The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-30
CITY INTELLI GE NOE
IFcr additional Local Items see Third Page.l

AN INTERESTING LECTURE.-The lecture
by Rev. William Butler, d. D., late Missionary
to India, on personal "reminiscences OF the Sepoy
Rebellion, at the Spring Garden Street N. Il.
ChuIch, last evening, was listened to by large
and intensely interested audience. India with
her two hundred millions OF human beings,
covers one and half million of square miles,
an extent OF territory equal to all Europe
cepting Russia and Scandinavia She COM
prises a congregation OF nations speaking some
fifteen different languages, and until 1853 was
never subject to any one government, but each
nationality had its own distinct sovereign, all
independent of each other
The missionary field OF the N. E. Church occu-
pies a territory IN Upper India tour hundred
miles in length, and over one hundred miles in
BREADTH with q population of fourteen millions.
The cause of the rebellion was stated to be
an attempt Of the Great Mogul to restore Ma
hommedan supremacy, and completely and
efectually destroy Christianity in India. At
that time the British army in India numbered
only ~, 900 men, scattered over vast extent of
country, while the native armies of whom only
the officers were English, comprised over
1000 men. The roads through the country
were described as being of the most wretched
character, rendering communication between
the different military posts arduous and almost
impracticable, enabling the Sepoys to massacre
the whites, and destroy their homes and settle
ments in quick succession, without, for long
time, coming in contact with any considerable
number OF British soldiers.
Various incidents of the rebellion, the mas.
sacre OF 450 women and children and 400 British
soldiers al Cawnpore, the siege OF Lucknow the
escape of eighty seven gentlemen, including two
missionaries, three generals, doctors, and at
taches of the East India Com pany, with their
families, to the mountains, where Tor many long
weary weeks they received no hdings of the
result of the terrible conflict raging on the
plains below, and many other events, were de-
scribed with thrilling effect.
We have not space more fully to describe the
Doctors remarks, but will give the conclusions
he has reached. as the result of this unsuccess-
full effort to destroy British rule, and with it
Christianity in India. Now British supremacy
extends over every province and kIndgom, and
the whole country is thrown open to Christianity.
Christian miss Onarles traverse the entire ground
unmolested the presence OF eighty-5even thou
sand British soldiers msures protection and tran
qullity. Even the Mahommedans acBno wledge
that God was against them, their power IS
DESTROYED and that Christianity will eventually
prevail The system of caste no longer prevails,
opportunities are offered Christianzed natives
to occupy positions under the civil Government,
and compromis es with former dynestles are no
longer tolerated. The roals have been i'm
proved and enlarged, the entire country sur.
veyed and mapped; railroads are IN operation or
being rapidly constructed through the length
and breadth of the land, and civilization has
achieved march OF at least century.
The Doctor occupied over two hours IN his re
marks, and we are sure that no audience wa;
ever more interested The theme was new, the
information reliable; end when the large assem-
bly separated, we heard words of unqualified
praise and satisfaction all around us.
We sincerely trust the Doctor may be induced
To visit the city again, and repeat his lecture a
an early day, as we are sure that hundreds o
our readers would be gIatifed at the opportunit,
afforded of again hearing him.