Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-08-30
-FOUR CHINESE RELIGIONS.
Missionaries Eight Confucianism
Buddhism and Mohammedanism.

l1Nulul5Au ana NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Another serious difficulty the mis-
siouaIy IN China has to contend with
is the complicated form of the religion
Of the Chinese. Instead of one system
Of doctrines and teachings, there are
three great and separate religions,
dwelling side by side and with little If
any friction or want of harmony. Al
though radically different in their
origin, characteristics and general aims,
each seems to be a complement of the
other A Chiuaman may select and
follow as much of all three as be
pleases, without being inconsistent
The missionary has therefore to study
all three religions in their history,
doctrines and practical influence upon
the heart and everyday life or the pee
pie before ne can hope to meet them
on their own ground and answer all
their objections to Christianity. He
has three separate citadels to attack
instead Of one.
The writings Of CONTIGUOUS are the
source whence the officials and literati
derive their theories Of government
and social duties, The ethics of Con-
fuCious peryade and influence every
phase of Chinese life. The doctrines
taught by their most holy sage are
cited as The infallble criterion of up
rightness and integrity in public and
private life, and were disseminated
several centuries before the coming Of
Christ. They were not original with
C0nfucius, but rather the teachings of
the ancient kings and sages, who
nourished in the far-off Golden Age Of
China, when the evils of bad govern
ment were unknown and when the
Chinese seem to have recognized and
worshipped the true God Confucius
confessed to be only a reformer, a
transmitter, and not the author Of a
new religion But it is almost i'm
possible 10 estimate the enormous hold
this system with its time honored clas-
sizes now has upon the educated and
thinking men of China It's teachings
are of a high moral order yet they
are as mach disregarded in everyday
affairs as Christ's teachings are disre-
garIad among ourselves. The Chinese
know what Is right, but fail utterly to
practice IT,
Then there is Taoism, the second
form OF religious faith ana practice,
with the philosopher Tao
list in the century when the Jews re-
turned from Babylon, ancient
classic, the Tao-teh-kIng comes nearer
To the philosophy of our Old Testa-
ment teachings than any olher book in
the world Had this system remained
in its original purity It would have
served as an excellent basis for Chris
DAINTY Unfortunately the Taoists
went astray hunting for the phlloso-
piers stone the elixir Of immortal
fly with other vague conceptions. and
then fell into the grossest superstitons
and dcmon0latry The evil influences
of modern raoism upon Chinese soci-
ETY. are tremendous and It is greater
fee 10 the Christian missionary than
These two great religions, Coufu-
ciousim aud Taoism, did not satisfy
the longlngs OF The soul of the China
man nor aid they AFFORD comfort or
s7lace lu the many troubles ana sor-
rows Of life. To supply this want
buddhism came from India some time
before the birth of Christ but 1t was
net until shortly after that event that
'hc emperor Nug-u had his wonderful
dream, and as a result sent messen-
rors to India 10 invite Buddhist teach
RVS After experiencing many vlcissi-
.udes buddhism became firmly estab-
shed The worship of Amida Buddha
with The Goddess Of Mercy became
prevalent while temples and monas-
tories, priests and nuns were soon to
Dr. found everywhere The Western
Paradise the Buddhist Hens, the
reconsideration Of souls. the vegetarian
lie, the doctrines Of Karma and Mir
yaua and the worship Of the goddess
Ew0uyju who has power % save and
rs bastow sons upon her yotagies. are
al So FIRMLY ongrafted ON the ordinary
Chinese mind That 1t seems Impossible
chat thcy should be modified. much less
.lacea 0v the teachings - Christian
.-y Yet tho missionary is expected to
s1 forward boldly 10 attack THIS giant
i