A sealed book is the "Celestial Empire," even now that it is a "Republic," in these days of Earth Awakening.

For many ages holding the Mysteries of all the knowledge known by scholars among her own people from the world, these people also hold in records, which they claim are more ancient than the histories of any living nation, except India, the history of past ages; they even claim a record of 200,000 years!

Decadent, because of isolation and exclusion from all the onward nations and movements of the world, her brilliant scholarship, her past dim worship, her central Light (Confucius), sometimes veiled, - sometimes resplendent, the Angels of all her worldly dynasties turned away from the advancing glory of the new day, there are still thousands of awakening lives who will bear a part in the Great Resuscitation of the Earth.

Undoubtedly the origin of the Chinese nation, in part at least, was linked to one of the Earlier Dispensations; but Confucius "restored" something of a primal Religion, (or more properly speaking) a compilation of Philosophical teachings and laws. This was to a great extent superseded by Buddhism until lately and, in fact, there was religious liberty; since the organization of the "Republic" the government has made Confucianism the "State Religion." Any "State Religion" must be considered oppressive, unless it is accompanied (as is the "State Church" of Great Britain) with freedom of worship for all people who do not adopt the tenets of the state church (yet there are still the Church "tithes").

With the national and religious tendency to "worship the past," i. e., to look upon all that was great and good in the past as worthy of reverence and imitation; and with the peculiar form of transcendentalism that turns to the "Ancestors" for advice and counsel; and just here it may be well to explain that the intelligent and educated Chinese have repeatedly said that they do not "worship" their Ancestors; Age is revered by them, and the household and social usage - and formerly the government - was administered by the eldest; also it may be just to explain that in consulting or communing with their "Ancestors," they do so under the very logical and correct idea that they are living and are in a higher and wiser condition than mortals can be - with this tendency to worship or revere the past, doubtless the restoration of the teachings of the Confucian system may serve as the aegis to ward off the encroachments alike of the Buddhistic and Christian tenets and the agnosticism of the western materialists.

In the New Order, however, it is doubtful if a New Chinese nation will appear.

But the Ancient Splendor will shape itself into the Great New Notion that will include those wonderful sleeping nations of the East in The New Orient.

The fact that interpreters have arisen who place the wisdom of ages in such works as "Yi-King" and "Tao-Teh-King"; the fact that one of China's greatest Sages, Laotzse, is being interpreted in a spiritual and inner way, that will lead to a clearer conception of the deeper foundations of Chinese philosophy, encourages the hope for a New Day in China.

Again we say, it is no evidence of retrogression that Confucianism is made the "State Religion," for the teachings and Compilations of Confucius hold all the wisdom of many ages, and as a condensed ethical and philosophical record, or compendium, of a past that, it is claimed, is long antecedent to the records held by any existing nation or people, the knowledge, wisdom and sublime ethics found in the writings of Confucius will go far, if universally taught, to restore the Primal Truths.