The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1900-06-01
Christianity Through
Chinese Eyes.
BY WI Ting Fung,
Chinese ninister to the United states

/ MS question VI IellSlOH IL
very intricate one, Owing to ou
lnite1 knowledge of the universe
aud of the future. we are all com
PEELED to grope in darkness fo
the truth. What would seem /
miricle TO one generation is per-
fec,ly intelligible to the next
generation. Consider merely the
marvellous things that are done
by the power Of electricity. How
increditable, how miraculous
they would have seemed a centu
ry ago.
When an educated Chinaman
is asked what his religion is he
is apt to find himse at loss for
an adequate answer. We are
disciples of Confucius, and from
him we have the simple creed of
Belief in Goodness. At the
same time we recognize the les
sous taught by other teachers
tnan our own great sage and
philosopher, and we do reverence
t. them as we'll as to Confucius.
That tolerant feeling is freq
" illustrated at a Chinese funer-
al. Thousands of dollars are OIL
ten expended on the funeral cer-
-mony, of which a special feature
is the long, imposing procession
of mourners to the tomb. The
deceased may be follower of
ConfuciuS, but 1t 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. They
go on the theory that, as We are
all equally ignorant of the fu-
ture, no one knows which re-
ligious teaching most nearly ap-
proximates the IT, tn, and hence
it is not well to lose any chance
of blessed state beyond the
grave.
Nominally we are all Confu
clans, but other religions coexlst
in China alongside the cult of
Confucius and are not held to be
antagonistic to it. From the
Emperor down we revere Con-
lucius and go TO his temple.
We study his writings on the
conduct of life and the ethics of
government. His teachings in
U eed are the basis of our educa-
tion. In the schools we are
strictly examined on the subject
of his life and works. The ker-
mel of his precepts is simply this:
To do good, to be loyal to the
throne, to be obedient to parents,
respectful to elders, and faithful
to friends.
The ladies in China are pal tic
ularly religious. Women the
world over seem to be of more
religious cast of mind than men
are. In China the teachings of
Buddha appeal TO them strongly.
They are devout in their attend.
ance at the Buddhist temple,
where they say Buddhist prayers
and worship tine images of
heroes.
1t is difficult for a man of edu-
cation and reflection to give cre-
uence to all the Bible stories.
The account of the creation of
the world and the story of Adam
and Eve and the garden of Eden
seem to me funny. / se., too,
that in these days of ellIghten.
ment many thinkers in Europe
and America take a similar view.
was not astonishei the other
day to read that ceIebrated
New York minister had denied
his belief in the doctrine of vica.
rious atonement. He took the
ground that it was impossible for
Dne person to atone for the sins
Of anuthe..
1 must acknowledge that the
of Jesus Christ seem to
me 10 e. tablish a standard Uf con
duct as highly ethical as that es-
taoiished by the doctrine ol Con-
facIus. Jesus Christ. In fa'-t.
) 'e, ls,tle further thIn ColfI