Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1910-08-14


beliefs in addition to more than 20o
various sects of Christianity. accord
ing TO census bureau statistics deal
ing with the religious life OF the coun
try
Among the former are Buddhists
Confucianists aad Bahaists who are
engaged in an organized way in the
spread of their doctrines in this coun-
try
The data forming the basis of the
volume in question was gathered in
1906. 1t is now in proof. but there is
no assurance as to when ii will be
given to the public.
In addition to statistics OF the var.
ious denominations the work will
present a brief history of each; also
the pertinent facts regarding their
doctrine and policy The compilation
is the work of DIR. T. c. Bliss.
Up to the time of the investigation
there had been no effort to effect
any organization for the promotion of
Confucianism. but the text tells of a
society OF the Chinese sage's follow
ers which was organized in New York
City in 1907 among the Monaghan
students in Columbia University. Con.
tending that Buddhism is only a
system of ethics. they undertook to
demonstrate that Confucinism was a
real religion and so a regular system
Wen defined organization.
The organization followers Of Budd-
hism are Chinese and japanese. The
churches, known officially as temp
les" by the irreverent are referred
to as Joss" houses. There are 62
Chinese and u japanese TEMPLES in,
this country. the former being dis
trfbuted over twelve. the latter over
three states. California shelters all
but three of the japanese and more
than half Of the Chinese houses.
About 40 which went down under the
San Francisco cataclysm had remained
IN ruins to the time of the enumera-
ton.
New York boosted is OF the Chinese
temples, the remainder being scatter
ca over ten states, mostly in the West.
Inc Chinese Buddhists have only
one priest in this country ana CON
duct no recognized system Of wor-
ship. There is no record of member.
shlp; they have no sermon; keen no
sabbath and have no religious service
The only use for their temples are as
places at which individual deyotees
may consult their patron saints. Three
nelties are recognized in the Ameri-
can temples. The God Kuan. a mighrv
duke Of the ancient Han dynasty. the
Ooddess of Fortune and the Goddess
Of Mercy.
The American-Japanese Buddhists
are OF the progressive Shin Shiu sect
which is missionary in character. The
discard the ascetic practices of the
more austere Buddhists of Aria allow
the priests TO marry and have no han
On meat or other food. The societies
are well organized each having
priest General headquarters are in
san Francisco.d and they have both
journals and schools devoted 10 the
propagation of the faith. In 1906
their membership in this country wae
$50 Of which as were females.
mere is no Shintoism, an explana.
tlon Of which is found in the fact thar
thls religion attaches itself too close
y 70 the person OF the Japanese
Emperor.
In a way the Hindu religion is rem.
resented by the Vedanta society With
organizations in New York Pittsb,,-,
san Francisco and Los Angeles II
was organized by Hindu Teachers
VINO came here in 1893 TO the WorId.s
Fair. It's name from an ancient EIind,,
pnllosophy meaning the end of ALI
WISDOM 1t is nonsectarian, seeking m
harmonic all religious systems
oriental philosophers as taught nv the
Iheosophists, have four bodies with
z'oSo members in the United States
While Bahaism strictly snaakin., q
non-Christian and foreign. its follow.
ers are native and not NECESSARILY
un-Christian. This is a comparatively
new sect, growing out of the teachings
Of a Persian leader of the middle of
the last century named Ali Moham-
med. He claimed TO be the forerunae-
OF him whom God could manifest. -
and called himself Bah" or "the
Gate. Later came Baba UIla. who
claimed to be the one whose coming
had been foretold and from him the
real name Of the body is derived. In
1906 he had 1850 followers in the
United States, who worshipped in "A
places through IA states. They teach
tolerence love, charity and regard all
religions as divine. Hence. they pro
fess not to Interfere with the ordinary
doctrinal beliefs of their members.
Another church of Asiatic origin
but still Christian is the Armenian
which has 70 organizations in this
country, most Of them in the Eastern
States, 20 in Massachusetts alone.
Their communicates are generally
Armenians many Of whom fled to
this country TO escape prosecution
The Eastern Orthodox churches,
or Greek church, has 129, COS com
municants- This is the state church
Of Russia and Greece. or the All
churches here So represent the form
er nationality. There also are Ser
Wan and Syrian branches. The
Greeks have 334 organizations
throughout the country with New
York. Illinois and Massachusetts lead
ing The Greek membership is 30
75l- twenty-five Of the So Russian
churches rae in Pennsylvania
The volume also viii tell OF tbs