The sun., 1900-09-16

subverted. and II would. therefore. be wise
70 make the best Of them That was the
conviction arrived at by the learned
Jesuits OF the seventeenth century. who
pronounced the Chinese practice Of ances-
tral worship nothing more than a civil
rite. and In no way Incompatible with the
profession Of the Christian faith. DR..
GuIRs believes that. had this declaration
been allowed to stand. the probability is
that the Catholic religion would now be
the religion Of China. The Jesuits, how
ever. were opposed by the ignorant Domin-
leans, and. the question being referred
to the Pope, II was decided In favor OF the
latter. Thus q great opportunity was
missed The importance attached TO the
cult Of ancestors at the present day may
be guaged by an Imperial edict Issued on
Feb IS, 1900, In which Ii HUNo CHANo
was instructed TO deseorate and destroy
the tombs Of the forefathers OF the fugitive
reformer KANo-YU-WH. We should here
note that the tolerance extended by Con-
fuoianism TO Buddhism and Taoism Is due
to the fact that on every Buddhist and
Taolst altar stands a small tablet recording
political allegiance TO the Emperor. Con
fucianism asks for no more; II will not per-
NIT any effigy or likeness OF CoNFUcIUs
TO be set up In any such place OF worship.
Christian missionaries have not seen their
way to the same compromise. Neverthe-
less, more than one Protestant missionary
has acknowledged that there is In Con-
fucianism much that is excellent conoern-
- nd mn nOinfQ
In which the doctrines Of Christian revela-
ton are almost echoed" The view. in
deed, prevails much more widely now
than 1t did few years ago. that the sooner
missionaries devote themselves to close
study Of Confucian doctrines the better
II Is the fashion to deride the Chinese
curriculum. and DR.. GILES does not deny
that the introduction of science would be
advantageou in many ways. At the
same time he acknowledges that the Chinese
Classics have had precisely the effect sttrib-
uted by Prof. JEBB in his lecture on
"Humanism In Education to the Classics
Of Greece and Rome; that Is to say, the
culture which they supply, while limited
In the sphere OF its operation. has been an
efficient and vital influence not only In
forming men Of letters and learning. but
in training men who afterward gained
distinction in active life and In various
public careers" There have been many
admirable specimens Of Confucianists dur
ing the present century; men who not only
have been successful as administrators,
but have gained lasting name for probity.
courage and frugality. One Of the most
eminent living examples Of the ethical
value Of Confuolanism Is CHANG CHIH-
TuNa, viceroy OF Hu-peh and Human.
who, In spite of the high posts he has filed
and Is now filling. Is poor man, and Is
universally known to be inoorruptible.
As for the patriarchal system. 1t has many
advantages. 1t encourages morality and
thrift, knits close the family ties and. In
days of failure and distress. provides
support for individuals by means Of a
common fund.
On the whole. DR.. GILES seems to think
that the time has come for giving up frontal
attacks upon Confuoianism There is,
he says. really very little to attack, apart
from the dogma that man Is born good
and that his lapse into evil Is wholly due to
his environment. a dogma which DR.. WEIs-
MANN would accept: and, apart from the
worship OF ancestors. which. as being mainly
commemorative. the Jesuits Of the seven
teenth century were. as we have seen.
disposed TO tolerate. The cardinal virtues
which are most admired by Christians are
strongly inculcated In the Confucian Canon.
and according to DR.. GILES, the general
practice OF these Is certainly up to the
average standard exhibited by foreign
nations. When the first Chinese Ambas-
sador to England was departing home
ward. he said plainly that. while In material
civilization. England was far ahead Of
China, their national morality was nothing
less than shocking. 1t must, indeed"
says DR.. GILES, seem strange to Con-
fucianist. that, with all the boasted in
Huences Of Christianity. 1t should still be
necessary to organize a Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty TO Children. the III
treatment Of children being quite unknown
In China" The charge that female In
fanticide Is due to Confucianism Is pro-
nounced glaringly absurd. In this case,
1t seems possible actually TO prove mega
tive. Every Chinaman marries young.
II his wife dies he marries again. while.
on the other hand, 1t is not thought proper
for widows to remarry. Moreover. many
wel-to-do Cinnamon take oonoubines;
some take two. three and even four. 1t
follows that. unless there Is an enormous
disparity In the numbers Of boys and girls
born. which Is incredible, extensive female
hfanticide cannot be praotised in China.
The conclusion Is that Christian mis-
sionaries would do well TO divert their
onset away from Confucianism and In the
direction Of Buddhism and Taoism. II
the two last-named religions which, what
ever might once be said for them, are now
corrupted and overlaid with degrading
superstitions. could be displaced by Chris
tianity, and II Confucianism could be recog-
nized for what It Is, a pure cult Of virtue,
with commemorative ceremonies In honor
OF its founder and Of family ancestors.
one great barrier between Western peoples
and the Chinese would be broken down.
Tho Falling on OF the American
Bible society's Business.