The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-01
RELIGION IN
CONSTITUTION
confucian Revival May Require
Its Recognition In China

Picking. Nov. LIN The profess OF
drafting permanent constitution for
the Chinese republic the question as
TO whether there Is to be a recognized
state religion looms large at present in
he discussions at Picking
A decided Confucian revival has been
m progress in recent months and this
has found its expression in the organi
zation Of the Confuclan association,
which includes many distinguished
scholars of the republic one Of the
GENITAL figures of the movement 10 DR..
Chen Huanchang, author Of the book
~ he Economical PRINCIPLES Of COnfuc-
JUS and his school" who has received
the highest literary houors IN China
and also the degree o. Doctor Of Phil
csophy from Columbia university, New
York
May Not Discriminate,
With other Chinese literati, he has
been carrying on most energetic
campaign TO influence tho members OF
parliament to vote IN favor OF In
sorting IN the constitution some such
statement as follows: "COntucianlsm
shall become the state religion, while
religious liberty shall stll be accorded
TO the people of China A petition TO-.
this effect has been presented TO ths
assembly Following western methods
Of lobbying, Dr. Chen has Interviewed
practically all members Of parliament
in the support OF this movement.
Before the establishment 81 the re-
public. prejudice against Christianity
was great, but in the provisional con-
stitution freedom OF religion wac pro
vided for, and Christians - well ne
| Nohammedans. Ruddhlsta. aud Taoists
nave had before the state ri least pre-
sumptive equality with COnfucianists
! President Yuan Shih-kai said I'm a
speech before the national assembly
! on April 90, 1912: In view Of the re-
hgious liberty Of the people. ell relig.
ions will be regarded as being on the
same footing. and there win be no
discrimination aaginst amy particular
one There should be mutual respect
and avoidance of mutual dis,--ist
among the people irrespective oi
whether they practice any particular
religion or not. or whatever faith they
ambrsce, so that they NAV an share
N the enjoyment Of public peace and
happiness.
Christians Become Active,
Naturally enough the Christians OF
the republic now Numbering almost 4
million. including all branches OF the
Christian church. arc not standing idly
Dy watching without protest the move
mert 70 establish Ccnfucignfsm as tho
state religion. A committee of seven
has been selected and couuter-move-
mcnt Is under vav. rh" duty &c The
committee is that OF informing Chris
t'ans throughout the country concern
ing the various activities Of the Con-
fucian propaganda and they are also
seeing to it that a c6bnttr- petition is
presented to the assembly, calling for
unconditional religious liberty asld re-
jeciins the proposal to have i state
religion for the republic. Moreover,
agitation against confucianisn or any
Other religion becoming m aclSnowl
edged national rclieion is under way
IN the Chinese press.
Against Church foiii,cs.
The protest Of Chinese Christians
is not against Confuoianism as such,
lat simply in favor of tho distinct sep.
aration Of religion and politics In tho
new republic. All that is asked Is free. /
uom of conscience for Taoists, Budd-
hists and Mohammedans. as well as
,or Christians, 1t beirg believed that
10 make Confucianism a state rclig-
ion viii inevitably mean not only q /
reactionary policy involving q certain
degree Of restriction OF other religious
bodies, but also an added cause or
disseusion and strife in the republic. /
The Confucinnists agitotors, on the !
other hand. believe that TO have a =
state religion will provide a much
needed rallying point for patriots.