Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/97

 VI.—CONCLUSION. That 'born prince' among the educated sons of India, that noble soul, the news of Whose translation to 'holier heights' has just been received in such 'divine despair' by the whole nation, observed at the last Madras Social Conference (1898) that the best test of the wholesomeness of the principles of social reform was to picture them to the mind as "writ large" on the society and to realise what happy changes would thus be made, and what abiding good would thus be wrought. Judged according to this wise canon, purity in personal, domestic and social life commends itself as the very key-stone of moral strength and national greatness. "Trample on woman," says a distinguished friend of this cause, "and you trample on your own moral nature. Respect woman, care for her, work for her, give her knightly shelter and protection, and you shall find the loftier emotions gaining sway in your heart, and touching your life to finer issues." "Whether you be young or