{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 87,
  "chapterName": "1833. Bishop Wilson’s Circular on the Abolition of Caste Distinctions in the Church",
  "pageFrom": 118,
  "pageTo": 119,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 118,
      "ocrText": "118\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nThat your petitioners confidently rely on receiving from your\nHonourable House a full and final confirmation of the Act of the\nGovernor-General in Council abolishing the rite of widow-burning.\nAnd your petitioners will ever pray.\n87. BISHOP WILSON'S CIRCULAR ON THE ABOLITION\nOF CASTE DISTINCTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1833 A.D.)\nIn this circular, sent to the missionaries working in the Diocese of\nCalcutta on 5th July, 1833, Bishop Wilson gives instructions con-\ncerning the abolition of caste distinctions among Indian Christians\nunder their charge. The complete text is cited in H. Bower, An\nEssay on Hindu Caste, pp. 110-115.\nThe unfavourable usages to which I refer, arise, as I under-\nstand, from the distinctions of castes. These castes are still re\ntained; customs in the public worship of Almighty God, and even\nin the approach to the altar of the Lord, are derived from them;\nthe refusal of acts of common humanity often follows, -processions\nat marriages and other rites of heathenism are at times preserved;\nmarks on the countenance are sometimes borne: envy, hatred.\npride, alienation of heart are too much engendered; the discipline\nand subjection of the flock to its shepherd are frequently violated;\ncombinations to opposite the lawful and and devout directions of the\nMissionaries are formed-in short, under the name of Christianity,\nhalf of the evils of paganism are retained.\nThese various instances of the effect of the one false principle,\nthe retention of the caste, might be multiplied. They differ no\ndoubt in different places; in some stations they are slight and few,\nin others numerous and dangerous, many native congregations\nare, as I trust, free from them together, many have nearly accomp-\nlished their removal. I speak, therefore, only generally as the\nreports have reached me. I throw no blame on individuals, whether\nministers or people; it is to the system that my present remarks\napply, and it is in love I proceed to give my decision.\nThe distinction of castes then must be abandoned, decidedly,\nimmediately, finally; and those who profess to belong to Christ,\nmust give this proof of their having really put off concerning the\nformer conversation the old, and having put on the new man in\nChrist Jesus. The Gospel recognises no distinctions, such as those\nof caste, imposed by a heathen usage, bearing in some respects a\nsupposed religious obligation, condemning those in the lower ranks\nto perpetual abasement, placing an immoveable barrier against all\ngeneral advance and improvement in society, cutting asunder the",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 119,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n119\nbonds of humane fellowship on the one hand, and preventing those\nof Christian on the other such distinctions, I say, the Gospel does\nnot recognise; on the contrary, it teaches us that God hath made\nof one blood all the nations' of men; it teaches us that whilst the\nprinces of the gentiles exercise authority upon them, and they that\nare great, exercise authority upon them, it must not be so amongst\nthe followers of Christ, but that whosoever will be great amongst\nthem, is to be their servant, even as the Son of Man came not to be\nministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom\nfor man'\nIn the practical execution, however, of the present award, dear\nBrethren, much wisdom and charity, united with firmness, will be\nrequisite.\n1. The catechumens preparing for baptism must be informed\nby you of the Bishop's decision, and must be gently and tenderly\nadvised to submit to it. Of course the minister informs the bishop\nor archdeacon a week previously to the intended baptism of each\nconvert, agreeably to the directions given by my honoured prede-\ncessor in his charge delivered at Madras in November, 1830, this will\nafford opportunity for each particular case being well considered.\n2. The children of native Christians will, in the next place, not\nbe admitted to the holy communion without this renunciation of\ncaste, their previous education being directed duly to this amongst\nother duties of the Christian religion, no material difficulties will\nas I trust arise here.\n3. With respect to the adult Christ an already admitted to the\nholy communion, I should recommend that their prejudices and\nhabits be so far consulted as not to insist on an open direct renuncia-\ntion of caste. The execution of the award, in the case of all new\nconverts and communicants, will speedly wear out the practice.\n4. In the mean time it may suffice that overt acts, which spring\nfrom the distinction of castes, be at once and finally discontinued\nin the church whether places in the church be concerned, or the\nmanner of approach to the Lord's table, or procession in marriages,\nor marks on the forehead made with paint or other mixtures, or\ndifferences of food or dress whatever be the overt acts, they\nmust, in the church and so far as the influence of ministers goes, be\nat once abandoned",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}