Las Vegas optic., 1913-11-01
MAY HAVE
AN OFFICIAL
religion
ADHERENTs OF coNFUclUs ARE
WORKING IN BEHALF or
THEIR CREED

Picking, Nov. lin the process of
drafting a permanent constitution for
the Chinese republic the question as
to whether there is to be a recog-
nized state religion looms large at
present in the discussions at Peking.
A decided Confucian revival has
been in progress in recent months and
this has found it's expression In the
organization Of the Confucian asso-
citation, which includes many distin-
guished scholars Of the republic. One
Of the central figures Of the move
ment is DR.. Chen Huanchang, author
of the book, "The Economical Princi-
pies Of Confucius and his School,
who has received the highest literary
honors in China and also the degree
Of doctor Of philosophy from Coluni-
bia University, New York.
with other Chinese literati, he has
been carrying on most energetic
campaign to influence the members
of parliament to vote in favor Of In
serting in the constitution some such
statement as follows: @Confucianism
shall become the state religion, while
religious liberty shall stil be accord
ed to the people Of China" A petit
tion to this effect has been presented
to the assembly. Following western
methods Of lobbying, DR. Chen has
interviewed practically ali members
of parliament in the support Of this
movement
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 well as
Mohammedans, Buddhists, and Taoists
have had before the state at least pre-
sumptive equality with confucianists.
President Yuan Shi-kai said in
speech before the national assembly
on April 90. 1912: I'm view Of the
religious liberty Of the people, all
, religions viii be regarded as being on
! the same footing, and there viii Re
} no discrimination against any pr'i-
cular one. There should be mu'aal
respect and avoidance Of mutt ~
trust among the people irreen
of whether they practice any parti-
Guar religion or not. or whatever faith
!. !. they embrace. SO that they may az
/, share IN the enjoyment Of public
} peace and happiness"
l Naturally enough the Christians of
: the republic. now numbering almost
million, including ali branches Of
the Christian church, are not stand
ing idly by watching without protest
the movement to establish Confu-
cianism as the state religion. a com
mittee Of seven has been selected and
! counter-moyement is under way.
, The duty Of the committee Is that OF
, informing the country concerning the
various activities Of the Confucian
J propaganda and they are also seeing
! Ito it that a eounter-petition IS pre-
sented to the assembly, calling for
unconditional religious liberty and re-
iectiug the proposal to have state
religion for the republic. Moreover.
agitation against Confucianism or
any other religion becoming an &c.
knowledged national religion is under
way in the Chinese press.
This protest Of Chinese Christians
is not against Confuclanism as such.
but simply in favor Of the distinct
separation of religion and politics IN
time new republic All that Is asked
for is freedom Of conscience for
Taoists, Buddhists, and Mohamme-
dams as well as for Christians, It BE-
ing believed that to make Confuclan-
: ism state religion viii inevitably
mean not only reactionary policy II
? volving a certain degree Of restriction
Of other religious bodies but also an
added cause Of dissension and strife
r lin the republic The Confucianist ag1-
tators, on the other hand, believe that
to have state religion viii provide
a much-needed rallying point Tor pa
) tfiots