF Sir Edwin Arnold ant
"rhe Light OF Asia"

Yesterday morning IN the Fountain
street Baptist church DR.. Jackson spoke
on the above subject from the text:
"Then spske Jesus again unto them
saying / am the light OF the world; he
that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness but shall have the light of
life" John, 3. y. He sald:
The appearance of Sir Edwin Ar
nold. during the past week. on this
platform has awakened anew the in.
terest of our citizens IN the noble Gau-
tanla and the great religion which had
its birth IN his devotion and his genus.
We are exceedingly glad to have this
brilliant light cast upon the character
OF Buddha and his religion. 1t 10 not
possible to properly estimate any great
subject until We can see 1t from several
points of view.
Ii is good for us to awaken to the
truth that here Christianity has no
mean rival for the supremacy of the
race. 1t is now quite generally conceded
that the teachings OF Gautama contain
many noble truth. which good men of
all lands can endorse, and western
scholarship has not been sparing in Its
praises ot the Indian pnilosphy. 1t is
altogether probable that The Light
OF Asia" has sent the pendulum with .
rapid movement over TO the other ex-
treme, yet truth IS certain at last to
find its equilibrium, which, we doubt
not. will be found TO be between these
opposite poles of opinion.
buddhism 10 without question the
noblest religion of eastern Asia. Prince
Slddhartha, its founder, Is one of the
most worthy Characters ~ history. He
was a man who gave himself at great
sacrifice To the discovery OF truth, who
lived pure and upright life among his
fellows, VINO bequeatned TO ms follow
ers a code of ethics aud q system OF re-
ligion far IN advance of that which
hitherto had held the faith of India.
Buddism has been called the protest-
antism of the east. 1t was, indeed. an
earnest and successful protest against
many of the errors which Brahminlsm
had fastened upon the people.
As compared with Brahminism
which it superseded it discouraged
asecticism. fasts, the mutlation and
degradation of the body. 1t emphs-
slsed the ne essity not only of right
the inmost temple of the soul whence
spring thought, purpose and affection.
IL made an heroic struggle 10 unloosen
the deadly grasp of caste. All glasses
were admitted into its priesthood and
character was declared To he the su-
preme nobility. IL taught . most
beautiful philanthropy and encouraged
its adhereuts To- mutual helpfuluess, tc
the performance OF kind deeds to nj
men TO even pity and protect the dumt
world.
It,swhen we come To compare the
teachings of Prince Siddhortha with
the doctrine of the Nszsrene that w
see this great religion fall under tbs
shadow. Especially - this true wber
we confront the Buddh am of today
with the Christianity of today. 4
Is we'll for US to besr in mind tha
the Buddhism which our MISSIONARIES
meet. and which at this hour holds I
third of the human race under it
sway, - very different from the loft,
ethics and the noble sspirstions o
| Gsutsma. That religion has faller
| into ia DARK ages-a debsslng and be
| numbing Influence has come over
very much ike that winch ob.eured tn
| light of Constantly from the tenth 4
| the fifteenth century. IL - At thi
| point in our discussion that we can &C
&C mt for the widely differing report
| vhseh come To us concerning this rel !
rion. Sr Edwin Arnold has studiel
| Buddhism chiefy IN the cioaster OF D
ASSOCIATION with Its best isvirg repre-
ssnsat.ves. The Missionary comes
| contact With the masses. who are . lTv
snx illustration of It's poweFiesness /
| regenerate the human hesrt- Sir Ed
Evin has studied this philosophy ~ Il
fountain head IN the person of is sllu'
tr1ous founder. The MISSIONARY meet
the stream after Il has flowed dow
tarouxa twenty centuries polluted b
the pFelads se- and passsons Of eerrug
| priesthood. Baddhsn - q poem boF
! Of the snrsptared enthusiasm OF a
| oriental scholar a something quite 81
| tsrent from the everyday relssion
COS. con co people. the great mas {
snom are sseeped IN the eeepest sne
sacs sad supersItion.
Buddhism u. st t.sst. pssssn,sstie.
sees only The dark sids ef eaftAty -
| 'stsus-. Ftosa "a point Of sson lil
q efsrss. sns 20 sscspe from a q
| sr~at de.asrstnn,. "a the ether bar
Chfsst&nits . eptim stfe. "a tsr4s !
| face % Inc sun II ies song ~ wnfl
sf sxAs Ia pats eeafsxe snsn ths 4
| ptsvinx h~srt % hnpssnity n hass
iaas sp sna past on. Il fsvesls VI
| snss 81 ssnssx eeaaty saa zistrs