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Some of the members of the Brahmo Samaj learning somehow of my intention to accept Christianity made a friendly approach and tried to persuade me to become a Brahmo Samaji. I was assured that I would get all that I expected to find in Christianity without completely renouncing Islam. I was supplied with a large number of books on Brahmoism, and on the unitarian interpretation of Christianity. I went through them very carefully, and went often personally to see the Brahmo friends, who took great pains to explain to me the tenets of their belief and to refute the doctrines of the Church. They always insisted that what they refused to accept was the teaching of Churchianity and not those of Christianity. I was introduced to the venerable and saintly man, the late Pandit Shiva Nath Shastari, and was invited to attend their morning devotion in Devalaya of the Shadharan Brahmo Samaj at Cornwallis Street, which was not far from my house. I attended the services of the Brahmo mandir long before I had the opportunity of attending a Church service. Some of the sermons preached in Devalaya were a source of great inspiration to me. I can still recall to my mind a sermon preached on Good Friday in the temple, it compares favourably with any Christian sermon preached on that occasion. I also
went through the printed lectures of Keshab Chandra Sen and I learnt a good many beautiful things about Christ from them. Nevertheless the Samaj did not seem to give that satisfaction for which my heart was longing. My heart was ablaze for the love of Christ and nothing would satisfy me, but to become His follower by openly confessing Him and professing His religion which was Christianity. The teaching of the Holy Ghost as found in the New Testament and His manifestation on the day of Pentecost, and the fact that the Christians were in possession of the Bible containing the teachings of Jesus and those of His disciples, all clearly indicated beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Christians were the followers of Jesus and not the Brahmos. My loyalty to Christ and to His Spirit demanded my acceptance of Christianity and not that of Brahmoism. In some respect Brahmoism appeared to me to be a half-way house to Christ, but I was determined, under the Divine grace, to go to all lengths to follow my Saviour.
Table of contents to How a Sufi Found His Lord
