Calcutta, India by W. S. MEAD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 30, 1915

Calcutta, India

By W. S. MEAD

W. S. MEAD

SOMETIMES when we read of the success of efforts elsewhere, and the baptism of scores, we are tempted to feel that we are not accomplishing much out here. Yet we do not allow that to discourage us, but rather to spur us on, knowing that the whole work is the Lord’s, and that fields differ.

Last fall I came from the work in Simla—where we had seen the church built up and some new converts baptized—to help Brother Comer in his work with the people of Calcutta. The work is among the English people in both places.

In October, in one of the best theaters in Calcutta, we began a short series of Sunday evening lectures on the subject of the signs of the times, the coming of the Lord, and so on.

We planned for only four lectures in the theater, but the public supported us so well by their attendance and offerings that we continued into January. Our average attendance was nearly four hundred.

As Brother Daniells was with us for the conference in December, he spoke three Sunday evenings, twice on the European situation, and once on the advent movement in all the world.

All the lectures were well received, and many persons expressed regret that we had chosen their church hour, which prevented them from hearing the lectures. In fact, considerable influence was brought to bear to have us change our hour.

After a permanent interest was established, we closed the theater meetings and continued in our own church hall.

As is usually the case, when people began to see that accepting the truths of God would mean a severing from the world, the attendance diminished. But we have seen ten worthy persons baptized, largely as the result of this effort; and others are now waiting for baptism.

We have realized in this effort the certainty that the works of those who die in the Lord do follow them. The seed faithfully sown years ago by Brother D. A. Robinson and his helper not only bore fruit then, but it has been germinating all these years in the hearts of some, and now by our watering is springing into life. So we enter into their labors and see the fruit gathered in; but we cannot boast, for the harvest is the Lord’s.

Recently, while on a visit to our Karmatar mission station, which is 168 miles by railway northwest of Calcutta, I went to visit the graves of Brethren Robinson and Brown and others who lie buried there. It is a small private burial ground not far from the house which was our rented mission home before we built our own place farther out from the town. Knowing that many would appreciate a view of this resting place of some of our faithful pioneers in India, I endeavored to get pictures of the stones which mark the graves. The stones are plain and substantial, solid and erect; similar, I thought, to the men they commemorate, and the truths those men stood for.

At present we are in the midst of a summer effort in Darjeeling, the hill town nearest Calcutta.