The Seeker

    Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you Free

— Jesus Christ (John 8:32)

Happiness and Victory to All Lovers of the Prince of Peace

Khristpanthi Ashram Benares

1. Position: a co-operative non-partisan Fellowship of all who confess Jesus Christ as personal Saviour and God.

2. Objects:

   1. Study of the Bible, of Hinduism, of early Church
   2. Purposeful creative thinking
   3. Adventures in faith under the Holy Spirit
   4. Indigenous expression of Christianity

3. Methods:

   1. Worship
   2. Fellowship
   3. Service
   4. Literature

4. Membership: Open to all Christians without distinct

5. Activities:

   1. Direct and frank evangelism especially among orthodox groups such as Pilgrims and Sanyasis as well as students and educated men.
   2. Retreats and Conferences
   3. Meetings and addresses of special character
   4. Manual labour and service to of the needy.

Gifts will be gratefully acknowledged.

Office — Working centre - Library and Reading room at:

129, Dashashwamedh,
R.C. Das
Benares
India

Printed by A. Bose, at the Indian Press Ltd, Benares.

This little occasional pamphlet will stand for:

1. Review and criticism of important events and opinions.

2. Advocacy of radical and independent thinking.

3. Encouragement of new experiments, progressive movements, ventures of faith and indigenous efforts such as:

   1. Christian Ashrams,
   2. Study of Hinduism,
   3. Indian form of Christian worship,
   4. An indigenous church in India,
   5. An Indian Christian Theology,
   6. Christian Literature etc.

4. Promotion of peace and concord among all men on the basis of truth.

5. Freedom and toleration.

6. Justice for the oppressed, neglected, deprived, weak and helpless.

Brief articles and concise opinions along the above lines will be welcome and published.

129, Dashashwamedh,
R.C. Das
Benares
India

Contributions will be gratefully acknowledged.

Price-Annual 3/-, Single copy -/12,2

In the Name of Jesus

(A Short Diary)

The man who lives upon the name of Jesus, came to Karachi without enough money for a voyage to Asia minor. Being questioned there whether I had expenses of completing my tour at least for one way, I had to reply in the negative and to say that, I needed not to be worried about money as it would come to me unknowingly, and I could catch it even from the wind. This is my strange reply made a Christian gentleman their laugh. Unworried for the fund, I had to be detained there for the visa of Iraq which was suspended for the time being on account of epidemic, nay, it was, I say, for my inability to buy a ticket.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?”

Just a few days before my getting the visa for Iraq after the removal of the ban, a telegraphic money order sufficient for my journey to Basra reached me. My ticket from Karachi to Basra was without food, I knew that, if the lord was living He would desire to keep the worth of His own name. He would surely provide me with bread while I shall be on the breast of the sea, as Elijah was helpless on the top of the hills. S.S. Dumra which ship carried me, left the port of Karachi at 6 P.M. on 27-12-1947. A beloved child of the lord came to see me off at the Jetty and gave me plenty of fruits. Thanking the lord, I took that gift to be the bread from the beak of a crow (my brother will excuse me for comparing him with a crow), but actually there was a man-crow on the vessel who gave me food both in the noon and at night and another man provided me with tea in the morning and evening during the whole of my voyage. May the Lord give His light to those non-Christian brothers of the ship.

Our ship was at anchor for two full days at Abedan a famous oil centre of Iran. One night some poor men coming into the ship from the shore took away mine and five other passengers shoes. If the barefoot man who has taken away my shoes would have asked me to give him my only pair I would surely not have given him. But when I reached Basra and bought another pair suitable for the climate of this land by the help of another Mussulman Iraqi young man I thought my old shoes would not have been strong enough to save me from the winter of this part of Asia. That Mussulman yeoman has had a glimpse of Christian light from me.

May the Lord bless those men on the ship and at Basra to whom I have given the share of the joy and peace of my life.

