The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-14

Japan to-day "A little competition
between these two great organizations.
she thinks, will result only In good, for
it will develop religion founded on the
great fact that both Lord BuDDHA and
CHRIST JESUS taught and lived the doc
trine Of the universal brotherhood OF
humanity
This conception Of essential likeness
between Buddhism and Christianity daz-
zles another contributor, Mr.. A. MARQUES.
The well-known theory Of certain more
or less fantastic philosophers that JESUS
may have been a Buddhist, for Bud
dhist missionaries had reached Pales-
tine long before his time," Mr. MARQUES
carries further, for he ranks himself
with the occult students who hint
at mysterious intimate connection
between the personalities OF BuDDHA
and Of JESUS" He disoerns similar
tiles between the symbolism of Chris
tianity and Buddhism which he can
explain in no other way, especially the
similarity noticeable between the cere-
monies and rituals of the Roman Catholic
Church and those of Lamaism. The
differences between Christianity and
Buddhism seem to him to concern the
outer form only and therefore prove
to the satisfaction OF impartial students
that all religions at their core are identi-
cally the same" the superficial differ
ences being only to render them more
suitable to the peoples and times for
which these differences are intended. v
Undoubtedly this is true 80 far as con-
Germs the necessary supernatural basis
common to them all.
The conclusion Of Mr.. MARQUES is that
the similarities and differences between
Buddhism and Christianity as whole,
are of such nature that Christianity may
be said to be theoretically a younger
offshoot Of Buddhism, intended for
young and coarser races but where is
the evidence to support it? He makes
no pretence Of presenting any but, like
all his fellow writer's in this magazine,
indulges himself in shadowy and mysti-
cal generalities only.
Mrs FREDERIKA MACDONALD takes
a different view. The assumption that
in BUDDHA we have an Indian CHRIST,
is, according to her, a" blunder, for il
you 20 to Buddhism hoping to find in it
what the sincere Christian finds in Chris
tianity you will be disappointed:
Buddhism docs not give you any authoritative
account Of tho creation OF the world, nor OF the
means by which sin and death nrst came 10 spoil
the perfect order OF things docs not promise you.
In return for your prayen, exemption from pain
and evil, nor any support nor favorable Interior.
ence In your behalf the part Of the Divine Powers
BuppnA does not proclaim himself Saviour willing
and able 70 take upon his shoulders the sins OF the
whee weird. On the contrary he declares that
each man must bear the burden Of his own sins. In
other words that there Is no remission Of sins, but
only ex pastion. So far from promising to save his
disciples by his merits from the effects OF their mis-
deeds he declares that God, even can do for any
man that work Of self conquest and seifemanclpa
ton that, In the religion OF BuppHA. stands for sal
vas,on.' By oneself the evil Is done. says RuDpHA.
by oneself one suffers BY oneself evil Is left un
done By oneself ono Is purified Purity and i'm.
purity belong to oneself
We shall not undertake to follow Mrs.
MAcDoNALD's attempt at the elucidaton
of Buddhism, for she, like the other writ
ers In the Light Of Dharmo is painfully
unsuccessful In it, darkening rather than
enlightening her subject. Devout faith
that only by Buddhism is the riddle Of
the universe solvable is manifested by
all of them, and there can be no doubt
Of their unquenchable zeal in the Bud
dhist propaganda upon which they have
entered 30 methodically.