The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-11
coNFUcIANlsM EXPLAINED,
Interesting Lecture by Minister WI
Ting Fang In New York.

interesting Lecture hN MhiSNVA VI
Ting Fang in New York.
NEW YORK. Dec. lO,-wu Ting
Fang. the Chinese minister to the
United States. speaking before the So
oiety Of Ethical Culture at Carnegie
han ON "The Teachings OF Contucius, F."
said in part;
In the strietest sense OF the word,
Confucianism is not religion. II Is
not system Of doctrine and worship.
1t is easier to say what Confucianism
is not than what 1t is.
The Immortality OF the soul is a
beautiful doctrine I admit wish 1t
were true. but all the reasoning Of
Plato cannot make Il more than n
strong probability and all the light OF
modern science has not brought us
one step further Now Confuclus would
be called an agnostic If he We're alive
today. There were four things that
he would not talk about-extraordlnary
things, feats OF strength disorder and
spiritual being.
How are we to serve spiritual be-
ings, he was asked.
When you do not know how to
serve men, how can you serve spirltsg"
he replied.
Horace Greeley said those who dis
charge promptly and faithfully their
duty to those who linger in the tlesh
have but little time to peer into the
affairs Of those who have passed away.
Confucius was intensely practical and
human. He did not spend time specu-
lating as to what will happen after
death"
The minister then compared the prac-
teal teachings OF Confucius with those
of Christ. He read a passage from the
New Testament. declaring that evil
should not be resisted with evil and
If man smite you upon one cheek,
you should turn the other cheek. OF
this doctrine Mr.. WI said:
This it seems to me is meekness
with vengeance am inclined to
think no sensible man has ever follow
ed this injunction faithfully. A man
who will smite you on the cheek Is a
dangerous man and needs no second
invitation. A man who will take your
coat is a thief and would doubtless
take your cloak, too. II he could lay
his hands on it.
Love your enemies Such a stand
ard Of excellence is too high for hu-
manity. There is no likelihood that
many people follow it. At this very
moment Christian missionaries are call
ing for bloodshed and vengeance in Chi
ma. and Christian armies are devast-
ating land, sparing neither age nor sex.
There is indeed a vast gulf between
doctrine and performance. Could you
love one who had killed your father
and brother OF destroyed your home?
Confucianism does not require such a
thing. 1t enjoins that kindness be re-
Quilted with kindness and an injury
with justice. 1t does not sanction re-
tallation in a vindictive spirit, such as
1 regret to say is shown by some per-
sons protesting to be governed by the
tenets Of Christianity.
"The most striking instance in which
the teachings Of Confucius and Of
Christ meet is in the golden rule. Con-
fucius puts 1t negatively to be sure
DO rot do to others what you would
not wish them to do to you'-any one
who will follow that rule either way
It is phrased. will be thoroughly good
man.
"A good Christian Is a good ConfU-
clan and a good Confucian is a good
Christian. do not bslieve that heaven
is an exclusive place. The advocates
CT various religions are all trying to
make a private park Of It for their own
adherents. Whatever heaven may be
believe It is a place for all good
men. irrespective Of dogma. Confucius
did not run away from the world. but
did his duty in it, He teaches men to
be good for the sake Of good and not
for any promise Of reward or through
any threat Of punishment.
1.-THE world is gradually coming to
Confucius. One Of the slgns is the
growth Of agnosticism. l will not say
whether people are growing more cal
lous or more civilized. but they are 10
more terrified when the terrors Of the
next world are proclaimed from the
pulpit"