MISSIONARY WORK AT JAMMU, CASHMERE.
A MISSIONARY of the Church of England writes to the Mission Field concerning the work in this far-away section of heathen darkness:— "Our work is especially among the Mohammedans in the city and villages, but the Hindus are also not neglected. As a rule, both Hindus and Mohammedans are very prejudiced against Christians, tho there are now already many exceptions from the rule, both of Hindus and Mohammedans. No one is allowed to preach openly in the bazaar, and it is only about ten years since when even the Mohammedans were not allowed to call their people for prayer from the mosques in a loud voice. But after the death of Rajah Ranbur Singh, permission was given that every sect and religion might worship according to their usages and customs, but not openly in the bazaar. "There were then already a few Christians in the Jammu State, hidden of course and known only to God. But when religious liberty was thus given, and the Christians also availed themselves of it, they were persecuted and driven out of the State, and they sought refuge in India, where the British rule prevailed. "The present Maharaja, tho he is a staunch Hindu, yet suffers Mohammedans and also Christians to live in his State, but he does not want anybody to change his religion; all must remain what they are! He has, as a fact, allowed Mr. Höppner to preach in the bazaar of Jammu, and has said that everybody should listen, but they must not mind what Mr. Höppner has to say. Nevertheless, he (the Maharaja) has to see that over fifty Mohammedans have become Christians already during the last three years, and a sprinkling of Hindus among them. Still it is difficult for the Christians, who are harassed and annoyed always, and watched night and day by both Hindus and Mohammedans; and, as the obnoxious law still exists that anybody changing his religion has to forfeit all his property, they are kept back from coming forward and confessing the name of Christ. "One day in August when I went to an inquirer's house, as I had done already for some time, a number of Mohammedans followed me, thinking that this, our brother, will no doubt become a Christian. They sat down and said:— " 'We have come to hear what you have to say.' "Then the inquirer said, 'The Padri Sahib teaches me the way to heaven, and, if any of you has to say something against it, he will be glad to answer you.' " 'Yes,' I said, 'I shall be very happy to converse with you if you will do so with an upright heart.' "Then a Mohammedan moulvi stood up and said, 'Padri Sahib, what is your special work here?' "I answered, 'To spread the Word of God among sinners.' "He said again, 'What is the Word of God?' 'Answer, 'The Bible.' " 'No,' he rejoined; 'the Bible is not worthy to be accepted, because it has been canceled by the Koran.' "Then I said again, 'Can you bring me any proof from the Koran that the Bible has been canceled?' This he could not. "Then I found a good opportunity to say, 'Brethren, it is impossible that the Word of God should be canceled as your Koran also testifies in several places.' "Then some Mohammedans said, 'It is true what the Padri Sahib says.' But some were against it. "Then I said, 'You must make it up first between yourselves before you come to me again.' So I returned home unmolested that day. "A week after, the moulvi wrote a long epistle against missionaries, and read it on Friday in the mosque before all the Mohammedans who had assembled for prayer. I then was told that he wanted to defeat me, but until now they are quiet. "Likewise, when I go into the villages to see our Christians, the Hindus and Mohammedans ask, 'Are our gods and saints and our prophet not able to save us?' "I of course answer them: 'No, because they were sinners, and died in sin. But Jesus Christ was holy, and without sin, and righteous in all his ways, and at last he gave his own life for us, rose again, and ascended into heaven, etc. So let us accept this God-Man, who is able to save us. If we believe in him, we shall obtain everlasting life; otherwise we can not be saved.' I am glad to say that, altho there is such opposition, nevertheless, about twenty men and women are now under our instruction, and I trust that they will all become earnest and sincere Christians. "May the Lord bless our work which is done among these people, and bring all those who are still wandering in darkness into the light of his glorious Gospel. Amen."