IN the Church Missionary Society's South India Mission for Mohammedans, five methods have been employed for bringing the Gospel to the people—viz., open-air preaching, tract distribution, the circulation of books, visiting and conversation, and public discussions.
The open-air preaching has been disapproved by some, and if badly conducted may be a bad thing, but most of our converts seem to look upon it as the right and proper thing, and are ready to join in it.
If soberly and heartily managed, and with the help of a few benches for the front rank of the audience to sit upon, and with a chair or two for the more respectable of our chance hearers, and in front of some room or house to which to retire for further conversation or discussion, there seems no more direct means for drawing attention to our message. In British territory the police generally are found to have orders not to allow the Christian preacher to be unreasonably disturbed. If any opponent wishes to set forth his views, the police allow him to stand and do so at forty paces' distance, and this regulation prevents any acute friction.
It is undoubtedly an objection to open-air preaching that opposition is, so to speak, courted; and a Mohammedan audience very soon resorts to opposition preaching. In Hyderabad, soon after we commenced in 1890, the Society for the Propagation of Islam was instituted, with paid preachers and workers, which, after a short time, reported an accession of two hundred converts from Hinduism and Christianity.
Whenever possible, our experience suggests that a preaching-hall should be secured, for in a suitable building it is generally easier to obtain quieter audiences with less liability to interruption, and a better hearing for the message. It is true that spies may be posted to prevent any one attending to the preaching. The open-air preacher can shift his spot and evade such hindrances, while the fixed place in a shop may be rendered utterly empty by well-organized espionage. But the opposition will die down in due course, or may be partially frustrated by inviting a public discussion, the attraction of13which overcomes most other considerations. With regard to the style of preaching, we strongly deprecate anything polemical; we believe that the simple statement of God's truth, illustrated by such facts and incidents as help to make it attractive and understood is what is really needed; "things new and old," set forth with the power of the Holy Spirit, and explained, when practicable, by quotations from their own books.
We circulate a large number of Gospel handbills. Compared with thirty years ago, the supply of these is now great and good. There is always room for improvement, but the various tract societies have been active and deserve gratitude. The number of people in India who can read is great, and, if respectfully presented, the handbills are seldom resented. There, however, have been times when many used to be torn up before our faces. One remedy for rough treatment is to head them with quotations from the Koran, or to give them attractive titles. If handbills are printed in a Mohammedan press, care must be taken to see that there is nothing in the ornamentation introduced by the printer or copyist to damage the text.
The mission presses in India are now producing excellent books. Besides the fine revised Bible in Urdu, there are most useful religious books. The sales of these are very small in the two book-shops under my care. It is to be hoped that better days may come for selling. Meanwhile, when we can not sell, and many of our inquirers are hardly in a position to buy, we lend a good many.
In order to reach the higher classes, visiting them in their houses seems necessary. But the vexations delays that often occur are tedious. However, it may happen that other visitors are also waiting for an audience, and the waiting-time need not be totally lost. Any new books that may be respectfully presented are also willingly accepted. At railway stations, and in the railway trains, books, etc., often meet with a hopeful reception, and very profitable times for conversation can be found. Mohammedans are always more or less ready to talk about religion, and a conciliatory tone can secure very attentive and thoughtful listeners.
Discussions have the double advantage (1) of attracting a large audience; (2) of being often welcomed in their own houses or mosques. An opponent will invite the Christian to some building (school or mosque, etc.,) of his own in order (perhaps) to show off his superiority, and large crowds will attend on such occasions. In order to turn this to account, it is important to have a definite subject for consideration, and to insist on its being stuck to. When the opponent is bent on discovering some logical flaw or on some hair-splitting, without regard to higher issues, the result is not likely to be hopeful. It should always be remembered that "honest and good hearts" may be present in the company, even when the spokesman seems most perverse and unspiritual. If, therefore, the Christian acts calmly and patiently, a good impression may be left, even when the antagonist is noisy and blustering. There is the promise of "a mouth and wisdom" for such occasions, and that promise may be claimed and realized.
The Opinion of a Converted Moslem (Translated).
There are three classes of Moslems as regards their attitude to the Gospel. First, there are those whose daily bread and social position depends on Islam; these are the mollahs, and most of them are prejudiced and fanatic. Second, there is the large class of those who are utterly ignorant, even of their own religion, and are easily moved by the first class to oppose the Gospel. But there is a third class who are intellectually convinced of the truth of Christianity, but fear the rulers, or their relatives, or the persecution of their neighbors. Each class should be dealt with differently.
The best means of reaching Moslems is a holy walk and conversation on the part of missionaries and their helpers. Medical work and schools are good as a means to get an audience for the Gospel. The circulation of the Scriptures undoubtedly awakens opposition and arouses fanaticism, even because the Bible is divine and speaks to the conscience. But it is one of the best means to reach Moslems. I was first convinced of the truth by reading a penny Gospel.—Missionary Review.