The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-09
Squabblcs in India.

bers OF papers containing accounts OF tho
manner in which the Rev. Jo Cook lectures
have been received there, and the difficulties
into which he has got himself on account Of
his ill-considered way of talking.
What the Rev. 10. Cook says either at
home in the United States or abroad in
India, is not apt to be important enough to
deserve very serious consideration. nor
are the public here likely to be much inter-
csted in it. But there Is something amusing
about the hubbub which he seems to have
created in India, among the educated natives
especially. He is a man who is fond OF gem
ordinations OF the broadcast sort, which he
bases on very haphazard collection of facts
and puts in the most ponderous way, n way
which greatly impressed many of our Boston
people when he lcctured there few years ago.
AT Boaston, in India, however, he has not
made SO favorable an impression, it seems.
l was sorely disappointed in my eXpecta-
tions of his philosophical and scientific at
tainments," writes resident OF that place,
"and as regards his logical and close mode
OF reasoning, wish l could use stronger
expression Of disappointment" Before his
arrival in Bombay, we arc told, the people
were promised q grand intellectual treat
from the Rev. 10. COOK, and his close and
logical methods were especially praised.
But at Boaston, and everywhere else in India
where he has lecturcd, he has been combated
by denials Of the premises from which he
argued, and ridiculc of his CONGRATULATIONS,
and he has frequently been challenged to de-
fcnd his positions in public debates. More
over, ms he moves about in his lccturing tour,
he Is pretty closely followed by Hicrophant
OLCorT and Nine. BLAvATsKY, who are just
as fond OF making noise in public rs he is,
and who are glad to avail themselves Of any
opportunity to advertise their cranky notions.
For instance, Mr.. Cook having delivered at
Poonn n lecture on the future religion OF In
dia, which the PoOna MtttrGhd says was
mot at all liked by the natives" the indie
fatigablc pair at once took the afternoon
train thther, and on their arrival n lecture
| by the Hicrophant was announced. Do thor
best, however, they cannot induce Mr.. Cook
to meet them in public debate. He says that
they" kept such public companyat Bombay"
| that he will have no association with them
By that he means that they consorted with
BENNETT, tho infidcl free lover, who has
| turned up in India.
| All this is more amusing than important.
|
to the merits OF the squabblcs and the re-
examinations Of the scii-apIointcd delegates
from the United States to India, whether
they assume to represent Chrietiin scnti-
ment, or have gone t6rth to proclaim what
they call thco5ophy. On neither side are the
discussions OF grave religious questions dig
nillcd enough or profound enough to COM
mand respect. Mr.. Cook, however, who IS
not uniity described by an Indian journal as
n noisy lecturer from the United States, has
really been playing into the hands Of his
American opponents by rcviling them and
treating their disQuisitOns as serious arGu-
mcntS. He has helped to stir up n hornets
nest very annoying 10 himself, has appar-
cntlydlsturbcd tho peace and made more
difficult the work Of the Christian mission
aries, and has given occasion for rejoicing
among the native and othercncmics OF Chris
tianity in India. As the Bombay Gusette re-
marks, his line OF argument based on m
| entire ignorance OF the condition OF things
in INDIA, aud pursued in his pondcrous aud
yet hcltcr-skcltcr way, is sure to defeat any
purpose TO make the natives more favoTably
disposed to the Christian religion. II says
that more effective means than his for get
ting tho missionaries boycottcd to man,
and the schools cleared of every child, could
| not be conceived.
An equally unfavorablo view Of his lee
turing mission is taken by another paper,
which says with truth, that such man is
Gbsurdly ont Of place in India. lie is too
rash in his statements His learning Is too
shallow hlI logic too faulty, and he is too
ready to talk about what he docs not COM
prchenl. why misguided people in the
United States" it adds, "should havo paid
money that Mr. COOK might he sent round
the world on his present clrnl one cannot
easily understand, except, indeed, by reflect
Ing that If he worc to stay long hero we
would willingly subscribe II fnw rupees u
pay his way To Australia or Japan"
We are therefore unfortunate in uur repro
srniation to India, If II can be called n rep
r"ScntatIon. On the one side Is lecturer
held in littlo esteem at homo by those most
capable Of weighing his logical essays, and
on tho other arc two eccentric individuals
who have almost lost their heads In hunting