p. 14 | Word From India by Annie Knight

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Mar 31, 1904

Word From India

By Annie Knight

ANNIE KNIGHT

My last report was from Allahabad. From there Miss Humphrey and I went to Simla, arriving about the seventeenth of April, and remaining till the close of the season, the following November.

We began work by calling on the physicians and leaving our cards, then canvassed while we waited for other work. We did not wait long until we were both nursing. But we did not wish to neglect the other line of work—canvassing and Bible readings—which we had begun, so we agreed for Miss Humphrey to give the treatments and do the nursing as far as it was possible for her to do so, and I was to resume the Bible readings and canvassing, which for a time had to be discontinued

We also arranged for a school of health to be held at the Y. W. C. A. lecture hall, they paying all expenses. The school continued ten weeks, meeting in the afternoon once a week.

We nursed two cases each, after which Miss Humphrey devoted all her time to giving massage to patients in their homes, and in the hospital, under the direction of three of the leading physicians. She gave from two to five treatments daily, Sabbaths not included.

The receipts for her nursing and treatments amounted to 1,454 rupees, from May to October. Our school of health was also a success, being quite well attended. Many of the principles of healthful living were received gladly, and put into practise, with good results, both to their health and happiness.

I gave from three to seven Bible readings weekly, and took about forty yearly subscriptions for our London Good Health, and sold several copies of "Ladies Guide." One day my receipts amounted to thirty-two rupees ($10.75).

Of course that is not a big sum,—some of our canvassers have taken as high as seventy,—but it shows what can be done by an inexperienced canvasser; for I never canvassed till I came to India.

As a result of the Bible readings held, one family accepted the truth, and a lady who had attended meetings in Calcutta was fully established, and united with the church the following winter. Thus three precious souls were added to the fold.

When we left Simla, Nov. 3, 1902, we started out on a canvassing tour through the Northwest Provinces of India, as recommended by the advisory board at Calcutta. It was indeed most gratifying to us to look back upon our work in Simla, and see how signally the Lord had blessed us; how truly he had sent his angel before us, and prepared the way!

After leaving Simla, our first stop was at Umballa. Here we spent three days, canvassing for our Indian paper, Oriental Watchman, the London Good Health, and "Christ's Object Lessons." We also stopped at Ludhiana, Julinder, Amritsar, and Lahore. Here Miss Humphrey was employed by a lady whom she had treated before, in Simla, to resume her treatments, and remain with her as nurse. We spent six weeks in Lahore, Miss Humphrey nursing, and I canvassing.

Owing to extra work at the sanitarium in Calcutta, it was thought best to recall us from the field, to take up work there. But as the lady mentioned above was still in an uncertain state of health, and was determined to go to the Delhi Durbar, she obtained permission for Miss Humphrey to accompany her there as nurse till the Durbar was over. I returned to Calcutta, Dec. 26, 1902, and took up work, where I was joined two weeks later by Miss Humphrey. We both continued in the work here until her death, March 4, 1903.

We had been in the field ten months, during which time we could only say, Surely goodness, mercy, success, and favor have followed us all along the way. And we never enjoyed our work more. Our receipts for treatments and literature, during the whole time, amounted to 2,382 rupees, or $793.66. Thus ended our work together.

We had all learned to love Miss Humphrey very much. She was most proficient in all her work; gentle and kind; one of the most unselfish persons I ever met; thorough and conscientious in all she did. The work and workers sustained a great loss by her decease.

In April, 1903, I again went to Simla, this time alone, to resume the work begun the previous season. The Lord, by the Spirit, went before and prepared the way, giving me strength as my days. In May I was joined by Miss A. Helen Wilcox. She is a noble woman, one among a thousand, indeed, and has done valiant service. She took up the work which Miss Humphrey had begun, while I continued to give Bible readings and canvass. I tried to strengthen those things that remained from the last season

and to do as much aggressive work as possible. As a result, one other was added to our number, the other three grew stronger and more courageous. The family that embraced the message the year before, so far as I know, are fully established on all points, and are only paying their tithe monthly, and await baptism.

We organized a Sabbath-school of ten members—five adults and five children. The Sabbath-school donations for the season amounted to forty rupees. We feel much encouraged with the outlook for Simla. But what we need now most of all is more laborers. Truly, the harvest is great, but laborers are few. Brethren and sisters, will you not pray the Lord to send forth laborers into the vineyard, and then be willing to answer your prayers by saying, “Here am I, O Lord, send me”?

At the close of our work in Simla I attended our general meeting in Calcutta, which was held November 6-10. Nearly all our workers were present, and we had a most blessed and profitable time. As we met and told how God had led us and blessed us, it was truly refreshing. But as we looked at the great work before us and our little band of workers, our cry was, “Truly the harvest is great, but the laborers are few. O Lord, our Lord, thou wilt send forth laborers. The work is thine, the people are thine, and we are thine. We give our all to thee to be used in thy service.”

After the meeting, the workers went forth: Brother and Sister Meyers and Miss D. Ella Smith to Burma; Sisters Anna Orr and Daisy Jewett to southern India, on a canvassing tour; Brother and Sister James through the Northwest Provinces and the Punjab; Brother and Sister Burgess to take charge of our native work at Karmatar, assisted by Sister S. E. Whitels; while I am to visit a portion of the Northwest and Punjab. I went out alone because there was no one to send with me. The work indeed is great, and the laborers so few. Is there not some young lady who would be glad to come over to India and join me, and share my blessings in this glorious work? Think of it! There are only two workers for all southern India, only three for all the Northwest and Punjab, none for the central provinces, and only three for Burma!

Since leaving Calcutta I have worked in Lucknow and Cawnpore, both of which are large cities, and not one of our people is there. I found many hungry souls, waiting for just the message which we have to give to a dying world. People asked me why we do not establish work in these cities, and settle down to do something permanent. And all I can say is, We have not the workers. But there are Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and others, all here before us many years, who have missions, schools, and orphanages, etc., well-manned; and we—what have we? Yet we believe—we know—God has commissioned us to carry the last message to the world. O, my heart is stirred to the depth, and burdened, as I see the work yet to be done.

In Lucknow I took fifty-eight subscriptions for Oriental Watchman and London Good Health, and sold some books. Thus, fifty-eight families will be preached to in that city each week for a whole year. I have been in Cawnpore only one week, but thus far the Lord has given me good success, and he will complete that which he has begun. It is a blessed privilege to be a worker together with the Lord.

“O, who will go, salvation’s story telling, Looking to Jesus, counting not the cost?”

Do we really believe all power is given unto Him, and that the all-powerful One really commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature? What a blessed work! I am so thankful that the dear Lord has given me a place in it, and I want to do the work acceptably to him, so that when he comes, I may hear the “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Cawnpore, India.