The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-30
LET Us LIVE IN HOLY PEACE.
CHRISTIAN SPIRIT OF A HEATHEN.

Ethical culture Is at Last Making a
Reality OF the Much-BOasted, but
Heretofore, IL Religious Matters,
Little Practised, Right OF Free
Speech-BOth Christ and COnfucius
Set Up Standards Which are Above
the Attainment of Frail Humanity,
hut the Effort 10 Reach that Stand.
ard Cannot but he Beneficial to
Mankind.
Philadelphia, Pa, January 27-Wu Ting
Fang, Chinese minister rplenipotentiary to the
United states. replied 10 ms critics mn, IN the
u.s." delivered before the Society of Ethical
Culture, at horticultural Hall. Every avail
able inch OF both seating and standing room
was occupied by an audience attracted by the
protest and criticism raised by Minister Wu's
utterances in New York city on the subject OF
Christianity. which listened with much inter-
est to the speaker. The Chinese minister's
statements. however, were extremely COD
servaLive.
S Burns Watson, director of the society. in.
troduced Minister WI. who said:
Twenty four centuries have rolled nv since
Confucius walked this earth. His influence
is as great o.day among his ooun trym as 1t
ever was before. Never was his name held In
greater veneration than 1t is now. Through
out the length and breadth of the Chinese En-
plre, everywhere, are temples erected In his
memory. Every schoolboy acknowledges
him as the supreme teacher of the Chinese
race. His spirit pervades 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 plough. Thus Is Contucius enthroned In
the hearts of his countrymen."
In closing the speaker said
II find that the address on Confucians ism
delivered last Monday at Carnegie Hall, In
New York. has attracted great deal of at
tention. II also has met with some adverse
criticism"
Minister WI quoted comment of the Rev.
DR.. Wayland Hoyt OF this city, In which the
latter spoke OF Ii Hung Changes high tribute
to the work OF Christian missionaries in Chi
ma, and asked what reply the Chinese minis
ter could make.
"Dr. HoyL has done me, though doubtless
upwiLingiy, a gross In Justice" continued MIR.
WI: "Since he wants a reply. have no hes.
itatlon In giving him one. I endorse 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 say. I
beg TO refer the doctor to the address deliver
ed in December last before the Amerscan Ao.
ademy OF Political and Social Science ir Phil.
adelphia on the Causes OF the Unpopularity
of Foreigners In China / suppose the doctor
had not read that address, or. If he had read
1t, be bad forgotten 1t. In any case, would
not believe that an eminent divine could be
capable of purposely misconstruing 1t.
Il am inclined to think that the reason why
some clergymen-and / am glad to say that
there are not many-took offence at what
SalQ IN my ADDRESS on COn1uClaD1Srn IL tnat i
took the liberty of instituting q comparison
between Confucianism and Christianity,
which they supposed was done 10 the dispar.
agement Of the latter. There was certain ly no
intention on my part to make an attack upon
Christianity. Surely II is no discredlt TO say
that Christianity is too high and elevated for
frall humanity and that all Christiane are
not acting up to Its tenets, just as 1t is no
disgrace TO acknowledge that the Con fucian-
ists In China do not live up TO the teaching OF
Confucius.
1T seems strange that some clergymen
should resent any attempt to compare Chris
tiantty with other systems OF belief, while
they themselves do not soruple 10 attack other
they do not want others 10 do. Since my ad-
dress on Confucius was delivered have seen
Confucianism condemned right and left. 1t
has been called failure. 1t has been dubbed
'etfete, vague unworthy of attention. rot
ten to the core tottering TO Its fall and the
like.
II do not, however. quarrel with those who
apply such opprobrious epithets TO our creed.
II Confuc'apism was as bad as Its detractors
try 10 make IL out 10 be, 1t is strange that af-
ter twenty-four centuries II should be able TO
count millions and millions OF people as its
edberents. The noble and sublime teachings
less friendly comparison.
II believe that all religions teach men to be
good. Ifevery man would really try to act up
TO the doctrines enjoined by his religion the
world would be far better. 1t would be we'll
If priests and cergymen Of every faith and
creed would do their best to promote this de-
sirable end. Thus these words OF Confucius
will be fulfilled: Let US live In holy peace
as brothers,"