In August, 1919, Mr. G. C. Ghosh of 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, made over to the University 3 per cent. Government Promissory Notes for one lac of rupees for the institution, in memory of his son, of a course of lectures on Comparative Religion to be delivered before the University of Calcutta according to appointment made at stated intervals of not more than three years, the lecturer to be appointed after advertisement in the celebrated Universities of the world. The donor stated that his desire was that the lecturer should, in dealing with the subjects of his lectures, endeavour to show that the highest ideal for man lay in love and service to his fellowmen according to the essence of the teaching and life of Christ, and that life lived under the guidance of this ideal constituted the highest advancement of human personality, the acceptance of a particular creed or dogma being of subordinate importance.

From G. C. Ghosh, Esq., 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, to the Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, Calcutta, dated the 10th March, 1919.

I am desirous of making over to the University of Calcutta 3 per cent. G.P. Notes for one lac of rupees for the following purpose :

The University is to appoint an eminent Savant by advertising to the celebrated Universities of the world to deliver a series of lectures in Comparative Religion quinquennially in the cold season in Calcutta, to be called Stephanos Nirmalendu Ghosh Lectures, whose remuneration will be paid from the 4 years' accumulated income from the above described Securities, after deducting from it the approximate cost of printing about 1,000 copies of his Lectures.

By a previous arrangement by the Calcutta University with the Lecturer, if he kindly so agrees and one or two other Universities in India so desire, he may deliver such lectures also in other places in India.

It is my desire that in dealing with the subjects of his Lectures it will be the aim of the Lecturer to show that the highest ideal for man is in unselfish love and service to his fellowman which is the essence of the teachings of Christ.

I shall be glad if my offer is accepted.

From G. C. Ghosh, Esq., 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, to the Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, Calcutta, dated the 11th March, 1919.

In continuation of my letter to you on the 10th instant regarding the foundation of lectures in Comparative Religion by me quinquennially in Calcutta, I desire to say for removal of any ambiguity that the lecture to be arranged by your University to be delivered in other places shall be after such lectures have been first delivered in Calcutta every time.

From G. C. Ghosh, Esq., 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, to the Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, Calcutta, dated the 28th April, 1919.

With reference to my previous correspondence regarding the Lectureship on Comparative Religion founded by me, I have the honour to request you to consider this letter as a part of the same for the future guidance of the University and the Lecturers to be appointed under the scheme.

(1) If the University thinks that quinquennial lectures would make the intervals too long for effect and that three years' income from the Endowment will be adequate for securing the service of the Lecturer, the lectures may be given quarternally and the three years' accumulated income may be availed of, instead of four years' as stated in my first letter.

(2) I think it would be well under the circumstances if Rs. 1,000 or so be spent towards the publication of the Lectures, instead of having a thousand copies of them published as suggested in my first letter, as I consider the latter measure would mean too much expense in view of the increased cost of paper and printing.

(3) As I have stated in my first letter I beg to state, in order to be more explicit that my object is to show the young men of my country that it is not meant that men's eternal welfare should depend upon any belief, the interpretation of a particular text or the acceptance of a religious creed but that he is required to love and serve his fellow beings whereby he would be able to live the life that is required of him by God. It is found that centuries of schools of thought and religious discussions have resulted only in hatred and persecution of those who have sincerely differed from the views dominant at the time instead of producing love and sacrifice which only are acceptable offerings to God.

(4) My object is not to show the superiority of a particular religion but to show that in the dealing out of man's unselfish love and service to man, i.e., in living the religion of love constitutes the highest advancement of his personality.

From G. C. Ghosh, Esq., 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, to the Registrar, Calcutta University, dated the 6th August, 1919.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated the 2nd instant intimating to me that my offer of one lac of rupees for founding a Lectureship on Comparative Religion to be called "The Stephanos Nirmalendu Ghosh Lectures" has been accepted by your University, and that any suggestions that I might make in its connection your University would take them into consideration and that one lac of rupees in Government Promissory Notes might now be sent by me to the University.

(1) I am glad that your University is willing to let the Lectures be founded by me on the conditions stated in my first letter and I am grateful for its acceptance of the suggestions made by me in my letter of the 28th April last and that it is willing to take any further suggestions that I would like to make about them.

