The General Meeting in India by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 7, 1907

The General Meeting in India

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

The general meeting for the India Mission field was held in Calcutta, Dec. 28, 1906, to Jan. 12, 1907. All the laborers in the field were present, also all the workers recently sent there from the United States. Elder Shaw and party, and the writer, who left London November 23, on the steamship “India,” reached Calcutta December 19, having remained in Bombay over Sabbath. Brother J. S. James and his family, Dr. Menkel and his wife, and Dr. Ollie Oberholtzer arrived a week later. All were greatly encouraged by the arrival of so large a company of consecrated workers, and the hearty, Christian reception given us was refreshing.

The workers had not been together for two years, and had looked forward to the meeting with much joy, and expectation of the Lord’s blessing. All were glad to welcome Brother and Sister Shaw, who had returned with renewed health, to take up the work in India, also Brother and Sister Burgess, who have returned.

The opening meeting was held at the beginning of the Sabbath. The Lord was especially near in this praise service. The Holy Spirit seemed to overshadow the place. The meeting can not be described in words; it was a heavenly sitting together in the Lord. And this same blessed Spirit was manifest in every meeting till the close.

The greater number of the Sabbath-keepers in India attended. Nine Burmese, who have recently embraced the truth, came with Brethren Votaw and Hansen from Burma. The mother of two of these was baptized by Judson, and is still living. Several were present from among the Santals who have embraced the message under the labors of Brother Barlow. Some of these God is using as workers to carry the message. A number of Bengalis were there from Karmatar and places where Brother Mookerjee has been laboring. One of these was an aged man, who for fifty years was a leper, and prayed to his Hindu gods without relief. Thirty years ago he secured from a missionary a copy of the Gospel of Matthew, and read that the Christian’s God healed this disease. In answer to prayer, he was healed. Recently he has embraced the Sabbath, and is happy in keeping it. I see no reason why a church can not soon be organized among the Bengali-speaking people. The testimony of the different tongues deeply touched our hearts, and we rejoiced to see that the message was gathering out believers from the various languages of India.

The key-note of this meeting was the extension of the message among the various tongues and dialects of this empire. God laid this burden upon our hearts at the very beginning of the meeting, and every step taken in this matter was witnessed to in a special manner by the presence of the Holy Spirit. A good beginning has been made among the English-speaking people. The Oriental Watchman is circulated, and a good sanitarium has been established. While strengthening the branches of the work already established, all were deeply impressed that the enlargement of our work must be among the vernaculars which are spoken by millions and millions of souls. The following recommendations were enthusiastically adopted as the policy of labor in the future:—

“Whereas, We believe that the third angel’s message is to be carried to every nation, tongue, and people in this generation, and,—

“Whereas, There are in the mission field of India three hundred million souls of various languages, to whom we are debtors to carry the message, yet among whom we have scarcely made a beginning; therefore,—

“Resolved, That we recognize the responsibility given us by the Lord of the harvest to carry this message to all these millions; and as a mission, we urge that a strong, aggressive evangelistic policy of missionary labor in behalf of the Indian races be begun, to continue until the work is done. To this end we suggest the following plans:—

“1. That the advisory board plan to open work at once in as many languages as possible, and that as many of our laborers as is consistent with the work in hand, who are of proper age, and qualified by education and otherwise to acquire a knowledge of the language, be selected to labor in the vernaculars.

“2. That to assist in carrying forward this aggressive policy and plan of labor in the various tongues, we ask the Mission Board to send to our field, from time to time, strong, consecrated young men and women of good education, with a view of locating among the Indian population, to acquire a thorough knowledge of the languages, and to act as pioneers in these tongues.

“3. That we ask the advisory board to investigate the advisability of adding Sanskrit to the curriculum of our colleges, so that those coming to India to labor can obtain a knowledge of this language, and if found that it would assist in learning the various languages, to open correspondence with our colleges regarding the matter.

“4. That those who take up the study of the languages do so after counseling with the advisory board, and that only those be advised to study the languages who expect to remain permanently in the field.”

