INDIA

Challenger
Published in the interest of the work of the Lord in South India by the SOUTH INDIA
CHUCH OF CHRIST MISSION
SPRING 1953

Sevenfy - Three Attend Graduation

Seventy-three were present for the second annua] Graduation Day ceremonies of the South India Christ ian College held April 7, 1953. The school year closed with 32 fulltime students taking resident work on the campus. There was one graduate. Brother Daniel, aged 62, is the second graduate of the college in its two year history. He had had two years of work in a Methodist Theological Seminary a number of years ago. He left the school and went back to farming, though he continued to study his Bible and to preach its teachings to the people. When he heard the mes sage of simple New Testament Christianity, he gladly
embraced the Gospel and was one of the first students

Doraiswamy had been graduated the year before, he had waited until this day for his degree. Thus he and Brother Daniel were the two to receive degrees and thus bring to a close their studies in the South India Christian College. Brother Daniel received a con
cordance to the Tamil Bible and the other students also

received hymn books as personal gifts from the mis

sionaries. At the conclusion of the service the students and

their families went to a nearby grove of trees for the

annual Graduation Festival. Early that morning Broth

er Gulick and some of the students had taken the Jeep into the village of Madrapakkam to obtain the food stuffs for the festival. At an open stall they had pur

to enter the new Christian college. At the graduation service held at two o'clock, Tuesday, April 7, Brother Daniel was awarded the degree of "Bachelor of the Sacred Scriptures."

The graduation service opened with the singing of a native Christian hymn, accompanied by the playing of a hand-pumped harmonium and a drum. After ward we were led in prayer by Brother G. Doraiswamy, the first graduate of the school. Brother Daniel then
delivered a very stirring and eloquent sermon to the

chased the mutton for the curry. Then to the rice mill they went for a whole sack of rice. Afterward they purchased the chilis and hot curry spices as well as the necessary oil from the open air shops in Madra pakkam. Even the firewood for cooking, which is very costly in India, had to be purchased for the cooks. Some of the bachelors joined ranks with some of the married students and worked nearly the entire day preparing the meal in large waterpots over an open

fire. Just before taking it to the grove for serving they insisted that the missionaries come and sample
the food. So Brother Morris and the Gulicks reached

assembled preachers and their families. Following this Brother Arthur Morris spoke to the group, giving a review of the year's activities and emphasizing how
these activities should have prepared them for active Christian work. Ethel Gulick effectively presented to the women a summary of their important sphere of service and the opportunities to be found in the Christ
ian home.

into a large tub full of rice and into the pots of steam ing cury and pronounced their judgment that it passed the test. There was also a large lard can of steamin,
pasty vermacelli pudding.

When the food reached the grove the picnickers were already seated expectantly with their plates of
leaves in front of them. The women and children were

seated together on one side and the men were placed in a long row on the other. Large handsful of rice

The certificates of award and the degrees were then

were piled on the leaf plates and the steaming curry

was ladled over the top. Then each person reached

presented by William B. Gulick.

Although Brother

in with his right hand, took a handful, squeezed it

into a ball and popped it into his mouth. Soon after the pudding disappeared in the same manner.

During the afternoon the men tested their strength and skill with games such as the high jump, a rope
tug of war and racing. The women played some of their

familiar native games too. But one which drew a great

deal of excitement and laughter was a sack race. No

one knew whether she was being tripped up in her 'long flowing sari or by the sack.
There were mixed feelings in the hearts of the students as they made their way home along the dirt road in the moonlight. The day had been one of joy
Siiii It*

and laughter. But soon some from their number would be going as far as 300 miles away and would be out on

the field preaching for a year before returning to re

Ethel GuHck and the college women on graduation day.

sume their studies. A peak had been reached. But it was also a springboard into wider fields ot service.

PAGE 2

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

SISTERS WIN THEIR FRIEND

FOR CHRIST

CHRIST NAGAR HOSTEL

TO OPEN JUNE 10

Two small Anglo-Indian girls, ages 11 and 13, had a little playmate
who was not a Christian. She had

The South India Church of Christ

The men of South India ChilsUan College on graduation day.

no mother or father, and was living with her uncle, who, supposedly, was a Christian, but he did not care for God. They taught her about Jesus and His love and brought her to the Church of Christ, where she
was taught more about the Bible.

Mission has planned, the Lord will ing, to open on June 10 a boarding school for boys on the mission pro perty at Madrapakkam. This will be a school on the junior high level and will be operated for the bene fit of our Christian boys who will be leaving the Christian Day Schools in the villages for higher education.
The new board school will be named

THE LORD ADDS DAY BY DAY

Yes, it is really true that almost

every day in one of the fields some

souls are being baptized into Christ. The average last year and again for
this year has been about IVz souls

I baptized her in the Indian Ocean, and as the mighty waves rolled over us, so did God's grace come into this girl's heart and cleansed her from all her past sins. Now she is in the Church every Sunday be cause her friends cared, and you

provided a place for her to worship

Christ. This English speaking work continues to grow in spirit and
numbers.

baptized into Christ every day, or

about 17 souls every week of the year. So far this year there have
been 258 souls added to the Lord.

