Page:A History of the Brahmo Samaj.djvu/205

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182
ADI BRAHMO SAMAJ

with the progressive party at the time of the schism.

After the schism, the Adi Brahmo Samaj quietly retreated into its old position of Hindu monotheism. Its organ, the Patrika, maintained a dignified silence on the main issues of the contest and seldom replied to the adverse criticisms of the secessionists. The attitude of Devendra Nath Tagore, during this period of party struggle, was calm, dignified and lofty. He never opened his lips, never replied to a single charge, never made a single retort, and never gave any personal explanation; but patiently bore all, apparently satisfied with the thought that he had done his duty to the Church entrusted to his charge by Ram Mohun Roy.

So great was the old leader's disappointment at the seceession of Keshub Chunder Sen and his friends that following the old Hindu practice of retiring from active duties of life after fifty, he soon retired from active participation in the work of the Samaj, leaving its affairs in the hands of a committee, with his trusted and valued friend Babu Rajnarain Bose as its President. After this the venerable sage spent most of his time in his favourite spiritual exercise of travelling in unfrequented parts of the country, occasionally visiting Calcutta and spending short intervals