Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-10-18
FOUR CHINESE RELIGIONS.
Sh'''tiah Aissi"narie> HIVE Much 10
Contend with in The Land
OF All sin.

Another serious difficulty the mis-
sionaiy III China has 10 contend with
Is lhe complicated form of the reIi-
2lon OF The Chinese Instead Of one
system OF doctrines and teachings,
there are three great and separate
Religions, dwelling siGe by side and
with Mule if any friction or want of
harmony. Although radically differ
ent III their origin. characteristic
and general aims. each seems TO be a
complement OF the other. \ China
man may select and follow as much
OF all three as he pleases. without be-
ing inconsistent. The missionary has
therefore to study all three religions
III their history. doctrines and prac-
1cai influence upon the heart and
everyday life of the people before he
can nope to met them on their own
| ground and answer all their obiec-
TONS to Christianity. He has three
separate cltadels to attack instead of
one, writes Prof. John Fryer. in Aims
/ lees.
The writings of Confucius are the
source whence the officials and literati
derive their theories of government
and social duties. The ethics of Con-
fuclus pervade and influence every
phase of Chinese life. The doctrines
taught by their most holy sage" are
cited as the infallible criterion of up-
rlghtness and integrity in public and
private life, and We're disseminated
OF Nhrlst- They were not original
with Confucius. but rather the teach
1ngs Of the ancient kings and sages.
who tlonrished in the far-otf golden
age OF China. when the evils of bad
government We're unknown. and when
the Chinese seemed to have RECOGNIZED
and worshiped the true God. Con-
1uclus confessed to be only a reform
en- transmltter, and not the author
OF new religion. But it is almost
impossible to estimate the enormous
hold this system with its tinle-hon-
ored classics now has upon the edu-
Gated and thinking men of China.
LIS teachings are of a high moral or
der, yet they are us much Disregard
ed in everyday affairs as Christ's
teachings are disregarded among our
selves. The Chinese know what is
right, but fail utterly to practice it.
Then there is Taoism, the second
form OF religious faith and practice
originating with the philosopher
lao-tsze in the century when the
Jews returned from Babylon. Its an
cient classic, the Tao-tehk king, comes
nearer to the philosophy of our Old
Testament teachings than any other
book in the world. Had this system
remained in its original purity it
would have served as an excellent
basis for Christianity. Unfortunate-
ly the Iaoists went astray. hunting
for the Philosophers stone. the eliNir
OF immortality, with other vague con-
ceptions, and then fell into The gross
est supersti1ons and demonolatrv.
The evil influences of modern Taoism
upon Chinese society are tremendous,
and 1T is greater foe to the Chris
tan missionary than Confucianism
THESE two great religions. Confu
cianism and Taoisn. did not satisfy
the 'on9ings of the soul of the China
man. nor did they afford comfort or
so'ace in the many troubles and sor-
rows of life. TO supply this want
Buddhism came from India some
time before the birth of Christ. but ii
WAS not till shortly after that event
that the emperor Ming-ti had his
wonderful dream. and as Il result sent
1o,fa
dhlst teachers. After experiencing
many vicissitudes. Buddhism became
firmN established. The worship of
Amida Buddha With the Goddess of
Mercy became prevalent, while tenn
pies and monas;eres, priests and
nuns were soon to be found cverv-
where. The western paradise. the
buddhist hells. he reconsideration of
souls the vegetarian diet, the doc !
trines OF karma and Nirvana and the
worship of the goddess kwan-yin. who |
has power TO save and to bes1ow sons
upon her votaries. are all so firmly en-
grated on the ordinary Chinese mind |
that it seems impossible that they /
should be modified. much less effaced
by he teachings of anity. Yet
the missionary is expected TO go for
ward boldly to attack this giant also.
in the name of the Lord. and armed |
only with his sling and his stone.
AS ii all these difficulties were not
sufficient, Buddhism had hardly set
tied down tremendously with it's two
sister religions when Mohammedan-
ism entered the empire, pushing it's
way into imperial notice with great
effect. and contesting with its mono
thcis1ic doctrine against the corrupt
religious practices that had grown I'D
in the other three divisions. 1t came
to stay in spite Of numberless perse-
cutions and rebelions in which mil
lions Of Mohammedans have been put
to death Most of the Mosleln Chi
nese now occupy a very strong posi-
'ion i'll the whole of northwest China.
Others are scattered over the face of
the empire. many of them being rich
and enjoying official positions. Al
1,o,