| In no point does Hinduism differ from western | | | | from the traditions of the synagogue. These have |
| religions more than in its public worship and, in spite | | | | also served as a model for Muslim ritual which differs |
| of much that is striking and interesting, the | | | | from the Jewish in little but its almost military |
| comparison is not to the advantage of India. It is true | | | | regularity. |
| that temple worship is not so important for the | | | | But with all this the ordinary ritual of Hindu temples |
| Hindus as Church services are for the Christian. They | | | | has nothing in common. It derives from another origin |
| set more store on home ceremonies and on | | | | and follows other lines. The temple is regarded as the |
| contemplation. Still the temples of India are so | | | | court of a prince and the daily ceremonies are the |
| numerous, so conspicuous and so crowded that the | | | | attendance of his courtiers on him. He must be |
| religion which maintains them must to some extent | | | | awakened, fed, amused and finally put to bed.the |
| be judged by them. | | | | laity may be present and salute the god, such |
| At any rate they avoid the faults of public worship in | | | | worship cannot be called congregational. Yet in other |
| the west. The practice of arranging the congregation | | | | ways a Hindu temple may provide as much popular |
| in seats for which they pay seems to me more | | | | worship as a Nonconformist chapel. In the corridors |
| irreligious than the slovenliness of the heathen and | | | | will generally be found readers surrounded by an |
| makes the whole performance resemble a very dull | | | | attentive crowd to whom they recite and expound |
| concert. | | | | the Mahabharata or some other sacred text. At |
| Protestant services are in the main modelled on the | | | | festivals and times of pilgrimage the precincts are |
| ritual of the synagogue. They are meetings of the | | | | thronged by a crowd of worshippers the like of |
| laity at which the scriptures are read, prayers | | | | which is hardly to be seen in Europe, worshippers not |
| offered, sermons preached and benedictions | | | | only devout but fired with an enthusiasm which |
| pronounced. The clergy play a principal but not | | | | bursts into a mighty chorus of welcome when the |
| exclusive part. The rites of the Roman and Eastern | | | | image of the god is brought forth from the inner |
| Churches have borrowed much from pagan | | | | shrine. |
| ceremonial but still they have not wholly departed | | | | |