The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-10-08
TRUTHS COMMON TO ALL FAITHS
Has Christianity a Right
to Interfere?
Missionary Effort Viewed In the
Light OF Its Ultimate
Results.
TRUTHS COMMON TO ALL FAITHS
tConcluded.)

iConcluded.)
Rut the human heart demands an
ohierf for worship. As the lungs de-
nand air and the eyes light, so the
heart OF man born 10 sorrow, yet en-
dowed with the divine image, demands
10 know not only himself, and whence
he came and whittier he goes, but also
COO. And this profound need which
has. been the source and handspring Of
an the countless religions of the earth,
first finds its complete and perfect sat
isfaction in the beings whom Christ
has presented for our worship, the
loving heavenly Father, Of whom
Christ is himself the supreme reyela-
riou. In presenting TO the nations OF
the earth this loving and lovable God
as the supreme and only object OF Wor-
shin. Christ provides worthy substl-
tufe for an the objects of worship OF
the Eethnic faiths, one which mater
ialisric science can never destroy or su-
persede. one which fulfils and satisfies
All the deepest lOngings and aspira-
lions Of every religious heart Christ,
therefore. does not in reality destroy,
bur rather fulfils the ethnic faiths in
the gift OF a worthy and adequate con-
ception Of God.
. Christ further fulfls the old re-
Egions by ennobling their ethical
ideals. The old faiths have not little
OF genuine ethical teaching and effort.
In the systematic statement of the de-
tails OF mans various duties, both
Confucianism and Buddhism are far
more minute than Christianity. Con-
fucius sums up the duties of life in
what Is called in Japan go vim no
michi.~ the way Of the five relations;
they are those Of king and minister,
father and son. husband and wife, ED
er and younger brothers and friends.
give a few striking sentences from
Confucius: Thou shalt rise up before
q hozry head, and honor the face of
an old man All that dwell between
the four seas are brothers" TO be
poor without mourning is difficult; to
be- rich without being proud is not
easy." Man is born for uprighmess. -
DO not unto others what you would
n0t have them do TO you" A passage
from the first book which boys learn at
school may be fifty quoted here: At
fecuon between father and son; con-
cord between husband and wife; kind
ness on the part OF the elder brother,
and Difference on the part of the
Younger order between seniors and
juniors sincerity between friends and
associates; respect on the part Of the
ruler. and loyalty on that of the min
lister these are the ten righteous
courses equally binding on all men"
Buddhistic ethics are summed up in
The Holy Eight-fold PATH" namely:
Right belief, right aspiration, right
speech. right conduct, right means of
livelihood. right endeaTOT, right men,
CRY and right meditation.
give 2 few gems also from Budd-
ISM Hatred does not cease by al
any time. hatred ceases by love; this
s an Ole rule IF a man conquer in
battle z thousand times a thousand
men and If another conquer himself
he IS the greatest Of cOnquerors." "Cut
down the whole forest of lust, not a
single tree only"
The influence on the Japanese ma
1ional character OF these two systems
OF ethics has been enrmous, and, on
the whole. exceedingly beneficial. The
keen sense OF honor, though not al.
ways according 10 Western standards
The superb loyalty. the fearlessness
The daunfless courage, the universe
knowledge Of and compliance with tbs
common rules Of politeness and order
The comparatively high degree Of cul
rure and artistic taste even among thi
lowest classes of society, the quie
bearing and gentleness of voice GnC
manner. and the uniform self-poist
and m0desty OF the women and girls
al these with other characteristic
traits are due in large measure 10 tn
rigid enforcement for hundreds o
years Of the ethical teachings of Con
fuchs
And yet despite the fact that gems o
religious insight and moral worth sucl
as have cited may be found here ant
there in the immense dreary deserts o
their sacred literal ares, the actual re
Iigions OF India and China and Japal
are very defective The gems surround
ed hy masses Of scholastic pedantr
and senseless superstition shed it'll
light. give little inspiration. Buddhis
tic ethics rest on profound pessimisr
and absolute skepucism- The sim Q
moral life is not Righteousness, 3u
uirvzne cessation Of personal con
sciCusness- The highest ideal is to
nothing. 10 do neither good nor evil
for either VIII produce singwa," deser
and this viii necessitate continued eN
istence. which is itself the greatest evi
Confucian ethics are wholly utilitaria
Sc but p1Opriety and order in tn
family and in the state is what
taught and sought The constant en-
phasis Is on the rights Of the superb
and the duties Of the inferior Bot
Col1uciznism and thoughtful Budd