THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE IN INDIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 215, 11 November 1859, Page 2

THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING FOR PEACE IN INDIA.

, (From the -%el%}rap\aqd Courier August 5.) The day of Thanksgivmg^for the vestoratiotMOf peace in India, was,- we are glad to say, • veiy solemnly, and religiously observed in Bombay "by people of all persuasions. v< The Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches were well filled, and services in all, suitable and. becoming. At 7 o'clock p.m., the Jewish community "assembled at their Synagogue at 'Byculla,' and offered up prayers prepared.by. their Babbi the Rev. Mr, $amuel, !i^OGm?orinity with the Ratification issued by the right honorable the GovernorGeneral; The Synagogue was welt filled, a&djhe earnestness of the Rabbi; was only equallediby the fervour, and zeal of bis congregation/ xytyrr? . The devotions of the, natiyes; wei'e,; However, ■■: the grand features pf Thursday's; solemnities,; and the Parsees, first and foremost of the Asiatic 'race in all exhibitions of loyalty to their gracious Sovereign,.assembled\m numerous bodies at the fire-temples of Hormussjee Bomanjce Wadia,- and Gdwasjee Byramjee,, to offer up prayers for' the restoration of peace: -and-''tranquillity'.:in her* Majesty's Indian dominions,. ' ,Th? ;glow,' bf-^loyalty could riot have shown brighter, than was -depicted on the countenance of each Parse'e present in) their temples. The Mobeds and priests having 'gbne through the preliminary ' religious cefemonies| in the former temple Cowasgee/ Jehangeerißeadimoney Esq., then, on behalf of the whole assembly called upon Sorabjee -Jamsefjee Es'q.| the youngest son of the late Sir Jamsetjee, Jejeebhoy Baronet; to read the prayer which he (Mr. Sorabjee) "fhad previously prepared at the request of some of* "the leading members of the community. Before reciting the prayer, Mr. $o>'abjee briefly, but ;elp^ueiftly addressed assembly present, on the^suhjecj; which had called them together, and after thanking them for their zeal and loyalty to the Government which the numerous assembly attestec!, read the prayer which..he hjd prepared, in an audible*and irap^asip tpne ? -ty; ifjujph tlie > whole assembly .jdine/J in a ma^n^'fee^t tibg the solemnity oj^ the occasion.— ye subjoin tljetraiisjafipn an 4 capno| help remarking on 4he excellency ojttlie composition. ' ■-■,"•■ \ ' '. ' ".' \' ' ''. '' .'■■, '/ ■'•- " Lord, God Almighty ! from everlasting to everlasting thqu afi G^d.^TJiou .art the r only [living and it ue God -j there is none like unto-thee; neither' is there"any Gfod Besides', tliee'!' > Th'oii art 'the blessed and the only Potentate,; Tliou hast''se&thY throne' in the-heavens, and thy kingdom Tuletfy fjver a}l| tj^qu dqsj;thyspyerpigpw^linthpai r ßiieg of heaypiij and amo|jg§fc fhg jnhabjt^nt§ #||ie earth; none pan stay-tlurie I^nd^ ripy say uptp, ihp What doest thou ?• Tho'uayfc'aspkit—infinite, eternalj' and ■ unWliangeable,' glorioxis in holiness, doing wonders! We present ourselvea before thee at this time as thy worshippers, and. we "desire to worship thee in spirit ant! Iri truth.—lt' becomes us,to lie infinitely low before thee"; for we'have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight we have become gujltyj we are ppt WPrw' so much as to lif^'up'oui.^eyes ujito heaven.—Bjit we know thqii1 art love—thou " &vi ready fo forgive^apd' ptehteoiii in niercy''jtci" all tljg^; ,tl|at', cajt uj3orj '"tti^e.~W^ therefor'© appffl§c}i wijEh' humble bblaness'tp" thy tl}rpßeofgFa^.~Jnthe:n>ujt}tude of thy tendeV mem^ we pQ]n^ at' t!ii§ tjnis tp poyr hearts unto thea in tnanksgivingj for in tbp;mi4^| of dc s served wrath,: thou hast vemembered mercy.; By our forgetfulness of Jkhee, and by our slns, rwe;have incurred thine indignation and/ wrath.; and thou didst send a dire judgment upon our land, causing thousands to .fall by the edge of the sword, producing great distress .towards;the nation, land perplexity and raaking.all men's, hearts to fail them pr'feaiyahd for looking after, '(l>6.se'"tl)iqgs'w,h{qb, coming on |;heflat(d fi ,B.ut when. we.iljphwlei| ourselves under1 thy 'mighty hana- ■wfith ( ti6n,thpudid^t;tsrn' &Wsf thy'^r'ath'§nd'''{saus€! thy fapp to phjne:jip,Qn usj thpn didst 'n}apifest t.y.; power and,.^ioiry,;,f6r our Seliverancej'thovi 3st oomß"apd;wveiiW";"Tb6ii.'-h'wt:.iiow*re6tpred peace, and order,' and "confidence' throughput the land; and all abide uhderthy/sliadovv in Becurity and,prosperity.'.•-;Thou hastjV'moreover, done us great .goodi < by-.