Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-28
WI ANSWERS DR. HOYT
CHINESE MINISTER DEFENDS HIS
FORMER UTTER RANGES.
Replies to Critics as to His Compare
son of Christianity and
COnfuc in ism.

WI Ting Fang. Chinese minister plenlpo-
tertiary to the United States, replied to
his critics editorial yesterday, in the course
of lecture on "Confucius and Mencius,'
delivered before the Society of Ethical Gull
ture in Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia.
S. Burns Weston, director of the society,
introduced Minister WI, who said:
'Twenty-four centuries ,hdTe rolled by
since Confucius walked this earth. His
influence is as great today among his coun-
trymen as 1t ever was before. Never was
his name held in greater veneration than
it is now. Throughout length, and breadth
of the Chinese empire everywhere are tenn
Piles erected in his memory. Every school
boy acknowledges him as the supreme teach
er of the Chinese race. His spirit pervades
a nation of four hundred millions, and his
word is recognized as law to the most
august emperor on the throne, as well as
to the meanest peasant at the plow Thus
is Confucius enthroned in the hearts of his
countrymen.'
At the close of his address Minister WI
quoted an extract from the sermon of the
Rev. DR.. Wayland Hoyt. in Philadelphia on
Sunday, December 16, in which the latter
spoke Of Ii Hung Chang's high tribute to
the work of Christian missionaries in China,
and asked what reply the Chinese minister
could make
DIR. Hoyt has done me, though doubtless
unwttingly, a gross injustice continued
WI Ting Fang. "Since he wants a reply,
l have no hesitation in giving him one.
l indorse every word that Earl Ii has said
on the subject of foreign missionaries, as
cited by the doctor. To prove that am
sincere in what l say / beg to refer the
doctor to the address I delivered in Deem
Der last before the American Academy OF
Political and Social Science in Philade! phia
on the Causes of the UnDopularity of For
eigners in China l suppose the doctor had
not read that address, or, If he had read 1t,
he had forgotten it. In any case, l would
not believe that an eminent divine could be
capable of purpoSely msconStruing 1t.
DIR. Hoyt and some other clergymen,
from their addresses, seem to think that
I charged all missionaries with crying out
for vengeance. Let me read the exact
words l used. Love your enemy is Christ's
command, but at this moment some Chris
tan missionaries are crying out for ven
geance and bloodshed.' Note that l used
the word some
II am inclined to think that the reason
why some clergymen-and l am glad to say
that there are not many-ta6k offense at
what said in my address on COnfuclanlSm,
is that took the liberty of instituting a
comparison between ConfucianiSm and
Christianity, which they supposed was done
to the disparagement of the latter. There
was certainly no intention on my part to
make an attack upon Christianity. Surely,
1t Is no dlscredit to say that Christianity
Is too high and elevated for frail humanity,
and that all Christians are not acting up to
its tenets, just as it Is no disgrace to &C
knowledge that the Confucianists in China
do not live up to the teaching OF Confu-
cius.
1T seems strange that some clergymen
should resent any attempt to compare
Christianity with other systems of belief,
while they themselves do not scruple to at
tack other religions. In other words, they
do just what they do not want others to do.
Since my address on Csnfucius was de-
hvered have seen Confucianism con-
demned right and left. 1t has been called
a failure. 1t has been sdubbed 'effete,
vague, unworthy of attention. rotten to
the core, totterlng to its fall and the like.
Il do not, however. quarrel with those
VINO apply such opprobrious epithets 10 our
creed. If Confucianism were bad as its
| detraetors try to make it out to be, 1t Is
! strange that after twenty-four centuries il
| should be able TO count millions and nit
lions OF people as its adherents. The noble
and sublime teachings of Christianity need
| not fear criticism, much less friendly COM
parison.
Il believe that all religions teach men to
| be good. Il every man would really try tc
| act up to the doctrines enjoined by his re-
| Hgion the world would be far better. II
| would be well if priests and clergymen OF
| every faith and creed would do their best
| to promote this desirable end Thus, these
! words of Confucius wilIfbe fulfilled, Let
| US all live in peace, as brothers..