p. 17 | The Work in India by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 29, 1907

The Work in India

By J. L. Shaw

The outlook for our work in India is encouraging. Our first church was organized in Burma a few months ago, with twenty-three members. This is the beginning of our work in the land where Judson, the father of American Missions, labored and died to advance the gospel. We have now entered another town in Burma. Dr. Ollie Oberholtzer, a medical worker recently from America, has opened up work at Moulmein.

She went to this place alone, as there was no other worker to send with her. At first, she lived with the Burmese in a house with a family of ten children, but has recently obtained a cottage of her own, and while studying the language is doing what she can in medical work among the people. She has already finished reading the book of John, and being where she hears little or no English, but only the musical sounds of the Burmese language continually, will soon be able to talk to the people in their own language.

The work in India is leaning in the direction of the native people more than ever before. For a number of years nearly every worker coming to this field was forced into English work because of the beginning which was made in that work. As a result, comparatively little was done for the native people. The Lord has been opening our eyes that we may see the great Aryan field that is lying before us, with its many languages and dialects. Other people in India, compared to them, are as a drop in the bucket. The work is now started in six of the languages of India; namely, Bengali, Burmese, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, and Santali. Brother and Sister James, who are located at Bangalore in south India, are laying siege to the Tamil language. We are truly thankful to God that a beginning has been made among the Tamil people. In the most southern part of India there are several hundred Tamil Sabbath-keepers who have been observing the Sabbath for a number of years. They obtained this truth from a study of the Bible, and now they need to be more fully instructed in the present truth. As our workers learn the Tamil language, they will be able to give them this instruction.

The Mountain Mission is breaking new ground among the Hindi and Urdu people. Brother Hansen and Dr. Marsh are studying the Urdu. Sister Kurtz is studying the Hindi. They will soon be in the field doing active work. Just now they are giving their time to the language, to lay a foundation for a better knowledge of it. In the Bengali work Brother Watson and Sisters Burroway and Little have been making rapid advancement. Brother and Sister Cook are relieving Brother Barlow, who has been under a heavy strain in the Santali work, and they are studying the Santali language. These, in company with Elder and Mrs. Votaw and Dr. Oberholtzer, who are studying the Burmese, make quite a little band in the leading vernacular tongues of the Indian empire. Before them lies a great work in pioneering the present truth. We believe they are forerunners of a still larger company of men and women who will join the ranks in India to press the truth into the darkest corners. They have set themselves to the trying task of learning an Oriental language, and the prayers of God’s people are desired for them.

There is a growing call for our literature in both the English and vernacular tongues. The circulation of the Oriental Watchman is growing. At the close of our general meeting in January several workers went out on a few weeks’ campaign with our papers and some of our books. It is necessary to do the canvassing work on the plains during the cool season, which lasts from November until March. Some had phenomenal success. Miss Jewett and Miss King traveled through Burma, and obtained large lists of subscriptions. They found people anxious for our literature. Some subscribed for the Oriental Watchman for three or four years in advance. To find these people they have traveled through Burmese forests and Buddhist villages and almost to the confines of China. How the truth is wending its way into the dark corners! There is a Power behind it that is sending it onward to the uttermost parts of the earth. In one Buddhist village they took twenty-five orders from Buddhists alone.

Our little printing-office at Karmatar, the Watchman Press, is not able to meet the demands for literature among the Indian people. Recently Brother Burgess has given an order to an outside printing firm for a ten-thousand edition of the little booklet entitled “Sanatan Susamachar.” They are finding ready sales for this among the Indian people.

A few weeks ago, in visiting Agra, a

city of northern India, Brother Burgess found several families keeping the Sabbath. One of these who was able to read English had received the truth through reading copies of the Oriental Watchman, and had been further instructed by a brother who had studied the truth last year with Brother Burgess. He spent several days in instructing them more fully in the truth, but, on account of the excessive heat it was necessary for him to part from them, much against their wish. When the cool season sets in, Brother Burgess expects to go and teach them further concerning our faith. Present truth appeals to all nations and languages. No agency of evil can stop its onward march. Indians want to know about the coming King, or “Anawalla Raja,” as they say, and no enemy of the truth shall be able long to keep them in ignorance. We need more faith in God and the messages of truth he has told us to bear to the world—a faith that will lead us to consecrate all to its advancement. J. L. SHAW.

Mussoorie, India.