POLITICS AND RELIGION IN INDIA.

New Zealand Tablet, 28 April 1921, Page 18

POLITICS AND RELIGION IN INDIA.

■■ i. The Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford recently stated that out of every ten Indian Christians five are Roman Catholics, four Nonconformists, and one Church of England. That is a peg on which we have two hats to hang, one political and the other religious (says the Catholic Herald, of India). If Catholics are as numerous as all other Christian bodies together, it is surprising that to represent the Christians in the Imperial Council of State, Government has selected two Protestants. In a way the selection is technically correct, but the fact that wherever a Christian representative is j appointed, he is invariably Protestant, suggests that to the | official mind the word “Christian” in the Reforms Act * \ means “Protestant,” and that the designation “Roman ) Catholic,” does not mean “Christian,” which is technically wrong. It also means that the officials responsible for the \ appointments mistake the Thirty-Nine Articles for a political text-book, which is bad history; and select politically fit only those who are religiously fit, which is bad logic; and deem' none worthy of a seat in the Councils but \ those who believe in two sacraments, which is bad 'theology; and the whole thing ‘is a piece of wooden-headedriess which will alienate the feelings of two million Moderates, at a time when there -.are none* to spare, which is bad politics any .. way. /’ ‘ Now ,for,., the clergyman’s hat. The Bishop of Chelmsford inquires why there is only one Church of England man to every ten Christians. ; The speaker did well not to attribute the fault .to the missionaries, 4‘who had •-§ done magnificently in the face' of tremendous difficulties,” but was he right in blaming the laity for “their -apathy in the support of foreign missions?!’ We are rather inclined .i to think / that it is i the strongly national character of the | Church of : England.^that prevents .its: diffusion among other nations. Anyhow, the unfortunate anti-British feeling ,now * prevailing throughout India will do her ho good,-and she is \ & in I for a/ very critical time. .? But - whatever happens, ,the 1 Church of England must be loyal, and cling to the prin- I ciple that brought her into existence and supported her. v