The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-10

Christianity Is no longer treated as the
only true and the one supreme religion
the propagation Of which Is necessary
for the salvation Of the world
We shall not undertake to follow Mr..
LrLLY's exposition Of the spirit and
doctrine Of Buddhism particularly. but
will simply refer to his conclusion re-
speeding it's lesson for the Western
world. 1t Is that In this period when
the Western intellect has east of the
Christian mythology" the teaching OF
BuDDHA offers an infinitely wiser,
sweeter and more ennobling doctrine
than that Of tho now "unhappily pre-
dominant school among us which makes
happiness, or agreeable feeling, the
formal constituent Of virtue, and seeks
to deduce tho laws Of conduct from the
laws Of comfort; so that mot the In
tention Of the doer, but the result Of the
deed" Is made the Atest. Of the ethical
value Of the act" This school, therefore,
is practically without moral guidance.
Like our modern science, Buddhism
discards the theory Of the soul in
man and teaches that man has no
knowledge Of an Infinite and Absolute
Being; that "law rules everywhere
throughout the phenomenal universe;
but it teaches also that in the ethical
and spiritual sphere is an order which
is the counterpart Of that lava law Of
Righteousness, with it's moral retribu-
ton, which abides forever. Thus would
Buddhism furnish the guide to the light
of "Gnosis" from the darkness and hope
lessness Of Agnoeticism.
The late Mr.. LAFcADIo HEARN pre-
dicted that "out Of the certain future
union Of Western knowledge with East
ern thought there must eventually pro-
coed a eo-Buddhism, which, embra-
cling all the strength Of science, is yet
spiritually able to recompense the seeker
after truth Similar confidence seems
now to have entered into the mind OF
the Buddhist world. After thousand
years Of cessation from propagandism
Il has walked up at last to the notion that
it's mission is to reform the Western
world, not merely to stand impassive
against Christian propaganda. In
Japan, Ceylon and Burmah the Bud
dhist clergy are embarrassing missiona-
ries with criticisms Of Christianity, and
schools and societies and publications
for expounding Buddhism are multi
piled. At Rangoon a very able maya
zine has been established to assist in
the propaganda.
OF course, the Confucian philosophy
is the form Of religious thought OF which
this Christian missionary in China was
speaking specifically, but It's present
tendency to more contemptnous regard
of Christianity is another Of tho mani
festatlons OF the Oriental revolt against
the religious propaganda Of the West.
As Christendom abandons it's old faith
the Oriental world is the more convinced
Of the superiority Of it's own moral and
religious systems.
This is q very radical overturning
Practically it was not started until
within tho last generation, and it's now
more rapid movement, due to the prog
ress Of Japan in the last ten years, will
be still further accelerated by the tt-
umph over Russia. The war was con-
Quoted by that 'heathen" people with a
tender regard for every humane preoept
taught in the Gospels. but never fulfilled
in Christendom so completely. The
moderation Of Japan in its peace terms,
evincing spirit Of practical Christianity
not taught in the experience Of Christian
nations, has gained for it recognition and
applause az in many respects the most
enlightened Power Of the world.
Is it any wonder, then, that the Chris
tian missionary in China looks with
nisgiving on this splendid demonstra-
ton Of Japanese civilization as an OBJ
etacle to Christian propagandism in the
Eastp Is the West to ask Japan to sit
at its feet az teacher Of civilization, or
ia the West to assume the humble posi-
ton Of pupil' Vertically, new idea y
has entered into the world Of the Occi-
dent no less than Of the Orient.