INDIA CHRISTIAN

January, 1947
'Go ye into all the world and preach
the Gospel to the whole creation."
Vol. 1
MADRAS REPORT
Because of the strike in the Post
Offices our last "India Christian" was
on the way to us for about a month;
so it must have been very late in reach
ing you, our friends in the U.S.A. and
elsewhere. Just after it was sent out
word came from Br. Manuel Jacobs,
bur evangelist in Madras, South India,
that six others, two men and their
wives, and two other young men, had
"put on Christ." This will cause you
to reioice, I am sure, as it does us.
HOME FROM THE HILLS
The new missionaries came down
from Ihe hills in September and were
so happy to have fellowship with the
Christians here again. The first of
October they began studying with an
other pandit, but after three weeks he
was called away on account of business,
so at present they are without one.
Miss Hunt has been reading with one
of our evangelists, however, and is doing
very well.
BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL
Because three of our high school
boys failed to pass their examinations
last year, it seemed wise to keep them
here and give them some Bible training
while they also reviewed their work to
try their examination again; so Miss
Hunt and Mr. and Mrs. Rash have been
having classes for them each morning.
This is in English, of course, as the new
missionaries do not know sufficient
Hindi as yet to teach in it; and the
boys do know some English, for all high
school subjects are taught in English.
Besides the three young men, one
of our evangelists who understands
English is being given time to take these
No. 4
classes. Another young man whose
father was one of our converts some
years ago and who is working in the
office of one of the Maudaha schools
has also been taking classes. He is very
much interested in studying the Bible
and studied with Mrs. Ro'thermel during
the summer. This, then, is the be
ginning of our BIBLE TRAINING
SCHOOL which we trust will grow
during the coming years. We hope and
pray that some of the young men may
be led to hear the call of need for
workers in the Loi-d's vineyard; but
even though they all do not, we feel
that all should know sufficient about
God's plan of Salvation and the Church
which He established that they may be
able to teach others and carry on
churches in their own homes in case
they live where there is no Church of
Christ.
Later we shall have classes in Hindi,
and eventually all may be in Hindi. We
expect later that our old, faithful, re
tired evangelist will teach in Hindi; for
he is well qualified. These are our
plans that the Church of Christ may
grow in this land and that souls may
be saved for Christ and His Glory.
BUILDING
For yeai's we sent our children away
to other mission schools, but we have
decided not to do that except for our
older girls from this time on. We always
had a primary school, except for a few
years, for our younger children as it
never seems right for such small ones
to go away from home and stay to
attend school. However, we have never
had a school building for them. The
Mission bungalow veranda has many
uses, and this was. one of them, so the
school has held forth on the veranda.
When children study aloud, as they
usually do in this larid, it was not always
convenient or desirable; but was toler
ated. As I could not expect others to
put up with this, especially when
studying Hindi, the school was shifted
to a godown which was cleared out.
But we had previously decided that for
the school as well as for the new Bible
Training School a building was neces
sary. The children should not be
shifted from "pillar to post" as they
have been, so in October the foundation
was started for the school building.
There will be four rooms which are
ample for the present; and when it is
outgrown, other missionaries can build
more.
TWO WEDDINGS
During the summer two of our young
men who had served in the Navy were
released. Early in the summer Jidown,
who was one of my babies, being born
after his parents became Christians, was
married a distance from here so I was
unable to attend the wedding. But he
brought his wife here later that we all
might meet her.
The other man was a signaler and
married a school teacher in Jhansi,
which is not so far away. Phillip also
was born after his parents were con
verted and would like to be counted as
one of my "babies" although I did not
attend his birth. He desired very much
that I attend his wedding, so as Miss
Hunt has been anxious to attend a
wedding out here, we went. The wed
ding was on Monday; so in order not to
travel on Sunday we went, ai'riving on
Saturday so we could have time also to
purchase a wedding present. On Sunday
afternoon Phillip's mother, two brothers
and their families. Miss Hunt, and I met
in the Indian house these folks had been
given to occupy during the wedding,
and remembered our Lord's death and
had fellowship with Him around His
table. A Brahman friend who had
come with one of the brothers was also
present and afterwards asked many
questions concerning this. He seemed
interested and promised to study God's
Word; so we are remembering him in
prayer that his eyes may be opened to
the truth, that one day he may come
to know what it is to have the load of
sin removed and to have fellowship
around His table.
