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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND. 1926
RATIONALISTS IN HONGKONG. THE THIRD ANNUAL DINNER. ASSOCIATION'S AIMS EXPLAINED:
THE DAILY ROUND AT SWATOW. A BUSINESS MAN'S BUSY LIFE.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
MEMBERSHIP INCREASE. In Hongkong, despite the trade boycott, there are sufficient servante to, meet all
The third annual dinner of the members is normal. of Hongkong Branch of the Rationalist needs, and kociņi, life Wishing to
Press Association was held at the Hong. know whether the ame conditions applied to the British com-keng Hotel on Saturday night, Dr. W. W. munities in the outports, we recently Pearse, the President, being in the chair. wrote to our Swatow correspondent for There were present in all over. Afty mem- some ureaunt of social life there, le re- plier with the following description of "average day." In Swatore the Chinese servants are still on strike but, will be seen from the details given, their places are being “tuzken by Russiane, and our own correspondent, apparently, has been fortunate in securing the more or less, competent services of a former Russian Colonel.
SWATOW, February 11th. We rise at 6.30-am that is and if we are lucky, and our Russian Colonel,- some of us have Professors of Mathe inaties does not oversleep, we might secure a cup of tea, and an orange by 7.30. Then about 8 o'clock a select few take a bath I am one of the few. The bath is supposed to be hot but is usually tepid-they have different ideas TA Russia about hot and cold.
We don't mind though, because most of us member those horrible days in July and August luat year when balba-bucket of water served as a bath for a man and his
hers and guests.
During the function reference was made to the pending departure of Dr. Pearse, who will shortly be retiring from the public service in Hongkong and a high tribute to his work in connection with the
Rationalist Press Association was paid hiru by speakers,..
THE GUESTS.
THE RPA
Dr. W. W. PEARSE proposed the toast of The Rationalist Press Association" and said the interest which had been táken, in the Association, locally was a matter for congratulation.
CANTON CUSTOMS. STRONG WARNING TO CHINESE
AUTHORITIES,
MILITARY COUNCIL" AND THE-
PICKETS.
"Frequently, he said, during the last year
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. ] I have been, asked What is Rationalism?
The last few days saw reports that the We are all liable to be asked this ques- tion which is not an easy ona to answer Diplomatic Corps in Peking and the briefly. At the head of our periodical Chinese Maritime Customs authorities in The Literary Guide and Rationalist Re-Canton had made strong protests to the view" we have perhaps the best attempt
to describe Rationalism briefly, and I may Canton Government against outrages be excused if I repeat it here :-
said to have been committed on foreign Rationalism may be defined as the shipping and interference with Customs Mental Attitude which unreservedly accepts the supremacy of reason and administration, but on inquiry, the Canton aims at establishing a system of Philo Administration suggests that these reports sophy and Ethics verifiable by experi- must have been connected with those ence and independant of all arbitrary referring to the recent forcible taking assumptions of Authority,"
Rationalism is therefore both subjective over of native customs stations around and objective. The objective side, it Swatow by Canton oficials, 'an net dis- seems, must be secondary to its subjective side, as it is impossible to build well approved of by the Canton Government without careful study of the building soon afterward and which is being re-
adjusted.. material.
