WHAT IT COST A BENGALI.
By Ada Lee
BY MRS. ADA LEE, CALCUTTA, INDIA. We enjoy reading stories of the bravery of the early Christians, but we are now in the midst of scenes just as interesting. A few months ago an educated Bengali gentleman, who is a doctor by profession, and a high-caste Hindu, came to see Mr. Lee, and talk to him about the Christian religion. He told us his father had often prayed with him, and used to say he was a Christian, but did not wish to stir up opposition by being baptized, and died without doing so; but his son feels he must come out from among the heathen, and therefore asked for baptism. His wife desired to come with him. Soon the persecution began. What this man has endured during the last three weeks baffles description. First his patrons were turned against him, and he was left with only a small monthly allowance for his services in a benevolent institution. The next step was to go and take his wife from him by force. Their little child was very ill at the time, but his wife bribed an old woman to carry a note to her husband in which she begged him not to allow them to get the child—that she might the sooner escape and come to him. But while he was out, they beat the doorkeeper and stole away the child. His father-in-law then came to him and promised him 5,000 rupees if he would give up his own house and go with him. This he quietly but firmly refused. His persecution then increased in violence. Mobs surrounded his house and spent the night taunting him and throwing stones into his house. They hooted at him, calling him a “beef-eating Christian,” and an outcast, and filled his doorway with old bones. A young man working with us went in to pray with him a few evenings ago. They barred the doors while they knelt down and asked God’s help and strength. Soon the mob surrounded the house, and our coworker only escaped by the doctor slipping him out, and, jumping on his bicycle, he shot through the crowd and was gone before they could hurt him. The doctor is doing all he can to get his wife, but she is imprisoned in a room in her father’s house, and every attempt to reach her has failed. He has now gone to law with the matter, and it is not certain what can be done. In all he is so gentle—yet firm and brave—that he has won the confidence of us all. The latest word from him to-day is that the mob had broken in and beaten him with clubs until he is so sore and swollen that he can hardly move. These men are now bound over for six months to keep the peace. We are indeed anxious about his wife. Her people would rather see her die than become a12Christian, and might murder her if she attempted to escape. Read this through thoughtfully, and who will think it easy for these people to become Christians? Pray with us that this man may be kept through these fiery persecutions, and his wife and child be allowed to return to him. And as you pray, ask yourself before God how much it has cost you to be a Christian. Have you done all God would have you do to send the Gospel to these millions of Bengali people? O, the power of the Gospel where it is taught in these homes! And how many hungry hearts we find among the people as we go in and out—yet many all about us have never heard of Jesus! Are we guiltless? O, that our people at home could see this great harvest field, ready for the sickle! Shall we not be among the reapers?—Union Gospel News.