Thread by @HindooHistory

Vermont Telegraph, 1837

"HINDOO CASTE"

"There is no part of the Hindoo system, which exerts such despotic sway, and so effectually prevents all improvement, as caste. They were originally divided into four castes, or tribes..."

#HindooHistory #Caste

"...each of which is again subdivided into a large number of branches. Every individuals remains invariably in the caste in which he was born, practices its duties, and is debarred from ever aspiring to a higher, whatever may be his merit or genius"

"The members of each tribe must adhere unvariably to the profession of their ancestors, and continue from generation to generation, to pursue one uniform walk of life."

"In consequence of this unnatural distinction of caste, all motives to exertion, inquiry or improvement, are completely extinguished among the Hindoos;"

"for the most honorable actions, the most beneficial discoveries, the most virtuous conduct, secure no respect or advantages to a person of inferior caste. None of the high castes will eat with any of the low castes."

"The fourth and most numerous castes, are the Sodras or Sooders. Their business is servile labor; and whenever the original spirit of the institution has not been infringed on, their degradation is inhuman."

"They are compelled to work for the Brahmins, being considered as created for their use. They are not allowed to collect property, because such a spectacle would give pain to the Brahmins, To then, the Vedas, or sacred books, must never be read"

"There is also a race of most degraded and universally insulted outcasts, called Parayas. In many places, their very approach is sufficient to pollute a whole neighborhood."

"They must not enter a street where Brahmins live. When they transgress, the higher classes will not assault them, for it is pollution even to touch them with a long pole;"

"but through the medium of others, they often beat them at pleasure, and sometimes put them to death, without dispute or inquiry. For every species of labor, there is a distinct class of men This division of labor is regulated according to caste"

"Still, whatever be a man's capacities, he can never rise above the calling of his father. He will perform only that kind of labor to which his own subdivision of caste are accustomed."

"The first missionaries in Southern India undertook to accomodate Christianity to the prevailing prejudices of the people. The Rev. Hollis Read, who has travelled extensively among the Hindoos, regards caste as the most exceptionable features of Hindooism"

"and the Bishop of Calcutta has become so well convinced of its utter inconsistency with Christianity, that he has addressed two charges to the missionaries of the Church of England, requiring them no longer to tolerate the distinctions of caste, in the native churches"

"'The main bearer to all permanent improvement,' says he, 'is the heathen usage of caste, in the Christian churches.' He says, 'the different castes sat on different mats, on different sides of the church, to which they entered by different doors'"

"The usages of caste enter so deeply into the social constitutions of the Hindoos, that every thing is affected by it. It creates great inconvenience, and constitutes the greatest barrier against the improvement either of the social or religious condition of the people."

"There can be nothing more at variance with the spirit of the Gospel than the spirit of caste"