New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-23
had begun by denying to the sacred books. lie

had begun by denying to the sacred pook'' h0
spoke OF himself person sent by heaven 10 raise
men from misery and sin. He appealed LOT sahc'ion
TO what he called Adesa, or the Divine Command,
which spoke to him by an inward voice. ana VI
which consequently he alone could be the Interpreter
and witness, His friends went little further, and
claimed for him infallibity. Fortified by such pre-
tensions, his government, as Professor Muller says
became too despotic even for Oriental minds re-
volt of his followers was already imminent when ne
precpitatcd the outbreak by tremendous scandal.
He had been the chief instrument III carry
ing the law against the immoral custom
of child-marrage In violation of the princi-
plc of this reform lie gave his chid-
daughter in marriage to the child-ra)ah OF Cutch
| Behar The law did not extend to that state, but
the principlo of course was Independent of state
boundaries and it was charged that the ceremony
| moreover was performed with idOlatrous Hindu
rites The only defence of Keshub was tie plea
that Adesa " had whispered to him, and that the
match was advantageous Disordcry scenes
followed in his congregation The police were called
in. Some of the warmest of Kcshub's friends be-
came the most eXasperated OF his censors; ana the
result was new secession (lS7S) ald the formation
of third variety of Reformed Brahnanisin, called
the Sadharan Brahma-Samaj, or Catholic SamaJ.
Keshub never recovered his prestige. lie died IN
January, 1884. having been i'll his last years
soured, irritable, and, his bographer thinks on
the verge Of madness-an end singuarly like
that related of Rammohun Roy. Professor
Muller, who has a bcundless admiration for his
work and was his personal friend, is
ut great pains to palats his errors but 1t Is very
hard to find in Keslub Chunder Sen the piety, self
abnegation, and spirituality of the man who walks
with God He is one Of the many proofs that bold
ness in speculation and zeal in social and theo-
logical reform may exist without most of the marks
of exalted personal sanctity.
The principal successor of Kcshub Chunder Sen is
Protap Climber Mozundar. Vita this gentleman,
as we'll as with Keshub, Professor Muller has carried
on an interesting correspondence and letters which
passed between the three among the contents
of the present volume. In one of tho letters the
Oxford professor gives highly curious account of
the sentiments of Dean Stanley toward the
rahma-Samaj and the parallel thestic tendency
in European theology--an account which may
possibly he colored little by the writer's own
opinions. There is still fourth school of Reformed
Bralmansm, known as the Arya-SamaJ, the
founder of which. Dayananda Sarasvati, died in
October 1888 it advocates most Of the social re-
forms insisted upon by the other Samajs, but it
differs from them in maintaining, more fer
vently than Rammohun Roy, the inspiration and
absolute authority of the Vedas. Dayaranda, who
was distinguished Sanscrt scholar. made pro-
found study of the sacred books and got out of
them many extraordinary interpretations. Later
he held that all the Yedc hymns were not in
spircd, but only certain portions of them, which
he disseminated for himself by some rule not cx-
planned. His followers are said to be numerous
and influential; but Professor Muller gives US no
means of estimating the actual condition OF any
of the branches of the movement.
1t will not have escaped the notice of the reader
that the Brahma- Samaj is phenomenon in Hindu
ism analogous to the tendency in Christianity
toward the denudaton of faith and Professor Muller
himself is an illustration how close the free specu
lation of the East and the rationastic liberalism
of the West approach each other. The process by
which they are trying TO reach a common faith for
the world is that Of elimination. Both propose to
strike out of their creed every point upon which
they di0er When they have got down TO the
bare belief in God they can look hopefully for the
recognition of the universal religion which is
the goal of their desire This is the dream of Pro
fessor Mnllers future-not triumphant Christian
ity, not Brahmansm, not Buddhism, not Mahom-
etanism. not eclectic combination OF all
four, but the mOdcum of truth. however small 1t
may be, from which all creeds have been gradually
evoived-the greatest common measure which goes
nto them all without remainder So in his hopes
for a new faith. "purer and simpler than any of the
ecclesiastical religions of the world" Professor
Muller looks with longing and affection toward the |
Indian thelstS WIN arc hdhiiiS AZ no 'i"o'''
not only for regenerated India but for ali mankind.
religion free from many corruptions of the past,
call them idolatry, caste, or verbal inspiration,
or priestcrait, and firmly founded boliet in tho
One God the same in the Vedas the same IN the Old,
the same in the New Testament. tho same in tie
Koran; the same also in the hearts of those who !
have longer any Vedas or Upanishads. or any
Sacred Books whatever between themselves and |
their Cod" And SO Keshub Chunder Sen, declaring |
that he has always disclsimed the Christian name
and will not identify himself with tho Christian
church, because he sets his face completely against
the Christian idea of Christs divinity. writes TO
Professor Muller, al am glad and thankful that |
the spirit of God has helped me to work my way !
through Hinduism to the point where an enlght- |
ened Christianity has brought YOU"