The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-12-12
Minister Wu's Sermon.
Out OF Cbrlst's Mouth Does
Ee Condemn Christians.

Ticg Fang, the Chinese minister to
the United States, spoke Gefore the
Society cor Ethical Culture. at Carne
gle Music Hall. this morning On "The
Teachings of Confuclus. -
Mr WI said in part:
.'In the s:rictest sense Of the word
ConEucianism is not religion. 1t is
not system OF doctrine and worship
1t is perhaps easier to say what Con-
| fuclanism is not than what it is
"The immortality of the soul is a
besutifui doctrine, l admit wish
it we're true, and hope it is true
But all the reasoning of Plato cannot
make it more than strong pro.
liability And all the light Of modern
science has not brought ne one step
further. Now, Cohfucius would be
called an Agnostic if he were alive
today. There were four things that
be would not talk sbout-extrsordi
nary tbipgs, feats of strength. dis
order and spiritual being. How are
we to serve spiritual beings 2 he was
asked. sWhen you do not know how
to serve men how should you hope
to serve spirits 2" he replied. Horace
Greeley said that those who die
charge promptly and faithfully their
duty to those who linger in the flesh,
have but little time to peer into the
affairs of those who have passed
away Confocius vas intensely hu-
man and practical BE did not spend
tine speculating as to what Will
happen after DEATH
The minister then compared the
practical teachings Of Confucios with
those of Christ He read passage
from the New Testament, directing
that evil be not resisted with evil,
and that if man smite you Oh one
cheek you should turn the other
cheek Of this doctrine Mr Wu
said:
"Tb;s, it seems to me, is meekness
with vengeance | am inclined to
,hipk tnst no sensible man has ever
followed this INJUNCTION faithfully
A man who will smite you on the
cheek is a dangerous man and neeas
no second ipvitstion 4 msn VITO
will take your coat is thief, aud
,c,]d 9onh.|ass take your cloek, tco,
( ae could lay bis hands Gu it Z"
Love your enemies Scch 8
standard Of excellence is TOO high
for humanity There is no llkel'
ncod ,aa, maoy people will follow it
A. ibis very monent Christian mis-
sio.:aries are calling for e!oodsaed
aad vengeance, and Christian armies
.ssc Devastating the laod, spar'og
ue;:ae, age nor sex Tne:e is in
deed /. vast gn: between doctrine
SD pertormabce Could you love
one @ho bad killed ycur ta'bct or
destroyed your home Gonfuc:aa-
ism does nos require snch t;.lns II
eujoias tast kindness be requlied
wi:A kindness. aac an injury with
justice 1t does not sanction re;a'is
ZION ia !. viudlctive spirit, such as, |
feg!e, 50 say. is shown by some
persons protesting to he governed BY
the tenets Of Christianity.
..The most e.rikiGg instance IN
which the teachings of Confucius and
of Christ meet is of the Golden Rule
Confucius put it negatively. to be
sure Do not do to others what you
would not wish them to do to you
but anyone VINO will follow that rule,
either way phrased, will be thor
oughly good man
"A good Christian is good Con
fucian, and a good Confaclsn is 9
good Christian l do not believe
that Heaven is an exclusive place
The advocates of various religions
ere trying to make private park OF
! it for their own adhereuts Whatever
Heaven may be, believe it is a
place for al! good men, irrespective
Of dogma The Chinese are an
eminen,ly practical race. Copfuc'cs
did 10: run away f'oa, the world. but
did his duty in il, lie teaches men
to do good for the sake Of good and
net for cry promise Of re.ard, or
througa any threat OF punishment.
Tie world is gradually coming 10
Ccnfucius One Of the eigos Is the
growth of Agnosticism i will not
say whether people are growing
more calIcus or more civilized, bat
they are no more terrified when the
,errors of the next world are pro-
claimed from the pulpit y
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