The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-01-27
gutelItgeueet.
CONFUCIANISM IN AMERICA.
Strange Crusade TO be Waged BY Wong
Chinn Foo.

begin, says letter from Chicago to
the Pittsburg Dispatch. 1t is nothing
less than an attempt to convert the
citizens Of this country to Confucian-
ism. The leader of this odd move
ment is Wong Chinn Foo, of No. 3O9
Clark street. Not only will he seek
to make us all good Cinnamon, but he
proposes to secure the erection by the
chilly shores of Lake Michigan of
magnificent temple, in which all those
who believe in the doctrines of Confu-
cius may worship.
This will be no Joss house, but a
bona fde temple fitted up in the most
approved fashion. All the various
details which go to make up the gor-
geous interior of the temple to which
the disciples of Confuscius turn their
footsteps will be there in great degree.
In fact, if the plan of Wong Chin Foo
is carried out, there will be sample
of Oriental gorgeousness such as the
prosaic United States has never before
possessed within it's borders. Neither
will there be any ceremony omitted.
Every point that the strictest Chinese
etiquette requires to be observed will
be always taken into consideration.
To slight even one Of them would be
an objectionable error. While in
China the offender would be beheaded,
in this land of the free and the home
of the brave he would merely be es-
corted out of doors.
The light of intelligence shines
brightly about Wong Chinn Foo, for
he is a genuine American citizen, and
has papers to prove it. The loss of
his queue, however, has notintelfered
with his native religious methods, for
he is Just as good believer in the
doctrines of Confucius as he ever was,
and that is saying good deal. He is
the editor of Chinese newspaper in
Chicago, and spreads his ideas among
his countrymen as rapidly as possible.
The plan for temple is not an inspi-
ration, so far as he is concerned, but
it seems that it has been talked Of
and dreamed about for many years,
both by himself and others Of his race.
1t is merely the approach of the frui-
tion of the dearest sort of Celestial
hopes.
Wong Chinn Foo has no desire to
hide his intentions under bushel,
any more than he has his light, as the
following, written by him, shows
TO the Editor Of tie Dispatch: 1t is
my purpose to do all that [ can to
make all Americans good Confucian-
lists and Cinnamon. Many Of my
countrymen will aid me in this way.
| am very much in earnest and mean
just what I say, when l declare that
there will be built a temple to Confu-
cius. This will show how intelligent
people can live without superstition
and religion, how they can love one
another, and do away with bigotry,
conceit and red-tape methods of doing
good.
It will also show the Christian
families how to bring up their young
to respect old age and their parents,
and will encourage general social order
in communities. Ali these things
were done in China for centuries, and
it is these that kept it's immense mil
lions in order and prosperity. Why
cannot the belief of Confucianists be
introduced into the United States just
as we'll as the good qualities of the
Americans have been introduced into
China? I believe in reciprocity in
all things.
The Chinese are not in this country
to be bad citizens, although none of
them truly believe in Christianity.
The Chinese Ne,rs is for the Ameri-
canizing of the Chinese in the United
States. 1t is to try to teach them
patriotism, a thing almost entirely
unknown to the Chinese coolie. l
am e great admirer of everything
American, as I am naturalized citi-
zen of this glorious and beautiful Re-
public. Cinnamon should not be old
fogics, and I am preparing their minds
not to be.
WoNG CHINN Foo.
For years past rumors have drifted
over the country of an intention of the
Chinese to some day begin a crusade
in behalf Of that religion so dear to
the Celestial heart. Just how this
was to be done has never been out
lined, but that a movement to that
end would surely be made has always
been believed. 1t has. always been
the cast that even among the better
class of Chinese strong feeling has
existed against the insistentSattempts
Of the American missionary to evange-
lize at least portion of Cliua's unbe-
lievtng millions. It was sthposed for
a time that this crusade against Chris
tianity was really a retaliatory move
ment calculated to inspire terror in
the hearts of missionaries. No one
paid any attention to the matter, how
ever, believing it to be mere threat.
Now, however, the movement seems
to have taken definite start. Ger
tainly the Chinese of this country are
wealthy enough to make decided
stir, and if they heartily unite in the
movement there is no question but
that an evangelistic campaign such as
the world has never seen will be inau-
gurated. 1t is not likely to be pro-
ject of mushroom growth, for the
Celestial mind moves slowly, although
with great certainty. The predomi-
mating element among the Chinese
of this country is, of course, what is
considered in China itself the lowest
caste. Therefore, the crusade to be
on firm foundation must have the
backing of the intelligent Cinnamon
of good birth.
The young man who is at present
before the public in the light Of
leader of the Celestials who believe
their idea can be successfully carried
out is an excellent specimen of the
Americanizcd Cinnamon, who, retain
ing all his native religious instincts
and beliefs, has added to them the
advantages Of mind and method that
Occidental civilization gives. 1t
might be seen at first blush that any
attempt to introduce what sgenerally