Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-05-04
MR.. MUzzEY's LECTURE.

The following is an extract from the
Rev. Mr.. Muzzey's second lecture on
India, lately delivered at Middlebury -
The History of India is so entangled
with their mythology and suPerstiiution
that little is positively knows concerning
it. Enough, however, has been brought
to light to render il certain that the Hin
dooes must have had splendid history.
The learned entertain strong hopes
that they may yet be able, by means OF
the inscriptions upon monuments, astron-
mical records, sketches in the Puranas,
&c. to disinter from the ruins and
debris OF ages the chronicles the
Hindoo past.
The religion of thepeople is not only
thus intimately connected with the va
rious departments OF their literature, but
it is interwoven with everything they
do. The children are taught it instheir
primary or common schools, are expect
ed to attend the frequent feasts. and
even have festivals of their own, when
they parade through the streets with
tom-toms rattles and songs, with their
teachers at their head. Their domestic
regulations, as well as their cultivation
of the soil and the pursuit of the me-
chanical arts are full Of il. As far as
his caste and sphere OF lite are concern
ed the Hindoo is born into, and lives and
dies in bis religion and in these re-
spects is probably the most religious be-
, ing on the face of the earth.
Although connected with philosophy
and literature this religion does not take
its rise in either, nor is it consistent with
either, while it borrows power and i'm
!. portance from both. All tl,at is subtl,
. in philosophic speculation and logica
= reasoning, all that is wonderful in astro.
nomical calculations and astrological rev
!. citations, all the authority and suppor, o.
the civil power and popular influence
!, as well as an extensive and highly
wrought literature and science, and i'm
memorial custom and time hallowed las
and usages, are brought together anc
built up into an imposing and impregna
bic structure, which guards Hindoo re
ligion from the approach Of truth or lh,
least prospect of change.
. Is there. therefore, no hope for th'
dark followers of Brahma? Must phi
lanthrophy retire in despair from he
labor Of love? Observe the small ba
nian seed dropped by little bird ia tn
creviee Of the loftiest and strongest wal
As the rains moisten Il, it swells ant
= germinates, It's roots penetrate down
wards, its stem and branches shoot az
wards il continues 10 increase until 10
solid masonry around il Is loosenet
cracks off, and in little time come
tumbling to the ground. Many Of ihei
= largest temples have been reduced t
heaps Of shspeless ruins in this way.
The strongest baislemenls, the large
" towers Of heathenism possess already !
30 their firmest structures the elements {,
- dissolution, and decay The very seienc
90 that upholds the system embraces moe
~ that Is purile and absurdly false. Al
" however, possess the same authority
., the mind Of a Hindoo. When by II
light of truth and European seien'
those falssboods are made to appear az
their high pretensions are prosiraied
the dust, ihe religion they support vi
fall With them. Even nos 10 all par
Of tho land, where the bible ard seien'
are taught, Is this result beng realize
sE The expression = Parama siia@ pos
+" the Pusanas are all a lie" often e
IT, eapes the natives as their lessons ln &C.
.ho gnphy and philosophy reveal the iasl
and foolish systems, wish which sh'
'p- have been delsded and deceived.