Biennial Conference and Workers' Institute in India
By A. G. Daniells
A workers’ institute and the biennial conference of the India Union Mission for 1914 was held in Calcutta, December 18-28. This meeting was attended by one hundred and eighteen representatives, who came from all parts of this union mission: twelve general representatives, twenty-three from the northern division, fourteen from the southern division, thirteen from the western division, thirty-eight from the Bengal division, and eighteen from the Burma division. Of these about ninety-six were Europeans, and twenty were natives of India. It was the largest conference of our people ever held in India. The little hall in which the biennial meetings have convened for several years was well filled during the days, and packed at the evening services. It was decided that a larger hall would be required for the conference to be held two years hence.
Personally it was a very great privilege to me to meet all these workers and believers in India. Only two of all the American workers present were in India before I became chairman of the Foreign Mission Board. These were Sister Georgia Burrus-Burgess and Sister May Taylor-Quantock. The former came to India in the spring of 1894, and the latter in the fall of the same year. All the rest I had helped in some measure to select for this field. My heart was filled with deep emotions as I looked into the faces of these dear fellow workers, when we had gathered for our opening meeting. I felt more like a father in the midst of a large family of children than a speaker standing before an audience.
And here I wish to say to the fathers and mothers, the brothers and sisters, and other relatives, also to the former classmates and interested friends of these workers, that nearly all of them are in good health and of excellent courage. They love the work to which they have been called, and the most of them want to remain in India until the work of God is finished in the whole world, and the Saviour comes to gather these dear people whom they, by his grace, are leading to the obedience of his truth.
Another pleasing and important feature of this delegation was the presence of about thirty Anglo-Indians, Indians, and Burmese. Nearly all these are engaged in some branch of the regular work in this field. Thus we are gradually and carefully training a staff of workers gathered from those who embrace the message in India.
The Institute
The workers’ institute was conducted very much as we have conducted such institutes in other fields. As we could be together only ten days, and as it was necessary to attend to the administrative affairs of the mission during this time, we could devote only about one half of our time and thought each day to the institute work. We have always found that it works best to give our whole time and thought and effort to the seeking of a clearer vision and a deeper religious life. But the situation here made it impossible to do this, so we did the best we could.
REGULAR MEETING HALL, CALCUTTA, INDIA, WHERE THE CONFERENCE WAS HELD
Our first meeting of the day was devotional, given to prayer and praise; the second was a regular study of the institute; and this was followed by conference proceedings. The first hour of the afternoon was devoted to conference proceedings also, then came the question box, and in the evening a general meeting for the public. In these evening services I conducted a series of studies on our message and its progress.
The presence of the Lord was with us throughout this meeting. The entire forenoon of each Sabbath was spent in earnest efforts to draw near to the Lord. One of the devotional meetings in the middle of the week was continued through the whole forenoon. This was a most earnest, heart-searching time. The peace and joy of the Lord filled our hearts as we endeavored to renounce everything offensive to our blessed Master, and to reconsecrate and rededicate our lives to him and his service. We had the assurance that he accepted our repentance and consecration, and that he reordained us for the work to which we are called. To me, personally, this institute was as helpful as any I have attended. But we needed a longer time together, and the whole of the time for the one thing. I hope this can be so arranged at the meeting to be held two years hence.
The Conference
The proceedings of the conference consisted of the usual reports of the general officers, the superintendents of the division missions, the superintendents of mission stations, the secretaries of departments, and the field workers; also the discussion and adoption of reports submitted by the regular standing committees. As this was my first visit to India, all these reports were of deep interest to me. They were full of helpful information regarding the progress of the cause of present truth in the various parts of the country. I was also deeply interested in the question of organization for this extensive field with its many perplexing problems.
In his opening address, Professor Salisbury made this encouraging statement: “The past two years have marked an advance in our work, not sufficient to satisfy us, but enough to encourage us. I give herewith the figures as I have been able to collect them, according to reports rendered by the superintendents of the different divisions. Our membership at the end of 1912 was approximately 210; at the present time, 391. The number of baptisms was 153: in 1913, 75; and this year, 78. In giving the present membership at 391, I have recorded only baptized members, European and Indian, whose names are regularly enrolled on our church or mission station books. All departments of our work show substantial gain this biennial term.”
Regarding finances, he said: “While the greater part of our money for the support of laborers in the India Union Mission comes from our brethren in America, yet I have been greatly encouraged to see the increase in our own tithes, Sabbath school donations, and other offerings. The tithes for the last biennial term were about $11,918, and for the past two years, $13,590, a gain of 25 per cent. The Sabbath school donations were $1,486 in 1911 and 1912, and about $1,988 this biennial term, a gain of over 33 1-3 per cent. We should give the question of funds careful consideration at this time, so that we in India may do all in our power to aid in raising funds for the finishing of this great work. The time is not far distant when our English work will be self-supporting, so that the mission funds from the home board can be used entirely for work among the non-Christian peoples.”