FIRST TWO RESIDENT

We sometimes feel that the times

the Christ Nagar Hostel. Nagar (Nay-gar) in the Tamil language means stopping-place or restingplace. The idea behind the name, therefore, is Christ slops here. Many of the Hindu Headmasters in the few hostels operated by the central government of India are re fusing either entrance or credit to the Christian boys. Many Hindu lads of this school age have never theless accepted the Gospel. If the missionaries open such a school and obtain their own teacher they will
be able to demand credit from the

MINISTERS MOVE TO
NEW FIELD

and places here are much like the

times of the Apostles and the First form, many false religions and perChurch. Here there is sin in every form, many false religions and per secutions to all who come to Christ;

At last we have two men to move to the far Othakotie field. Each man will have from 2 to 5 churches

government for the work done by their students. If they do not open such a school the opportunity of ed ucation above the grade school level
will be lost to the students of our village schools. It will also be from

to preach to, quite a job, but God's

service demands the best and our

but also, a great desire among many

to know the truth of Jesus Christ.

men are willing to give it.

Every day there is preaching of the Word, and almost every day some soul accepts Christ. Representa
tives come from different areas ask

Another new area has been open ed that join the Tamil and Telegu
areas into one line that runs from

Madras City up to 100 miles north

of Madras. These churches are

ing us to preach and say there are five to twenty-five villages that
want to know the Lord. We do all

both Tamil and Telegu and this field is being evangelized this sum
mer.

this picked group that the South India Christian College will draw a major portion of its student body in future years. The need for such a school can thus be easily seen. It is hoped that a- dormitory which will house sleeping quarters and an eating room for 30 boys can be constructed during the month of

May. The missionaries are planning

to build with mud which will after ward be plastered over with cement

we can with our limited strength, time, men and money, but cannot begin to go all the places that are
needed.

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

and hope to be able to put on as bestos roofing. The present chapel

building of the South India Christ ian College will be used for class

Published quarterly by the South

India Church of Christ Mission.

room space for the Christ Nagar Hostel in the mornings while the

college
VILLAGE HEAD MAN BAPTIZED
IN COIMBATORE FIELD The head man of Kallavarankot-

students

are

conducting

MISSIONARIES:

Mr. and Mrs.

Arthur Morris, Mr. and Mrs.

William B. Gullick

classes in the village grade schools. The thirty boys who will be ad mitted this first year will be picked
on the basis of merit from a host

tai accepted Christ and was bap tized on April 19th. At first he had persecuted Bro. Sathiyanathan a
lot but now he has come to know

ADDRESS:

Madrapakkam Vil lage, Via Gummudipond Post,

of students who have already ap

plied for admission to the school.

South India

These will come from the thirty Christian Day Schools now being
operated by the mission. This will

Christ, and he promises to go into each house in his village and preach
Christ. His name was Raman and he served Rama and Krishna. We

EDITOR AND FORWARDING AGENT FOR ARTHUR MORRIS

FAMILY:- D. Eugene Houpt, Box 104, Greenville, Illinois

gave him the new name of Paul,

and now he serves Christ. We are FORWARDING AGENT FOR
Doro MR. AND MRS. GULICK:

permit an average the first year of only one student from each village. Each student will bring as much of his own rice as is possible and the remainder will be earned by schol
arship work for the mission. It is hoped that the churches and Christ

looking for many to accept Him as this man's testimony and influence will go far. If the head man of the village can be won, then it will be

thy M. Schmale, Box 34, Price Hill, Cincinnati 5, Ohio

ian brethren will give generously

for this worthy need. At least $500

a lot easier to preach and win many

to Christ.

will be needed for the proposed building.

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOLS

PAGE 3

SHOTGUN AND BRIBES DO NOT

STOP CHURCH OF CHRIST

More than 30 Christian Day Schools are now being conducted in the villages of South India. The majority of these are served daily by the students of the South India Christian College who go each morning to teach from 8 to 11 o'clock. Many of these students walk as many as 10 miles a round trip each day in order to teach in
these schools. These schools form

The Hindus and Lutherans have

done their best to stop the Telegu work, and a short time ago, the shotgun

the only opportunity the great majority of the village children will
ever have to learn to read and write. All children are admitted to these

schools. But it is the policy of the mission to establish a school only

where there is an established church of Christ with a nucleus of Christian

children who desire training. The Tamil Bible is the chief text book, and it is from the Bible that they learn to read and write even as they
also learn about Christ.

missionary brought his threatened to shoot Bro. Appadrie, but he told him, "Shoot me if you want to, but you cannot stop the Church." He put up his gun and went away in shame. Next he tried to give money to the poor people to have them become Lutherans, and a few did, but most of the people were ashamed of him, and now many are listening to our preachers. More peoples are com ing to Christ than ever before. As it is often said, out of persecution
and
comes a new alive church.

Lutheran

Ethel's first bull carl

ride.

The Christian. Day Schools are conducted in the church buildings. Thus the buildings made possible by the "Build-A-Church" campaign are doing double duty and serving the people all through the week. The preacher is usually also the teacher of the school. Although dur ing the coming year many of the
experienced preachers will be min

HINDUS

BURN

CHRISTIANS'

GRAIN FIELDS

The Hindus of Chennannampatti and Jarathalur were very angry

when some of their number left
Bro. Peler who was baptized April 18, 1953. Having only one leg didn't stop him.

