DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0515
Modern Theism. Rdmmohun Roy's successors. 505
(Bhadrotsava), is held by the Brahma-Samaj of India in
celebration of the opening of the Mandir in August, 1869.
Solemn initiation services for the admission of new members
are also performed. They correspond in an interesting
manner to our Confirmation services.
Clearly it would be easy to prove that the advanced
Indian Reformers, trained and educated by us, and imbued
unconsciously with Western theological ideas, have borrowed
largely from our Christian system in formulating their own
creed. The points of agreement are too obvious to need
indicating. One noteworthy point of contact with Chris-
tianity is the active missionary spirit displayed by progres-
sive Brahmas, which indeed was originated by the members
of the Adi-Samaj. Such a spirit is, of course, essential to
the growth and vitality of all new systems. Keshab Chandar
Sen has made several Missionary tours in India, and in 1870
he came to England, giving out that his mission was to
excite the interest of Englishmen in the religious, social,
and political progress of his fellow-countrymen. Here he
visited fourteen of the chief towns of England and Scotland,
and conducted religious services in the pulpits of Baptist,
Congregational, and Unitarian chapels. He preached to
large congregations in East London, and addressed seventy
meetings in different places in behalf of such objects as
Temperance, Peace, Reformatories, Ragged Schools, and
general education. He had interviews with Her Majesty
and several eminent Statesmen.
And what were the impressions he formed of Christian
religious life and doctrine in England? It may do us no
harm to listen once more to the Hindu Theist's utterances
before he left our shores:—
'One institution,' he said, 'in England I have looked upon with pecu-
liar feelings of delight—the happy English home, in which the utmost
warmth and cordiality of affection, and sympathy, are mingled with the
highest moral and religious restraint and discipline. The spirit of prayer
and worship seems mixed up with daily household duties, and the
(Bhadrotsava), is held by the Brahma-Samaj of India in
celebration of the opening of the Mandir in August, 1869.
Solemn initiation services for the admission of new members
are also performed. They correspond in an interesting
manner to our Confirmation services.
Clearly it would be easy to prove that the advanced
Indian Reformers, trained and educated by us, and imbued
unconsciously with Western theological ideas, have borrowed
largely from our Christian system in formulating their own
creed. The points of agreement are too obvious to need
indicating. One noteworthy point of contact with Chris-
tianity is the active missionary spirit displayed by progres-
sive Brahmas, which indeed was originated by the members
of the Adi-Samaj. Such a spirit is, of course, essential to
the growth and vitality of all new systems. Keshab Chandar
Sen has made several Missionary tours in India, and in 1870
he came to England, giving out that his mission was to
excite the interest of Englishmen in the religious, social,
and political progress of his fellow-countrymen. Here he
visited fourteen of the chief towns of England and Scotland,
and conducted religious services in the pulpits of Baptist,
Congregational, and Unitarian chapels. He preached to
large congregations in East London, and addressed seventy
meetings in different places in behalf of such objects as
Temperance, Peace, Reformatories, Ragged Schools, and
general education. He had interviews with Her Majesty
and several eminent Statesmen.
And what were the impressions he formed of Christian
religious life and doctrine in England? It may do us no
harm to listen once more to the Hindu Theist's utterances
before he left our shores:—
'One institution,' he said, 'in England I have looked upon with pecu-
liar feelings of delight—the happy English home, in which the utmost
warmth and cordiality of affection, and sympathy, are mingled with the
highest moral and religious restraint and discipline. The spirit of prayer
and worship seems mixed up with daily household duties, and the