Life and religion of the Hindoos. : $b With a sketch of my life and experience.Gangooly, Joguth Chunder
Religion
Life and religion of the Hindoos. : $b With a sketch of my life and experience.
Gangooly, Joguth Chunder
Hindus; India -- Social life and customs
Noble as this brother is, admirable as his deeds are, he lacks, as I
have observed before, that degree of moral courage which none but the
“Sent” of God could give. While enjoying the pleasure and privilege of
being with these brethren, and deriving much edification from their
amiable lives, the under-current of my soul was constantly flowing
toward Christ. I could not go away from him, nor forget his loving,
precious words that brought me out of superstition. Are not there men
who believe as I do,--that God is _strictly_ one,--that Christ
is the best of all religious teachers whom the world ever had or will
have, that he is the Sent and oldest Son of our common Parent? If
there are not any found professing such belief,--no matter; I shall
stand alone, and offer my help unto the world as far as I am able.
Theological differences would not stop my hand and heart from serving
and loving others, and this is the best religion indeed! While thus
defining my position and receiving instruction from Jesus secretly,
my esteemed friend, Baboo C. C. Singha, a convert to Christianity,
and who has been a preacher for three years, I should think, told me
that he had been told by Hodgson Pratt, Esq., of the arrival of a
Unitarian missionary in Calcutta, under the auspices of the American
Unitarian Association, and whose views of Christianity are different
from those of other missionaries. I could not understand the term
_Unitarian Christian_, because I was told if I did not believe
in the Trinity I was not a Christian, but a deist. We went to hear
the missionary, Rev. C. H. A. Dall, but not being accustomed to hear
or talk English, I did not gain much at first. He gave us his printed
sermons, and the writings of Channing, Burnap, Elliot, Cordner, Bartol,
etc., which, as I read them, not only confirmed what my belief had
been, but whispered to me, saying, “Friend, there are thousands on the
other side of the Atlantic who hold the same views of God as you do, so
you are not alone. Our fellowship and sympathy are yours.” Being made
acquainted with and interested in this missionary, I began to attend
his religious services on Sunday; but I could not do it regularly for
several reasons. Mr. Dall’s place is nearly seven miles from my house;
besides, there is the majestic Gunga to be crossed, which “alone is
twenty miles,” as the Hindoo saying is.[32] I had to take my breakfast
very early and to walk to and fro all the way, crossing the river by
steamboat either at Shal-kea, or Howrah. My dear mother was told by my
Hindoo brethren that I attended the religious services in a Christian
church, with Baboo C. C. Singha. She felt very much frightened at this,
and took measures to stop my going to Calcutta on Sunday. “If you will
not hear me, but will go to Calcutta on Sunday, go Joguth. The people
tell me, and I can presage too, what a disgrace and ruin you will bring
upon the family. They say you are almost a ‘_Kistan_’ now. You eat
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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