C. A. MEREDITH by C. A. Meredith

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

C. A. MEREDITH

By C. A. Meredith

Burma

C. A. MEREDITH

BURMA came under British rule as the result of the wars of 1836 and 1852. The people belong almost entirely to the Tibet-Burman race, those of the interior consisting of wild uncivilized tribes. Among its population of ten and one-half million there are only about three hundred believers of the truth to herald the message. Are we able to do the work without help from outside? — Certainly not.

About the only means for reaching the people with the truth is a quarterly paper issued in Burmese, called Kin Soung. The canvasser goes out to sell this paper to the people, who will never give “No” for an answer, as this would be impolite. They would rather evade the truth. They dally, and when the canvasser learns to take advantage of this, he is in a fair way to success. Nearly all of these people want some one to decide for them, and usually the canvasser takes that some one’s place. If he does, he succeeds. When a Burman is approached to buy a paper, he decides that he does not want it, and seeks for an easy way of saying so. At the same time he will give his address, and money for the paper for the year. Afterward he is not sorry that he took it. So the paper is read and reread in his family.

In most of the stations in this province there are missions of various denominations, and to one of these there used to go a thuggi, or a headman of a village, to listen to the preaching, and though very nearly seventy years of age, he became one of the favorites of the converts; yet he remained an unbeliever. He told the converts that he was not enthusiastic about their teaching; but when the paper Kin Soung found its way into his hands, he read and reread it and wanted more copies. He tried to find out the source of the paper. He became interested, and wanted to study the Bible. He was given a tract, “The Near End of the World.” He has now read it so many times that he has it about committed to memory. Since learning the Bible teaching on the Sabbath question and the second coming of Christ, he is telling these truths to his friends. He is now asking for baptism.

I recently went to visit an old friend. When I reached his home, there was a lad talking to my hostess about the great war and the great loss of life it is causing. But he said that more people die of disease than of fighting, and he ended by asking her why so many deaths are taking place. When she expressed ignorance, he said it is because the world is waxing old, and its end is near. I was surprised to hear this, as he is not a church member. So I asked him how he knew it. He gave me a very simple answer. He said, “I am a Kin Soung reader;” and he further told me that he was a stray boy, and had never thought of praying to God until he began to read this paper; since then he has prayed regularly morning and evening. May he and many others of this land be among the redeemed company when Christ comes.

Rangoon.