In January 1830, the Raja (Rammohun Roy) founded the prayer meeting, above referred to, which is now called the Brahmo Samaj. Its building stands on the Chitpore road, at Jorasanko of this city, where the Brahmos meet every Wednesday evening for purposes of worship. The following extract from the Trust Deed, entered into and executed by certain members of the Sumaj, shews that people of all sorts and conditions, without distinction as to creed or color, may freely meet in the building for the spiritual and no other mode of worship of the Author and Preserver of the Universe:—
"To the use of the said Boykoontonath Boy, Radhapersad Roy, and Ramanath Tagore, or the survivor or survivors of them, or the heirs of such survivor or their or his assigns shall and do, from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, permit and suffer the said messuage or building, land, tenements, hereditaments, and premises, with their appurtenances, to be used, occupied, enjoyed, applied, and appropriated as and for "a place of public meeting of all sorts and descriptions of people, without distinction, as shall behave and conduct themselves in an orderly, sober, religious, and devout manner, for the worship and adoration of the eternal, unsearchable, and immutable Being who is the Author and Preserver of the Universe, but not under or by any other name, designation, or title peculiarly used for and applied to any particular Being or Beings by any man or set of men whatsoever, and that no graven image, statue, or sculpture, carving, painting, picture, portrait, or the likeness of any thing shall be admitted within the said messuage, building, land, tenements, hereditament and premises, and that no sacrifice, offering, or oblation of any kind or thing shall ever be permitted therein; and that no animal or living creature shall, within or on the said messuage, building, land, tenements, hereditament, and premises, be deprived of life either for religious purposes or food, and that no eating or drinking, (except such as shall be necessary by any accident for the preservation of life) feasting or rioting be permitted therein or thereon; and that in conducting the said worship and adoration, no object, animate or inanimate, that has been, or is or shall hereafter become, or be recognized as an object of worship by any man or set of men, shall be reviled or slightingly or contemptuously spoken of or alluded to either in preaching, or in the hymns or other mode of worship that may be delivered or used in the said messuage or building; and that no sermon, preaching " discourse, prayer or hymns be delivered,made, or used in such worship, but such an huve a tendency to the promotion of the contemplation of the Author and Preserver of the Universe, to the promotion of charity, morality, piety, benevolence, virtue, and the strengthening of the bonds of union between men of all religious persuasions and creeds, and also that a person of good repute and well-known for his knowledge, piety, and morality be employed by the said trustees or the survivor or survivors of them, or the heirs of such, survivor or their or his assigns, as a resident Superintendent, and for the purpose of superintending the worship so to be performed, as is hereinbefore stated and expressed, and that such worship be performed daily or at least as often as once in seven days."
The broad and catholic principle thus laid down for the observance of those, who assemble in the premises referred to, for purposes of worship, at once indicates that not the God of the Vedas of the Bible, or of the Koran, but the God of all of them, ie. the One Supreme Ruler of the Universe, to whom religionists of every and all descriptions pay homage, was intended to be adored by the Brahmos. But the mode of worship, adopted by Rammohun, led many to believe that the God of the Vedas and the Vedas alone was adored by them. That mode of worship was as follows :—
NEXT Adi Brahmo Mode of Worship.
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