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In my compound in South India, for a quarter of a century, a date palm tree grew and flourished. Years later a seed was carried by a bird and dropped at the foot of this palm tree. It was the seed of the sacred boh tree. It also sprouted and its slender, subtle shoot wound round the sturdy palm. Every year it grew higher until it finally towered above the date palm; and the higher it grew the more its winding stem thickened; and as it thickened it began to tighten its grip upon the other tree. That grip, so weak and innocent at first, soon became to the palm tree a grip of death. For every day so added to the encircling power of the boh tree that, about three years ago, it completely enshrouded and killed the palm. Today that boh tree stands alone, indicating, by its spiral form, where the unfortunate palm found its death; and it stretches forth its beautiful branches in rich verdure and in welcome shade to all who seek refuge from the heat of the tropical sun.
This is only a parable of the struggle which is witnessed in India today. For many centuries the tree of Brahmanism has flourished. It covers that whole land. But at its very root has been sown the seed of God's Word and there is growing out of it, in its beauty and strength, the sacred tree of our Faith. Already it has the old tree in its almighty grip. The work of death is progressing and the final issue is sure.
But it will not transpire in a day. The victory will come, is now coming.
But the resources of Hinduism are legion, and its strange fascination, to some extent, continues. India, which is increasingly becoming Christ's in thought and ideals, will become his in worship and ritual, when his name shall be heard in every home throughout the land. But we need patience; and the grand result to be achieved is worthy of the noblest endurance and of the most patient waiting.
Christian workers in that great land are faithfully labouring and hopefully waiting until the fruitful branches of the sacred tree of Christianity shall have spread over the whole land, so that its shade may be the refuge of all souls in distress and its fruit shall abound for the healing of all the nations of India.
The resources and the agencies of our Faith, which are now utilized for the furtherance of the truth in that land, are already wonderfully varied and potent; but they are also increasing annually in prevailing power as in bewildering variety. Every Christian drawn from Hinduism and added to the fold of Christ becomes, in himself, a force to draw and to win others to Christ. This power has already become the main agency in the growth of the church, and its efficiency is to grow in geometric ratio as the years increase.
The great need of India today is the power of the Holy Spirit of God. His people must bring themselves much more into subjection to his Spirit, that they may, the more fully, be the vehicles of His grace to others and the channel of His power in the land. The dangers of God's Church are, and will preeminently be, dangers from within rather than from without. It is Hinduism, godlessness and sin within which must be fought with an eternal vigilance and an uncompromising hostility. And for this a larger baptism will mean a mighty fire of God kindled in the whole Church such as will burn all its dross and consume all opposition. And then shall we speedily witness the great desire of our heart—a happy, prosperous India, because it will be Emmanuel's land—a part of the great Fold of Christ.
This consummation is as sure as God's own promises, for, in all his work, the missionary is not only encouraged by results achieved and by assurances given, but also by the double promise of God. First he has the promise of the Father to the Son:
"Ask of me and I will give to thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." The Son has asked and is seeking the possession of the earth; and in the confidence of his assurance he exclaims, "All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth." And, to his waiting disciples, he adds, "Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations." And with this all-embracing command he coupled the all-satisfying promise, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen.
INDEX.
