Complaints have been made by high authorities, among others, by Dr. Murdock, (of the Vernacular Educational Society,) of the idolatrous and immoral teaching of some of the Text books used in the Government Schools and Universities. It is impossible to deny that there is sufficient to justify this complaint; and the existence of this evil is one proof among many of the impossibility of maintaining "perfect religious neutrality." There is surely a medium between making Government educational institutions proselyting, and ignoring Christianity altogether. There is some reason to fear lest even in Missionary schools the rage for neutrality and liberalism should interfere with their distinctive character. The supporters of Missionary Societies do not give their money that young India may simply be qualified to attain literary distinction and Government situations, but that the higher education may help to lead them to Christ. The Christian Vernacular Education Society has in this department done much for India. Within the last ten years it has issued 3,200,497 publications, "leavened with Bible truths, in all the fourteen principal languages of India, at a cost of £25,000," and has circulated these at 50 depôts, between the Himalays and Cape Comorin, by a staff of 50 colporteurs. About 11,200,000 copies of other Christian books were printed between 1860 and 1871 in India, by the 24 printing presses belonging to the various Missionary Societies. 8. Female Education.-24,078 girls are in the Indian schools, besides training and Zenana pupils. That one-third of the children in the Mission schools are girls, is a very important fact. The 1,300 Zenanas visited, and the 1,997 pupils thus brought under Christian influence, are proofs of the zeal and activity of our lady Missionaries and teachers. It is only by such efforts that the higher classes of the Hindu and Mohammedan females can be reached by the Gospel. [See page 62.1 N.B.-1. The returns from the Hermansburg Mission, the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist, and from the Isolated Mission, are very imperfect. 2. Students matriculated, 1621 : 691 Students of previous years received degrees of F.A., B.A., M.A., and B.L. 3. Total pupils, 122,372. [From page 59.] BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETIES. 1. The British and Foreign Bible Society circulates in North India 68,924 Scriptures and portions of Scriptures, at a cost of £1,776, and grants for colporteurs £100; in Southern India, 92,328 copies, at a cost of £1,414 ; in Western India, 11,974 copies, at a cost of £456: in all 173,226 copies. Total cost, (with grant to colporteurs,) £3,766. 2. The National Bible Society of Scotland has granted to Nagpore 365 copies of the Scriptures. 3. The American Bible Society has circulated in India 35,281 Scriptures and portions of Scriptures; cost, £1,445. 4. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has granted £2,000 to the Diocese of Calcutta, and £200 to the Diocese of Bombay. 5. The Religious Tract Society has granted for India and Ceylon 2,316 reams of paper, cost £830; and in money and books, £477: in all, £1,307. EDITIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES. 1. The British and Foreign Bible Society have published the following translations of the Scriptures Cashmerian The Bible. The Bible in four Versions. The Bible, the New Testament in three Versions, St. Matthew in Greaves's Version. St. Matthew. Genesis, part of Exodus, St. John. The entire Bible. The Bible in three Versions; also the New Testament in 3 Hindi dialects, St. Matthew in a fourth dialect. Edition of the New Testament; St. Luke also in Marwar. Editions of St. Matthew. Four Gospels and Acts. New Testament. The entire Bible, Genesis, and Psalms. St. Matthew. Pentateuch, Historical Books, and New Testament. Nepalese or Ghorka Dialects Four Editions of the New Testament. |