SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1929.
OUR WEEKLY SERMON
Significance of Historical Element In Religion
MODERN CHURCHMAN'S VIEWS
[By Professor C. C. J. Webb, Oxford.]
(Continued from August 3.J
Mystical Religion
Of mystical religion, which the
Mohammedanism
THE CHINA MAIL,
similar language is of a piece with WAR CLOUDS HOVER SHADOWS A
Tendency To Mysticism
EVENTS AT SINO-SOVIET FRONTIER
JAPAN'S OFFICIAL VIEW.
Tokyo, Yesterday.
cars, The
BEFORE.
COMING EVENTS ANNOUNCED IN "CHINA MAIL”
Social Functions To-day--Dinner Danzos at Hongi Kong Hotel, Repulse Bay Hotel and Peninsula Hotel, 8.30 p.m. Kong Hotel and Peninsula Hotel, To-day--Tea Dances at Hong
A brigade of Chinese troops from "The Boxer Bride" at 5.15 and 9.20 same despatch states that Sino-
ailar, with two armoured
Soviet negotiations are now deem-"Red Lips." have arrived at Manchuli,
ed hopeless. The Chinese dele-
p.m., "Remorse" (Chinese picture) at 2.30 and 7.15 p.m.
Po-day -Star
Theatre:
Theatre;
To-day Majestic I need only mention in illustration gate Mr. Chu Shao-yang, is expected The Big City."
return to Mukden for the Aug. 16 Promenade Concert,
For
to
and Mong Kok Tsui, 8 p.m.
Miscellaneous Aug. 10 and 24-European
Sports
this tendency, in mysticism to ig nore rather than to stress indivi duality. A purely mystical religion (if such a thing be possible) would not indeed lack an historical element, since, as I observed before, the historical antecedants and con- nections of the mystis. are never rever really altogether without according to a Vladivostok report, A message from Harbin says that effect in determining the form of the Soviet Commander of the Far his mystical experience; but it would be still only an imperfect refesto to the Russian people" alleg-
Eastern forces has issued "à, mani-] 4.30 p.m. ligion were it unbalanced by the
To-day-Hong Kong Football For, as the author of the anti- to Buddhahood who is believed to contrasted with the mystical as the Ing the Soviet to resort to arms and Black, Lane Crawford's Restaurant, use of what the late Baron Hugeling Chinese stubbornness in forc- Association Dinner to Mr. F. W. cipatory sketch of this paper goes be his destined successor, on to suggest, in what may be markable contrast with the tradi-For it is through the use of this the Red Guard is fully able to
in re-institutional element in religion. that the people need not be alarmed 8 pm. called philosophical religion it is tional Christian anticipation of #institutional element that the. In cope with the emergency.
Aug. 29-At European Y.M.C.A. less easy to detect the historical "second coming" of the one Author dividual realizes the truth of his firm this, a report from Manchuli While it is impossible to con-.
Kowloon, Flannel Dance, 9 p.m. element than in the national or poli- and Finisher of our faith,
Entertainments It is historical situation in the one tical religions of which I have just true, no doubt, that nowadays some universe of God; and apart from
To-day Queen's Theatre; been speaking. But it is to be ob- Christians may feel this traditional the use of it he is in danger of
asserts that war clouds are "Wild Orchids." again hovering over the frontier. served in the first place that it is in Christian anticipation to be
To-day World Theatre: a missing in the God with whom he to be detected there also; and in less easy for us than it was for which this God reveals in that ac- fact usually on careful inspection feature of our religion which it is is conscious of being made one that the second place that it is precise our forefathers to accept without tua? course of events which we call ly the weakness of this kind of re- misgiving. But I am only at pre-history. ligion that, in consequence of its sent so far concerned with it as to frequent failure to see God in his point out that it coheres with that tory and its one-sided absorption recognition of the absolute unique-of what I have said the notorious in the universal nature or charac-ness of the personality which ex-tendency in mysticism, if unchecked/purpose of consultation and to Parade Ground. Volunteer Head- ter of Reality in abstraction from pressed itself in the historical by loyalty to a law or to a creed, the situation.
consider measures to cope with its manifestation in historical in- foundation of Christianity which to become divorced from morality,
quarters, 9.15 p.m. dividuals, it is apt to prove in- makes the historial element of as well as the deliberate counterac
"Baseless Rumours"
Home Mail capable of meeting the needs of greater significance in our religion tion of this tendency by some great Manchuli report an increasingly via Negapatam ("Piave"); U.S.A.,
While Press despatches from
To-day Inward from Europe human beings who in their own per- than in any other. sonal lives are such historical
Christian mystics through insis threatening situation, official cir Japan and Shanghai ("President individuals and cannot find that The other religion with which, as sight, in that concentration of at- and are inclined to discount half
tence on the importance of not losing cies in Tokyo remain anperturbed, Wilson"). adequate expression of their own I said just now, we might profitably tention on the divine unity to which the reports as fictitious and base-
Land Sales true position in the
real world compare and contrast-Christianity mystics are prone, of the 'sacred less rumours.