Hinduism and accepted Christ. They

were the first of their caste to ever

become Christians and the Hindus

istering to 2 or 3 congregations and will be able to teach in only one

village. The new students will be

used as
out a

teachers in

the villages

which would otherwise be left with

teacher.

burned their grain fields so they would have no food. Next, they went to the forest ranger and stop ped them from planting again. This was a new low in spirits for the Christians for there went up in
smoke three months of hard work and six months of food. We went

Most

of

the schools are very

poorly equipped. Lack of funds has thus far prohibited even the pur
chase of a blackboard for each school. The teacher has been smok

to the Minister of Agriculture and he promised to let the Christians use the land again but did nothing about the burned grain.
Bro. Samuel and some of his recen t con

ing a portion of the mud wall with lamp smoke and trying to make this serve as a blackboard. Usually only
a few students out of 18 or 20 will have slates on which to write. The

verts la Madras City.

DEVIL BOWS IN MADRAS

general practice is to take a hand ful of sand, spread it evenly on the

iioor and then learn to form their

On the twelfth of April, the devil bowed again before the mighty
Army of Christ when a new con
gregation was established in Madras City. Sixteen were immersed into

AFTER 40 YEARS' STRUGGLE,

AROOR FALLS TO CHRIST

letters by writing in the sand with

the right index finger. So far it has been possible to purchase only a few paper backed textbooks. Often there is only one textbook to a grade. Neither are there desks, chairs or any of the other equip
ment we often consider standard in
a school.

For over 40 years different mis

Christ

by

Brother Samuel,

then
This

sions have been preaching in Aroor

which is in the area of our com

went to the big tree that is their

temporary place of meeting.

is the third Tamil church in Madras that Bro. Samuel has started. This

pound group of churches. First the London Mission; after that the Luth

erans; after that the Methodists;

and for 10 years our men have been

The one thing which takes the

work is supported by the Palmyra Church of Christ, Fredricktown,

Ohio.

preaching there, and actively- since we came. Our men would not give
up, and in March seven families ac

place of much of this needed equip

ment is the tremendous thirst for

cepted Christ and were baptized This is a large village and soon
many more will come. All the churches in the home base area are growing, and some new men are

knowledge on the part of the Indian

children. It often seems to us that

like to see our schools better equip ped. Twenty dollars will fully
equip a Christian Day School.
and send it soon.

the very lack of many of these things spurs them on to greater

Des ignate your gift for this purpose

heights of learning.

We would stili

coming to help when the school starts in August.

Student's Name

Church Where

1.
2.
3.

G. Doraiswamy
D, Dorai Raj
G. D. Yesudian

Preaching Sanapathur

Year Established 1948

Average
Attendance
35

Baptisms
in 1952

Sponsor
Christian Church

Church Building Built By

E. M. Hutchinson Class

23
92

Sadieville, Ky.
Evangelistic Work Campus Church Madrapakkam 4,
5.
1951 1951 1952

Calhoun, Kentucky

Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Walker

Penhook, Va.
18 28 32 2G 24 30 52
5

32 53 12
5 21 14

Young People's Class Christian Church Belle, Missouri

Ohurch of Christ

Church of Christ Buchanan, Michigan Virgil Florence and

Indian Creek Christian

A. D. Sinderaj
A. Samuel

Kayalammadu Alipakulam
Vaniamalai
Edoor

North India Missionaries

1948 193(1
1951 1938

Lexington, Indiana [Christian Church Horsepen, Virginia

A Friend

of the churches of Christ Mrs. Caprone and Beloit, Wise. Church

Church of Christ

G. D. Rajamonickam 7.
8.

Belle, Missouri R. J. Sinderaj

J. D. Yeasdoss

Mineral Ridge, Ohio

Church of Christ

Church of Christ

Milford, Ohio Malayarapalam

Petersburg, Indiana

Young Ladies and Young

Adults Bible Classes
Church of Christ

Church of Christ
Laurel, Indiana

o
M

Loyall, Ky. 9. G. Appadrie

Khalastrie Area 1952
1952 1951

30 25 29

39

Christian Church

Church of Christ

Agraharam and
Kallathur

Falls Mills, Virginia

26 30

Pontiac, Michigan
Crusader's Class and

>
S a.

10. P. J. Jayasingh

Karambadu

Ruth Shannon

Cincinnati, Ohio
11. A. Samidoss

Church of Christ
Union, Iowa

Soorapoondi

1952

32

36

Missionary Society Samuel Martin Family Chase Ave. Church of ChristWashington, Indiana Cincinnati, Ohio
Little Prairie Church of Christ Little Prairie Church of Christ

12. A, Davimonie

Tlianipoondi

1952

33

38

c
n

Albion, Illinois
13. Michaelruthum

Albion, Illinois
Church of Christ

Irugulam

1951
1952

28 30

Christian Crusaders

A
(ft

14. M. Rajaruthum

Achanaidu Kandigai

32

15. N. Yeasdoss

Katerpalai Palayam
Aral

1952 1952 1952

35
30 25

31 32 18
41

16. Vegeiulhum

Springfield, Ohio Forum Class Noble Ave. Church Akron, Ohio Church of Christ Ellery, Illinois Colonial Heights Church of Christ Norfolk, Virginia

Pontiac, Michigan Intermediate Dept. Washington, Indiana Shelby Christian Versailles, Indiana Church of Christ ' Pontiac, Michigan Church of Chiist Orleans, Indiana

>
n>

17. A. R. Sinderaj

Konga!

