Good News from Ceylon by A. G. DANIELLS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

Good News from Ceylon

By A. G. DANIELLS

A. G. DANIELLS

The letters that come from our missionaries hard at work in their various fields, often contain most interesting and encouraging information regarding the progress of the cause. The accounts they give of new openings for the proclamation of the message, and the wonderful experiences of individuals who embrace the truth, bear convincing evidence that a hand greater than that of puny man is in charge of this sacred work. The following from Pastor J. S. James, of India, is most interesting and impressive:—

“About four months ago we received at our office in Madras a request from some people in Jaffna, Ceylon, for copies of all our Tamil literature and the book ‘Daniel and the Revelation.’ We sent them the Tamil tracts and papers, but had to refer them to Lucknow for the English books. Later, the Lucknow office received an order from these same people for ‘Bible Readings,’ ‘The Great Controversy,’ and the American Signs of the Times. Shortly after this I got in personal touch with them, but as I could not make them a visit in the near future, I arranged for Brother E. D. Thomas to go over to Ceylon to see them, and find out something of their situation. . . .

“From what I have learned, these people in Jaffna heard the truth through two of our baptized brethren who were visiting their old home in that community, having come over from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federated Malay States, where they had received the truth.

“The two leading characters in this company are both well-educated Indian men, and Brother Thomas says the truth has taken a firm hold in their hearts. One of them is a successful lawyer of some means; the other holds the degree of Master of Arts, and has had years of experience in educational work in Ceylon. From what he has written me of his school work I feel that he will be of great service to us when he comes to know the truth a little better. He has begged me very earnestly to come to see him, and I have promised to do so at my earliest opportunity. It is a thousand pities that we do not now have a capable

man in Ceylon to look after the many interests which are springing up all over the island. We ought to have two families there; one man to give his whole time to evangelistic work in the city of Colombo, and another man to look after the vernacular work in the island. I cannot help but appeal to you at this time especially, to consider this favorable situation and to do all in your power to supply the need.”

The following is a portion of Brother Thomas’s letter to Pastor James, telling of his visit to Ceylon:—

“You will be very glad to know that I reached my home safely yesterday, and found all well after two full weeks’ absence from my station.

“Jaffna is at the northernmost part of Ceylon, thirteen hours by train from Colombo. I spent three full days with the company of interested ones there, which consists of a lawyer and his wife, a school man, two widows, and a boy about fourteen years of age. The lawyer is about thirty-five years old, and is a very clean-appearing man. Ever since he accepted this message, he has ceased his attendance at the courts on Sabbath. This has very much reduced his income. He and his wife are honest in their convictions. They feel anxious to have this message preached to the people in Ceylon. He is much inclined to give up his present prospects and begin canvassing for our English literature, such as ‘The Great Controversy’ and ‘Daniel and the Revelation.’ He desires to work among the educated Indians, and feels that he can do a good work for them. His wife is a noble woman, and loves the truth with her whole heart. They are the parents of fine, bright children. They are quite well to do.

“The school man is a graduate of Queen’s College, Canada. He is a native of Jaffna, and has married an Indian lady who was educated in the Isabella Thoburn College, at Lucknow. He is the head master and manager of a school of his own, with three teachers working under him. He has several of our books and is very earnest in his study of them. The opposition he is meeting from his friends and from his wife and children, is making his way difficult at present.

“We organized a Sabbath school, and arranged for the Sabbath school donations and reports to be sent to us until other arrangements can be made. I am planning to write these people often and help them as much as I can. Today I have sent them some of our magazines. They feel very anxious to have a European missionary stationed in Ceylon.”

This is but another example of how the providence of God leads out in the development of missionary endeavor. Somehow we seem unable to keep pace with the onward progress of the message. We have always had more openings than we could fill. This is still true, but these marvelous openings beckon us to greater efforts.