Aug. 12-At P.W.D. Offices, two which they rightly demand that
as regards the position assigned in humanity of Jesus Christ.
lots of Crown land at-Shek Shan, their religion should supply in any it to the historical element is system
Reports of sabotage are large of thought, however Mohammedanism,
this sacred humanity stands Mohammedan-
inly discredited, as official confrma- spiritual and refined, for which ism approximates in this respect Christianity as the pledge that in tion is lacking, while reports of their own individuality has no more closely to Christianity than and through history we may lay the breakdown of negotiations Y.M.C.A. bathing piznics. genuine significance.
does Buddhism. Belonging as it hold, not of something other than are not regarded seriously, as it is does in its origin to the same family the one object of the mystic's pas-believed that the so-called negotia- Sept. 7 H.K.V.D.C. annual of religions as Christianity, it is sionate love, but his 'Presence and tions are confined to informal con-aquatic sports meeting at V.R.C., 9) writer of our programme links with less affected than Buddhism by the his very Self and Essence all divine. versations over the long distance p.m. philosophical religion as perhaps tendency, characteristic of the! While, then, an historical ele-telephone. altogether lacking an historical éle-
Meetings whole Indian group to which ment is, as I believe, present in The Chinese are attempting to To-day Association of Sub- ment, I will speak again later on. Buddhism appertains, to treat the every living religion, the recogni-arrange the opening of negotiations, scribers of Kowloon Tong Building At this stage I will confine myself world of sense as illusion and to tion of a single historie while the Soviet is maintaining the scheme, Garden City Club, 3 p.m. to remarking that here, too, as in neglect history as mere phantas-process as the .medium not stand that it is impossible to comi what has been called 'philosophical" magoria, or at the best a self-re-merely of divine revelation to ply unless the status quo is restor-cert Committee, Volunteer Head- Aug. 12-Meeting of Band Con- religion, we shall on close inspec-peating cycle of masks under which but of a divine Incarnation for and ed. tion find the experiences of mys- the one unchanging Beality
quarters, 5.45 p.m. .con ultimately in humanity as a whole
Clash Unlikely ties, like the theories of philoso-ceals rather than manifests itself (since
Aug. 14-Meeting of Swimming redeemed humanity is The Japanese Foreign Office ap Gala Sub-Committee (H.K.V.D.C.) phers, always conditioned, to a de- from eternity to eternity. To Islam Christ's mystical body) is character- pears to have anticipated that simi- 5.45 p.m. gree which, in view of the obvious history is truly history a single istic of the Christian religion. It lar futile attempts to arrange mutual resemblance of such experi- process, unique in itself and in is true that at first sight it might formal negotiations, interspered Council, French Bank Bldg., 5.80 Aug. 16-Meeting of Football ences among different peoples and each of its parts. Yet the signifi- be objected that, we have in Chris with occasional "alarums and exp.m. under different creeds, one might cance of history is less in Moham-tainity the attribution of religious cursions," will continue for some not expect, by the historical cir- medanism than it is in Christianity, significance to a certain select por- time before a modus vivendt is sumstances of the individual mysin that God remains, in transcen-tion of human history only, to the nally reached, but an armed clash tic. I may perhaps afterwards dent majesty, outside of it. It is exclusion of all the rest. have to suggest that a purely mys-his messengers only that take part bearer consideration what is really sador to Japan) had a conversa-
is extremely unlikely. But on M. Troyanovsky (Soviet Ambas- tical religion, so far as it fails to in it, and the supreme Prophet, secured by the emphasis laid on this tion with Baron Shidehara (Japan's supply the historical element ncces-
Mohammed himself, but the select portion proves to be the re- Foreign Minister) yesterday but sary to a religion which is to be greatest of these messengers, in cognition of the uniqueness of every the Foreign Office intimated that no adequate to human needs, requires contrast with the central doctrine supplementation by something else. of Christianity that in Jesus the whole that this part is chosen to be visit, which was apparently mainly part. It is as the centre of the significance was attached to the The "Founded"
beginning was with God and was the point on which the light is confined to Troyanovsky explana- God, became flesh and dwelt among done as well; for, just as these per Reuter
thrown. No other would have tion of the present situation. us. We may be led by philosophy to recognize that Reality is ever sons or events cannot take the place individual, the universal in the of any others (since there is in the particular, and that we have not end but one history), so no others reached our destination as philoso- can take the place of these. phical enquirers so long as for us from this one history no person and any other particular might have no event is dissociated or alien; illustrated the universal as well as rather, every one has its own unique this particular, or this particular place therein assigned to it by that as well exemplify any other univer- Providence concerning which we sal as this universal. Nevertheless have been told that the hairs of our the actual vision of the unique and head are all numbered and that not a individual reality is often denied to sparrow falleth to the ground with us. But in the Christian religion out our Father. we may see, though as in a glass darkly, yet with the assurance of faith, that actual presence of the eternal in the temporal, of the infinite in, the finite, which alone transforms tradition and memory into history properly so called, and justifies the presence in all religion
Peking, Yesterday. of an element which we may call
The flood situation has improved, historical because it bears witness Most of the rivers are reported to to the inadequacy of any apprehen-be falling.
