Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-16

priests They self-respecting and indie
pendent, and while the believers in no other
creed are more scrupulous in the perform
ance of their religious duties, they are not
in any measure under the control or the
dictation of their mullahs. They have their
own schools, called kuttebs they take care
of their own poor very largely; drunken
ness and gambling are very rare among
them They hoSpitable, kind to ami
mails and generous
The difference between the Mohamme-
dams and the Hindus may be seen in the
most forcible manner in their temples. 1t
is an old saying that while one god created
all men, each man creates his own god, and
that is strikingly true among the ignorant,
superstitious people of the east. The Hindu
croucheS in shadow to escape the atten-
ton of his god, while the Mohammedan
prays to his five times day in the nearest
mosque, and has a religion of hope instead
of fear.
From the political standpoint the Moham-
medans are a very important factor in the
situation in India. They are more indie
pendent than the Hindus; they occupy a
more influential position than their num-
bers entitle them to; they have most pro-
found pride in their religion and race, and
in their social and Intellectual superiority,
and the more highly they are educated the
more manly, self-reli2nt and independent
they become
Power of the Brahmins.
The power of the priests Brahmins
over the Hndus is one of the phenomena
of India. do not know where you can get
q better idea of their influence and of the
! reverence that is paid 10 them than in
Kim" Rudyard Kiplng's story of an Irish
boy who was a disciple of an old Thi-
betan. lama. That story is appreciated
much more keenly by people who have
lived or travelled in India. because 1t APP
peals to them. There is familiar picture
on every page, and it is particularly valua-
BILE illustrating the relations between the
Brahmins and the people.
"These priests are invested said one of
the ablest writers on Indian affairs, with a
reverence which no extreme of abject pow
erty, no infamy of private conduct can i'm
pair, and which is beyond anything that a
mind not Immediately conversant with the
fact can conceive. They are invariably
addressed with titles of divinity, and are
paid the highest earthly honors. The old
| est and highest members of other castles
| implore the blessing of the youngest and
| poorest of theirs; they the chosen re-
| cipients of all charities. and are allowed
| a license in their private relations which
would be resented as a deadly injury in any
but themselves"
| This reverence is largely due to supersti-
| tions which the Brahmns do their best to
cultivate and encourage. AS have already
| told you, there are more than 5000, 900 gods
| in the Hindu pantheon, and every one of
| them attends to the affairs of his own par
ticular jurisdiction. Most of them are
wicked cruel and unkind. and delight in
| bringing misfortunes upon their devotees,
which can be averted only by the interces-
| sion of a priest. Gods and demons haunt
every hill and grove and gorge and dark
| corner Their names are usually unknown,
but they go multiplying as events or in
| cdents to which the priests give a su-
perna tural Interpretation occur. These gods
are extremely sensitive to disrespect or ne
glect. and unless they are constantly con-
| ciliated they will bring all sorts of dis
| asters. The Brahmin is the only man who
| knows how to make them good-natured.
He can handle them exactly as he likes,
| and they will obey his will. Hence the su-
| perstitious peasants yield everything, their
| money. their virtue. their lives as COM
pensation for the intercession of the priests
in their behalf.