p. 15 | The South India Mission Field by J. S. JAMES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1911

The South India Mission Field

By J. S. JAMES

J. S. JAMES

How time flies! It hardly seems possible that more than half a year has slipped by since we wrote anything for the readers of the REVIEW. Only a few more of these swiftly passing years and the great clock of time will have finished its appointed task, and the toiling remnant now girdling the earth with the last message of truth, will be invited to lay aside their burdens and enter upon the eternal rest in Christ's kingdom.

The past few months have been busy ones in our section of the field. It was in February when we had our last baptism, and shortly after this we began to plan for the erection of a much-needed school building. An acre of land adjoining our mission property on the east was purchased, and a building begun in March and completed in June [paid for from the $300,000 Fund], a view of which appears with this article. The structure consists of two large rooms built at right angles with each other, so that one may stand in the corner of the angle and speak to an audience seated in either wing. The building is built of sun-dried brick, covered with a tile roof, and surrounded by a veranda five feet wide to protect it from the rain and sun. This place serves both as school and church at the present time. There are eighty students enrolled, making up five standards. For lack of room it is necessary for about twenty-five pupils to have most of their class work out-of-doors in the shade of the building.

We are endeavoring to make the school meet the purpose for which it was established. The Bible has an important place in the program each day, and as fast as possible graded doctrinal studies are being prepared and introduced. The teachers, who are all members of our mission, are given special instruction on various methods of teaching, fundamentals of the message, and the place of Christian education in our work. During the past summer our teachers have sometimes worked beyond their strength, but they are heart and soul in the work, and enjoy it.

We have had much determined opposition since we put up our new building. A conspiracy seems to have been formed to break up our school and drive us from the community, the conspirators going so far as to picket the streets of the village and to turn back the pupils when on their way to school. In spite of this, our school continues to grow and prosper. Recently a tract was issued pretending to give Scriptural authority for Sunday observance and to refute one of our Tamil tracts bearing on the Sabbath question.

We devoted three evenings to a public reply to the same, and intend to get out a printed answer in the near future. There is much discussion concerning both sides. The public Tamil press has given some attention to it, and we hope to see good results in the end. At any rate, the more intelligent classes are thinking seriously.

In June Elder G. G. Lowry located in Trichinopoli, a large city one hundred seventy-five miles north of us. This place is famous in the history of southern India as a large Hindu and Roman Catholic center and place of pilgrimage. It also has large railway and commercial interests. Two young men (Tamils) went to Singapore from there for trading purposes some years ago, where they became acquainted with the truth through the faithful labors of Elder G. F. Jones and Brother W. W. Fletcher. Burning with true missionary zeal, they returned to their native home to teach the truth to their people still in the bondage of Romanism. Brother and Sister Lowry, these two young men, and a few interested ones, form the present working force for this new station. All have been working hard the past few months, with the result that a primary day-school of forty-five students has been started, a Sabbath-school organized, and a number of persons have become interested in the study of the truth. Simultaneous with the opening of our work in Trichinopoli, came the first steps in starting a small out-station in connection with the work in Tinnevelli.

One of our most trusted and consecrated workers, who had served us in various capacities for more than three years, was placed in charge of this new location to get acquainted with local conditions and prepare the ground for further work. Thus the work grows and enlarges day by day. Sometimes it seems slow to us as we view the millions around us who must be reached, but we are reminded occasionally that we are advancing faster than we have funds to supply the needs.

The past summer has been a very hot and dry one. There has been no rain in our locality for almost a year, and famine conditions prevail. Many parts of India have suffered this year through the lateness of the monsoons and the scanty rainfall. At present I am spending some time in Bangalur, preparing literature for translation in the Tamil language, and endeavoring to build up my health, which has not been good the past year. Elder and Mrs. Lowry are looking after the interests in Tinnevelli during my absence. They both have made exceptional progress in the language study, and are now qualified to render excellent service in that direction. I have wondered of late what might be the consequences to me if no one was here prepared to help carry the burdens at this time.

All our workers are in good health and of good courage. We send up our petitions constantly to the Lord that our dear people in the home land who have come to our aid so nobly in the past may get still broader and deeper conceptions of the great work to be done beyond the seas, whither we have gone to prepare a people to meet the Lord when he comes.