The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23
loan Chen Discourses Upon Means
of Fighting Devils.
The Praying Machines of Tibet as
BELLS - Buddhists and Christians
TroubIe-Mnkcrs i'm the Empire
Question Discussed in England.
Special cablcsram-copyrighted.>

in the Daily MALL 1t is a reply TO a re-
nese ignorance and superstition. Chen
comes to the defence of his countrymen
with sacrilegious logic. He admits it is all
true that Cinnamon endeayor to keep of
devils by building on the roofs Of their
houses a little breastwork of cement two
or three feet long and three or four inches
high, with beer bottles stuck in it, muzzles
outward. The sarcastic Chinaman goes on
TO say
1T is said that the Americans spend an
nually probably 5000, 600 600 in proptiating
their gods and devils. do not hesitate to
say that the Chinese are able to do the
same thing just as effectively for much
larger population for less than half this
sum. Many Roman Catholic cathedrals in
Europe and America cost at least a million
sterling. None of them is more effective
in warding off devils than the simple little
fort the Chinaman builds at the top of his
house. inexpensive beer bottles are just
as good TO keep OF devils as the largest
bells ever erected. If any doubt this We
Cinnamon ask competitive trial. Various
othey little devices which some ignorant
found quite effective as the more elab-
crate and most costly paraphernaIia used
in Europe and America for the same pur-
pose.
Much sport has been made in Europe
and America of the Chinese praying ma
chimes in Tibet. Many years ago it was
decided that if one wrote a prayer and
placed it in tea cup and gave the tea cup
one turn it was just as good as repeating
the prayer orally. Ten turns were equal
to ten prayers. This was also found true
no matter to what extent the apparatus
was increased in size or the number OF
prayers added. So at the present time
they put million prayers written on paper
in large vessel mounted on a thin pivot
Giving the vessel one turn it registers one
million prayers. each of which is as eff
fective as any other prayer If anyone
doubts this we challenge them to a compe-
tition. If your missionaries can show us
any device in Europe which would be more
efiicacious in keeping off devils or cheaper
or mere expedient in propitiating the del
ties for prayers than those that exist
among our important people today then.
and not till then, will ii be time for you
to send missionaries TO China.
"An our superstitious practices are
among the Taoists and Buddhists. The
learned literary and official classes are
all Confucians. and Confucius taught us TO
respect our ancestors and leave the gods
alone. Confucius teaches us TO have moth
ing to do with anyone who pretends TO
have intercourse with the supernatural.
We do not believe in any angels and
demons, which belief is so common in all
other systems, and it has often been said
of US that because we do not believe in
these supernatural beings our system is
not religion at all.
When the first Jesuit missionaries went
to China they did not attempt to NEEDLE
with the institutions OF the country They
taught mathematics, astronomy, and other
philosophical subjects. They were well
received and made themselves popular
with the Emperor; but as soon as they
commenced to attack the institutions of
the country they were warned to quit
Dropping cynicism and becoming ear
nestly logical. Chen continues:
What We require in China is scientific
men-men educated in some of the con-
crete sciences that We do not understand
to the same extent that you understand
them in England. We do not object to
your doctors, and We admire their skill;
we do not object to your engineers. and
neither do We object to any of your Sci
entihc men, SO long as they do not in
terfere with existing institutions The
whole cause of the present trouble in
China Is because we have an ignorant and
superstitious class of people. The Bud
dhists, who have religion almost iden-
tica. with-the Christian religion and who
are jealous Of others who are bringing
what they consider competing faith, feel
exactly the same as the people would In
this country if the Buddhists were to
come here and attempt to supplant Cath
olics and Protestants. But what exaspe-
rates us more than anything is the i'm
ulunity which the so-called converts have
from the action of law in their own coun-
try. Suppose Chinese priest should come
TO England, and il was known .i.at every
burglar and pickpocket there by becom-
ing a Buddhist would be exempt from ar
rest.
Suppose the introduction of the new
faith in England should give the criminal
classes license to ply their trade in Lor-
don with complete immunity from the as
tfon OF the laws, would the English peo-
pie submit to such state of affairs? Why.
then should we Chinese be an exception to
the rule? Our civilization is the oldest In
the world. II enables more men TO live 10
the square mile in comfort than any other
civilization ever evolved. Before the mis-
scenarios visited our country there was
much less crime In proportion to the popu-
iation than even in Protestant Russia
which IS regarded as the most moral of Eu-
ropean countries. Our kind of civilization
may differ from that OF Europe, but ii suits
us better We do not care to throw il over
unless something better is produced. some
thing really better when viewed from our
standpoint.
Our religious belief is quite as reason
able and respectable as those of other ma
tiors. and. II age should be considered one
OF the factors Of responsibility, our sys-
tens must be infinitely more respectable
than the new faiths. some OF which are
only three or four hundred years old. Il
there any reason why we Chinese should
not be allowed to enjoy our religion in our
country in orr own way? Confucius taught
US thet we should do to others as we
would have them do to us, and this. / be-
Iieve. has been introduced into the Chris
tan religion, and is generally known as
the Golden Rule. Certainly the English
would not like to have US interfere with
any of their religions or institutions.
IF we should force our priests upon
England VIC should be doing to the English
what We would not like them to do to US.
Conversely, the English in enforcing their
priests upon us are doing what they would
not like others 10 do unto them. Conse-
quently they are not only breaking the
fundamental peace Of their own faith, but
another faith also.
1T would be quite impossible to have