IN LONDON
We have been happy to have several
letters from Mr. Ralph Harter since
his arrival in London where he is
attending the Missionary School of
Medicine. He says he is learning many
things and is well pleased with the
school; so we are glad he is taking that
short course in medicine. He is learning
also to extract teeth, so will be able to
do many things for the people along
with preaching the Gospel and teaching.
We shall be looking forward to next
July when Mr. Harter arrives in this
land to further study the Kindi language
which he started while attending the
Cincinnati Bible Seminary. My daugh
ter, Jean, Mrs. Roland, taught Hindi to
Mr. Harter as well as to her husband;
so Mr. Harter will be able to speak some
when he arrives and will not feel too
.strange.
PREPARING TO COME
Seven years ago the latter part of
June, Jean Rothermel went to the
U. S. A. to finish her education and
prepare to return as a missionary to
which work she had earlier dedicated
her life. In the spring of 1943 she re
ceived her B. A. degree from Cincinnati
Bible Seminary, and in July was mar
ried to Mr. William H. Roland, who was
a student in the Seminary. William had
previously dedicated his life to service
in the foreign field. He had early de
cided to become a preacher, having been
reared in a home where his father is a
preacher and his mother a splendid
godly woman. An older brother is also
a minister of the Church of Christ. Wil
liam received his B. A. degree from the
Seminary in the spring of 1946. Now,
that they are both prepared for the work
here in Hamirpur District, India, they
have decided to come as soon as they
can secure the necessary amount requir
ed by the Government in these days,
which is their support, plus their pas
sage.
The latest word received here is that
they arc hoping to be able to leave for
India by the forepart of January. We
are hoping their coming may not be
del ^.yed so they may be able to do a bit
of studying before having to leave for
the hills where they will be in language
school, for it is necessary for even those
who are born out here to study in order
to get the language well. The Indian
Christians pray for them most regularly
and ask often WHEN they are coming,
for they can scarcely wait to see "Jean
Baby" as they still call her, and her hus
band as well as their little Mary Esther
who will be two years old on January
21, 1947. You may be sure they will
all receive a hearty welcome here in the
place where Jean was born, and by some
who remember that time.
MELAS
A Mela is something on the order of
a Fair at home, still it is quite different.
People take all sorts of things for sale,
from sweets to eat to gaudy jewelry,
cooking utensils, and cloth. It is a great
place many times for gambling, too. It
differs from our fairs at home in that
there is usually some sort of religious
significance.
, During the past three months there
have been two melas nearby. One was
over at a lake or pond near Maudaha
and the other about five miles away.
Many of the Christians, besides the
evangelists and Bible women, went to
the first one and enjoyed selling Gos
pels and Christian tracts. The other
one was in November, and since Miss
Hunt came from the hills; we were sure
she would appi'eciate having the oppor
tunity of attending it. We sent her off
in the ox-cart with one of the Bible
women, the mother-in-law of an evan
gelist, the three evangelists, and also
the cartman. As only one of the men
could speak English, I knew he would
or might monopolize the conversation;
so I told them there was to be no Eng
lish spoken on the trip. I am sure this
helped them all to have a good time and
all could enjoy Miss Hunt and the con
versations, both coming and going.
Let Miss Hunt tell you now of her
trip. "Going to my first Mela is an
experience I shall long remember. I
had heard much about the terrible roads
in this land, so now I was able to test
one of the worst for myself. Having
heard of the discomfort of travelling by
ox-cart, I was able to suffer for several
days from the jolting rough ride. When
we started out, one of the men said it
was about a three mile trip; and another
said he thought it almost five. I am
sure it must have been all of ten miles
we went before seeing any signs of the
Mela.