But for the present I pass on to the type of religion next mention ed in my text, the 'founded' reli- gion. The presence in such a religion of an historical element is even more obvious, and the part which it plays greater than in a national or 'state' religion. But the importance attached to this element in different religions which may be classed as "founded religions' varies very considerably. It is certainly at its maximum in Christianity, and there is nothing that will throw more light on the significance of history for religion than a careful examination of the reasona for the distinctiveness of Christianity in this regard. It will probably be best brought out by comparing and contrasting it in this respect with Its two chief rivale as 'founded' religions, claiming to have a mes sage, not for some particular sect or people or nation, but for the whole human race with Buddhism
and with Islam. As to. the former,
eternal Word, who was from the
But
FLOODS IN NORTH
RIVERS NOW REPORTED TO BE FALLING
although undoubtedly Buddhism sion of our individual relationship It is hoped that the South Man-
Mystical and Historical
marooned between two washouts.
One foreign passenger escaped by It might seem perhaps at first crawling on his hands and knees aight that a particular faith would along the rail track, which now better earn the title of the religion forms a kind of suspension Bridge of individuality by emphasizing the across raging torrent, which mystical rather than the historical has washed out the embankment element in religion. No doubt that along which the line runs, ¦ He which passes by the name of was thus able to reach Shanhai- mystical experience is commonly kwan and get a train for Peking. characterized by a sinking of the mystic into himself, in which he becomes conscious of an immediate
BATHING PERILS
NARROW ESCAPE NEAR CHINESE PAVILION,
IN OTHER PLACES
CHRONICLES FROM JAPAN TO JAVA
Mr. R. C. Howitt, the District Officer Jasin, is going home holiday towards the end of this
month.
on
Under the sponsorship of the "Osaka Mainichi," one of the lead- ing newspapers in Japan, and ar- rangements made by Messrs. T. Cook & Son, a party of 38 Japanese gentlemen left Osaka on April 27, via Siberia, for Europe, After having toured Europe, the party a narrow escape from drowning whilst via America, and the remaining Last night, a Chinese swimmer had split, eighteen returning to Japan bathing in the sea at Quarry Bay, twenty returning by the near the pavilion of the South China "Hakusan Maru," via Suez. Athletic Association. A thunderstorm
A TIMELY RESCUE
U.S. PROHIBITION COMMISSIONER AND THE USE OF RIFLES
A NEW ORDER
he was disturbed by the occupants and fell from the verandah and was severely shaken.” He was sentenced to seven months' imprisonment.
str. This just after 3 pm, caused the electric steamer arrived in Shanghai and fights at the pavilion to fail, but in the party spent the day sight-seeing. spite of this some of the swimmers re- mained in the water. Suddenly there
A Chinese, Ling Siau-kan was, came a shout for assistance.
