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REV. J. B. WHITING, M.A.. ON 



Discussion. 



The Chairman.— I do not think that I need detain you very long, 

 as this paper is sure to provoke discussion ; but I will express my 

 appreciation of the remarks of the writer of the paper as regards 

 the progress of Christianity in India — the country with which I am 

 most acquainted. The progress has been much larger than was 

 expected. At the last Census, in comparison with the one before 

 and with the population, it was much greater than it had ever been 

 in the past. It is not only to be measured by the direct progress — 

 the conversion of the people to the knowledge of the truth of the 

 Christian religion — but also in the indirect gain to the country 

 through the prevalence of Christian truths. In India especially we 

 see it everywhere, but we must not measure the progress of 

 Christianity by the number of nominal Christians. The way 

 is being prepared by the humanizing influences which accompany 

 the true Christian religion, for example, by increased attention 

 to the health of the people and to their comfort, as also the higher 

 position given to women, and the kindness shown to animals. 

 Much as we hear of the kindness of other races such as Brahmans 

 and Hindus, there is a great deal of cruelty due to want of know- 

 ledge and to ignorance. I consider therefore that a very great reason 

 why our rule in India is on the whole so successful, is the 

 humanizing influence of the Christian religion. The people them- 

 selves also are ready for the spread of Christianity. Some 36 years 

 ago I halted near a temple in the hills in Me war; I spoke to one 

 of the Sepoys and asked him why it was the temples about this 

 place seemed to be so very much neglected. " Well," he said, " what 

 is the use of going to temples 1 The English God is so strong, that 

 the poor weak gods of this country are helpless." 



That is one instance of the general opinion of the poor, and such 

 ideas are prevailing amongst many, especially amongst the aboriginal 

 tribes. Progress is somewhat hindered now, because when there is 

 a very strong Protestant mission it becomes, said a Eoman Catholic 

 friend, the duty of our Church to stop it. It is not the duty of the 

 Eoman Catholic church to go in for extensive propagandism, but 

 whenever the Protestants have made a successful mission it is the 

 Koman Catholic's mission to put their converts right. But there are 



