, 1885-09-04
4 BRAHMS s4ys.


Chicago is visited at present by a very
important parsonage, who, though not
OF exalted rank, is q man who com
mands respect in his own country, and
is of n class rarely 10 be met with out
Of It. His name is Gopal Nanayka
Joshee, q native of Bombay, East India,
and he is about 10 or Ij years of age,
an ardent Brahnin. and a learned and
keen witted scholar. He was possessed
OF great wealth, but In compliance with
the re uirements Of his religion he gave
away his fortune aud set out on u trip
around the world. without means,
preaching and teaching his religion and
lecturing against English rule in his
native land.
In an interview he said that tho
population of India is about 250, 900,
900, Of whom les, 900, 900 are Moham-
mcdans, 10. O00, 900 Hrahmins, 800, 900
Christians, %, 1000 Buddhists, and the
resi- followers Of the Nedic religion.
Brahminism. he says, was founded BY
God himself, who revealed himself to
men, and, as Moses and Christ, the
founders OF Judaism and Christianity,
heard voices from heaven. This 10.
ligion was revealed only TO Brahmins,
who are people OF superior knowledge,
~Brahma' signifying knowledge
Previous to these 70 Citations they had
no religion. and the revelations were
not all made at once, hut from time
TO time. Brahminism is thousands
of years old, and was preserved
from generation TO generation,
from The tip of the tongue. -
II has only recently been committed to
paper. tho books containing it being
four in number - Rig Neda, Yajur-
Veda, Sauna eda; aud Atharwana-
Neda. These books treat respectively
on philosophy, science, socialism, and ag-
ricultnrc. They are supposed to consum-
mate these subjects and no modern civ
ilization has surpassed them.
The Brahmin idea Of God is that He
is force without form, peryading the
universe, but doing nothing aud undo
ing nothing Everything comes into
and goes ont of existence as cause and
enect. God is not intelligence nor wis
dom nor kindness nor hatred, neither
creator. preserver, nor destroyer.
The uni.erse, the Brahmins contend,
was not created, but comes of itself aud
is governed by itself. 'As TO q future.
state of existence" said Mr.. loshee,
''as we are here so we will DO here
after, in a diA erenl form of existence.
rs water is changed into vapor, vapor
into clouds, and clouds into water, SO
we are changed. AS the friction OF the
clouds produces electricity, 30 friction
OF souls produces brightness, which we
call the brightest perfection of the all
prevailing force. Death Is L struggle
which separates spirit from matter and
transforms It into higher existence,
called purified souls, whose destiny Is
TO return to the ocean OF force from
which il originally emanated.
rahmins believe In TRANSPORTATION
OF souls, but do not telieve in taking
birth in any lower form OF the animal
kingdom, but simply in being born
Rgain. As far as crime is concerned,
the Hindoos are not criminal to the
same extent rs other ~religionists, iudg-
ing OF nations by percentage. The social
life OF the Brahmins docs not differ
greatly from other inhabitants Of India,
save that they are more clearly in their
habits and practice self-denial.
The effect of English rule and tho
~sublugation of India Is very baneful in
all its bearings TO the native population.
1t Is alleged that the native s are COM
IcAlth " HIoaAIdAt Nuclu1clNca OtiOfb
every white face, and take oil their shoes
when they attend public officers of courts.
II Russia should ever defeat the English
on the borders of India, Mr..
Joshee thinks, il would DO the means of
making India an independent nation.
RUSSIA would not be friendly to the
Hindoos, but if the English power were
overthrow by Russia, the power and
aid of ngland could be depended on,
in case Russia became tyrannical. India
looks forward to the day when England
will be whipped by Russia, and in case OF
a war with Russia, England could not
rely on her native Indian troops. Should
tho Russians take India they would ap-
point native officers in the army, and in
the civil service and they will be eligi-
bic to all high posts under the govern
ment. { ne half the English army in
India, which numbers so, 900 men, are
natives.
lntemperance is a modern vice, but
its yotaries can DO counted by thou
sands, Formerly drunkenness was
punished with death, but now a drunk.
ard is an honorable man. II a man
doesn't drink he is considered ignorant
and not n man of letters. The English
make the laws and levy the Ia es,
which are very heavy. C~ultivators
hardly raise enough TO support their
families, for as soon as crops are reaped
they are sold at any price to pay the
revenue into the government treasury.
Lands are taxed irrespective OF crops