The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-11
MINISTER WI
ON MISSIONARIES
Reminds Them to Love
Their Enemies"
THEN CITES THEIR
CRY FOR REVENGE
Compares Teachings of Christ
and COnfucius.

/ New York, Dec. IO.-Wu Ting Fang.
the Chinese minister to the United
States, speaking before the Society of
/ The Teachings of Confucius,' said, in
part:
In the strictest sense of the word,
Confucianism is not q religion. 1t is
not a system of doctrine and worship.
1t is easier to say what Confucianism
is not. than what it is.
THE immortality of the soul is a
beautiful doctrine, I admit / wish it
were true, and I hope it is true, but all
the reasoning Of Plato cannot make it
more than a strong probability, and
all the light Of modern science has not
brought US one step further Now, Con-
fucius would be called an agnOstic if
ne were alive today. There were four
things that he would not talk about
extraordinary things, feats of strength,
disorder and spiritual being
" How are We TO serve spiritual be
ings? he was asked.
Sc When you do not know how to
serve men, how can you serve spir-
it's he replied.
Horace Greeley said those who dis
charge promptly and faithfully their
duties to those who linger in the flesh
nave BUL fAELlE time 70 peer 4IlLO the
affairs of those who have passed away.
COnfuCiuS was intensely practical and
human. He did not spend time specu-
lating as TO what viii happen after
death"
Attacks Cheek-Smiting Precept.
The minister then compared the prac-
teal teachings Of ConfUciUs with those
of Christ. he read a passage from the
New Testament, declaring hat evil
should no no T-Aefefad vr-i+h OWL and
If q man smite you uDOn one cheek.
you should turn the other cheek. OF
this doctrine Mr. WI said:
This. il seems to me, is meekness
with a 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 dan
gerous man, and needs no second invi-
tatiOn. A man who VIII take your coat
is a thief, and would doubtless take
your cloak, too, if he could lay his
hands on It
How Missionaries Love Enemies.
Love your enemies Such a stand
ard Of excellence is TOO high for hui
mainly. At this very moment Chris
tiau missionaries are calling for blood
shed and vengeance in China, and
Christian armies are devastating the
land. Sparing neither age nor sex.
There is indeed, a vast gulf between
doctrine and performance. Could You
love one who had killed your father
and brother, or destroyed your hOme2
Confucianisn does not require such a
thing. ] enjoins that kindness be re
auited with kindness. and an injury
with justice. tt does not sanction re-
taliatiOn in a vindictive spirit, such as,
regret to say, is shown by some per
sons protesting TO be governed by the
tenets OF Christianity.
Agree on Golden Rule.
1.-The most striking instance in which
the teachings Of Confucius and of
Christ meet is in the golden rule Con-
fucius puts it negatively, to be sure
DO not do to others what you would
not wish them to do 10 you and one
who will follow that rule either way il
is phrased, VIII be q thoroughly good
man.
"A good Christian is a good Confu-
elan, and a good COnfucian is a good
Christian. 1 do not believe that heaven
is an exclusive place The advocates of
various religions are al trying to make
a private park of It for their own ad-
herents. Whatever heaven may be. I
believe it is a place for ali good men,
irrespective OF dogma. Confucius did
not run away from the world, but did
his duty in it. He teaches men to be
good for the sake Of good, and not for
any promise Of reward or through any
threat Of punishment The world is I
gradually coming to Confucianism. One |
IF the signs is the growth of agnostic- /
SIN. I win not say whether people are 1
growing more callOus or more civilized, /
cut they. are no more terrified when |
he terrors of the next world are pro- +
claimed from the pulpit