Interested Ones in Bengal, India
BROTHER W. A. BARLOW, our missionary at Bobomohal, a station of the Bengal Mission in India, sends us some letters written him by native students, who have become interested in the message. We give two:— "My Dear Sir: I am exceeding sorry to inform you about me when I was at Serampore [Carey's College]. I wrote some letters to Miss Burroway and to you, but unfortunately those letters were found by my missionary. So he at once sent me to my father with those letters. When I reached home, my father rebuked me severely. Now he says that he will never allow me to go to Calcutta or some other places, so now I am bound to stay at home. Though I am under these circumstances, yet I am always finding a means to write to your mission. There is none to give me good advice during this gloomy day. Before, my father and relatives did not allow me to write a single letter, but now they are not so strict. I suppose they think that I have forgotten your mission. I thank God for his grace and mercy as he offers me a good opportunity to inform you all of my wants and distress this night. I pray you kindly show me a right path. You see I am here as a keeperless sheep." "Though I have got father and mother here, they do not allow me to walk in the right path." "Last year my father married me to a girl, so now I am bound by a girl. If I go somewhere, I am bound to take my wife with me; but under this condition I do not know what I shall have to do, as I am emptied pocket now. My father does not give me a pice in my hand, thinking that if I get money, I shall run away from home. Nearly last six months I was shut up at home, but now they allow me to go outside for a few hours under guard. I always pray to God to take me there [the Seventh-day Adventist mission] with my wife, safely. I believe our merciful Father will take us there very soon. Kindly write to me as soon as you could, also inform Mr. French about us. I hope you will try your best to save one soul, and to make us walk in the true path. Kindly do not forget these poor friends. Where is Miss Burroway now? Also kindly inform Mr. Wood about us. Last year Mr. French told me to go to Burma, but before going to Burma my father took me home, so I could not go there. Now father is not at home. Most probably he will come home after a month." This youth was stirred up to investigate the truth through reading for some time our Bengali quarterly at Serampore College. Here is another letter from a Burmese youth interested in present truth through reading our Bengali quarterly lent him by a fellow student:— "DEAR SIR: I thank our most gracious and holy Heavenly Father for the light which can remove the darkness of a sinner's heart. My heart was also full of darkness and error, but I thank God that he has given me his ever-shining light in order to shine in my gloomy heart. Kindly pray for me that I may walk in his light, and may be a good and faithful servant of his kingdom, and may worship him with my mind, body, and soul till my last sleep. I am quite well by the grace of our Saviour. With my best regards to all."