SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1929.
OUR WEEKLY SERMON
Importance of Historical Element in Christianity
MODERN CHURCHMAN'S VIEWS
[By Michael Oakeshott, M.A., Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge]
(Continued from September 160)
In various ways, then, what may not think it would be difficult) to not unjustly be called the current show that a belief in the necessity theories of the identity of Chris- of the prima facie historical, is a tianity break down, and until we belief in something very much less can find a more tenable theory to than reality, something in itself in- put in their place we not only lack consistent and therefore theoreti grounds for an affirmative answer eally worthless, but such à demon- to our question, but grounds forstration in this place would be both frivolous and irrelevant. Religious
any answer.
A Characteristic
or
Apologists in Error
Need For Belief
DR. SZE LEAVES
CALL ON GOVERNOR THIS MORNING
THE CHINA MAIL,
YESTERDAY'S RECEPTION
Dr. Sao-ke Alfred Sze, who is returning to London as head of the Chinese Legation there, called off- cially on H.E. the Governor (Sir Cecil Clementi, K.C.M.G.) at Gov- erament House this morning, and later re-embarked on the N.Y.K. s. "Kitano Maru," on which he had
arrived yesterday from Shanghai.
He was given an enthusiastic send- off by his many friends and admirers in this Colony.
Dr. and Mrs. Sze were guests at the Hong Kong Hotel roof garden yesterday of the Euro-American (Chinese) Returned Students' Asso ciation.
Mr. Y. P. Lar welcomed the guest of honour and said they could look upon Dr. Sze as one of themselves, and, had he lived in Hong Kong, he would be there as one of the hosts instead of being a guest of honour.
of Mr.
SHADOWS BEFORE,
COMING EVENTS ANNOUNCED IN "CHINA. MAIL”
Social Functions
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
WANTED.
Chinese Male
To-day Dinner Dances at Hong WANTED-Expert Kong Hotel and Peninsula Hotel Stenographer. Apply Secretary P.O. 8.30 p.m.
Box 22.
To-day-Dinner Dance at Re pulse Bay Hotel, &.30 p.m
To-day-Tea Dances at Hong Kong Hotel and Peninsula Hotel, 4.30 p.m.
IN OTHER PLACES
To-morrow-Tea Dance at Re-CHRONICLES FROM JAPAN TO pulse Bay Hotel, 4.30 p.m. Entertainments
To-day Queen's Theatre; "Mother Knows Best."
Today World
JAVA
Mr. G. E. Cator, of the Malayan the Mysterious Lady." (Continu-leave by the "Hulyan," on Sept. 19.
Theatre: Civil Service, returned from Home
ous performance from 1.30 p.m.).
The Price of Honour."
Today Star Theatre;
A Commission as Second-Lieut., "Jimmie's Milions,"
To-day Majestic Theatre; been granted to Mr. Tan Chong- Chinese Company, S.S.V.F., has traction, Nina and Jacques, at 7.15
(added at-kew. and 9.15 p.m.).
To-day Forbes, Russell Comedy Co., in George Savage has been appointed At Theatre Royal, It is officially notified that Mr. "Good Morning Bill," 9.15 p.m.
act to
as Postmaster-General, To-day-Kowloon Football Club Johore. Concert, 9.15 p.m.
Co., in "By Candle Light," at Star turning to Siam by the "Flonia," ar-
Sept. 23-Forbes Russell Comedy
H.R.H. Prinee Parachatra is re- Theatre.
Sept. 24-Forbes Russell Comedy of October.
riving at Penang about the middle Co., in "Her Cardboard Lover," at Star Theatre.
Lee Theatre, 9 p.m.
Oct. 21-Nelson Day Concert at
Home Mail
Mr. J. W. Davidson, honorary general commissioner of the Rotary International, who is making a tour iea and ports ("President Polk").
To-day Inward from Amer-of the East, is expected in Kuala
Lumpur, Land Sale
Sept. 23-At P.W.D. Offices three lots of Crown land at Shamshuipo,fers made by the Secretary of State Recent promotions and trans- 3 p.m.
for the Colonies include Mr. R. E.) To-day-Victoria Recreation Club Service), Deputy Legal Adviser. Cussen (Class. IJ; Malayan Civil Night fete.
F.M.S.
Sports
Dr. Sze Replies Respanding, the Minister express- ed his appreciation of the warm welcome extended to him and his wife by the gathering, and said he was glad to be given that opportuni- ty of meeting the members of the Society, in some friendships that had
cases renewing been com- last visit to this Colony made some menced elsewhere. He spoke of his 15 years ago., encouragement to similar student He had brought a message of bodies at Shanghai, Tientsin and Peking, where it had been difficult
A salute of 17 gusa were fired to bring the various students to-
Miscellaneous
both at Klang and in Kuala Lumpur gether, except when a dance was Today Hong Kong Cricket at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September being held (Laughter). For which Club v. "Rest of the League," 4 pm.11. in honour, of the birthday of reason he must confess that he had Sept. 27-In the Great Hall of the His Highness the Sultan of expected a very small gathering that University, Lecture on
"The De-Selangor. afternoon, and was agreeably sur-velopment of Aviation in China," prised to find he was mistaken.