brought up at the Provisional Court, It was a dangerous and difficult task Shanghai, charged with burglary at to locate the distressed swimmer in the dark, but in spite of this several per- Nos. 60 and 62 Kinnear Road. The sons went to his assistance and after accused entered the first numbered swimming about in the dark for several house and after stealing some cloth- just in time to save his life. minutes, they managed to locate him ing made his escape. When the bears upon itself the stamp of its
property was found missing the to the eternal Reality that may fall churia (Mukden-Dairen) line will
Some people who switched electric police were called in and on their founder's personality, and would short of realizing the uniqueness re-open on Aug 10, but the torches on to the water andoubtedly arrival found the accused lying on not be the great spiritual power of every such relationship. Chris-breaks in the Mukden-Antung and assisted the swimmers to effect the the ground in No: 62 Kinnear Road. which it has been and is but for the tianity is in the supreme degree an Mukden-Shanhaikwan linee are rescue. The swimmer was brought in The accused evidently thought that impulse originally Imparted to
historical religion because it is in more serious, in a smei-conscious condition, but he might try a hand next door, but his disciples by the life and chaz the supreme degree a religion of Near Chinchow one train is came round after a while. acter and preaching of Gautama Individuality. and the influence exerted over thou- sands since his day by the story of his great renunciation and the tra- dition of bis teaching, yet we can not but observe, that uniqueness is not claimed for him and for his mission in the same way in which it is claimed by Christians for the person and work of their founder, It is possible, indeed, to regard this as an advantage over Christian- ity: possessed by Buddhism, but It unquestionably diminishes the reunion with the one ultimate lative importance in Buddhism of the historical element in religion, an element which those who on this ground would give the preference to the Indian gospel over that which was first proclaimed in Palestine would almost certainly
The accused stated that she and consider to be overstressed in
her husband who is now in the coun- Christianity for, while in Chris Lonely to the Alone to go,
try, were only the proprietors of a tianity Jesus Christ is represented Divine to the Divinity, as the one and only incarnation of But I should not myself regard this
overboard from a Pref launch while Road, and the pistols and parts were A Chinese prisoner, who jumped repair shop for arms in Nanking the one and only God, in whose ap kind of mystical experience, the im
retajat, was sentenced to two weeks given to them to be repaired by a pearing in the flesh his previous portance of which as a factor in good revelation of himself to man reach religious life I have no desire to It fe understood that the State Police Court It was stated that se constantly travelling from Shanghai simple imprisonment to-day at the man named Chang, who is a saflor. ad its culmination, and to whose disparage, as pre-eminently the Council will debate the question cased was arrested at Butterworth for to Danton. Det. Sgt Glover asked Spirit, taking of his to show it realization, by him who enjoys this afternoon at Nanking banging and was ordered to the House for a remand go that the police unta' ua, ell subseq revelation of his own individuality On the Reuter, 20
af Detention at Penang and white could make further is attributed, in Buddhism (speak- contrary, It is the very aim of the
being brought to Penang he strug
struggled the ing – generally, for there is more mystic's quest to lose the sense of
ved in the with the Police escort and jumped into than one form « of Enddhism)- an Individuality, which separates
appeal the sea. A Chinese sampan was close Gautams is one of a series of him, holds him apart from the One-
by and rescued him-Straits Timer judgment of Buddhas, though the last up to the The method by which he seeks to present time, who from to age achieve that aim is the stripping
the true off from his soul of those disting
retive determinationg
reves) again and
WAY OL
presente
kind
Reality, or at least of approxima» tion to such an immediate union. The historical and social relations which diversify and enrich, his everyday life, but are also felt to interpose themselves between him and the one ultimate Reality, drop out of sight and leave him free
For constitüt
unique.” – Los
ch go to #histori- which has
Reuter.
BUDGET WANTED
MR. T. V. SOONG HOLDING OUT
Shanghai, Yesterday The Finance Minister, Mr. T. V. Soong, this afternoon stated that his resignation is held up pending the States Council passing a deci sion agreeing to a proper budgetary the necessary steps to carry it out system all over Ching and taking failing which his resignation holds
lent was rese
Justi Right Bev
Bishop
arce polic not liable to
Bultan
At the Provisional Court, Shang- hai, a Chinese woman was charged with being in possession of TE volvern, *- ammunition, and parts of Washington, Yesterday rifles. Det.-Sgt Glover gave Prohibition Commissioner Doran evidence to the effect that on Tues- announces his intention to forbid day the accused who was in a riesha "dry" agents to use rifles except in was a pped by the police at the remote areas where rifles are Chapoc Road Bridge and four necessary for protection-Renter's
rounds of ammunition were found at American Service--
her feet. Following this find the police made a search at No. 588 IN THE SEA
Nanking Road where they found re- volvers of different makes and four STRUGGLE WITH A POLICE baskets of spare parts of weapons.
ESCORT
Penang, July 16
being brought to Penang from Bukit
our of the John Culhane, aged seven, was
shot
merly
that
accidentally brothe father's
леаг
on their collegher,
nquiries into
a large
No. 583
on it written with Co.
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