Edward Hoare

“ I can imagine it possible that after this experience of heathenism there will be any more deference paid to its horrid idolatry by Government; and I pray to God that his Church may rise an one man to the deep sense of its sacred trust; that we may all be brought to a deeper personal knowledge of the love of Christ, and each one act more conscientiously than he has ever yet done, under the steady recollection of India’s claims and England’s stewardship. ”

“ The parent is a steward; and what a stewardship it is to be entrusted with the training of immortal souls for the kingdom of the Lord! The rich man is a steward; his property is not his own, but he is entrusted with it in order that he may lay it out for man’s happiness and God’s glory. ”

“ Such is the spiritual condition of vast regions in India at the present time. According to the language of an able writer, “Some of the finest and most populous parts of the country are altogether neglected, or, if not neglected, supplied at the rate of one missionary to a million or half a million of people, scattered in great districts! Let any one study the map of India, and allow his eye to affect his heart. ”

“ But much has been done in India in the way of education. Large schools have been established at the expense of Government, and a great effort has been made to elevate the standard of intellect amongst the natives. But here again there has been the same fatal principle of indifference, I cannot say of neutrality in religious matters. The education given in those schools has been secular not Christian. ”

“ Dearly as we love the prosperity of our land, thankfully as we recognise the many beneficial changes that have been effected by British power, fervently as we hope for still greater results when the present crisis has passed away, yet if there were antagonism between all this and the Lord’s Kingdom, there must not be one moment’s hesitation as to the verdict of the Christian man. ”

“ Who can be surprised, then, if the pupils in those schools grow up without scriptural principles? And are we not reaping the fruit of our own seed when such a wretch as Nena Sahib, who is reported to have been one of the pupils in these very schools, teaches us, by his foul acts, the awful atrocities of which educated human nature, without the grace of God, is capable. ”

“ There has been a great country with its teeming millions. There has been the most perfect personal safety. The missionaries could travel from north to south without a danger. There has been a peaceable population ready to discuss, and regarding with respect the British name. There has been, in short, for the last forty-four years the noblest and most magnificent opportunity for Christian Missions that the world has ever witnessed. ”

“ The Jewish nation, for example, was the steward of Scripture: “Unto them were committed the oracles of God;” and whatever be the particular power or privilege of a nation, that power or privilege is a talent, or stewardship, to be employed in the service of Him who gave it.
Now, if ever there was a case in which this stewardship was conspicuous, it is in England’s relationship to India. It was placed in our hands by God himself. When our merchants first settled on the banks of the Hooghly, there was no thought of territorial possession. ”

“ The one defence that has been constantly put forth has been that we must not endanger British power by offending heathen prejudices. It has been thought that the open and honest avowal of our Christianity might alarm the advocates of idolatry, and so endanger English rule.
Now, I believe that nothing can be more fallacious than such an opinion. No man ever yet gained anything in the long run by holding back his principles. ”

“ And so with funds: we have been content to give an annual guinea, or perhaps much less, and then leave the whole great work to others. There has been very little self-denial for God. How little have any of us ever given up for India’s good! ”

“ Was it not rather given in order that England’s p. 8light might shine in India’s darkness; that heathen Asia might have Christianity presented to its view, and that the millions of that vast empire might be brought under the blessing of a Christian government, and favoured with that which is the highest gift within the reach of man, the clear exhibition of Christian truth? I believe it may be safely said, that throughout the history of the world no nation was ever yet favoured with so noble an opportunity, or intrusted with so high a stewardship. ”

“ Before that date several had actually been sent away by the authorities of Calcutta, and in order to pursue their labours, were compelled to take refuge under heathen governments. So completely did we forget our stewardship that, for more than half the time we have held it, we did not even allow God’s missionaries to attempt their work among the millions committed to our charge.
But our treatment of the Sepoys has been worse still. In them we have had a body of men entirely under our orders, separated very much from the rest of society, living in lines completely under our own control. ”

“ Until a very recent date the Government has not merely maintained some idol temples, but paid the expense of the idol worship, not merely paying the priests, but actually going one step further, and providing the payments for the abandoned females who are connected with the idolatrous rites. Such honour has the Indian Government paid to idolatry, that British troops have been ordered out, under British and Christian officers, to fire salutes in honour of foul and filthy idols, such as Juggernaut. ”

“ They have appealed for money, and appealed for men, and appealed for prayers. They have urged upon us the awful necessities of millions of perishing heathen, and pressed on our attention the noble opportunities and most solemn responsibilities which we have received from God. The neglect has been with ourselves. The responsibility cannot be shifted upon others. We have not responded enough, either in men or money. There have been plenty of young men for the army and the civil service. ”

“ Because the people of the country trust him as they do no one else, and he can make purchases when others fail. Here is a man that has been never seen but with the Bible in his hand and the Gospel on his lips; a man who has attacked Hindooism openly, in the streets and in the bazaars, and he is the man best trusted by the native population. ”

“ Remember, again, that India contains many large, powerful, and warlike nations, and you will see that there must have been a power far beyond the hand of man which has enabled a little handful of Englishmen to hold under control so large a proportion of the inhabited world. As the Lord gave the stewardship, so the Lord has likewise preserved the power. ”

“ He may patch up a difficulty for a time, but it will tell upon him with increased power afterwards, and then he will have to meet it, distrusted by his fellow men, and forsaken by God himself. Oh! brethren, if you ever wish man to trust you, be honest to your own principles, and remember the words of Scripture, “Them that honour me I will honour.” ”

“ Christ must be honoured at all costs; and God forbid that England ever hold a sovereignty either purchased or maintained at the awful price of the suppression of our principles or the keeping back of God’s truth!
Here lies, I believe, the root of this sad calamity. The contrary has been in many cases our decision. England’s power has been preferred to the Lord’s kingdom. We have forgotten our Stewardship. We have not held India by Him or for Him. We have relied on our own arm, and have governed for our own p. ”

“ Around Meerut there is a district containing 3,300,000, for which there were four missionaries. Around Bareilly, a population of 4,400,000, for which there was not one. Around Delhi, a population of 1,500,000, and not one, although a Mission has since been established by the Society for the Propagation of p. 22the Gospel and another by the Baptists. But up to the year 1853 there was not one. And so again at Lucknow. The Government has for years been friendly to us, the whole kingdom of Oude has been open to us, and for the last two years it has been under our own dominion. ”