The Washington herald., 1908-02-02
Strange ReSemblanceinLiyeS
and Teachings.
MIRACLES WERE MUCH ALIKE
Research of PauI G. berIain, Of
Washington, iu the British Mu-
scum, 80 immaculate Con-
cepfiOn Temptation, and Trans
nguFafiOn Common 10 Both.

in the history of the ethical systems they
founded, is the subject of Il letter from
Paul c. Chamberlain formerly "a frequent
Correspondent OF The Washington Herald
while a resident OF this city. VINO writes
from London. where ne now is domiciled.
Mr.. Chamberlain's letter is the result Of a
research Of authorities whose works he
has consulted in the British Museum.
The letter follows:
Editor The Washington Herald;
"As one formerly privileged 70 contrib
ute to your columns on religious subjects
while living in Washington. ] wonder if
may not be permitted to communicate 10
your readers from afar a few thoughts Of
which certain recent studies have been
productive?
"Delving Of late among the limitless lit
erary archives Of that vastest Of the
worlds repositories Of knowledge. the
British Museum, I have been led by an
inquiring spirit into a somewhat thought
ful comparison between Buddhism and
Christianity Perhaps, for the benefit Of
those equally interested. as well as in JUS
tifcati0n Of my own right to a humble
opinion, / may be permitted to preface
my remarks with a brief list Of the more
important works Of research into which
have looked.
Among German works, I would name
the exhaustive comparative study Of Prof
r. Seydel, Of Leipzig, and Dr. Hubble
Schleidens Jesus Buddhist OF
French works, there are Baron Harden
Hicky's book on Biblical Plagiarism. %
/. JacoilioJs Bible ip India and the
more recent works OF the great Oriental
lst, Leon de R0sny. Finally. as examples
OF English investigation. We have Arthur
Lilies study Of the Influence Of Budd-
hism on Christianity r. W. Rhys-Da-
vids Buddhism. and the several erudite
works of NunieT-W Williams Sir William
Jones, and the Orieutalist CoIebrooke.
Space will not permit Of a detailed ac-
count OF my studies. ! can only roughly
give tie results. one of Tire first things
to be borne in mind is the considerable
seniority in years OF Buddhism over
Christianity
Christianity as am ethical system prop
erly came into existence only with the
first years OF Jesus teaching As a really
vita! religious force it had no being until
some time later
Buddhism saw its birth. Of course
with the initial teaching # G8utama
Buddha- which the best authorities fix
s'l''. "i'e'e ih tAe sixth century y. g.
-i III" nus ~ ..iiIy
5-7oIs, -5a ,,.lrles 80 - e---s, .l-.
limo az 1,brit+
-Rv the middle NJ tho third century. p
C.. the followers Of p,1d5r, No. 80
uuered tba entire TIimaIs,s rsgig,..
Casbnfr and Cay.lor sn5 ia rsret,-,+s5
into China. where long before Cbrfs+.,r..
ity became a vital force. fmparisI deere
made il q state religion for the vast mi
lions Of that nation From China IL
spread nortnwqrd 10 Korea and Japan
II has even been asserted thar R.d5bist
missionaries penetrated the New word
Turr bafora rho rfr-e ~ -rr,.,,t,,-
..r, ,1a We. ...-...-.,.--. .,,-
80 inns 10 NassiileF'
Iiieie were buddAlst missionaries IN West
Tern Fefsia as early as 40 b. c. Thence
II spread 10 Bactria, Turkestan, and Tib-
ct Holmboe even claims 20 have found
traces Of Il i'm Norway. Certainly Asf,
AIinor r-q,-,. and a,.o,, Co.. ..-..- -
5....... -..--.-r.4,
'''' ''-' 'i'' '-'ll1u ID Us zeal
Gus pi'pl eai'ui>'s'
Inc death or Alexander the Great
tS53 b. CO. saw it already an ancient re-
ligiOu, even then suffering from the de-
generation which was destined il, Ills.
form n 19tsr o,.srtsl., ,,,,..-.,--.... ~
eimnie artfc,l tso,1,i,,r- - ,.l S''e
ra,-ir, of,-er -. - - - -
his ,,erso1-If,,, "a a., si,''S 'go-'
and me v-ors5'f,, - Ia ~ -.'9 iilV'
inc ,ris.,, anu rents NAY
Con- n, h,,.-, @
.,,f. -. ,'7 GEAR conception OF
aim, 90 C,,,i.t vl ',u''u,-l7ill az th5
10 ff,,,5 s+i-i,,, 'los pe SUI pi 4seu
Iiefoe 81 ti1,5, '-,S IA 'is t"o re-
risl-t-.f ,5 ms as 10 aIiIiost suggest
of ) r,ors ~, -. ,,,,,l.,' l.,e Ia '2'i'
- l'i.' .''7,-oUs nature
..rba fret aor.s,,.-. -. ..,.-.--,
in the sir-i,os--. ~ 1o u.s. eu -
II. - lii5 9,-l--Lo5' ',, ',y OF tne iegehds Whleh
ts[,-,,,t7, - -. 'iis H'auS u Dol4
-, '-t-'' - -.
-, 80 Do'h ot an Li'ii5te-
80, So -, 60. .',se l"e mother re
rba bjrtb NC rr.lf,I, - 80 o'Sl leS5
l,,, ,-,l,,,,,.' '.9 fIe1eNeu ana accompanied
60, 80 GO, -. l' ol'.~il ""9 Ha'Ieu aS Il
tbTae or 60 e., so,i, - ieus iil[eu py
star. f,ott - rs = 3"'u,u DS q
childhood ana as+,i'i-s '.-.,pIo Al eatl5
tI,si,. -, .l.' li,SlS WIN
hi. ,,issa 10 tiL Jul u pr - Iol
ana ,-sr t-,, ls'l,, ,,1, on. ille'l "a t'ol
"a 'i-'-e 9s'i 'ltA teu-pleu B5
.sRott, PI,5ShS o'' ~ ol,'i0I Ieu oy ahseIS'
tl,oso ~ -, '''-C lilsti ut'eo
to+1, t,,5 1,,.,e.,.5,-.. o'lo" ne
ie-nora,,t a,,,c-,o, my poo' diiu 'lie
vr,s "a fa,,o,.if, "a -. - -. ooI''
Tud,s hos tt. o,,,1,,or,,,,. ,9' >
Davadatta -'' i'o'1'i'"
..-,bo trj,,,,,,,t,oI ort,,. 20 ,,..5,,
Radiaorib., - orr,,,a,.-,,,1 ., iii1o
.Tes,1s into To7,saieI,, ~, - &c Va
aeiusd. bo+b ,.asb[5 .t, e. = I+tI = 'l'I7
Tesus his discirIss, f,,d,ll,, .s;5L-l3 80 =
uonIl.e. botb ,-,,,7ieo,5 -, ~