The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-25 00:00:00

that those very soldiers who, a few years ago, were
engaged in mortal conflict with the British forces,
had, by your direction, become our strongest and most
faithful allies—in fact, when we look at the whole
history of what was achieved in the Punjaub for the
deliverance of India, it so partakes o the marvel-
lous, that we should not render thanks to the human
instrument, but to the Almighty
,Go i by whom that
instrument was employed. (Cheers.) We are here,
Sir John, to congratulate you on your return to
your native country, and when we thus express our
congratulations to you, our hearts must, of course,
turn to those who are not so privileged as you are
to return in healt4 to their homes. (Hear, hear.)
We all feel that it islone of the saddest parts of the
history of the mutiny, that so many of those whose
names had become illustrious in that awful struggle
and who gave the brightest promiie that for years
they would be the strength of their country, have,
in God's mysterious providence, been cut off in the
middle of their strength. And while we express
thanks to God for your safe return—one out of the
few who have been privileged to return, our thoughts
are directed to him who is most near and dear
to you and to whose exertions a great part of the
security of the Sikh territary is due (S.lr H. Law-
rence). He has not lived to return home and re-
ceive the honours that would be naturally awarded
to him, but his name will certainly live in the
annals of his country—(cheers)—not only for the
part he bore in that bloody strife in which his life
closed, but still more for what he did in the days
of his health and strength in the cause of peace.
(Cheers.) He was known not only for those great
and brave qualities which distinguish the soldier—
not only for those sterner qualities, but also for his
loving heart. (Cheers.) His name will live long
in India in the affections of the soldiers, whose
friend he pre-eminently was. (Cheers.) He was
privileged in his time to do that great part of mis-
sionary work which is certainly not the least im-
portant part of our duty in India, for, like him, we
should take a lively Christian interest in our own
soldiers and their children, as well as in the
heathen whom God has committed to our trust. If
other institutions were to perish in India, I believe
that the memtry of the " Lawrence Institution"
would long survive. (Cheers.) And while we con-
gratulate you, sir, on being thus spared to return
to your friends, it is not unnatural to ask—and,
doubtless it is a question which you have asked
yourself—for what purpose are you spared ? It
has been said by the first speaker that we are
anxious to-day, even more intimately than has been
dcne before, to associate your name with the spirit
of real Christian principle in the government of
India. But you would much mistake, I think, the
feelings of this meeting, and of- those who have
signed their names to this address, if you could
for a moment suppose that we are desirous to
pledge you, more than you desire, to any par-
ticular line of policy with regard to the
management of India. We have come here to-day
not to pledge you to anything, but to express our
trust in your manly and straightforward Christian
principle—(prolonged applause) to say that we are
thoroughly satisfied with the declarations you have
made, and to hope that, using your right as a
Christian statesman, you will apply the general
principles which you have laid down. (Cheers.)
We are not of those who would make this question
of the Christian government of India a party ques-
tion. (Cheers.) Far from that, we believe it to be
a question in which the whole country is interested.
We do not believe that it is a question which be-
longs to one party more than another ; and if we
deplore from time to time the difficulties which
beset the Government of the country, causing them
to give expression to sentiments which seem to
speak, in an objectionable sense, of the neutrality
to be observed as to Christianity on the one hand,
or heathenism on the other, we feel confident that
those expressions do not find an echo in the heart
of the country. (Hear, hear.) We have a confi-
dent hope that the more questions connected with
this subject are examined—the more calmly they
are looked into—the more all the difficulties of the
question are faced, the more will all good and
patriotic Englishmen feel convinced that it is on
Christian principles the Government and education
of India must be carried on. (Cheers.) Now, as
to this matter of the introduction of the Bible into
our Government schools in India—anxious as we
are to make our solemn appeal to the nation in
favour of what we believe to be right—we do not
think we shall be right in overlooking any of the
difficulties that present themselves in the way of
accomplishing the objects we have in view. For
my part, I hall with satisfaction the publication
of those, documents to which your name is
attached, because they seem to me to answer
the only objection that could be urged against
what we earnestly desire to see introduced.
