The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-16
REVIVE CHINESE
RELIGIOUS RITE
But New President Says It Does
Not Mean Restricting Freedom

! wv "CoN NCoGiSuIk ttVVuouI
Pcking. March 16-Accompanyi inc
the mandates which have just been
promulgated prescribing the worship
of Heaven ana Of CONTIGUOUS 10y the
president and certain provincial Off
| Gals, there is one explaining that this
does not mean that China has adopted
state religion. The documents at =
tract wide interest because of the long
controversy To which they come as At
least a temporary termination. They
are taken as a declaration on the part
OF the president that while his govern
mcnt intends To worship IN the way
that Chinese governments have been
wurshippng for centuries, it viii not
interfere with the religions of those
who believe in worship in another
form The mandates read i'm part, as
follows
Religious liberty is observed
throughout the world Our republic
is composed of five races, Chinese.
Manchus, Mongolians. Mohammedans
traditions differ Their religious be-
liefs are difficult therefore, To- unity.
IL would not be easy To adopt a state
religion for such q step might bc con-
trary TO the wishes of the people. bat
sacrifices offered at the proper seasons
In tlR ancient G1infG and Il
prescribed i'm the laws of the late
Ching Dynasty did not touch the
question of religion. Since they are
not in conflict with republican form
of government they should be con-
tinued az a token Of respect on the
part Of the succeeding generations.
The choice of religion is still left To
the people. This is according To- the
liberty guaranteed by the constitution
and in accord with the practice of tho
world. This order is issued To avert
possible misunderstanding and sus-
picion.
Not RESTRICTION Of Freedom.
In promulgating the decision of tho
administrative council, the president
after repeating the councils rcpor,
says:
r. TIE president. am aware that the
ceremony of sacrificed offering tlI
Heaven has been held in great reveg
encc since remote times and preserved
hy the government of China through
successive ages. For the people -
fast and cleanse themselves and pay
profound respect to the Diety, is ra
tional; and no clause has ever eXiste
in the institutions Of the country pro
hibiting or restricting tins observance.
/ hereby order that the sacrifice offer
ing To Heaven shall be made a uni
versal ceremony"
The place chosen for this worship |
on the part of the president is the
famous Altar of Heaven. where the |
I'mperors of succeeding dynasties have
knelt and offered thanks and supplica- |
tons 10 the open skies The altar is |
vast circular marble dais, or rather, a |
series of daises rising on another. TN.
center circle, whore the Emperor for
merry knelt as Son of Heaven and |
mediator between his people and the
Diety, being considered in former days
the center Of the universe.
ON two sides Of the Altar are rows
If huge open furnaces of wrought iron,
ana "A large one of masonry. where the
lN is sacrificed. The Altar, and also
he temple and the imperial buildings
n the grounds. have been neglected
md are now i'm need of much repair
md SO Overgrown with weeds that tn !,
pathways are almost impossible.
Vandalism BY Foreigners.
Not only has time been permitted To
nut it's mark upon the place hut the
'andal too has done his work. Not
Ible things have been taken away. ~
many cases stolen, till only splendid
hron6 surrounded by dragon screen.
uch as it is To be seen only in the
'orhidden city, remains. Huge pieces
# the carved marble have been hack
d off the Altar and the temple. Mucn
ignors but not all: the Chinese them
elves are To come extent guilty.
The place has never been restricted
% the presence of the Court only; |
oreignrrs and some Chinese had been
'ermitted Ia visit it even in Manchu
lays. But since the Republic was
proclaimed il has become "A sort II
'ubic park, and considered a relic #
he dynasty that has past. Nor would
I be fair To give the impression that
he vandalism and the lack of care