Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-08
WOMANS BOARD
HEARS PAPER BY
MRS. GILMORE
nantr - Mrs. John W. Gilmore.
read ~ lore the WOman'> Board OF Mis-
ii Inn. L. Mr. AnLrnuS

naner - Mrs. John ". Gilmore,
read 10 lore the WOman'> Board OF Mis-.
>iOnS hy Mrs. /. l.. Andrews.
The great religions Of the world
! were designed and promulgated for
the betterment of their adherentS Ii
seems desirable to present first a con-
sideration Of several Of the etheniC in
fluenCeS and tenetS Of all religions
that have held the faces Of people up
ward and their hearts open to the eX-
ercise of mercy and justice. Secondly
il seems well to present several of the
phases of the great religions by which
people are led into a larger under
standing and efficiency for good.
Each of the great religions has play
ed an important part in the evolution
and civilization of mankind. Men are
prone to consider things and influence
IS by comparison, and especially when
one element of the comparison is their
own experience. In the effulgent light
Of Christianity we recognize little
light in the other great religions,
though a major portion of the earth's
population is influenced by them. Mo-
hammedans or Buddhists are rejected
people, as we feel that they have gone
astray. There is danger that we shall
pray the Lord that We are not as they
are, and then glory in the fact. The
other great religions of the world
have served their adherents in very
admirable way, if we only stop to
think what these same adherents
would be without any religion at all.
There is evolution in the social affairs
of men, in the same sense that there
is among plants and animals, and as
these other religions are older than
Christianity they have served a good
purpose in the social and spiritual
welfare Of the people who have ad-
hered to them.
The Chinese have been held pure in
their racial characteristics, have re-
tanned their vitality, their patience.
learning because of Confucianism
rather than in spite of it. The Hin
dus, too, are not lacking in many
social characteristics that, when view
ed in accordance with the conditions
under which they live, are admirable
They have retained these characteris-
tics by virtue of the Best there is in
Buddhism and Brahmanism.
1t will not be amiss therefore to ex-
anime some of the characteristics of
these other religions from the view
point of their helpfMness to Human
ity. 1t must be recognized that as the
social instinct in man developed the
coming of a Creator or Great Spirit
was of paramount Importance in the
development of the race. The pres
ence of a Creator is the great doctrine
ofrall religions; and whether the Be-
ing came into the concept by super
natural revelation, by the Revelation
of nature, or by the transformation of
the experiences and senses, 1t has
played a profoundly important part in
directing the instincts and efforts of
men for better living. 1t is true that
the idea of God or the Supreme Being
In other religions is very complex and
variable. In some religions God is the
creator of all things; in others, as
Buddhism and the religions of Greece
and Rome, He is not. So also the idea
Of God as Ruler, as omnipotent and
omniscient is not shared by many Of
the greater religions of the world.
However, in all religions the Deity or
Deities commanded obeisance and ODE
dience, and had some part in shaping
the destinies of man. The Deity could
be reached through medium of pray
ers, HASTINGS and incense. A point Of
rl'nch Importance Is that the name by
which the Supreme has been called in
other religions is, of little significance.