The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-16
Tho Buddhist Propaganda.

The March number OF the journal OF the
Maha-Bodhi Society. published at Calcutta.
reports that the propagation OF Buddhism.
In which the society is engaged. has ut
tracted the interest OF the Buddhlsts the
world over and kindled their enthusiasm.
Mr.. H. DHARMAPALA. the editor OF the
magazine. Is announced as one OF the
speakers at the forthcoming Parliament OF
Religions at Chicago. and the American
Buddhists are awaiting his coming with
great hope Of the influence he will exert on
behalf OF their propaganda. A correspond
ent !, Mr.. DHABMAPALA says that the high
est Buddhist functionaries OF Japan have
issued q manifesto cordially favoring the
society's movement. and he speaks Of Sir
EDWIN ARNOLD as sympathetic with its
concerted attempt to revive and spread
Buddhism. Several paragraphs are pub
lished describing the growth Of vegeta-
rianism in England and this country as an
indication Of q hopeful drift: yet we have
observed no signs here that flesh eating is
falling into disrepute. A generation q
the vegetarian. GRAHAM-bread reformers
were making a good deal Of q stir. but now
we hear nothing Of them or Of their reform.
Even immigrants. who were able to get
flesh as food very rarely In their na-
tive countries. are usually exactlng in de-
handing 1t frequently here. II not as q
steady diet.
AS the Maha-Bodhi Society advances in
the East. the manifestations Of increasing
hostility to Christianity appear. The Bud
dhists Of the admiralty port of Saseho are
taking steps to organize q propaganda on
<hn vla,, 80 tL~ I,AN A--,, Ii A..
enterprise of Gen. Booth has made widely
known In the East. The campaign will
soon begin. the Japan Mail tells us. and.
with barracks and outlying stations in
many places. the Buddhist Salvation
lists propose to conquer and drive
out the legion OF devils. and ut the
same time to maintain and develop the ma
tiona! characteristics and welfare OF the
country to which they belong" In China.
too. the native luminosity to the Christian |
missionaries Is famed by concerted effort:
and the Null quotes with great satis'ac-
tion the lament Of a Methodist publication
at Ceylon that the missionaries there are
having uphill work. Z" the number OF lapsed
Christians in proportion to those who
remain true being appallingiy large" The
Ceylon Buddhist Is for taking advantage OF
the situation by forming 1.-THE wealthy
laymen into q Synodnl Committee for the
propagation OF Buddhism In foreign lands"
The Japanese Bnkkyo Koron Processes to
discovered distress among Chris
tians. conscious Of the destruction OF their
faith by the forces at work in civilization"
Col. OLCoTT's movements as a Buddhist
missionary nre reported particularly. and
ha ia daenrihnd nc In n x,Ar,y II ~ Inn rnAAI
He 1t is. it seems 10 be evident. who is or
Ganizing this whole movement for meeting
the aggressiveness Of Christianity with
aggressive Buddhism. his formal
title being Honorary Director and Chief
Maha-Bodhi Society" He an
nounces that he has received a letter
from Prof. MAX MULLER. tho Oricntalist OF
Oxford. depressing his sympathy" with
the society. Advertisements Of the works
VI Madame BLAvATsKY and the English
and American ~Theosophical periodicals ap-
pear conspicuously In this official maya
zine OF the society. which acts as All agent
for their sale.
1t appears. then. that this movement for
Tho propagation OF Buddhism as substt-
lutte for Christianity " e it's origin to
rather than Eastern influences. 1t
was started by converts from Christianity
20 Buddhism. who are more zcalous in their
lew faith than are theBuddhists themselves.
They want to revive Buddhism In the East.
n order that It may be stronger to resist the
nroads of Christianity ut homo and be moro
powerful to spread the doctrines OF BUDDHA
abroad. They arc working with their might
md main to overcome the Oriental inertia
10 far as concerns religious propagation.
md II they succeed In kindling the desired
enthusiasm In Asia We may expect to see
OLcoTT and his fellow buddhist mis-
advancing on this country.
Tn financial backing OF the enterprise,
rs indicated by the report OF the treasurer
or last December and January. Ia small for
IN undertaking OF such magnitude. The
for tho two months we're less than
900. and the expenses were about half the
one OF tho largest OF the items
,eIng the travelling expenses OF Director
The Colonel. therefore. seems to
70 paying his why as he goes along In his
against Christianity.
Arrest Them!
Wa Doubt whath,. Tho proplamation TINT