The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-04-19 00:00:00

PUBLIC WELCOME TO THE HINDOO
REFORMER.

On Tueeday night a ttrac—orTn—e— soiree was given to
Flab.° Keshub Chunder Sen, the Indian religious re-
former, in the Hanoveraquare Room,. There was a
croatlet attendance. Among those on the platform
beside the distinguished guest were Lord Lawrence,
Lord Houghton, Alderman Sir J. C. Lawrence, Dean
Stanley, Mr. A. Russell, M.P., Rev. J. Martineau, Rey.
Stopford Brook, James Haywood, Esq., Samuel Sharpe,
FA+, who per sided, Isc.
Deau Stanley moved the first resolution as follows :
" That this meeting, a .mposed of member. of nearly
all Protestant churches, offers • hearty welcome to
Keshub Chunder San, the distinguished religious re-
former of India, and assures him and hie fello • labourers
of its sympathy with him in their grad, and praiseworthy
work of abolishing idolatry, breaking down nate, and
diffusing a higher moral and intellectual life among the
people of that vast empire." Faint indeed, he said.
would be the hope for the Christianization of India if
it depended on the adherents of those great old
civilizstions •d•spting any purely Euroo ran form of reli•
.ion. • !tether A nglican, Prsabyternin, Greek, or It iman.
Wh .1 was to be desired both for there and for ourselv.••
.V4A that some native forme( Indian Christianity should
arise, just as Roman Christianity arose among the Latin
races, or Teutonic Chriatmoity in England, Germany, !
and America ; and of that native form the first indica-
tiou was to be found in the cicala of throe thoughtful
inquirers of whom their guest appeared at tha chid—
(cheers).
- . . . .

Lori Lawrenoe seconded the resolution. '
Rev. Mr. Martineau and Rev. Dr. Mullen' next
he.
Dr. Marks, a Hebrew clergyman, said he did not
know what Etaboo Keshub hail done or would do in
India, hut he saw what he had already done in Eugland
—that ministers belothiing to ten denominations who
were constantly quarrelling with each other had been
brought together on the same platform to give. friendly
welcome to the representative of the Indian worshippers
of the one 0.01—(loud cheers).
Baboo Kethub Chunder Sen, who was cordially re-
ceived said Christianity had come to the Indians in
rather &repulsive form The trailition• of the Christian
religion were Oriental, sad there was no reason why it ;
should not be presented so these days to the native
population in Oriental and Asisitio aapeets. The natives
ought to be left to themselves in their study of the
Bible. Dognms and distinctive dochinee should be
rigorously excluded—(ories of hear, hear). There were
so many sections into which Christians were divided—
so many different kinds of doctrines, ceremonies, and
ritual profaned and practised by those calling them-
selves Christians—that the natives of Jodie were con.
founded and perplexed when they were asked to solve
the problem which of them out to he accepted. No
sooner were the natives taught by one sect than
the missionaries of another sect came and taught
something else (laughter). The minds of the
people were thus unsettled, and the great work of even-
geliution was hindered, though he confessed that when
once Christianity was fairly taught, the people never
lost sight of the central figure of the system. In con-
clusion, he said the object of his visit to England was to
study Chriatianiiy as exemplified in the daily life of the
people of this country. He sincerely wished that we
would abstain from mending into India so many nominal
Christians, who retarded the great canoe. You oak my
(he added) why Christian minions have proved • failure
in India? You have yourselves to blame for that. We
in lodes attach greater importance to righteous living
than to pure doctrine, and the fact that men professing
to be Christians have exhibited corruption in their lives
has told mightily against the destinies of my country.
I wish from the depths of my heart that such men had
never gone to India, for in that case the fair fame of
England never would have been defiled. After • thrilling
appeal for help, the speaker sat down amid applause.
On the motion of Lord Houghton, a vote of thanks
was paned to Baboo Chunder Ben for his address, and
the proceedings terminated.