The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-21
THE MISSIONARY MESSAGE
dN ELOQUENT ADDRESS BY REV.
 DR. GEORGE IV. KNOX.

fA~SNtNA Hs hNOAs
 A Recognized Authority Upon Confucian- ism-The Greatest Blessing the West Can
 Carry to the East-An Awakening to a
 Higher Faith and Truer Life.
 One of the most eloquent and instruc- tive lectures given before the students of Yale this year was delivered by the Rev. George w. Knox, D. D., of Rye. N. Y., yesterday afternoon at Mar quand chapel
 Dr. Knox is a recognized authority upon Confucianism and his earnest scholarly oration was most enthusias- tically applauded.
 Dr. Knox said in part: Chinese philosophy interprets nature in terms of spirit, the universe is permeated by a living being, breath, a life, spirit. One thread of life runs through all, which is responsive to the spirit of man. This Is illustrated by the family if we can understand the family then we understand the nation, and finally the universe. Through the fam fly, past and present, there is one con- meeting line, certain oneness, If one ascends, then all ascend; if we fall, all are hurt. In Chinese realism, if there is this oneness. this family line, then it extends to all its members, liv- ing or dead. If I succeed my whole family rejoice; just as when one part of a chord is touched, the whole will vibrate. So it is with the state, all who live between the four seas are united; all rejoice in prosperity of one; all suf- fer in diversity. So it is in the uni verse at large-one line running through it all Nothing is without it, sun, moon, stars, trees, consciousness of man, the whole universe is alive and is responsive to man. Hence if the em- peror, who is highest representation of man, sins all nature Is affected, and there will be earthquakes, lightnings, droughts, because the universal spirit is grieved, So man has a morality touched by emotion, he knows all na- ture and will respond to his acts.
 But spirit is used in it's widest sense, really meaning force, it is in- telligibly all about us not to be sought afar off, for man is it's dwelling place. Name we cannot, define we cannot. As the ancient Linian philosopher went to the shrine and wept bitter tears, he knew not why; so does the pure soul responsive to the great spirit immanent in nature. Man is a little of heaven and earth; there is little of every thing in him. If we know the heart of man, we know both heaven and earth"
 Dr. Knox then took up several of the fundamental conceptions of religion immortality, prayer miracles showing their relation to Confucianism. This system treats western science as ab- surd. It teaches welfare of individual is above state, which makes Chinese impervious to western life. Western science, they say, concerns itself only with details. It is like a child who, looking at the face of nature, asks how long is it's nose? What is the distance between it's eyes? How large is it's mouth? But Confucianism cares noth- ing for these things. It deals with principles. The Chinese are equally opposed to western ethics. Christianity is immoral because it is opposed to the state, in their conception. The empire of their own maxim is the empire of the empire, not the empire of an in dividuaI."
 In conclusion Dr. Knox most elo- quently asked: ssWhat is the greatest blessing that the west can carry to the east? It is the idea of personality, of a personal God that the temples of heaven may become temples of living God" The only message that can awaken a higher faith and truer life is one that speaks of a God that is a father and man, that is son.