"Suddenly I looked up and it seemed
there were people coming from every
direction. Carts by the dozen were
racing along the roads, and people were
having a wonderful time going. "The
mela was held in a big, open field; and
when we arrived there were hundreds
of carts parked around. We found a
nice spot under a tree for the cart and
had our lunch. After riding for two
and a half hours in the sun and fresh air
1 was ready to eat. The others all
offered me some of their lunches, but
cold chippalis aie as unappetizing as
cold pancakes so I declined with thanks.
"Lunch over we started out to sell
tracts and Gospels. We sell them for
much less than they cost us; but find
it is better than giving them away free,
as they are more apt to read if they
have paid their money for them. Ani
mals rested beside each cart, and the
women sat chatting, feeding the chil
dren, or just guarding the things in the
carts. We went to these women first
but none of them could read; or, if they
could, they had no money. I will be
glad to be able to speak to such women
about Christ, but just now must be
content with selling the books. Leaving
the array of carts we went down where
the people were selling their wares,
Here there seemed to be thousands of
people milling about, and we were soon
forced to go with the crowds.
"In about two hours I sold thirty-
one books, but I rather think many
bought from me so they would have a
better opportunity of having a good look
at me. One young man noticed my
camera and was willing to purchase any
number of books if I would only take
his picture.
"After several hours the interest in
the Bazaar seemed to lessen somewhat,
so our three evangelists started to sing
hymns and to preach. They soon had a
good crowd gathered, and I stood watch
ing the faces of the listeners. All
seemed very interested, and some would
shake their heads to show they agreed
with everything that was said. Just
when you were so sure someone was
interested, someone else would give a
shout^^they were ready to leave for
homeand at once the listener would
turn and go. It is easy to gather a
crowd in this land. The people all
seem interested and anxious to hear, but
it is so hard for them to become con
vinced enough to do anything about it.
"We started for home at about five
o'clock, and it was a most beautiful
drive. The sunset was so beautiful, and
the day had been filled with new ex
periences. I saw again the work that
can bo done and the people who are in
.such need of the light of Christ.
On our return journey I noticed about
a dozen men following behind the cart,
and I wondered why they did not go
on through the fields as the others were.
I had been telling in my broken Hindi
a few of my childhood experiences, and
these men were interested both in what
I was saying and in hearing my struggle
with the language. They never thought
it impolite to join the parly of listeners."
I am sure you have enjoyed this trip
to an Indian Mela with Miss Hunt.
That day in just a few hours, over three
hundred Gospels and tracts were sold;
while in the other Mela which lasted
two days twice that number were sold.
And during the past five months 1,187
Gospels and tracts, 2 Bibles, and 6 New
Testaments have been sold to non-
Christians. Pray that they may be read
and understood and that souls may turn
to Christ the Saviour. "So shall my
word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth: it shall not return unto me void;
but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing
whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11.
BAPTISMS
During the month of October another
report came from the evangelists in
Madras that on the 13th two fine young
Hindus were bui-ied with their Lord in
Christian baptism. They have also been
building a bamboo and mud building in
which to worship in one of the places.
This was done with the help of the
Sunday School Thank-Offerings of the
Maudaha Church, which is also paying
part of the salary of the evangelist
David and wife who are working there.
We are so happy for the help of David's
wife, for a woman has been needed in
this work for a long time. In the other
report two women were among the con
verts, and this was some of the fruit of
her labors. During these famine days
they are having a hard time, for they
can get so little ricethe grain they use
so much. And then too, a sister's daugh
ter has come to live with David's wife,
and this makes it more difficult for
them though they are happy to help out
when they can in time of need. Do re
member these good people in your
prayers, as they strive to help others
when in need themselves for you realize
they are rationed very severely. And
we hear that grain, that is, wheat, is not
now available here in the market so I
do not know what our people will do
soon.
We are sending extra help to our
folks in Madras; for one good brother in
the U. S. A. sent for this special purpose
to relieve famine sufferers; but Manual
writes that they cannot get more grain
even though they have the money; but
we know they may be able to get other
things which will provide nourishment
until more, grain can be had.