“5. It being much easier to acquire a knowledge of the language if its study is begun as soon as one arrives in India, we advise that laborers coming to the field be located as soon as possible where they are to labor, and that they begin at once a study of the language, with a view of acquiring proficiency in it sufficient to do evangelistic missionary work.

“6. That the advisory board perfect as soon as possible some plan by which those studying the languages will be subjected to an examination at least once in six months, as to their progress and proficiency in the tongue.

“7. That as fast as proper translations can be secured, literature be prepared in the different languages, on the fundamental truths of the third angel’s message, and that this literature be as widely circulated as possible.

“8. That all literature be prepared and circulated under the instruction of the advisory board.” “9. That the advisory board prepare to promptly and accurately get out such literature as may be needed, either by increasing our own equipment at Karmatar or by arranging with outside firms.

“10. That a committee of five persons be appointed to act with the advisory board to give special study to the matter of literature in the various languages, and assist in its preparation.”

In harmony with these recommendations, plans were laid for special work among the Indian people, and a number of laborers were allowed to study the language and open work in the vernacular.

Plans were laid regarding the Oriental Watchman and the English Good Health, by which it is hoped their circulation will be increased by the addition of two or three thousand subscriptions. These papers are doing a good work among those who speak English.

Arrangements were made also for strengthening the work in the sanitarium. Notwithstanding the difficulties peculiar to the field, the Lord has blessed this institution, and it is now practically self-supporting, and exerting a strong influence for the truth. Dr. Ingersoll and his wife have done faithful service in building up this institution; and as they separate from the field for a few months’ vacation, the prayers of all will follow them. Dr. Menkel and his wife were placed in charge of the institution, and have the confidence and cordial support of all.

Resolutions of thankfulness were passed for the generous contribution of funds from friends in the United States, for the establishment of a mission station in the cool climate of the hills, where those who are worn with labor and the excessive heat of the plains may go for a period, to recuperate, while still continuing to work. This is a step in the right direction, and will materially assist in the development of the work in this field. For many reasons, the work can not be successfully carried on if workers are continually leaving the field. To do effective work in India, especially in the future, we must learn the language of the people; and this means that we devote our lives to this work, as it is useless to learn a language, and then leave the field. It is the plan for all workers in the future to go to the cold climate of the hills, instead of returning home. The advisory board was authorized to locate this mission as soon as possible, in the most healthful place obtainable, with Indian environments favorable for missionary work.

One marked evidence of the special blessing of God during our meeting was seen in the fact that three or four of the workers decided to remain in the field who had thought that, because of failing health, it would be necessary to return home. As the good Spirit of God hovered over us from day to day, it imparted strength of body, as well as of soul. The Lord blessed these faithful laborers, and imparted to them physical strength to the extent that they decided it would not be necessary to return home. This was a source of great encouragement.

A daily Bible study was conducted throughout the meeting, on the office, work, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the spirit of prophecy, and the place it has in the third angel’s message. Much interest was manifested in these studies, and many expressed themselves as greatly blessed by them. Preaching services were held each evening, and were quite well attended. The doctrinal points of the message received special attention at these services.

The last Sabbath of the meeting was a good day. At the beginning of the

Sabbath, after a sermon on the closing scenes in the ministry of our Lord, the ordinances were celebrated. The Lord seemed especially near upon this occasion. At the close of the Sabbath a thank-offering was taken, to be used in equipping the Karmatar printing-office to more quickly get out literature in the vernacular. One of the donations on this occasion consisted of the necessary type to print in Hindi. Various other donations, amounting to several hundred dollars, were received, sufficient to furnish all the equipment needed for immediate use.

In the providence of God, a number of consecrated laborers are now in India, who, we believe, are here to stay and push the work vigorously. The Lord has blessed in the past, but we felt that in the plans laid for future work, and the signal blessing of God which attended our meeting, the time has come for a mighty work to be done among India’s millions, and the last message to be quickly carried to the various tongues waiting for the light of truth. Concerning the plans laid and the location of laborers, I will write in another article.

Calcutta, India.