3
Dr. E. LA proposing the toast of "The Guests, said in the course of his speech: In giving tangible evidence of their sympathy by their presence here, our guests are, I think, entitled to he
Mauris naturally questioning. He seeks The Military Council of the Kuomin told of some of our objects and aims, and the reasons for things, but cwing to his of the need there is of a Rationalist Asso-having to struggle for his existence he tang Government in Canton, it is under ciation in Hongkong. I hope before they is very liable to accept without examina- stood, has taken notice of some of the leave us this evening they will have been tica any plausible theory put forward with
the semblance of authority. Throughout acts of the strike pickets in Canton waters convinced that our nativities do not con- sist of meeting together once a year round the ages, mar has been trying to solve the and elsewhere, and has recommended to the festive Board for a display of post-riddle of the universe. Many difficult the Canton Provincial Government that prandial fireworks. This is only our win
theories have been formed pretending to they should appoint three or more foreign dow dressing. Behind this lies much use- answer this riddle. These, however, have ful work in the way of propaganda, of generally been, mixed with formal religion language speaking persons to assist the supplying rationalist books to our mem- and priesteraft and have been used as a Strike. Committee and take charge of rebers and of iaculating the application of means of governance. The moment the relations or affairs-involving foreigners
rationalistic methods of thought and realight of reason is shed on such theories
The same raport adds that, the Provin sening to the problerus presented by the they fall to pieces. external world. In a place where super Rationalism does not seek to formulate cial Council has instructed the Canton stition and belief in all manner of super- any definite creed to be accepted as ex-Commissioner for Foreign Affairs to até natural interventions in the events of plaining the meaning of life to be sub- wife and then afterwards the famiFdaily life is rampant, the need of our stituted for one or other of the existing tend to this recommendation of the Kuo-
Association is great, and it is our con- stant endeavour to be found worthy of the great responsibility.
washing went in and then possibly the dog-Ugh!
Breakfast is a movable feast according to the degree of sobriety of one's Colonel (Bacplonel is a Russian scr
MYTHS AND TRADITIONS. Mankind is loaded with a great weight
ant). If he has a carry over from the odd dozen bottles of samahy we are out of luck, Sometimes, of course, the fault is on our side. My messmate, Pills, the iniquitous chemist, occasionally saunters in at 10 o'clock and fires off in that chargingly abrapt manner be affects "Overslept what I mean! Pilis, poor lad, bas just returned from leave and he doesn't like strikes and things. By the time breakfast has disappeared und the daily grocery order has been armistice. shroffed we have to make tracks for the ferry, that is the handful who-
er.
live in Kakchio.
The ferry is a large and handsome motor launch helonging to Butterfield and Swire or Jardines, manned and rug by whichever of H. M.' sloops happens to be in port. The 10 o'clock terry is called, with a touch of irony, the business men's launch." It is always in to time so am I; others are not-verb, anp.
DY
Arriving on the Swatow side we clam- ber over battered pontoons, go through all kind of gymnastics with wobbly planks and bridges... fight our through a seething mob of strike pickets and eventually fetch up with our little food baskets at the International Store: Everybody in Swatow goes about with a straw basket, as used in Hongkong for bathing picnics, and everybody goes to the International Store. Both baskets and Store have become institutions on which we depend for our daily bread.
We charge into the Store, drop our baskets, aing out "Mornin' 'Best; any news?" and charge out again before receiving an "answer. Then to the office, which more often than not has been burgled the previous night. Well! offices are offices all the world over and we do just the same in them as you do
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religions which pretend to be complete mintang Military Council. and suflicing for men's needs. If it did, it would contradict itself, for man can not measure. the infinite. Rationalism does, however, encourage men to enquire of themselves and the world in which they live and to subject their observations to the test. of reason and to reject as un- proven conclusions which are not the out come of logical argument.
more rational.