In November in MaujJaha one of our
older boys, the son of.a-former convert,
was also baptized. We are'^-^Jiappy for
the second generation to be taking their
stand for Christ. May they ever be true
10 Him that they may witness of His
love and saving power to others.
./t
THAlgKSGIVING
As November is the month of Thanks
giving in the home land we wish to
express our gratitude to all who make
it possible for us to be here and labo#
for Christ. Please count this as a per-
sonal letter if you have helped in aiiy
way, by offering, by letter, or by prayer
for all are appreciated and needed.
Please continue to remember us all at
the Throne of Grace. We also wish to
thank our Forwarding Agent, Mrs. En
sign, for her labor of love, and her good
husband for happily permitting her to
give her time to this work.
ROLANDS TO DEPART
At the time this goes to press Mr.
and Mrs. William H. Roland are in Cali
fornia making their final preparations
to sail from San Francisco on the Marine
Adder March 7th. They were unable
to leave in January, but, the Lord will
ing, they will sail in March. The British
government requires living-link support
to the extent of one thousand dollars
a year for each adult or a guarantee of
this support. At the present time only
five hundred dollars of the necessary
two thousand dollars has been pledged.
Will you help send the Gospel to the lost
in India by pledging support to this
young couple? Any amount pledged
will be greatly appreciated. Western
Hills Church of Chi-ist in Cincinnati,
Ohio, will care for their daughter, Mary
Esther Roland.
SEND ALL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR
I
Mrs. Rothermel, Mr. and Mrs. Roland, and Mr. Harter to their forwarding
agent with all checks made payable to her:
Mrs. Grayce S. Ensign
1819 Carroll Avenue
Middletown, Ohio
Vol. II
INDIA CHDISTIAN
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel ..." - (Mark 16:15)
OCrrOBER, 1947
A MOUNTAIN MEDITATION
Mrs. William H. Roland
"I will lift up mine eyes to the hill"
What a wonderful sight it is.
And I think of His own precious will
And that love so wondrous of His.
"From whence shall my strength then come?"
From yon beautiful snow-capped range?
This may be the opinion of some
But, those hills arc subject to change.
Even as I look at yon snow caps
With the sun so bright upon each
A cloud doth quickly come and eclipse
The whole range from out of eye's reach.
And then the bright cloud itself I see
Is a work of Thy wondrous hand.
A cloud, Dear Savior, enveloped thee
When ascending to Glory land.
No more wondrous sight have I e'er seen
Than that snow-capped range far away,
Nor can tongue describe such wondrous scene
Though it try for many a day.
But the love of our Savior's expressed
In the fact so simple and true
He gave His life for sinners oppressed
That they might taste of life anew.
I am thrilled by green hills close at hand
With many a flower and splendid tree.
The trees in glorious majesty stand
With fern covered branches fair to see.
But when I lift mine eyes to the hill
Seeing nature's beautiful splendor
I know (5od's power is gi'eater still;
That my strength cometh from the Savior.
No. 1
THE MISSIONARY AND
HIS MESSAGE
Miss Edna Hunt
Every missionary should have a task
to do in this land, but our ideas are
varied and workers disagree. Clirist
clarifies this somewhat for us in John
12:26-27 where He points out that the
greatest service for one is to follow
Him. There is no greater service for
us than to be devoted to Him. If we
do our work with any other purpose in
mind it is sure to fail. We are told to
follow Him in service and to many of
us this is a new idea. We have so long
pictured Christ at the right hand of
God and have forgotten that His .spirit
is very much at work in the world. We
have talked of our plans and each mis
sion and denomination has come to
India to help their work and advance
their mission program. Too often in our
plans we have failed to take note of
what the Lord's program is. A careful
study of His word will show that His
plan from the beginning was to spread
the message of His power and saving
grace through His bride, the Church.
The task of each missionary, then, is
to do all in his or her power to estab
lish the Church of Christ in India. This
cannot be done simply by preaching,
but mu.st be a proper combination of
teaching, preaching and ministering to
the physical needs. Among the poor,
the ignorant and illiterate, teaching is
very necessary. This is a slow discour
aging task, for most of our village
women have not yet learned to think.
