The Indianapolis journal., 1893-10-01
AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN.
All Other Religions Being Wrong, He Is
Not Affected by Rebuke.


To the Editor OF the IndianaDois Journar
What the Journal means in a recent
article, "a Lesson in Humility" applied
70 the effect of the worlds congress of re-
hgions upon Christians, is not entirely
clear. 1t hardly seems possible that a
visitation of meekness or anything, ap-
proaching TO self-rebuke should affect
Christian listeners at these congresses. a
due sense of humility is becoming to the
Christian everywhere, but when the dis
tinctive teachings of our Christian faith
come into comparison with the doctrines OF
India or China there is no reason why the
adherents of Christianity should cringe
grow shame-faced, or humiliate themselves.
Doubtless there was a mixture of truth
with the subtleties presented to the con-
gress audiences at Chicago by the Oriental
speakers. Possibly those grains of truth
which coincided with our own Christian
teaching were magnifled by their exposit-
ors and those at variance with our own
faith kept in the background. But it will
take a good deal of sophistry In Chicago
congresses to cover up stern and awful
facts Of national degradation in India.
China or Turkey. 1t is to be hoped that
we, as Americans, will not be
guilty Of a weak sentimentalism
which shall send these Oriental teach
ers back to their dark homes with
an idea that we, who should be
their enlighteners, think their harems,
their terrible system of child marriages,
their inhuman treatment of girls and
widows, their superstitions and theory. of
transmigration right and legitimate. Years
of difficult teaching might be required TO
undo the harm which would result from
such an impression gained here when re-
ported in foreign lands which we wish TO
influence through our missionaries. Remenl-
bering Pope's familiar warning, ''Vice is a
monster, etc, and conscious that false
religion is little better than vice, it does
not seem matter of right that so few per-
sons in attendance upon the conference had
read the books OF Buddha and Mohammed.
Possibly, in detail the teachings of these
books were a revelation to the congress au-
diences, but as regards their trend and ef-
feet in the countries where they
taught, little ignorance can exist. That the
voluminouS tenetS of Oriental belief may
not have been read or studied by many
complimentary than otherwise TO the
Christian who is supposed, or should be sup
posed, 10 be engaged in more profitable
work "By their fruits We shall know them"
The intelligent Christian has seen and read
enough regarding the fruits of these
heather religions be impelled to try and
root them out of existence instead of labor
ing through a description OF their UNIV whole-
some tenets, sugarcoated though they De.
Knowing the effect of pernicious doctrine,
why should one study the doctrine itself,
and much less why should he especially
train himself to great charity and forbear-
ance toward II? Let 1t be shown that the
Buddhist Mohammedan faith and teach
ing tend to exalt human character after
the model OF the great Christian standards,
and Christians can then perhaps afford 10
give attention to these teachings.
1t is said that the test OF civilization Ii
any country is marked by the degree OF
advancement in intelligence and rei1nement
enjoyed by the women of that country: III
we look at women in Buddhist and Mo,
hammedan nations we shall hardly feel
justified in encouraging sentiment or
great Difference toward these faiths or Of
III fucr nr-x-
Christian religion over the religions or ma
tions we call heather. The very fact OF
crosses, made up so largely of gifted, rea-
soning women; the very atmosphere,
charged with Christian life and intelli,
gence, and breathed by these profound
disciples in Chicago, all attest the infin-
ity of difference between the faiths In
question, and offer proof conclusive that,
tians cannot afford time for the study OF
what is nonprogresslve and degenerating
No doubt but the presentation of the
doctrines of these disciples seems plausi-
delusive and plausible. as well as danger
Gus. Robert lngerSoll makes out fne
case for atheism, and no doubt some find
in the intellectual deductions OF this
thinker much 20 admire. Yet would Ii be
advisable to go through the marshy lands
OF his teaching In order to gather a shell
of truth or gem OF rhetoric now and then?
1t is good that these profound disciples
are willing to become familiar with
The better they come to know the tenets
OF our Christian faith the sooner, perhaps,
viii come light and salvation to their be
nignted nations; although 1t must take the
gospels strong rays a long time yet to
penetrate the fortificatiOns of superstition
and bigotry which intrench them. 1t is
worth a mans life still TO leave the faith
Of Nohammcdanism for Christianity-wit-
ness the nlartyrdOm Of one Misza lbrahim
q convert 10 the Christian faith from Mo-
hammedanisln, which occurred in Persia
a few months ago. Hence, better examples
OF charity and toleration might be Sug-
geSted than these 'aisciples" represent IL
these men are capable of preaching the
''broadest charity and highest philosophy
they and their fellow -countrymea have
surely failed 10 make these principles
of hope, however In their case, that as Is
stated, these Oriental sages able to
',lIsd4IgcIsi peI. eeit true OnristianIty anu
the unsanctified acts of self-styled Chris
tans." 1t requires a certain degree of sus-
ceptibility TO truth 10 be able TO discrimi-
nate between the real and the counterfeit,
but because counterfeit Christians exist Is
no reason why the genuine should humili-
ate themselves and let down the fences of
their faith in an effort TO bring all relig-
ions to the same level.
That some ''discordant notes" were heard
Is a qualification. especially X they came
from Christians 1t would be Impossible
that the pity which moved some hearts for
these msled teachers did not warm into
resentment and opposition in others. Even
the demands of most courteous hospitality
did not require that a spirit OF honest diff
ference should not be expressed by oppOs-
ers. a conscientious loyalty TO what one
knows to be the truth might have i'm
PEELED him to break n silence which would
have implied adherence to an error. May
the Gay be far distant when Christians
will blush at not having read carefully
systems which they know 10 contain the
seeds of eventual disintegration and de-
cav. Says st. Paul: 'Other foundation
can no man lay than that Is laid, which is
Jesus Christ" Why should men encourage
the building of that which is declared in
the word OF truth to be unstable. false and
perishabe? X. y. ID.
Indianapolis, Sept. %.