1
Our
п
FROM A CORRESPONDENT. ] · During the last few days traffic on the Chinese section of the Canton-Kowloon Railway was again interrupted. Passen ger trains were used to transport troops to Sheklung and Sumchun. Thence the troops peneceded on foot in various direc tions to the East River Districts
Another sensation much talked of in Canton and Hongkong since the Chinese New Year, is the recent commandeering by one of General Chiang Kai Shek's sub- of myths and traditions which have been
ordinates of a fund in Shekhung contrary handed down from the days of the dawn
to the new order prohibiting military of civilisation and have thus acquired by
officers taking money from hands other. virtue of mere age, the authority of
than recognized soures, and the despatch- Divine inspiration; and the conflict be Man knows very little, but, he can ing of a largo force of infantry by Chiang tween those who claim that human intel always try to learn more, and our Associate the Kwangtung Arsenal at Shekebeng, ligence and reasoning should be left un tion has been founded for the purpose near Canton City." trammelled to probe into the truth of of mutual help in learning both by dis these cherished beliefs and those who serpinating knowledge of human experi would erect signs Thus for shalt thouenée and in reasoning therefrom. go. and no further," is carried on uaccas Association offers opportunities o those THE EAST RIVER DISTRICTS. ingly. In this struggle, which in the past who are not satisfied with thegmatic had been more sanguinary than all the teachings of existing formal igious IDLE FARMERS BECOME BANDITS. dynastie, revolutionary, or international systems. wars, there is no respite, ro" truce and Rationalism like science knows Iron, Battles may shift their tiers and is essentially non-politica, in its grounds, and scientific discoveries over aims. Reason is a coramen attribute to which the bitterest struzzles had been all mankind. It is therefore very pleas fought in the previous generations may being to know that our Hongkong branch accepted unquestioned in the present, has now many Chinese members. That but pioneers are over pushing forward in Rationalism has been characteristic of their efforts to wring secrets from Nature Chinese philosophy for over two thousand for the service of humanity, and for free-years is to be deduced from a saying of dom from the deadweight of superstitions Confucius that To know that you do To those well acquainted with the real fears, and ever it their onward progress not know is the beginning of wisdom." conditions of those districts the sudden they have to join battle with the forces of I congratulate you, ladies and gentle arrival of the troops is not at all un- myth and legend. That this claim to
men, upon the success of the Hongkong welcomed, as, since the withdrawal of the apply the spirit of free enquiry to religious branch of our Association and I hope that troops from this sector for active service douinas and to assert the supremacy of its members will continue to multiply. in the South, brigandage has been pre- reason is to-day as fiercely resisted, and This is the last meeting in Hongkong valeat again. This is largely attributed the pioneers in the domain of thought as which I shall have the pleasure of attend to the after-effects of the military cam- bitterly reviled as in the good old daysing and I heartily atk you to join me in paign against General Chan Kwing Ming. of the thumb-screw and the ruck, though wishing prosperity to the Rationalist Paddy and other lands for cultivation the help of the secular arm is not so Prens Association. (Applause.)
upon which the farmers depended on their living were entirely devastated. Under readily available, is shown by the num
WHAT RATIONALISM IS. bors of letters that pour into the news-
dire necessity many a farmer bas turned papers in the wake of the report of our Mr. R. A. D. Foarter (the Hon. Seero-robber. annual gatherings. We as an Association tary of the Hongkong Eranch of the Robbers and pirates appeared in large are not against any religion save where R.PA.) in the coarse of a reply to the number towards the end of the Chinese traditional beliefs cannot pass the test of toast said: It has been suggested that and New Year, rendering traffic by land and scientific enquiry, but it is our object to labelling himself & Rationalist means water very difficult. At present a serious faster, the spirit of rational thought, to thereby to convey to the world that shortage of food-stuff is being felt almost encourage a sceptical attitude towards he is better endowed than others of everywhere and the price of every com- claims to supernatural revelation, and to his kind with the faculty which gives to modity is at a very high level. resist arbitrary limits to the free exercise humanity its specific name, that he is Though troops had been sent out against of individual intellect.
