Tinnevelli, South India
By J. S. James
UPON our return to Tinnevelli, after a brief respite at our Mussoorie hill station, we found ourselves literally buried in work. The first thing of importance was the dedication of our new bungalow, which was set for October 14. A program was arranged as follows:— Songs in the Tamil language, reading of the one hundred fifteenth psalm, prayer by the pastor of the Church Missionary Society, reading of the one hundred forty-fifth psalm, an address, songs, and benediction. In my address I dwelt largely on Mark 16: 15, 16, the chief points of our message to the world, and our relation to the unwarned millions. Fully fifteen hundred people from a number of villages, representing nearly all sects, participated in this occasion. We were profusely sprinkled with scented water and sandalwood paste, and literally buried with bunches of plantains and garlands of flowers. These proceedings are customary with the Indian people on all such occasions. In the evening, after dark, I gave a stereopticon talk on the life of Christ. This was attended by all who attended the dedication services, and was much appreciated, as it was the first thing of its kind ever seen in this neighborhood. This stereopticon was donated by the Young People's Missionary Volunteer Society of the Utah Conference. It is a good machine, and forms a very important part of a missionary's equipment in this country. If the evening is quiet, the screen can be pitched in some village street (so the views can be seen from both sides), and old and young will stand spellbound for hours, listening to the explanation of half a dozen views. These pictures make a profound impression on their minds, and do much toward fastening the things that are taught. I wish here to express my thanks and appreciation to the young people of the Utah Conference for this most useful addition to our mission work. We have now reached a critical point in our experience in connection with this so-called Sabbath-keeping sect. From our first acquaintance with them, a number of the leaders have stoutly opposed our work, keeping the congregation and community in a continual state of ferment. At the same time a considerable part of the congregation has been favorable to us. In the beginning, the leaders made us certain promises when a gift was made to us of two acres of land. These promises they have since repudiated. The past year those favorable to us have endeavored by every possible means to make their leaders fulfil their promises to us, but they remained obdurate. The second Sabbath following the dedication the crisis came. In the morning at the usual hour for meeting, some twenty-five families, numbering over one hundred souls, publicly left their congregation and joined us in a service on our front veranda. Many of those whose sympathies and confidence we hold are in Ceylon (only a night's voyage by boat from here), and there are many more here who have not yet mustered the courage to step out. It has now been five weeks since these people came to us, and during this time the numbers have increased, and the attendance at meeting has been most faithful. The people have brought their offerings of produce and money and placed them on my table, and some are beginning to pay their tithe. The coming of these people in this fashion means more than the reader can fully appreciate. No people on earth are more bound by custom or governed by tradition. To vary from these time-honored customs many times means social ostracism and banishment from home and business relations. These people have not become members of the church. They have simply placed themselves under our instruction and influence, and severed their connection with a system of heathenism which has held them for the past fifty years. They must be fully instructed and grounded in all our doctrines. This is an individual work, and will require time. Since this division has taken place, the leaders have asked us to give up their school building which we have been using for a dispensary. This leaves us without any suitable building in which to carry on our medical work for the present. We are hoping to have some funds in hand shortly so we may put up a suitable building of our own. We must continue to push our medical work at all costs. It is chiefly the strong influence of our medical service to the people that has bound them to us, and helped them to separate themselves from their old ways. As I look over this audience, I see the faces of mothers whose lives we have saved, men, women, and children rescued from cholera, fever, dysentery, and other dread diseases. A new feature of our work which demands immediate and serious consideration is a school for the children of the people who now look to us for help. A well-conducted school is a fruitful means of teaching the truth to both parents and scholars. I felt that it was necessary to strike while the iron was hot and conditions favorable, so a school was organized on November 1, with an attendance of thirty-five pupils, under two instructors. The school is being held in a rented building which is much too small already. We need some more land for a building site, and funds to put up a schoolhouse. We are powerless to go forward any faster unless help is sent to us soon. Since the school was opened, the attendance has grown to fifty-two. At the beginning of the new year some students from other schools belonging to our congregation will join. We hear that help is being sent to us in south India. This makes us rejoice and thank God most sincerely. Their coming is none too soon. They will be given a hearty welcome by both ourselves and the native people of this community. Brethren, we need your prayers to the end that God will help us in establishing a bright beacon light in southern India.