WHAT CONVERSION DOES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 46.

WHAT CONVERSION DOES.

Only by the Word of the Gospel.

IN that most excellent series of articles on India which the Cosmopolitan has furnished its readers by the facile charming pen and observant eyes of Julian Hawthorne, is one on "Beauty and Charm in India." From that we take the following observation, which clearly presents a truth worthy of consideration by religionists and religio-political reformers. In speaking of the cheerfulness of the people in their cheerless country, Mr. Hawthorne says:—

But, as I may have said before, there are two persons in every Hindu—the hereditary one, complicated with all the traditions and anomalies of his immemorial race; and the individual one, who, if you can detach him, is little more than a child. This truth becomes conspicuous in the converted Hindu. The curse of the Hindu is his caste superstition; to free him from that is like filtering water or oxygenating air—he becomes a different creature, a most gentle and lovable one, transparent as infancy itself. You would say that he had just been created [and so he has, 2 Cor. 5:17], and knew no law but love and obedience. It is conceivable that India may become the great Christian stronghold of the future; but there are comparatively few native Christians there now. Multitudes of them desire to embrace the faith, but are prevented by caste fear. The white invasion has done India good just in measure as it has been accompanied by genuine religious influence; so far as it has been commercial or indifferent merely, it has done harm. England has unselfishly done for India more, I think, than any other nation would do; but they have failed to give her an upward impulse, because they have feared to meddle with caste, which is the root of the whole trouble. Of course it would be much worse than useless to attempt to suppress caste by violent methods; the only way is to show the Hindus, by example, even more than by precept, something higher and better to supplant it."

But this England or any other nation can not do; it is only the power of the Gospel which can accomplish this.