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J. L. SHAW

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 4, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 44.

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J. L. SHAW

By J. L. Shaw

India

India, called the “Land of Desire,” the “Cradle of False Religions,” is the most stupendous fortress and citadel of ancient errors and idolatry in the world, the home of the Hindu, the Mohammedan, the Animist, the Parsee, and the Jain, and the birthplace of Buddhism.
THE DISH MENDER
THE DISH MENDER
Yet two hundred years of Christian missions in this dark land are bearing fruit. India, with other Eastern lands, is awakening from her millenniums of slumber. At least some are learning of the true God and salvation through a risen Saviour, and Indians once shrouded in darkness, are following the golden beams of light streaming from the uplifted cross. Though comparatively small in area, being no larger than that portion of the United States east of the Missouri River, her population forms one fifth of the human race.
There she lies in her need, shut away from the larger world,—a land of nations, nation after nation, of differing languages, customs, and habits, crowded each in its narrow confines, presenting a spectacle of painful poverty, woeful need, and awful darkness, rightly called the “Gibraltar of Heathenism.”
Notwithstanding many difficulties, our work has not entered India without a purpose, and at least some encouraging results are apparent. From three languages, in which work was begun a few years ago, we have reached out to eight. Four years ago there was one organized church in the field; now there are six, representing four different nationalities. We have workers among the English, Bengali, Hindustani, Burmese, Tamil, Mahrati, and Santali peoples.
Five of these tongues are called leading languages, and comprise anywhere from fifteen to eighty millions each; yet they are but five of the more than a score of languages which number their people by the million. Besides these, there are more than one hundred other languages and dialects, among which not even an entrance has been made.
The hour of India’s awakening has come. It is our hour of opportunity.

J. L. SHAW