The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-30
PASTOR SAYS CHINA DOES
NOT NEED CHRISTIANITY
At All Souls Church Rev. Z. L.
Newbert Makes Startling Com
ment on Pu Eun's Visit.
THEME, IS NEW PAGANISN
Minister Thinks Orient Needs
Modernization and Civilization
Rather than Christianization.

That China does not need the Bible, nor
the Christian belief nor the New England
Sabbath, but rather the telegraph, the
telephone and railroads. with commercial
awakening and an industrial and educa-
tional revolution, was the startling state
ment made by the Rev. l.. l.. Newbert
in his sermon yesterday morning at All
Souls Unitarian Church. This statement
was made in the course of an original and
frank comment on the recent visit to In
dianarolis of Prince Pu Lun and his suite.
the presentation of Bible TO the prince
by minister of this city, and the failure
of the princes party to attend church on
Sunday. The speakers theme was .Ihe
New Paganism''
1.-The eplthet 'inflder or atheist or 'ag-
nostic' is quite without meaning to-day
as applied to who think, said the
Rev. Newbert. IAN individual thinker
scarcely can draw the fire of the critic.
And this is because Paine and Parker
and Huxley and others are so many times
multiplied that a multitude of people think
freely and live fearlessly. Frequently, now
our age. 1t is often pointed out that we
are losing in reverence, that we are ire
liglous, and that the Sabbath is desecrated.
Indeed, how great change has been
Within this period falls the bicycle, the
trolley car the automobile and other pleas
ure and health-giving devices to call the
people to live more out of doors. AS a re-
suit Sunday is not less a holiday than a
holy day. Is the critic right who cries a
halt and return? Is this larger use of
Sunday by the masses of the people evil
dence of moral decadence and paganism?
Or does ii argue an advance toward freer
and happier living?
and royalty enjoyed itself Granted that
the prince learned some things. what have
We learned? What of these pagans from
Ac;o nh low 1lxy tres ted
once occur to the committee or to any one
responsible citizen to convert these repre-
sentative Chinese TO our faith? Indeed,
does anybody seriously want TO do so!
What do we in China with our Chris
tian propagandsm? China has a faith of
her own, ancient and sufficient.
PRINCE PU LUN'S SUNDAY.
Much adverse criticism was aroused be-
cause the prince did not attend church last
Sunday. 1t is held that because he was
shown a continental Sunday he was made
to miss the distinctive feature of our Amer
lean life. ] deny that the so-caled Sunday
rest is the distinctive feature of American
life, nor is il the feature most important
for the prince to acquaint himself with.
He was shown our streets and their miles
of attractive home. He saw the happy do
mesticity of our city. He visited factories
and saw the workmen at their work, happy
and contented and intelligent. He visited
our schools and looked into the faces OF
we place on child life, and was introduced
to our corps of noble women teachers.
Before his departure the prince was
given a Bible. l hope the presentations
was not obtrusive. 1t may have been the
courteous thing to do. / hope Ii was, but
doubt arises in some minds. Maybe In this
instance missionary zeal outstripped good
Judgment. The prince does not need the
Bible / doubt if he has any use for it.
He has sacred books of his own. But along
with this Bible let the prince have copy
| loft ba pt inn hav
our best educational works: let him know
the crucial chapters in our history, and let
MIN carry from our shores the ideal OF
democracy.
What China needs is not the Bible. not
| the Christian belief not the New England
| Sabbath. China needs to rekindle the fires
of her national life from the live coal of
the vital Western civilization. China needs
| railroads. She needs the telegraph and the
! telephone. She needs commercial awak-
enng and an industrial and an educational
revolution. She needs TO exalt womanhood.
and to know the prefect liberty of every
man, woman and child"