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made in China in the same direction, and there are signs that this fact is at last being recognised by China herself.
RELIGIONS IN THE FAR EAST.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[July 23, 1936.
| Civilisation and Christianity, however, are the parched soil refuses to mature the grain not so indissolubly bound up as many sprinkled on it by the industrious Husband- innocent people seem to assume. Social man. In consequence the whole of Nor- amenities are evolved of necessity, quite thern China, and to a lesser but still independently of religion. Ethics never considerable extent the greater part of the have hung on to the tail of any religion, South, is devoid of timber for the ordinary (Daily Press, 19th July)
though some religions have lived, parasiti-purposes of domestic life, and is redu.al to Following our remarks yesterday, we may cally, upon ethics, with but little of their the miserable necessity of using for fuel* briefly note the numerous kindred references own to justify their existence. The subject the constantly decreasing droppings of that have appeared in the press since Dr. is not a particularly savoury one, and it is animals, or of grubbing up by the roots the RICHARD's quaint comments. Christendom fortunate that a man like TOLSTOY, in his few remains of the once luxuriant vegetation seems to be ignoring the parable of the essay on "Church and State ", should have which formerly covered the now arid plains lilies, and taking thought, not only for its already published these truthful but dis- or hillsides. Nor is the case much better own to-morrow, but for all the to-morrows agreeable statements, that the words when we come to Eastern Siberia.` Trhe of the Chinese and Japanese. Perhaps the "Christian State have almost as little there exist certain Russian laws which "for- most interesting is Mr. A. R. CoLQUHOUN'S | significance as would have the terms hot bid the destruction of trees, but in the contribution to the Fortnightly, on "Christi-ice"; and Christian Civilization implies existing state of mis-government, or rather anity and China". Where Mr. COLQUHOUN not much more than frog's feathers. The perhaps of no-government, that prevails in sticks to his subject, his utterances appear national character is demoralised by so much these regions no machinery exists for quite authoritative. It was necessary, as it is forced to attribute its development putting these in practice. Nor is Japan, perhaps, considering the "smugness" of to fictitious causes; a religion deteriorates fhough better in respect to the general love many of his readers, to insist that the in quality the moment it is adopted as a tor trees exhibited by her people, in much Chinese are not lacking in the moral sense; State formula. The HONORARY SECRETARY better case economically, and we see in and he had also the right to add his opinion of the Pan-Islamic Society, who rejoices at every annual report issued by the Govern of the influence on the Chinese character of the silly rumour that. Japau is about to ment complaints of the gradual destruction the respective cults, that have found a home adopt Islam, says, "As has been suggested of the forest growth. It was under these in the Empire. He notes a change which in the Morning Post, the political advantages circumstances that under the suicidal that Japan can gain by adopting Islam as
influence of a BEJOBRASOFF, Admiral her State religion are too obvious to be ALEKIEFF was sent by the TSAR as hidden from the eyes of the statesmen his satrap into the Far East; and one of Japan." Obviously, there is behind of the first acts of the new administracion. that the counter-hope, the ambition of was a plan for the wholesale exploitation of CONSTANTINE's archbishops. The bribe is these covered reserves. Urged on by the thus dangled in the eyes of the Tokyo pressure from behind, ALEXIEFF was driven Government.
to practically annex these districts, and it was this feature of his rule that finally brought him into contact with Japan, and so was one of the main causes of the late
we do not consider as real as it seems: formerly we were told that the common people welcomed Christianity and the government and literati were hostile to it. It is now the latter who are ostentatiously friendly, while the anti-missionary feeling is spreading throughout the country. The missionary with sufficient experience and candour has to admit that at bottom there has beer no vital change of sentiment on either
,,
war.
