The Santal Mission, India
By W. A. BARLOW
WE are very thankful to all our friends who have in the past few years helped the Santal mission work by their means and by prayer, and we are glad to send a few lines, to let them know how God is leading and is blessing the efforts put forth in his name for his sake. During the past year we had about four hundred and sixteen sick persons to attend. We are not doctors, but we do what we can for the poor suffering farmers and others around us. Among the Mohammedans, Hindus, and Santals, we14use the water treatments, wherever possible to do so, and God blesses the treatments, and the sick ones are always grateful for any help received. While treating the sick, we have a good opportunity to teach the gospel of salvation and health, and to tell of a soon-coming Saviour in this generation, when sickness and sorrow will all be over, and those who are converted and ready to meet Christ will enjoy an eternal life of joy and happiness. While traveling from Simultala to Babolmohol, in company with Dr. Ingersoll and Elder W. W. Miller, a few months ago, we were stopped by some Hindu villagers half-way, who asked us to stop awhile and see some sick people. Dr. Ingersoll gave some advice, and invited them to the mission. Next morning several came for medical aid, and those who could read got a Hindi tract on present truth, printed by our Watchman press, in the Hindi language and characters. I may give you another account of the last trip we made through the same villages with Sisters Burroway and Haegart, on our way to Babolmohol mission, a short time ago. The people saw us nearing their village, and came out in large numbers, and again requested us to stop to see the sick ones. Sister Burroway gave the sick women and others some good advice on hygiene and health, and afterward we met a poor starving man, who looked like a skeleton. We went to see his home and family, and found a mud house, partly fallen down, and only half a roof over the poor family of several little ones and a sorrowful-looking mother. We called for the village shopkeeper, and gave the family the first remedy, by way of a few seers of rice for their half-starved bodies. The next day the mother came to the mission, and took the promised medical aid, and a cloth kindly given by Sister Burroway. One more case I may mention, that of a poor old Mohammedan widow, who came crying to us, crawling upon her hands and knees, one night. We went out to see what was the matter, and found she had been badly burned by fire while sleeping under some temporary shelter. She had been cast out of her home and family because she had taken some food from other people outside of her own caste. We did what we could for her by prayer and simple treatments, and now she is well again, and able to get about as usual. Brethren J. L. Shaw, W. W. Miller, and J. C. Little saw the poor old woman a few days after we took her in, and Brother Miller gave her a warm blanket, as the weather was very cold. She was grateful for this. We have tried to get her family to take her in again, but they refuse, and she will not leave us now. We could take in many more surgical and other difficult cases if we had a medical missionary to help us—one who would begin to learn the language as soon as he entered the field. It is an important point, if one wishes to be useful among the Hindi and Santal people. No time is lost learning the language; for while doing so, one is learning about the people whom he wishes to reach. One can speak freely within a year, and feel quite at home, if he perseveres with prayer and patience. The Santal students are doing well in their studies and in the Gospels. They are now busy, digging holes for one hundred Pappea and other fruit-trees. The Pappea grows well here, and fruits within a year or so, if well cared for, with plenty of water in the hot season. They are still digging two new wells—one in each mission station. The two Seventh-day Adventist Santali teachers are doing well, one at each school. We could open fifty village schools if we had the means and teachers. The people are continually calling for teachers and schools, and each school would cost two dollars a month. The boarders in our school cost one dollar a month, and we have only thirteen students, up to May, owing to funds being short, but we could take in many more if funds permitted. I try to keep free of debt, and take in as many as funds allow. Who will dedicate their life and all they have to the Master's service, for India or elsewhere, and say, “Here am I, Lord, send me”? The time is short, and eternity is drawing nigh. Jesus is coming in this generation, and what will you do toward proclaiming the last message for the last days to the millions of heathen who lie in darkness and in the shadow of death? “Soon will the season of rescue be o’er,
Soon will they drift to eternity’s shore.
Haste then, my brother, no time for delay,
But throw out the life-line, and save them to-day.”