The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-06-08

By WI TING FANG, Chinese Minister to
the United States.

This question OF religion Is very
Intricate one. Owing to our limited
knowledge OF the universe and OF theI
future, we are all compelled to grope
i'm darkness for the truth. What
would seem a miracle to one gener-
alton is perfectly ineligible to the
, next generation. Consider merely
the marvellous things that are done
by the powers Of electricity. How
incredible, how miraculous they
would have seemed century ago.
When an educated chinaman is
asked what his religion is he is apt
/, to find himself at loss for an ade-
ouate answer. We are disciples Of
IConfucius, and from him we have
7 the siml le creed OF "Belief in Good
ness" At the same time we recog-
nize the value of lessons taught by
other teachers than our own great
!. sage and philosopher, and we do
; reverence to them as well as to Con-
!, fucius. That tolerant feeling is ire
! quently illustrated at Chinese fu-
neral. Thousand of dollars are Oft
8 en- expended on the funeral cere-
mony, Of which a special feature is
, the long, imposing procession OF,
!, mourners to the tomb. The deceas-
ed may be follower Of Confuclus,
but it often happens that his family
|. calls in on that occasion the aid OF
}. Taoist and Buddhist priests to offer
. prayers for the repose Of his soul.
Z. They 90 on the theory that
as we are all equally ignorant OF the
:, future. no one knows which rellg-
ious teaching most nearly approx
mates the truth, and hence 1t is
IS not well to lose any chance OF at
tanning blessed state beyond the
! grave.
. Nominally we are all Confuclans-
:. but other religions co-exist in China
alongside the cult of Confuclus, and
- are not held to be antagonlstic to It,
!, From the emperor down we revere
'Confucius and go to his temple
pit We study his writings on the con
duct of life and the ethics OF govern
p' ment. His teachings, indeed, are
is the basis of our education. In thu
n, schools we are strictly examined OF
the subject of his life and WORKS
&C The kernel of his precepts is simpl,
so this: To do good, to be loyal t
the throne, to be obedient to par
N N ents, respectful to elders, and faith
n n ful to friends.
,g. The ladies in China are particu
re, larly religious. Women the worlc
IT. over seem to be OF more religion
so cast Of mind than men are. IL
China the teachings Of Budda ap
20 peal to them strongly. They ar
- devout in their attendance at tn
- Buddhist temple, where they sa
"A Buddhist prayers and worship tn
images of heroes.
Dts Ii is difficult for man Of educa
81 ton and reflection to give credenc
~ to all the bible stories. The aC
40 count of the creation of the worl
\, and the story of Adam and Eve an
: the garden OF Eden seem to m
sfunny. / see, too, that in thes
rdaysof enlightenment manythinkel
lin Europe and America take sin
,nn ',, liar view. | was astonished th
other day to read that a celebrate
ILL New York minister had denied h
belief in the doctrine of vicariot
IT. atonement. He took the groun
10 that it was impossible for one pc
son to atone for the sins OF anothe
&c, | must acknowledge that IL
a. teachings OF Jesus Christ seem
me to establish a, standard OF col
& duct as highly ethical as that estal
3,Ilished by the doctrine Of Confuciu
= Jesus Christ, in tact, goes a lit
further than Confucius. If yol
ng, enemy smites you on one cheek,
bids you turn the other also. Coz
an fucius is more practical. He says
stRequite Justice with justice, favo
ofIwith favors." eff we requite o.
with kindness, how, indee'
nj can we reward our friends?" l
his asks.
,elf Christianity will make peop
lis good, if they live up to it. b
Ike how many do? What Christian
lev repay evil with good? Show n
the them. 1t must, however, be r
membered that Christianity h
he done immense good in this worl
lrn / have no quarrel with any religi'
that is based on foundation
at tvirtue. If they all bid one do goc
to and deter one from doing evil,
me say let them all go on. If there
ip. a reward in some future life for 4
,dc good deeds on earth, if there is
our heaven for the righteous, the
ne must surely be many ladders lea
o,linp m To IL. lust as there may