The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-02-16
a Merited Rebuke.

The course of the Prince of Wales during his
visit to India has not been altogether such as to
call forth the appreciation Of the English people,
and some Of the press have not been slow to AMI
madvert rather gravely if not sharply upon his de-
partures from that strict path of social al moral
propriety in which heightened moral nature and
culture would require him to walk. Especially
has his exceptionable course been prtj1diclal to
the religious interests Ct that country as is shown
by the subj ,ined extract from the proceedings Of
the late meeting in Edinburgh of the Anglo Indian
Christian Union, which was convened with special
reference to this fact.
The venerable Dr. Duff whose life has been de-
voted to the evangez alton of India, occupied the
chair, and in opening the proceedings uttered the
following plain words:
THAT the visit of the Prince of Wales to India
related in important degree to the sct OF that
society," When that visit was undertaken it was
understood that means we're to be adopted to in
sure if possible, that it should have an important
bearing upon Christianity in | dia. O1e OF these
they were led to believe was determination to
show respect for the Sabbath OF the l. I'd An.
other was that some attention should be paid to
the abors OF Christians in that land ia connection
India They had received some imperfect frag
mentary reports from India o. this account they
must not prejndge the case, but calmly, dispas.
sionately, as Christian men, wait and ascertain all
the real facts, before they formed final and DELHI
crate Judgment Undoubtedly there we're some
things which had already excited unpleasant appre
tensions Hd)latrous temples were visited the
Tooth Of Buddha the founder of the b iddhist
system, which prevailed so widely and tyrann
caly over the people, was inspected, and 80 on
Then spectacles had been witnessed which had
produced feeling of painfulness; for instance
of cruelty to animals; exhibitions which were
prohibited within the British Isles by legislative
enactment; exhibitions of kind which were most
odious aud intoerable to myrads even of the ma
tive population of India Then, again, spectscles
such as the exhibitions OF native dancers lutoh
girls. There was no respectable woman in Iodia
who would dance, certainly not dance in the pre-
sence of mixed audience. Those who had been
in India knew that these Nautch girls were not re
spectacle at ALL To his mind this was one of the
most shocking things which he read among all the
intelligence which had reached here-that the rep.
resentatve of Court Ike the B tish Court, the
Heir Apparent of the British throne, should have
had obtruded upon his eyes dancing company of
women who were in lnda known to be degraded
and low and vile Ii the advisers of the Prince Of
Wales had only intimaied to the native princes
that it was contrary to British habits to witness
brutasing and cruel spectaces of animals tearing
each other (; that it was contrary to British usage
to be introduced into company of low and vile
women and see them exhibiting themselves in low
and vile dances-if this had been intimated, there
was not chief in India. there was not head
zemindar, who would not have looked upon it as
thing natural and congruouE that they should have
been told that this was not itish, and, therefore,
that they must not offend the Heir Of the British
throne by asking him to witness any such exhibit
ton.