The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-12-12
Minister Wu'S Sermon.
Out OF Chrlst's Mouth Does
He Condemn Christians.

New York, December 9-Wu
Ting Fang, the Chinese minister to
the United States, spoke before the
Society for Ethical Culture. at Carne
gle Music Hall. this morning on "The
Teachings Of Confucus.
Mr.. WI said in part:
"In the stric.est sense of the word
Contuclanism is not q religion. 1t ia
not system OF doctrine and worship
1t is perhaps easier to say what Con
fuclanism is not than what it is
"The immortality of the soul is a
beautiful doctrine. admit. Iwish
it were true. AID hope it is true
But all the reasoning of Plato cannot
make it more than q strong pro
liability. And al the light Of modern
science has not brought us one step
further Now, Cohfucius would be
called an Agnostic if he we're alive
today. There were four things that
be would not talk sbout-extrsordi
nary tbiDgs, fests of strength. dis.
order and spiritual being. How arc
we to serve spiritual beings p he was
asked. 'When you do not know how
to serve men how should you hope
to serve spirits ?" be replied. Horace
Greeley said that those who die
charge promptly and faithfully their
duty to those who linger 10 the Aesb,
have but little time to peer into the
affairs of those who have passed
away Confucius was intensely hu.
man and practical. he did not spend
time speculssing as to what will
happen after death"
The minister then compared the
practical teachipgs of Confucius with
those of Christ He read passage
from the New Testament, directing
that eyil be not resisted with evil,
and that if man smite you on one
cheek you should turn the other
cheek Of this doctrine Mr. WI
said:
"This, it seems to me, is neekness
with vengeance l am inclined to
think that no sensible man has ever
followed this injunction faithfully.
A man who will smi.e you on the
cheek is dangerous man and needs
no second invitation A man who
will take your coat is a thief, and
would doubtless take your cloak, too,
if he could lay his hands on it 1"
'Love your enemies Such
standard Of excellence is too high
for humanity There 10 no likeii
hood that many people will follow it
At this very moment Christian mis-.
sionaries are calling for bloodshed
and vengeance. and Chrietian armies
are devastating the land, sparing
neithe: age nor sex There is in
deed vast gulf between doctrine
and performance Could you love
Que who had killed your father or
destroyed your home Confuclan.
ism does not require snch thing 1t
enjoins that kindness be requiied
with kindness. and an injury with
justice 1t does not sanction retalia
zion 10 vindictive spirit, such as, |
regret 10 say, is ehown by some
persons protesting to be governed by
the tenets of Christianity.
"The most etriking instance in
which the teachings of Confucius and
of Christ meet is of the Golden Rule
Contucius put it negatively, to be
sure-Do not do to others what you
would not wish them to do to you
but anyone who will follow that rule,
either way phrased, will be q thor.
oughIy good man
"A good Christian is a good Con
fucian, and good Confucisn is a
good Christian do not believe
that Heaven is an exclusive place
The advocates of various religions
are trying to make a private park of
it for their own adherents Whatever
Heaven may be. believe it is q
place for all good men. irrespective
Of dogma The Chinese are an
eminensly practical race Copfucius
did not run away from the world. but
did his duty in it, He teaches men
to do good for the sake of good and
not for sny promise of reward, or
through any threat of punishment.
The world is gradually coming to
Confucius One Of the eigns is the
growth of Agnosticism | will not
cay whether people are growing
more callous or more civilized, but
they are no more terrified when the
,errors Of the next world are pro.
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