Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-11-15
sHEsRADRI IN ELIZABETH.
rHE pRAHMIN AT WESTMINSTER.

ZOE tu6 privilege Vi sSelliS anu lloleHAhS
to Rev. Narayan Sheshadri of East In
dia, at Westminster church, yesterday
afternoon.
The edifice was filled with fashion
able audience, long before the hour APP
pointed for the commencement of the
services. At twelve minutes past four
o'clock, Rev. DR.. Kempshall stated
from the platform thst the Indian had
but just reached the city, and at the re-
quest of the pastor he announced the
seyenty-third hymn
"Arm of the Lord, awake, awake
which was rendered by Mr. and Mrs.
George L. Mulford--the congregation
joining in the praise. DR.. Kempshall
then read chapter from the scriptures,
concluding by offering prayer. During
the reading Rev, Mr.. Sheshadri entered
and rapidly walked upon the platform,
closely followed by DR.. Roberts.
The Brahmin was attired in the flow
ing oriental robes and white turbau of
his caste. He has very intelligent
countenance, and the appearance of
dark ard handsome quadroon, from
louisiana. He seated himself upon the
sofa, and placing his left elbow upon its
arm, rested his clenched hand under his
chin. He gazed restlessly about, no
doubt in admiration of the beauties of
the temple in which he sat con-
spicuous object
Dr. Roberts gave out the one hun
bred and forty-second hymn to be sung:
:" Sion King shall reign victorious"
after which he introduced the converted
Brahmin to the impatient congregation.
Rev. Mr.. Sheshadri proceeded in u
fluent but rather disjointed way in Civ
illustration, of the power of God-asub-
iect upon which he dwelt at some
length, basing his remarks upon the
third verse of the one hundred and tenth
Psalm:
"Thy people shall be willing in the
day of thy power, in the beauties of
holiness from the womb of the morn
ing thou hast the dew of thy youth"
The lecturer then proceeded to speak
OF his conversion, and subsequent
career as Christian minister. At the
age of fifteen, old women and young
women washed his feet, subsequently
drinking the water, believing they would
be purified by doing SO. His people
were superstitious. You may tell them
Jesus turned water into wine, and it
would have no effect upon their minds.
The Monkey God of Ceylon, reported in
Brahminical books to have burned that
city by going from house to house, set
ting them on fire with his tail which had
previously been wrapped in rags, soak
ed in oil, and then ignited, was no myth
to many of his countrymen, who be-
lieved the city still to be burning.
Z he Brahmin books contain mon
strous stories, but finally they became
too much for his credulity, and he was
converted to the true faith. When
emptied of his Buddhist faults he was
afraid to die. Then his attention was
directed to the Bible. He read Mat
thew, Mark, Luke and John, and the
Psalms then the first six chapters of
the Romans, and he found that the
whole doctrine of the crucified Redeem
err was sublime. The disciples were
nothing but tax-gathers and poor fisher
men, but he gladly followed in their
footsteps. In 1913, he left father,
mother, brothers, sisters, cousins and
friends in order to attach himself to the
Christian mission. This was trying
ordeal to be separated from the only
dear ones on earth, but the scriptures
brought consolation to his bleeding
heart.
After his conversion, he passed
through the streets OF Bombay but none
of his old friends concluded to notice
him. The Saviour had been treated far
more cruelty, and this encouraged him
to bear up under the difficulties which
seemed TO surround him. In 1862, he
visited Poola 1--WE are not certain of the
word bnt his conntrymen kept away
from him.
They acted as if afraid of him-as if
their wealth would be polluted by him.
They asked him to leave, but he kept
quietly on in the discharge of sacred
duty, and when they found he did not
interfere with any of their ancient rights
or privileges they sent their children to
his school for instruction. On one an
mvelsary occasion number of the Brah-
minis visited, his mission, and at meal
time seated thems' Ives together-leay-
ing him and his wife to seat themselves
together at another table. When the
heather heard him ask Gods blessing
upon all present, their demeanor chan
ged, and shortly afterwards they passed
articles of food to the table of the Chris
tlans-who responded by exchanging in
a similar manner.