按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of the people； translating the Bible into all the languages of Southern and Eastern Asia； teaching the young； both heathen and Christian； both boys and girls； in vernacular schools。 But Carey had not been a year in Serampore when； having built well on all three； he began to see that a fourth must be laid some day in the shape of a college。 He and his colleagues had founded and supervised； by the year 1818； no fewer than 126 native schools； containing some 10；000 boys； of whom more than 7000 were in and around Serampore。 His work among the pundit class； both in Serampore and in the college of Fort William； and the facilities in the mission…house for training natives； Eurasians； and the missionaries' sons to be preachers； translators； and teachers； seemed to meet the immediate want。 But as every year the mission in all its forms grew and the experience of its leaders developed； the necessity of creating a college staff in a building adapted to the purpose became more urgent。 Only thus could the otherwise educated natives be reached； and the Brahmanical class especially be permanently influenced。 Only thus could a theological institute be satisfactorily conducted to feed the native Church。
On 10th October 1800 the missionaries had thus written home：〃There appears to be a favourable change in the general temper of the people。 Commerce has roused new thoughts and awakened new energies； so that hundreds； if we could skilfully teach them gratis； would crowd to learn the English language。 We hope this may be in our power some time； and may be a happy means of diffusing the gospel。 At present our hands are quite full。〃 A month after that Carey wrote to Fuller：〃I have long thought whether it would not be desirable for us to set up a school to teach the natives English。 I doubt not but a thousand scholars would come。 I do not say this because I think it an object to teach them the English tongue； but； query； is not the universal inclination of the Bengalees to learn English a favourable circumstance which may be improved to valuable ends？ I only hesitate at the expense。〃 Thirty years after Duff reasoned in the same way； after consulting Carey； and acted at once in Calcutta。
By 1816； when； on 25th June； Carey wrote a letter； for his colleagues and himself； to the Board of the American Baptist General Convention； the great idea； destined slowly to revolutionise not only India； but China； Japan； and the farther East； had taken this form：
〃We know not what your immediate expectations are relative to the Burman empire； but we hope your views are not confined to the immediate conversion of the natives by the preaching of the Word。 Could a church of converted natives be obtained at Rangoon； it might exist for a while； and be scattered； or perish for want of additions。 From all we have seen hitherto we are ready to think that the dispensations of Providence point to labours that may operate； indeed； more slowly on the population； but more effectually in the end： as knowledge； once put into fermentation； will not only influence the part where it is first deposited； but leaven the whole lump。 The slow progress of conversion in such a mode of teaching the natives may not be so encouraging； and may require； in all； more faith and patience； but it appears to have been the process of things； in the progress of the Reformation； during the reigns of Henry； Edward； Elizabeth； James； and Charles。 And should the work of evangelising India be thus slow and silently progressive； which； however； considering the age of the world； is not perhaps very likely； still the grand result will amply recompense us； and you； for all our toils。 We are sure to take the fortress； if we can but persuade ourselves to sit down long enough before it。 'We shall reap if we faint not。'
〃And then； very dear brethren； when it shall be said of the seat of our labours； the infamous swinging…post is no longer erected； the widow burns no more on the funeral pile； the obscene dances and songs are seen and heard no more； the gods are thrown to the moles and to the bats； and Jesus is known as the God of the whole land； the poor Hindoo goes no more to the Ganges to be washed from his filthiness； but to the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness； the temples are forsaken； the crowds say； 'Let us go up to the house of the Lord； and He shall teach us of His ways； and we will walk in His statutes；' the anxious Hindoos no more consume their property； their strength； and their lives； in vain pilgrimages； but they come at once to Him who can save to 'the uttermost'； the sick and the dying are no more dragged to the Ganges； but look to the Lamb of God； and commit their souls into His faithful hands； the children； no more sacrificed to idols； are become 'the seed of the Lord； that He may be glorified'； the public morals are improved； the language of Canaan is learnt； benevolent societies are formed； civilisation and salvation walk arm in arm together； the desert blossoms； the earth yields her increase； angels and glorified spirits hover with joy over India； and carry ten thousand messages of love from the Lamb in the midst of the throne； and redeemed souls from the different villages； towns； and cities of this immense country； constantly add to the number； and swell the chorus of the redeemed； 'Unto Him that loved us； and washed us from our sins in His own blood； unto HIM be the glory；'when this grand result of the labours of God's servants in India shall be realised； shall we then think that we have laboured in vain； and spent our strength for nought？ Surely not。 Well； the decree is gone forth！ 'My word shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it。'〃
India was being prepared for the new missionary policy。 On what we may call its literary side Carey had been long busy。 On its more strictly educational side； the charter of 1813 had conceded what had been demanded in vain by a too feeble public opinion in the charter of 1793。 A clause was inserted at the last moment declaring that a sum of not less than a lakh of rupees （or ten thousand pounds） a year was to be set apart from the surplus revenues； and applied to the revival and improvement of literature and the encouragement of the learned natives of India； and for the introduction and promotion of a knowledge of the sciences among the inhabitants of the British territories there。 The clause was prompted by an Anglo…Indian of oriental tastes； who hoped that the Brahman and his Veda might thus be made too strong for the Christian missionary and the Bible as at last tolerated under the 13th resolution。 For this reason； and because the money was to be paid only out of any surplus； the directors and their friends offered no opposition。 For the quarter of a century the grant was given； and was applied in the spirit of its proposer。 But the scandals of its application became such that it was made legally by Bentinck and Macaulay； and practically by Duff； the fountain of a river of knowledge and life which is flooding the East。
The first result of the liberalism of the charter of 1813 and the generous views of Lord Hastings was the establishment in Calcutta by the Hindoos themselves； under the influence of English s