Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-08
CHyNA'S RELIGION.

(Sir Hiram 5. Maxim in N Y. Amer1can)
The new Chinese republic last week
requested all the numerous religionists
in China to pray for the republican gov
eminent.
On several occasions / have been re-
quested by high Chinese officials to ex-
plain the religions OF Europe and Am
erica for the use Of the Chinese When
Ii Hung Chang was in England I pre-
pared, at his request, a scrap-book con-
tanning cuttings and quotations from
many of the most eminent religious writ
ers and philosophers. When Chang Chin
Tung. Viceroy of Hupeh and Human.
who was, after the death of Ii Hung
Chang, known as China's greatest vice
roy, wrote "Chlnas Only Hope" I was
requested by the Chinese Minister Lob
Fung Lu to review the viceroys book
did at length, and | find that in
many ways the Chinese have taken my
advice about our missionaries. The best
way to deal with missionaries, | said,
was to let them alone, and by no means
attack them or destroy their property.
There were many points OF resemblance
between Christianity and Buddhism.
HIGH MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
Confucus taught a high moral philos-
ophy, and as 1t was quite free from SUI
pernaturalism II cannot, strictly speak
ing, be considered as a religion.
The teaching OF Confucianism on hu-
man duty" says DR.. Degge. lis wonder
full and admirable. on the last three of
the four things which Confucius delight
ed to teach-letters, ethics, devotion OF
soul, and truthfulness-his utterances are
in harmony both with the law and the
gospel world ordered by them would
be a beautiful world
Buddhism, which dates from 40 b. c..
has more adherents than any other re-
ligous system in the world and very
closely resembles Christianity, having a
similar origin. There are about 10000. 900
Mohammedans in western China, prob
ably 100000 or 10000 Roman Catholics
and perhaps 100000 Greek Catholics and
Professionals, the Protestants being divid-
ed into innumerable sects. over 900
of the Chinese are Buddhists, II any
| thing.
The jesuit writer, Louis LIE Compile,
whose work. Memoirs and Observations
Made in a Late Journey Through the
Empire of China" Q69O, contains some
candid and curious remarks on Chinese
I religion, wrote:
| People are sometimes amazed that
| China and the Indies have been over
| Swallowed by the clouds and darkness OF
idolatry almost ever since the birth of
our Saviour. while Greece, a great part
| of Africa, and almost all Europe have
enjoyed the clear light of faith: but they
never consider that China for 200 years
had the knowledge OF the true God, ant
have practised the most pure morality
! while Europe and almost all the world
wallowed In error and corruption"
BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY
Rhys Davids, one OF the chief author
tiles in England on Buddhism, writes:
zone of the most curious facts in the
whole history of the world is that Budd
hism and Christianity have both devel
oped in the course OF 1850 years, into
sacerdotal and sacramental systems
each with its bells and rosaries anc
images and holy water; each with It.
services in dead languages, with choiri
and professions and creeds and incense
In which the laity are spectators only
each with its mystic rites and ceremonie:
performed by priests in gorgeous robes
each with its abbots and monks ant
nuns. of many grades; each with it:
worship OF virgins. saints and angels
its reverence to the Virgin and the Child
its confessions, fasts and purgatory; It.
idols, relics, symbols and sacred pic
lures; its shrines and pilgrimages; eaci
with its huge monasteries and gorgeou!
cathedras, its powerful hierarchy anC
its wealthy cardinals; each, even, ruleC
over by a Pope, with a triple tiara OF
his head and the sceptre of tempora
power in his hand. the representative OF
earth of an eternal spirit in the heav
, ems"
The Rev. DIR. j. Edkins says: "Chint
; Is the only instance of a country wher,
three powerful religions have existed to
gether for ages without one of then
, being successful in destroying the othe
} two"
A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE.
Major Knollys. British official, write
in his English Life in China" "Durin,
my travels / carefully inspected abou
10 OF the most venerated Buddhist tenn
, pies, some OF them. indeed, OF China
wide celebrity, In every instance thei
resemblance internally to Roman Catho
lie places OF worship was most striking
= In many cases Il couple of hours labo
in transformation and the likeness woul,
, have been complete"
l In regard to Chinese morality Monsieu
Eug. Simon who Travelled 10 years il
China gathering statistics, informs u
that the morality of the Chinese is SUI
perior to anything to be found in Eu
rope. There is less crime against per
sons and property than In any othe
country in the world. He attribute
much OF the welfare OF the Chinese L
their excellent natural religion.
In attempting to keep Mahammedan
ism from entering their western frontie
, 2000O,0oO of Chinese lost their lives TIL
TAPPING rebellion. which was the onl
, Christian movement that ever obtaine
a serious foothold in China. cost 1900, 90
. lives and the destruction of yaa
' amount of property. The Boxer moy.
, ment which resembled the crusades G