Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-10
Minister WI Says COnfucianIsm is
Not a Religion
CHRISTIANITY COMPARED
..,o your Enemies" f. Too High a
lombard Of Excellence for Hu-
manity-Thc Golden Rule

vsv York Dec. lO.--Wu Ting Fang
,.. chinese minister to the United
states. speaking before the Society Of
T,bIcal culture at Carnegie hall, on
'Tbs teachings Of Ccnfucius' said In
part
oln the strictest 'ense Of the word
conniclanism is not u religion. II is
nat system of doctrine and worship
II "a easier 10 say what Confucianism
/. not. than what It is.
oThe immortality Of the soul Is
beautiful doctrine, / admit | wish It
we're true and hope IT Is true but an
tba reasoning Of Plato cannot make II
more than a strong probability, ana an
tba light OF modern science has not
brought US one step further NOW
Confuclus would be called an agnostic
n he were alive today. There were
f,ur things that he would not talk
about extraordinary things, feats Of
strength. disorder and spiritual being
How are We TO serve spiritual be-
,pgs9' he was asked When you do
mol know how TO serve men, how can
Won serve spirits2 he replied
Horace Greeley said those who dis
charge promptly and faithfully their
duties 10 those who linger In the flesh,
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
II q man smite you upon one cheek,
YOU should turn the other cheek. OF
This doctrine Mr.. Wa said:
This. II seems 10 me, is meekness
with n vengeance. ! am inclined TO
think no sensible man has ever followed
this Injunction faithfully. a man who
VIII smite you on the cheek Is a dam
geT0us man and needs no second in
yltaton. a man who will take your
coat Is a thief and would doubtless take
your cloak too, II he could lay his hands
on a.
Glove your enemies Such a stand
ard of excellence Is too high for hui
mainly There IS no likelihood that
many people will follow f. AZ this
very moment Christian missionaries
ave calling for bloodshed and vengeance
IN China and Christian armies are
devastating the land, sparing neither
age or sex. There IS. indeed. a vast
gulf between doctrine and performance.
r..ftTV sfatt Inasa ppa gtfI4n had kfIfaH tfntfr
father and brother or DESTROYED your
home? Confuclanlsm does not require
such a thing. II enioins that kindness
be reQuted with kindness and an In
Jury with justice Il does not sanction
retaliation I'm a vindictivo spirit, such
as ! regret % say, Is shown by some
persons protesting 10 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 II negatively, TO be sure
DO not do 10 others what you would
not wish them 10 do TO you'-any one
who will follow that rule either way II
Is phrased, will be a thoroughly good
man.
"A good Christian Is a good Confu-
clan and a good Confucian IS a good
Christian do not believe that heaven
is an exclusive place The advocates Of
various religions are all trying 10 make
a private park Of Il for their own ad-
herents. Whatever heaven NAV be.
believe n Is a place for all good men
irrespective OF dogma. Confucius ana
not run away from the world but did
his duty I'm Il. He teaches mon 90 he
good for the sake OF good and not for
any promise Of reward or through any
threat Of punishment, The world Is
gradually coming 10 Confuclus. one Of
the signs Is the growth OF agnosticlsm
J win not say whether people are grow
ing more callous or more civilized, hut
they are no more terrified when the
terrors Of the next world are proclaimed
from tho nulnft %