-g!Yi^''jaßVr§ia.;Frop.''heayen;''and fruitful seasons, jliing^pur^; hearts^ iwithibpliand ajladnessi • And now in View of all-thy wonderful toying■'lqftdn^-w.p:pfjjlhupon .our ; souls,and all Lh&t 5s ;i us,'■ to blesathy, holy name jwe prAis6 a^nttiaiik'Mn^^^air^hy-'bepefifs. Act!:ep't," 0' God,"ftje ofi«rihgs of - thanksgiyibg''^n<| jraiitude wl)ich'ye; j^^^^ &WtfM fvQipWm rthatwe ipay^muf :p eniQy thy-fijvpvjrj whlphiS lifp t apd |hy ioylngs «ndp,e§9, #j'ch ?§ bpftpv Jifp. W?PM fa? and. for ftllwho ire in authority^ that they may rule in thyr fear md we pray for the whole body "of the people, that v.c may lead.a quiet an(J^^ : pea9eabie.l{fe jn air,<Sod.iness and honesty. And now, .unto,.thee,, 0..<00d, >c praise and glory, for ever and ever. Amen" '■ After the usual religious coremonies; in the Fire pemple of Cowasjee Byramjee ? Esq., were qyer, |e'fijllo*in|'pfa^wls opted :.|yr f|ib P^esidin^ Ijfdestj^he' congregation reptotin| itvafter s him {^^ ■ Q l" Almighty :-soAy "^e/.tliy, pbpdient 'serrants^ Ipg'fif tfipp to : apcgp.i; flHrjpva^grg ;W hjch, r^, p.ffe^ ? jth a}\ mr mr% ffiv ftp Wmm* tfwmMhm titni hM restored ;to out gauntry,. Q! Tftew Qm» rpotent, so ordain, that this peace may: continue [>r ever and ever.? Cultivate mutual love towards ne an9fb?r IB the Jjearts of all the race that ioha* itthis country," and may the love we so warmly ear towards our most beloved Queen, descend, iMiHgh thy grace; to our childrenj and our counryr;ifß> gy^UtlJ^ tns. tQ $i§ toltifti Cl^viT,'feotitiliiie1 fiTJin'fcn^rfttion to gepetl ive 'togemer with' the Britons as |jfotftersvapd[ isters, and;. wi^H them; may We', through thy lcindU rajse ;oiif|e.iyeg to so1 high 'a;standard^ a4 tp essVyeall thyb|essjn^s thy gifts.' '£>}• rreaf J^qrgjver, forgivet us a|i purainSj apd lieay iiv"ppayersi 'a? Thou iFountatn of-Tdercy,. iftyg iercy upon us, and cause our Q,ueen to be always a' \ijind towards ua. 0! kind Father, m^^

always remember and pray to thee, and obey with all our hearts, all thy commandments. Amen! Amen! According to the announcement from the leading members of the Hindoo community, the Hindoos met in large bodies on the forenoon of Thursday, the 28th instant, at the Temples of Shree Moombadavie, and Shree Ramjee Girguann. In tHe former temple a large harbor richly decorated was erected for the occasion, to offer a thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the restoration of peace and tranquility to the Queen's dominions in India. Upwards of 1000 persons were assembled, composed of all castes and creeds of Hindoos. Brahminswere also deputed to all the temples of Bombay, to offer up prayers. After the prayer was ' over, alms were distributed to the Brahmins and beggars assembled. The congregation began to disperse at about 4 o'clock. There appears to be one universal feeling of heartfelt joy and delight amongst the Hindoos, at the success achieved over the rebels, as was manifested in the following prayer used on this occasion, in the temple of Shree Ram0, God! Thou art the destroyer of enemies. The Lord of the universe and munificent, there is no end to thy grace. Armies mutinied, and calamities ensued; children and women were tortured aud cruelly murdered. It appeared as it were that " Yama" (the angel of death) had been excited with anger. At that time, who became our protector, but Thyself.? (1) We became thy supplicants in all sincerity; sang thy -praises with melodious 'music, and we danced, resigned ourselves like beetles to thy feet; and placed our entire reliance on Thee. (2) Thou hast preserved thy' character as the protector of - thy worshippers, inasmuch as thou didst run to our assistance in the time of danger, and armed thyself and destroyed the wicked; how far can we describe the mercies thou hast conferred upon us. (3) We have given Thee trouble in various ways— thou hast taken upon thyself our burdens; now our constant prayer is, that thou wilt pardon and protect us in every way. (4) Let us erect flags and arches hung with festoons of flowers and leaves, arid let us with smiling faces lift up our hands and raise an acclamation of joy in the name of God. We have witnessed this blessed day. It is Thy doing. (1) The enemies have left off fighting and betaken themselves to m6untains and caverns for the preservation of their lives. Punishment has been inflicted upon some, and those who surrendered themselves have been set at large through clemency. The troops returned with shouts of joy, and quietly settled themselves at the appointed places. (2) When the drum of the great subject-protecting Queen began to beat, the thunder like noise of arms ceased of itself. We shall sing her praises arid pray to God. (3) This day all the people pray to God with great joy. Throughout Hindoostan, the Firmament will be filled with the sound of prayer. May this rule continue in perpetuity, and may God look on it with a favorable eye. (4.) We now beg all people to pray to God with sincerity. (1.) What a blessed day, He has shown us to-day by vouchsaring victory to the English. . (2.) Rebellion has been totally suppressed, and the Flag of victory has been hoisted upon the earth (3.) * : All the people have began to carry on their respective avocations in peace and happiness. (4.) Everybody knows the invaluable happiness we ©njoy under this Government. (5.) persons £t the head qf the Government are adorned with justice, mercy and p,ther good qualities.