RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Taffin Jean
Tait, Archibald Campbell
introduced a Brahmi covenant, which every member was asked to sign. This covenant changed the Somaj from a mere platform for the discussion of reformed views to a fraternity based on a creed. In 1845 a heated discussion with Dr. Duff, in which the members were charged with being believers in the infallibility of the Vedas, led Devendranath and his followers to reexamine their faith. The result was the pronouncement of their belief that no ancient writings are infallible guides and that reason and conscience alone are of supreme authority. The doctrine of the infallibility of the Vedas being abandoned, the rationalistic wave in the society rose so high that Devendranath, becoming alarmed and finally disgusted, retired in 1856 to the Himalayas, where he spent his time in the study of Indian and Western philosophical books, returning only after an absence of a year and a half. While he was absent, in 1857, Keshav Chandra Sen (see Sen, Keshav Chandra) joined the Somaj. His energy and enthusiasm attracted Devendranath, and with close affection the two worked in the interests of the Sabha. But the conservatism of Devendranath and the radicalism of young Keshav led in time to a rupture. In 1865 Keshav withdrew and in 1866 founded the Brahmo Somaj (q.v.) of India. Devendranath then named his faction the Adi-Brahmo Somaj. The defection of Keshav disheartened Devendranath and he retired from the activities of life to solitary meditation, after the ideals of a Hindu rishi. For nearly half a century he lived in this retirement, but was visited by those who reverenced his piety, and who wished to listen to the words of wisdom that fell from his lips. Justin E. Abbott.
Bibliography: In Memoriam, Maharshi Devendranath Tagore, Calcutta, 1905; The Adi Brahma Samaj, its Views and Principles, ib. 1870; Sivanath Shastra, The New Dispensation and the Sadharan Brahma Samaj, Madras, 1881; The Offering of Srimat Maharsha Devendranath Tagore, Lahore, 1890; and the literature under India.
TAI-PING ("Great peace"): The name given to a Chinese religious sect established by Hung Siu Tsuen (b. in a village thirty miles from Canton, 1813; d. at Nanking July 19, 1864). While on a visit to Canton to attend the official examinations, he received from I. J. Roberts, an American missionary, a package of tracts in Chinese. Five years afterward he fell sick, and had visions, in which an old man with a golden beard commanded him to destroy the demons (i.e., the idol-gods) of his countrymen. He then read the tracts; and associating the man in his visions with Christ, and catching up several Christian ideas, he abandoned the Chinese religion, and began to preach his new faith. He retired to the mountains, and by 1840 gathered many converts, whom he styled " God-worshipers." He carried out his supposed commission, and destroyed some Buddhist idols. This brought him into conflict with the government, so that he again retired to the mountains. In 1850 he engaged in a new enterprise. The time was ripe for rebellion; and he proclaimed himself as sent by heaven to drive out the Tatars and set up a native Chinese dynasty. His standard was pushed victoriously forward. Nanking was captured in 1852. The Tai-ping dynasty was founded, with himself as the first emperor under the title Tien- Wang (" the heavenly
king ") . The struggle continued against the imperial troops with slow but continuous gains for the rebels, until Shanghai was menaced and foreigners — English and French — were engaged. In 1863 Charles George Gordon took charge of the imperial forces, and within fourteen months the rebellion was so far suppressed that the leader despaired of his cause and with his wives committed suicide.
Hung Siu Tsuen's religious views were a mixture of Christian and Chinese elements. He considered Christ the oldest of the sons of God, and himself one of the younger. In his manifestos he grouped God the Father, Jesus Christ, himself, and his son, whom he styled the " Junior Lord," as the coequal rulers of the universe. He adopted baptism, but rejected the Lord's Supper, allowed polygamy (he had himself a hundred and eighteen wives), and punished adultery and opium-smoking with death.
Bibliography: L. Brine, Taeping Rebellion, London, 1862; A. Wilson, The " Ever Victorious Army." A History of the Chinese Campaign under C. G. Gordon, ib. 1868;
C. G. Gordon, Gordon's Diary in China, ib. 1885; A. E. Hake, Events of the Tai-Ping Rebellion, ib. 1892; C. Spielmann, Die Taiping-Revolution in China, 1850-64, Halle, 1900; and the general histories of China.
TAIT, ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL: Church of England, archbishop of Canterbury; b. in Edinburgh Dec. 22, 1811; d. at Addington (11 m. s.s.w. of Charing Cross, London) Dec. 3, 1882. After passing through the high school and academy of Edinburgh, he studied at Glasgow University, 1827-30; and at Balliol College, Oxford (B.A., 1830; fellow, 1834); became tutor, 1835; and was ordained, 1836. He took a prominent part in opposing Tractarianism (q.v.), and was one of the four tutors who entered a protest against Tract No. 90 (see Newman, John Henry). In 1842 he was appointed headmaster of Rugby school. In 1850 Tait accepted the deanery of Carlisle, and became well known as a hard-working parish clergyman, and in 1856 was appointed bishop of London. Tait initiated the scheme for raising a million pounds to meet the deficiency of church accommodation in London. In 1868 he was raised to the see of Canterbury. He was a representative of Low-church views, and managed with great courtesy and excellent judgment the conflicting relations of the ritualists, and ecclesiastical law of England. He was a man of sound piety and practical common sense rather than of preeminent literary attainments. His works embrace Suggestions Offered to the Theological Student, under Present Difficulties (London, 1846); An Historical Sketch of Carlisle Cathedral. A Lecture (Carlisle, 1855); The Dangers and Safeguards of Modern Theology (London, 1861); The Word of God and the Ground of Faith (sermons; 1863-64); Harmony of Revelation and the Sciences (Edinburgh, 1864); The Present Position of the Church of England (3rd. ed., London, 1873); Some Thoughts on the Duties of the Established Church of England as a National Church (1876).
Bibliography: R. T. Davidson (Tait's son-in-law) and W Benham, Life of Archibald Campbell Tait, 2 vols., London, 1891; W. Benham, Memorials of Catherine and Craufurd Tait, new ed., ib. 1882; A. C. Bickley, Public Life of the Late Archbishop of Canterbury, ib. 1883; F. W. Cornish, The English Church in the Nineteenth Century, 2 vols., passim, ib. 1910; DNB, lv. 292-299,
Talbot, Ed-ward Stuart Talmud, The