The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-23
'WANTED-A NEW RELIGION"
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED BY REV
DIR. 1. p. NsENDEs.


Max MuIler-A New Religion Not
Needed But, "A Purer Form of Those
Now Existing-AiI the Great Re
IigiOns Say eco Forth and Learn"
Next Fridays to BE the Last Lee
ture of the Series.
Rev. DR.. /. P. Mendes delivered the
last but one of the lectures of his present
course at the Mickva Israel Temple yes
terday afternoon. His subject was Want
ed-A New Religion" DR. Mendes said:
1t is most remarkable, yet most true.
that there is scarcely an incident or oc-
currence in everyday life, that at some
time or another cannot be put to
some good and profitable use. Under this
head we can very appropriately include
the memorable visit of the one-time jap
anese minister to Washington, Arnori
Mort, to the no less distinguished, but
better known and more celebrated sage,
the late Max Muller. While the visit has
in it some amusing features in the main,
it is one of the most valuable channels
for conveying to the inquiring mind
useful pointed and instructive lesson. The
story goes, that one bright morning the
bell of Max Muller's residence was vio-
lently pulled, and upon the door being
opened by the servant, a loud voice was
heard demanding an audience with Max
Muller. In vain the servant protested
that his master could not then be seen,
for he was at the moment eating his
morning meal The visitor, however, in
sisted upon seeing the mans master i'm
mediately. as he had only ten minutes to
spare and his mission was most import
ant Suiting his actions to his words, he
pushed the servant aside and without
further ceremony, ran, walked, or rather
rushed into the breakfast room of Max
Muller. The author and his wife were
seated at the table and the stranger
briefly introducing himself as Arinori
Mort, plunged at once into the purpose
of his unexpected visit. you see. sir"
he exclaimed in very good English, eve
want a new religion in Japan. 1 do not
speak for myself, for 1 am satisfied with
the teachings of Confucius But the peo-
pie at large. the uneducated people, have
lost their religion, They do not believe
in their Buddhist teachers; they laugh
at our Shinto priests They have in
fact no religion at ALL" Continuing his
hurried speech. Arinori Mort appealed
most earnestly to Max Muller in the fol-
lowing words: Now, sir you know all
the religions of the world What religion
shall we adopt?" After reviewing in very
brief all the religions that he could at
the moment recall, Max Muller conclud-
ed by suggesting to his japanese visitor
that it might be just as well If the Jap
anese would continue to cling to their
own religion, sift it. improve it, reform
t. and in this way bring forth a Budd-
hism which would in every way fill the
many wants of the people of that coun-
try. After receiving this advice from Max
Muller, Arinori Mort, thanked his host for
his courtesy and information, and rush
ed out of the house in the same excited
manner, as he had entered it. There is a
pathetic sequel to the narrative. for it IS
related that soop after his return to ia
pan, Arinori Mort was appointed minister
of public education and whilst filling
| that important positioa, was murdered
! by religious fanatic ifI3the streets of the
capital. AS have already said this event
occurred some few years ago, in that Mt
tie town of oxford, England, far-famed
for its colleges and scholars, yet to-day,
whilst the bells of life are ringing forth
their joyful tones in honor of a new born
century, it suddenly rises up Phoenix-like
in our midst, as if voicing the wishes and
expressing the demands of an entire civ
| ilized world. The Arinori Morris are on
every side of US clamoring for new re-
ligion a religion which will fill every
want, which will satisfy every longing,
| what will crafty every within and, in
short, a religion which will create con-
dltion of affairs that will be satisfactory
and acceptable to every one. Like the
original Max Muller they have dived and
delved into the mysteries Of every recog-
nized religion of civilization, though un-
like the original Arinori Mort, they have
| failed to find for themselves some one
| particular guide that they deem worthy
of leading them into the avenues of :.
better and a more profitable life They
are simply dissatisfied with the present
! day religion. To their enlightened and
| educated minds the doctrines, laws and
customs formulated centuries ago, and
| which are now upheld and advocated by
| every church in the land have become
both unnecessary and incomprehensible
| To them the acts of their fathers seem
in the light of modern criticism nonsen-
steal, far-fetched, and in every way ou'
of place The events and occurrences Of
ancient times, are in their estimation,
based upon barbarism to so great an ex-
tent, that to-day the very nature within
item revolts at even their rehearsal
Whether it be Judaism, Christianity. Ma
homedanism, Buddhism, Confucianism
or any Monotheistic or Pagan religion
known to man, the demand is one and
the same. it is Arinori Morris cry, want
ed a new religion" But. candidly and hon
| estly speaking. will thds creation of
| new religion fill the existing want with
any degree of satisfaction and accepta-
bihty? When it comes to the point Of
forming, establishing an adopting
new religion to the needs