Marvelous Experiences in India
By George F. Enoch
In one of the native states of India, situated in the Kathiawar peninsula, there was a young Indian woman from Bengal, who was the private tutor in the family of the reigning prince. Some of our good gospel literature fell into her hands; and she later came down to Poona, where we were living, and was more fully instructed in the truths of the message, and was baptized. When she had come as a stranger into this native state some years before, the prime minister of the state and his wife had been as father and mother to her; and now she was anxious that they also should have the light. He was a Hindu gentleman, wealthy and influential. He had been promoted to a high place in the British government in Bombay, and was living, at the time, in the city. This sister made him a present of the book "Desire of Ages." Some months afterward, a letter was sent me from him, showing that this book had had a wonderful influence over his life. In fact, he was almost persuaded to become a Christian. I went to call on him, and he assured me that no other book had ever brought to him such help as had that book. "I read it for a half hour each night, just before I retire; and it calms my mind, and I have excellent rest," was his testimony. He was also a subscriber for our periodical, the Oriental Watchman; and in that, he saw an advertisement of "Patriarchs and Prophets" and "Great Controversy," two other books written by the author of "Desire of Ages." He immediately ordered them, in the best binding that we could procure for him, and has been reading them. He has since offered us a splendid property in Bombay, for one year, free of rent, if we would open treatment rooms in that city. Each year, he gladly takes the Harvest Ingathering SIGNS, and contributes to our work, and seems to be drawing nearer and nearer to the truth. One of our colporteurs met an educated Brahman in Bangalore, South India, who was high in government service. He was pleased to know that this colporteur represented the people who publish the book "Ministry of Healing." He brought a copy of it out with great respect, and said: "This is the best book I have ever read. It represents the true religion. When I find the same kind of people outside that book that I find inside the book, I am going to join them." For many years, our literature has been circulated in India. To-day the people are buying more than ever before; and it is very interesting to note that our religious books, such as "Heralds of the Morning," are purchased by non-Christians in large numbers. A letter just received says that sixty per cent of the books on religious subjects now sold in Bombay are bought by non-Christians. About four years ago, the writer began a series of tent meetings in Lanovla, a little railroad town in the mountains of western India. The English-speaking community was small, and opposition of the fiercest and most unscrupulous sort was immediately aroused. Falsehoods concerning us were freely circulated; and as the people were prejudiced against Americans to start with, and we were entire strangers, the community would have turned against us, had it not been that our religious magazines and some of our good books had been sold and read in the community for years. In every case where the people did not forsake us, they had been readers of our publications; and as a result, a company was brought into Christian truth. One young man from that effort has since gone to England, to take the ministerial course; and this summer, he is with a tent company in Scotland. He plans to return to India as a missionary as soon as his school work is completed. It was the power of the literature that dispelled the prejudice, and saved the day at that time. We might multiply evidences. Over all India are found thousands of men and women who have been reading our books and papers for years. Unconsciously their minds are molded according to the principles of truth. When the time comes that the battle is to be fought in their neighborhood, they will recognize the voice of the Master, and will take their stand with the people of God. Let us not be weary in well-doing, but continue to scatter the publications "like the leaves of autumn"; for we know not "whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."