The Central Presbyterian

Prospects in India.*

The prospects of the Church of India are brighter than at any previous period. The Church seems to have passed that early stage of which St. Paul said: "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called." Of Hindooism it is doubtless true, as it was of the old paganism, that God hath chosen the weak things, the base things, the despised things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things which are. But while no flesh may glory in His presence, we may rejoice that as years pass on Christ shows his power as of old to yoke all that is wise and noble and great to his triumphal car—that kings are wise, and judges are instructed to serve the Lord with fear." Brahminism has sent its brightest ornaments in Krishna Mohun, Banerjea, and Pundit Nilakantha Gore, now ministers of Christ. Cultured teachers of government schools like Gunga Ram and Professor Ramchunder, of Delhi; distinguished University graduates like Kalee, Mohun Banerjea; Government clerks enjoying large incomes like Behari Lal Singh; deputy magistrates like Tarini Churn Mitter, have either sacrificed much to preach Christ to their countrymen, or as judges, merchants, and physicians, commend the truth by their lives, and seek to propagate it by their purses and their pens.—Not less remarkable are the recent converts in Upper India from Islam. Of the Moulvies, who conducted the controversy with the late Dr. Pfander at Agra, three have yielded to the truth of Christ, and of these two are very learned men—Moulvie Safdar Ali, of Jubbulpore, and Imad-ood-deen, who, before his death, was enabled to write one able work for his former coreligionists, and was ordained by the Bishop of Calcutta.

* From a pamphlet by Rev. George Smith, late Editor of Friend of India.