1952

35

None (Mission)
None (Mission) None (Mission) Betty Tippin Indianapolis, Indiana None (Mission) None (Mission)

Missionary Society and

High School Class Ladoga, Indiana Woburn Church of Christ Greenville, Illinois

s
o

18. S. A. David

Padathambadu

1951

24

18

19. J. Thungeraj
20. A. Chelladurai 21. M. E. Meshach

Kandigai (New Student)

Kondamanalure
1946 1928 24
35 8

Church of Christ Liberty, Indiana

D. V. B. S.

Poovalambedu

7 i

Lancaster, Ohio

22. R. Selvaraj
23. Daniel

(New Student)
Palawadie
1951 35

26

Mud Fork Church of ChristD.V.B.S. and JOY

Viryini?,
Calhoun. Kentuckv

cr c

A. xjuicti ivaj

j^rugapaiayam

1951

28

14 14

25. Adeysayum

Mr. and"Mrs. James Muntz Church of Christ Lexington, Kentucky

Forum Class Noble Ave.

rt
r*

Madancherri

1952

30

3*
cr
o

Intermediate Class Indian Creek Christian

26. Rajayeasdoss
27. A. Samuel

Church of Christ Ambackam

Madras Area Kodambackam and Velsavakkam Bhavani Area Manakatur Chinnanaiakenalur 1952
1936 26
35

Church, Cynthiana, Ky.

Mrs. Roy Lee Bedford, Indiana

16
16

None (Mission)

Palmyra Church of Christ Ladies Aid Fredericktown, Ohio Church of Christ

Lawrenceburg, Indiana
1952
22

>
8
Nil

14

Church of Christ

Mulberry, Ohio
3951 1952 1952 1952
1953 1952 9

28. Sathiyanatham

Northeast Church of Christ

Kalingarayanapalam
Sunkari

Pereia Malapalam
Chennanaputi
Kanavanum 29. R. Manickam
Salem Madras

12 30 IG 22 35 28 12
3 31

Columbus, Ohio

C
H

o
None (Mission)

30. H. Ellery 31. Rajamonickara 32. Veyethumonickam 33. John Muthumoney 34. Anthony Brevard

1951 1950 1951

(Anglo-Indian) Kundachettypalayam
Kallavarankottai Jarathalur

Palmyra Church of Christ Rented Building Fredericktown, Ohio Palymra

None (Mission) None (Mission)

ar

NOTE: The following churches have no resident minister. These are also served by
of support.

(New Student) (New Student)

that these congregations may be assured of regular preaching Many are applying for work in the co"llege,*"but ai^rbeinrturned awarfoTlack
Keelapondi Sriramapuram Perunkayam '
1952 1952
1952 1952
1952

None (Mission) None (Mission) various ones of the above men.

More preachers are needed so

a.c uccucu su

O
H

35. 36. 37.

38.

Walnut Grove Christian

Campbellsburg, Indiana
Mill Hall Christian

Mill Hall, Pa.

Lockland Christian

39. 40.

Peltiridi-Kandagai Nagalapuram
Velakavaram

Cincinnati, Ohio

1952

Dorothy Shoemaker and

Church of Christ

41.
42. 43.

Mambackam

Hampton, Iowa
1952 1952 1952 1952
1952

Young Adults Class

s 0i
it

Kandagai
Numdemunderla

Charleston, W. Virginia Charles Hardy Lexington, Indiana

Bible School Classes

44,
45. 46.

Shopcherri
Eadatoor

Columbiana, Ohio
Christian Church

Mt. Carmel, Indiana

Christian Church

Kanagoltai
Aroor Sankari

Havre, Montana
1952
1952

47.
48.

J.O.Y. Class
One

Calhoun, Kentucky There were 855 baptisms in 1952. Nineteen churches were estblished before 1952. Thirty-two churches were established during 1952. church was established at the very first of 1953.

1951

PAGE 6

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

To India's Coral Strands

As our car made its way out of the city of Cincinnati, Saturday, February 7, at 4 a.m., we could hardly believe that we were actual ly on our way to India at last. Our forwarding agent, Dorothy M. Schmale, and a friend, Elizabeth Morgan, were taking us to the port
of New York in Miss Schmale's car.

three children, Mike, Patsy, and Nancy, were returning to Madras where Mr. Hoover is employed by
the Caltex Oil Company.

real glimpse of the East. We went in convoy into the Suez Canal that night, but awoke the next morning to find ourselves grounded on a
sandbar in the canal. All was desert

The following night our ship ran

into a terrific storm. All the draw ers in the dresser and chest in our cabin flew out onto the floor. We were tossed from side to side and

on either side of us, and in the dis tance we could make out an Egyp tian village. The next Lord's Day, March 8, we passed out of the Suez
Canal and into the Red Sea. Sinai and Arabia were on our left and

We drove to Wheeling, West Vir ginia and then over the beautiful Pennsylvania Turnpike into East Orange, New Jersey. Arriving at
the Eastern Christian Institute at

it was nearly impossible to walk or

stand. We felt sure that we were

doomed to seasickness at that early

Egypt was still on our right.

wondered as we observed

We
the

2:30 in the morning the Lord's Day of February 8, we found that our beds had already been prepared and the hospitable smile on the face of
Mrs. M. S. Kitchen told us that even

stage in the voyage. But we kept eating in spite of not wanting to eat and moving about despite the almost overwhelming desire not to move at all. And we managed to avoid the terrible plague of seasick
ness. Miss Trimble became seasick and was that way for nearly the

simple memorial feast of the Lord's

death if we were doing so near or

on that place where Moses had led Israel through the Red Sea on dry
land.

at that hour of the morning we were

welcome.

