{A review of a pamphlet by the same title.} [i]
The above is the title of a little pamphlet that has recently appeared in London. It contains a history of the assault perpetrated by the Roman Catholics at Columbo, Ceylon, upon an in-offensive procession of Buddhists, who were carrying fruits and flowers to their place of worship. It is written in very moderate language and contains all the official documents, which go to show, how a cowardly police stood by without interfering, how sectarian officials attempted to hush the matter up, how a Government officer was sent to see justice done, but being himself a Catholic, failed to do his duty, how the Buddhists appealed to the Government, and how after ten months of anxious waiting they obtained a promise of a revision of the Police Regulations which was benignantly held out to them in the indefinite future, how they applied for advise to Col. H. S. Olcott, and how he by presenting the matter before Lord Derby, the Secretary of State in London, not only obtained justice for the Buddhists, but the promise of other privileges, more than they dared to hope for.
The “Theosophist” of September 1883 contains a history of the assault, which was committed without the least provocation. At the ringing of the church-bells, the “Followers of Jesus” assembled, inspired by the spirit of Torquemada, excited by liquor and by “religions exhortation” to carry out the instructions οf Him, who said: ‘‘Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Math, x, 34.) The brown bodies of the ruffians were painted with the white sign of the Cross, they were armed with various weapons and behind them stood as protecting angels, superstition and ignorance, overshadowed by the satan of religious bigotry.
Justice in Ceylon seemed to be asleep and the murderers went free, unmolested, and even boasting of their crime; but it seems to be a peculiarity in Colonel Olcott’s character, that whatever he attempts, be always carries to a successful termination. By his efforts he succeeded in re-establishing the rights of the people and their confidence into the Government.
The Buddhist case ought to serve as a warning to all. Dogmatic Christianity is the religion of intoleration. The word Catholic does not signify to such Christians “universal love;” it moans for them that they must and will have their religion universally introduced, either by fair means or foul. They believe that their religion is the only true one and that it is their duty to spread it irrespective of material consequences. They act therefore only according to their “honest belief” if they promulgate it by fire and sword, and the Christian Church never gave up and never can give up its persecutions, except from want of power to put its will into action. “If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal. i., 9.) It will be well not only for the Buddhists but also for others to remember such “Bible” passages as the above. It will also be well for all to remember that the recent action: of Col. Olcott, and which was performed by him as a matter of love, proves that the object of the Theosophical Society, to establish a Universal Brotherhood, is not mere idle talk. The “brotherhood,” of which the “Christian” boasts, means in plain words: “If you will do and act and think as we Christians do, we will consent to call you brothers, but if you do not receive our words, it would be better for you if you had never been born.” (see Math. x. 14.).—The Theosophical idea of universal brotherhood is not only theoretical but practical, and the true Theosophist is always ready to assist his brothers, to whatever race or religion they may belong.
F. H.
Notes:
[1] The Government and the Buddhists in Ceylon. F. H. [Franz Hartmann, M.D.] {A review of a pamphlet by the same title.} The Theosophist 6, no. 12 (September 1884), 303. {This article was reformatted from the original, but with the content unchanged other than fixing minor typos, by Robert Hutwohl, ©2025}