American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-11-04
From the Boston Evening Gazette.
nrcREAsE OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA.

The Able j. A. DUBOIS, Catnoic Na'esio"ay
in Mysore for thirty-two years. during which ne mas
had confidential and quite unreslraiheo intercourse
among the natives OF India, OF all classes rehgons
and ranks, in society, has just published Work on
the state of Christianity in H'ndostan. Inc doc
trines maintained by this venerable author, whose
extent OF Information, zeal, and good conduct, are
quite remarkable, are, that the conversion Oh inc
Hindoos to Christianity is utterly mpracticaole and
the attempt to introduce the Holy Scriptures among
them, by means OF TRANSACTIONS, will prove aooruVe'
The statements introduced by the Able Will require
the most conclusive answers from missionary Az
vocates before they can be overthrown'
About seventy years ago the Jesuts had made
great number of converts in various territories IN
India, by adopting the manners, dress, habits, ana
innocent superstitions of the natives. In the Ma
rawa there were about 10000 Christians; in the
Madura, above 100000 in the Carnatic, o0 o0o
| in Mysore IS 900. At the present time hardly al
third Of this number is to be found. The Chris
tan religion he says, which was formerly an OBJ
ject OF indifference. or al most OF contempt among
The Hndoos, is at present become almost an object
OF horror
| Our author during the time he remained in In
da, copied the example Of the Jesuits and constant
| ly lived like the inhabitants. He embraced their
customs, manners, Dress diet their rules oil civllty
and good breeding, and their mode OF intercourse
18th the world intoxicating religion more con-
iormabe to Hlndooism, by its ceremonies and OBJ
serssnces than any olter sect Of Christianity can
pretend to- he found all his exertions ruitess, and
| all his arguments vain. In the invincibe repug
nance, not sincere convert was msde--the seeds
he scattered fell upon barren ground, and sprouted
but to die. What then can be expected OF the in
iuence from the simple teachers OF the Calvnistic
| or Methodist per suaslons
j The Able considers the question as reduced to
TWO points
i First, Is there possibility Of making real con
verts to Christianity among the natives OF India
Secondly, Are the means employed Tor that pur-
pose, and above ALL the translation Of the Holy Scrip
lures INTO the dioms Of the country, likely to con-
duce to this desirable obect7
1 "To both nterrogatories (ssys the Abbe) will
answer in the negative it is my decided opinion,
first, that, under existing circumstances there is no
human possibility oil converting the Hindoos TO any
sect OF Christianity and, secondly that the rausla
ton of the Holy Scriptures circulated among them.
so far from conducting 10 this end, will, on the con
trary, increase the preudices OF the natives against
the Christian religion, and prove in many respects.
detrimental to it."
i Dllatng on this judgment, the author in various
i places INSERTS:
4 "The Christian religion is at the present time be
come odious, that in several parts OF the country
Hindoo, who should happen to have friends or con
nexions among the natives protesting this religion,
would not dare to own it in public, as he would be
exposed TO severe reproof for holding familiar in
tercourse with Tin their opinion) people degta-
lded.
"Such is the state OF degradation to which Chris
lsnity has beer reduced in these latter times and
which must be imputed in degree to the immorel
and irregular conduct Of many Europeans, in every
part Of the country.
Besides the Christians OF the Catholic peraua-
lsion, there still existing in some parts of the
lcountry small congregations Of the Lutheran sect !;
but they held, il possible in still higher degree
lof contempt than the former.
"The Lutheran mission was established at Tran
d qubar little more than century ago There were
at all times among the missionaries Of this sect res
lpectabe persons distinguished by their talents and
virtues; but they had only trang success in the
work Of proselytism it could not be otherwise the
Protestant religion being too simple in its worship
to attract the attention OF the Hindoo as it has no
pomp, no outward ceremonies capable Of making a
strong impression on the senses, it was OF course
r dsliked by quite sensual people, and has never
had any considerable success.
i Z" If any OF the several modes Of Christian wor-
n ship were caculaedo make an impression and gain
ground in the country it is no doubt the Catholic
. form which you Protestants call an idolatry in dis
guise it hasa Pooga sacrifice (the mass is term
r ed by the Hndoos Pooga, literally sacrifice y it has
professions, images, statues, trtan or holy water,
'aN''' my VI 'N"sls' Slu prayers ol inc ucdu IN
vocation OF Saints &c all which practices bear more
Tor less resemblance to those in use among the Hin
8 docs. Now, II even such mode OF worship is be.
leone so Objectionable to the natives can it be rea
sonably expected that any of the simple Protes
tant sects will ever prosper among them? The con.
trary has till now been the case. have lust OBJ
served that the Lutheran missionaries have had no
sensible success during more than century. At
the present time their congregations are reduced to
four or five: the most worthy of notice arc one a,
Vepery near Madras, consisting Of about FIVE or six
r. hundred souls; another at Trankbar, composed Of
about twelve hundred souls another at Taniore, Of