To the Editor of the "Norri-Cumxa Datty News."
Sim—The meeting of all _regions, which was held on Easter Sunday in honour of the Panchen Lama of Tibet, has aroused con. siderable comment in Legation and Since the day that a detailed re-pote of if appeared in your pare, trite of the procedure. As—to been. on the. lookout. for
my knowledge—none has been forthcoming T would kindly request you to grant me some space in your Paper.
Tolerance is indeed admirable, The. particular religious views of the one should never be forced upon the other; but at the same time tolerance should not be carried #9 far as to necessitate the sacrifice of one's position or the surrender of above everything' be dominated by true spirit of loyalty to Christ jand the Christian religion.
Now it seems to me that during the proceedings of that "most remarkable and unique ceremony" the wish for religious tolerance was only satisfied at the expense of loyalty-to Christ. It was tolerance running amuck.
The sad part of it was, that the initiative in this affair was taken by Christian missionaries, who were responsible for the arrangements of, this ceremony and who had, on Easter day, invited their fellow: missionaries "and the community. people "to show honour and [pay obeisance to the spiritual head of Lamaism"
Tt goes without saying that Dr. Reid and his two associates have a right to believe and to do whatever they like, but I question they had any right to pose—as they did—as representatives of Chris tianity in different continents of the world, And by making this public claim, they have grossly misrepresented Christianity and have creat-Jed an altogether false impression both on the public and on the Panchen Lama and the thousands of pilgrims that daily come to worship Dr. T. T, Law, as stated in the' report, was "representing Christianity jin China," when taking part in the procession. The question arises at Jonce: who has given him his man-Jdate? Being Dean of the Theologiical Faculty of the Yen Ching University, he might have acted as a representative of particular, [Mission Institution. This seems possible, especially since this Institution stands for similar ideals. of tolerance. It is difficult to bein National Council of China, T understand, he occupies leading position, But even then, the claim that he was representing Christianity in China, whilst paying Jobeisanee to the Papchen Lama, went far beyond the limits of actual fact and amounted to nothing less {than unreasonable presumption, As for Dr. de Vargas, who was stated to be "representing Chris tianity in Europe," the same question is asked: who in Europe has) Jdelegated him? As professor in the same Christian University as above mentioned, he might have been sent to represent that Tastitution in some way, but what has this to do with Christianity in Europe? {know something of the con and I am quite sure that the Christians in Burope-—with a few Jexceptions—would be unpleasantly surprised if they were told of th remarkable tolerance of some. Christian missionaries, who are supported in the homelands to go into fall the world to preach, and teach, fand... make disciples.
Would it not be more in accord:
Jance with the truth to state that lehese clergymen were simply representing—at any rate in spirit—some of the latest specimens of neo-christianity, which like parasites, live on historic positive Christianity but which cannot in any way be identified with it, not have any right to act as its representatives?
"Throughout the ceremony, the tips of ghe Panchen Lama ' were moving in prayer and blessing; inlcense* sticks were blessed and distributed... No wonder, that Hater on, the Panchen Lama has expressed his pleasure at the honour done him by so many people of all religions, as this honour to his mind was nothing less than worship and obeisance, which was being paid to him as the Incarnation of Buddha.
T doubt whether many of those present were really desirous of identifying themselves with the unlderlying principles which Dr. Reid and his associates wanted to emize. It was rather a curiosity to see a living Buddha and the unique show, which attracted go many to the palace, and from what I heard it appears to me that the sympathies "not at all with these who, on Re-were turning to a Lama for a message, which they. Jduly obtained in the form of a dis-sortation on the eight grades of punishment in the Buddhist hell, on suffering and retribution in the place of torment and on the way of attaining to buddhahood: abstain-Jing from flesh and living on veget-
The Panchen Lama at any rate remained loyal to his religion, as he exhorted his hearers to join his Jgroup without delay and to study the Buddhist Sacred Books.
Not so the Christian missionaries!
Dr. Reid, in his Doctor of Divinlity gown, stepped forward, and Jalluding dimly to the Resurrection, he lowered that Great Historic Fact, which Christianity throughout all lages has considered the Gibraltar of the Christian Faith, to the common Jievel of human interpretation and spoke slightingly of it as "a great} resurrection, an idea kindred alike ito Christianity and Islam, Buddhism Jand Taoism."
Again, he wished the Panchen Lama success in fulfilling the mission of Gautama, the Buddha, Jesus the Christ and all holy men, thus classifying' the Unique Son of God and Only Saviour, of mankind on equal rank with mero religious ré- former:
And findly, instead of proclaiming on Easter Sunday the Divine message of the Resurrectsd Christ, The took the lead in paying obeisance [to a man, who requires others to [worship "him as god, and humbly asked him on behalf of tae audience Hfor a. message, which they might carry with them as they journey together the pathway of li To come to a conclusion: is this all not a clear and public denial of the unique character and fundamental principles of the Christian religion and a dishonour both. to Christ and to the Christian faith Dr. Reid and his associates may see differently, but as tolerance provides for an open and frank discussion of different viewpoints, these gentlemen will not, I trust, take it amiss, that I have stated the truth as I'see it.
Thanking you for the publication, Tam, ete.
Peking, April 18, 1925, 'Tue King and Viscount Lascelles have decided to prevent one of Messrs. Hart Collins' de lure 4- valve receiving sets to the stableboys of his Majesty's racing stable at Newmarket. Complete with all iecesuories, the set will bear a silver Plate, recording that it is the gift "To the Stableboys at Newmarket" from his Majesty and Viscount Lascelles. The stableboys at the King's stable have rendered enthusiastic service at all times, and the gift of the wireless set will be much appreciated.
In the presence of the staff of the Navy Material Department and the Army Flying Corps the trial invented shell, called medan" oF netting shell, was made Jon the reclaimed ground' at, Susaki, Tokyo, last week. The inventor is Mr. Takagi Takeo of Sendagaya, Pokyo-fu, who patented his invention on the 23rd of last month. The shell is described as shaped like a parachute, When fired it spreads in the air and nets the propeller or wing of the flying machine and ings it down to the ground.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.