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Leader (1850-1860), 10th October 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 972, Untitled Article

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    • . ......., -. . = ' Mk I I* niS: * ¦ *2mnlff ^fTtTW «?UU*U ^UiaUi l* 1
    • ' ' : ~" /-^Y> ^JFJfp V {^n fl/^v \jr»l ^ci C flwTffifr ^%¦ '' jftf i^ / %^ r _ -in^ \- PV/\P J^ Jk ? C*y& C&*) ^ ' ^— r \Ls » "
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      Untitled Article

      w THE DAY Or HUMILIATION . ^ Che day of ' solemn fast , humiliation , and prayer'passed exactly as we expected . Aa additional Sunday was thrown into the middle of the week , with a subject dictated for all the sermons , i the congregations being expected to make a collection . There was * prayer' varying in its fashion according to the tenets and colour of the congregation unore or less sincere—more or less formalmore or less bereft of any belief in its efficacy . There was ' humiliation with the greatest number for the two hours in which the congregation was in church ; a humiliation , mingled with no small sense of Sunday - finery . But where was the 'fast ? ' Not a single meal was omitted on that day ; on the contrary , it was a Sunday dinner instead of a \\ yoridng-day dinner .

      A strong sense of the terrible calamity in "the East did impart a greater solemnity , earnestness , and truth to the feeling > of the day than , is customary in these observances . We have the evidence of this feeling in the general strain of the sernions ; Seldom have we gone over a mass of clerical literature so devoid of any individual ' striking point , ' very seldom have we seen so much harmony in , the universal utterance ; Not indeed that the clergy , whether of the established or non-established Churches , grasped the true problem which was presented to them . They were , perhaps , comto

      pelled to take it u ^ j according professional Jtashibn , the fashion being' set in . ages long paBt ; but they did their best to Reconcile . the practical requirements of the present day with the contracted knowledge of past ages . Their version . ' of the' story which the ^ 'lmd'tti tell was this : hcving 1 neglected to extend Ohristianity in India , havlttg on the dbnirraW tolerated the idolatry and tfre ' vile ^ rafeticeB' of the Hindoos ,- we have committed' a ' gigantic sin , ' of which the' revolt was thb retribution . This-was the ' pwiBentment' of -tilie ^ whole * clerical jury upon' the offender hf rai grifed before the « acred tribtina ! i ' > - <

      -There ' artreoAidflftwis in the" case . 'As one preacher * pointed but , if England is the offender , justice » haa strangely fisHied with iretributiori hot 3 &ngland but Iadia J ^ Uaa irtflictetl the . tfargftr Whai * *> f -peBhfty r > 6 t leveii ! &ty 6 * i TfcfcS'IEriglisfi in > ittd 1 a ; bttti upton'th ^ 'Hind-evi , D , n \ 6 i > g « b ' -whoTn ^ HiO' slighter ^ fHitr ^ gtteater tutm aimtafrtbo Britirfli . << 3 dni $ * O $ "tiw ltto 6 Vb

      timid amongst the clergy tremble lest modern knowledge should prtire to be inconsistent with sacred'truth ; as If truth and gemiine knowledge eould ever be inconsistent ! as if we should find out in tlie works of the Creator facts inconsistent with inspiration ! On the occasion of the last day of solemn fast we had much broader and . More truthful explanations of our wrong-doing , and , therefore , much clearer light thrown on the method of reform . But still there were some few who could seize the truth , and set it forth even in an established church . One preacher laid down his discourse upon the established tramway . The Divine Tuler of the world , he said , " accorded not to individuals the final judgment on their deeds until the close of their career , but communities of men have their probation in this world " and in the government of the world there are moral laws as well as physical laws : —

      " All the physical convulsions that have agitated the world have proceeded in conformity with the natural laws assigned fr 6 m the first by God . An earthquake , a volcano , an eruption , a Hood , though seeming to break in on nature , does nevertheless fulfil its l aws as truly as the falling stone , or the rising sparks of lire , or the ripple of the streamlet of the valley . So we may be sure that the just

      laws of the Moral Governdr are fulfilled in the most inscrutable of human events as truly as in the ordinary tenor of human existence . There is human probation going on beneath the Eterual Eye . There is a moral meaning : for all that happens . We must not then suppose that when we have traced to social and natural causes the enormous crime and misery which have just afflicted our Indian Empire , we have done with them . "

