The herald., 1896-03-03
bRAHM0 SONAJ DOCTRINE
1t Is EntertainingIy Expounded
by a Disciple Of Ctlunder Sen
MYSTIC MIDNIGHT MEETING
Remarkable Exhibition of Mesmeric and
Hypnotic Powers Described
This Theistic Movement Is Rapidly Spreading
MYSTIC MIDNIGHT MEETING
This Theistic Movement Is Rapidly Spreading
and nay Result in Founding a Col,egc
Here-A Strange Experience

The Bahadoor Yung Jamsetgee, disciple
of Chunder Sen, the founder of the Brah-
mc-Samaj, is in Los Los Angeles, and like
his master, is n most remarkable man.
Though merchant, with large financial
interests always at stake. much OF his time
is occupied with metaphysical studies and
those which are commonly called occult.
He is a marvel of erudition. being perfectly
familiar with almost every civilized speech,
and thus able 10 converse in modern
Arabic, nineteenth century English, French
or German with perfect ease. A repre-
sentative of THE HERALD who made his
acquaintance during the troublous times
succeeding the Sepoy rebsllion, al Agra.
thirty-five years ago. sees no change in his
physical appearance. His well-rounded
cheeks are devoid of wrinkle, the brilliant
dark eyes have lost none of their almost
uncanny luster, while the step is as elastic
and springy as that of panther. His son
and only child, though close upon 80 years
of age, looks like a boy of 10, and is rs ac-
complished scholar as his father. With
their kitmuggars they are living an OPEN
air life in Southern California, quietly look
ing out for some retired and yet accessible
point where a sort of college and place
of retreat will be established for an
American branch of the Brahmo-Somaj
and where those who are interested in IL
may receive instruction. Apart from his
splendid linguistic and literary attain
ments, the Bahadoor is a most remarkable
mesmerist and hypiotst. Coming in from
Pasadena yesterday he suddenly looked
the writer intentiy in the face and said.
with smile, 'good-bye.'' In an instant
uyaS yx.bi1 oh ipn
voice quered: "Where am / can't you see
me?" Then, as the reporter turned TO
look out at the door, he felt hand on his
knee. and the Bahadoor, with q plea SAINT
smile on his face, was again sitting ct his
side. Driving out to his camp in the moon
light he afforded much establishment and
amusement by suddenly evanescing till
the form holding the lines became only a
shimmerng, shadowy outline, the face
illuminated by the large, shining, inscrut-
able black orbs.
The name of the Brahno-Somai, or
Church of the One God. is not unknown in
this country. Miss Carpenter and Miss
Frances Power Cobbe have sketched the
history and principles of this remarkable
community. The history of this very re-
markable Theistic movement naturally
falls into three periods, the first of these
mainly consisting OF the personal labors of
it's originator, Rajah Rammohun Roy, for
eliminating in his establishment of the
Brahmo-Somaj iii 1880, shortly before he
| left India for England where he died in
1858, his body being buried at Amos
Vale cemetery near Bristol, the celebrated
Sir John Bowring. sarawak or Borneo, be-
ing present at his oloseques. A stately
rnausoleum marks his resting place. After
Rajah Roy's death the Somaj langulshed
till in 1912 it entered into a second period
of life under Deoendro Nath Tajore, who
converted this body of worshIpers into an
association of believers, by binding them
to few articles of creed and to strict
covenant enjoining absolute purity of
moral life. He also started journal, ap-
pointed teachers, and published several
doctrinal and devotional treaties. Four
! Sanscrit scholars were sent to Benares to
/ acquire thorough knowledge of the Ye-
das, which had hitherto been regarded by
the followers of Rammohun Roy (though
not by the rajah himself), as the sole
| foundation for their belief. But on the re-
/ turn of these scholars from their studies,
| it became evident that the Vedas incu,-
Gated Pantheism, transmigration, and an
Inhalation of the soul. so Debendro Nath
| Tagore to his eternal honor, threw aside
the vedas as standard of faith, and the
Brahmo-Somaj bade farewell to Ve-
| dantism.
| Falling back on the book of nature and
| intuition as the basis of their faith, book
was issued in 1850, called the Brahma
/ Dharma. which is still regarded as the
authoritative exposition of Brahmosm.
! Its main points are: the existence of one
supreme and perfect God; ''the ONE with
out a second," "a distinct personality
but never incarnated; the conscious i'm.
mortality OF the human soul; the efficacy
of prayer for spiritual blessings, and of re-
pentence as "the only way to atonement
and salvation.'' No scriptures are held to
be infallible, but the religious truths
taught in ell are equally accepted. From
1857 to 1858 the Brahmo Somaj made
much progress, hundreds of followers were
enrolled and branch Somajes were estab'
lished all over Bengal. But sad to say the
external life of its members varied but
slightly from that of their polytheistic
countrymen. many Brahmos conforming
to many of the most degrading sacraments
of idolatry.
| At last this state of things was broken
up by a new influence. In 1859 an enthus.
iastic and energetic man OF rare intellectual
requirements joined the Brahmo-Somaj
He had previously established society for
|