It is necessaiy for us to study and search
for the best methods of teaching.
It is difficult for the people at home
to realize just what sort of problem there
is in presenting the gospel to India. We
have learned how to present His mes
sage at home, but we find we cannot
pre.sent it in the same way here. We
mention Salvation and it is either a new
word to them or they think of Salva
tion in terms of reincarnation. Men
tion sin and they think of it as breaking
their caste rules or displeasing their
caste people. We mention heaven and
their concept is entirely different. Now
comes the task of teaching hundreds
who have never learned to think for
themselves. We must find out how we
can teach these people enough for
them to come out from sin and claim
Christ as Lord. We must not confuse
their minds with too many strange ideas.
Many have found the flannel-graph
and other types of visual aid methods
(Continued on page 4)
THE INDIA CHRISTIAN
Published quarterly by the Christian
Mission to India, Inc.
Address Abroad: Ragaul, Dist. Hamirpur
U. P., India
Forwarding Secretary for Dr. Rothermcl,
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Roland, Mr. Ralph
HartOn-.^
Grayce S. Ensign
906 W. 33rd Street
Latonia Station
Covington, Ky.
Forwarding Secretary for Miss Edna Hunt:
Mr. E. E. Brcakenridge
1910 6th N. W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Zoena S. Rotliermel
"The blessing of the Lord maketh
rich and he addeth no sorrow with it."
Prov. 10:22.
Perhaps the greatest of all blessings
comes from turning a soul from the
paths of sin and unrighteousness to
Chri.st the Lord. Next to this I believe
I would put the joy of seeing young
people who have taken Christ as Saviour
dedicate their lives to telling the story
of God's wonderful love for a lost
world to those who have never heard,
even though it may mean hardship, suf
fering, or isolation in .some lonely place.
When my husband passed away 19
years ago and I was left with two small
children of 7 and 10 years, I wondered
if I would be spared to care for them
and bring them up "in the fear and ad
monition of the Lord." Charles was soon
taken away and I need have no more
fear for his future welfare. He was
safe with the Lord a wonderful bless
ing, for he did not have to fight in any
war. He was only eleven years, but had
fought "the good fight." What a bless
ing!
Jean fought for her faith through
High School, so desired to attend a
school where she could believe what she
was taught. This I counted another
blessing, for how many children care
nothing for those things. She desired to
return to India to help save souls for her
Lord. Another blessing. After four
years she became engaged and married
but it had to be to one who was also
interested in saving souls in India. Thus,
the Lord has sent me another blessing
in this son.
Besides this, Miss Hunt and the
Rashes who came to India with me are
getting the language, and while Miss
Hunt will live with me and work here,
the Rashes will be only about 50 miles
away in this district and we hope to
labor together for the saving of souls
and have .some happy fellowship. After
INDIA CHRISTIAN
Left to right: William Roland, Mary Esther Roland, Mrs. William
Roland, Dr. Z. A. Rothcrmel, Miss Edna Hunt, Ralph Harter.
August 9, 1947, was a happy day at
Landour, India, for that was the day,
and that was the time, that your mis
sionaries of the Christian Mission to
India were reunited.
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Rash, with son
Stephen, and Miss Edna Hunt had
come to Landour from Ragaul in April
so that they might continue their study
of the language. Dr. Rothcrmel arrived
late in May when the heat of the plains
having been alone without fellowship
with Christians only, this is another
added blessing. Another blessing is the
arrival of William's classmate and friend,
Ralph Harter, who is like another son
to me. I used to tell my Indian boys
that the Lord had given them to me in
place of my own sons, and now this
blessing of other .sons to help cany on
this work and prepare others for it.
The last and not the least blessing to
us all is little Mary Esther.
Eveiy city of India should have mis
sionaries true to God's Word, but at this
time I only plead together with our
Brother Manuel Jacobs for help in the
city of Madras and surrounding vil
lages where Manuel so faithfully carries
on despite ill health. We ask your
])rayers for tlu- Father's continued bless
ings with .souls saved.
became unbearable. Mr. and Mrs.
