The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-01
From woman's Work for Woman.
INDIA.
CONCLUDED

Mohammedanism, Buddhism, and Chris.
tianity, Max Miller tells us, are all essen
tally missionary religions, 1. e, they have
faith in themselves; they want to convince,
and they mean to conquer; the spirit Of
truth and love was alive in the hearts Of their
founders. 1t is said that to convert Mo-
hammedan is difficult, to convert Buddhist
more difficult, and TO convert Christian, LET
US hope, well nigh impossible. The very
working of these systems, side by side, has a
good effect upon each; each is on trial and
does its best. Mohammedsnism, originating
in the tenth century. claims as its own the
southwestern part of Asia, with large por-
tons of India and Egypt. Its Koran does
not invite, it rather compels, the world to
come in; its mosques are ideal places of wor-
ship, grand, spacious, simple, open to the
light of heaven, unlike the dark HindOo tenn
pies, or our own modern Gothic churches ;
its very tonbs inspire one with respect for
the dead Originally Islam meant humility,
devotion, and all who were humble and de-
vout we're called Moslems or MusSulmans.-
This religion, with its mixture of dignity,
reverence, and romance, has many apologists,
but as the missionary finds it now, it is sen.
sual, trescherous, intolerant, and all the more
formidable that it builds on the cornerstone
of the Bible. 1t is the open Bible alone
which can combat its errors. Among the
chief of these is polygamy. This system ad-
mits of four wives, and these wives are 81
lowed to have souls, but strict obedience to
their husbands is the only condition of their
future salvation. They are often taugh ut to
read and write, aud are in most respects less
degraded than the Hindoo women.
Buddha was stern reformer, attacking
caste, seusuality, and corrupt priesthood.
Though the Buddhist religion originated in
India $50 B. c., and was powerful there for
two centuries, its grim asceticism being at
tractive to people surfeited with vice, it has
now ceased to influence the masses, aad is to
be found in India on the banks of the Gan
ges only. 1t is political religion, incor-
pOrating into itself the superstitions of the
people among whom it is disseminated, SO
that it is almost different religion in diff
ferent countries, and is strange mixture of
Christianity, witchcraft, TRANSPORTATION of
souls, and worship of myriad of inferior
deities. Its statutes express quiet cOntem,
platiOu, and is heaven is Nirvana, or an ab-
soloste nothing. Buddhism is the prevailing
religion in Asia, and the fact that it's sway is
more extensive than that of any faith among
men can only be accounted for by it's spirit
of intrigue and political power. Perhaps sll
our readers are not familiar with the origin
of the Brahms Somsj, sort of progressive
Unitarianism, which has already attacked
the strongholds of Brahminism. Its founder,
Ram Mohun Roy, born hundred years ago,
q highly educated and religious man, felt so
Inundated by the spectacle of the popular
religion of his country that he endesVOred to
found pure belief on the teachings Of the
ancient Vedas, which he claimed to be of d.
vine origin. Though they contained treas
ures of truth, strong arguments against idol
airy, and in favor of one God, religion
founded on nothing more than these ancient
poems necessarily failed. His successor
wisely reliDquished the claim of divine in
SEPARATION, and with other reformers framed a
creed from selected passages out of the best
works of the ancient sages. We can have
little idea what these men have suffered from
social persecution and hostile public opinion,
in 6ghting against caste and idolatry. Lit
tie attention was paid in Europe to this
until the recent schism in the
party, which caused division of the old
conservative and the new party led by Kes
hub Chunder Sen. The old party wished to
retain all that they safely might of the an
Gent religion and customs; the new party
would have none of these things: everything
that savored of Brshminism vas to be cast
out, and they would found their creed on all