Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1905 Book 01

Author(s): Gulabchand Dhadda
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 2

J. S. Conference Herald.
January.
over the world within a short time. We have got telegraphic service through which news of long, long distances can reach us within a few hours. And, above all, we are free from those tur moils and disturbances of the highwayman which unavoidably attended upon our former sluggish journey by road. We have, as a matter of course, made a concomitant improvement in this branch of spreading knowledge and now our palatable views and opinions may be chewed, relished and digested by our brothersin-religion, spreading all over India and elsewhere, within a very short time of their being served from the kitchen. Our this service is not an innovation then but an improved recurrence of what had been compulsorily forgotten owing to unsettled times; and we fervently hope our brothers would adapt themselves to this time-honored measure and by honoring it, honor themselves.
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The next question may arise about the necessity and wisdom of adding to the number of the already existing periodicals. A review of such Jain publications counted on the fingers of one's hand, would make one feel ashamed of the very meagre number of such public organs which are the mouthpiece of society. The existence of a greater number of such impartial and instructive papers and their wide circulation throughout the whole Jain Community, of which they are the ornaments, would, in the long run, better our condition comparatively_earlier than any other means brought in vogue for the same. They are the speakingtrumpets of society and they help much in the formation of public opinion-so urgently needed for reform-towards eradicating evils and imposing sound principles for future guidance. Our best thanks are due to our Jain Contemporaries, who, in addition to other responsible duties to society, are often vehemently preaching the cause of the Jain Swetamber Conference and trying their utmost to improve, sometimes at self-sacrifice, the condition of their co-religionists. Our business would solely be the business of the Conference; and by our timely exertions, we would only be able to add a quota to what has already been taken in hand by our older Contemporaries. We hope our maiden attempt will meet with public approval.
The last but most serious question may be put about the fairness of conducting the paper to which our only answer is that we would avoid all party questions, and, so far as practicable, sectarian and political questions. We would always
deal with matters concerned with the Jain Conference and the welFare of the Jain Community.