We had some very encouraging developments here in November and December.
We had been expecting a division among the Sabbath-keeping sect ever since we began operations. Shortly after the dedication of our bungalow, about one hundred thirty men, women, and children separated themselves from the old church, and came to us. In doing this, they immediately left off all their old ceremonies, both Jewish and heathen, and began to conform to what we were desirous of teaching them. Of course, this meant that they would be denied every privilege they once enjoyed in connection with the old church, such as marriage ceremonies, funeral rites, and a ground to be buried in, school, etc. I began at once to make provision for these things. The next day after they joined us, their children were expelled from the school. The leaders thought to intimidate them: as we had no school, they would be compelled to bring their children back, and that would give an opportunity to discipline them for leaving their church.
THE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL HOUSE AMONG THE TAMILS
Seeing the seriousness of the situation, I immediately rented a small shop building, hired two teachers, and began a school. It has now grown to a membership of sixty-eight, being about equally divided among boys and girls. The pupils, who come from three different castes, mingle freely with one another. Some are the children of heathen in the surrounding villages, but most of them belong to the Tamils who have joined us.
MISS SHRYOCK, WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN
When I speak of these people joining us, I do not mean that they were taken into the church as Seventh-day Adventists. They have a great deal to learn before they reach the standard of Western ideals. Doubtless many of them will never reach the standard we hold at home for church-membership. With them, learning the truth will not simply combine itself to a period of probationary instruction; it will require a long effort of patient, faithful teaching, combined all the way with much charity and consideration. It will not cover simply the theological part of their training, but must touch almost every detail of their lives, socially, commercially, morally, domestically. We must bring to them a Christian civilization, a thing already accomplished for those who teach the truth in Western lands.
Now that a separation has been made, and we have a definite company of people for whom to labor, we are beginning to teach them the truth in a more systematic way. I have organized a Bible class of some of the brightest young men who are desiring to be trained for some part in our work. Some of these have families, and will require some means of support while being trained. I expect to hold the class every evening for five nights in the week, and shall endeavor to follow a line of instruction that will serve to eradicate from their minds some false ideas, and at the same time ground them in present truth.
One great drawback is their lack of education. None of them has so much as a common-school education. Many can scarcely read or write. It is pitiful to see grown men and women waking up at this period in life and struggling to learn to read and write. They evidently know that they have been kept in darkness all their lives. But their great need is our opportunity, and we should make every effort to bring light and hope to these poor souls.
I never felt more drawn to a people in my life. When I came here two years ago, I put everything into the balances to gain a foothold for the message, counting my own life and the lives of my family of little worth. To-day we are beginning to see some of the results, and we feel confident that much more is to follow. In the meantime, we hope for strength and life to labor on. We have laid broader plans for the future than we have covered in the past.
Our eyes still look upon the fields and the unreaped harvest. The last thought in our minds is to become discouraged and turn back. We have cast ourselves into this sea of humanity to save whom we can. It can not be done with unsoiled hands and tidy garments. We must go where they are, and follow the example of the Master in reaching them. If we would save people from the flames, we must expect some burns and scars, and perhaps lose our own lives in the attempt.
