The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
CONFUCIUS THE WISE MAN.
WHEREIN ~ THE SECRET or MS
MIGHTY INFLUEA CE?

some Account OF tho forsonal 1rhth OF
the sage of the Orient His Philosophy
His Wow of This Life and His Atti-
tude on tho Question of n Life Beyond
Conception of the supreme Being.
Inscribed upon the page OF history are to be
found the names OF many OF the worlds greatest
most iustrious men-men famed for wisdom
knowledge and vrtue--but in tho estimation
OF millions OF all nations and climcs, there is not
one upon that Roll Of Honor whose fame in this
respect surpasscs II IL takes rank with, that Of
Confucius
To vast numbers the sa &c OF China il the ideal
sage Of the world. Unapprecated while living,
except by a few, the name Of Confucius is to-day,
revcred and worshipped by greater number
Of the earth than is that of any other
being who has ever lived To q thinking mind,
therefore. the question naturally suggests itself,
wherein lies the cause OF this; why this intense
devoted, unequalled vencration -one may al
most say alteration for the name Of this quiet
unobtrusive scholar and man? A name which
has come down 10 through all tho ages, and
which now after 24O0 years have rolled by. stands
out as the Pole Star among the worlds moral
and intellectual luminaries There must DO
cause for this II cannot be accidental His
tory does not keep on recording. century after
century. the names OF mediocre men In attempt
ing to discover the secret of this nearly world
wide homage, one must almost exclusively resort
TO the teachings and sayings OF the man himself
very little outside. regarding him having come
down to us Here however. many think is to
be found not only the solution Of this problem,
and the secret of this fame, but the material as
well for forming judgment respecting the man.
Confucius was born 551 years before the Chris
tan era, or 2450 years ago. His parentagc, though
respectable, not distinguished for honor
wealth or position. His father was n soldier in
the service of the Government and noted
for bravery. Tho son. when not teaching, was
occupied. much OF the time. in the employ Of tho
Empire. first storekecper. and subsequently,
in moro prominent positions Under the Govern
rlent his abilities and fatthfulnese were appre-
ciated, and later in life his counsel aud advice
were eagerly sought by his superors in authority.
While legendary tales told OF marvellous 90
happening at his birth the same in the
case OF the birth Of every other sage who has ever
lived. no claim Of inspiration has ever been made
for his teachings either by his disciples admi-
rers He made no claim to be gifted above other
mon He was plain Confucus--pain Kunfoo-
tie or Chung-ne: man represented 10 be of ex-
cessive modesty, making no profession OF per-
lection but constantly lamenting his snort COM
ings and want OF ability He was earneet
scholar constantly striving nt;cr the good and
to know the truth" The wisdom and insight Of
which he has possessed were the same, he claimed.
as all could possess by allowing their natures,
through virtue. TO unfold. and by keeping close
to the laws Of their being differing possibly in
degree. but not in the nature OF manner of acquir-
ing. His character Is represented to have been
ono Of exceeding humility. His great know
ledge and learning, coupled with the con-
seriousness OF how little he knew in view Of tho
vast volume of truth which he conceived lay be
yond, which he could neither see or catch glimpse
Of made Is 3d. lie is represented TO have been a
great lover Of antiquity and claimed TO have been
largely in its debt With all his great learning,
he seems to have lived much in tho past He is
represented TO have been a strict observer Of the
ceremonies Of his time, and OF the rules Of proptey
instituted In the country in which he lived to
such an extent that he may be said TO have been
almost stckler" even to the point OF punctilious-
mesa
Confucius Ii said TO have had mo foreg one
conclusions no arbitrary predeterminatons
no obstinacy, no egoism." His great strength
and pow en- 1t must be admitted, lay where lay
those OF our own Washington. and where lie
| the strength and power Of the highest type Of
| all true greatness, in the moral element While
he Is not accredited with having been the founder
OF any institution Of learning. like Aristotle or
Plato. he is accredited with having upon the roll
OF his school az high as 5000 students at time.
Appreciated by both scholars and disciples while
| living. to tho mass Of his countrymen. he was
| practically unknown This he is said 70 have
| felt kecnly Just before his death he is said 10
have repincd that; "Of all the Princes Of the En-
pire, there not one who would adopt his prin-
cipes or obey his lessons" but before two cen
| turtles had passed he had become the idol OF all
China, and to-day his name is revered by more
| than one third OF the population OF the globe.
! aidpred IN ha his heat EnDliah
| biographer or historian tells that In China,
| today, where education is widely diIused. and
| where the schoolmaster is no moro abroad, il Is
Confucius in all the schools who is taught; that
| "Au who receive the slightest tincture OF learn
| ing receive il at tho fountain Of this man." and
| that In the Empire of China, Confucius Is the
| ono man by whom all possible personal excel.
| lence is exemplided and by whom all possible
lessons Of social virtue and political wisdom are
| taught" Confucius did not claim to I've maker
sof knowledge. He did not profess to be dis
| coverer even-only Gansmitter. But while
| he disavows any pTctensiou to authenticity in
this respect posterty disoredts his protest and
| ascribes it TO modesty and humility OF charac
ter for the that the names of none Of those
| from whom he claims TO have drawn his knowledge
| and wisdom have come down 70 us, while his own
to-day. after nearly $500 years, is bright and
| shining light among those Of the worlds great
| est men
Confucius taught that the perfection o.
being, tho perfection Of manhood, the tru,
purpose OF life The seeking after happiness
which Is prompting Of our natures, he consider
ed a result proceeding from true being, and no
an end. He taught that the making Of the per
feet man. the superior man, as he termed H. Il
the chief end OF life and that this can only b,
reached through the practice of perfect virtue
| Virtue. therefore. with him was tho all in all
necessity TO the development Of man spiritually
II is the atmosphere, he claimed, In which man.
spiritual nature grows and unfolds, and the only
atmosphere in which II grow and unfold; i
is TO the spiritual what food Is to the physica
nature--that in which 1t finds nouIishment
without 1t, he thought, man could not unfolt
spiritually and with it there no limit to hi
unfolding
Confucius believed that while pleasure wa
10 DO derived from tho qualification Of the senses
happiness was only to be found in mans bring
ing himself into harmony with the laws OF hi
| int he har nit Of