New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-16
TAOIS.M EXPLAINED
TILE pEv T. n JAMES LECTURES BEFORE
THE ETHICAL. ASSOCIATION
,r.rr,rr1. DOCTRINES EMBODIED IN THE WRIT
,SGs OF THE GREAT SAGE OF -f
CHINA. LAO-TSZ.

BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINES EMBODIED IN The WIFI
INGs OF THE GREAT SAGE OF
CHINA LAo-rsz.
The fourth and last in the series OF lectures Oh
.Comn,ra,ive Religion" before the Brooklyn Elm
teal Association was delivered last evening" III '"o
Pouch Mansion. in Clinton-ave. The lecturer was
49, poy = Huberty James, of England ana MS
,,hioc, was "Taoism: The Ancient Religion OF
china In the opening Of his talk Professor James
said -, l.,
"Iao-tsz. the first great Taost. was born IN
Poh- Chow about Co.. B. c. II 1t has no' 'mpro'e'
through the intervening centuries " must nav
been an unsafe city for such man 10 "Nc ."' o'
when visited II In 1876 1t still very turou-
,n, r,aco Iowever as one Of the fttest. Lao-tsz
survived the many risks of the time. ana won lot
himself an honorable position at the court oi
Chow then held at Lo-yang, in Honan'
I.ao-tsz was a typical philosopher: calm re-
served observeni keen. His work as keeper u
the records at the capital OF the Kiheoo"' ''oNe"
10 his notice mass of material sure 10 a'.rac.
his attention and excite his thought RECORDS OF
S,oc.ssf,,I instructions OF the punishments
reted M, 10 rebels OF the executions OF ther
leaders OF ptiful appeals from the peope "oe
country had been devastated by c.vh wars .. VIZ
rsc and fall OF military and civil o"ciaS' VI ''
intrgues Of soveregns princes ana Statesmen "
new laws passed and taxation readjusted-a' THESE
M ssed before him and were carefully emoaimed III
tho archives What they revealed was the utter
failure OF paternal government as theh au"'"
istered for the people suffered ana c"is." A
rioted as much ever Impossible remeu'e' III
social and political lis were not wanting ine
sunnlv OF plans to right all wrongs was a. aouhd-
ant then as now Clever politicians. even -''" ye"''
ago knew how draft great bills promising 10
Give everybody everything. and In spite OF re-
peated disappointments the people sim oeie'eo !"
them From these plans. whether acceP'eo o' '"e
Government or not, they gained HUE 'S''e''
LEGISLATION was followed by more useless agitation
which served only TO divert mems attention from
their duties and to waste their time meanwhie'
g., ,h wretched grass huts mothers and children
p.ned IN want.
Professor James then gave fun history OF >ihe
life work OF Lao-;sz and also quoted extensively
from his writings lie said that Lao-tsz retired
from Office when eighty EIGHT years ola FrooaoS
ahout that time he wrote his famous work on the
Path and Its characteristics. a small book not
longer than our Gospel Of Mark, which has become
one Of the religious classics Of China. Taoism Is
an unmeaning term to people In western
lands One Of the abest writer's on THIS suoJect
saws. Tao indicates the Supreme Power; but
more il dwels upon personality II Is the spirit
Of the universe the Attracting supreme force IL Is
energy without effort II is nature In repose con-
tanning all forms OF activity. II is only by paraDes
that it can he indicated. yet these fall to express
lit is 10 be understood by appropria ton. and In
no Their way" Amid all the haze OF Lao-tszs writ
ngs one thing seems clear. he was seeking AFTER
the Great Energy between all phenomena In ana
over and around all things. Among the mora
teachings of the Lao-isz classics these may he
noted: There is nothing like keeping guard over
the inner man" The puts himself last and
vet Is first abandons himself and yet Is preserved
BY undivided attention to the heart 1t Is possible
10 become again Ike a little child. The sage Il
ever the good savior of men he rejects none
one Of the grandest sentences ever uttered IN
China IS I.ao-tszs injunction: 'Recompense injuries
with Kindness" In other parts OF his book ne de-
nounces ambition and war.
has held or taught nobler and more elevatins
doctrines than Iao-tsz Government should be
lust sympa thetc. LIBERAL. kind. free from ehtrav-
! acance and from vexafious legislation. Man should
ignore all the desires. attractions schemlng pleas
ures and ambitions which injure and destroy the
pure original nature. and calmly. constantly follow
The hearts best instincts. Revenge is forbidden.
humility compassion. generosity are incuicated
Seinshncss 10 TO he out weakness Is TO over
/ come evil Heavens cathocity and unchsngfng
goodness is to he mans ideal. Man Is 10 strive
! only for peace and to hate and avoid war ana Az
severity All punshments should be blended with
! mercy and the reformation OF the vicious should
/ be the constant aim In all dealings with them.
Life IL precious. and. az rule. only 10 be taken
| away by the Great Life Giver. Men are 10 refrain
from anxious thought. worry and the hurried striV-
,nrs which spring from mistrust OF themselves.
! They are to trust and respect themselves. man
! kind Nature and the Great Eternal Energy. which
! originates and beneficcntly orders all things