William Roland, with daughter Mary
Esther, arrived at Bombay on the S.S.
MARINE ADDER on [unc 28th, and
came directly to Landour. Thus when
Ralph Harter arrived at Landour from
the H.T. FRANCONIA, which docked
at Bombay on August 3rd, the circle
was complete.
Dr. Rothcrmel insists that she has
^donc nothing but travel all summer long.
It was necessary for her to meet both
ships, and Bombay is no little distance
away. Then there were business trips to
be made to various places. Later this
Fall it will be necessary for her to go
to Madras to lend what a.ssistance she
can to the brethren there.
In the next month Mr. and Mrs.
Ra.sh will be leaving Ragaul to begin a
new work some miles distant. They will
be helped in this venture by Miss Dolly
Chitwood, and Mrs. Leah Mo.sier. We
bid them God-speed in their work, and
arc looking forward to many happy
years of cooperation with them.
Glimpses along the way: Mr. Roland
astounding the native brethren by his
knowledge of automotive mechanics. . . .
Mary Esther unable to sleep because of
the noise made by her pscudo uncles
and aunts. . . . Stephen cutting his first
tooth. . . . Dr. Rothermcl refeiring her
(continued on page 4)
INDIA CHRISTIAN
INDIA FROM A JEEP
William H. Roland
The Pacific, with its rolling, was over
for a time. Bombay and the legalities of
entering India were behind us. Jean
and Mary Esther had left Bombay by
train to go to Mussoorie, where we
expect to be for the remainder of the
summer in language school. I had
stayed in Bombay to get the Jeep
through customs, and at last the run
ning from one man to another to get
his signature on a piece of paper was
finished and we {the two Indian men
from Ragaul, who had met us in Bom
bay, and myself) were on our way
across India towards Ragaul, a total of
800 miles. One of the men was the
mission driver and the other was one of
our evangelists.
We met our first barrier a few miles
outside of Bombay. Three policemen
motioned for us to stop and informed
me, through Yohushu, the driver, that
we must be passed by the inspector.
Yohushu said to me, "Here is our first
trouble". Fortunately the inspector spoke
English so we could converse directly.
He asked, "Do you have your permit
for the trailer and Jeep?" Suddenly I
remembered that when I had gotten
the permit to drive the Jeep I had not
been given a permit for the trailer,
although I had asked for a permit for
both. Then an idea struck me: re
membering that I had been given a
duplicate of my registration form and a
receipt for the fee I had paid, I thought
perhaps these two would be sufficient.
After chatting pleasantly about America
and the part I was from, while getting
the papers from a suit case, that was
under everything else, I handed the
two important documents to him hop
ing for the best. Fortunately for us he
could not read English and he did not
ask me to read the papers, but accepted
them as permits and we went merrily
on our way.
The first evening we stopped for the
night at a Dak Bungalow. Such bunga
lows arc to be found in all the larger
villages and towns. They were built
originally for the mail carriers in the
earlier days. This one was fairly clean,
built of stone and furnished with a table,
a few chairs, a kerosene lanlerti and an
Indian bed in each room. After we
had made arrangements with the Mali
(caretaker) for the night's stay, my
two companions went into the village
to get their evening meal. I sat down
to the table to eat the lunch I had with
me, expecting any minute one of the
weird sounds outside to come within
the ray of the lantern in the form of a
wild animal. Then to make it worse I
could hear, in the distance, the ominous
beating of drums and playing of musical
instruments, playing for one of the long
drawn out weddings customai"y among
the natives here. And just as the height
of noise was reached and finished by
the drum beaters, I heard something hit
the floor in the adjoining room. I
hastily turned on my flashlight so I
could see better to do battle and what
should greet me but a friendly cat that
had come through a window when he
smelled the meat I was eating. You can
imagine how i-clieved I was when
Yohushu and Ramnath returned and
a.ssured me that there was no danger
from wild animals in that section and
anyway the fence around the bungalow
grounds was secure.