Seeing New York City for the first time is always a breathtaking experience. But the thing about the Metropolitan Area which affected us the most was the great challenge
for Christian work and the heroic

efforts

of

our

fellow-laborers

in

Christ there. Our ship was to have sailed February 11. But upon check ing with the shipping line, we found that its sailing date was delayed un til February 20. Dorothy and Eliza
beth would not be able to see us

entire voyage. It was her twelfth voyage across the Atlantic! February 22 was our first Lord's day on the sea and together Ethel and I read Scripture, sang hymns, prayed and observed the Lord's Supper and continued to do so each Lord's Day of the voyage. The Captain and Chief Officer of the ship were English. The Chief Engineer, named MacQueen, was from Scotland. And the ship's doc
tor was Irish. The crew was Indian. The discussions which arose among

Passing the Jubal Air Islands, March 10, we noticed they had the same bleak, barren appearance that
all the other land we saw also had.

We could not make out a sign of

life on the islands.

The ship anchored in Aiden on

March 12 and we were able to go ashore for the first time since board

ing the ship in New York.

our first real contact

It was

Orient.

the There were thousands of

with

sail as they had planned. Friday evening of February 12 Brother

Arthur Kidd of the Central Christ

the British subjects aboard ship were always lively and interesting. One subject which created a vast
amount of comment was Elizabeth I or whether The

ian Church in East Orange took us in his car through Chinatown, the Bowery, Harlem, and over into Brooklyn, where we got our first glimpse of the S. S. City of Coven try, the ship which was to take us to India. The next day we took the greater part of our luggage to the docks and Dorothy and Elizabeth were permitted to go aboard with us and inspect the passengers' quar ters on the ship.
The Eastern Christian Institute

the present Queen Elizabeth was

Elizabeth II.

goats all over the streets, on door steps and even on the tops of houses. Camels were pulling twowheeled carts. We passed Muslim women dressed in purdahy And true to the trickery of the East, one boy even tried to charge us for look ing at a statue of Queen Victoria in a public park. He was quite angry
when we refused to believe his

Scotch subjects claim her as Eliza beth I of Scotland, while the English
insisted she was Elizabeth II of both

story that he was the official cus

todian and that a fee was regularly

England and Scotland. On Thursday, February 26, we sighted our first land since leaving
New York when we passed the

charged for visiting the park! The ship's stewardess was able to pur chase a bathing suit in Aiden and bargain the price down from 80 shillings to 70 shillings.
From Aiden on to India we were
in the Indian Ocean. It was after

sparkling Azores Islands. Two days

later we could see Spain on our left and Africa on our right as we drew
near the Rock of Gibraltar. Our

sponsored a Youth Meet which we

were able to attend at which Robert

second Lord's Day on board ship

was observed on the Mediterranean

leaving Aiden that we were told that the ship did not have enough cargo on board to warrant stopping

Schondelmayer,

minister

of

the

Noble Avenue Church in Akron was

the principal speaker. When Broth er Schondelmayer, Dorothy and Elizabeth pointed the car toward home again Saturday morning of February 14, it was to be last glimpse of familiar faces. We boarded the S. S. City of Coventry February 20 and set sail at 6:30 p.m. It was our first time to ever glide past the Statue of Liberty and out into the Atlantic Ocean. There were six other pas sengers on board. Miss Vivian Trimble, a United Presbyterian missionary, was returning to India for her 32nd year of service. Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Hoover and their

Sea. On Monday we could see Al geria, the capitol of French Africa

in the distance and were within

in the port of Madras. We were given a choice of either leaving the ship at Bombay and going by train across India to Madras, or sailing
to Colombo, Ceylon and taking another ship or a train from there
to Madras. It worked out that on

sight of the shoreline of Africa for quite a distance from then on. The thing that surprised us most was
that we were so near Africa and at the same time the weather was

quite cool.

