Sir Edwin Arnold's Lecture.

Sander's Theatre was filled to its utmost last evening on the occasion of a lecture by Sir Edwin Arnold who chose as his subject, "The Upanishad." On being introduced by President Eliot Mr. Arnold said that he had little hope of doing justice to his subject but could not resist the opportunity of saying something about India. The word Upanishad is probably as unfamiliar to you all as to Alexander when he invaded India nearly two thousand years ago. On this occasion he sent a message to one of the native princes ordering him to come with gold and jewels or lose his head. The prince was unterrified and merely sent word to Alexander to come to him and learn wisdom. This prince was a follower of the Indian philosophers, who find in the beautiful recesses of the forest, charming with foliage and animal life, temples where they can retire and meditate.

Upanishad originally means "sessions" because the people were wont to sit in circles about the philosophers to learn of the doctrine. The ideas of the Upanishad were three in number. First, the existence of an eternal soul of souls; second, the invisible emanations from the soul, ill-understood, but known as mind; and lastly the method of arresting the migration of the mind and restoring it at length to the soul. This is a grander conception than any other ancient religion. These woodmen the Brahmins call God by three different names. "Sut," meaning being; "Chit," intelligence; "Anando," bliss or joy. Good authorities state that the Hindoo religion is dark and despairing, but this is not so. For this pessimistic idea springs not from despair but from disdain. In the spirit of divine ecstacy the Buddhist and Brahmin put aside pleasure of existence, trying to see the unseen. For when one was promised everything that life can give, he refused, but demanded the mysteries after death.

The second leading idea was the transmigration of souls. The Hindoos were lead by the natural scenery and life around to ask how animals learned to live unless by former experience. Mr. Arnold then related an anecdote of a child who fell and dropped some milk. The mother running to the child attributed the fall not to the carelessness of the child but to some mischief the child had done in its previous existence. The doctrines of this religion penetrates even to the daily life, that is in regard to marriages. Of the two hundred millions of people, there is not a single marriage of inclination. Among them father and mother are indifferent as to the husbands or wives of their children for they believe that all men's souls are but a part of the great soul. Hence the girles are wedded at six or seven years old, and go to live with their husbands at the age of thirteen or fourteen. In case the husband dies, the wife remains with her father-in-law, and is never reduced to beggary. The widow cannot marry again for she is thought to have lost her husband on account of some former sin, which must be expiated. These customs on the whole produce happy unions, and devoted families. The constant atmosphere of high moral thought also give the Indians gravity of manner and dignity.

In conclusion, Sir Edwin Arnold thanked the audience for their patient attention, and paid a graceful tribute to the college and the United States. He was enthusiastically applauded, for several minutes.