      The Times , said the same preacher , " has had the courage to charge the blame of the present outbreak of heathenism in the East on the defective Christianity in the middle classes , who have abetted the Indian G-overnment in compromising between Christianity and heathenism . " Dr . Iiioks did not question these statements ; but he retorted that the press does but reflect the mind of-the middle classes ; and we may add , that in the main , if the middle class have pandered to

      compromise m India , the press has pandered to the middle class . But , says Dr . Irons , " this ' mutual shifting of the blame on one another is unworthy of a solemn hour like the present . " "We have all had our share in the low tone of religion and morals among the people . : If England -will not trust religion , God will pi nek up and destroy oiir power . " We may , perhaps , question ' the accuracy of some expressions here ^ but / it ; is the rough assertion of a great truth . ' . 1 ,

      If we , as tt people , habitually wangle truth and falsebdod , if we adulterate our sincerity with mere outward conformity , \ tfe undermine the strength that is in us , and -render ourselves incapable of maintaining our own greatness . Strewed throughout the churches of the country on th&fc day devoted 1 td icortimnning with the DivinG'Power'Svaa o im / asB of hypocrisy , of : pretended belief , of acquiescence in doctrines that"are no' longer sincerely accepted ; and in the 1 Divine- Presence

      the people of -this country were lying . 'JBit possible that it can throve its heart a nto < the woric , can prevent < its' inind ^ fronV 'becoining confused , or crin distinguish ' -between ! Cbivsoience ' and hypocri « y , between the work to be done land 1 the 5 vvorkr that ought' u 6 t ! to 1 be ¦ dO jlB'P' ' !' ¦ •¦> ' : r , ' ,- . ¦ . ; ; .,: < ,.,-, . Iliil'llt- . u * " )'' " Aa if toonatomitse and extidae tho ' nature 1

      ot ouv religious > obaiervatfcea ^ before' Wrfhhb , 1 n . great' cotfimereSnl compnn } < thud jspec&Mtf i added to'fasniuiseutafbfrfcho ttoyrthe-Oryfrtrtl Palace Compfthy i hna > Kpr 0 Ciirc < i l ! a ^ ofa& () 6 ) r sp 66 i men *> £ tine * gbtaas' 'Pfceaehe * > arid tlie at- i traction oi . fchaty » yso&ogibiel J curiosity JjAi-q vV' lit 'immenbo « jniwd Gtf'h ^ lidrty bongnfeMioiMilrafid 1 'SpvitaEojp prcnohfe * ' tto v ^ 3 j 50 O pDraonfl . ' ' v » Hei know tlmt'lxi wus '^ x ^ ctea "to »( be « ' ^ 6 tiikiMrgi )

      he . has'ii' voice as- capable as aiiy of filling 36 me part of that' nxugeiim chureii ; and he has' the ± eadyknaek : bf saying thftigs that at-e- not '• ' generally sp ' oken outy in a coarse language ' which borrows its apology from 'fanaticism and ¦ ' ¦ adds' ; at spice to religiou s unction . In thirs direct language of a Wa ] ' Worth Peter the Heyriiit , He told ; not home " truths , btithoiiier truisms ; - pleased the people by loudly abusing them to' their faces ; and begged on behalf of the collection with a forty-par so 11 power . The congregation almost

      laughed , applauded . 'One and all whether High Clmrch or Low Church ' Gatholie or Jew , joined , or at least appeared to join , in the ' prayer' of the 3 jow Church-Man ; and having- thus gaily c humiliated ' themselves on that solemn day , no sooner had SPFKGteotf &rided the entertainment , 1 han half of the congregation hurried back to town engagements , while the other half rushed to finish' the i £ fast' in . the refreshment-room . For seldom , have the waiters of the Crystal Palace 'been so busy as on that day ; - \ ¦ -- - •¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦¦•¦ ¦ ¦ . . ;

      In all this great national exposure there is something that is respectable as well as painful ; something sound and earnest as well as that which is hollow and ridiculous . The country oneans to do well , but it cannot distinctly see its duty . Being Christian , it ought not unquestionably to discourage Christianity in i ; lie East ; being wise , it ought not to tolerate the most odious , silly , and even bestial idolatry . But recognizing as ire

      do the sacred right of freedom for conscience , we must leave to Hindoos their faith , must allow them the latitude that we daim ourselves : Christians are not bound to tolerate , in any land which they govern , murder , torture , or compulsory slavery-,-oil the assertion that it is sanctioned by tlie Hindoo gods . But on the other hand , if it pleases Hindoos to bow before idols , or to perform any other act w hichis not an-aggressionuporitlidir fellow creatures , our conscience is not so clear of follies that we-hare

      theright topreveht them . ' - Weneednot supply them with the laws to carry out their tyranny ; wo need not-tyrannically restrain them from folly . -If we enforce the broad laws ofhumanity against murder , rajjine , and depravity , we may' leave the ^ st to the free trade of progress ; for if the Hiaidoo cannot overthvow the empire of the British , neither can he resistor divert the 1 calm 1 , wise , and benefioent course of a Government higher than any which resides on earth .

