The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-01
STATE RELIGION
 BOTHERS CHINESE
Christians, COnfucianists, Mo- hammedanS, BuddhistS and TaOistS Included in New Re public.

Peking, Nov. In the process of drafting a permanent Constitution for the Chinese Republic the question as to whether there is to be recognized state religion looms large at present in the discussions at Picking.
 A decided Confuc1an revival has been in progress in recent months and this has found its expression in the organ tzatton of the Confucian Associa ton. which includes many distinguished scholars of the Republic. One of the central figures of the movement is Dr.. Chen Huan-chang, author of the book, '-The Economical Principles of Con facius and his School" who has re- ceived the highest literary honors in China and also the. degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Columbia. University, New York
 With other Chinese 1fterati, he has been carrying on a most energetic campaign to influence the members of Parliament to vote in favor of insert ing in the Constitution some such statement as follows: ''Confucdanism shall become the state religion, while religious liberty shall still be accorded to the people of China A petition to this effect has been presented to the Assembly. Following Western meth ods of lobbying, Dr. Chen has inter viewed practically all members of Par 1iament in the support of this move ment.
 Before the establishment of the Re- public, prejudice against Christianity was great, but in the Provisional Con- stitution freedom of religion was pro vided for, and Christians as yell as Moaammedans, Buddhists, and Taoists have had before the State at least pre- srmptive equality with Confucianists- President Yuan Shih-kaf said in 8 speech before the National Assembly on April 2s 1912: f'In view of the re- Hgtous liberty of the people, all re- lig1cns will be regarded being on
 
 discrimination against any particular one There should be mutual respect and avoidance of mutual distrust among the people irrespective or whether they practice any particular religion or not, or whatever faith they embrace, go that they may all share in the enjoyment of public peace and happ1nes-'s'
 Naturally enough the Christians Of the Republic, nod numbering almost a million. including all branches of t.4e Christian Church, are not standing idly by watching without protest the movement to establish Confucianism as the state religion. A committee of seven has been selected and a coun- ter-movement is under way. The d1- ty of the committee is that of inform ing Christians throughout the country concerning the various activities of the Confucian propaganda and they are also seeing to 1t that a counter-petf-
 
 ing for unconditional religious liberty and rejecting the proposal to have a state religion for the Republic. More over agitation against Confucianism or any other religion becoming ac- knowledged national religion is under way in the Chinese press
 This protest of Chinese Christians is not against Confucianism as such, but simply in favor of the distinct separa.- ton of religion and politics in the new Republic. All that is asked for is free dom of conscience for Taoists, Budd- hists, and Mohammedans, as well as Tor Christians, it being believed that to m~ke Confucianism a state religion will inevitably mean not only a re- actfonary policy involving a certain degree of restriction of other religious bodies but also an added cause of discussion and strife in the Republic. The Confucianist agitators, on the oth- CT hand, believe that to have state religion will provide a much-needed raIIying point for patriots.