Page:Twelve men of Bengal in the nineteenth century (1910).djvu/148

126 meeting together of the most educated members of the community was at once productive of good results, giving them greater unity and interest in public affairs and adding a new direction to Muhammadan thought and feeling. The annual conversazioné, instituted by the Founder of the Society, was the first social gathering of its kind at that time and its effect in bringing all classes of Muhammadans together as widespread. On the occasion of the second annual conversazioné at the Town Hall the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Cecil Beadon, spoke in warm terms of Abdul Latif's work in connection with the Society. "By founding the Muhammadan Literary Society" he said turning to Abdul Latif at the conclusion of his speech "you have successfully led the Muhammadans, not only of Bengal, but of India generally, to look beyond the narrow bounds of their own system, and to explore those accumulated treasures of thought and feeling which are to be found embodied in the English language; while by your active and reasonable representations on many occasions you have led them to form a just conception of the policy and intentions of the government, and to express their opinion freely. In this way you have naturally promoted a good understanding between this class of the community and their rulers and fellow-subjects; and so far as the present altered state of feeling is owing to your active and liberal exertions, to the judicious exercise