The India Mountain Mission by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 17, 1907

The India Mountain Mission

By J. L. Shaw

J. L. SHAW

OUR brethren and sisters in America who have so willingly given of their means to start a mission in the mountains of India will be glad to know that fully six thousand dollars has thus far been paid in. Part of this is awaiting disposal at the Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal., and the rest is in the hands of the General Conference.

We feel deeply grateful to God and to the friends who have given so generously of their means for this good work. It is another instance of answered prayer, and a further assurance that God has great things in store for India. We were told by the Lord’s messenger at the General Conference in 1893 that “the same work must be accomplished in Australia, New Zealand, in Africa, India, China, and the islands of the sea as has been accomplished in the ‘home field.’” From this statement and from a knowledge of conditions in India, undoubtedly the Lord is about to do a short, quick work in that land. Not since Christ was upon earth, and perhaps never before, have conditions been so favorable for a rapid spread of the truth. The entering of Western ideas and the gradual breaking down of caste are favorable to the entrance of light and truth; and the facilities now provided in the way of railroads and postal and telegraph service are agencies for its wide and rapid advancement.

We believe a mission in the mountains will be an advance move, providing as it will a place for our worn and weary workers from the plains to recuperate and revive their exhausted energies. At the same time it will open work among the hill people, and ultimately we hope a training center may be started. If we shall be successful in educating Indian workers in the mountains, they can go, with little fear of disease, to the most sickly and malarious districts of the river and plain region and carry the gospel. In this way the cause may be advanced, and our workers be spared.

We are now on the sea in company with a party of ten workers, and shall soon reach Port Said, the half-way port in the voyage from England to India. We have been blessed thus far with a smooth passage; officers on the ship say it is exceptional. For this we are thankful to God. Five other workers will reach Bombay one week later than our party, and all, God willing, will reach India in time for our general meeting, which will be held early in January.

Our general meeting will be an important occasion, and workers from various parts of India, Burma, and Ceylon will be present, and plans of work will be considered. We shall be favored with the help of Elder G. B. Thompson, of America, who is with us to represent the General Conference, and to counsel and encourage our workers at this meeting. We know our faithful band of missionaries are looking forward to this occasion, and will be greatly encouraged by the arrival of so many new workers.

We feel constrained to ask your prayers especially in regard to the location of the mountain mission. The Lord has provided means for a mission in the mountain districts, and he has done it in answer to prayer; and now let us pray that he who has put it into the hearts of our people to give this money may lead his servants in finding land in a healthful place in the mountains for its location.

We wish to ask all who have not paid their pledges to pay them as soon as possible to the treasurer of their respective churches, that the money may be hastened on. Undoubtedly there are some who have heard little or nothing about this project who would like a share in this important move. Every dime or dollar or multiple of the same will be a godsend to the work in India, and may be sent either to the Pacific Press Publishing Company, who have done so much through the Signs of the Times in raising this money, or to the treasurer of the General Conference, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. In either case specify that the money is for the India mountain mission.