The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04

country is not a missionary movement"
said Swami A bhedananda, when seen with
the class Of young children which he has
recently begun TO instruct in the elements
Of the Hindu religion. Nor have we any
desire to proselyte nor to found a sect.
Our fundamental idea is to find unity in
t1t variety Of creeds and sects.
"I do not attempt to teach these chill
dren anything except the great moral law
of cause and effect. And that by means
or fables. use the same text book that
is used in India. except, of course, this
4, an English translation. 1t is called
.Tbe Book of Good Counsels' and is
translation of 'Hitopadesa,' by Sir Edwin
Arnold.
I'VE begin the class, which meets once
week for one hour, with some simple
song 5v an American kindergartener. Then
fell them the stories, and they draw the
mor1-z It is not hard, and they readily
see the application. The Hindus believe
in absolute freedom of religious thought,
50 we teach the children why evil pro-
duces III effects and good produces happi-
ness. Then we let them decide for them
Ceyes,
"But the great mistake made by Amer
leans is concerning the condition of the
Hindu women. l never heard until came
10 this country that Hindu mothers throw
their babies into the Ganges to be eaten
bv the crOcodiles. l have Travelled in In
d!l from the mouth to the source of that
mighty river, and never heard of one sin
Gle incident of that nature. Besides,
crocodiles DO not live in rivers with strong
currents like the Gauges, but in SLOW,
Sluggish streams The only origin that
can discover for this story is that poor
Hindus sometimes, not often, place the
dead babies on the river side to be carried
away by the current, because they cannot
afford to cremate them.
other Myths.
every one in this country appears to
BE- familiar with the horrible story of the
JugeernaUt. l myself never heard until
came here of the supposed custom the
Hindus have of throwing themselves under
It's wheels to obtain salvation. l was
once az a festival where it was used, and
saw hundreds of men and women, many
Of them excited by religious enthusiasm,
drawing this huge car. There may be ac-
dlents, and it is easily seen how a person
may lose their life when such does occur.
"Suttee, the burning of widows, was new
er sanctioned by the Hindu religion. When
the Mohammedans conquered India they
treated the widows of the soldiers 50
butay that the women preferred death.
lou know we always cremate and when
the funeral pyre was lighted the unpro-
tected widow often threw herself into 1t,
preferiug death to the fate she knew
awaited her Some ignorant priests for
tine supported this practice by perverting
Tie meaning Of some spiritual passages,
out The educated classes always objected.
In'y finally appealed TO the Niceroy, Lord
Bent'ncE, TO pass a law against suttee,
which we did
Liberty of Hindu Women.
The exclusion of women from the So
oleiy Of mon, which is found in some parts
only of india is not due to their religion,
blt came into practice for self-defense
against NIohammedan brutality. There
are many parts of India where women mix
Freely with men. They travel with them,
appear in public with them and without
Wells
THE Hindu law allows legal powers to
women If you read 'Sakuntala,' one of
we best Indian dramas, you will find
1na' Jae heroine was allowed to plead her
own oe-e 90 the court of the King, who
sue 0oI} rebuked after pointing out his
'-IS Manu- saws a wife must take part
By eu social civil and religious duties of
husband She does not adopt her nus
.''1 name as in this country and Eu
rope he husband adopts the wife
.lNT Do family affairs. In business
9a'Sd IONS, and in trade the husband can
l9'-ns without the consent of his wife.
u'l'i j daughters inherit equally with
their mothers estate The wo-
KUN Wfy cannot be used by the hus-
a"N wife is not responsible for her
ond nor for her sons debts, and
h. husband must support her so long as
. a4' even if he goes abroad.
p, "A,n the country was governed by
Sings the free choice by the maid
g yer husband was the custom, but
m fell under the rule of Moham
TO prevent the intermixing OF
IN zoe betrothal system was adopted
~ ma parts.
Child Marriage.
oil. Inc itindu religion never sanctioned the
a. m'ng the responsibilities of mar
v one attaining womanhood. The
W.T.. l'ed in Sanskrit Sahadharmini,
u. ans a partner in spiritual life.
co+ mat marriage is a holy bond.
M, be worshiped and prayers will
h ira If a wife does not join her
M For this reason there can be
4 h in India. The first duty of a
hi. 9ccording to Manu-, is to adore
rs.4 to give her everything she
W.T.. desires and to make her happy.
/ Ne H''l are happy the deNdS are
d. Nc all virtue and goodness leave
81. 81, ~ where women are dishonored.
| er, Williams says: wives are
| br,, loved, and cruel treatment by
| b.h bands are unknown. A womans
evan Sdcred and must not be struck.
| Can Hover For this reason there
' capital punishment for women.
rS. stceIe's Testimony.
Of Steele, the author of ON the Face
ya., @ators,' who lived twenty-five
pe ' India and mixed freely with the
ua r.. iuspectress Of girls schools in
d l''' VIII testify in behalf of Hin
sgs, o. / am sure" continued the
Hs 01e says "Our standard OF civ
H. ls personal comfort, luxury-a
da -'ntely unknown in native In
IN NJ Is scarcely any difference there
a51 mode OF living between the rich
Jewel a man may spend wealth or
Or uar-o, MS wife, but not on pleasure
o ,. condition Of women i1 India ne think
pelter than our oWn-certainly