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1905 ] Religious and Moral Education.
357 heir character. The general education of the kind would moreover, make its recepients better fitted for special study of the doctrines peculiar to each of the faiths It is better to have some elementa ry notious of religion and philosoply before studying the doctrines peculiar to the different faiths. If religious series compiled on the lines as suggested above were approved by the leaders of the religions concerned, there would be no serions difficulty in the way of Gevernment making some arrangeinents for imparting religious education in schools and Colleges. We may in that case confidently hope that Government would look upon religious education as a State concern. But we must pave the way for Government and show that we are agreed in this matter. I know this is a grand matter, and being insself a layinan in religious matters, necessarily put forward the idea with some diffidence for the consideration of those qualified to speak with anthority on the question. But if the scheme is found to be feasible, its advantages would be manifold. We see thousands converted to Christianity through the efforts of the European Missionaries to whose credit it must be said that they saved so many lives during the famine and who are doing so much in the matter of education. In the interest of the religions of the land and the spiritual well-being of the people, Hindus and Jains must cease fighting about the differences in the doctrines. They must, on the other hand, be able to make united efforts when necessary. They must for instance in tiines of famine make united and systematic efforts to alleviate the sufferings of their fellow-brothers. It would appear that a common religious education would be an important step in the interests of unity.
7-It is a pity that there must exist, in this progressive age, a wide gulf separating Swetambaris from the Digambari Jains. There are no serious differences in the religious doctrines of the two sections of the religion. There should be no difficulty in the way of a common religious education for the two sections of Jains. This would seem to be a comparativly simple matter. The two section's combined could do marvels in the matter of religious, moral and material advancement of the community. It is hoped that the luodable efforts of the leaders of the two sections to draw them closer together will be crowned with success.
