The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-31
SPEAKING ON INDIA.
Rev. Hira Singh Delivers an Interest
ing Address.

highly interesting address was de-
! livered last evening in the lecture room
OF the Second Presbyterian church by
| Rev. IIirz Singh puri a native sikh,
from the Puujab. India, who Is visiting
tie city. In the absence Of Rev. DR..
Hoge, the Hindoo minister was introduced
10 the audience by Rev. Donald Guthrie,
Dr. Hoge's assistant.
His address furnished some valuable
Information about India, the land OF Won
/ derful surprises the land OF surprising
grandeur and beauty, the land OF ele-
plants. tigers and cObras. the land OF pro-
verbal hospitality and the birthplace OF
human speech After brief description
Of the country, which he called con-
glomeration of nations he stated that the
sanskrit. the language of the country
belonged 10 the same great group OF
language the Indo-European language,
as the English. As an illustration OF
tho close relation between the two Ian
Cuages the speaker said the English
word daughter" came from the SAN
skirt root "dux" which meant tine
one who milks the cow
He then dwelt for some little time on
the description of the city Of Benares.
the famous sacred city on the sacred
river ganges. which was for many
miles surrounded by fields OF the most
beautiful roses one Of its famous en-
terprises was the big opium factory or
thu government which supplied emma as
well As other countries. The river Can
cos was considered sacred from the very
fountain head in the Himalaya noun
tains down 10 the Bay of Bengal Tor u
washed off the sins Of the people (al-
though il was the hlthiest river which
he had ever seen.
Benares IS the oxford and Cambridge
OF India. said the speaker, 10 Is dedicdted
10 "A God silva. ono of the UNITY
Brahma creator. Nishnu 'PreserVer)
and silva Destroyer. IL Is fagmous
for it's temples. shrines' It's biasSWork
and It's hlthness. The people come
there from an sections OF the globe 20
wash their sins I'm the Ganges and are
willing 20 die I'm Benares 10 go s'rdlshl
20 Heaven.
Benares is famous for rs sights there
IS the well Of salvation. wherein the poo
plc wash away their sins. II Is nlled
with filthy water which IS said 10 be the
sweat of the Cod Nishnu. Then there Is
the golden temple. dedicated 10 silva. ana
next 10 IL is the great well or knowledge
The city was built. il IS said. by God
silva Of precious stones and gold. hut All
was afterwards turned into ordinary stone
on account of the badness OF mankind.
India is difficult for missionary work
and Benares is still more so on account
Of the superstition Of the people. Their
zeal and earnestness Is very religious
but misguided and some one has said Of
them that even when they sin they sin
reigiOusly There are two potent fac
tors in the missionary work I'm India
the western education and civilization.
The country has numerous colleges and
high schools and Of the sixty 20 seventy
millions Of young men fully five mill
lions are NJ As Education has done
much thereto abolish the difference be-
tween high and low castles. Another po-
tent factor is Christianity. which has had
a marvellous innuene.
Mr.. Puri will speak on Sunday morn
ing at the Second Presbyterian church
and I'm the evening AT the Church Of the
Covenant TO these meetings the public
Is cordially invited.