"If she (Japan) dreams of becoming one day a world-Power, and to make Asia again dominate other Continents as she did once, side. When we were told that "the common
Japan cannot realise that object but by adopting people welcomed Christianity we were
the enlivening and inspiriting religion of toid what was not true, or at least, we
Islam-the simple, invigorating, and practical were deceived by exaggeration. When
religion-the religion of Mahammad, the Mr. COLQUHOUN considers the prospects greatest reformer, legislator, conqueror, com- of Christianity in China, he asks what mander, a nation and Empire founder, the Christianity has to offer to China. Ethics religion of Khalid, the conqueror of Persia in Christian ethics, be-contends, are inferior Asia; the religion of Amron, the conqueror of to her own, for while our moral system is the land of Pharaohs in Africa; and the religion of Mahammad II.. the conqueror of the based on individualism hera is founded otcible Constantinople in Europe," family life. "The spiritual consolations and upliftings of our religion do not have the same appeal to a people whose funda- mental idea of virtue is stoicism, and whose mystical side bas been fed to repletion. "But," he adds elsewhere, Christian civilisation without doctrine has much to offer China, and the benefits of these people were in possession of the truth to the by no meaus edifying sight of a
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advanced humanitarianism, of applied science, and of personal devotion to an ideal are beginning to bear good frui after a long period in which their connection with the hated foreigners and his ways was their
The Christian missionaries are nore shall inherit the earth". OMAR's scathing generous; they promise that their converts line seems to apply, "Oh, the srry trade".
K
Whence arises this insensate desire of indoctrinating one's brethren?" It is TOLSTOY who asks, "In good truth, if|
they would understand that this belief is nothing else than the sentiment of the hidden significance of life itself, that it establishes the relations of each individual between himself and God, and that this
It might have been anticipated that taught from her own home experience the inevitable rasult of the destruction of forests, China might have learnt the wisdom of taking care for her own use of what still remained under her jurisdiction; but it is not one of the traits of her Government to take lessons from past experiences; and so on the declaration of peace, while supping and quarrolling with her neighbour on every in its results, she has stood by and given a other subject, how insiguitienut it may be free hand to Japan in carrying out the former Russian project of destroying the Manchurian forests. We are in fact treated
triangular duel between China, Russia and Japan of further schemes for the efficement of the one valuable pieces of forest latt intact in Asia; and all this without the slightest apparent apprehension of the
great obstacle." Japan became as efficient faith consequently cannot be imparted; } Part of any of the three that in this war
this.
as the barbarian without adopting his whatever they can make enter, and whatever against nature herself they are committing religion; China cannot have failed to notice they have made enter into the minds of selves but against humanity at large, more an irreparable crime against not only them- The conviction of sin and the longing for, others is not faith but only au appearance || especially that portion of it that .habi's East have unusual opportunities for con- forests of North America is bringing about Eastern Asia. The destruction of the firming his proposition.
salvation do not enter into the Chinaman's purview of life, and when we reflect that many things which we call sin are virtues in his eyes it is hard to see how we are to bring there things home to him." Mr. COLQUHOUN further says, "Chinese philosophy and morality are breaking down of themselves before the impact of materialism, and, dark as the outlook has been and still is for the spread of the dogmas of Christianity, there is reason to believe that the efforts of Christian men to raise the Chinese standard at just those points where it is lowest —in humanitarianism, respect for women, and other respects—will eventually win for the religion which prompted them a recognition which no propagandism could attain.”
荡荡
Some of Mr. COLQUHOUN's commentators drag him with them into the error of Christian civilisation", the civilisation of Europe ** which has grown out of Europe's religion, and so on. Perhaps it is only fair that as Christianity is so often blamed for European naughtinesses, it should have credit for all the European virtues
of faith." TOLSTOY's admirers in ti
the Far
TIMBER WASTE IN CHINA
(Daily Press, 20th July) Almost alone of Asiatic lands from Asia Minor to the Pacific coast, has the thinly populated and between the Sangari and the Yalu, and the Pacific coast, preserved in any measure its ancient forest growth. China has led the way in her perverse and senseless destruction, not only of the forests but even of her grasses, so that where once, as the ballad tells us
Amidst rich plains the meads of Chow With iris and narcissus glow, is now for the most part a dreary expanse of tilled land, so devoid of shelter from the effects of wind and rain, that in the spring the soil may be seen bodily moving off; and where with recurring regularity in autuma
its own revenge. The world is beginning to discover that it is not far from a wood famine, and the States and Canada áre beginning to wake up to the effects of the proximate danger. In Europe, it is to be hoped, past experience has taught more wisdom, and we find the leading States taking stringent measures to preserve their Japan at home is own forest growths. beginning to look the matter squarely in the face; and this it is that still further emphasises the recklessness that for a mere momentary benefit permits her to sanction the destruction even now being carried on on her flanks; She, at least, has no excuse to offer for her conduit, *Russia so far as any appeal to her better feel-
· of course, by "left" ings is concerned inay, out of account. The reckless extravagance that has left her bankrupt at home is not
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