(Cheers.) We have been told 'from time to time
that it was all very well to think of Christianising
India, but that it was obviously true that the first
condition of Christianising India was to retain pos-
session of it, for that if, by a mistake in the manner
of Christianising it, our troops should be swept into
the sea, then there would be an end of Christianity
in India. We were also told by men of great experi-
ence, that however desirable it was to give a Chris-
tian character to India, we should be cautious lest
it should produce an outbreak such as we had re-
cently witnessed. For my part, I felt anxious to
hear what could be said on that subject by one who
had practical knowledge of the matter; and, Sir,
when we had your testimony that there was no such
danger, I felt in my mind that the question was
settled. (Cheers.) And I believe that this is the
feeling of this country. (Cheers.) There is no man
from one end of England to the other who does not
desire that the education of India should be Chris.
tian. Sir, your testimony in this matter is of great
value. (Cheers.) lam aware that in that docu-
ment which you laid before the public you spoke
with the caution -which becomes one in your posi-
tion. You stated, as a qualification to the intro-
duction of the Scriptures into the Government
schools of India, that you must first find competent
teachers. I heartily coincide with you in this. I
do not think any great good would arise from the
heathen giving lectures on the New Testament. In
looking at China, I see there a strange mutilated
form of Christianity, which is a mockery to the
name. (Hear.) I hope that in taking the subject in
hand we shall do so on those statesmanlike Chris-
tian principles which you have so ably enunciated,
and that we shall endeavour to make the instruc-
tion we give in the Scriptures real instruction, so
that the learner shall not be merely acquainted
with the dates and geography of the history of our
Lord, but that he may have Christian principles
imbued into his mind, and real Christian morality
made the basis of his future life. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) I cannot help, Sir, indulging in the
hope that in the position in which you are
placed in the Indian Council, you will endeavour
to settle this question in such a manner as will carry
every party and section of the country along with
you. (Cheers.) I trust the day is gone by when
it was necessary to have any agitation on this
question. Ido believe that, aided by your counsel,
it will very soon appear to all statesmen of all de-
partments and all castes that we must make an
effort to have our Christian Scriptures spread
throughout the length and breadth of India.
(Cheers.) I have already detained you too long,
and I shall now do no more than read this address,
which I am to sign in the name of the present
meeting and those who have signed it. (Cheers.)
His lordship then read the following address :
Ai3DRE3S TO THE RIGIIT HON. SIR JOHN LAWRENCE,
BART., G- .C.B '
" RE JOHN LAWNCE,— We, the undersigned, taking
a,deep interest in the moral and religious welfare of the
people of India, beg to approach you, on the occasion of
youresße
chtafui_ppyanred heatarntot your naatitviileaccoomins.tryl,
twhithasourplenaisoesat
r
y congi
Divine Providence to relieve our nation from the solici-
tude, into which it was lately plunged, by the state
of our
Indian Empire; and to fill us with thankfulness for the
restoration of tranquillity and the complete establishment
of the Royal authority in every part of the country.
it In you, Sir John, \ ,in common with the great body
of your fellow-countrymen, gratefully recognise the instru-
ment raised up an all-wise Providence, tobear a part equal,
if not superior to that of any living man, in this never-to-
be-for otter service to the British nation. Placed, as
ruler, in a country where you were isolated by rebellion
from the three Presidencies of India;
a aild by nature from
the sea,—the ordinary reserve of British Governor;
having a dangerous frontier on one side,t the
b chief seats
of rebellion 'on the other, and 1.1.turbulent pop u..
it 7ras y.our sin
lation immediately around you;.
not merely to hol 1
of men, trained in your own school,
gular happiness, in conjunction with the illustrious band
t of the nobl
the recently occupied Punjab, brit in a sp
ts old anself-devotion to strip it of a large portion
garrison, and bring all its resources, and . its Europe"
of our Indian empire.
diery, to bear upon the conquest of Dahl, and therecovery
erits
We rejoice that your valuable life has been preserved ;
14
whilst so many who shared with you the burdens an m
of the conflict have fallen before its close. Among thde very
foremost of these, your countrymen will bear in menrtily
the great qualities, theinestirnableservices, and the patrio
end of your illustrious brother, Sir Henry Lawrence.
" With especial gratification we call to mind how, in the
very midst of the struggle, and of greater dangers than
others have deemed sufficient grounds for shrinking from
every avowal of Christianity, you advised its frank profes-
sion. You laid down the principle that, having endea-
voured solely to ascertain what is our Christian duty, we
should follow it out to the uttermost undeterred by any con-
sideration.' You knew that the tolerant spirit and benign
precepts of our religion provided a permanent guarantee for
the rights of all, especially in matters of conscience, which
could not be furnished by temporising policy. You knew
that ' if anything like compulsion enters into our system of
diffusing Christianity, the rules of that religion itself are
disobeyed, and we shall never be permitted to profit by our
disobedience.' Yon have recorded your conviction that
' Christian things done in a Christian waywill never alienate
the heathen. About such things there are qualities which
do not provoke nor excite distrust, nor harden to resistance.
It is when unchristian things are done in the name of Chris-
tianity, or when Christian things are done in an unchris-
tian way, that mischief, and danger are occasioned.' These
words are memorable. Their effect will be happy not only on
Ugly
own age, but on ages to come. Your proposal that the
Ugly Bible rahould be relieved Frew the utterdiot under