Later, on

Wednesday

March 21 we docked at Bombay and received a telegram from Brother Arthur Morris that arrangements
had been made for us to leave the

and Thursday we passed within ten miles of Malta and alongside Crete.
But we could not see these two

ship there and come to Madras by train. We hurriedly packed our customs.
board

isles which played a part in the life of the Apostle Paul. We reached Port Said, Egypt, Friday, March 6. Egyptian vendors, barbers, and magicians swarmed aboard the ship. It was our first

baggage and had it examined by By nightfall we were on

the train and well on our

way on the last lap of the journey. The next day was again the Lord's (continued on page 8)

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

MORSE CODE

PAGE 7
RAJA AND RANEA MOVE

we dread to think of taking them

back down in the heat, but this is

Dedicated lo our friends in Chrisl

everywhere

TO MISSION COMPOUND

We are thankful for all the let

India. You boys and girls should be thankful for the brief spell of
hot weather you have in the States. Ruth is with them but she is find ing her hands full with the three different schedules to maintain. She

ters and packages you have been sending. We thank you for all the
personal gifts as they have made

by Rulh Morris We want to introduce to yoti two

little South Indian Christian child

our lives so much more enjoyable,

. and the Christians want to thank

you for all the used clothing, papers

and other things sent to them. Did you ever stop to think what a Hindu must give up to become

a Christian? Most all of the higher caste people lose their property, their home and family, money, posi tion and honor when they come to
Christ. It takes real faith to come out and leave all of this, and it

is studying Tamil again, and has learned three new Tamil songs as they sing them in the Churches. We are catching up on all our leters, and you will soon hear from us personally. Thanks for your in terest and patience, and do drop us a line. We love hearing from you.
Art

ren, and we want to tell you a lot about their habits and customs, so you, too, will know the Tamil child
ren as we do. The names of these children are

Raja and Ranea.

Ranea the girl.

Raja is the boy, Raja is proud that

he is the older, by a year, and Ranea

feels quite grown up at the age of twelve. They have lived in the village of Soorapondie all their lives, and know all the boys and girls of both high and low castes.
They themselves come from a Christian family of two generations. Their father, Dorairaj, is a Church of Christ preacher, and their mother,

takes faith and courage on our part

to convince them of the truth of the Gospel, knowing as we do what the cost will be. It is a sad sight to see

a mother and a father crying and screaming as their son goes to be

Rajammal, works with women of the village to help them to become

Christians.

baptized. They cry, "Why do you leave our gods, our caste, our fam
ily and our name?" This is what they really do, for they receive The God, a new family and a new name. If they are poor, they may not lose much money, but they still lose

In the village of Soorapondie, we find two big shops of cloth, three

smaller cloth shops, and a bazaar

area. In the bazaar area, we find stalls of bangles, which are brace lets of glass of different colors, breakfast foods, spices, rice and a

their friends and home and the priv ileges that the Government gives
to poor Hindus. If they remain Hindus, they can get Government loans and grants, free school fees
Art. David, Palty and Joe.
taken in Matcb. 1953.

few vegetables, kerosene oil, pea

This picture

for the children and jobs and places in the government. If they become Christian, all these favors are stop ped. To us it is a marvelous thing
that already this year two hundred
and fifty-eight have counted the
cost and chosen Cha-ist.

nuts, mutton puffs (cooked mutton, flavored with spices, fried in batter.) We must not forget the mutton stall, where the meat is hung in the open with flies buzzing over it, and crows getting bolder and bolder as more
waste mutton is thrown aside. None

of these foods are covered at any

time, so disease is spread by this

food. In the village, there is also a tank, where the women secure their water for drinking and for washing their clothes, and which provides a bathing pool for the vil lagers and buffalos. There are from three to five big Hindu temples, and very often, rice is sold in these temples. One of the most obvious things missing is a bank, but the Indian people, as a group, do not trust banks, and when they have a few extra rupees, they buy gold chains, bracelets, nose studs, ear rings, and ornaments that the wo
men wear. When a time of need

Now it is cobra time in Madras.

Since the Gulicks have arrived,

three cobras have been killed in our

house. I went to open the garage door one night and heard a hissing
sound, so stepped back and got the lantern. Soon the cobra was dead and burning. Even a cobra warns you before it strikes its poison

Brother Daniel, our second graduate.

blow, but the devil doesn't tell you

he is there to trap you in sin. The snake may kill the body, but the devil the soul. Let us be more afraid of the devil than of the
cobras.

David is now in the first grade in the American school in Kodaikanal,

and is really learning. His school

is finished in June, then the family will all come back to the compound.
David doesn't have a letter in the Challenger this month, because he

does come, they sell these orna ments, and collect the money, though usually at a big loss to them. One day, Dorairaj, their father,
came home and told them of the

new South Indian Christian College being opened, and said that he had
been selected as one of the stu

wanted us to tell you the story of

Raja and Ranea.

Patty and Joe play together now, and have both recovered completely
from their serious illnesses. In

dents. This would mean leaving their village and living on the mis sion compound until his school work was finished. Raja and Ranea were
Anlhony
priest who

Kody, where they have picked up

an appetite, they are gaining, and

Brenard.
left

young

Catholic
and

quite excited about this mpve.

Rajammal, their mother, (continued on page 8) told

Roman

Caiholtcism

will study in August for Church of Christ ministry. He is now preaching.

