The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-22
WILL FIGHT BUDDHA.
Americans Will Carry the Gospel
Into India.
Professor White and His Mission to
the stropgholds Of Buddha.

The departure for India next month or
Professor w. w. White will mark the in
augnration Of movement under the aus
pices of the international committee of the
Young Mems Christian association design
ed to make the colleges of India distribut-
ing centers of Christianity.
Professor White has been commissioned
to organize the forces and conduct the
campaign, which, II is believed, will capture
the seats of learning and scatter broadcast
over India as exponents of Christianity
many of the natiye students who are grad
uated yearly by tho thousand from tho
universities Of Calcutta, Madras and Bonn
bay. Professor White believes that the
period of expensive and comparatively
meager pioneer missionary work In India
has passed, and that tho time has come
when a mighty popular movement may be
set In motion through the agency of tho
educated students Of tho country. He
quotes John w. Foster, Max Muller and
other authorities in support Of his state
ment that great crisis has been reached
in the social and religious development Of
India.
"Iindooism,' - says Mr. Foster, "is being
broken down by the impartial rule of Eng
ernment schools, and more than 1000, 900
natives now speak the language No dis
tinctions Of caste are recognized in tho
government civil service. Tho high caste
Brahman Is compelled TO ride In the same
railroad coach with his inferior In caste.
The educated low caste natives threaten
the supremacy In influence of the high
caste devotees of Brahmanism. Modern
ectanoa nd lrarpfnr pnaLino mi
headway. The educated natives have no
faith In the old religions, and the masses
of tho people are being gradually permcat-
ed with the same distrust Of their ancient
institutions"
The present emergency In India" says
Bishop j. M. Thoburn, sis above and be-
yond any have before known. All In
dia is rapidly changing. Tho fctters of
caste are weakening Missionaries are no
longer regarded with suspicion, but are
looked upon as the friends of the people,"
From what 1 know of NE Hindoos, 4"
says Max Muller, "they seem to me ripcr
for Christianity than any nation that ever
accepted Christianity"
"Acting on the principle" says Profess
or White, "that Christianity Is n COM
modify the moro OF which Is exported the
iloiO Itliluins ub IOilt, i UtlltNt Il hntll
perform q duty for the United States in
going to India. have made arrange
monts to maintain regular correspondence
regarding the progress OF my work with
300 of my friends In this country and be-
lieve that In this way the reflex influence
of the work In India will accomplish moro
at homo than L could do IL / were here.
The first point OF attack Is the University
..fT T.l.. f.l A .-s..
dents, all OF whom speak English, are
graduated every year. These students,
representing 10 less than ID different ma
tive languages, come from every section OF
India; hence 1 go To community which
represents an empire. For this reason 1
believe my plan is the most economical
which could bc devised for accomplishing
the regeneration of India.
81 shall make no comparison OF religious
systems. shall expound the Scriptures
and rely upon prayer to invoke the divine
power, which alone, believe, can produce
the revolution desired
1.-THE Hindoos are an intensely religious
race and were tho authors of the mighty
missionary movement which mado one
third Of the population of the world the
disciples of Buddha II the colleges of In
ula hrc CupIureu IoT turlstiauity, nfnltless
possibilities will be opened up for the
eyangelization of Asia"
Professor White has been granted leave
OF absence for about two years from his po-
sition in tho Biblo institute of the Chicago
Evangelization society and goes TO his new
field of labor with tho hearty approval of
Dwight l.. Moody and Superintendent II.
A. Torroy. Professor White possesses sim
gular ability as an instructor and In re-
cent years has been recognized as ono of
the ablest of the Christian leaders of tho
day.
Samuel Satthianadhan, son Of tho first
Hindoo convert TO Christianity In southern
India and graduate of Cambridge uni
versity, England, is spending a few days in
this country with Professor White and has
already briefly addressed several Chicago
audiences. Mr.. Satthianadhan has good
command Of the English language. He
expresses great interest In Professor
Whites mission 10 India and emphasizes
the importance OF the proposed war among
the students. Chicago Record.