I shall lay it down the bandits they were unable to make A very famous politician once said that, as should be sufficiently obvious to any impression on them as they were "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." the candid enquirer, the name expresscs unable to locate the robber dens. Searce- If this is true of political liberty, it is not the actual but the ideal It indicates ly a day passed without hearing reports none the less true of the liberty to apply the direction in which we believe progress of robbery and piracy. the acid test of experience, experiment is to be made. To the upholders of tradi- and observation to matters of belief, and tion and authority we would point out although in most countries to-day, liberty the number of occasions on which these of conscience has been attained, ob- forces have favoured the wrong side, as scurantism is but bruised, and here in is now universally allowed. The intui- one form and there in another is ever tionist we compare to one who should ready to raise its head to strike at its blindfold himself to aim at a mark, for, enemies. We have but to look across the though it is assuredly possible that by his Pacific to realize the truth of this. There, method he may hit, yet only by using his in a highly cultured country with an eyes can he know whether or not he has in Hongkong-write our wives and aweet-intelligent population, the rise in recent hit it. Other methods may attain to truth hearts, read letters, gani aver accounts, trot round to Best'a for a refresher and years of what is known as fundimental- but only reason can test it.
we will not conceal real differences under Bo on. By 3.30-we don't have tiffin 18m, and the sad spectacle presented, to we are ready to collect the mutton us within the last few months of an aged a vague terminology, we find in the iden chops, beefsteaks, beer or whatever food and honoured statesman spending the last of reason as the entical ultimate a suf wa fancy for the next twenty-four hours days of a busy life in putting the shackles ficient bond of union.
on scientific education, are sufficient to
CHINESE BANK ROBBED. And then at 4 o'clock the "business warn us of the need for watchfulness. He men's launch" takes us back to Kakchio, who, in his democratic fervour for the Two points I must touch on before I Loot to the value of 87,987 was taken perhaps calling at the Bluebell for people's rights could see humanity cruci conclude, unconnected as they are with by five robbers, four of whom were armed crack on the way.
fied on a cross of, gold, was yet blind to what has gone before. The date of our with revolvers, who raided the Fook Chun combined tifia tes does duty for a the fact that humanity's pilgrimage to a President's retirement from that office and Hang Bank, No. 4, Wing Wo Street, mid-day meal and serves to keep the old better and happier world, has always from Hongkong is approaching, and wa Central (near the Sincere Company's About works ticking over until such time aa been impeded by this very denial of man's unite in the wish that be may live long storo), on Friday afternoon. Colonel Vladimir Nikolaevitch shakes up right to test his traditional beliefs in the to see the fruita of his labours. He has 87,000 of the haul made, was in cash and some dinner. After ten a little romp light of his accumulating store of know seen the birth of the Hongkong Ration the remainder in jewellery. The robbers with the pickets on the lawn-No! I beg ledge. Here in Hongkong, it is true, wealist Association, and his advice has been held up the staff on the pretence of de
1 was confusing this shall never be in danger of having our at all times helpful, and he will leave the livering a letter and after gagging and your pardon. letter with another article I am writing freedom of belief restricted by legislation, Association in a very fourishing state. binding the fact they carried out the under
the pseudongin of Agat, but we are living in the midst of creeds The danger of infantile mortality may be robbery. Prunella." As a matter of fact most and superstitions which are hampering considered as past. people settle down to a little serious the happiness and well-being of large Nor can I refrain from expressing my reading after tea. Personally, I try to numbers of our fellowmen, superstitions satisfaction with the way in which the recapture the first fine careless rapture as cruel and as remoreeless in their ap-members generally have contributed to this year will bo beld between August of my unregenerate days and toy with lication as the methods of the Holy the Association's progress. A net gain 28th and September 4th. The committee the pages of The Pink Un or La Vie Inquisition, and whilst doing our utmost of 80 per cent. during the past year testi-hope to be able to secure the stadium at At 6 o'clock there is a wild rush to the to dispel their ignorance and allay their fies to the place that the movement holde Singapore for the purpose. The pageant Club; everybody charges into the Bar forts by spreading the knowledge of in the affections of the members, and will be in four parts. First there will and all three of us,
stay there scientific truths, we need also to exert when we consider the hard times during be performance by the hands, then, a till 7.30. I remember, one memorable our energies to the end that dogmas long which this progress has been made we torchlight tatoo which will, it is hoped, evening when there were sixteen in the discarded by intellectual Európe and cannot but be optimistic regarding the include Highland and other dancing, Bar, but that's another story, all about even by liberal Churchmen, be not intro- future of the Association. (Applause.) This will be followed by a scene conceiv "Despatches and Magnolias and duced as a substitute.