It wasn't long the next day until the
good highway ended. For about a hun
dred miles the road had been two lanes
with concrete or asphalt surface. After
this ended there was nothing but one
lane, some with hard surface and some
with two or three inches of dirt on a
gravel foundation, and the dirt became
mud when it rained. Such a road is
called the Grand Trunk Road. With
such poor and rough roads we had to
travel very slowly, because of the heavy
load we had; the springs on both trailer
and Jeep were bending the wrong way.
\Vc decided, therefore, to take turns
driving and not stop except during the
middle of the day to rest for an hour
or two. Besides enabling us to reach
our destination before the rains became
too heavy, it also relieved me of the
fearful expectations of meeting wild
animals and creeping things that come
forth at night. Let me assure you,
though, that it is not as bad here as I
had expected. I have yet to see a snake
larger than an ordinai-y pencil, let alone
a big poisonous one; nor have I seen
an animal more dangerous than a timid
little monkey.
Through every village we had to
travel at almost a snails pace. The road
was usually the main street, which was
also the bazaar, and invariably filled
with people, animals and carts. The
l)eople would not move unless you wore
your horn out or almost hit them; and
the cows and other animals did not
move until they got ready. With all the
stories I had heard about the sacred
cow I was constantly in fear of hitting
one of them. How human beings can
worship a cow and consider them sacred
is more than I can see, especially the
creature that the cow is here in Indian
We never stopped in the villages ex
cept to get gasoline. During these stops
there was always a crowd gathered
around to inspect the trailer and Jeep
and to stare at mc. I don't recall see
ing in any of the groups anyone with
out sores or diseases of some sort. It
is a wonder, though, that disease isn't
worse since they do nothing to segre
gate diseased people and since the con
ditions in which they live are what they
are. The shopkeepers have their homes
just behind their shops in the same
building. The other houses of the vil
lage arc one story mud huts usually
one room with sometimes a lean-to for
the cows and other animals. The houses
arc built close together with no windows
and only a hole on one side for the
door. Around them filth and rubbish is
piled high with seemingly no attempt
ever made to clean things up.
In the groups that gathered around
us there were also ragged looking beg
gars, who in spite of their rags, looked
better off than many of the other peo
ple. The one I remember in particular
was an elderly man witli a very high
pitched voice. He came up to the door
of the Jeep and began his plea very
softly. As he continued he gradually
got louder and louder until he finished
in almost a scream. We were there
about ten minutes and he went through
his petition three or four times. After
we left I asked Yohushu what he was
asking for. He said he was wanting
some money to buy food. I asked
Yohushu if he ever gave beggars money.
He said he did not unless they were
blind, inasmuch as all others were able
to work at something to make a living.
In spite of the slow .speed we had
to travel, a flat tire, and some repair
work on the trailer, we managed to
reach Jhansi after two days and three
nights. Jhansi is about 130 miles from
Ragaul. I was to leave the Indian men
here, and they were to take the Jeep
on to Ragaul. I was going by train
to Mussoorie.
After a restful night with a missionary
friend I was anxious to finish my trip
and get busy learning Hindi: this so
that I can talk to these people and tell
them of Flim who can lift them from
their pitiful condition. Only a few of
the sights and experiences can be re
lated. Perhaps more will be written, but
better still Wait until you see the
movies we are taking!
INDIA CHRISTIAN
TO THOSE ON THE VERGE OF
COMING TO INDIA .
All Open Lellei* Frniii Ralph K. Harter
Dear Christian Friends;
At the" end pf my first day's journey
into the interior of India I could not
help but think of you folk who are on
the "verge" of coming to India as mis
sionaries. I remarked to Dr. Rothermel
then, that, if you could see the things
I had seen that day, you would no
longer be on the "verge" but would be
making "full speed ahead."
You would not hesitate if you could
see one of the Indian villages. When
we travel in the United States we pas;;
the towns and villages without a
thought; but here we would like so
much to be able to stop at each one and
tell them of Jesus. They have an appeal
to them which cannot be shown in
photographs. Just one look at the hum
ble mud huts tells you that the whole
town would turn out to hear what you
had to say. This is, indeed, a most chal
lenging sight.