The reports of the superintendents of divisions and the heads of departments all expressed courage and hope regarding the triumph of the work in India.
As we studied the administrative features of the field, we were impressed that we ought to enlarge and strengthen the organization. We therefore adopted the constitution and by-laws of the Asiatic Division, making the necessary verbal changes to adapt them to the India Union Mission. This adds to the authority and responsibilities of the general committee, and it more clearly defines the duties of all upon whom official responsibilities are placed throughout the field. This will strengthen the general and local administration, and thus will enable the brethren to prosecute their work with greater dispatch and efficiency.
ORDAINED AND LICENSED MINISTERS, INDIA UNION MISSION
This was a truly encouraging conference. The workers reported an excellent interest wherever they are conducting missions, whether among the English-speaking people or the native races. In no other conference that I ever attended have I heard so many requests made by the laborers for prayer in behalf of those deeply interested in the truth and under conviction that they ought to obey. The difficulties in the way of keeping the Sabbath in this country are far greater than in the United States and in many other countries. It surely requires faith, for in most cases it involves the support of the family. For this reason people hesitate11and while they halt, the workers offer continual prayer to God. A great number of requests were brought to the conference by both European and native workers for the earnest, prevailing prayers of those present. As the meetings progressed, from day to day, we were deeply impressed that the Lord is surely pouring out his Spirit upon all flesh, even in India, with all its superstition, heathenism, and degradation.
Yes, God is working in India. He has been with the workers here from the first day. He has seen the stupendous task to which he called them, and has helped them. Those who have fallen by the hand of death on the battlefield have not died in vain. Those who have lived to plow, and sow, and water have not labored in vain. Those who have given their money and their sons and their daughters to India have not thrown treasure away. It has not been wasted nor lost. All this has established our glorious cause in this land of darkness, and, thank God, it is substantially and permanently established. It will never be uprooted. It has met the worst opposition that can be brought against it, and has triumphed. It is gathering momentum and making headway.
This is the conviction that has gradually stolen over me day by day for three months as I have tried to acquaint myself with conditions in various parts of the field. And with this is the further conviction that we must greatly enlarge our work in India. We must do more than we are doing. What has been accomplished opens the way for more to be done. Truly the harvest is great. Openings on every hand beckon us to enter. Now is the time to invest in India. The evangelistic efforts among the English-speaking people in the cities are as encouraging as anywhere in the world. They are bringing into the message a class we greatly need in this country,—men and women of education, moral worth, influence, and means. One of our brethren in Calcutta has charge of one of the government offices in which eighty men are employed in drawing and preparing maps for the government; two others in Simla hold very important positions in government departments; another is manager of a large ice plant in Agra; and others are employed in stores, shops, and factories of various lines of business. These men are needed for a good, stable foundation and framework of a growing cause. But we are short of city evangelists of experience. We need more help to open the work in such cities as Madras, Colombo, Maulmain, and Delhi. Nothing has yet been done by us in these large, beautiful places. We know of no reason why the same success now attending the work in Calcutta, Bombay, Simla, and Rangoon may not be ours in these other cities. Good churches in all these places of influence will do much to give the work the needed support in India.
To enter these cities will take more workers and more money. Including the president of the union, the editor of the papers, one physician, and one schoolman, we have only eight ordained ministers in all India, and half of these are giving their whole time to the vernacular work. But right now is the time to make this investment, and it would be made if the thousands of our people in the States could see the situation just as it is and as it is seen by those on the ground. The messages that have recently come to us through the spirit of prophecy to work in the cities surely mean the cities of India as well as the cities in the United States.
All that can be truthfully said about the work among the English-speaking people may also be said in its proper application regarding the efforts in behalf of the native peoples. This I shall endeavor to make clear in my reports of visits to the different mission stations.
Surely the Lord is “working salvation in the midst of the earth” (Ps. 74: 12), including India, and many prayers are being offered to him to send more laborers into this field.
From the proceedings of the conference, which will be furnished by the secretary, the readers of the REVIEW will learn of the steps taken for progressive work. As already suggested, the administrative affairs of the field were more thoroughly organized, the departments were strengthened, one new division was created, and it was decided to establish three new mission stations. Professor Salisbury was reelected president of the union. His work has been very strenuous since coming to India, but he has stood the strain as well as could be expected. He has won the confidence and love of the workers and believers throughout the field. However, he must slacken his pace in order to hold out.
The workers returned to their fields with good cheer and renewed courage to press the battle to the gate. Pray for India, with its teeming millions.
A. G. DANIELLS.
