The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-05-29 00:00:00

but beyond this necessary control, the right of interfer-
ence does not extend. But the colonists who settle, or
the functionaries, whether civil or military, who protect
and administer lands won by the swo►d in war, according
to the faith of existing treaties, have a right to equal pro-
tection; and may claim exactly the same non-interference
with their own consciences, and sense of religion, in the
duties which they are called upon to perform in countries
so circumstanced.

Upon these principles, the Christianity of Gieat
Bri-
tain has no authority to make any other aggressive move-
ment upon the debasing superstitions of Hindu India be-
yond that of bringing to bear upon it the light of truth
and life in the everlasting gospel of the blessed God, by
missionaries, scriptural translations, education, public
worship, and other similar means of grace. Any thing
• short of such attempts would be treasonable apathy
against the solemn command of the great Head of the
Church, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gos-
pel to every creature." But it is no past of toleration
rightly understood, to adopt measures tending either
directly or indirectly to promote the spread, and fortify
the power of paganism. There is a wide difference, as it
has been well observed, between offering a man violence
in his way to an idol temple, and attending him thither,
giving him facilities for conveyance, and inviting him to'
this guilty worship. Real toleration lies between the
two extremes. The offspring of Chilstian love, it would
save the deluded heathen, "plucking him out of the fire,"
by the preaching of Christ crucified ; accompanying the
proclamation of redeeming mercy with the prayer of
wrestling faith. But to take part in such besotted war-
ship; to compel a Christian not only to be present, but
assisting at its rites of unutterable impurity, cruelty,
and falsehood; to demand, that the magistracy and the
soldiery should be compelled to promote and regulate the
abominations of Heathen India, is a kind of liberality
utterly spurious, dishonourable to God, subversive of
the distinctions between right and wrong. It is most
fearfully perilous to the souls of men who know truth as
it is in Jesus, whether theoretically or practically. It
serves to impress the darkened mind of the pagan with a
persuasion, that as his governors see no difference be-
tween the gospels and the Vedas, between the Triune
God of the Bible,-and the monstrous fables of Indian su-
perstition, so none does really and practically exist so as
to require an absolute renunciation of the one, and a sin-
cere reception of the other, by that faith which is the gift
of God.

This mawkish and miserable latitudinarianism so in-
geniously disguised under the name of Toleration, has
long subjected those parts of India, whither idolatrous
ul
pilgrimages are k de, to a cruelty the most appalling.
It is a heinous li of liberality and tenderness to re-
ligious feeling, hoWever mistaken, to put forth a finger,
and touch, no matter with what tenderness, an idol cere-
monial of worship. But it has escaped these acutely
sympathising philanthropists, that the conscience of a
Christian believer is trodden and trampled under foot the
while, when he is obliged to attend to aid and assist, and
honour these pagan ceremonies, equally dishonouring by
such acts that God and Saviour, whose he is, and whom
be is bound to serve. The alternative is resignation of
his post, dismissal from it, or punishment for an act of
mu tiny.

In this position, multitudes of British functionaries
professing the gospel of Jesus Christ have been long
placed in India ; and beneath this intolerable tyranny
many are at this instant groaning; and from this galling
oppression vast numbers are appealing. The subject
has been again and again brought before the Court of
East,lndia Directors in all the enormity of its injustice.
Remonstrance has followed remonstrance, until at length
they have closed the door against receiving more to the
same effect. A despatch of Lord Glenelg to the local
government of India has been treated with equal disre-
gard. It seems as if they who could at once and with
entire safety, correct the abuses, had resolved, in 'defiance
of that supreme allegiance which is due to God, that they
should be perpetuated. Dr. Frederick Maitland, Com-
mander of the Forces in the Presidency of Madras, has
felt the degradation and oppression So Heavily—lii- y
sense of duty towards od , and the souls of men, has
been so deeply wounded by it, that he has tendered his
resignation if the present regulations should be regarded
. . . _ _ _

like the laws of the Medes and Persians to be unalter.
able.

A representation of alie evils and wtekedueaa of thin
system was made by the late excellent Bishop Corrie,
in a memorial signed by himself and very. many influ-
ential persons. Unfortunately it was received in a very
different spirit by Sir Frederick Adam, to whom it was
sent.

The question then remains, whether this state of things
must continue ; whether British Christians who honour
God, and would not hang a yoke of bitter bondage upon
the souls of their fellow believers, are not called upon, as
with one heart, to make such a representation to the legis-
lature of this country by the const►tutional medium of
petitions to both Houses of Parliament, as may call upon
the government with the loud "effectual voice of public
opinion to alter this sordid and most guilty attitude of
our Indian administration, which abets idolatry with one
hand, and strikes a dip and cruel blow upon the consci-
ences, peace, and religion of so many of our fellow Chris•
tians in India with the other?

A movement has been already made with this view in
Liverpool, to which all who name the name of Christ as
their hope, and profess allegiance to Him as their Head,
should wish God speed. A public meeting of a prelimi-
nary character was held in the Music Hall, on Tuesday
morning last, and a- petition read for the abolition of this
compulsory attendance tipon idol worship. The particu-
lars of the meeting were detailed in' the pages of this
journal. They were well calculated to commend them-
selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God, and
to come home to every man's business and bosom. It
has since been determined, that a public meeting o
members of the Church of England, upon the same most
important subject, should be held in the Amphitheatre,
upon an early day, of which due notice will be gilain.
The committee, to whom the matter was erftrusted, cor-
dially and earnestly hope, that the other Christian deno-
minations of the town will take up the matter in a spirit
of zeal for God, and for the honour of our common Lord,
and by a simultaneous movement of mind expressed in
petitions to both Houses of the Legislature, which may
extend itself far and wide throughout the empire, endea-
vour to emancipate our fellow Christians in India from
the intolerable and degrading thraldom, by which they
are now injured, insulted, and oppressed.