PAGE 8

THE INDIA CHALLENGER

them they must say goodbye to

their little friends in the next two

they do not own even one pair of

sandals. Their mother and father

To India's Coral Strands

(continued from page 6)

days, and on the third day they would be ready to leave. So for two days, Raja and Ranea told ev
eryone in the village goodbye, play

each have a pair of sandals, which are four straps sewed to a sole, but

they are definitely not for these

children. How good the water felt to them, and how refreshed they were. Soon Dorairaj called them to

Day. No one had warned us about Indian trains. We learned just in

the nick of time before leaving that

ed extra hard with the village dhobi donkey (as much as they could play with the donkey, for it showed more than a little tendency toward kick-. ing them), took the little baby twins next door for a long ride in their little cart, and played until the days passed and it was their last night home. On this night, several fam ilies came in to say godbye, and the Christians had prayer and Bible reading togther. During this two day interval, Rajammal had taken their clothes to

put their btmdles back on their heads, and they started off again.
Here I would like to tell you that

each passenger had to supply his own bedding. But we were not told that no arrangements were made for food and water. The heat that day
was the worst we had ever exper ienced. But the heat and our thirst

when the poor Indians move from place to place, they put the bundles of whatever they own on top of their heads, and carry it about in this manner. If they own a bed made like a cot, they also carry this on their heads, but first they take a long piece of material and wrap
it around and around, and put this

formed a fitting background as we remembered once again the suffer

ing of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At 6 a.m., Monday, March 23, we

arrived in Madras station. And on

the dhoby, or the man who did the washing. When he brought them back, she told him there wasn't enough starch in the sari and dhoti,
and that he had not ironed Ranea's

imdemeath whatever they carry. It

takes quite a bit of balancing for this trick, but it is convenient, isn't
it?

hand to greet us was our friend and future co-worker. Brother Ar thur Morris. After a long refresh ing drink of water and with the op pressive heat of the train a thing in the past we could truly be grate
ful that we had reached "India's

skirt just like she wanted it.

How

Raja and Ranea had a lot of fun walking on the ridge between the

Rajammal wished they could afford

to have even a charcoal iron, but alas, the fuel was so expensive! But

paddy fields, and tried to see how

close they could come to the edge without falling off. Had they fallen,

she accepted the clothing and pack ed it away. The morning they were to leave, Ranea picked up the bed, which is woven mats, and rolled them into
bundles and stood them in a comer

they would have had a bath in some not very nice paddy water, but they were agile this morning, and had
no such trouble. About eleven in

The sun was just setting as we reached our future home of Madrapakkam. The stu dents of the Bible College came in a procession with welcoming music and placed wreaths of flowers over
our heads. In the distance we could

coral strands."

see the tops of the mountains and

"look unto the hills from whence

where Dorairaj would later tie them together for the trip. During this

time Rajammal started cooking the food they would eat on their way.
Her stove consisted of two stones

the morning, they again stopped, and ate the lunch Rajammal had prepared for them. In a tin measure about twelve inches high and six inches across, she had put rice and curry. Now you may ask if this
food didn't become all messed to

cometh
thanks.

our

strength"

and

give

put together on the floor, with a space of six or eight inches between the stones. In this space she put the fuel of cow dung and a few

gether. layers.

It did not, because the tin In one layer she put rice

is divided into about three different

that had been seasoned with lime

the day before.

twigs that had been gathered up The floor is made of mud, so there is no danger of put ting the fire directly on the floor. At last they left their old house, but not before they had the final prayers that all would be well with them, and that they would be able to learn much and be of great help in winning Hindus to Christ, and that they should live more and
r.iore for Him.

juice to keep it from spoiling; in another layer she put curry, made
from mutton and spices, and in yet

a third, she put their dessert, cer

tain sweets made from cocoanuts,

peanut and brown sugar. So they really enjoyed their noonday meal.
After the meal was finished. Raja and Ranea and the family started walking the remaining two and a
half miles. The heat was so bad

The fixsl two graduales and their wives

When

the

children

started

out

they were not tired at all, but be fore long the sun began beaming down, and Raja and Ranea were wishing they could sit under the shade of a banyan tree again, such
as the one in front of their old

they were beginning to think they could go no further, when over the hill they saw a great hay stack. This proved to be the roof of the mis sionary's bungalow. As they walk
ed on, and watched the house gi-ow,

home. Soon they came to a tank, which is a reservoir for securing a supply of water in the rainy sea son. When they have a large sup ply of water, and the rains stop, then they use this to irrigate crops. Here they all stopped, put the
bundles down from their heads and

they saw very close-by a group of twelve houses, all whitewashed and all having thatch roofs, and knew from what the missionary had told
them that in one of these small huts

The doctoC/ none and mission hospital.

they would live for the next four

years.

Chapter Two of this story of the life of Raja and Ranea in South

What will the house be like in

side? How many rooms will it have?

Are there playmates?

A Church?

waded in the water. They did not have to take off their shoes, for

For the answers, be sure to see the next issue of the Challenger, foi

India. Soon they will you with them for a visit to a wedding, preparing funeral, and different
their life.

be taking to Church, a meal, a phases of

t E|ear ^ro. Mc-t?"arland, v^ -^re is a rough outline of the -nrogress and growth
and condition of our vrork here in South India. Please feel free to

use what you have room

and cut where^o^^

he ^outh -^ndia ^hurch 01 ^hrist Mission

The Lord's work hasgroim^-mialL^in^ th^s_iiT3ie---]::ast year, and we shall give a hrief outline of it under the'Tbl]owing headings, so it will he
Egsy to understand.
A. Churches B. Schools C, Medical Work

D. South India "hristian College ( 1/fia. Gulick Pres .and Ethel "ulick
Dean of Women) E.Building ImDorvenents
F.Trials and ^'rihulations G, Plans fnrt he -l^'uture C-Clo/?-CUG& .

