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Leader (1850-1860), 19th November 1853, Edition Country of 2, Page 4

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      The State Of Asia. The Overland Mail Arr...

      object of the low characters being the plunder of the jmblic money and demolition of tlie public offices ; and , as might be expected , there was great dissensions about the division of the spoil , and some fighting ; The foreign settlements were protected by men from the ships there . . The chief of the rebels manifestly desired to be on friendly terms with the " outer barbarians , " his brethren .

      1108 The Leader. > [Saturday ,

      1108 THE LEADER . > [ Saturday ,

      The Greek And The Mahomedan. (From The D...

      THE GREEK AND THE MAHOMEDAN . ( From the Daily IFews . ) The laborious attempts made just now to obtain support for Russia on the ground of sympathy for the Christians in the East , are abundantly surprising to many people ; Lut to none perhaps so much as to those who have travelled far enough to see the Mosque and the Greek Church side by side . Some scholars who have never traveiled- —men of deep and extensive erudition—do not need , it is true , to travel in order to understand that the most religious of Englishmen may and must prefer the worship of the Mosque to that of the Byzantine Church , in the form in which both appear in Syria and Turkey at this day . The scholar , travelled or untravelled , remembers the old feuds between the two faiths in the twelfth century , when the Greek Churchmen were taught in their catechism to anathematise the God of Mahomet , because he was " solid and globular , " and therefore no fit object of worship , before it was discovered by Manuel Comnenus that tnere was a slight mistake in the statement , through a misunderstanding of an Arabic word , which meant" eternal " —the " globular" being only a figurative sense . The same temper belonged to Byzantine orthodoxy then as now , to judge by the behaviour of the wise men of the day . They refused to remove the anathema , but substituted , as the object of it , Mahomet , for his Deity .

      This sort of warfare is veiy like what the traveller may see now , when all the aggression , and most of the suj ) erstition , seems to be on the side of the Greek Church . One may travel all over Turkey , Syria , and Egypt , and find Greek churches by the wayside ; but one might go a long way through Russia without meeting with a Mosque : and as for the character of the worship , there is probably not a Christian man in England who would not , on the spot , prefer the Mahometan faith and worship to that of the Greek Church , as it appears in Arabia , and at Smyrna , Damascus , and Constantinople . There was a time when it was forbidden by the Patriarch to painfc any representation of the first person of

      the Trinitjr ; so the " Russian Christians" made paintings of an old man with white curlinghair , who was called Christ ; but it was not longbefore this figure was grouped with that of the more usual representation of Christ and of the Holy Ghost ; and now the offensive spectacle of that kindof picture is seen in almostevery Greek Church the traveller enters . It is not the only offensive kind of picture that the visitor is compelled to see . Paintings of monkish stories—daubs which remind one of Mexican idolatry—are objects of obeisance to kneeling worshippers . Lot any one look at the gilding , the shrines , tlie priests' frippery , the scries of gestures of the worshippers , and then say whether there could

      have been anything in the ritual of old Egypt that could have been more repugnant to all lii . s ideas and feolingH . At Miount Sinai there is the Burning Bush , shown in two places within the convent walls ; under tlie altar in its own chapel , where tlie monk reverently removes the silver plate which covers its root ; and in one of the convent courts , where the Bash itself flourish en , a ruonk furnishes sprays to every panning traveller who in permitted to . see the . shrub that lias flourished for thrco thousand year ; - ; , : md will certainly never die . At Bethlehem , there in the Greek department of tho Empress Helena's Church , like nothing but a gigantic baby-house , with its dolln and other fluids ; and below aro the oryptn and caves , with their offensive and childifih legends -legends too offensive and childish to be reproduced in J'Wlish . At . I '

      eru-Kalem one encountera the feudu between the Creeks and the Latins , in the Church of the ; Holy Sepulchre in that church where the rival priests used to tug at the altar cover and anno to blows for the privilege of removing it ; and where the Greek fire used to burnt forth in red and green ( lames from apertures on each Hide tho altar , till so many devotees were trampled to death in rushing towards it that the sacred kindling now goes on by means of a . torch carried round . Tho only cure for the feud has been found to be tho appointment of a Mahometan Governor of . Jerusalem to remove fh (; contested altar-elofh . On festival days Turkish guards are necessary to preserve the peace , ami none but the Governor , with his Mahometan impartiality , can Jcoep the rival Christians from tearing oun another's throats . At Damascus the full truth is

      Hcen of the inferiority , in every senso , of the Greek Christians to the worshippers of the Prophet . in knowledge , in intelligence , in temper , in social standing , the Christians are there , quite inevitably , an inferior clans . They have a chapel and now church , with a carved and glided screen , an fine an could be desired ; and a grey-headed patriarch , who in borne on the shoulders of his followers when ho goes round his diocese , and comes back unmolested and inflated with vanity : hut ho and his flock appear nothing better than idolaters in the presence of the Mahometans , who worship one- God , in reality , and without metaphysical

      subterfuge , and who are not burdened with a priesthood , like the Russo-Greek priesthood , nor severed from their object of worship by such an intervention . Going forwards towards the Lebanon , one comes upon the traces " of the Greeks again at Baalbec , wherein the most exquisite of the smaller temples , the doorposts and the inner walls are daubed with their barbarous and repulsive paintings . And so on , wherever the Mosque and the Church are found together ; and , indeed , where they are no longer found together . At Mount Sinai , the Christians abolished the Mosque which once rightfully stood there ; whereas there appears to b « no attempt of the Mahometans anywhere to get rid of the Christian churches .