(2) If the University will make the Lectures quarternial as has been desired by me in my letter of the 28th April last, the Lectures for the first time will be delivered in the Winter of 1922, and the interest of the Government Promissory Notes for 1919, 1920 and 1921 will be used to meet the expenses of the same.

(3) I trust your University will be so good as to arrange for all things I have desired in connection with the Lectures before they are delivered in Calcutta and elsewhere.

(4) It is my wish the Lectures should be delivered in a central academic place where a large audience is expected to gather by previous notifications in public places and in two public prints for the information of the Mofussil people.

UNIVERSITY LECTURESHIPS

(5) I think it would be well if the delivery of the Lectures be inaugurated and opened every year by a distinguished gentleman.

(6) I think it would be well also if some University authority will kindly be present during the delivery of the Lectures till their end to keep order at the place.

(7) I shall be obliged if you will inform me to whom I shall endorse over and deliver the Government Promissory Notes.

(8) I shall be grateful if I be supplied with the abstracts of deliberations of the University about my endowment from time to time.

(9) In conclusion I beg to suggest for the consideration of the Lecturer that my object is (a) to help the moral and spiritual advancement of my countrymen by helping the unfoldment of the Divinity in them which is calculated to make them truly happy, (b) that the Lecturer will aim to show that excepting the fundamental truths of the Godhead and its attributes, viz., Love, Wisdom, etc., which are acknowledged by all civilized men, creeds, dogmas, canons, etc., of the religions past and present which were necessary in the time of their first promulgation have no permanent value, just as in all living organisms we find elimination of the old and decayed cells is incessantly going on and newer cells are coming forth for the formation of newer bodies. So it may be proper to think that God's revelation was not closed in the past when the creeds, etc., were fixed, and so if the fountain of revelation has not dried up they should not be made to hinder the reign of an ever higher conscience in human mind, if a religion is to be taken as an institution having a norm of life within it. So the true and lasting form of religion will be based upon the inner supremacy of reason purified by revelation above any external authority, dogma, etc., which are inadequate to sustain a feeling of obligation.

Although I venture to make these my humble suggestions, I do not like to make them binding upon my Lecturer who I trust will be a Godfilled man and knowing his duties well.

The generous offer of Mr. Ghosh was thankfully accepted by the Senate at their meeting held on the 29th March, 1919.

The following rules were adopted by the Senate at their meeting held on the 27th September, 1919:

(1) (a) That a course of lectures on Comparative Religion be delivered in English once in every three years;

(b) that the course do consist ordinarily of eight lectures, and be delivered not more than twice a week.

(2)

That the honorarium of the lecturer be Rs. 9,000.

(3) That the copyright in the lectures do vest in the University.

(4) (a) That the cost of publication of an edition (consisting ordinarily of 500 copies) be paid by the University; (b) that of the sum required for this purpose, Rs. 1,000 be paid out of the endowment fund, and the balance, if any, be paid out of the general funds of the University, and (c) that the sale proceeds be placed to the credit of the endowment fund.

(5) That the first course of lectures be delivered during the cold weather of the session 1921-22.

(6) That applications be invited by public advertisement in the principal Indian, British, Colonial, American and Continental Universities, selected Theological Colleges not connected with Universities and selected newspapers. (7) That the advertisemeut do state that applicants are expected to send a brief syllabus indicating the scope of the lectures proposed to be delivered.

(8) That on each occasion, the advertisement be issued at least two years and a half before the time fixed for the delivery of the lectures and candidates be required to sumbit their applications on or before a prescribed date at least one and a half years previous to such time.

(9) That a committee of five members be appointed by the Senate in each instance to report on the applications received.

(10) That it be a condition of appointment of each Lecturer that he will deliver to the University a complete copy of his lectures within one month after their delivery.

(11) That the Senate be at liberty to invite at any time an eminent scholar to accept the lectureship even though he may not have applied.

The following instructions have been given by the Donor for the guidance of Lecturers :

From G. C. Ghosh, Esq., 2, Simla Street, Calcutta, to the Vice-Chancellor, Calcutta University, Calcutta, dated the 24th September, 1923.

In view of preventing any future misapprehension and for enabling the Stephanos Nirmalendu Ghosh Lecturer on Comparative Religion as to what is principally aimed at by me by such lectures, I request you would be so pleased as to put the following instructions in the annual University Calendars, in the advertisements for inviting the savants of the world and in the letters to them.

