Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-22

never uttered one word which would indi-
cate that she had the slightest respect for
the Christian religion, or that she deemed
it other than false religion.
These disclosures present the school in
its true character 1t is simply school
in which Hindu girls are to be educated.
1t is permitted to exist on condition that
it will not teach any Christian doctrine.
1t encountered the opposition of the
Brahmins through fear that it was Chris
tian school in disguise. 1t was welcomed
by the missionaries, because they believed
that it would have the courage of its convic-
tions and declare that child widowhood, with
all the misery it entails, is due to false
religious system, which must be modified, if
not wholly eradicated before the evil can
be cured. But Ramabai very soon con-
WINGED the Brahmins that she was as much
opposed to Christianity as they. and the
school has been conducted on this basis.
Our authority for all this is Miss Sarah
D. Hamlin. In letter dated August II,
1890, appears the following: 'rLife just
now is very difficult Ramabai and are
beset with obstacles whichever way we
turn, and it is oftent;mes perplexing to
know what to do. 1t all hinges upon our
religious position. Awhile ago the Brah-
Minis were all down on Ramabai, and now
the missionary community in the city of
Bombay is unsparing in its denunciation
of us and our work. But Ramabai is
only carrying on her work as she always
said she would, without any attempt to
proselyte for Christianity. When l first
came to Bombay, | thought the religious
teachings in her own room were lovely,
and greatly delighted wrote to America
about them. But as soon as orthodox
Brahmins learned of this fact, such
storm arose as threatened destruction to
our establishment"
Thus the establishment of the RAM
abai's school at Bombay was triumph
for Brahminism and rebuke to Chris
tianity. At first the Brahmins were
afraid, but apparently without reason.
At first the missionary society was de-
lighted, and equally without reason. We
are assured, however, that Ramabai is
sim ly keeping her pledge that no religion
should be taught; and an evil, founded in
a false religious philosophy, and fortified
and supported by the religious tenets OF
great race, was to be eradicated without
the slightest change of the faith in which
it takes its root. The promise was that
no religion should be taught; that nothing
would be done to unsettle the faith of
anyone. How faithfully this promise was
kept may be inferred from a quotation
from Miss Hamlin's letter of August 11th:
"When l first came to Bombay, thought
the religious teachings in her own room
were lovely, and, greatly delighted, /
wrote to America about them" These
delightful teachings were not Christian
teachings, and, moreover, they were in
violation of a solemn compact between
Ramabai and the Brahminism of India
that she would establish a free school for
the education of East India girls, but that
she would not at any time permit religion
to be taught in that school. The Brah-
minis appear to be quite as hostile to the
Ramabai's Brahminism as they could be
to Miss Hamlin's Christianity. AS soon
as they learned that even Brahminism
was being taught in the school, "such
storm arose as to threaten the destruction
of our establishment" to quote the words
of Miss Hamlin.
And so the little crushed widow is to be
deprived of all religious training. The
Missionary Society Of Bombay, according
to the testimony of Miss Hamlin, is I'M
sparing in its denunciation of the school
and its work. We call the attention of
our recent correspondent, Mrs. Jelliby Of
Boston, to the temerity of the Missionary
Society of Bombay, and think that society
should be reported forthwith to the Ram
abai Association of Boston.
We began by regarding this movement
as a misguided sentimentalism. We re-
greet to find the evidence accommodating
that it is at best species of salary hunt
ing philanthropy.