The New Age
Vol 13 No 1
1st May 1913
THE “Daily Mail ” on April 24 offered its readers the following curious information :
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s reply, “We will,” to the Chinese Republic’s request or prayers for the success of the new Government and peace to the country, was followed yesterday by the circulation by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel of a special prayer embodying China’s appeal for use in all churches next Sunday :-
We beseech Thee, 0 Lord, to have mercy upon China, and to receive the prayers offered in behalf of its people.
That it may please Thee to bless the National Assembly of China now in Session in Peking, and the Government which has been established in China, so that all things may be ordered to promote Thy glory : That it may please Thee to guide those who are to elect a President to make a choice well pleasing in Thy sight, and to grant wisdom, righteousness, and protection to him who is chosen that he may carry out Thy will : That it may please Thee to grant to China under its new Constitution that it may go forward in the paths of justice and righteousness and peace, and that the difficulties that delay its recognition may, if it be Thy blessed will, speedily be overcome.
“The Free Churches and the Salvation Army,” the “Daily Mail” adds, “will join in the movement.”
This last seems to be more in the nature of a threat than a promise. It reminds one of the story of the man who before praying asked the Lord to help and guide him in making up his mind as to what he should pray for, “because, 0 Lord, when once I have made up my mind, you know what I am.”
It is to be feared, however, that the Free Churches and the Salvation Army have not shown a similar discretion before deciding to pray. Their assent to the prayer reported in the “Daily Mail” seems to have been given rather rashly, for, to say the least of it, the prayer is hardly respectful to the Almighty.
In the first place, the supplicants are guilty of misrepresentation of fact. China has not appealed for the prayers of English Christians-if China had done so, China must be in a very bad way indeed. The appeal came from a political party in ‘China, which does not represent China any more than the Labour Party represents England. There is a further slight on the Omniscience of the Almighty in the invocation of a blessing on “the National Assembly of China now in Session in Peking.” The supplicants are apparently anxious to prevent any misunderstanding on the part of the Almighty, lest His blessing should by chance light on the Manchus in their retirement.
The third clause in the prayer is by far the most disrespectful. “That it may please Thee to guide those who are to elect a president to make a choice well pleasing in Thy sight.”
Considering that Yuam-shi-Kai has already installed himself in the Presidential Palace, it certainly looks as though the supplicants were trying in this instance to force the hand of the Almighty.
The petition on behalf of China can hardly be called a humble one. It invokes God’s- mercy on China-but attempts to strain and sift the quality of His mercy so that it may fall on Yuam-shi-Kai’s following The general insolence of its tone is not lessened by Lord William Cecil’s comment on the matter (telegraphed to the editor of the “Daily Mail”) -“I am, deeply impressed but not altogether surprised at the request of China for our prayers.”
The remark certainly raises a smile, as does also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reply to ‘‘China’s” appeal: “We will.” The Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord William Cecil are apparently well assured of their position as intermediaries between China and the Almighty. Lord William Cecil is impressed but not surprised by the appeal, and the Archbishop assures China that the appeal will be forwarded to the proper quarters, and the determined form of his assurance contains a hint as to how it will be received. Well may China hope that she will be blessed!
But, alas, the rest of Lord William Cecil’s message to the “Daily Mail” causes one to doubt. “Beauty,” said St. Augustine, “is the splendour of truth.” In vain do we look in Lord William’s message for any hint of confidence that the truth of Christianity will prevail in ’China by its own splendour. Instead, Lord William is anxious “that the present opening in China may be taken full advantage of by educating the future leaders of China in the principles of Christianity.” Is the spirit of Christianity their wandering over the world seeking whom it may devour? And does the spirit of truth lie in wait for an “opening” where it may creep in insidiously?
Lord William Cecil hopes that “we shall give to China a Christian university where enlightened teachers can show the way in Western knowledge.”
I have before me a “History of Philosophy,” by Frederick Denison Maurice, at one time “Professor of Casuistry and Modern Philosophy in the University of Cambridge.” In it there occurs the following curious passage:-
“ There is a passage in which one of the disciples of Khoung-fou-tseu declares that the doctrine of his master consists simply in having rectitude of heart, and in loving our neighbour as ourselves. M. Pauthier apologises for giving this form to his translation, but says he could find no other so accurate. Till some greater scholar contradicts him, we are bound to accept his statement. If he supposes that those who believe that those words proceeded from higher lips will be scandalised by it, we think he mistakes the matter altogether. Those who attach the most awful significance to the utterances of these lips, and to the Person from whom they fell, will be the least disposed to look upon him as the propounder of great maxims, and not rather as the giver of new life-will be the least likely to grudge a Chinese teacher any glimpses which may have been vouchsafed to him of what the true regenerator of humanity should effect for it.”
Surely the teachers of the West are enlightened-and generous!
Lord William Cecil’s remarkable manifesto concludes with the words: “China must be led by the Chinese.”
Quite so. God save the King!
Lionel de Fonseka