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253 Story of an Emigtiant.
272
Attended a great festival at a masonic lodge where about one hundred
and fifty members of the order were present, among whom were
menofnear-lv every nationality and religion. The Master’s degree was conferred
on three brothers who knelt before the same altar. One was a Christian,
and took his obligation with the hand on the bible; one was a
Mohammedan, who took it with the hand on the Koran ; the third, a Hindoo, with
his hand on the Shastra. The obligation was dictated by an English lord,
judge of the supreme court, assisted by the secretary of the Grand Lodge,
my friend Rustomji, a Parsee and fire-worshiper. With the religious
intolerance in India, where all unite in hating the Christians, it is only
among the Free Masons, who know of 110 nationality, race or other
barrier, that such things are possible.
Visited the temple of the goddess Kali in a suburb of Calcutta. Kali is
the goddess of hate and vengence, and this temple is one of the most
celebrated in India. One hundred and fifty Brahmin priests officiate in the
same. The chief priest,
R o o n ish-Chunder-Mokerje,
was a 3roungman with
liberal education. lie had spent
several years in American
mission schools. His office
is held by inheritance. He
was a most agreeable
companion, well versed in
western as well as Sanskrit
literature. Once upon telling
him that I had an intimate
friend in Sweden who was a
Christian priest, he gave me
some pictures of the goddess
Kali and other idols to send
him with his compliments.
In return, I had the pleasure
a few months later to present
him with a Swedish Bible,
with his name in golden
letters on the cover, from my
friend, the Swredish minister,
which present. he cherished
very highly. This Bible is
now kept in the temple of Kali.
At my request Mokerje prepared a brief extract of the religious
doctrine of the Hindoos, which reads as follows:
17
THE GODDESS KALI.
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