The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-20
strses.preachIng iu Calcn,,a.
MISSIONARIES sToPPEp WHILE sPEAKNd IN
THE OPEN AIR,


MISSIONARIES sToPPEp WHILE SPEAKING ~
THE OPEN AIR.
A correspondent writes TO one OF the
English journals ''The fact that missiona-
ries 10 Calcutta have been stopped while
preaching In the open air might suggest
that the authorities had adopted backward
policy Ia this direction. The Company Sa-
bib Bahad0or, or the 'Illustri0us Company
Esquire as the natives called the past
governing power, were afraid OF allowing
the popular mind 10 be excited on the
subject OF religion. They did not Wish It 10
be thought that they bad designs OF tamper-
ing with the worship or caste preiudices OF
the Hindus, lest such an idea might result
IN fanaticism or rebellion. The great mu-
tiny, caused in part by the belief in n eased
cartridges may be cited as evidence that
this view Of the matter bad some founda-
tion to recommend 10, and the Government
policy had always been against missionary
efforts, or any appearance that the Sahbs
wished TO interfere with religious, or more
particularly with the caste, notions OF the
people Of India. Notwithstanding this, the
missionary did find bis way TO the plains Of
Hinduism, and at last became a regular
Institution in the country. From Eng
land more than one religious body sent
their representatives German misSiona-
ries also found their way, and even Ameri.
can men, anxious to convert the Hindu,
came. The ROm1n Catholics hSd done
great things in southern India before our
Government extended its power; and
lately attention has been called TO the
Itinerary Of monk called p. Maestro Fra
Sebastian Manrique. who visited the
Northwest Provinces In the seventeenth
century--that was In the time Of Shah
Jehan-and be passed through Agra when
the Tai was building, regarding which he
gives some interesting details, pew 10 Us,
respecting that celebrated structure. This
missionary penetrated TO Lahore and MOol-
tan, and even reached Klndahrr, Of which
we have heard so much lately as being
very distant place. In his time there were
Roman Catholic missions in the Northwest, ,
who were sometimes favored, and at times
prosecuted, even unto cruel deaths.
Now the headquarters OF the Roman
Catholic mission is at Agra, and they
have at least one convent at LaOdOur, In
the HImalsyas. There is also a curious
Moravi9n mission in the bleak wilds OF
Lahoul, which has long maintained its
place IN that unpromising region. II the
Government were now to change their
policy and interrupt this progress, which
has thus widely extended itself, the serious.
ness of the movement would be great, but
this is not at all likely. The whole feeling
OF the time would be against such line OF
action, and the majority at least Of the men
who rule India are not bigOts either for or
against missionary enterprise. We may as
sumo tbat a. responsible rulers they would
be as much opposed 10 stopping the mis-
sionaries As they would object 10 issuing
! law against caste in India. TO do either Of
these two things would be intolerance.
"Whether or not it is wise for the mis-
sionaries TO preach in the open air ls another
question. treet-preaching in England is
| subject on which opinion is divided. 1t is
| doubted by many il discourse delivered in
loud voice by an uneducated person, and
often in doubtful English, can do much
good. In India, when preacher appears in
! the Bazaar he IS not likely to raise dis
turbance; the people are usually quiet and
uDdemOnsraiye. II a preacher were to
say strong things against MOhammed in
! Delhi, Agra, Calcutta, or any OF the towns
| where the MuSsulmaUs are in numbers, the
case might be different; but as a rule
breaches OF the peace seldom occur in India
through this cause. So that in this aspect
! the practice is so far harmless. When man
appears and holds forth in public place IN
lndia the natives look upon him as GU
I riosIty, and a small crowd VIII gather
around. The probability is that he il far
from being master Of tie language, and
hence his remarks ale apt TO excite laughter
in the audience, and bis arguments likely to
lose their point from being badly, or at
best but loosely. expressed. Mr. Akin
sons Curry and Rice is work which,
even although it pretends to be only
amusing and sarcastic, gives about the
best notion that has yet appeared OF life in
India. Our missionary is presented as a
worthy little man, but his efforts at preach
! ing in the Bazaar are stated 10 be very
doubtful, on account OF his not being quite
up 10 The language. One custom is to get
native convert TO do the preaching, while
the missionary stands by his side as kind
OF censor, to see that he puts the case in its
correct light; but the natives have not the
same respect for one Of themselves as for q
Sahib, and they are apt TO make remarks,
and even Jokes are uttered at the expense
Of the speakers, so that prOianc and un-
profitable termination is often the result Of
This mode OF attempting TO reach the native
mind"