      It will not be supposed that Englishmen have any leaning to Mahometanism ; but we doubt whether there is any British traveller or resident who is not conscious of the superiority , architectural , moral , and spiritual , of the Mosque over the Greek Church . No obtrusive priesthood is there : — -no mummery—no noise — -no obvious superstition . The structure is beautiful ; the courts are spacious , cool , simple , and silent . There is the reservoir in the midst , for ablution ; and within there may be some venerated copy of the Koran , some valuable lamps , and traces of decoration on the walls ; but the utmost possible remoteness from image worship . The houseless poor may sleep on the matting of the

      Mosque ; the aged may retire there for quiet ; and even children may play in the marble courts . It is the home of the spirit , where every one may come to steep himself in spiritual influences , without hindrance or intervention , and where a sweeter incense of charity is for ever floating round than ever arose from the gold and silver censers of the Greek worship . If it is objected that the worship of the Mosques is not Christian , the next question is , —what , then , is the worship of the Greek Church ? We hear every day at home that the Romish worship is not Christian ; and from the very men who want to subordinate the Turkish to the Russian faith . But let it be fairly ascertained what

      each church has done to entitle it to honour for its operation on human welfare , and its claim to the highest title we can give . Despite the many errors and sins that have brought about its fall , there can be no question of the byegone services of the Latin Church —of its faith and polity—in enlightening , humanising , and civilising the most advanced portion of the human race . Western Europe , the vanguard of humanity , owes very much to it , and should remember this the more , the faster the ancient faith decays . Mahometanism is , in its best influences , far more like Christianity than home-staying Protestants could easily

      be made to believe . But really , as to the Greek church- —the more nearly it is approached , and the more closely it is studied , the more barbarous and intrinsically idolatrous it is found to be . The Turks are , at all events , no more idolaters than Jews are . Tlie Greek Christians are as truly idolaters , under every definition of the term , as the old Egyptians or tho existing Hindoos . Before Englishmen propose to build them up into an empire , and to erect the Greek church on the ruins of the Mosque , they really ought to go into the East , and neo what it is that they propone . Till they have done so , nothing that they say can be worth attending to .

      Banquet To Lord Elphinstone. Tiik Recent...

      BANQUET TO LORD ELPHINSTONE . Tiik recently appointed governor of Bombay ban received tho festive honours usu . il on the eve of the departure of a high Indian dignitary . Tho Court of Directors gave a splendid dinner to him at tho London Tavern , on Saturday . Mr . Russell Ellicc , chairman of the hoard of directors , was in the chair , having Lord Elphinstone , the guest of tho evening , on his right hand . There wero also present , on the right- —Earl Grativillo , tho Marquis of Lansdowne , Lord Canning , Lord Hardinge , Sir Charles Wood , Mr . "Wigram , Lord Campbell , Mr . Sidney Herbert , Sir James Graham , the Chancellor of tho Exchequer , Mr . Cardwell , Sir James Hogg , Vice-Chancellor Page Wood , & c . On the left of tlie chairman there were —The Lord Mayor , the Deputy-Chairman of the Company , tho Earl . of Elgin , the Earl of Bessborough , the Earl of Shelhume , Lord Sydney , Mr . Lock , Lord Ernest Bruce , Lord Stanley of Alderlcy , Mr . S . Lushington , Mr . Ilayter , Mr . Baines , Lord Justice Turner , Viee-Chaneellors Kindersloy and Stuart , and the Solicitor-General ; and among the company thero wero also present Kir Willoughby Cotton , SirTleorge Pollock , Mr . Main , Colonel Sir " Colin Campbell , Hon . Lenlie Melville , SirC . Pasley , Mr . Masterinan , M . P ., Sir 11 . M . Wheeler , Sir Henry Willock , Mr . Lowe , M . P ., and Mr . James Wilson , M . P .

