A Letter From India by Mr. G. G. Lowry; Mrs. G. G. Lowry

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1910

A Letter From India

By Mr. G. G. Lowry; Mrs. G. G. Lowry

AFTER brief stops at Nashville, Tenn., Washington, and New York, we set sail Oct. 14, 1909, for India, landing at Southampton, England, October 21. From there we went to London, where we stayed twenty-one days. Most of this time was spent in visiting the many things of interest found in the world's metropolis.

November 13 we took the boat for Bombay, India. It was a long but pleasant journey of three weeks. On our way we called at the famous rock of Gibraltar; Marseilles, France; Port Said, Egypt; and Aden, Arabia. The last place named is supposed to be the hottest place in the world. Europeans live there but a short time.

On landing at Bombay, December 3, we were met by Elders J. S. James, W. W. Miller, and G. F. Enoch, and Dr. H. C. Menkel. They seemed glad to see us, and gave our party a hearty welcome to the great field of India.

After staying a few days at the home of Elder Enoch in Poona, our party broke up, and we went to our several places of labor. Brother R. B. Thurber and family and Miss Estella Secrest went to Burma, Brother S. A. Wellman and family to North India, Brother A. G. Kelsey and wife stopped in West India, while Mrs. Lowry and I were sent to South India with Elder James. We are to labor among the Sabbath-keeping Tamils, of whom you have heard so much.

Upon our arrival at the place where we are to locate, a reception was given by the natives in our honor. To show their pleasure in having us come to their village, the band came out and marched in front of the bullock carts in which we were riding. The streets were crowded with people from all over the village, anxious to see the new man and woman from the other side of the world. As soon as we reached the house, they all came for the reception, bringing with them sugar, limes, and bananas, which were given to us as tokens of friendship and welcome. In their speeches of welcome they told of their history; how some fifty years ago they began to keep the Sabbath, and how glad they were that our people had come among them and had given them additional light.

Our hearts were certainly touched as we saw these simple souls, on the Sabbath, come to the house for their service, bringing with them money, rice, eggs, gee, etc., as offerings to the Lord. They are very strict, in a way, in keeping the Sabbath. They do no work of any kind, not even their cooking. If they can not save their food over from Friday or eat it uncooked, they simply wait until after sundown, then prepare their food. In their meetings they use the psalms for songs. Even the small children who are not old enough to wear clothing of any character, except a cotton thread around the waist, can repeat psalm after psalm without making a mistake.

We have a very peculiar situation here, and see great possibilities before us. These people are not Seventh-day Adventists. They must be trained so that they will be. There is a great work before us, and we need the wisdom of God that we may know how to work for these people and train them up for Jesus. We need the prayers of God's people.

MR. AND MRS. G. G. LOWRY.