India by L. J. Burgess

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 2, 1908

India

By L. J. Burgess

DEHRA DUN.—As we have just closed our season’s work in Dehra Dun, we will send in a few items, as the brethren may be interested to know how the Lord is blessing us. About fourteen have attended our Bible studies, some for only about a week, and others for two months. They have come from various places, from one to four hundred miles distant. Now most of them have returned, and we earnestly hope that they have carried some seeds of truth with them.

Brother Masih, who has studied the message quite thoroughly, was baptized the latter part of September, and has now returned home.

Brother Camphor, an earnest Hindustani young man, who has been studying with us for about two months, is rejoicing in the light of present truth, and has requested baptism. We trust that before this report is in print, he will have taken this step and become one of us.

Brother Henry Scott, after studying with us for about two months, was called away by a telegram from his sister. There was no reason stated in the telegram, but he afterward learned that it was only a plan of his relatives to prevent him from studying longer with us. We have since received two letters from him, and he is still holding onto the truth, and endeavoring to give the light to others.

Brother John Last has been with us for several weeks, studying and preaching in public places, in the bazaars and elsewhere. All classes, Hindus, Mohammedans, and Christians, have listened to his earnest words of warning, and have been constrained to confess that his message is true. He has had some very interesting experiences among both high and low, and we believe that his work will not be in vain.

Amar Nath has been working with good success in Meerut, selling the Hindi pamphlet “Sanatan Susamachar.” He reports a thousand sold during September. The following is a translation of one of his recent letters, which may be of interest:—

“I have been enabled to sell a thousand of the pamphlets ‘Sanatan Susamachar’ during the past month, and have received a great blessing from the Lord. Please send me four thousand more of the Hindi pamphlets, five thousand of the Persian Urdu, and two hundred of ‘Christ’s Second Coming’ in English, as there are many English-speaking people here.

“If I can be allowed a helper, I want to open a book shop and reading-room in this place, that many may learn of this truth. If our papers and some of our English books could be kept here, I am sure that many could be sold, and I give my promise that many will be sold. There is great hope for the work in this place.”

Brother Hardy spent about a month studying with Brother Hansen, and about the same length of time with us in Dehra. He has now returned home to the Bijnor District, and sends back encouraging reports of openings for work there.

Brother David has attended our Bible lessons quite regularly. He is a retired government employee, and is the head of a large family. He accepts every point as he sees it from the Scripture, and is also desirous of having his family study the message with him. We hope that he may soon be firmly established.

Although our studies have been given mostly in the Hindustani language, we have had the regular attendance of one European and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Beck. Several weeks ago he gave up his tobacco and destroyed his pipe, although he has used it for a long time, and is now an elderly man. The Lord convicted him in regard to the matter, and gave him the strength to put away the vile habit. He has also accepted the other points of truth which have been presented to him, and has resolved to keep the Sabbath. We feel to rejoice over the victory he has gained, and hope the Lord will keep him faithful.

We have just received from the press a new tract in Hindustani. It is a translation of one of the English tracts, “The New Testament Sabbath.” It was carefully and prayerfully translated by a Hindustani brother in Agra. As we read it in this new language, it seems more forcible than the original, and we believe the Lord surely directed the mind of the translator.

One Sunday morning, not long ago, I received the following telegram from Hardwar, a famous Hindu city not far from Dehra Dun: “Please come tomorrow; urgent work.” I rolled up two blankets, took my Bible, and went on the next train. There are two brothers in Hardwar, at present preaching under the direction of another mission, who have been studying the truth, and are about convinced and wish more instruction. There is also a Hindu Sadhu who seems to be seeking for light. We hope to take our tent and spend a few days there soon, and then visit other places where an interest is springing up, and we trust that you will remember us in your prayers, that we may have wisdom and strength to go wherever the Lord opens the way, and help to hasten on the work of the message. The time has

surely come in India when there shall be delay no longer.

The running expenses of our school during the season have not been very large, although it has been necessary to pay the traveling expenses of those who have come long distances, as they are, as a rule, unable to pay their expenses themselves. This, however, as well as our own personal expenses, has all been supplied through means which the Lord has sent us from various sources, including funds raised by Brother and Sister Haskell through the Bible Training School, and also donations which have been sent to us by brethren and sisters in America who are interested in the Hindustani work. I am sure that all our Hindustani brethren who have been with us during the past few months unite in thanking those who have been led to assist in the work here, and who have doubtless sacrificed in order to open the way for these brethren to receive the light of present truth.

The work seems to be growing very rapidly, and an interest is springing up in many places among the Hindustani people in the north of India, and we trust that the brethren in the home land will send up their prayers daily to the Lord of the harvest that he will raise up many earnest, faithful laborers in this field. L. J. Burgess.