India by Della Burroway

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 11, 1912

India

By Della Burroway

We now have five village schools in Karmatar, all within four miles of the mission. We visit these schools every week, when we examine the children, and give a special Bible lesson. I am sure the brethren in the home land would rejoice could they hear the scriptures quoted, and the Bible answers given, by these heathen children. We were talking to an uncle of one of the boys in the presence of the child, when the uncle disputed our position on the birth of Christ. The child spoke up, saying, “Uncle, the Christians are right in this; we Hindus are mistaken.”

There is sure to be fruit in our school work, but it is not quickly seen in these heathen lands. Two of the boys are inquiring in a quiet way about Christianity.

The high-caste people of Karmatar, now that we are building and they know we are going to stay among them, are asking for a graded school. This is the first opportunity we have had of doing anything in a special way for the high-caste people here. We are laying plans to begin a school such as will meet their minds, hoping in this way to win some

of them. We hold Sabbath-schools in the villages where we have day-schools, thus teaching the children the sacredness of the Sabbath.

With the help of our native workers I instructed a Hindu and his wife for baptism. The day finally came for them to go forward; but upon going to their village for them, we found the enemy “caste” had been at work, and their courage had failed. We then invited them to the home of one of our workers, hoping to persuade them to eat with us, knowing this would free them from the caste bondage. They sat with us as we ate, but could not be persuaded to join us. The village folk, hearing they were present at our dinner and not believing they did not eat with us, put them and all their relatives out of caste. After several village trials, it was decided that the parents of those who wanted to become Christians must give the entire village a feast, amounting to no small amount of money, and thus get back into caste. Our native worker who daily visited these seekers, was told that he would be stoned if he entered the village.

We withdrew for some time, but again we have been called by these people, who say they will now go forward in baptism in the face of all opposition.

While working for the heathen, we have had the privilege of studying with the only English family in our neighborhood. The mother and daughter have taken their stand for the truth.

DELLA BURROWAY.