      Untitled Article

      Indian Responsibilities . We are not now ill one ; as we originally were , in desiring th&isecaloi'Uord CANNiira . The triith lias bo&n to-ldr- so plain ly" that it has been found intvpossible : t 6 resist' it ; Even tlvosei 'orgnna whteh glefnerally support the Government'lifatve'fallen : t 6 si note of the faintest > a " nd most 1 damaging praise when dealing with tlie a « ts 'dncl ' policy of the Goyewkor ^ enerrtl'of India . " ( Hh « purely Whig jouwiuld 1 have 1 deserted ; lntii ¦ and are clnniom ' - ing for his inrmiedintc ! Biipercession . l India Uvid England "iirtt' of ' ohe -miii'd on this

      qiiestiori'j ^ bol / h eay that we risk the einpire if wo retain Lord Ginning- > ' The whole story was not 'known flt-ftrftt . ' 1 Ifwas'iJi ' st ' fit of jealousy ¦ thttfc'il > o refused- ^ tlv ©!"' assistance-of Ju ^ o BA-BtA » obH'i ( md ; Mk * & \ wdrkaii ; who might hav ^ Bav eu CftiVt- ^ or © . ¦» Kmf "we knowrt'lio * kae be ^ n"a ^ id i of'thea <> 'Gii » o-riws nhd their chiOft ' j qPholatt ^ r hhs ^ eeii Vih'fied . as a t » "cft' cherocia tyrant ' jit ^' foiiiiW ^ lmV e' been ridicu'totf $ ly < » wad Sgrtora-Wtly , 'd ' eabribed ns' pig i" ««•• 1 But '» Jccn a > M A iiAiwoir- htia ''• n ^ v er lie-en tnifoWjhflal ' Oo Eri ^ hmd )> ' { € Hvarf lte ; ttrtY 6 n £ othert , who' ^ arii ^ d'Lio ^ d C ^ lrtN ' G ' ot ' iti ' ipVinfriJig djn-• gbra > \ - > tk Wtrib i tro ^ j * £ fiey haW > fliviiririWy

      Untitled Article

      ? Chere is nothingso revolutionary , because thereis nothing so unnatiaral and convulsive , as tlie strain to keepthingsflxedvriienallthe worldisby the very law ofit 3 creation in eternal progress . —Da . Ahnoid .

      . ......., -. . = ' Mk I I* Nis: * ¦ *2mnlff ^Ftttw «?Uu*U ^Uiaui L* 1

      ¦ ^ n lilir Mara /

      Untitled Article

      ^ 1 - ^ - SATURDAY , OCTOBER 10 , 1857 .

      ' ' : ~" /-^Y&Gt; ^Jfjfp V {^N Fl/^V \Jr»L ^Ci C Flwtffifr ^%¦ '' Jftf I^ / %^ R _ -In^ \- Pv/\P J^ Jk ? C*Y& C&*) ^ ' ^— R \Ls » "

      ¦ MftKbt x .

      Untitled Article

      feveral oominuuications unavoidably stand over . t is impossible to acknowledge the mass of letters we reoeive . Their insertion is often delayed , owinp to a press of matter ; , and when omitted , it is frequently from reasons quiteindependeut of the merits of the communica-TilOIla T Ti ^ iti ^ C i « " ? f ^ % ^ anonymous correspondence . Whateveris intended for insertion must be authenticated ? Z « ^ v ani ? an 5 a . ddress of fc he writer ; not necessarily forpublication . butasafcuaranteeof hisgoodiaith . Fecadnot undertake to return rejected communications-

      Untitled Article

      NOTIOBS TO CORRESPONDENTS . W . P- —We ; have ^ not aided . in propagating the scandal : therefore we decline publishing any version of the story . 3 . R CJ . E . )—We do not undertake , even in our ' Open Council' to ; correct our contemporaries . It has been found necessary to observe this rule . 3 BpTAi PAXACR . j-W-e * regret that we are unable to insert the communication . ; .

      Untitled Article

      972 IF EC E liEA 3 HI . [ So . 394 ^ Octo * eb 1 ! O ; 18 B 7

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 10, 1857, page 972, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2213/page/12/