Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-03-16
ONE MANDATE AMONG TVo~E IRE
SCRIBING WORSHIP uI .tENNtN
AND CONFTCIT> SAYS Ut- NpT
ADOPTED STATE RELIGION.
INTEREST is WIDE
RECENT MANDATES. mn " SAID.
WILL NOT INTIEI ERE WITH RI
LIGION or THOSE WHO DESIRE
TO WORSHIP IN OTHER FORMS.

Indli'lali~ WHICH ave tf~l Rfli li'liHi
gated prc.riih'u- ~ Worship ~ heaven
and of Coat cir, pa The president and
certain province ! uiiirial>. there i one
explaining chat ih.N tpr~ not mean that
China hl> q ."nicl a state religion. The
documents attract VIDE interest because
of Tie long cuutru. err a. which they
rome a. at least a temporary tcrmina
ton. They arr taken a> a declaration "n
the part of the President lni while hl>
government inicnt ~ Worship H the
way that Chinese governments have been
worShipping for centuries. in viii not
interfere With ihr religions MI those VIII"
believe ID worship iu lnrtEr- form. The
mandates read in part a. follow:
Religious liberty IN observed through
ont the world. car rcp1hiic Il, composed
Of five racc.. Chinese. Nanchu>. Mon
golians Mohcmmc.iun> aud Thlhrtln>:
and their historical trad tior- differ.
Their religious beliefs urc diiticllt.
Therefore. to unity. u wosld rot be- easy
10 adopt a state religion. for such . step
might hc contrary M the wishes uf the
people. Iiut sacrifices offered Al the
proper seasons 81 ihr ancient saint, and
sagcs. a. prescribed in the laws Of tie
late Ching dynasty. htl not touch tn
question ~ religion. since they are not
in conflict with . republican form of
government thrt should hc comtinlrd -
a token Of respect uu the part of the sue
~ccc,ling generations. IL viii become gen
orally known that the ceremonies now
prescribed are performed. and there D.
danger that the ceremonies viii hc con
strucd aS The hcginuing. Of The establish
mcmt of A national rel ginu. " is there
fore necessary ~ make known thc prin
cipir which rromptcl The restoration of
the ancient rites and tn state that they
are ia response 10 the WISHES of The ma
jority a. express their reverence ani
yencratiun fur the saints and >lgr> and
L. preserve their traditions of thousands
Of years. The choice ~ religion IL still
left 10 the people. THIS iS according %
the liberty guaranteed ~ the "on>titu
ton aud in accord with the practice Of
the world. This order T. >surd 90 aver,
possible misunderstanding and SuS
picion.
In promulgatine the decision uf ID"
administrative council. the president.
after rcpcatin. The councils report. saws
Il. the president. am aware that The
ceremony If sacrifice offering ~ hrl'r.3
has been held w are r..rrrur' since
remote times and preserved hN the GOV
rnmcn uf emma through successive
ages. For the people Ia fast and cleanse
themselves. ami -, profound respect
to the Dicty. j. rational: and nn clause
has ever existed IA the institutions of
the country prohibiting - restricting this
observance. | hereby order that the sac
rificc offering to Heaven shall he madr
n universal ceremony. The rccommrnda
tons nf the administrative council re-
.%ar,ling the place aud time oi sacrifice
are hereby approved. The minister II
the interior j. ordered "a collect opinions
of renowned authorities and decide upon
the special design Tor the ceremonial hat
and costume. tho character of The ccrc
monN. the articles a. ~ used etc. AMI
10 submit them tor consideration ani
approval.
The place chosen for this worship ~
tlr part ~ the president y thr famous
affairs ~ heaven. where the ruprrur> ni
succeeding d,ua>tic> have kuc.t and II
fcrcl thanks ami >uppllcation> tu the
open skies. The ALTAR H. y vast circular
marble daiS. ~ rather, 4 series ~ dIi>c>
rising one upon au"thcr. The ccuter CIR
clc. where the emperor formerly kurii
~ the son ~ heaven and mediator lr
tween hi> people and the Dict,. being
considered ia former days The center Of
the universe.
ON Two sides NJ the altar are rows uf
huge open furnaces ot Wrought iron. AMI
a larger onc nf ma>nnr, where the OK i>
sacrificed. I'd has been several years
sine the emperor bowed anon the altar
IN person: and Il j. not planned that the
president shall perform the crtcmou, till
the winter >%ul>iirr iu December next. fnr
the rite l. au annual service. The altar
aud also he temple and the imperial
buildings no the grounds. have been ncg
lcctr,l ami are NOW in nct,l ut much rr
pair and - us%rruruwu with weeds thar
the PATHWAYS are almost impossible.
Not onl, has time been permitted lo
put IT, mark upon the place but the pan
day too has lone hi work. Movable
things have been taken AWAY. ia man,
eases stolen till nul, a splendid throne
surrounded y, 4 dragon screen. such a>
l. to be seen onl, IA the Forbidden civ.
remains. Huge pi,Se> If the carved mar
BILE have been hacked of the altar aud
the tcmpie. Much ~ the wrpcking has