DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0514
504 Modern Theism. Rammokun Roys successors.
Every sinner must suffer the consequences of his own sins sooner
or later, in this world or the next. Man must labour after holiness
by the worship of God, by subjugation of the passions, by repentance,
by the study of nature and of good books, by good company and by
solitary contemplation. These will lead through the action of God's
grace to salvation.
Salvation is deliverance of the soul from the root of corruption, and its
perpetual growth in purity. Such growth continues through all eternity,
and the soul becomes more and more godly and happy in Him who is the
fountain of infinite holiness and joy. The companionship of God is the
Indian Theists' heaven.
With regard to the worship of God, it was declared to be
' a wholly spiritual act.'
The form of divine service was as follows:—First a hymn ;
then an invocation of God by the minister, followed by
another hymn; then adoration of God, chanted by the
whole congregation together, and continued by the minister
alone; then silent communion for some minutes. Then the
following united prayer \ chanted by the whole congregation
standing:—
' Lead us, O God! from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from
death to immortality. O! thou Father of truth, reveal thyself before us.
Thou art merciful, do thou protect us always in thy unbounded goodness.
Peace! Peace! Peace!'
Then a prayer for the well-being of the whole world by the
minister alone standing, succeeded by another hymn, and
by a recitation of texts from Hindu and other scriptures.
Finally, a sermon, followed by a prayer, a benediction, and
a hymn.
Services of this kind still take place—generally on Sundays,
and often on a week-day in addition. There are also grand
anniversary festivals to celebrate the foundation of the Brahma
Church. The chief festival, called Maghotsab (Maghotsava),
on the 23rd of January (nth of Magha), is kept by all the
Samajes in commemoration of the founding of monotheistic
worship by Rammohun Roy. Another, called Bhadrotsab
1 This was taken from the form used by the Adi Brahma-Samaj.
Every sinner must suffer the consequences of his own sins sooner
or later, in this world or the next. Man must labour after holiness
by the worship of God, by subjugation of the passions, by repentance,
by the study of nature and of good books, by good company and by
solitary contemplation. These will lead through the action of God's
grace to salvation.
Salvation is deliverance of the soul from the root of corruption, and its
perpetual growth in purity. Such growth continues through all eternity,
and the soul becomes more and more godly and happy in Him who is the
fountain of infinite holiness and joy. The companionship of God is the
Indian Theists' heaven.
With regard to the worship of God, it was declared to be
' a wholly spiritual act.'
The form of divine service was as follows:—First a hymn ;
then an invocation of God by the minister, followed by
another hymn; then adoration of God, chanted by the
whole congregation together, and continued by the minister
alone; then silent communion for some minutes. Then the
following united prayer \ chanted by the whole congregation
standing:—
' Lead us, O God! from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from
death to immortality. O! thou Father of truth, reveal thyself before us.
Thou art merciful, do thou protect us always in thy unbounded goodness.
Peace! Peace! Peace!'
Then a prayer for the well-being of the whole world by the
minister alone standing, succeeded by another hymn, and
by a recitation of texts from Hindu and other scriptures.
Finally, a sermon, followed by a prayer, a benediction, and
a hymn.
Services of this kind still take place—generally on Sundays,
and often on a week-day in addition. There are also grand
anniversary festivals to celebrate the foundation of the Brahma
Church. The chief festival, called Maghotsab (Maghotsava),
on the 23rd of January (nth of Magha), is kept by all the
Samajes in commemoration of the founding of monotheistic
worship by Rammohun Roy. Another, called Bhadrotsab
1 This was taken from the form used by the Adi Brahma-Samaj.