New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION.

Cambridge. PIP. xxxv. 25s ID. Appleton q CO.
The perusal Of this volume enforces the saying
which Mr. Lilly quotes. that nothing Is so easily
arranged as facts. He is stanch adhereht oi
Catholicism as understood by the school OF "aru
and Cardinal Newman. and his work is really a
beautiful piece of reasoning in behalf or TINS
form of religion as the one that deserves to be
called universal. The fallacy OF the argument
lies in the fact that 1t is attempt to establish
the universal by the gradual exclusion or par
ticulars The author starts from the obvious
consideration that there at least three rehg-
ions in the world which may appeal to humanity
as candidates for the favor OF all mankind. THESE
are Buddhism Islam and Christianity. II mere
numbers were to affect the decision among '"e
three Buddhism must win. But the test OF s'a-
tistics is faaciOus. exccp-as the reader VIII us
cover in the later pages Of this book-When II
tends to establish the claims OF Cathohclsh aS
superior 10 those Of the Protestant sects. Priority
and originality, however, cut some inquire III 'ne
discussion, and on the face of things What can
10 said about either OF them seems to be on the
side Of Buddhism. In the first place doup's as
10 the historical reality OF Gautama, the Buddha'
hava been brushed aside Then the date of his
appearance about the time of Darius Hystaspes,
makes II impossible TO believe that his followers
could have borrowed anything from Christianity
unless 1t be supposed at the same time 'ha' al
the records of his life and teaching were the ia'e
residuum Of a popular or learned oral traoiuon'
Even In such a case the chances would be even
between the two religions with the point OF prl-
orty in favor Of Buddhism 1t is well known
that the parallels between the biographies OF
Buddha and Jesus such as almost 10 pre-
Guide the thought of accident.
Mr. Lilly will never be accused Of any PARTIAL
~ for Buddhism. That is one advantage OF
;c afQDf Cprfi
doxy But orthodox n, is within the lines
Of Mother Church Mr.. Lilly frankly accepts the
simiIarities alleged These include the statement
that Buddha was born Ito redeem the world,
that his birth was really incident of 'incar-
nation" that his taking on human form was his
voluntary act 10 deliver mankind from sin ana
sorrow" When he born the gods sang TO-
gether almost the very words-barring difference
of language--with which the angels greeted the
infant Jesus. The babe was to give JOY ana
peace 10 men, to shed light on dark places ana
TO give sight to the blind. There was an aged
counterpart of Simeon TO say something very
like Now lettest thou thy servant depart IN
peace." and a tempter from the powers Of evil
TO offer riches and the sovereignty Of the whole
earth And the proclamation of the new doctrine
was attended by wonders such as the disciples or
John were told to recount 10 their Master. The
blind saw the deaf heard. the lame walked. and
those in prison were set at liberty While Gautaha
himself had his place Of TRANSPORTATION More
over. "the Buddha, like the Founder OF Chris
tianty breaches a Sermon on the Mount, sends
forth his disciples by two and two to teach what
they had learned from him. and appeases the
Jealousy that arises among them when one Is
privileged TO sit on his right hand and another
on his left. The teaching of both is marked by
the same insistence on self-sacrihce, on inward
purity on universal charity. and is illustrated by
like similitudes and parallels. Thus the parallels
of the sower, Of the house which could not resist
the storm and of the treasure hid in field bear
striking resemblance TO passages In the 'Dhom-
rnapoda'" The most Indifferent observer must
see that the case for the older religion as thus
presented is very strong. But Mr.. Lilly contents
himself by showing from the expert testimony OF
DR. Estlin Carpenter and Mr.. Rhys Davids that
the proof Of a direct loan from BUDDHISM 10
Christianity Is wholly lacking Besides. there
is a marked divergence between the two relig-
ions in their relations 10 life and TO active NOR
atty and 10 the personality of the Supreme Be
ing Having cited certain authors. particularly
Gibbon, as TO the achievements Of the Oriental
Christian sects, he infers the untenableness OF
the objection urged from Buddhism against the
claims of Christianity universal religion"
This conclusion doubtless Is true But 1t does
supplies what the author may have thought that
the very nature of the parallels makes the later
religion the heir of its predecessor in spiritual
sense while its own broader meanings give II
power where no other religion has held sway.
The beauty Of the discussion IS that while Chris
dainty gains nothing oy the comparison with
Buddhism, the latter loses an important testi-
,nonial to its own supernatural origin For the
sake Of the present writing which does not pre-
tend to scientific accuracy. IL may be assumed
that the doctrine of inspiration is practically the
same for both religions. There should In that
case have been a fairly definite beginning for the
Buddhist legend. But the supposed loan to
Christianity makes everything indefinite. II
there was record to show that at times before
the birth Of Christ. within hundred years af-
ter that event Buddhist missionaries ventured
into Galilee or even into any part Of Palestine
there would be no difficulty. But no such recopi
exists To suppose that Christianity is an Off
shoot of Buddhism IS then. simply to say that the
Buddhist legend matter Of popular tradi-
ton AMI that IL got about from mouth 10 mouth,
from neighborhOod 10 heghborhood, and from
race TO race just did the story Of Jack and the
Beanstalk or any other OF the Migrants of folk
lore. II would be hard 10 imagine that any or
the performances were Of divine inspiration. and
equally difficult TO ascribe miraculous origin to
a religious legend that had 10 be spread merely
by oral rumor. If the supernatural portions Of
Cospel narratives are OF Buddhistc origin then
by the same token, they mere folklore. and
the very reason for the existence Of Buddhism
as a religion namely. that II is the result Of d.
vine generalization. is destroyed.
Against Islam Mr.. Lilly has a better case.
What Mahomet did not draw from the ancient
folklore and literature q the Arabs he derived
from the Mozleans, the Jews or the Christians
And the whole scheme Of Mahomet was so mar
row that II can be accounted for without any
theory Of inspira ton. though not without vim
dication Of the character Of Allah's prophet from
the charges Of cruelty and lust that have been
made against him. Mr.. Lilly comedies that mod