You would not hesitate if you could
sec the beggars. Everytime the train
stopped we were beset by them in multi
tude. Then I realized for the first time
how "wide open" they lay themselves
for attacks from our two-edged sword.
We can go to them and say, "Silver and
gold have I none, but what I have give
I unto thee;" and tell them of their
Friend who died for them. In America
it sometimes seems so difficult to find
opportunities to speak to others about
Christ. Here there is no deficiency on
that score.
You would not hesitate if you could
see the Indian children. Their faces
show the eagerness with which they
would receive Christian teachers. How
they love the flannelgraphs and the
other visual aids the missionaries bring
with them when they visit their villages.
By these means they learn the Way of
salvation. When I saw these children,
and the opportunity there was to teach
MRS. GRAYCE S. ENSIGN
906 W. 33rd Street'
Laloiita Station
Covington, Kentucky
a .

them, I was more than ever glad that

I had come.
I can appreciate rhe fact that you
young people might be possessed with
a certain fearful apprehension about
leaving the comfortable homeland for
the evils of foreign' .strands. Certainly
India is a stronghold of Satan, but I
can sec now that the evils here have
been over-emphasized at least to my
mind. My first morning in Bombay was
spent with one hand on my wallet,
and my eyes were constantly dancing
liither and yon to detect any mischief
that might be app'roacliing. By after
noon I began to see the folly in this,
and have felt quite safe ever since. It
is good to know a litle Jiu Jitsu, but
the chances arc that you will never
liavc to use it. On the last leg of our
rail journey our train was honored by
the presence of the two special cars of
the Governor of the United Provinces.
Since he is British I began to wonder
if the journey would be safe. To this a
fellow passenger, who was an Indian,
replied that the Governor was riding in
perfect safety. White men are the
safest in India today. It is the Moham
medans and the Hindus who have been
killing each other in their communal
riots. To my knowledge not a single
white man has been involved in any of
these incidents.
Then there is the feature of the sheer
beauty of this great land. We do not
come because of its beauty, but it is
here to bless us. Just before I sat down
to write this letter I saw the most beau
tiful scene I had ever seen in my life.
I was \valking along a ridge overlook
ing the snow-capped Himalyias. The
sun was just setting, and the mixture of
the two sho' was'sumpthin'.
A coolie was "walking in front of
me carrying my typewriter. If I had
known enough of his language I would
have stopped liim-tand told him that my
God had created tho.sc things. Perhaps
the day is not far away now.
If you could see these things.
You would no longer delay.
You would come on swiftest wings,
And not waste another day.
THE MISSIONARY AND HIS MESSAGE
(Continued from page I)
very useful. The simple, outline used
by some for a ten day scries is based on
this material. What sin is, is the first
lesson and it starts with the Garden
of Eden. The re.sult of sin that of
separation, redemption from sin, and
Christ living in us, teaches in ten sim
ple lessons the way of salvation and the
need for it. The message of love can
be taught, but it first must be lived by
us and those who are Christians. When
God wanted to show the world that He
was Love He gave His all to do it and
we continue to ask His strength that we
might so die to self that these people
might sec Christ in us the hope of
glory._
This is now a new India and we must
be ready to serve it when and where
we can. Many of our former methods
may have to be done away with, but
we pray that His message might go on
in tiiis Land. The task is too hard and
the results are too few. It is only
through the strength and help from
God that we are going to be able to
go on. We ask for your prayers for
India and its future. Pray for the
Church of Christ in this land that the
world might see the Glory of Christ
through it.
NEW.S ITEMS
(Continued from page 2)
medical patients to Mr. Harter. . . . Miss
Hunt getting all enthused over flannel-
graphs. . . . The surprise party Mr. and
Mrs. Roland had for Mr. Flarter. The
secret was kept so well tliat Ralph did
not realize that the party had been for
him until he was on his way home. . . .
Our Brother Yohushu pondering the
question, "Why do cows cross the road ?" '
The new school building at Ragaul is
in tiic final stages of construction. Per
haps we shall be able to include a photo
graph of it in our next bulletin. The
ground floor wall be used for the chil
dren, while the second floor will be ideal
for a Bible Seminary.
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