The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-28
BULGARIA AND INDIA.


THE MISSIONARY WORK IN THESE COUNTRIES
ADDRESSES ny NATIVES AT ST. LUKE's
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In ST. Luke's Methodist Church, in Forty-nrss
street. near Sixth avenue, she Rev. Stephen Thomo6,
q native Of Bulgaria, and tho Rev. NJ L. Bancrjca,
naive oil India, addressed tho congregation The two
cergymen recent graduates OF tho Drew Theology
cal Seminary At Madison, and expect Tor
their native lands. there to labor In tho missionary
Cause 4
THoxoPY's REMARKS.
Mr.. Thomor was Grs, introduced. lie said:-
CHRISTIAN FRIESDs-It gives me great pleasure to bs
able TO say a few words 10 you TINS evening the
progress OF tho missionary work now going on in n,y
country. especially as At tho present time thai
country Is attracting so great attention from all parts
OF the civilized world on account OF the great war that
Is progressing and tho that have led 70
that war; l am happy TO say that long before tho
present troubles began tho missionary work CON-
menccd IN Bulgaria, and in order that you may mora
Thoroughly understand tho work u viii be necessary
to give u short historical sketch OF Bulgaria
OF which Russia is tho head. II erected into an
independent kingdom In tho middle OF the seventh
century, and COPIED successfully with tho Byzantine
Empire IL was converted 70 Christianity OF The creek
form about tho middle OF the ninth century, but It had
independent patriachs, who did not acknowledge the
theological supremacy OF she Crock pstrinrchs but
alter tho capture OF Consantipope by tho Turks In
1853 and tho subsequent subjugaton Of the various
provinces now undor Turkish rule tho Greek patri.
archs succeeded In the control OF the Cnuch in
Bulgaria, so that our people then had not only poiti
There wcrc now heavy yokes upon their shoulders
which they bore 400 years.
Tho Bugarians thought that In order 10 atsnin a.
Independent existence II would first DO necessary &c
throw of tho yoke OF the Crock patrarchs ana aDou,
fifteen years ago struggle began TO thus END wh,c..
after lasting for iourtcon years. resulted the
Issuing decree making tho Buigarians indcpanasa.
OF tho Greeks II was cIt At the time that rhis
eventually load to poitical Independence. Tho Hui.
garans when ,hey speak OF thar country do no.
slider the Balkan Mounts It's southern boundary
Macedonia - portions Of Buisaria and II suigans
should become independent state Thrsco and Mace
donna would BIO included with Il as ono country.
OPPOSITION TO MrssIosARfEs
The missionary work In Bulgaria was begun 1891,
The people had great prcudiccs toward the mission.
aries, which prejudices had 10 DC mot. Bulgarians,
bong OF tho Greek Church. thought that they
Christians and orthodox Christians tho Greek
Church styled itself tho orthodox Oriental Church.
that missionaries should como 10 toll them Oh
tianity The people OF Bulgaria, hkc all nominal
Christians, havo great faith In forms and ceremonios
and they believe that II they are attentive these
forms and. fast. 60 TO church, confess AND
their church, that there Is saving power ~
their Efforts, and that nothing more Is nscdlu Thcy
shsor.icay tho Eastern Christians hold to The iunda
mental doctrines OF Christianity, yct practically they
know nothing about ttcm, for the people are never
taught any other gous matter than proper
servancc or the various forms and ceremonies OF tho
Church There are about twelve native preachers and
SIX or seven mon preparing for missionary work
under the supervision Of tho presiding Elder Bul
garia and about twenty preparing undor tho charge
OF tho American Missionary Board.
do not set up IS prophet, but ! feel that the
suit OF the present concs viii be that Independent
scmi-indopendcnt States will DO created out OF the fol-
lowing provinces now tributary TO Turkey :-Rou.
mania, Bulgaria, Thraco and Macedonia State,
and Bosnia ana Herzegovina. The power OF tho Turk
will DO forever broken by this war That will be tho
inevitable result II will lead eventually TO driving
tho Turk from Constantinopo, As now Turkey 10
bankrupt, and when tho tributaries cut od u will
be worse still for her. Tho country Will be opened up
TO missionary efforts and modern civilization.
Mr.. BASERJEA's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Banerea. OF India, then addressed the congre.
gaton the opposition 10 tho spread Of Christianity
offered In India by tho different religions there. Ho
SAID that every religion had tho two essential clements
OF faith and object OF worship and boiieL In 'he
same proportion the influence Of the object wor
chip IL elevating or degrading IS the effect upon
votarics Tho people in India hold to their re-
ligon with tcnacity which IL is almost Impossible 70
shake.
IL is q mistake TO suppose that the Hindoos are a..
norant they have their universities aud colleges.
wharc tho highest education may be obtained the
Hindoos and Mohammeians who graduate from those
colleges become neither Hindoo Mohanme dau,
and sometimes many of them tako prdo In saying
that they nothing Lately thcre has arisen q new
religion which Is claimed 70 DO Improvement on
Christianity Ksshub Chundsr son - tho leader OF
this religion which many OF the graduates OF
Indian colleges profess This religion respects Jesus
Christ, but denies any divinity IA Him, and says
u possible Tor any man 10 attain the degree
OF Holiness possessed by HIN. Tho professors OF this
depend entirely upon intuition. Although tho religion
OF the Hindoos IN . low aud degrading one. spiritual
degradation does not necessarily imply intellect uai
degradation. Tho educated Hindoos are often moro
sionary who endeavors to convert them. Mr. Banerjcs
then described tbs Icnana system tho seciuson Of
tho aud the caste ~ stcn, aud concluded VITA
an earnest appeal for missionary aid Tor India