The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-18
Hindooism and Catholicity.

The Rev. Father George Halter, Sd, has
written a very long but most interesting
letter to the Bombay Catholic Examiner, in
which he describes his work amongst the
Hindoos. Its length precludes us from
giving it entire. Some extracts from it we
are sure will not be out of place in Ca
tholic newspaper:
'Many Hindoos know very we'll, that the
PrOtestants do not agree with US but they
appear to be more inclined to listen to us
than to them. They have the idea that the
Catholics have the original Christian reli-
gion and that the Prot..stssi, left that and
went their own way. The exterior Catho-
lie worship attracts them, and the Protast-
ant preachers offend them, not only by in
terfering in matters of caste, but also by
the ungentle way they reprove them.
Sometimes Hindoos interrupt their preach
ing, and argue with them in favor of the
Catholic religion. heard, on good au-
thority of two such cases. One that hap
pened in Poona, is alleged in the above
mentioned dialogue; the other occurred at
YammanOr, seven leagues from here. There
is an idol, visited at certainA times of the
| year by many thousand pilgrims. One of
those German missionaries preached there.
| this year. One of his audience, IA pagan,
gave mo the following statement: This
| preacher tried to show that the idol was not
| a god, and that 1T was great crime to
adore an image made by man moreover,
that the Christian religion was the only
true one. An educated heather objected
thus: elf the Christian religion isthe only
true one, not you but the Catholics are
right, because they have the original Chris
tian religion" The minister replied: awe
have chosen that which is essential and
true" Hindoo-"There you just show
that you are wrong. If the Christian reli-
gion is revealed by God, as you say, then
verything must be essential and true"
{" You misunderstood my meaning" con-
tnued the preacher, who seemed to be at q
loss how to answer; " the Catholics have
mixed up with the original truths, errors
chosen what was originally revealed"
You say So" was the reply of the pagan,
"but the Catholics say the contrary.
Therefore it is at least doubtful whether you
are right How can you expect me to be-
lieve what is doubtful z" Several natives
than to the Protestant padres, because you
quietly hear what we have to say, and give
us fuller explanations; but they get angry if
we make objections" These heatheHs take
no offence if we speak to them about the
absurdity of heathenism in a calm and
quiet manner; but then they expect of us
that we should calmly listen to what they
object against Christianity. Those who
have got higher English training seem to
be ashamed OF patronizing the vulgar super
stition of paganism, but the influence of a
| Protestant education leads them not rarely
either to a certain scepticism or Il sort of
refined idolatry. Though many sensible
pagans abstain from idol worship, yet they
are, compared to the great mass of dola-
tors, only exceptions. The bulk of the
people, though they may occasionally be
brought to laugh at its folly, practice all
sorts of superstition, in which they are
brought up by their parents, and confirmed
by the authority of the Brahmns, who find
it worth their while to keep up this gross
idolatry. Divination and pretended mira
cles assist to Keep them under the bondage
of the devil. There is here in the town Il
woman who pretends to look into futurity
aud know hidden things. She goes on Il
certain day of the week to some neghbor-
ing hill, where there is idol under the
shape of an OK (called bdssappa.) After
worshiping, she returns and says that the
god has taken possession of her and speaks
through her. IL the evening hundreds of
people sometimes flock to her house, to
consult her about what they wish or fear,
and take her words Oracles of the god
Cunningly she gives ambiguous answers
that may be turned one way or the other
Some say also that she has secret agents,
who inform her of what is going on in
families. A few months ago the rumor
went abroad that there was-a shepherd at
such and such IL place, who healed all kinds
of diseases, could make the blind to see,
the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, etc.
On hearing this great numbers went there
from far and near, aud from Dharwar too,
and they carried others there to be relieved
by that wonderful man. He did nothing
more than make certain marks upon their
bodies, and after having got the money for
his trouble he sent them off with the hope
of being cured. This business went on
prosper0usly till he was arraigped before
the magistrate and punished for deceiving.
Though no one was cured, yet such is the
creduiity of these poor people that if an
other imposter come they will permit them
selves to be deceived again. At that place
of pilgrimage i spoke of there is a stream
of fresh, healthy water, which is supplied
by salt water well. Many battle therein
to get cured from some one complaint or
other. The water being by it's natural
qualities calculated to invigorate the body,
and to contribute to the cure of skin dis
eases, these effects are ascribed to the god
that is near it. The heather priest who
serves the idol takes good care to confirm
this stupid belief, and if some do not OBJ
tain what they expect, he can tell them
exactly why their prayer was not heard.
| Among this class of idol worshipers there
are also fanatics, who are apt to il-treat
Christians or catechumeus, ii they can hope
to do SO with impunity. Lately L came
across such case, which will relate, be-
cause it shows noble eXampleot Christian
suffering for their faith, as well as the con-
stancy of pagans who wish to become
Christians. Two peasants came distance
of three days Journey To see ME on Sun
dav evening. AS such people speak very