106 REV. G. U, POPE, D.D., ON 



who know Avhat the people are, are the best judges of how far 

 these sentiments bear fruit in actual practice. 



I am only touching on the very outside points which strike one, 

 and rather in the hope of eliciting the views and opinions of those 

 who are more competent than I am to speak upon the subject. 



Rev. R. C. KiKKPATRiCK, M.A. — In the present day the study of 

 comparative religions is very important, and anything which throws 

 light on any of the religions that prevail in the world is of value. 

 I would also venture to add, that I think we must look for glimpses 

 of truth in all the different religions that prevail. 



Professor H. L. Orchard, D.Sc. — We are indebted to Dr. Pope 

 for bringing befoi'e us, in a most interesting form, the figure of a 

 man who was assuredly no ordinary man — an earnest seeker after 

 the infinite spirit — a flash-light upon philosophic thought. I 

 thmk we all concur with the learned author in the closing 

 sentence of his paper — that at that time " South India needed a 

 personal God, an assurance of immortality and a call to prayer," 

 and in the providence of God this sage was raised up to meet that 

 need. 



Captain F. Petrie, F.G.S. (Hon. Secretary). — Before Dr. Pope 

 rises to reply may I say a few words ? I think we may con- 

 gratulate ourselves very much on the fact that this paper has 

 come from his hands. (Hear, hear.) There is no one in England 

 (if he will pardon me for saying so, and I am sure all will agree 

 who know him) who could so thoroughly and ably treat the subject 

 which he has taken up. I think we need not be uncertain of the 

 importance of such a paper, even in England. 



Some few years ago a paper "On the religion of Zoroaster" 

 was I'ead by a recognised authority on the subject {Transactions, 

 vol. xiii). On that occasion a member — Mr. J. Ferguson, of 

 Ceylon — used the following woi'ds : 



" Seventeen yeai^s' residence in the East has led ine to think 

 that one important point in the preparation for missionary work 

 is a knowledge of the religious beliefs of the people among 

 whom Christianity is to be taught, and a sympathy, so far as 

 possible, with precepts and doctrines not distinctly evil in their 

 tendency. I believe our most successful missionai'ies in the East 

 have been those who have not only learnt the language of the 

 people amongst whom they have laboured, but who have been 

 enabled to translate their sacred and other notable books, and thus 

 to know and obtain the sympathies of the enlightened among the 

 natives. I think that this paper will be particularly valuable to 

 Christian teachei's going to work in Northern and Western India, 