The toast of "The Press was entrusted in a lighter vein and designed to illus Bluebells and things. Well, Mr. Editor, I am afraid I have fallen far short of ed to Mr. P. T. LAMBLE, who thanked the trate one of the incidents which oc having dragged you all the way from my theme but I hope I have said suficient Press for the publicity they had always cur frequently on our frontiers of Em- 6.30 am to 7.30 p.. and having land to prove the need of the Rationalist afforded to matters concerning the Asso pire. Finally, there will be a grand ed you at the only bright spot in this Association, of Hongkong and as one of ciation. He remarked that the Press of pageant depicting the building of the very dull place, what about a spot? I its avowed objects is propaganda, I am Hongkong had always placed their British Empire and its significance as have given you an account of our in hopes that many of those who are our columns open to the expression of views one of the greatest factors making for $4 general activities" and now I think guests to-night, will, on the occasion of from both sides.
our next annual dinner, rise to drink the toast of " Our Guests" then. (Applause.) Dr GH. THOMAS suitably replied on behalf of the guests..
EL
I'll switch off. Some day I'll write and tell you all about the Comtesse's Fancy Dress Ball, tho A.P.C. Soirée and per- haps Smithwick's Bhooting Party.
MEMBERSHIP INCREASE.
General Ho Ying Yam, the Rehabilita- tion Commissioner of the Eastern Dis- tricts, acting under instructions from the Political Council, has now formulated a plan to exterminate the robbers by en- listing the help of all the gentry of the respective districts to procure as many informants as possible by offering hand- some rewards in order to locate the rob bers' haunts. Arrangements have also been made with the Merchants Volunteers While to co-operate with the troops to round up
the bandits by all mean.
Mr. F OLIVER suitably replied on behalf of the Press.
During the evening Mr. A. L. Bowes Smith played selections on the piano,
The Military Pageans at Singapora
peace in the world to day. It is anti tipsted that, with the experience gained last year, it will be possible to make the Pageant of 1928, a still greater success than its brilliant predecessor of 1825.
HIDDEN
WHAT
IS UNDER
QUALITY.
THE
SURFACE
IS AS GOOD AS ON THE SURFACE. A PIECE OF FURNITURE MAY LOOK OUTWARDLY ATTRACTIVE; IT MAY BE COVERED IN GOOD MATERIALS, THE DESIGN MAY BE SOUND-BUT IF THE OUT-OF-SIGHT FEATURES ARE NOT UP TO STANDARD, THAT PIECE LACKS QUALİTY.
IT IS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THESE DETAILS THAT ENSURES EACH ITEM OF OUR PRODUCTIONS BEING UNRIVALLED IN VALUE AND CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT ARE OUT OF SIGHT ARE AS GOOD AS ON THE SURFACE. IN UPHOLSTERY WE USE ONLY THE BEST COPPER WIRE SPRINGS, FINE HAIR STUFFINGS, AND IN WOOD WORK ONLY THE BEST OF TEAK ́AND HARDWOOD.
THEREFORE OUR FURNITURE AND UPHOLSTERY MEANS TO YOU DE- PENDABLE HONEST GOODS AT WORTH WHILE PRICES.
LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
It is essential for the future prosperity of trade in Hongkong and South China, that there should be increased co-operation between Foreign and Chinese business firms.
THE HONGKONG EVENING POST. THE ONLY CHINESE EVENING PAPER, is the best field for enterprising Foreign Firms who wish to make their goods known amongst Chinese Firms of the highest standing.
All information regarding Advertisements from- THE ADVERTISING and PUBLICITY BUREAU.
Alexandra Baildings. Tel. C. 30.
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have received
Collection of
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FANCY BAGS.
To be smartly shod wear BECTIVE SHOES.