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Life and Writings of Father Beschi. 



[APEIt 



not trained, that the cause of Christ may, even at the risk of their 

 health, and other bodily discomforts, not meet with any obstHcle on 

 those scores. 



The most valuable Missionary of the Society of Jesus, the Reverend 

 Father Roberti Nobili, perceiving that the high caste people of this 

 eountry had an aversion to the Christian religion, under an impression 

 that in embracing it they would be lowered in the eyes of their heathen 

 relatives, and the intercourse between them in consequence discon- 

 tinued, and if discontinued nothing could equal such degradation, he, 

 our Christian champion, spared no pains in discovering a method of re- 

 moving such impression. He was so far fortunate as to find out that it 

 consisted in the manner of living, and this among the Hindoos was of 

 the most harmless and simple nature, and nowise inconsistent with 

 Christian principles, inasmuch as it required only an innocent change 

 by the Christian preacher of his habit and diet to that of the native 

 priesthood. These, though not contrary to the principles of the gospel, 

 yet being in a worldly point of view both unprofitable and prejudicial to 

 health and comfort, were yet readily assumed by our divines, whereby 

 they had the happiness of bringing over to Christianity, not only many 

 men of high caste, but through their means whole Indian tribes. 

 Under these circumstances it must be evident that the assumption of 

 such habit, &c., was caused purely by an ardent desire of promoting th« 

 cause of Christianity, and not to obtain any worldly advantage. 



As the Jesuits became thorough masters of the languages of the 

 country, and the authors of admired compositions in it? they were 

 therefore qualified to wear the costume of the priests of the country, 

 and to preach with eloquence and persuasive effect, convincing and 

 delighting the natives themselves in the language of the country. 

 Moreover the books of the Jesuits are read by the Hindoos in general 

 with pleasure, to this day, because they are so elegantly and skilfully 

 adapted for inculcating and recommending the Christian religion. 



What prevails as rank among Europeans, may m a manner be com- 

 pared with the caste of the natives. However, there is a difference 

 between rank and caste ; because if any European of high rank asso- 

 ciates and eats with a low man of his nation, the former cannot be 

 degraded into or become a man of low rank, as the Europeans have 

 never had any distinction of caste, either before or after they embraced 

 Christianity. The natives are differently situated. If a Brahmin or 

 other high caste native associates and eats with a low caste man of 

 his country, the Brahmin will be considered as having become a low 

 caste man, there being separate sorts of foods for the different castes 



