Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-18
HE PASSING OF TAOISM IN CHINA
NY JEnEMIAM w. JENIks d.. IL. ID.

The great war causes many thought
full men and women to raise the oues-
ton whether Christianity. this Christ
mas of 1914, has proved itself cnica-
cious In actually bringing peace on
earth and good will among men" 1t
Is asserted by some that the largely
ron Christian peoples of the Orient are
observing very closely the course of
this conflict between q majority of the
great Christian nations having in their
minds the impression that belief in the
supremacy of Western over Eastern
civilization is weakened. II not shat
tered. because OF apparent inconsis-
tcncics In practice between tho pres
cnt-day followers OF the Good Man OF
Galilce, and the spirit as we'll as TIE
letter Of the Sermon on the Mount
Without entering into q discussion
oil either OF these positions. actual or
asserted. and merely for the purpose
OF recording an important historical
fact, 1t may be worth while TO point
out that In the only nation which has
survived all the many changes which
the world has Witnessed since the east
crn star guided the shepherds and the
n.aEictans to the stable at Bethlehem,
faith which was even then old. en-
bracing in the time of Jesus millions
OF ndhcrents, is now breathing its last
Taoism, for centuries one OF the three
great religions OF China is In its
death throeS.
Shortly after the establishment OF
the Chinese republic and tho election
OF President Yuan Shi-kai the gov
crnor OF Kiangsi Province secured the
assent OF the authorities at Pcking to
the abolition of tho Taoist title OF
Jem Zen, Holy Man." which had been
until then the hereditary designation
ne l,a II -. H.
Tao-ling, who is credited with having
founded Taoism as a development Of
the philosophic doctrines of the great
LaotsZc. This stop was followed by
the contiscation OF the .Jem Zen seal
and the termination OF an annual pen
sion Of 800 Haikwan taeIs tabout 5000
in round hgurcs), which had been
given to the lem Zen. or Tnoist pope
by one OF tho Emperors Of the Tachn.
dynasty.
Asks TITLE lie Restored.
Two months ago General Chang
lisun. the reactionary military leader
who is believed To have been largely
responsible for excuses, undoubtedly
committed ut NanlSing during tho
countcrrcvolution OF 1913, presented
n memorial To President Yuan request
Ing that tho coniisc1tcd seal, the title
and the pension be restored 60 tho
Taoist pope. General Chang contcndcd
that his request was IN accordance
| with the constitutional religious free
DOM" ordained with the establishment
of the republic. and since defended by
the President: and lie also asserted that
| Taoism, whose remote origin dates
back TO tho Yellow Emperor and
LaotsZc. is the oldest relision OF China
| and therefore merits our reverence and
preservation"
The President referred this memorial
to the Minister Of the 1ntcrior--a strong
! progressive and a good friend to Chris
! tanity, by the way-who reported that
"aS the Tacist sect. founded by Chang
| Tao-)ing, WAS merely a system OF con
| duration and alchemy, il cannot claim
| TO have originated in the philosophy
! OF LaotsHc; and that, as the titles Of
| J'em Zen, Holy Man and Ticn TsZc,
! Heavenly Teacher were merely tradi-
| tional appcllations given by the Taoist
followers to their lcaders-not dissimi-
| lar TO the titles OF father or pastor
| among the Christians-the Taoists are
| ut liberty to continue to address their
| leaders by such titles If they so desire,
! although the government such has
| no business to confer such titles upon
any person" The president approved
! this action, and so the matter rests.
,?aoism is surely dying in China.
Theoretically, Taoism is the develop
| mcnt of n philosoDhy-thc doctrine OF
| "thc right way or, as some say,>"the
| return to the ideal of human happi-
| ness" The great LaotsZc, about whose
! life hundreds and scores Of hundreds
I of books. have been written, cnunciat-
cd the original principles about $40 3.
Taoism IIns Dcgencratcd.
But, as we are told by II. T.. John
| son. the author OF Lion and Dragon
! In Northern China" Taoism has de
| generated into n dcbascd ritual en-
| fodying IL polytheistic hotchRotch Of
| witchcraft and dcmonology."
According to the Picking police cen
| sus of 1908, there were in the capital
| city of China only 1873 Taoist priests
as compared with 1,553 Buddhist priests.
| Buddhism, too. is disintegratirfg in
| China, while Il recent report from
| authentic sources showed the Chris
| tians in China. counting all denomna :
| tons. as numbering in the ncighbor-
| hood OF 100000 One OF the leading
| missionary authorities has reported that
there are already sufficient native Chris
/ tiau teachers and preachers in China TO
| safeguard the propagation of the Chris
tian faith in that country. All reports
| agree that Christianity is making great
! strides in China.
In China to-day freedom of belief
is as actual rs ii is or even has been
| In any land on earth. This will sound
| like a remarkable statement to those
| who still regard China as the China OF
| the Manchus but 1T is quite true, and
can be readily verified.
China's attitude towards religious
matters was admirably stated very re-
ctnly by President Yuan Shih -kai in the
| proclamation which he issued iInmcdi
ntely before the birthday of Confucius
| --Scptcmber IS. In certain rcsDccts
Confucius takes much the same place
In the hearts and minds OF the Chinese
people as does George Washington In
tho hearts and minds OF Americans
And. allowing for natural differences OF
la III Il