The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-10
MINISTER WU'SLOGIC
COMPARED TEACHINGS or CON-
FtCius AND CHRtsTIANITY.
c0NFUCIANlSM NOT RELIGION.
SOME PRACTICAL TEACHINGS or
CHRiST NOT FOLLOWED.

Tie shows From the Course os Events
in China THAT There O. ..Vass
Guif H~twccn Doctrinr aud Per-
forn'hnce"-Coiden Hut~ l. IN,
Most striking Instance In which
the Teachings OF christ aud Con-
fucius Mcet
New York Dcc 9-wu Tine Fang. tho
Chinese miristcr 20 the Uri.ci states.
spoke before hc Society for q hl,aI cul-
ture at Carnegie Music Hau this morning
on ''The Teaching OF Conncius"
Mr. va said In pirt.
I'm ihc stuctcst sense of the word.
confueauism is not re igiou Ii ia not
a system OF doctrine ma worship II "a
perhaps easter o. say what Confucianlsm
Is MOI than what IL g.
'rhc immortality 81 the soul l. a boou-
uful doctfiua. I admit wish IL we're
true. anI ] hope "a g. true. But an the
reasoning of Plato c1nnot make q mora
than strong PROBABILITY Ana all tho
hght of moleru science has not brought
us one step further. Now. Confucius
woult De called an nrnostlc II be wers
alive to-day. There wcrc four thlnra that
he would not talk about-extrno. binary
things. fcats of strength. disorder ana
spiritual being How are We to serve
spiritual bcinesT he was asked. When
you do not know how Co sofvc men. how
should YOU hopc 90 serve splritsg ho re-
piled Horace Greeley said that those
who discharge promptly and faithfully
their duty 90 those who lngcr in the lesh
have but little time to peer into the ar
fairs OF those who have passed away.
Confucius was intensely humane and
practical. Iie did not spend time speculate
Ing a. TO what will happcn after death"
They Do Not Practice n.
The minister then compared the arao-
deal teachings of Confuclus with those
OF Christ he read passage from the
New Testament directing chat eva be not
resisted with cyll and that u "a man smita
you on one cheek. you should turn the
other check. OF this doctrine. Mr.. Wa
salds
This. e seems 10 me. is meckness with
a vengeance am inclined 20 think that
no sensible man has ever followed this
injunction faithfully A man who will
smlio you on the cheek Is dangerous
man and needs no second invitation. A
man who will take your COW Is a thief
aud would doubtless take your cloak too,
q be could lay hls hands on o..
Love your enemies Such q standard
of excellence iH too high FOR humanity
There is no likelihood that many people
Christian missionaries are calling for
bloodshed and vengeance. and Christian
armies are devastating the land. sparlng
neither age nor sea. There ls indeed a
vast gulf between doctrine and perform
ance Gould YOU love one who had killed
your father OF destroyed your homc7 Con-
fucianism does not require such thing
II enioins that Kindness b. requHet with
kindness. and an Injury with Justice IL
hoes not sanction retaliation tn vindic-
tive spirit. such az. ! regret % say. is
shown by some persons protesting 20 be
governed by the tcnets of Christianity.
Together on the Golden Rule.
''Tho most striking instance IN which
tho teachings OF C0nfucius ana Of Christ
meet is that of the Golden Rule. Con-
fucius put It negatively. 90 be aure-'Do
not do 20 others what YOU would not wish
them 10 do Ia you-nut any one who VIII
follow that rule. either way " is phraAcd.
will be- a thoroughly good man.
- good Christian o. g good Confucian.
and good Confucian D. good Chris
tlan. I DO not believe that hcnven b. an
exclusive place. The advocates ~ various
religions are an trying 10 make "a private
park 81 % for their own adherents What
ever heaven may be. / believe % Is piaee
for an good men. irrespective Of dogma.
The Chinese are an cminently practical
race. Conmcius did not run away from
the world but dld his duty la g. lie
teaches men 20 do good for the sake OF
-ead. and not f0r any promise Of reward
or through any threat 81 punishment.
The world g. gradually coming 90 Con-
fueius. ono OF tho signs is the growth
of aenosticism. / will not say whether
people are growing more cailous or more
civilized. but they are no more terrined
,ghrn the torrors OF tho next world are
nrorfalrned from the pulpit"