      I ho speech-making on this occasion was performed by Sir James Graham , who uttered frho usual complimenti ! on | , ] k > happy combination of tho ( Queen ' s service and the Company ' s marine in many a , brilliant action ; Lord Cranvilhi , who spoke for Ministers ; Sir Charles Wood , Lord Hardhigo , Lord Lansdowno , and Lord Klphinstono himself . His ftpocieh had tho merit of brevity and fitness . "This , lie miid , wa . i not the lirst time that ho had stood in the position of returning thanks for mi honour conferred upon him of a similar nature ; but he inUHt eonfem lie did not lind that that ut all lightened the difliouHy of finding words in Avhich to oxprcnw his thanks to thein . Ho did

      not go out to India an untried man , but in going- he frH the full responsibilities of the situation he was about t undertake . And he must also add that he would be un ° grateful , indeed , if he did not also remember the assistant and the support which he , had received when , he \ v «« Governor of Madras , both from the directors of the Ens ? India Company and their various servants in India and without which assistance he felt lie should not have ' been equal to tlie situation . But it was the peculiar good fop tune of the Indian Government to possess a body of ser " vants , both in the civil and the military departments " which he believed to be altogether unequalled for their zeal and ability—men of tried experien . ee , who had been edu eated arid brought up in the service of the comnanv nnA ~

      with their assistance , he did not despair of accomplishing the objects for which he had been sent out . ( Applause ) It was unnecessary for him to dwell at any length on what lie conceived were the principal objects of an Indian governor . He would onl y say that the principal objects which he proposed to himself in his government were three—first , to develop the resources of the country ; second , to promote the sound and practical secular edu cation of the natives — ( applause ); and third , to advance and promote , as opportunities might offer , those natives who might qualify themselves for situations of trust in the public service . ( Great applause . ) In all these objects he relied with perfect confidence on the countenance and sunof the t of Directors convinced

      port Cour . He was , from all he had seen , that it was the wish of the people of this country that the natives of India should have their full share in the advantages and privileges of British rule ; and it was a great comfort to him that upon this subject his feelings and views should be in entire unison with the views of the Court of Directors and of her Majesty ' s Government . ( Applause , ) He would only say , in conclusion , that if he were in any degree enabled to promote these views and objects , he should feel that he had not gone to India in vain . Next--to the approbation of his own conscience , his greatest pride would ever be to receive the approbation of the honourable the Court of Directors , and of her Majesty ' s Government . ( Applause . )"

      Sir Charles Wood thus referred to the relations between the Board of Control and the Company : — " It was riot more than six months since , he had had the honour of addressing the friends and members of the company in that room on a former occasion , and he was glad to find that whatever alterations had taken place in the government of India , no alteration had taken place in the magnificent hospitality of the company . Since that time great changes had taken place in the government of India both at Lome and abroad . He could not suppose that all the propositions ho had made should have met the cordial approbation of all whom he had now the honour to address , but of this he could assure them , that in althe had proposed he was actuated by the belief that they would

      conduce to the good government of India . In s _ pite of much opposition , and of numerous attacks , they Bad succeeded in preserving entire tho home government of India and the independence of the Court of Directors . They had been told that constant altercations and differences of opinion were going on between the Government and the Court of Directors ; but he had early expressed his opinion that tho two bodies would cordially co-operate together in all those great purposes for which they wero called upon to act together ; and he was bound now to declare that tho result had more than fulfilled all his expectations . Ho had , both from tho lato and the present Chairman of tho Company , without the slightest exception , received tho most cordial and undeviating support . "

      Sir Charles also promised Lord Elphinatono the support of the Home Government , in carrying out those objects which ho had stated to them . ' in tho course of his speech Lord Hardinge affirmed that the British army are at present in a high state of discipline ; and he was convinced that if ever their services should unfortunately be required , in whatever quarter , they would prove that they had in no degree degenerated from their old renown . All the speakers heartily concurred in Lord Elphinstono ' s ap pointment , and boro . testimony to his ability and high character .

      Admiral Napier And Mr. Urquhabl At Manch...

      ADMIRAL NAPIER AND MR . URQUHABl AT MANCHESTER . Manciikmttcu h < in spoken out its sympathy for Turkey . At a meeting held in the Corn Exchange , on Wednesday , attonded by 2000 persons , Sir Charles Napier , Mr . Absalom Watkhi , Mr . Urquliart , Dr . Vauglmn , and other gentlemen , made speeches . Tho resolution " declared the act of Russia to bo a violation of tho law of nations . . , . „ that uf

      Mr . Absalom Watkin , the chairman , said , to the last moment it had been hoped that some one those wealthy men who in Manchester wore tho aciv cites of liberal opinions , progressive social a dvill ^ ment , national independence , and free trade , _ ° j _ have appeared on this occasion to sanction tho l ) roct ' ^ , ings of the meeting . ( Hear , hear . ) It had been hoi * that at least one of those who hailed the advent <> i •_ ox-Governor of Hungary with such rapturous npi > i » » who listened to h ' vi eloquent denunciations of tyi » ^ and assertions of national independence wit " ' dulight , who presHed hi « hand with ho much aH < m that at length thoir repeated pressures >«« a " „„„ tively inconvenient ,--it had boon hoped that hoi f at least of those would have appeared to take u

      on this occasion . ( Hear . ) But ho did not vw » Hity that he considered it not to bo Ins duty to JjLut 0 over this meeting , for , as a citizen and as a w «* , « > of tkiH great community , lie felt that thoy «* ^ him honour in appointing hau to uuh . ( Chooiu )

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 19, 1853, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_19111853/page/4/