{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 82,
  "chapterName": "1826. Bishop Heber on Casteism among Christians",
  "pageFrom": 108,
  "pageTo": 108,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 108,
      "ocrText": "108\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nhomage to Divine Majesty, or a better tribute to reason, than\nattempt to root out the idea that the omnipresent Deity should\nbe generated in the womb of a female, and live in a state of subju-\ngation\ntion for several years, and lastly offer his blood to another person\nof the Godhead, whose anger could not be appeased except by the\nsacrifice of a portion of himself in a human form; so no service\ncan be more advantageous to mankind than an endeavour to with-\ndraw them from the belief that an imaginary faith, ritual observances,\nor outward marks, independently of good works, can cleanse men\nfrom the stain of past sins, and secure their eternal salvation.\nSeveral able friends of truth in England have, in like manner,\nsuccessfully engaged themselves in the most laudable undertaking.\nFrom the nature of her constitution, however, these worthy men\nhave not only to contend with the religious prejudices of education\nin the popular corruption of Christianity; but are also opposed\nby all the force which the Established Church derives from abundant\nrevenues appropriated to the sustainers of her dogmas. Happily\nfor you, it is only prejudice, unarmed with wealth and power, that\nyou have to struggle with, which, of itself, is, I must confess, a\nsufficiently formidable opponent.\nYour country, however, in free inquiry into religious truth,\nexcels even England, and I have therefore every reason to hope,\nthat the truths of Christianity will soon, throughout the United\nStates, triumph over the present prevailing corruptions. I presume\nto say, that no native of those States can be more fervent than myself\nin praying for the uninterrupted happiness of your country, and for\nwhat one cannot but deem essential to its prosperity-the perpetual\nunion of all States under one general government. Would not\nthe glory of England soon be dimmed, were Scotland and Ireland\nseparated from her? This and many other illustrations cannot have\nescaped from your attention. I think no true and prudent friend\nof your country could wish to see the power and independence at\npresent secured to all by a general government, exposed to the risk\nthat would follow, were a dissolution to take place, and each state\nleft to pursue its own resources\n82. BISHOP HEBER ON CASTEISM AMONG CHRISTIANS\n(1826 A.D.)\nThis letter, written by Bishop Heber to C. W. Williams Wynn on\nMay 26, 1826, from the Carnatic, describes the retention of caste atti-\ntudes among Christians in that area and in Sri Lanka. Cited by G. U.\nPope, in A Letter to the Tranquebar Missionaries Regarding Their Posi-\ntion, Their Proceedings, and Their Doctrine, pp. 6-7.\nThese people, however, Christians as they are, have preserved\nvery many of their ancient usages; particularly with regard to caste,",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}