“I am one of their race. I know their condition. I have been down among them, and for years have seen their degradation, and have assisted them in various ways. Seeing that the church did not attract them, and did little for them, and that they were going from bad to worse, I started this club, believing that I had as much of a divine right and commission to do so, as any man or men had to start a society called a church. I am most happy in believing that if God ever sanctioned anything, He has bestowed His blessing upon us. I have no doubt of this. The change already seen in the condition of these people is wonderful. They have a clean, beautiful place, which they can be proud to call their own, to which they can resort without fear of being considered intruders—a home to them where they can be free from degrading influences. There are plenty of good books and papers, music to attract them, and in which they are instructed. There is the best of food and drink that the poorest can afford to purchase. Their ambition is stirred, their energy increased, their pride and self respect stimulated, and every tendency given to lift them up and make them better. What is this but God’s work? Besides all this help is not for one day in the week, but for every day and night.
“We go further than the church in many things, but especially in this, ours is a strictly temperance association. Every one among us is urged and required to be a total abstainer from all intoxicants. This is one of our chief principles, and is lectured, practiced and talked about, until it has permeated every life. If our enterprise has done nothing more than this, it is worth all it cost. You cannot talk in favor of temperance when you take liquor yourself, nor can you preach on total abstinence to your people in church, so how can you reach these people on that subject?
“Shall I tell you what was said in regard to you? Several of our younger men thought that our rule about drink was too rigid, and one of them said, ‘Why, the Chaplain takes wine and beer.’ I told them that we were to govern ourselves regardless of what other people did.”
He winced under this, for it was a common report that he was more often under the spirituous, than under spiritual influence. As from his office he should be a seeker after truth, I thought best to give him a little of it. I was surprised that he made no answer to this, but asked, “Would it not have been better for you to have worked with the church and had its influence to aid you?”
“When—how?” I quickly asked. He said, “I would have been delighted to assist you, and some of my people would have done the same.”
“Yes,” I replied, “they would have favored us with their presence, to direct our affairs, domineer over us, patronize us and give us advice as if we were a lot of paupers in an alms house, or charity school children. There has been already too much of this. No, the better plan is to let these people be separate and govern themselves.”
Then he inquired: “Is not that creating a class feeling and a spirit of caste?”
This touched my tenderest spot. I instantly grew hot, and abruptly asked: “Who began this class feeling? Who created this caste? It ill becomes you, one of the dominant race that is responsible for the creation of these people, who always sneer at them and oppress them in every possible way, to ask such a question. Take myself, for you called me an Eurasian. I am one, a half caste, but who made me such? An Englishman, a member of your church, took a Mussalmani, my mother, not as his wife, but as his mistress, deceiving her with a promise of marriage. When he saw fit, he threw her aside to die of a broken heart, and left two of us, his children, to starve for all he cared. Who made me a half caste, who started this class feeling in me, but that distinguished gentleman, my father?”
He stopped me suddenly by saying that he had no intention to be personal or cast any reflection by using that word. Such gentlemen are always innocent after the mischief is done. “’Tis like a pardon after execution.”
I concluded to say nothing more. He had listened to me with that bland suavity of manner, that assumed superiority of race, as if he was dealing with a simpleton, or a truant school boy, or that anything I might say was not worthy of his notice. I waited with repressed scorn while he continued to talk of the church, its divine origin, its divine ordinances, as if God was shut up within its walls, and nobody could have access to Him except through its doors or through the mediation of its priests. It was the church, and nothing but the church, as if it was the only divine infallible thing on earth, and he was one of its infallible popes.