JAVA, ITS MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 121, 14 July 1911, Page 5

JAVA, ITS MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

INTEEESTING LECTURE. Brigadier Glover, a missionary from Java, delivered an interesting and instinctive lecture to a large audience last week in the Salvation Army Barracks, Pctono, Ids subject being, “Java, its a tanners and Customs." Speaking on the national form of worship, lie said, that the people wore for the most part worshippers of K’ung Euts/.e (Confucius), 'i'nat form of worship affected nearly half of the human race. Asia, the scat and centre of that great faith, was one of the most interesting countries in the world. It was the largest and the most thickly populated; and in Asia some of the mightiest empires of antiquity rose and fell. It was in Asia that the human race first came into existence. Our art, science, and music; in fact, everything we enjoyed to-day, came from the East. The speaker then referred to the birth and ancestry of that great philosopher Conifucius, who had made such an indelible mark on the page of Ids country’s history. His religion resolved itself into filial piety and filial reverence. His entire system seemed to centre in his favourite word, “reciprocity.” Touching on the family relationships, ho hold that tiro younger of the family must yield obedience to the elder, but the elder must set a right example to the younger, and there must be the uttermost reverence on the part of children towards their parents. Continuing, the lecturer said that ho had never seen such lack of reverence amongst tire young people of that country as Ire had seen in the Dominion of Now Zealand. Brigadier Glover then dealt at some length with the subject of ancestral worship, and gave a practical demonstration of their method of burning incense. After - Conifucius had succeeded in regenerating, and sweetening society to some extent by the inculcation of; his system of ethics and his code of morals, ho next turned his attention to the young men of bis country. He noted that there were amongst them some who were ambitious, so Ire said unto them, “If you want to be a superior man, there are nine firings that you want to aim at, first, in seeitig see clearly. In hearing, hear distinctly. In expression, be truthful. Itr duties, respectful. In doubt, enquire. In resentment, think of difficulties. When you see an opportunity for gain, think of righteousness. And still another of fid. excellent counsels to the poring was, “in youth, when the physical powers are not settled, avoid the desire lor these things that will n t help you to develop a sound and heallry body and mind.” In that country where the lecturer had been labouring for some considerable time they could ru t Ail i- note the 111 ’«■. -11•«■ J suclr vi ■■ Ic,m me teaching. The ?.ay deportment of the people commanded resoect. They were invariably honest and straightforward, and reliable. Their college curriculum and scholastic examinations were about the most severe it was possible to find anywher e in the world. ‘,Depend upon it,” continued Mr Glover, “110 shall have to reckon with these people yet. They .are coming to the front, and adopting Western ideas in a manner, a stranger to tire country could have absolutely no conception of.”