Life of Ahmad — Page 29
as WORLD PREPARATIONS 29 required, in their oath of allegiance, to disclaim the deposing power of the pope and the doctrine that he possessed any temporal or civil power, direct or indirect, within the realm. Lord Bentinck did some spade-work in India by the abolition of some cruel rites unworthy of the name of religion. He also effaced humiliating distinctions, and granted a certain amount of freedom of speech. A change was brought about in the mentality of the people, who had hitherto shut themselves up within their own boundaries. The self-sufficiency of Japan, for instance, was disturbed, and her rigorous enforcement of the policy of seclusion the least symptom of predilection for any alien creed exposed a Japanese subject to severe penalties and any attempt to leave the boundaries of the realm involved decapitation was brought to an end in the early part of the nineteenth century. Christian missionary activity had also become worldwide since 1804, when the British and Foreign Bible Society was established. Missionaries then began to be sent to all nations and the Bible was translated into all languages. As it was reserved for the Promised Messiah as to bring to perfection the work of all the Prophets of God who had appeared in various parts of the world throughout the ages, and as it was he who had in actual practice to preach unto all the nations of the earth and to unite them into one common bond of brotherhood, it was necessary to provide for him