Page:The Modern Review (July-December 1925).pdf/475



ever your conscience tells you to be, just do it courageously, regardless of the consequences involved.”

Sir Ramkrishna was in our opinion the greatest religious reformer produced by the Bombay Presidency in modern times. He was one of the founders of the Prarthana Samaj of Bombay, and he rendered much help in preparing its Trust Deed. Since his arrival in Bombay in 1869 from Ratnagiri began a ministry which practically continued till within a few years of his death. His services to the cause of Theism in Western India are unequalled. By his personal example, by his spotless character, by his sermons and lectures, by his writings and speeches, by his Kirtans, he has served the cause of the Samaj as no living man has done. Dr. Bhandarkar was one of the greatest exponents of the Bhakti School, but his Bhakti had the element of reason in it and was therefore free from the tinge of irrationality and morbidity. He preached directly and plainly and was never in the habit of mincing matters. “Without religion of the right kind” all was vain. He believed in prayer and family services and paid no lip homage to them. His prayers were soul-stirring and those who know say that it was an experience never to be forgotten to see this great patriarch conducting a family service under his own roof with his numerous children and grand-children sitting round about him. Those who have had the good fortune of listening to his sermons and Kirtans in the Samajes in Bombay and Poona will not fail to remember with gratitude the great service rendered by him to the cause of Theism on this side of the country. They will also realise now more fully than ever before, what a source of inspiration Sir Ramkrishna’s example and precept have been to them to live nobly and religiously as he did.

Sir Ramkrishna’s writings and speeches on various subjects are in print and have been read by different people with different objects in view. To us the volume of his sermons, which had gone through three editions now has been the one inspiring book of all. Writing about this book of sermons, the late Sir Narayan Chandavarkar said, “To have this gem by your side with another gem of its kind—Martineau’s Endeavours after the Christian Life—when you retire into the sanctuary of devotion; to open and light your eyes on any of its pages, and read and brood over it for say fifteen minutes a day and then to bow down and pray to Him who is the type and Symbol of Eternity—this is an invigorating tonic to the mind, a sanctifying