LECTURE V.

EVANGELISTIC RESULTS AND PROSPECTS IN

INDIA.

"What

THE world ever and anon is heard to say, have missionaries done in India?" The echoes are caught up by the less believing members of churches; and they also respond in the tones of scepticism, "What have missionaries done in India?" Few can give a more definite answer as to their labours, and with more entire confidence in their great cause, than Indian missionaries. They have done much in every way. Their labours have told, directly and indirectly, on all the sections of the European community, and on all the native classes of Indian society. We propose to enter into detail.

1. They have, in a considerable degree, overcome European prejudice, and secured from high authority a testimony to their labours.

Prejudice to evangelistic operations was once virulent in the minds of Governors and their officials, who

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GOVERNORS OF INDIA.

constitute the majority of European residents. It pervaded their public acts, and disclosed itself in their published works. Only the faintest echoes are now occasionally heard of that powerful voice which, both from the legislative chamber and the press, fulminated against the missionary. The Governors of Presidencies have left on enduring records no weak testimony to missionary labours. Sir John Malcolm is said to have publicly gloried in the modification of his sentiments, as expressed in his political history of India. In his last work, The Government of India, he says,"The missionaries of the different societies established in Bombay have been most useful in spreading education. Several of these within the Bombay Territories are men as distinguished for their ability as piety; and, from the familiar manner in which they live and associate with the natives, have acquired a remarkable knowledge of their language and habits. This I have ever found them ready to apply to the reputation and strength of Government.”

Testimony of even a stronger character is contained in the following letter, written to the Bombay missionaries in 1830. "It is solely to their zeal and Christian humility, combined, as I have ever found it, with a spirit of toleration and good sense, that I owe any power I have possessed of aiding them in their good and pious objects, which, pursued as they are by the members of the societies who have honoured me with their approbation, must merit and receive the support of all who take any interest in the promotion

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of knowledge, the advancement of civilization, and the cause of truth."

Lord William Bentinck, than whom none contended more strongly for the neutrality of Government in all religious affairs, thus writes to the missionaries of Calcutta :-"The offer of religion in the schools of the missionaries is without objection. It is or is not accepted. If it is not, the other seeds of instruction may take root, and yield a rich and abundant harvest of improvement and future benefit.

I

would say to them [missionary societies], finally, that they could not send to India too many labourers in the vineyard, like those whom I have now the gratification of addressing."*

Further, the labours of Indian missionaries have served to elevate the character of European society. From the wild licentiousness and systematic ungodliness by which it was formerly distinguished, European society has advanced to a standard which may challenge comparison with that of corresponding classes in Britain. A "Calcutta Review," taking a survey of the past, and contrasting with it the present appearances of social and domestic life in India, affords general grounds of evidence that Indo-European society, in its general tone and character, is not behind that of our own country.

Missionaries have done their part, in conjunction with other agencies, to produce this blessed result.

* See Oriental Christian Spectator for 1839, published in Bombay, whence these extracts are taken.

L

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EUROPEAN CONVERSIONS.

By intimate converse with all classes, aud numerous indirect influences, they have infused into society an elevated tone of sentiment, and imparted to it sundry elements of improvement. Their periodicals have served to modify the character of the English press in India, have furnished to influential persons important moral statistics regarding the natives,-have laid bare monstrous evils in connection with the patronage of idolatry by the Government of the country, and urged faithful remonstrances. Their testimony has at times reached the ear, and in its due degree controlled the movements, of Governors and Councils.

Further, let European conversions testify as to the result of missionary labours. These have taken place from all classes of Europeans,-merchants, civilians, officers, and privates. What have Indian missionaries done? Ask the mother, who has received back her long-lost son, and, weeping tears of unutterable joy at his conversion to God, has said, "This my son was dead, and is alive again." Ask the sister, whose brother has in India come to the knowledge of Christ from the lips of missionaries. Ask the wife. Ask the friend. These several relatives shall say, with glowing gratitude,—"Such beloved ones engaged all our anxieties. We had little hope respecting them. Far away from all that might guide and restrain,-far from the sanctuary and ordinances of God, -they seemed to us almost beyond the pale of mercy, and the region of hope. But a missionary's voice reached them, a missionary's counsel touched them, and a

THE INDO-BRITISH.

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missionary's Lord brought them to himself in peniIndia is already a sacred land: its

tence and faith." scenes are already hallowed by the conversion of Britain's sons and daughters on her heathen shores. All that our native land has ever done for India has been amply compensated by the spiritual good which her own children have received there. What have Indian missionaries done? Ask the congregations of British people gathered at the Presidencies, over which the missionaries are ordained pastors, and whom they cheerfully support by their contributions.

Still further, let the Indo-British community give its important testimony. The native descendants of Europeans were placed in circumstances extremely perilous to their moral character and spiritual welfare. Removed from the sphere of English society, and occupying no honourable status among the natives from whom they sprang, their position was oftentimes one of great degradation. A great portion of them was deprived of the enlightened culture of domestic care, and those innumerable blessings which proceed only from an equal division of parental responsibility.

The native descendants of the Portuguese have already sunk, socially and morally, on a level with the Hindus,—in some cases below them. The same downward progress would probably have marked the history of the class I have now described, had it not been arrested by the efforts of missionaries and other