A.

The churches have increased from 3 in number when iHr arrived

to20 at the beginning of 1952.

At the e nd of 1952 there were 50 or a

growth of 30 in that year. Now in May 1953 there are a toiil of 57 Churches of Christ here in the 5 working areas. '-^'he areas have grown from 1 to 5, and are as follows. 1. I.^adras gity 2, Home base area or
ground the compound 3. '-^'he two Gothakotie areas 4. The Khalastrie Telegu Area and the 5th the Coi-hatore-Salem area. Oiir range of v/ork

is now from 250 rniles South ofMadras to Madras and 100 miles North.

B. In the first year of SWr v/ork in the village w^perated 7 village

best means o^f^evangelisjiu and-c^sed vdth 35.

schools, and found them to be a great means of evangelism and one M the

BroOS'^wlick has taken charge of 25 of these, and is opening the nev^r Board-^
ing school, where advanced education, up to the 8th given

Last^a^ i^started out ith 20 schools -f^^eonenyin June uith at least 40 schools.

to the best of thestudents from our village schools. (i^'^&Tnave 15 school

and will try and plant one in each new village we evangelize this year.

C. The Medical work has grovm rdth the co 'pletion of the ne?/ '^hurch of Christ Mission Hospital, *lpJi2^work in the medical field began in

a doctor, so'lMr ^aff consistgd^^f a doctoranda nurse. Theincrease in patients was great, 8.nd_^ll\eb^ village schools were checked. ferei-'JIie purpose of this li^icalwork is two fold. To care for
sick Christians and to win friends for Christ from the Hindus by-

September 1950

one nurse, andthen in November of 1952

added

healing their holies, and preaching Christ to them while it is being Sone.
^^an not pay as much as big hsopitals, as c|4)^ mpin work is preaching,
^nd the doctors like the city better, for "it has more anemities of life"
In India 93% of the doctors'^-are in the cities caring for 5% of the people and 5% are in the villages caring for the 95^ of India's teeming millions.

l^fedoctor recently resigned, snd'T^ypre now searching for another,

D The ^outh India Christian College is the Project of the^ulicks and

funds lOor that work should be sent to them. The South Inrlia Christian

College began in Oct. 1951 with 22 students and closed vdth 32. TJ-is . years class closed with 36 students and the applications show there will be at least 50 students in the College when it opens in August. The

Corresponde'ice school opened last year with over 30 enrolled and Bro. Gulick has completely reorganized it and it will have many enrolled this year. Ther are now 2 graduates who have received the the B.S.S. ^

degree( Batchelor of the Sacred Spriptures).

in this school is $10 a month. The man will study 4 hours a day and also teach 3 hours a day in a village school.

The support of a family

ihjearoff bsw. hou^ of, mud walls plastered with cerrent and a tile roof. W fEatch roof and are now putting on a permanent roof onlitm^

Campaign, and more will be built all along,

E. There have now been 40 Churches built in the Build a Church

-^lie Clicks hg.ve finishe^ lyM

store, office hmldinp and boarding school are now belw

; ; F.

f4i2.<^ecc'Tcoi)^ There has heen persecution fro-" the Lutherans in the Telegu

^reaj and froi^i the Hindus in the ^cdiiAatore field.

not andvfould not preach, hut i/l^en w

threatened to shoot one of cfrfip nreacheBS. The Hindus hurn^^ the grain drops^of our "Christians, nnd this was really a great loss. JL stopried, as we got permission from &ov. for all *^egardless of religioa. The devil uses all the ways possible topeonies hurt
. , .

when souls were coming to Christ, they tried to Jrive

for ^hrist, they wanted it.

IMeveloped, they never ^ot^^ed^ltjbut

away.

-e into this very fertile field

even

The Lutherans did

the Lord's children/^^&a;feven'~{wo preachers were tempted too much.

One committed adultery, andwas immediately dismissed fici^ngocd, and

another wanted to divorce his wife and marry another, and he too dismissed OP' goed. The devil has used this inside way to try and weaken
our forces, and still the threatening of slit writsts ^nd hearts 6ut out got^on. \Ti\en a person get angry at us, t ey first threaten us
pnd then say they ivil] cut out. our hearts, but all is talk. V/e feel these
s

trials keep us closer to the Lord, and we rejoice in them. ^

P-OTO ^-Qr(r.Qir plans frr the future inclusc expansion in all fields.

are being free fromthe "College work b}7.the Clicks, -HHivdll spend more

least 12 Daily VacaHon -l^ible Schools in the !;tki^s4^hurches.

and more time in village evangelism. evangelistic meetings in each ofiZ^the

will conduct one week cnurches, and %th will do at

will look forward to having our first Campthere next year, for Zifer young people and the leaders. lliere are plans now underway to

evangelize at least 13 more villages, and this will bring to 70 .the

been 1441 souls imi^ersed into ^hrist since ^ ^ff^j^R^in^^ei

and mi f&JL-^a^^ain
g08,ls shall be reached, v/e need your prayers and help in His
,,
6^

total of churches of Christ here in'South India..

, Thera ha-ve now

Service here.

go over the 2000 mark this year, r Ii these

0)^

/?,