Our Training School for South India by G. G. Lowry

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1916

Our Training School for South India

By G. G. Lowry

G. G. LOWRY

JUST one year ago we landed in India after a furlough of two years at home. It has not been because we have had nothing to report, nor because of a lack of interest, that we have not reported before. The past year has been a very busy one for us, one in which God has blessed in many ways.

Immediately after our arrival we began hunting for a suitable place to open a new station and start our training school for south India. We finally decided that Coimbatore, a town of considerable size, near the mountains and almost in the center of the South India Mission territory, would be a suitable place, as it is quite cool there the year round. We moved to this place the first of March, 1915, and I immediately began scattering literature, and holding Bible readings with those who became interested. We found a great deal of opposition on the part of Christians as well as Hindus. We believe, however, that the seed sown will bring a harvest sometime.

In July we opened our training school. For some years we have felt the need of a school in this part of the field that could take the students who have finished our lower schools and carry them a little farther in their work, and that could also accommodate young people, educated perhaps in other schools, who have just come into the truth, and train them for some line of work in the Master's vineyard. The attendance began with fourteen, but has now reached thirty. All except four of these are Christians, most of whom have been baptized and belong to our mission.

It is our purpose not only to give good, thorough work in the common branches, but to establish them in all points of the truth, keeping ever before them the Lord's work and their duty toward him and their people. To create and keep alive the missionary spirit in their hearts, we have planned to spend the vacations in going to the villages round about us, selling Bibles, tracts, etc., and holding open-air meetings with the people. We have done some of this in the past, and have had some rich experiences. This not only gets the truth before the people, but gives the students some idea of what will be expected of them after they finish their schooling.

During the Christmas holidays I had the privilege of baptizing four of our students and the wife of one of our teachers. Two of the boys baptized are Telugus. They plan to go back to their country during the summer vacation and do colporteur work. The following Sabbath we celebrated the ordinances. The Lord by his Spirit came very near, and we were all strengthened and encouraged for the duties and responsibilities of the new year.