CHRISTIANITY AND CASTE.
11.0 THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR." J
Sta,—In response to Mr. Dyson's letter in your last issue, I have been nearly all my life in India, in the Madras Presidency, and understand the following to be the facts :—The Lutheran Mis- sionary Society do not insist upon the renunciation of caste on the part of those whom they receive as Christians ; the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel do not allow caste marks on the forehead, as i. dicative of Hindooiam, or allow caste to be shown as it used to be somewhat offensively in claiming precedence in such matters as receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but they do not absolutely insist upon the renunciation of caste as the Church Missionary Society do, and as Mr. Dyson evidently thinks inevitable, looking upon caste in some respects as a social distinction with which they have no right to interfere.
I have a recollection that there was a warm controversy on the subject in Madras about twenty years ago between the Chursh Missionary and the Gospel Societies, and I think they took, and have since more or lees maintained, the different views above stated. The Roman Catholics are more tolerant of caste
even than the Lutherans.—I am, Sir, &c., F.
[The Lutherans and High Churchmen doubtless defend them- selves by the example of the earliest Christians, who undoubtedly received many Jews who, though fully believing in Christ and obeying his laws, were not prepared to give up their tribal exclusiveness or their fancies about meats.—ED. Sja•etater.]
Previous page
