The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-26
REMEMBRANCES OF A REBELLION.
Interesting Discourse on the SepOy
Mutiny by Rev. William Butler
Last Evening.

At the First M. E. church last evening,
Rev. William Butler, eminent missionary
worker, delivered the first of two inter
esting lectures. The subject last ev-
enines was personal "reminiscences of
the Sepoy Rebellion" and the resulting
discourse was one full OF interesting and
instructive information. 1t was DR.. But
ler's idea that had the rebellion described
been a success, the European people
would now be followers of Mohammed
instead of believing in the redemption of
the world drought the medium of
Savior. Napoleon, when prisoner at
St. Helena said God was on the side OF
the heaviest bsttalions. This, the speak
er said, was contradlcted by history. and
by events he was personally familiar
with For instance Havelock had en-
couutcred and came out victorious in en-,
gagements with forces vastly superior to
| his own. and had done for the east what
Martel had done for the west, and es,
tablshed the religion OF Jesus Christ
in Europe He was the only missionary
who had survived the terrible mutiny.
The others, with their wives and children.
had persisted. Here the speaker sketched
the condition of affairs in India prior to
the advent of English rule. showing the
number of rulers who had been subjects
of Mohammed, and how intolerable their
eXactiOns became. 1t was his opinion
| that the worst form of Christian govern
ment on earth was above the Mohamme.
dan belief
The English in India established q form
of government which led the way to civ,
ilization and christianity. At the COM
mencement the Mogul was given $3.50,
600 annually, and dignity and honor were
established in complete satisfaction for
the loss of power. Afterwards the annu-
itv was increased aud doubled because
the former increase was not sufficient to
meet the expenditures In reviewing the
customs in India, Dr. Butler said that
men marry very young and very often
there, and it was found that there We're in
the palace. dependent upon the Mogul,
no less than 1910 persons. When the
| demand came for million year the
English resident proposed to educate the
princes and their sons, so that they might
be able to earn their living. but the prop
osition was scornfully rejected. The
English having refused to increase the
allowance of the Mogul beyond 5000, 900,
he became one of the instigators in the
overthrow of English rule there.
| THIS conspiracy, however, was partici-
pated in by Mana Sahib, the followers of
whom were the native HindoOs and the
Sepoys, a cast of soldiers, and the
priests. The opportunity was Gun,
ningly made. The English had de
cided to arm the Sepoys with the Eu,
field rifle, weapon that uses cartridge
which requires greaslng The lubricat-
ing agent was not known and the plot
tiers gave out that it was a mixture of
| hogs lard and bullocks fat compound
well calculated to excite the ut most feei>
ing against the English The hog is re-
garded with adherence by all Mussel-
men, and the bullock is sacred animal
with the Hndoos The 3lst of May, 1857,
had been set for the uprising, but on the
10th of May, when regiment OF Sepoys
had been brought out with Euflelds every
man refused to touch the cartridges, and
on compulsion being attempted the first
man in the line fired at the commanding
off 3er but missed him. The regime mt
was dismissed from the service The
speaker proceeded to relate his personal
remcmbrances of the meeting. wildly
illustrating the horrors and atrocious
deeds enacted.
This evening, DR., Butler, lectures on
Modern India, giving an idea of the con
dition of affairs there under the influence
of Christlanity's rule and teachings