p. 13 | The Message Advancing in India by G. W. Pettit

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 4, 1913

The Message Advancing in India

By G. W. Pettit

G. W. PETTIT

AMID the blackness of Hinduism and Mohammedanism, which for ages has settled down over this land, there is much to impede the work of the missionary. Chief among these evils are the following: Caste, with all its blighting superstition, keeping men and women away from the light of the gospel; the purdah system, which separates very families and keeps the women away from society and in the grossest darkness, resulting in a life of misery, unhappiness, disease, and premature death; plurality of wives; and child marriage, with its perpetual widowhood. These, with the illiteracy of the masses (which is said to be ninety-five per cent) and the dreadful diseases, would cause one to stagger were it not for the mighty power of the Word of God.

Thank God, this Word has not lost its power even in India. In many parts of this sea of humanity the Word of Life is accomplishing modern-day miracles. Notwithstanding the depths of darkness, precious souls for whom Christ died are getting free from Satan’s snares, and today are among the most happy of India’s sons and daughters.

Not long ago while in south India, the writer had the pleasure of spending two weeks in one of our mission stations, giving instruction to a most loyal company of believers and interested friends from adjacent villages. A great change has taken place in their lives. The same message that saved you and made a different person of you, has wrought upon these hearts and made them loyal to the gospel. They love to sacrifice from their small incomes, meager as they are, to share with you in the joy of giving for the needy souls about them who are without light and hope to brighten the way.

A most solemn scene was impressed on my mind Friday night. At the setting of the sun, with tears of joy these dear souls entered the house of prayer with their hearts full of deep gratitude for the light of the truth, and reverently prostrated themselves before the Lord in prayer, and in many instances lay on the altar or at its foot a sacrifice which is a sacrifice indeed, to show their appreciation of the great sacrifice of Jesus in delivering them from bondage. They often bring half the food they are to have for the coming week. I saw poor widows on Sabbath placing their food on the altar, when we all knew that it meant they must go hungry for days. But this sacrifice must be accepted; for in this way they share with you in your sacrifice.

At the close of the ten days’ meeting some desired baptism. We called them aside to ask them some questions that we might better understand the individual cases. They showed by their answers that they had been thoroughly instructed by those in charge of the station. To give up their jewels, rings, bracelets, and all worldly adornment (this usually consists only of jewelry, some of which may be very crude) means no small sacrifice.

One cannot fully understand until he has been among them what it costs these souls to accept the message. It means to them so much more than it does to the Englishman, German, or American. To them it often means hard work for years, or doing without necessary food, or, in some instances, giving up the hard-earned savings of several generations, which have been handed down to them, and which are all worn around their necks, on their wrists, fingers, in the ears, or on the toes and ankles. So while some may have five hundred or even one thousand dollars’ worth of gold on their persons, yet they otherwise may be suffering poverty. Still they are willing to undergo almost anything for the luxury of jewels and to satisfy the desire of the unconverted heart.

I am enclosing a picture Mrs. Pettit and I took with difficulty, that you might the better understand what is meant by giving up jewelry. In one view you see three native women who are highly respected in the community, who have been attending our services over two years, and are fully in harmony with us save in the matter of giving up these marks of worldliness. Each of these women has upon her person gold amounting to perhaps $750. The other view presents five loyal Seventh-day Adventist sisters who one time wore these marks of worldliness, but have put them all away. These sisters are as true to the message as is the needle to the pole. All over this land God’s Word has won companies of believers who today stand with us and rejoice with us in the hope of the speedy return of Jesus.