- (a.) The "si|mma,ry du.rs.hqk" (the poet) says. May we always enjoy this hippmess. (7.) 1 Our troubles are at an end. tpbie fruit of our very long and sincere prayers {q the Lord (the ocean of mercies) has been gained. (1.) ■ Rebellion is put down and Tranquility throughly established,' (2.) ' War is at art end, and the people have betaken themselves to peaceful pursuits. (3.) "«|lfag " (the p.Qet) says th.a.t the merciful God basset the people in the right path and our trouse.s.area.tanend, (4,) The horrible deeds perpetrated by the dogs, in the, shape.of enemies, are. not.fit for being heard by the good and honest, those who hear them, (with approbation) are cruel and wicked ' (1.) When this calamity took place, it occurred to many, that there was no other efficient remedy left for the poor than that of offering up prayers to Thee (2.) Under this impression, prayers were then offered to Thee as follows: —be gracious and blacken the faces of the wicked (3.) When the whole qf the firmament resounded wltti the cnefi^'"t^un Q'Ojcean'bf Jlprcies'-^Thy heart was affected; Thou 0 protoro,ftHepo,Qr (4,) , . Haviqg observed the calamities occasioned by the wioked. Thou respondedst to ths call of thy ler-vants, and freedat the country of fears and dangers by destroying all the enemies (5.) 0 God of the universe, extend they protection in the same Way to us, whenever we are in danger for a wise being should remove the fuel which burns the houses of his dependants (6.) The Goud, known as the Shenvee Brahmins, likewise congregated in large numbers, in the fronthall gf the 1 'tlnip^'at1 Completed crowded th& place..". A (lecture) by JBfari Rawa, one of their best pieaohers in Bombay. About 1 a.m., an appropriate prayer and thanksgiving was offered, and after the distribution of alms to the door, the whole assembly proceeded to the House of Dr. Bhawoo; Dajee in Girgaum,!* where Hindus of every sect. Saivas, and Vaishnavas, followers of Madhewa. Ramanujaand VullubnacharyaV3iip|Btrees, yaidjkß Jogis, &c, a^d a large nqniber of: tl^e educated yoij^ ? aVweli as th,V}eadinjs; number of Hjndp,p, gqqety, WW gaf^erpS. The political g^nfaß °i tbe Hindoos of the Presidency was laid under contribution, and beautifully printed hand-bills of poetical pieces suited to the occasion, composed in Gujarati, in Sanscrit, and a form of prayer and thanksgiving in Murathi' and English, were distributed in hundreds to the assembly. Each of the poets present stood up and read his .production loudly, making appropriate comments The assembly then stood up and the following prayer was offered in Mur^thpe. ' i 41miglity God!' '^riatqi: '$$ Ere^e.rv.er. ,p,f all of Be-ac^ an^ Jpver o| Qonpar^ J^^qre,a^4 WgniftT Thj gjQriqus N^mP, thfit hqq.hftit c^sed, war |q geasp. in. eui'- land, and Iftt TIJQU hft^ jeatored to. us.. the unspeakable blessings of Peace. We praise Thee for Thy goodness in shielding us from those miseries which designing and misguided men brought on the more diatanfc portions of the Empire, and that Thou, hast so firmly re-established among us, the nation Thou hast appointed to rule over us. We bless Thee that Thou hast in our sight ra.a^oßtfd Thy loving fa,vor to our ru]erV "We1 bwebh Tfyee |o jjoia the I;Jheßvt8l!ei oliV douritrymeri^ unto iKßni V^T*§3r wJs3om' idve'iii' us accov.4iog'; to' Thy, will. Turn the Hearts oMie malcontents: >yhol\y" unto i 2-such '^8 "ob,stinate.t£ r.6# • %m, Jr^ve from biferflWte' %W P,re '•%■s■&*'&&s {KhSA«2 AndW-Alnvghty Qodj 'egpev MWd<* we impure Thee §qlenwb t» lmpseas onTXir hmta the teachings of Thy late »vs, imlm^Mm^ keeping «aevw in qpfey feajT,

service, and love. 0, God! our only Creator and Eedeemer, bless us for ever I : The devotions of the afternoon were conducted with proper gravity and solemnity, and after the usual distribution of nosegays, the assembly dispersed at abont 3£ p.m.; highly pleased with what they had heard and done. A liberal distribution of alms to the poor, was not forgotten on this occasion.