I think even the Lecturer whom your University would appoint for next year be advantageously furnished with a copy of the same so that he may come prepared for his task.

A General Outline of Lectures.

The Lecturer will show that every religion, truly so called, is a product of the intuition of the spirit of God within men, and so if it pleased God to reveal truth to them, in nature, it cannot but be the same to all men, though it may not be expressed to them in the same words or apprehended by them in the same manner in their minds. If this is true the fundamental bases of all religions must be identical, aiming at the same end which appears to be nothing but the unity of God and men-the consummation of their happiness. This is inculcated in diverse religions in diverse manners.

The reconciliation of God with man, if God is good, can only be achieved by man's attaining his goodness-his essential attribute. The qualities that make the being of God are innumerable, only some are capable of being perceived by man's senses, such as love, truth, wisdom, power, etc. To man the chief of the Divine attributes appears to be love. So if man would live the life of God like love, he would be acquiring and implanting in him the nature of God. Man's steady advance to the state would ultimately accomplish both God's and his end-the unity of the Creator and the created. In Christ, and Christ only this was consummated, and so he became the highest manifestation of God. So the highest conception of God in the mind of man is Christ. So if man would lift up Christ in him his spirit would enable him to live his life, expressed in loving service and sacrifice for fellow men, his highest advancement and greatest happiness would be attained in the end.

LECTURERS.

1921-22 Prof. A. A. Macdonell, M.A., Ph.D., D.O.L.

Maurice A. Canny, M.A.

1927-28 Dr. Douglas C. Macintosh.

2

KAMALA LECTURESHIP.

In February, 1924, Sir Asutosh Mookerjee, Kt., C.S.I., M.A., D.L., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.A.S., F.R.S.E., F.A.S.B., offered to place at the disposal of the University, 3 p. c. Government Securities for Rs. 40,000 with a view to establish a lectureship to be called the Kamala Lectureship' in memory of

his beloved daughter Kamala, on the conditions mentioned in the following letter:

77, RUSSA ROAD NORTH, BHOWANIPORE,

CALCUTTA.

9th February, 1924.

Το

TH REGISTRAR,

Calcutta University.

SIR,

I desire to place at the disposal of my University Government Securities for Rupees Forty Thousand only of the 3 per cent. Loan with a view to establish a lectureship, to be called the Kamala Lectureship in memory of my beloved daughter Kamala (b. 18th April, 1895-d. 4th January, 1923). The Lecturer, who will be annually appointed by the Senate, will deliver a course of not less than three lectures, either in Bengali or in English, on some aspect of Indian Life and Thought, the subject to be treated from a comparative standpoint.

The following scheme shall be adopted for the lectureship :

(1) Not later than the 31st March every year, a special committee of five members shall be constituted as follows:

One member of the Faculty of Arts to be nominated by the Faculty. One member of the Faculty of Science to be nominated by the Faculty. One member to be nominated by the Council of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

One member to be nominated by the Bangiya Sahitya Parisad.

One member to be nominated by the Founder or his representative.

(2) The Special Committee, after such enquiry as they may deem necessary. shall, not later than the 30th June draw up a report, recommending to the Senate, the name of a distinguished scholar. The report shall specify the subject of the proposed lectures and shall include a brief statement of their

scope.

(3) The report of the Special Committee shall be forwarded to the Syndicate in order that it may be laid before the Senate for confirmation not later than the 31st July.

(4) The Senate may, for specified reasons, request the Special Committee to reconsider their decision but shall not be competent to substitute another name for the one recommended by the Committee.

(5) The Lecturer appointed by the Senate shall deliver the lectures at the Senate House not later than the month of January next following.

(6) The Syndicate shall, after the lectures are delivered in Calcutta, arrange to have them delivered in the original or in a modified form in at least one place out of Calcutta, and shall, for this purpose, pay such travelling allowance as may be necessary.

(7) The honorarium of the lecturer shall consist of a sum of Rupees One Thousand in cash and a Gold Medal of the value of Rupees Two Hundred only. The honorarium shall be paid only after the lectures have been delivered and the Lecturer has made over to the Registrar a complete copy of the lectures in a form ready for publication.

(8) The lectures shall be published by the University within six months of their delivery, and after defraying the cost of publication the surplus sale proceeds shall be paid to the Lecturer, in whom the copyright of the lectures, shall vest.