Administration, Mission, 264-286
Advaitha, 82
Agency employed by Hinduism and Christianity, 89
Agents, Mission, 304
Aims of the Two Faiths, 87
American Effort in India, 179, 329
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 180
American Push, 187
Amir Ali Sahib, 345
Anglo-Saxon Effort in India, 172
Appliances, Missionary, 300
Army, The, 44
Aryans, 15, 289, 316
Arya Somaj, 313, 315, 349, 351
Asceticism of Hindus, 120
"Asia and Europe," 335
Atchison, Sir Charles, 191
Australian Effort, 177
Avatar, 79
Banerjee, Kali Churn, 295, 316
Banerjee, Dr. K. M., 316
Banerjee, Surendra Nath, 51
Baptism—shall it be administered immediately upon confession? 290
Baptism—shall it be administered secretly? 291
Baptism—shall ladies administer? 292
Baptists, American, 292, 309
Barth, 69, 82, 94
Basil Mission, 285
Benevolence of Native Christians, 225
Besant, Mrs. Annie, 344
Bhagavada Gita, 96, 124
Bhakti, Doctrine of, 76
Bible—Influence of, 90
Bible, Translated, 178, 301
Bowen, Rev. George, 202
Brahm, 84
Brahmo Somaj, 349
Buddha, The, 59
Buddhism, 54
Burma, 181
Canadian Effort, 188
Carey, William, 173
Caste, 26-107, 124
Caste and Government, 340
Caste in the Church, 131, 171, 270, 271
Ceremonialism, 121, 122
Chaitanya, 65
Character of Native Christians, 320
Child Marriages, 25, 154
Christian Community, The, 307
Christian Science, 293
Christian Schools, 354
Christianity and Hinduism Contrasted, 80
Chunder Sen, 150
Church Missionary Society, 174
Clarke, Dr. W. N., 267
Climates of India, 14
Comparison of present and past Methods of Work, 188
Comparative Religion, 209
Contrast of the two Faiths, 88
Contrast of the two Races, 46
Converts—from what Social Strata? 315
Cooeperation among Missions, 238
Coronation Address of Indian Christians, 86
Credentials of Hinduism and Christianity, 183
Danish, 173
Demonolatry, 63
Denmark, 168
Direction of Missions, 234
Discipling the Nations, 266
Dress and Food of the Missionary, 199
Du Bois, The Abbe, 200, 201
Dravidians, 15
Drink Evil, The, 42
Duff, Alexander, 175
Dutch, 178
Dutt, Toru, 322
East and West, 297
East India Company, 176, 180, 360
Eastern Thought, 141
Economic Conditions, 18
Economic Problems, 282
Educated Classes and Christ, 357
Educated Classes and Western Thought, 353, 356
Education, 27, 193, 248, 277, 280
Education of Christians, its Extent, 281
Emancipation of Woman, 159
English Missions, 175
Eschatology, 75
Ethnic Faith, 109
European Effort in India, 178
Evangelistic Department, 242
Evolution, 264
Exclusive Spirit of Christianity, 108
Faith Missions, 231
"Failure of Missions," 298
Fairbairn, Dr., 121
Family Life, 24
Famine, 21
Fatalism, 122
Frederick IV, King, 168
Gautama, 59
God, Doctrine of, 81
Goreh, Miss, 322
Government, The Educational Department of, 278
Government of India, 37
Government Service, 34
Grain of India, 15
Hall, Stanley President, 281
Haskell-Barrows Lectureship, 186
Harris, Lord, 187
Harrison, Ex-President Benjamin, 323
Heavens and Hells of Hinduism, 88
Hindu Character, 125, 128
Hindu Joint Family System, 24, 133
Hinduism, 62
Hinduism Conservative, 107
Hinduism an Ethnic Faith, 109
Hinduism—is it Tolerant? 310
Hinduism Transformed, 341
History of Christianity in India, 163
Hopkins, 69
Humility necessary to the Missionary, 213
Hymnology of India, 302
Ideals of the Two Faiths, 101
Ideals of the Hindu, 118
Incarnation, 72, 94
Independent Work of Indian Christians, 326
Individualism in Missions, 236
Industrial Mission, 179
Industrial Problems, 282
Infanticide, 158
Influence of Woman in India, 148
