Using the Newspapers in India
By W. L. BURGAN
THAT the Lord has wonderfully led his people in making advances in the large cities of India through the newspapers there, is evident from the encouraging information that has recently been received from various places in that country. Every one should read the following from Elder A. G. Watson, in which he tells how the newspapers of Calcutta have been opened to our work, and how natives are becoming aroused through the reading of these reports. In describing how the workers in that large city were able to take an advance step among the educated community at the beginning of the year, he says:— “We began by using the health reform branch as the ‘entering wedge.’ Dr. Menkel, who came over from Bombay, was well rewarded for his trouble. He spoke on each occasion to a full hall. We alternated health lectures with talks presenting some phase of the prophecies relative to our message. The leading native-owned English dailies, together with the Daily News, gave us free announcements of all meetings, whether in connection with a health topic or otherwise; but we sent the editors synopses of the health talks only, which they published free of charge. We feared to send them matter concerning the prophecies, lest they would be prejudiced, and refuse to accept any articles from us. “After a few health lectures had been published, we received a communication from a non-Christian native government official in the country to the effect that inasmuch as we were vegetarians he felt that he could intrust his boy to us, to be trained for service to humanity, in our mission school. There the lad would be a thousand miles away from home, and entirely out of the sphere of any Hindu influence. In other words, he did not object to his boy’s imbibing Christian principles at our hands. This experience made us bold to approach the press with our talks presenting the prophecies, though we were some little time prayerfully considering the matter. God opened the way.” And to show how the Lord opened the way, Brother Watson inclosed several clippings of articles he had published. He further said: “The Bengalee, in which articles appeared, is edited and owned by the Hon. Surendranath Banerjee, the real leader among the many millions of Bengal. “An elderly Bengali gentleman who, being bedridden, is unable to attend the meetings, after reading the articles on the ‘Golden Age’ (Satya Juga) that the Daily News published, directed his nephew to write us. The nephew wrote:— “‘I have been asked by my uncle to write you to say that he had an opportunity to read your speech which appeared in the Daily News of March 28, 1914. He says that it is a right one, and just timely. It is most attractive to the public. Every one who reads it is sure to appreciate it highly. He also said that he would have a talk with you on the matter. He has strictly ordered my brother and me to attend your meetings.’ “This same gentleman, on one occasion when I visited him, called both his nephews, and said to them in my presence: ‘I shall not live much longer; if ever you accept Christianity, do so at the hands of Mr. Watson.’ “Our preaching hall, which is located in the heart of the native quarters of the city, costs us only $6.40 a month, for one meeting a week; and this charge includes the use of chairs, blackboard, rostrum, table, lectern, clock, and electricity for ten lights and six fans, each time. Surely God has gone before and has set his hand to the work. We shall endeavor to follow him in humility.” In a later letter Elder Watson inclosed several other clippings he had published, and in commenting on the power of the press to reach the people, said:— “Only today I was told by a leading native lawyer that he had been reading the article on the fulfillment of prophecy; so it is evident that many intelligent, thinking men in Bengal are hearing the truth (some portion of it), whose business or something else prevents their being present at the meetings. It certainly is evident to us in Bengal that the newspapers have been chosen by the Lord for the purpose of proclaiming the third angel’s message. The editors are not Christians, yet they are willingly publishing the truths of the Bible. Does it not seem wonderful to you?” The papers in Bombay are also being used for the heralding of the message. The brethren in that city, though, are meeting with a different experience from those in Calcutta, in that they are paying to have their articles published, because of the conservatism of the papers there. In telling of the newspaper work in Bombay, Prof. H. R. Salisbury, who is the superintendent of our work in India, says:— “Our brethren have been holding English meetings in Bombay, and have put in each week a report of their meetings, and it has created great interest. Some think that the articles in the paper have done more than the sermons from the pulpit. This is a new thing for India. However, I might mention in this connection that we have to pay a very heavy rate for all these articles, as the papers will under no condition take them free. The papers in Bombay are very conservative. We are going to keep on, however, because of the value of newspaper publicity to our work.”