p. 12 | Bombay, India by G. W. PETTIT

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 18, 1915

Bombay, India

By G. W. PETTIT

G. W. PETTIT

WHEN my wife and I settled in Bombay in the early part of 1913, there was not a Sabbath keeper to be found in that great commercial city of the world, with its 987,000 souls. To us it was a strange experience to have but two members in our Sabbath school for a period of several months, just a preacher and his wife. We visited among the people and found a few who were willing to study the Word of God. Most persons were rather distant, for they had not heard of Seventh-day Adventists. This name sounded very strange to them.

Finally, I felt that the time had come to secure some place for public meetings. It was with great difficulty that such a place was found. The same old questions which we had been meeting for months past again came home to us very forcibly when we were asked for what purpose we wanted the property, who we were, and if we could give good bank reference in the city. I told the owners of the property that I feared we could not, as we were strangers. They frankly said that they could not do business with us unless we could give such reference. I was compelled to tell them that I could not do business with them if that was required. It finally resulted in a compromise. I told them I would pay for a telegram to be sent to the best bank in India, located in Calcutta, where they might learn our standing. The reply from the special message was satisfactory, and we felt thankful to God that the loyal people at home back of this message had given us such a standing in the parts of the empire where our work first started, about twenty years previously. Today we have a splendid standing financially in Bombay.

The hall was secured, which was in a good location in the very best part of the city. It is forty-five by fifty-five feet in size, and will accommodate more than two hundred persons when crowded. While the building was in good repair and had a very nice marble floor, yet it had to be fitted up with seats, rostrum, pulpit, electric lights, fans, and other church furniture. This took about three months, as things go here, making about nine months since we began searching for a suitable place in which to hold meetings.

When Prof. H. R. Salisbury arrived in India to take the work as field superintendent, we were happy to have him occupy the hall the first Sabbath it was open for use. Including every Sabbath keeper in West India and all the workers, I think we had a congregation of twenty-five, as we were quite successful in getting a few friends from the city to attend the meeting.

Not long after, we were joined by Brother G. F. Enoch and others in the first public effort held in Bombay by our people. We began in the month of November, 1913. Our attendance was fair, but the people responded very slowly. The cool season passed by, and we were again left alone, with Miss Rose Boose, as Bible worker, to assist us in the follow-up work during Bombay's tremendous heat. In August we held our first baptismal service in a baptistery in the hall, nine persons going forward. Only one of them had ever before witnessed such a scene. A good impression was left on the large congregation which assembled, and the next month six others were buried with their Lord. We then organized a church of twenty-five members.

Several months have passed, and they are still faithful and growing in grace day by day. A splendid tithe is coming into the treasury, enough to support a pastor. We have a live Sabbath school, paying a splendid sum into the mission treasury month by month.

This light which has come to Bombay is now shining not only here, but far out into the darkness of the empire of India. Souls who are aglow with the new-found truth are cooperating in the second public effort, which opened Nov. 3, 1914. Their labor affords a real stimulus to those proclaiming the message. Thus the Lord has caused his word to bring forth in this city, which a few months ago was desolate of believers, a loyal people who we trust may stand in the days to come as a memorial of God's grace in this land where darkness abounds. Brother Daniells preached to a large congregation assembled in the hall, Sunday, November 22. Pray for the work in Bombay.