India Astir by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 26, 1908

India Astir

By J. L. Shaw

AMID the mutterings of unrest that cause the gravest anxiety among statesmen and observers, our little band of missionaries in India are doing what they can to advance the message of truth. While the angels of peace hold in check the elements of strife and destruction, our workers in different places are following the providences of God.

Already a beginning has been made in the translation of our literature into eight different tongues, as follows: the Bengali, spoken by 44,000,000; Hindi and Urdu, by 87,000,000; Tamil, by 16,000,000; Santali, by 2,000,000; Marathi, by 18,000,000; Burmese, by 8,000,000.

Our literature is being widely scattered. We are finding that small pamphlets can be readily sold. A young native convert sold seven hundred copies of a little Hindustani booklet on present truth in one month. So the advent message is going. Our printing-office at Karmatar is inadequate to the work. Another press and more help are needed.

Aside from our efforts in these tongues some are devoting themselves to work in the English language. It is estimated that there are five million natives of India who can speak the English language, and year by year the number is increasing. In large cities the rising generation is fast getting hold of it.

Is not this an evidence that God is opening the door for the entrance of his Word in this land? And can we not see him going out before us, and hear, in the wide diffusion of English education in India, the voice of God saying, Now, just now, is the time to take hold in earnest in the East?

J. L. SHAW.