The Sadharan Brahma Samaj is the best organised and most widely reaching Missionary body of the Theistic Church in India. It took its rise. in the great historic schism in the Brahma Samaj of India, brought about by the Kuch Behar Marriage. Miss S. D. Collet has devoted nearly the whole of her Brahma Year Book No. III for 1878 to the masterly description of this schism, Pandit Shivnath Shastri has briefly summarised the history in the first part of this directory. It is therefore neither necessary nor yet quite safe to dilate upon the details here.
“The Samaj is an association, on the broadest constitutional basis, of Theists all over the world. Its object being the propagation of the principles of Brahmaism, we try to realise that object by founding new congregations and helping the existing ones everywhere. In order to bring these congregationinto closer union with ourselves we allow each of them to send a representative to our General Committee, which is the governing body of the Samaj, and which consists of (now) 65 members besides these representatives. The actual management of the affairs of the Samaj is in the hands of the Executive Committee consisting of twelve members elected by the General Committee, a representative of the missionaries and the office-bearers”—The 31st Annual Report (1808) of the Samaj.
Rules for the Guidance of Affiliated Samajes Under Sec. 35 of the Rules of the Sadharan Brahma Samaj. (Adopted by the General Committee at their 1st Quarterly Meeting held on the 6th April 1879.)
1. The minister should be an anusthanic Brahma of good moral character and member of the Sadharan Brahma Samaj. He must be formally appointed by the majority of the members of the local congregation.
2. The prayer-hall and other properties, if there be any, belonging to the Samaj, shall be entrusted to trustees formally appointed or committees and individuals specially authorized for the purpose.
3. The thanksgivings, prayers, sermons, hymns, &c., used in the prayer-house should be such as might keep intact the fundamental principles of Brahmaism and serve to promote love and devotion to God and good-will among men.
4. The congregational worship should be held at least once a week.
5. The rules for the formation of the local congregation will be framed by the affiliated Samajes according to special local circumstances. But in no case a person, whether male or female, less than 18 years of age and wanting in faith in the fundamental principles of Brahmaism shall be eligible to the membership of the congregation; the congregation must be composed of at least
5 members.
Bogra.
The Bogra Brahma Samaj, Bogra Bengal
Secretary and Minister: - Dr. Pyar Sankar Das Gupta, L. M. & S.
Members:—Anusthanic—7men, 7women, 13 children,
Non-Anuathanic —19men, 11 women, 16children. Total 65.
Sympathizers: —10.
Meeting:—Divine Service in Bengalee, every Sunday evening.
Mandlr: — A newly brick-built Mandir.
Publications:—The Secretary Dr. P. S. Das Gupta published 3 pamphlets named (1) Gargi (2) Ratnakar (3) Radha.
Funds.—The Samaj has got two holdings which cover its rent.
Cachar or Silchar. Estd. 28 August 1864.
The Cachar Brahma Samaj, Silchar, Assam.
Secretary:—Mr. Saroda Charan Nandi, Silchar, Assam.
Members:—1 Anusthanic. 13 Non-Anusthanic.
Sympathisers:—6.
Meetings:—Weekly Services are held in Bengalee.
Mandir:—The Samaj has a Mandir consecrated, 25 May 1900.
Ministers:—1. Babu Madan Mohan Datta. 2. Babu Madan Sarada Charan Nandi. 3. Babu Madan Surendra Nath Datta.
Chlnsura. Dt. Hoogli. Estd. before 1860. Chinsura Brahma Samaj, opposite to the Police Lines, Dt. Hoogli, Bengal.
Secretaries :—Babu Nakulchandra Banerji, L. M. & S. Bhagalpore. Babu Jadunath Bose, Shambabu’s Ghat, Chinsura.
Meetings:- Divine Service every Saturday evening in Bengalee.
Mandir:—The Mandir was built about 1863.
Mninister: —Babu Erist Mohun Das, Secretary Brahma, Samaj, Urdu Bazar, Chandranagar.