Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Proceedings of a General Conference of Bengal Protestant Missionaries: Held at Calcutta, September 4-7, 1855
Few subjects can furnish amore appropriate introduction to the discussions of this Conference, than the one which I have the honour to bring forward. The present is the first occasion, during the sixty years' progress of Protestant Mis sions in Bengal, on which the missionaries of all Societies, from the country as well as the chief town of the Presidency, have met to deliberate on their common affairs, and to endea vour, by bringing their experience into a common stock, to throw light upon each other's labours, and estimate the eihei ency of each other's plans. While, therefore, the proprietors of steamboats and railroads, or the members of mercantile firms, calculate the results of their speculations, and look with an eager eye to the annual dividends they produce, we too may, at the outset of our meetings, survey the fruits which have sprung from missionary labours, examine the condition and efficiency Of our systems of agency, and estimate from them the prospects which lie before us in future days. It is, however, no easy task to trace in detail the various classes into which those results are divided, and to keep out of them factitious elements. It is not easy always to distin guish actual fruits from those which are alleged, and mani fest results from those which are doubtful. The highest and most valued of all are patent to every eye: but others, of a minor kind, though leading to great results hereafter, lie somewhat in obscurity: and yet it would be neither wise nor just to our cause, to omit them as of no account. Some of these results are drawn directly and undoubtedly from certain well defined modes of operation: others are mixed up with the results Of other agencies, which are working in harmony with missionary operations, though independent of them. As an illustration of this we may notice the great improvement that has taken place in Bengal, in the character and conduct of European society. Undoubtedly missionary effort, both in Calcutta and the mofussil, has been concerned in that im provement, and individual proofs Of its usefulness can be given but that effort is only one out of numerous causes that have contributed to that great end. The ministerial labours of pious and evangelical chaplains in Government service have been signally blessed: but perhaps the greatest cause has been the vast improvement of society in England itself. Not only have residents in this country become better, but a large number of better men have arrived in the country and greatly contributed to raise the character of society at large. Other agencies also have been employed and it is impossible to calculate the exact value of each, in producing the common result. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
