Some Things the $300,000 Fund Is Doing in India by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1911

Some Things the $300,000 Fund Is Doing in India

By William Ambrose Spicer

In the little workers' paper of India, Eastern Tidings, Elder J. L. Shaw addresses a “Letter to Our Workers and Believers in India,” telling them how the portion of the $300,000 Fund thus far sent to India has been spent. His words to the believers there will cheer on the believers here in making up this fund for providing specially needed facilities. Of the need, he says:— Because of poor facilities the work in India has been hampered. Living in unsuitable houses, with unsanitary conditions about them, has broken down the health of many workers in India, and some of them have lost their lives. How many times we have bowed before God as workers, asking him for means to answer some of the urgent calls which seemed so necessary for the permanence of our work! The money which is now coming to India from the $300,000 Fund is surely an answer to these requests. Our hearts well up in continuous gratitude to God and to our brethren and sisters in America for this evidence of answered prayer.

Now, as to what India's share has already done for south India:—

At Tinnevelli a church and school building combined has just been completed. A photograph sent us gives the appearance of a structure suitable for both school and church purposes. When Brother and Sister James first went to Tinnevelli, they lived in the center of the native town. Mud houses were about them on every side. In this location, with frequent cases of cholera and many other diseases prevalent, it seems like a miracle that their lives were spared. But thank God, now, through the liberality of our brethren and sisters in America, there is a comfortable bungalow at Tinnevelli, with a church and school building combined, and considerable material on hand with which to build a small dispensary.

CHURCH AND SCHOOL BUILDING, RECENTLY ERECTED IN TINNEVELLI DISTRICT

Of Burma's benefits, Elder Shaw says:—

In Meiktila, northern Burma, we are expecting to put up a dwelling-house for Brother and Sister Thurber. They are now living between two and three miles from Brother Thurber's school, in an undesirable house. We are glad to say that funds are in hand with which to put up the building.

In eastern Bengal, where we have scattered Sabbath-keepers all about the delta of the Ganges,—in visiting whom Elder Little lost his life,—there has been great need of a proper boat, on which the workers could live while on tour from village to village. Now Elder Shaw says:—

The long-desired house-boat for which our brethren in Bengal have been urging can now be purchased. Money for the same is in the bank. A purchase was just about effected two or three months ago, but at the last was dropped. Brother French and other members of the Bengal committee are now in search of another boat. At Gopalgunje a house and church formerly owned by Brother Mookerjee has been taken over by the mission. Brother and Sister Watson have already taken possession, and find themselves much better located for the work than at Barisal. Continuing, this article gives a review of further blessings the fund is bringing:—

At Karmatar [west Bengal], where the work has been going forward for a number of years, plans are now in hand to put up a mission house of our own. Thirteen bigghas of land have been granted to us; the well is being dug; a fence is being constructed; and a house will soon be built. Through the kindness of the Agricultural Gardens at Calcutta, one hundred trees, including shrubs, have been donated. These, if properly cared for, in a few years will be a great blessing to the Karmatar Mission. The workers hope to have a suitable dwelling-house built by the end of the present year, when their lease expires.

What joy and rejoicing this monument of progress would have been to Brethren Robinson and Brown, who now quietly sleep in the little cemetery at Karmatar.

From Deosa, Garhwal [north], we get the good word from Brother Burgess that the schoolhouse is nearly finished. The Garhwal school now has a small dwelling-house, two small dormitories, and a school building. These buildings will be a blessing in the conducting of the work among the Garhwal people. They have been built in the most careful and economical way, and will remain as an evidence that God hears and answers prayer.

From Najibabad [north central] we get a request asking us to come and look at land with the idea of putting up a mission house for the mission at that place. Less than a year ago Sister O'Conner, who was carrying on a school and living in the very heart of the city, was stricken with plague, and had not God answered prayer, would have died. We have grave fears for our workers at Najibabad, unless we get a building of our own out of the congested part of the city in a healthful place.

The Watchman Press [Lucknow] is enlarging its work, and feels very much the need of suitable quarters. It is marvelous how Brother Perrin and his workers have been able to do the work they have in the low, hot, close, and dusty building in which they have been working the last two hot seasons. Never can we make the Watchman Press what it should be until we have suitable quarters

of our own. Brother Perrin is now making careful inquiry for land, and we believe it is going to be possible to have something of our own, and that we shall have money from the $300,000 Fund for this purpose.

As I look over the work in India, the difficulties with which we have been confronted, and the progress which is now being made by the workers in the different languages, and the openings for advance moves, my heart wells up in continuous gratitude unto God. If ever the Lord went before his people in any land, he is going before the gospel in India.

Several workers have esteemed it a privilege to contribute to the $300,000 Fund. As I read of what our brethren and sisters are doing across the water, I feel that we should show our gratitude by sending home our testimony of praise and thanksgiving to God, and deny ourselves as much as possible for the advancement of the work, and contribute as largely as we feel able to the $300,000 Fund.

Such words as these, we know, will bring joy to the hearts of all who have been making gifts to this fund.

W. A. S.