DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0379
336
idolatry; but, in the North-Western Provinces, they
are, usually, more cautious, and, although advocating
sentiments of a liberal and enlightened character, yet,
for the sake of peace, avoid religious matters. The in-
fluence of all, however, is, undoubtedly, more or less good,
tending to dissipate the mists of superstition from the
minds of their members. In Calcutta and some other
places, a schism has arisen between educated and unedu-
cated natives. The former, as a class, have avowedly
abandoned idolatry, and, with it, all religious reverence
for the sacred books of their country, and have estab-
lished a new sect known as the Brahmo Somaj. Natives
of intelligence and education have proceeded with greater
timidity and hesitancy in the holy city of Benares, and
have been careful not to assail too suddenly the pre-
judices of strict Hindus,
Several societies were, at one time, in existence
in Benares. One of these, the most distinguished of
all, styled the Benares Institute, still flourishes. It
numbers more than one hundred native members, of
whom some are princes and nobles of high rank, others
are pandits and maulavis,—men of great learning in
Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian literature,—some are pro-
fessors and teachers in colleges, others are magistrates
and judges in the courts of law, while all are men
of consideration and local influence. A few European
residents of the station are, also, connected with the
Institute. At the meetings which are held, lectures
and essays are delivered on subjects of general interest
and importance; and the discussions which are carried
on are often most earnest and exciting. Hindus of the
idolatry; but, in the North-Western Provinces, they
are, usually, more cautious, and, although advocating
sentiments of a liberal and enlightened character, yet,
for the sake of peace, avoid religious matters. The in-
fluence of all, however, is, undoubtedly, more or less good,
tending to dissipate the mists of superstition from the
minds of their members. In Calcutta and some other
places, a schism has arisen between educated and unedu-
cated natives. The former, as a class, have avowedly
abandoned idolatry, and, with it, all religious reverence
for the sacred books of their country, and have estab-
lished a new sect known as the Brahmo Somaj. Natives
of intelligence and education have proceeded with greater
timidity and hesitancy in the holy city of Benares, and
have been careful not to assail too suddenly the pre-
judices of strict Hindus,
Several societies were, at one time, in existence
in Benares. One of these, the most distinguished of
all, styled the Benares Institute, still flourishes. It
numbers more than one hundred native members, of
whom some are princes and nobles of high rank, others
are pandits and maulavis,—men of great learning in
Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian literature,—some are pro-
fessors and teachers in colleges, others are magistrates
and judges in the courts of law, while all are men
of consideration and local influence. A few European
residents of the station are, also, connected with the
Institute. At the meetings which are held, lectures
and essays are delivered on subjects of general interest
and importance; and the discussions which are carried
on are often most earnest and exciting. Hindus of the