Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-24
CHRISTIANITY" IN BURMA.

ing every nerve, 10 create the iilpIeS-
sion that the Gospel OF Jesus Is sys-
tenn OF basphemous falsehood, 1t may
not be without interest to note that
disciples Of Buddha, on the other side
Of the globe, proclaim against Chris
tianlty," much in the same way as min
listers here preach against Mormon
Ism" And they are not Aslastlcs either.
They are Europeans gone to Burma for
the express purpose OF retaining the
few converts to Christianity that re-
side in that country,
one Of these anti-Chrlstian mission
aries Is an Irishman, known In Burma
as Dhammaloka He Is In his denuncia-
lions as vehement as most anti-"Mor-
mon emissaries Some specimens Of
his speeches are given in Chicago de-
nomlnational Journal He gives vent
to the following:
Christianity, as a system OF religion,
ls sorry stuff. Unbelief Is steadily
gaining ground In Europe. Look at
the lawlessness In the Church Of Eng
land at the present time No wonder'
The other day three Christian bishops
came together at Manchester and open
ly confessed how the advance ofscience
was making It impossible TO continue
TO believe In many Of the fundamental
doctrines Of Christianity As science
advances, belief in Christianity Is fad
Ing In Europe Christianity spreads In
this country, not because II has any
Intrinsic worth-for science has shown
that 1t has none-but because It's mis-
sionaries are backed up by the powers
OF the purse"
About the missionaries in Burma, this
zealot has this to say:
'grhere are at present, you know,
many Christian missionaries In Burma,
trying TO pick holes In your blessed re-
ligion and convert you, Burmans, into
Christianity These missionaries are
very fond OF writing pamphlets ana
tracts that deal with dsparagng and
critical remarks on Buddhism, and dis
tributlng them among the Buddhist
population; and am afraid some Budu-
hists. knowing very little Of the excel
lence of their own religion, viii In an
evil hour be led astray by their per
suasive, though hollow, arguments so
now, come to you, not particularly as
a preacher, but rather as a warner.
presume you all know very well that
'forewarned Is 70 be forearmed.' You
should always be on your guard against
the preaching Of those missionaries. II
they apprise you that they have
brought to you what they call western
civilization, or religion OF peace, do not
hesitate a moment TO reply That you
would rather call II western attraction,
or religion OF bloodshed. II they ask
you to give the reasons why, refer
them to me and I will explain them all
Christianity teaches an imaginative
heaven, supposed 10 be full OF happl-
ness. Again, you must be able
to analyze the reasons why so many
bloody wars and cruel murders took
place in the history Of Christianity as
also why so much peace and prosperity
prevailed in that Of Buddhism on these
grounds / remind you not to be so weak
I'm moral courage as 10 readily ran
victim TO the Christian missionaries
We quote this merely as a curiosity.
Here in Utah the representatives of
various denominations endeavor to
make out that their brands Of Chris
tlanlty" are verify true They boldly
assert dn the preface to a recent pam
phlet) that they have existed so long
that their Character and effects only
require reference TO true history to
prove them all that they claim Their
christianity" they assert, is alone
truly historic and proyable by this
test of the ages" If this is true and
not merely a proud boast, whence all in
fidelity and skepticism2 If only refer
ence to true history is needed to estah-
lish their claim, why is not practically
every opponent silenced? Why is mod
ern Christianity everywhere put on the
defensive, instead Of marching on
ward from victory to victory
under the banner Of truth, as Christian
lty did in the early ages and as the
Gospel Of Jesus is doing now, notwith-.
standing all opposition?
The fact is that what is offered as
truth Is largely man-made doctrine,
changed 20 suit the world In Its un-
comfortable desire for wealth, power
and enjoyment. History, past and pres
ent, proves that. Has II salvation to
offer the world? II so, whence the
wars and conflicts between nations?
Whence the struggles on the field OF
industry? Whence corruption In Of
fetal circles and lnhuman brutality
among rich and poor? Whence divorces
and violation OF sacred covenants?
Whence poverty, crime, hypocrisy, OPP
preston? Has this Christianity held
sway for many centuries, and is the
Christian" world today very much
ahead, morally, Of India and China?
II so. It is high time 10 look the mat
ter up in earnest. Phrases are Of no
value. Is the world DESTROYS Of saliva
ton both from sin and its consequences
as seen In political, social, and business
relations? II 50, II must turn to the
Gospel Of the Redeemer That alone
provides for the adjustment Of all hu-
man affairs in harmony with the laws
OF God, obedience TO which means hap-
pincss on earth and progress and eX-
altation hereafter. For that alone
points out the way TO the restitution
Of all things"