The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-18
Xoroaster.

Ngions and metaphysics, tho East.
whore "Gautama theory OF con-
seriousness anticipated by thirty cen
1uries the highest results OF modem
scientific psychology MS ono OF our
American scholars puts II, and Con-
fucius preached the golden rule, mega
lively phrased, do not unto others
what you would not have them do to
you" we must not forget the great
founder OF magism, Icroaster DR..
1Iaug, in his lecture "on an original
speech OF Horoaster,' quoted Diogenes
Laertlus who states that xanthos OF
Lydia $500 y. CD affirmed that 10
rooster lived 5000 years before the
invasion Of Greece by Xerxes Pliny,
on the authority of Aristotle, finds the
date at 5000 years before Plato, and
Dr Haug quoted Plato to show that
Zoroaster preceded Moses by severai
thousand ycars--sono writer's put 1t as
twenty threetccnturies before the birth
of the Son of God; and the alteration
of the aiag means the natural flow
of the river into tho ocean. There Is
antiquity for you, Plato spoke OF
Persian antiquity as Indefinite" and
the birthplace of Ioroastcr and the
date of his birth arc lost in Its mists
The first Alciblades treating of the
education of persia's royal sons said:
"At fourteen years OF age, they who
are called the Royal Preceptors take
the boy under their care. Now, these
are chosen from those who arc deemed
most excellent by the PGrsians. men in
the prime OF life. four in number. ex-
ceiling in wisdom, justice, temperance.
fortitudc. The FIRST of these instructs
the youth In the learning of the Magi
according to Zoroaster. the son OF
a ylrnt IT,, /, ~ cft ,f
kingly government" Docs 1t not seem
strange to read words written SO long
Bgo? The "Zend Avcst' the Persian
scriptures, are attributed to him, beins
the first attempt in Persia 10 explain
the origin OF the universe. Scholars
have long differed and quarrelcd over
one point, the priority of the "Iend-
AYest" TO the cosmogony OF Moses
But the recent discovery Of the
records on Babylonian bricks leaves
us positive beyond a peradventurs as
TO the parallel OF the Mosaic account
with that OF the Persians. whatever
the historical value of other evidences
may be. or may be called in question.
Zoroaster preached, like Moses and
Mohammed, war and destruction to all
ldolaters and wicked men. and said ne
was commissioned by God TO spread the
religion OF Ahuramagda. After in
cessant wars with the yedic Indians.
their religious foes, after his own
Heath. as the Sauscrit writings tell us,
the fire that Zoroaster mad kindled
spread all over Persia and then all
over Asia: and still after all these
thousands of years, ii determines the
conduct, life and death OF myriads Of
people, who worship the rising OF the
sun on the banks OF the Ganges, az
others did before them. centuries ago,
In Persia and learn OF justice, tenn
perance. wisdom, benevolence from the
Magi all the learning OF the men
who Frustrated themselves at the feet
Of the Babe of Bethlehem. being lsd
there by a star. There is something
of natural piety. elemental wisdom In
edoring an object so magnificent, so
essential. so benehcent as the sun in
the heavens. 1t was kind OF frs:
declaration of the power OF nature
and glory of God. when He SAID
Let there be Iight''--onc of the first
rays of Intellectual and moral light
FOR the world was that light in an
other form--the religion OF Moses and
zoroaster, instead of idolatry.
Confucius
Tho Chinese name for the great sage
Is K'ung -Fu-Tsze." Students of orien-
tai history place his birth between 500
and $50 e. C.. Most people think OF
Confucius as If he had originated Law
and order in China, and invented its
religion. But in that old. old country
lin is the creature OF yesterday. In
tho reign OF the Emperor Yao-Lao-Tsa
the Chinese founder OF another reform
had one OF their sacred books, tho
"Shantung" C235T b. CO. treating of
history, government and the laws OF
ancient nouarchs" and only founded
that part OF the Chinese religion called
"Taon-tze." the worship OF Reason"
and wrote the "Tao.tcIIirg," the
Book of Reason and Virtue" He
taught deism and in all other matters
stoicism; so Confucius was but an
other reformer, IN long line OF mon,
and was at first only called The
Teacher" though afterwards wor-
SHIPPED. The earliest of these are no
longer known by name, even In China.
But their work remained. Confuclus
was of royal birth and Very ancient
ancestry" An ancient Chinese line is
ancient indeed The very word Is a
synonym for antiquity. and The EN-
''Brothcr of the sun and Neon and
t.rannrather of the Fixed Stars" wne..
NE look at Jew and Chinaman and
a Persian and Egyptian. we look at
the Alpha of the human race Con
fucius was only twentyrthrec when,
with the generous ardor that has al
ways filled the greatest men OF the
world, he left power, comfort, place,
riches, to help his people by teaching
them to do right in the practical af-
fairs OF life For he was not a mystic.
He taught that there was one God.