El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-14
CHRISTIANITY
NOT BARRED
IN NEWCHINA
Restoration of Old Religions
Is Not a War Upon
Other Worship.
STATEMENT MADE
BY THE PRESIDENT

II EKIN, China, March 14-Accom-
Il panying the mandates prescribing
. the worship Of heaven" and of
"Confucius" by the president and GER
tain provincial officials, there is one
explaining that this does not mean that
China has adopted a state religion The
documents attract wide interest be-
cause of the long controversy to which
tehy come as at least a temporary ter
mination. They are taken as a decIa-
ration on the part of the president, and
| while his government intends to wor
| ship in the way that Chinese govern
! ments have been worshipping for cen
! turtles, it will not interfere with the
religions of those who believe in wor-
| ship in another form. The mandates
read in part as follows:
Choice of Religion Not Barred.
Religious liberty is Observed
1 throughout the world. Our republic is
composed Of five races, Chinese. Mani
chus, MongOlians, MOhammedans and
ImDetans; and their historical tradI-
lions differ Their religious beliefs are
difficult, therefore, to unity. 1t wouIo
not be easy to adopt a state religion
Tor such step might be contrary to
the wishes OF the people. But sacrifices
offered at the proper seasons to the
ancient saints and sages as prescribed
in the laws of the late Ching dvnasry,
dld not touch the question of religion
Since they are not in conflict with a
republican form of government they
should be continued as token of re-
spect on the part Of the succeeding
generations. It VIII become generally
known that the ceremonies now pre-
scr1bed are performed, and there Is
danger that the ceremonies will be con-
strued as the beginning of the estab-
uSnmenC OF national religion It IS
therefore. n a 20 l-no
principle which prompted the restora-
LOn OF the ancient views and to state
t1aL they are IN response to the wishes
OF the aJor1ty TO express their reVer-
ence and veneratiOn for the saints and
sages and to preserve the traditions of
thousands of years. The choice of re-
lgion is still left to the people"
Presidents Proclamation.
In promuISa1ng the decision of the
administrative council, the president
after repeating the councils report
says:
q, the president am aware that the
ceremony Of sacrifice offering 10
Heaven has been held in great rev
erenee since remote times and pre-
through successive ages For the DeO-
PIE 10 IaSC and cleanse themselves Z
adn pay profound respect to the Deity, (
Is IaLlOual5 and no clOuSe has ever eX-
listed in the Institutions of the country
prohibiting or restricting this observ- J
ance- hereby order that the sacrifice }
a
Versal ceremony The recommendations
81 the administrative council regarding |
the place and time of sacrifice are
hereby approved The ministry of the
interior is ordered to collect opinions Of
'enoWned authorities and decide upon !
me special designs for the ceremonial !
nat and costume, the character of the
ceremony, the articles to be used ETC. (
and to submit them for consideration
and approval"
The "AItar of Heaven
The place chosen for this worship on
ne part OF the president is the famous
Altar Of Heaven" where the emperors
II succeeding dynasties have knelt and
'I1ered thanks and supplications to the I
pen skies. The altar is vast circular !
marble dalS, or rather a series Of daises
Using one upon another, the center cir
lie, where the emperor formerly kneIt
s son Of heaven and mediator between
us peopel and the Deity, being consid-
req IN former days the center of the
inverse. [
On two sides Of the altar are rows 6
huge open furnaces Of wrought iron, I
M a larger one of masonry where the 1
Y IS sacrificed It has been several
ears since the emperor bowed pom
ne altar in person; and it is not
tanned that the president shall per +
orm the ceremony till the winter SOL
Lce IN December next, for the rite is
n annual service. The altar, and also .
ne temple and the imperial buildings
the grounds, have been neglected and {
re now in need Of much repair and so
vergrown with weeds that the path
avs are almost impossible.
VandaIs at Work.
Not only has time been permitted to
IT its mark upon the place, but the I
andaI too, has done his work. Nova !
-e things have been taken away, in
any cases stolen, till only a splendid /
lrone surrounded by dragon screen,
n as is to be seen only in the For
dden City, remains.
The place has been almost totally
sglected since the Marking govern
ent proclaimed the republic. The
1ung republicans were ashamed of
any things that differed from things z
the " enretoWrlds fOrobservance5.
the western world, Manchu costumes
stoms and even historic places. The
nple and altar Of heaven came under
e ban.
The place has never been restricted to
e presence of the court only; foreign
s and some Chinese had been permit n
q to visit it even in Manchu days But n
ice the republic was proclaimed it
s become a sort Of public park, and
nsidered a relic Of the dynasty that
s past Nor would It be fair to give
e impression that the vandalism and o.
e lack of care have come entirely
tn the republic. The Manchus also
re NEGLIGENT. They took, indeed, lit Il
care OF the grounds, and only once NJ
year was the enclosure put in order "
: the emperor's visit. til
Now, under Yuan Shi-kai-if he is 70
rmitted to fulfil his prOject-this
itorical place Of worship is likely to
Kept in order and renewed where it si'
s been wrecked. til