The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-19
CELESTIAL
PHILOSOPHY.
Ministerial Union Hears
1t Discussed.
REV. T. v. THWING TALKS
Chine.e Had a knowledge of the
True God Says the Well
known Minister.

of Central Union church, ii being the
occasion of their regular semi-monthly
gathering. Among those present were
Rev. William NJ. Kincaid, Rev. George
l.. Pearson, Rev. Silas Perry, DR.. Sere-
no Bishop, Rev. J. p. Erdman, Rev. A.
f. Cory. Major Wood, Rev. w. X. AZ
bill, Rev. o. III. Gulich, Rev. f.. w.
Thwing. Rev. w. ID. Westervelt, Mr..
Emerson and Mr.. Howell.
Dr. Peck, a missionary who is re-
tnrning again to China after a short
furlough from eighteen years service
in the Celestial Empire. was also pres
ent.
The principal topic of discussion af-
ter routine business was concluded was
upon Chinese philosophy, an address
upon that subject being given by Rev.
E. W. Thwing. DIR. Peck, at the con-
clusion of the address, ably commented
upon the subject and gave many addi-
tional ideas relative to the Celestial
philosophy.
Dr. Thwing's address was. in part, as
follows:
This subject of Chinese philosophy
may not be of any practical value to
the members of the Ministerial Union,
but IT. may be of some little interest
to you to know more of the thoughts
and the religious ideas of these people
who during this past year have claim
ed so much of our attention. And 1t
certainly is always of value to consider
what relation we as preachers of the
Gospel should bear toward the opinions
and feelings of those among whom we
labor. We will consider the great phil
osophies which have given rise to the
three eligions-Confucianis Budd-
dhism and Taoism.
First-The Confucian philosophy or
system of morality. The central idea,
We might say, is filial piety. 1t is the
ground and fountain of all virtues. If
we could pick out one teaching, as Of
more Importance, in all the moral pre-
cepts of Confucius, to his devoted fol-
lowers. it would be thiS-and rightly
used it is a beautiful truth-the love
and reverence of child for parent The
following extract from explanations of
the Sacred Edict," a native book,
shows US their regard for this virtue:
Chapter /. What is Filial Piety?
Obedient devotion to parents is a self
evident principle of nature and the
root of virtuous conduct in man.
You who are children, and do not
know how TO do your duties TO your
parents. only think of their passionate
affection for you and see whether you
ought to be filial or not. When you
were a DdDe III dTITS were you
You could not feed yourself: cold? You
could not clothe yourself. Your par
ents looked upon your face, listened to
your voice. Did you laugh? They were
pleased; did you cry? They were sad
did you toddle? Step by step they fol-
lowed you. If you had never so trifiing
an ailment they were distressed.
Parents hope their sons will be good
rulers. IL they impede the affairs of the
state and oppress the people, provok-
ing them to ridicule and bringing about
difficulties: even their parents will be
distressed; this too is to be undutiful.
Parents hope their sons will form
friendships with worthy men. If In
their intercourse with friends they pay
no regard to truth and consistency, but
are wholly lacking in sincerity, so that
everybody despises them; this too Is &c
be undutiful.
Parents hope their sons will be brave
fellows. If as soldiers they go to bat
tie, but are frightened, and will not
gallantly press forward in the fight, sc
transgressing military regulations ant
bringing shame upon their parents
this too is to be undutiful."
Many have said that Confucius wa!
not a religious man but simply a NOR
alistic philosopher and entirely skepti
cal But is this a fair view of that an
cient sage? May he not have reall,
felt that true filial piety was due t
God as the great Father and mother?
He was not sentimental. and more oft
en- thought of God as the Sovereign an,
Ruler. He more often used the NOR
distant and respectful term Heaven
rather than a personal one, in speakin
of the great Ruler of the universe. Ye
he did at times use the personal tern
as in the place where he says "the ar
clients served God"
Yes, not only do we find in Confucian
ism a system of morality dealing wit
the relations of men but these book
also show us very clearly, think, ths
early in their history. the Chinese ha
a knowledge of the true God. Tw
very ancient books, the Book of Hi!
tory" and the Book of Odes," give
many examples to prove this. Tai
the words used by the Emperor Tan
who lived about Il. G.. 1866. He is sa
to have "reverenced God" and in otl
er passages to have prayed thus: "
Heaven who gave me birth" do n
/ day and night revere the Majesty
Heaven Once, when his country w;
suffering from calamity. he prayed
follows II presume to use a dark-co
ored victim and to announce to Thee.
most great and sovereign God. that Il
sinner / dare not pardon, and thy mi
lsters, o God, / do not keep in obscu
ity."
The Book OF Odes" (B. G.. 1866
u. G. 1929 has some passages whi,
are equally striking and belong in
~ probability to a much earlier dat
God Is with you; have no doubts
FOUR hearts" There Is the great Go
Ddoes He hate any one?" "A vast a.
distant Heaven who art called our fat
er and mother" Heaven, in giyi
birth to the multitude Of the peop
to every faculty and relationship a
nexed its law"
Perhaps no one has studied the CO
fucian books as carefully and as dee
ly as has DR.. Legge. His synopsis
the teaching of these ancient books
so valuable and pertinent to the su
tect that / must give one or two G
tracts from II. He says: I'm both
these books many things are predicat
of Heaven. TT. and Shang Tt that a
true only of the true God He is I
ruler Of men and all this lower wor
Men in general. the mass Of the peop
are His peculiar care. He appoint
grain to be the chief nourishment
all. He watches especially over 4
conduct Of kings. whom he has exalt
to their high position for the good
the people. While they reverence Hi
and fulfill their duties in his fear al
with reference to his will. taking I
ways as their pattern, He maintai