Thread by @HindooHistory

Vermont Telegraph, 1838

"Connection of the British Government With Idolatry"

"The continuance and support given by Government to the prevailing forms of religion, is a weighty subject, and calls for the solemn consideration of British Christians"

#HindooHistory

"I cannot but sympathize deeply with the missionaries, in the trials and obstructions they meet on this account They have little doubt but the pernicious influence of the Brahmins would wither..."

"& their system lose its power, if Government did not render its aid, both by open countenance and direct taxation."

"An extreme fear of creating political disturbances, if efforts were made to convert the natives to Christianity, seems to have possessed the company's government from the beginning. Hence the refusal, at first, to allow missionary effort."

"Hence Chamberlain, though in service of her royal highness, the Begaum, was deemed pestilent for preaching at a fair, and her majesty was reluctantly obliged to send him down to Calcutta."

"Happily, the little band that found a refuge under the Danish flag at Serampore, lived to prove practically, that such fears are groundless"

"But, though the Government now permits and protects missionary effort, it has not wholly lost its early fears; and these, together with a desire to be strictly neutral, lead to measures directly favorable to idolatry."

"It levies and collects the revenues for supporting brahmins and temples, as the former rulers did-- thus virtually making idolatry and Mahometanism the established religions of the country!"

"The annual allownace from the public treasury, for the sypport of the temple Juggernaut, is [XXX] rupees, [about $26,000], and many other temples have allowances equally liberal."

"C. Buller, in his letter to the Court of Directors, on this subject, says, 'Large pensions, in land and money, are allowed by our Government, in all parts of the country, for keeping up the religious institutions of both of Hindoos and Mahometans"

"Lord. Wm. Bentick, Governor General of India, under the date of August, 1835, speaking of the tax laid on pilgrims, which yields the company a handsome revenue, says..."

"''As long as we maintain, most properly in my opinion, the different establishments belonging to the Mahometan and Hindoo religions, we need not much scruple about the tax in question'"

"In the district of Tinnevelly, an examination on this subject was made by Mr. T., who found 2,783 temples, and 9,799 petty kovils, of male and female deities, & some inferior religious stations; making a total of 14,851 places of idolatrous worship."

"The total charge of these, as the Government, amounts to 30,000 sterling [about $135,000,] per annum"

"Besides this regular support, there are numerous other modes in which the national systems are countenanced. MR. Rhenius has stated that, in 1831, Government contributed 49,000 rupees towards the performance of a certain ceremony in the temple at Tinnevelly..."

"and to repair the idol's car. At the principal festivals funs are fired, by nationalships, and by the company's troops, and the military bands of music are loaned to grace the occasions. Thus Christian soldiers are compelled to do honor to the false prophet and to dumb idols"

"Various temples and gateways have been built or repaired by the Government. Vast sums have been spent on colleges and schools, for the inculcation of heathen and Mahometan doctrines and customs."

"By these same laws and customs British judges and magistrates regulate their decisions, instead of the pure and equitable laws of their own land, and of the Christian Scriptures."

"When the cars of certain gods are to be drawn in public procession, there has been for some years back in various places, a deficiency of people."

In such cases the officers of Government send out magistrates, and constables or peons, who, with whips and batans, beat the wretched people, and force them to quit their work and drag at the ropes"

"Until lately, the appointment of native Christians to any office, however low, was wholly prohibited. The prohibition is now removed; but as local officers are not bound to employ them, and the general feeling is against it, they are still excluded."

"How impressively does this say to the natives, that their rulers do not want them to become Christians! I have heard many declare, that a man who would change his religion, is not worthy of confidence!"

"I made many inquiries, & could never find one who knew of a Christian sepoy ever being raised above the ranks."

"Corporal punishment has been abolished in all the native regiments. Recently a Christian sepoy committed an offence, which formerly was punished with flogging. The question was started, whether this man, being a Christian, came under the new law."

"The decision was made, that he was not a native, in the eye of the law; & he was made to undergo the lash! -- I took this fact from the Calcutta newspapers"

"Public offices are closed entirely on various native festivals; but on the Christian Sabbath, native officers and servants, and many Europeans, are employed as usual."

"I have been in no part of the company's territories where public works, carried on by native laborers, are not continued on the Lord's day"

"By Mahometan and Hindoo laws of inheritance, the son who changes his religion, loses his patrimony. British judges therefore, judging by these laws, are compelled to turn the convert away from his home, a beggar"

"The very records of these courts are inscribed to Shree Ganesha, and other false gods. Brahmins and others have been appointed and employed by Government, to make intercessions and invocations to pagan gods for rain, and for fair weather!"

"I speak in no spirit of bitterness in narrating these facts. The Government has, in the main, good intentions. I have no doubt; and next to the profit of the company, and the preservation of these countries to Britain, desires the well-being of the people"