Cheit-Singh by Warren Hastings, that
opposition to the new _regime_ was seen to be hopeless, and the people
quietly submitted to their new rulers. So far as they knew the temper
and policy of the English, they might conclude their religion would at
their hands not only be safe from violence, but protected from every
attempt at proselytism. The policy which would have left Hinduism
undisturbed was successfully opposed by the Christian feeling of
England, and the way was opened for the Christian missionary into the
very fortress of Hindu idolatry. For this entrance we are not in any way
indebted to the mildness of Hindu religionists, but to the resolute,
persevering, courageous effort of men of God, who contended successfully
against the worldly selfishness which would have doomed the millions of
India to perpetual night.

[Sidenote: STREET PREACHING.]

We have observed that mission operations were tentatively begun in
Benares in the second decade of this century. The work was carried on in
a very quiet unostentatious manner. Some time elapsed before any open
aggressive effort was put forth. If Bishop Heber's counsel had been
followed there would have been no departure from the first timid mode
of action. He says in his journal, "The custom of street preaching, of
which the Baptist and other Dissenting missionaries in Bengal are very
fond, has never been resorted to by those employed by the Church
Missionary Society, and never shall be so long as I have any influence
or authority over them. I plainly see it is not necessary, and I see no
less plainly that though it may be safe among the timid Bengalees, it
would be very likely to produce mischief here. All which the
missionaries do is to teach schools, read prayers, and preach in their
churches, and to visit the houses of such persons as wish for
information on religious subjects." If the good man had lived a few
years longer he would have seen ministers of his own Church forward in
modes of action which he disapproved, and would doubtless have wished
them God-speed, as his successors in the diocese of Calcutta have done.
The Bishop of Lahore, Dr. French, took a prominent part for years in
outdoor preaching.

The missionary has of course met with opposition in many forms; the
opposition has often been keen and bitter, but it has not taken the form
of violence to person or injury to property. The Gospel has been for
many years proclaimed in the most public places in Ben