The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-08 00:00:00

. .

JUNES, I 'B..

statements, was presented to the Governor in Council at Madras,
signed by the archdeacon, eleven chaplains, thirty-nine mis'
sionaries, thirty gentleman of the civil service and others,
and by one hundred and eleven military and eleven medical
officers
•1. That it is now required of Christian servants of the
Government, both civil and military, to attend Heathen and
Mehoineden religious festivals, with a view of showing them
respect.
" 2. That in some instances they are called upon to pre-
sent offerings, and to do homage to idols.
" 3. 'filet the degrading arid impure services of the pagoda
are now carried on under the supervision and control of the
principal European, and therefore Christian, officers of the
Government, and the management and regulation of the re-
venues and endowments, both the pagodas and mosques, are so
vested in them, under the provisions of Regulation 7th, of 1817,
that nu important idolatrous ceremony can he performed—no
attendant of the various idols, not even the prostitutes of the
temple, he entertained or discharged, nor the least expense in-
curred, without the official concurrence and orders of the Chris-
tian functionary.
`4. That British officers, with the troops of the Govern-
ment, are also now employed in firing salutes, and m otherwise
rendering honour to Nlahomedan and idolatrous ceremonies,
even on the Sabbath-day, and Christians ate thus not unfre-
quently compelled by the authority of Government, to desecrate
their own most sacred institutions, and to take part in
unholy
and degrading superstitions.'
Sir, when I read these things, the strongest impression on my,
mind is that of wonder at the long-suffering and patience 01
God—that he bears with us as a nation countenancing such
proceedings. Surely " His ways are not as our ways. nor
"
" His thoughts as our thoughts," otherwise this would not have
been endured till the present hour. But I hasten (in to the me
morial presented to the Governor at Bombay concerning simi-
lar practices :
" A similar memorial was presented to the Governor in Coun-
cil of Bombay by similar parties. They say—" The counien •
once and support extended to idolatry and superstition. and lime
violation of the principles of toleration, to which we refer, con'
sist principally in the following'particulars:—
" 1. In the employment of Brahmins and others for the pur-
pose of making heathen invocations for rain and fair weather.
" 2. la the inscription of Shri on public documents, and the
dedication of the Government records to Ganesha, and other
false gods.
" 3. In the entertainment in the Courts of Justice of ques-
tions of a purely idolatrous nature, when no civil right depeatda
on them.

"'4. In the degradation of certain castes, by excluding
them from particular offices and benefits not connected with
religion.
`• `5. In the attendance of the servants of government,
civil and military, in their official capacity, at Hindoo and Mu-
homedan festivals, with a view to participate in their rites and
ceremonies, or in the joining. of troops, and the use of regi-
mental bands, in the pitkessions of Heathen and Mabomedan
festivals, or in their attendance in any other capacity than that
of a police for the preservation of the peace.
6. In the firing salutes by the troops, or by the vessels
of the Indian Navy, in intimation and honour of Heathen
festivals, Mahomedau Pds'" &c. The memorial farther prays
that inquiry may be wade into the following f—
." I. Support given to Hindoo temples, to mosques and
tombs, either by the granting endowments, pensions, or im-
munities, or by the collection and distribution of the officers of
Government of the revenues already appropriated to them.
"' 2. The granting of allowances and gifts to Brahmins, and
other persons, because of their connection with the Heathen
and Mahomedan priesthood.
3. The present mode of administering oaths in the native
Courts of Justice, and whether it be such as is proper for
Christian Government to allow and to sanction. _ _

" 4. The endowment and support of colleges and schools
for the inculcating of Heathen and Ilahomedan doctrines and

pratices.' "
I come now to read the translation of an order issued to the
chief revenue servants by the Collector of Canara, in 1833
directing SPECIAL CEREMONIES FOR RAIN to be performed in
certain pap das of that district f
" let, Communications have been received from the chie
revenue servants of some districts, stating that, from the defi-
ciency of rain. the cultivation is hindered, and requesting per-
mission to perform ceremonies in the pagodas for rain. Upon
looking at the rain reports it appears that it is so. It is, there-
ordered, for the protection of the Ryots (peasants), that they
must go to the pagodas of their villages with cocoa nuts, cocoa
nut water, &c., and, with worship to the tool, must offer up their
prayers. In the pagodas, for the maintenance of which there is
an allowance from Government, you must order the officiating
priest to perform the worship of the idol properly with prayers.
"2d, It the Ryots and respectable people say, that ceremonies
for rain are required; if it appear to you that the distress is
really true, and if it appears necessary that they should be per-
formed, you are to take 35 rupees from the amount of collec-
tions, and give them to the Kudre Devanath Devasthan, and
having performed the ceremonies properly, you are to report to
me the coming of rain."
"THE FURNISHING OF SUPPLIES FOR root. WORSHIT.

"To the acting principal Collector of Coimbatoor, from the
chief Revenue Officer of Kangyam :—The Overseer of the pa-
goda states, that for the sanctuary of these four gods (here fol-
low their names) both for the fixed idol and the festival idol,
the government sometime ago bought and gave cloths, and they
report that these cloths are now very old and rotten; and must
be renewed. Having seen them, and made inquiry, .I find it is
not the role to give the cloths, &c., for the above holy places.
every vear ; but when cloths, &e. are necessary the government
have been in the habit of giving them, and I know that they are•
all old. I have therefore made a statement, amounting to 50
rupees, for buying and giving cloths to the said gods, and now
enclose the said statement in this address, and send it to the
Collector, waiting for orders."

FIRST STEAM SHIP FROM LIVERPOOL TO