In Scotland you eat your tes comfortably round the dining-room table without having to poise it on a chair or in your lap-Lady Kitty Vincent.
Brigade aquatic sports, King's Col
Sept. 29-St. John Ambulance
lege bath, 10 a.m.
8.30 p.m.
Sept. 24-Seventh general meet-Vice-Consul, Shanghai, informs the A letter from Mr. J. II. Botelho, ing of the University Art Assen., Council that, having returned from in the Union Assembly Room, 8.30 leave, he assumed charge of the p.m.
Consulate General for Portugal on September 3.
LARGE DONATIONS
I cannot pretend to have à com-ideas, unlike philosophical ideas, do plete and unassailable theory of not depend entirely for their value identity to offer you, and in place upon a demonstration of their of such a theory I will venture the ultimate truth: they have another following by no means original purpose, the fulfilment of which is suggestions. Identity, so far as subject to a pragmatis test. To the Christianity is concerned, must be philosopher, then, who should tell discovered in the facts of history, us that our faith in history is
The speaker said that theirs was not as something unchanging, or pathetically misplaced, we may a young Society, with little more some substance common to them all, answer that the question before us than two years of existence, but it had fully met their needs, and he but as a kind of qualitative same is not the ultimate reality of his. ness. Identity, so far from exclud-torical events, but whether or not could say that its existence had been ing differences, is meaningless in a belief in the prima, fecie histori-chiefly due to the energy their absence, just as difference or cal is a permanent religious need | K. L. Chau. (Applause). change depend upon something which demands some kind of satis whose identity is not destroyed by fuction. that change. It is not a matter of size or shape, or of anything so ab-
Those apologists, I. think, stract as spirit or purpose; on the are in error who say that Chris contrary, it seems to lie, first, in tianity has ever, in any ultimate the avoidance of any absolute break sense, asserted the essential reality in a thing's existence, and, beyond and uniqueness of all events and that and governing that, in some of time, for such an assertion is no qualitative element to be discover-part of a specifically religious be ed only by reference to the general lief, and Christianity is first and character of the thing concerned. aet a religion.
But Christianity certainly has asserted a very gen! On this view of identity-and on eral need for some kind of religious ny other, so far as i am aware-belief in the necessity of the prime the characteristic of being Chris-facic historical, and if
we may tiat may properly be claimed by judge from the past history and the any doctrine, idea practice present state of our religion, this which, no matter whence it came, assertion is very well grounded in has been or can be drawn into the fact. There has bees. and there general body of the Christian seems now to be, a very general tradition without altogether dis-need in the religious consciousness turbing its unity or breaking down of Christendom for this kind of its consistency. This means that belief in history. But before we an idea or practice may properly be use this as an argument to establish Christian which, in part at least, that belici as an important and zun counter to much that had pre-even necessary part of Christianity viously been regarded as Christian.we should, I think, consider the It means, also, that the identity of following facts. our religion is maintained, not in spite of, but because of, differences This belief and need for belief al changes. To apply the second in the necessity of the prima facie an governing criterion of identity historical, besides having some
the
times:
history it would be necessary to come to foundation in human nature in
and not some definite conclusion about the general, was inherited by Chris make cowards ef us all. But, as conscience, in these days, does general character of Christianity, tianity, like so much else, from far as our civilization is concerned, which is too large an undertaking Judaism: it is what has been called so mach belief in history seems to for the present occasion. But the the Jewish principle of consider-be working its own ruin; the intel- kind of way in which I should being the object of religious lectual energy of our generation is Inclined to think of it is like this. emotion a something which has oc- turning in other directions, and the Christianity is a religion, and while curred once for all." That, of it is not a characteristic of religion course, is not to say that it cannot
power to stand on the point of the to remain unchanged throughout be in the fullest sense Christian, and inflated demand for a belief present is returning. This artificial human history. it is one of its but I think it should make us more characteristics continually both to critical of it than we might other but the creature of a period, and in history is. then, not necessary, conform to and to lead what may be wise be, for "gefahrlich ist es, Erbe when it disappears, as it seems like called the civilization or culture of zu sein." By same means or other, ly to do, its counterpart in Chris- its adherents. There is. no religious perhaps through the idea with which we are acquainted mentality of Christianity itself, any real contact with the normal instru- tianity will be seriously lacking in which has remained entirely un-this belief in history has, since the outlook of our civilization. We changed. To identify Christianity eighteenth century, become part of should. I think, also bear in mind with its whole original state (if our normal Weltanschauung: this that the necessity for this belief that could be found) or with some peculiarly Hebrew belief, which has often been denied by many re- unchanging core (if that could be had little or
no counterpart inligious men brought up in the known) is to deny its nature. A Greek culture, has been westerniz Christian tradition. religion must, somehow, represented. I need hardly offer a proof of
We cannot to its believers the highest they can this.