Inter-caste Marriages, 274
Irrigation Schemes, 22
Islam, The New, 345
Jaffna Mission, 182
Jones, Sir William, 82
Jordanus, 166
Judaism, 55
Judson, Adoniram, 181
Kali, 66
Kalki Avatar, 78
Karma, 92
Kipling, Rudyard, 212
Languages, 16
Last Commission of our Lord, 265
Laws of India Changed, 337
Leaven of Christianity, 332
Leipzig Lutheran Mission, 178
Length of Missionary Service, 203
Lex talionis, 111
Life of the Missionary, 197
Literacy, 27
Literary Work, 252
Literature, Christian, 301
London Missionary Society, 174
Love—a Missionary Qualification, 213
Lyall, Sir Alfred, 63
Macedonian Cry, 219
Mackensie, Sir Alexander, 320
Madras Native Christian Association, 324
Madura Mission, 182, 325
Magna Charta of Missions, 180
Mahabarata, 144
Mahratta Mission, 181
Man, Doctrines concerning, 85
Manu, Code, 108
Marriage among Hindus, 156
Martyn, Henry, 174
Mass Movements, 308, 346
Matheson, Dr., 70
McKinley, President, 336
Medical Work, 255
Metempsychosis, 97
Methodist, American, 184, 309
Miller, Dr. William, 299, 355
Mills, Samuel, 179
Mission Administration, 286
Mission Agents, 304
Mission of Great Britain in India, 45
Mission Enterprise as a Christian Principle, 230
Mission Schools, 29, 277
Missionary, The, 193
Missionary and the Mission, 222
Missionary and Missionary Societies, 219
Missionary Appliances, 300
Missionary's Attitude towards the Non-Christian World, 215
Missionary as an Organizer, 224
Missionary Organization, 228
Missionary Results, 298
Missionary Societies, 228
Missionary Success—What is it? 298
Mohammedanism, 56, 345
Moral Standards of Christianity and Hinduism, 110
Morality and Piety, 135
Motive of Missionary, 215, 265
Motives of Christian Converts, 312
Mozumdar, Protab, 350
Muir, Sir W., 191
Mueller, Max, 67
Multiplication of Missionary Activities, 284
National Congress, 34
Native Christian, 126
Native Christian Character, 130
Native Christian Community, 307, 318
Native Christian Women, 320
Native Church and Evangelism, 244
Native Officials—Their Attitude Towards Mission Schools, 279
Native States, 39
Neo-Hinduism, 344
Newcastle, Bishop of, 330
New Converts, 288
New Religious Movements in India, 348
Obscenity in the East, 126, 340
Offerings of Native Christians, 325
Opium Traffic, 42
Organic Structure of a Mission, 240
Organizations of the Native Church, 259
Oriental Christianity, 296
Origin of Hinduism, 70
Pantaenus, 164
Parseeism, 57
Passive Virtues of India, 127
Pastoral Work in Missions, 245
Path of Works, 121
Patience, an Equipment of the Missionary, 212
"Patriot, The Christian," 325
Pax Britanica, 44
People of India, 15
Persecution, 309, 315
Pessimism of Hinduism, 89
Physical Features of India, 13
Physical Fitness of the Missionary, 194
Plato, 90
Plutscho, 167
Political Condition of India, 31
Polygamous Converts, 288
Poverty of Christians, 312
Poverty of the Land, 19
Prakriti, 85
Prartanei Somaj, 349
Preaching to the Heathen—Its Character, 245
Prepossessions of a Hindu, 116
Presbyterian Mission, 182
Problems, Missionary, 263
Problems Concerning New Converts, 288
Products of Christianity and Hinduism, 114
Profanity, East and West, 126
Progressive Spirit of Christianity, 108
Property of Missions in India, 300
Protestant Christian Effort, 166
Provincial Governments, 39
Puranas, 94, 105, 343
Railroads in India, 22
Ramabai, Pandita, 321, 327
Ramanuja, 66
Reactionary Spirit in India, 293, 295
Religions of India, 54
Religious Instruction in Mission Schools, 280
Religious Mendicancy, 20, 120
Religious Toleration, 54, 109
