The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1895-08-24

ethics Of Meneius remind one of the
sermon on the Mount, and kindred
moral essays. The civilization Of
China antedstes Christianity; but
nnlle the latter has conttnually pro-
gressed. the former remained immov-
able. The followers of Buddhs in
Cnina undoubtedly possess one of the
most complete systems of ethics, a.
Chunder Khan, the able exponent Of
Buddhism, who during the great fair
visited Chicago. and lectured IN many
cities oa this continent, so comprehen-
sively demonstrated.
All efforts Of the missionaries to
convert Brahmans, Buddhists, Confu.
clans, lranisns, the worshipers of the
Llamas, and kindred religions to
christianity, must prove futile, be-
cause from an ethical standpoint moth
ing original or new could be offered
to them. But even II this would not
be the case, yet lasting conversions
among those pagans belong to the do
man OF miracles. Qbservsnt minds
Will soon detect the reason for this
apparent enigma. Christianity, al
though born on Semitic ground, is
largely the religion Of the Arlans, aud
AS such, limited TO Western ciyiliza.
tion. 1t can not make any inrosds on
the Semitic races, much ss 1t tried to
pervads that stronghold Millions Of
dollars for the conversion Of the Jews
have been spent, aud With what sue
cess, Is well known. An English pa
per stated not long ago that the COL
version of one jew to Christianity
cost the societies about $4,000. Aud
after oil Gully Al unworthy subject has
been gained, whom the jews gladly
relinquish. The same success attends
the attempt OF the missionary societies
to convert Mohammedans to Chris
tianity. judaism aud Mohammedanism
will ever be confined 10 the Scientific
races, and no other religion will make
any perceptible lnroads among them.
The Turanisn races with their differ
ent branches ARE destined to have an
other religion, different from those OF
the AriaDs and Shemitcs, aud no
amount of missionary work. be II per-
suasive or forcibe, will change the
course Of nature. II will take mouy
generations yet to make the Hamitic
race true followers Of Christianity, as
that religion is among the Africans
only skin-deep. vooduism has still
mighty stronghold among them. I'm
doubtedly the world Is indebted to
some extent to the missionaries AS
the yanguards Of progress and civili-
za,lon, they deserve admiration for
the enthusiasm they carry into their
work; but all this must prove futile,
because 1t is force and vitality spent
10 the wrong places and In wrong
time. There Ia enough work for the
missionaries to do at home. The in
tellectual and moral poverty that still
exists even III our country, which boasts
Of progress and culture, is often ap-
palling, aud the slumo Of the cities aud
the degraded places iu the country
are sufficient to give employment to
to all the missionaries, who labor in
vain among the Chinese and the Brah-
mans. What we need are niissiona-
ries at home, TO better the condition
Of oil classes of society, and elevate
the character OF man. Tho money
spent for missions could be much bet
ter disbursod among Tho needy In our
own country, and many hungry
mouth be filled. People will no. be
religious If hunger gnaws their vitals
therefore feed the hungry aud then
make them religious. An educated
Chinaman told q prominent man who
spoke 10 him Of religious affairs and
missions, as follows: "You are no
better than we are therefore leave us
alone. Take care Of your own, and
we will take care Of ours p And this
il about the sentiment Of
RELIGION.