assert that it is a need universally The tremendous power of felt even among Christians, believe, the best they can desire. persuasion exercised by an histori Do Not Remain Unchanged cal analysis over aneducated minds
No Sign of Permanence Such beliefs and desires do not was magnified in the nineteenth
Our conclusion, then, if I may remain unchanged, and so Chris-century to immense proportions. this belief in the necessity of the venture to state i definitely, is that tianity either is something which
Run to History
Mr. C. G. Sallis, acting In- can maintain its identity and at the
prima facie historical shows no All intellectual effort had a ten-sign of permanence or necessity.
spector of Schools, Penang, will same time be the highest our of dency to run to history, and the It has a long and honourable his
leave on October 4 by the P. and O. any age can believe or desire, or reading of history became itself a tory in Christian tradition; it has Clementi, KC.M.G.) was present In his absence, Mr. L. W. Arnold, Mantua" on eight months' holiday. to be a religion in the full means of grace and even a religion. undoubtedly been held an essential sense. And, to me, the failure of The consequence of this is that a part of Christianity; but I can find
to offer his congratulations, s at present head master of the Christianity to meet the demands certain artificial and inflated de put upon it by present requirements mand for history and a belief in
were the leading officiala, resi-Free School, will act. Mr. Arnold no adequate reason for supposing dents (both Chinese and foreign) D. W. McLeod, head master of the
in turn will be replaced would be more certain evidence of history has been created.
by Mr. that it is. 30. its demise than aimost any alleged believe in history; it is part of our not lose its identity, were the modi-
Lacking. it,¦ and members of the University We Christianity, it seems to me, would staff.
King Edward VII School, Talping. break in the Christian tradition. In short, the argument is this: re-religion because it is part of our fication to be effected at the de- sented $52,500 to the University. About a year ago Mr. Fung pre- ligion is characterized by its power wie es eigentlich gewesen is little edurated in
But this ideal of mand of a religious consciousness
Mr. Denis A. Waring, formerly Other donations have been made of Rubana Estate, who went Home to give life and to give it abundant better than an illusion, and its second question must, then, be School and to libraries in Kwang-Hilda Gertrude Cartwright, young- our religion. Our by him to the Chinese Middle on leave and recently married Mias ly: Christianity is a religion; and therefore it can properly be said to apotheosis, passeism, is a sign of answered in the negative.
tung.
est daughter of the Mayor and Mayoress of Bournemouth, re- turned by the "Mantua" and has been posted to. Trans-Krian Estate, Nibong Tebal, Mrs. Waring is coming out later, to join her hus- band.
fails
con-
maintain its identity while tinually admitting perhaps wholly new ideas and practices, no matter whence they come, and while con- tinually discarding perhaps thor- oughly traditional ideas and prae- tices, so long as the modifications nra effected in such a way as to cause no abgolute break in the de- velopment and to comply with its general nature as a religioni.
Sound Test Required The result of my argument. Bo far is, then, that although the ba lief In the necessity of the prima facie historical has been regarded as an important element of Chris- tianity, we cannot assert that it is Reccasarily either so important as It has bon held to be, or even im portant at all, until we have tested it by a sound theory of the identity of Christianity; and according to the theory of identity I have sug- gested, whether or not this belief is important to Christianity de pends upon, circumstances. It is, then. only by considering these cir cumstances that we can hope to dis cover any grounds for delivering a rational Judgment of the value of this bellefy
The value of a specifically re ligious idea cr belief is, is part at least, to be judged pragmatically It might be possible (indeed, I do
**
mentality,
HONG KONG AS A
MODEL COLONY
LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
SEN HALL?
COLONY'S
BUDGET
FOR
・1930
A Straits Government Gazette MR. FUNG PING-SHAN & THE Extraordináry, was, issued notifying
UNIVERSITY
the appointment of the Colonial Secretary (Hon. John Scott, C.M.G.) as Deputy to the Governor turing His Excellency's absence in the FM.S.
70 BIRTHDAY CEREMONY
Following his previous gifts to the cause of education in Hong Kong and in China, Mr. Fung Ping-shan, the well-known mer- The appointment of the Hon. Mr.
mally chant and banker, announced for-4. S. K. MacDonald to be tempor
yesterday that
further arily a nominated Unofficial. Mem- Hong Kong had been accepted by Settlements, during the absence of donations to the University of her of Legislative Council, Straits
the authorities. $100,000 for the construction of a He is giving
the Hon. Mr. G. C. Clarke, is ap- proved by the King. library for the Chinese Faculty, and $20,000 for the endowment Syt-Major Lawrence fund of the Faculty.
of the
birthday, it being the 71st (and England shortly.
Yesterday was Mr. Fung's 70th Lawrence will be proceeding to M.S.V.R., Seremban, and Mrs.
Mr. G. H. most auspicious) anniversary ac-Brinkley, who recently left for cording to Chinese reckoning.Johore and Mr. Lawrence, who are Two of his son, Mr. Fung Ping-both members of the Negri Sem- wah and Mr. Fung Ping-fan, gave bilan Club soccer team, will be a reception at No. 1, Park-road, entertained by the members of the in honour of their father's happy Club. event,
enjoyed by a constant stream of Music and refreshmentà were
attendance amounting to over 200. callers during the afternoon, the
H.E. the Governor (Sir Cecil
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