The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-03
THE OUTLOOK IN CHINA.
cOnfuclanism Dying.


is the foundation of the Chinese state
and of the social and family life of the
nation at large. But this basis is
tottering. The Chinantu Journal says
that 'the cult of Confucianism cannot
be admitted as religious system since
Confucian did not found new re-
ligion. He was simply a philosopher.
The teaching of Confucianism is super
fuous because it's founder left no re-
igious system nor any qualified
teachers to enforce it. The intellect
ual heads of the central Chinese DEM
ocracy consider the philosophy of Con-
fucius as a scientific system which
is Of no use whatever to the people.
Chinese youth, therefore, should not be
brought up in the doctrines of Con-
fucius. Let it be noted that the off,
cial burnt sacrifices have been coun-
fernandez this year in numbers of
Confucian temples. 1t can be fore
seen that this cult will soon fall into
neglect. The governors of eighteen
provinces already omit the "kotan"
before the image of Confucius, and
their example gives the cue to Off
Gals, students and ten thousand Chi
nese families" The conclusion seems
to be that the state can be cleaned
of all the ancient religions which
have proved so powerless to raise
the intellectual and moral level of the
Chinese.
Ready for Christianity.
But with what can they be re-
placed? A nation without a religion
cannot exist. This is likewise the
conviction of the native press. Be
sides, the Chinese people have relig-
ious Instincts and sentiments too
deeply rooted ever to throw them
selves into the arms of unbelief More
over, the most influential organs of
the Chinese press are in favor of the
introduction of Christianity. Chris
tianity exerts marvellous influence
over the people" writes the Minlipao.
Another journal even proposes the
proclamation of Christianity as the
religion of the State. The President
of the Chinese Republic processes SEN
timents in agreement with this trend
of public opinion. On February 20
last Monsignor Jarlin, Bishop of Pekin,
was received in audience by Yuan
Shi-Kai. His reception was most
gratifying; the President of the Re
public assured him that absolute re-
ligious liberty would be respected un-
der the new regime and that official
posts would be open to all religious
creeds equally. Some days previous.
ly a Protestant deputation had re.
ceived the same assurances. Several
Christian deputies already take their
place on provincial boards Further
both Catholic and Protestant mission.
aries enjoy an unrestricted liberty in
the matter of building churches OF
schools, holding religious professions
etc.
Present Status Of Professionalism and
Catholicism.
The doctrinal divergences between
Catholic and Protestant Christians
unfortunately bewilder the Chinese
The establishment of Professionalism
dates from only a century back, YET
it has gained much ground, thanks tc
the inexhaustible financial resources
it has at it's disposal A. section oil
the heads of the Republic are Prot
estants, notably Sun-Y et-Sen, the for
mer President of Nankin; Linen
Hung, the Vice President, and Won
tin-Fang, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs. The Protestant missions
comprise 100000 Christians, 3,72S
schools, 1910 foreign missionaries
1909 catechists, and posses a press
of their own The Bible societies
fear, nevertheless, that skeptical OF
liberal Professionalism may become
preponderant to the detriment of the
work done by their missions.
The Catholic Church in China has
now been established for six centu
ries and can show, in the face of the
IProtestants sects around her, the spec
tacle of perfect unity. She reckon.
A bishops in her hierarchy, 2,17t
priests and more than 10000 cate
chists and teachers. The number o
baptized Catholics in China amount.
to 1,35O,00O, and the annual increas,
is computed at $4,000. To these ma!
be added 100000 neophytes. The flu
ture of Catholicism has become still
more promising through the replacin,
of the French protectorate by a Nun
ciature.
During the Boxer Rebellion.
Several governors have eulogizet
the tact of the clergy and the faithful
during the critical days of the revolu
ton. The Protestants, on the con
trary, mixed themselves up in the in
ternal affairs of the country by takin,
an active part in the revolution. Thei
attitude aroused the distrust of tn,
authorities. The Catholic mission
aries do not concern themselves witt
politics. Instances are quoted of Chi
nese Professionals who, deprecating tn,
intermeddIing of the clergy in the al
fairs OF the country, have becom,
converted to Catholicity. It is no
wonderful that the Chinese pres
heaps eulogies on the Church an,
qualities Catholicity as the first of al
creeds. The Gregorian calendar al
ready exists in China, and the Sun
day rest has become obligatory in al
the high schools.
Harvest Ripe, Laborers Few.