Apr. 4.
Taw Chinese religious process sions, picturesque and som times weird, so often oncer toved in the streets of Shanghai and the ceremonies attending marriages and funerals, are generally regarded by foreigners with an amused interest, perhaps mingled with a feeling of com-place ney on thole freedom from} superstition in every shape and form. But to the Chinese it is all very real; it is an expression of tlivir desire to escape the misfortunes of life by placating in-merable ghosts and demons, and to obtain health, wealth) and posterity, a good ' old age and other reputed blessings, After all, the Chinese are. not singular in desiring to be la right relations with their environment both in this world and in the other. To believe that this has been fairly well accomplished gives an anchorage that steadies in the storms and vicissitudes 0" life. Without am anchorage of some kind, individuals are apt to drift, not, knowing whither they are going, and this may be said also of nations.
Tt is rather strange that the discussion of Chinese affairs 80 little has been said conceraing the effect of the overthrow of the monarchy in 1910 upon the inner life of the people. As the Son of Heaven, a semidivine personage, the Emperor held a unique position in popular estimation because of the extraordinary, supernatural powers he was supposed to wield. He offered the national prayers and] sacrifices at the annual State services and on such great occasions as a victory in war, or a fealamitous visitation: he iavoked the great spirits of earth and heaven to administer the forces of nature for the generat benefit of the country; he was accredit. ed with power' over hosts of minor deities to whom be _referred in state papers as if they were highly respectable. State functionaries of a superior order, whose duty it waa to support law, onder, and morality, and to assist, promptly and effi-cacicusly, in preventing or comating such' calamities as floods, famine, or pestilence; ho distributed posthumous honours) and appointments, sometimes} promoting the spirits of deceased notables to the rank of divin-_ ity; by the regular public woe ship of his owa ancestors he strengthened the reverence or worship paid by the Chinese people to their dead, and this in turn strengthened their belief] that his power was great in the invisible world as well og here. In short, he stood between -the people and their ghostly en-ernies, warding off misfortune, and he obtained for them the help and protection of the more friendly deities and spirits. Ta accord with his exalted powers! and functions he lived as sacred personage, making public amnouneement at intervals of majestic ordinances, and was! only occasionally seen in public chen he officiated at high altars the performance of some stately ceremonial. To the common people it must have seemed that between him and his ministers on the one fland, and the gods of heaven and earth on the other, there was little or no difference of kind and not} much of degree. Now all is changed. He is dethroned ana can be no longer accredited with the vast spiritual powers which was believed he exercised for the happiness and prosperity of his people. Sic transit gloria munch, The religious beliefs of a people, whether true or not, cannot be suddenly undermined without producing—disastrous] effects. Tt is quite possible that th present political corruption and general lawlessness is very largely sue to the disintegration the State religion caused by! the Emperor's retirement and the abandonment of all his public religious functions. Going] further afield, perhaps the ful barbara of the re-ion in Russia were due to cotises, as there also the head of the State, the Tsar, was the chief representative of re. ligion to the vast majority of! the people. The recent deposi tion of the Caliph, the religi heal of the Mohammedans, may have a very disturbing influence upon the communities of this religion throughout the work As the Chinese number 440 mi lions, the Russians over 130 millions, the Mohammedans 220 millions, about half the population of the, world is in a state of religious confusion Thrones, principalities domi ions, powers, in the religious as well.as the political world, are!
being shaken. ' The is extraordinarily interesting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.