Rest and Recreation for Missionaries, 195
Results, Missionary, 298, 332
Revival of Thought in India, 293
Right of the Christian Church to Send Missionaries, 264
Rivers of India, 14
Robert de Nobilibur, 167
Robson, Dr., 72, 344
Roman Catholic Effort in India, 165
Roman Catholics and Caste, 271
Rural People, Hindus a, 18
Saivism, 64
Sakti Worship, 66
Salvation Army, 176, 200
Sanskrit, 16
Sattianathan, Mrs., 323
Schools for Christian Children, 249
Schools for Non-Christians, 248
Schools, Mission, 303
Schultze, 169
Schwartz, 170
Scottish Missions, 175
Self-Extension of the Native Church, 260
Self-Government of the Native Church, 32, 259
Self-Support of the Native Church, 261, 274
Sell, Dr. E., 345
Serampore, 173
Shanars, 308
Sherring, Rev., 171
Sikhism, 61
Sin, Hindu and Christian Conception of, 89
Singh, Sir Harnam, 317
Sita, 145
Slater, Rev. G. T. E., 357
Social Life in India, 23, 26
Sorabjis, The, 322
Soul, Doctrine of, 86
S. P. C. K., 170
S. P. G., 172
"Spirit of Islam," 345
Spirituality of Hinduism, 74
Spiritual Qualifications of the Missionary, 210
Statistics, Religious, 55
Strachey, Sir John, 159
Study of Christian Missions, 267
Supreme Soul, 86
Survival of the Fittest, 264
Syrian Church of Malabar, 165
Tamil Bible, 178
Tantras, 105, 343
Taxation in India, 40
Telegu Baptist Mission, 309
Theological Seminaries, 244
Theology of the Missionary, 205
Theosophy, 293
Thoburn, Bishop, 185, 206, 277, 309
Thomas, St., 163
Tinnevelly Mission, 308
Toleration, Religious, 310
Townsend, Meredith, 335
Training of the Missionary, 204
Tranquebar, 167
Triad, Hindu, 65
Turanians of South India, 316
Universe, Doctrine of the, 84
Vaishnava Sects, 65
Vaishnavism, 65
Vasco da Gama, 166
Vedantism, 67
Vernaculars of India and the Missionary, 208
Vicarious Atonement, 73
Webb, Rev. E., 302
Wifely Devotion, 145
Williams, Sir Monier, 85
Wilson, Dr., 176
Witness Bearing, 266
Women of India, 143, 147, 151, 320
Women of India, their Disabilities, 152
Women in Missionary Organization, 237
Work for Women, 256
Xavier, 166
Yesuthasan, 302
Yoga, 93, 119
Young, Work for the, 185, 257, 329
Young, Sir William Mackworth, 227
Ziegenbalg, 167
FOOTNOTES
1 Some of these, doubtless, are only well-developed dialects. Many other, more imperfect, dialects might be added to this total.
2 The extensive famines of the last few years have reduced this increase to two and one half per cent. during the last decade.
3 This subject is treated more fully in later chapters.
4 The rupee is at present one-third of a dollar.
5 Nearly all these Buddhists live in Burma which is included in these statistics because it is now politically a part of India.
6 According to the census of 1901 there were 2,923,349 Christians.
7 "The Religions of India," p. 562.
8 "The Religions of India," p. 288.
9 "The Religions of India," page 83.
10 Sir John Strachey's "India," page 311.
11 I speak vaguely because it is hard to definitely declare what a missionary society is.
12 The returns for Congregationalists do not include the members of the London Missionary Society Missions,—these being, apparently, included among the "Scattering."
13 See Toronto Convention Report of Student Volunteer Movement, p. 378.
14 Hinduism and Christianity, page 248.
15 See Dr. Sell's article, "The New Islam," in Contemporary Review, August, 1893.
16 "The Higher Hinduism in Relation to Christianity," page 291. This valuable book has only just been published after my manuscript was written.
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