Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-09


welcome home. Mrs. McKenzies
the Orient has been prolific OF spfen-
cid results and she has won her way
into the hearts of those with whom
she comes in such close contact.
Literary Paper Read.
The literary paper Of the afternoon
was read by Miss AntOfnette Foster.
who told Of the Bibles Of the world.
Hiss Foster is one Of the English
teachers al Gain CuJe9e and also
conducts the Bible classes there. As
there are a great many Bibles in the
different countries CT the world. Miss
Foster confessed that s1e found it
rather hard at first TO select the most
Interesting ones ArORg the most
interesting as Vel as the oldest,
however, are the FeGas OF India. So
far as known. these are among the
Oldest of human Compositions. They
date back OF the knowledge of writ
ing and for many years were handed
down U. ai;y as TIA iili>us. They are
now written in Sanskrit and to read
them enc must possess a knowledge
of this ancient LANGUAGE. In speak
Ing of the Vedas. Miss Foster said
that the Rig Veda is among the old
est, as it waI WFjItftl some time be-
tween 200 and 500 3. c. Miss Foster
told about the gods worshipped by the
people of India There are about
thirty and each one was worshipped
as a complete deity in itself. Out Of
the Vedas came many smaller collec-
tons of books and they were much
modified and some of the latest ones
told of belief in, and a superstition
regarding the power of evil.
The Brahma Books.
Another collection of books men
toned by Miss Foster was the Brah-
mas. These, she said, were prose
compositions dealing with sacrificial
rites and condemning them. One Of
the books contains traditions of the
flood and in another the doctrine of
Immortality is more definitely pre-
scented. These books also tell of the
doctrine of Transmigration. In speak.
ing of the Brahmas, Miss Foster
mentioned the Sutras. Then she said
that modern Hinduism is result OF
the Buddhist influence upon Brahman-
ism. Miss Foster also mentioned the
Sacred Books of Budha. These We're
written in the, popular dialect and
are very like the New Testament, for
they tell of the life of Budha and of
his Influence with his disciples, as
does the New Testament in our own
Bible tell of the works of the Christ.
1t seems that the Budhist's highest
aim is a withdrawal from the world
sense into peaceful, nothingness.
The speaker also dealt with the
Zeud Ayesta, which have to do with
the Persians In North India. Though
these people are looked upon as nat
ives of India, they are in reality of
Persian descent who settled in India
after the. Mohammedan Conquest.
These books are written in but one
language that is very like the San,
skirt. Like the teachings of Zoa-
rooster, these books deal with a dual
ism, and tell of the contest between
good and evil. Many, references are
made to the god of fire by these peo-
pie, for to them fire denotes power.
The books that are probably the
most interesting are those of the Ko-
ran. The Koran is younger than our
Bible, that religion having made its
appearance six hundred years after
the Christ. The Korean is looked
upon as a divine inspiration that was
handed down by Gabrielle to Moham-
med. Parts of the Koran are suppos-
ed to have been taken from our own
Bible, for reference is made to Christ
COnfucianism. .,.:-.-.-...-.> ~sa-
In her closing remarks Miss Foster
said thai she would like to mention
Confucianism for although it may not
be considered a religion, Confucius'
aim was to teach the people how 70
live. Confucianism is believed in by
many of the Buddhists, as it does not
conflict with other religions. During
the course of her address Miss Foster
illustrated her lecture with readings i
from the Koran. ~. ILL.,. .@~>
portion of the meeting Mrs. Dean
Rockwell Wickes was introduced to i
the members of the board by Mrs |
Richards. Mrs. Wickes said that she
hoped to find some work to do in |
China similar to that for which she |
has spent so much time in prepara- !
ton. For seven years she has been |
studying the social conditions of the !
different classes of people in America |
with the view to working for the bet
terment of those who are part of the |
congested districts. During the last
year of school in Chicago she lived in
one of the most congested districts of |
the city among the Polish people. She
said that if she did not find any SIM
liar work in the east she felt that if |
she can establish an ideal home that !
the people will strive to copy, she will
have done a little at least towards
helping them on their way.
The members Of the Woman's
Board always hear with interest the
letters of their Armenian proteges
Yesterday communications were read
from little boy and a girl. The let
ters always contain expressions of
gratitude for the help they are re-
h1; in, |