The ship anchored at Basra Port at 8-0 A.M. on 3-1-1948 but did not allow us to land before 11-30 A.M. Many people came to receive other passengers from the shore, but none came to me. I landed suddenly into the atmosphere of language quite unknown to me. In the ship there were many, to whom I could speak in Urdu, Hindi, English and Bengali but all of them have gone to their own ways, and I was with my Lord alone. Customs officers allowed me to pass on without any hindrance. The address of the American Mission School came to me miraculously and went there a distance of 75 miles by a taxi, and the missionary kindly allowed me to stay in a classroom. Next morning being Sunday I wanted to go to a church, no matter if I did not understand the language. I left the school in search of a church without being directed by anybody. That search of mine was like the Magi’s seeking for the Baby King. After walking a long distance I found a cross upon a building, but I lost sight of it when I came nearer, because of many higher buildings around it, and so I had to go back to a place from where it was visible and to take the sight of the cross to make it the pole star to reach the spot. When I came into the church I found that the morning Sunday service had begun. I stayed in the church until it was over. But as I had started to come back to the school a few good Christians came forward to make my acquaintance. After a long conversation in English they requested me to speak in the same church in the evening and to another group of people at night. My speeches to both the meeting attracted the attention of some of the brethren to take special care of me one of whom asked me to go his house straight from the church and live there as long as I wished another South Indian brother also made room for me in his house, but preferred staying with the local brother. The Lord has used many them there for my help. Some of them wanted to know from me whether I did not feel the cold of that place, as it was putting on only cotton clothes, my answer to them was, — “the climate is the same for you and me”. A few sisters in the meantime had started knitting woolen socks and coats for me and before my leaving there for Bagdad sufficient warm clothes came into my possession, apart from necessary money. One sister would not allow me to leave Basra without cleaning my things with her own hands. I left Basra at 7-0 P.M. on 13-1-1948 and arrived Bagdad at 10-0 A.M. on 14-1-1948.

The Lord’s children of Bagdad have shown unspeakable sympathy and love to me. They have had to spend much money. Not finding any separate room (which I always prefer) anywhere, they hired a seat in the “Ressafa Hotel” on the main road of the City (Rashid Street). I have not noticed them having made any distinction between me a man in the most inferior mode of eastern living and them, who are in the most up-to-date fashion of the west. Although they are in the modern style of living which is essential for the climate here still I have found a few real followers of Christ, Brother Raji Ghareeb is one of such, who had four daughters and one son but lost his wife some months ago. Some younger of the church were also very keen to follow the teaching of the Lord and to take care of me.

While I was trying to get a residence visa for Iraq I had no knowledge that I would be required to pay some money for it. But the almighty hand of the Lord was wonderful to this end also. The night previous the day of my going to get my passport endorsed, a note of “one dinar” was given to my hand in the darkness as I was on my way to a house for supper. I did not know at that moment how the same money would come to my use, but in the next morning the passport officer demanded from me 750 fils (1000 fils make a dinar = Rs 18/6/3 of India) and another officer asked for 3 more photos of me for which 200 fils were sent. Had not that money come to my hand in the previous night it would have been hard for me to meet the expenses. Again while I had to go to the British Embassy for the renewal of the special permit to go to Palestine I was informed that 750 fils will be needed for the visa of Syria through which land I am to pass. Brother Raji was anxious as to how the expenses are to be met but suddenly a young man just a few minutes after the departure of brother Raji Ghareeb from me, paid two notes worth 750 fils, the actual amount I needed for Syrian visa, What a wonderful power of the “name” and the Lord Jesus ?

There are more or less 5,00,000 Christians in the whole of Iraq i.e. 7.5% of the total population. They live in the cities but a very few of them are in the villages. In the cities most of the citizens are Christians. More than half of them are Roman Catholics. Those Catholics are so respectful to the cross that, some of them kissed the enamelled silver cross which I use on my breast. The small Pentecostal group and other protestants gave me opportunities of giving my testimony to them.

Elias and Badal Hamme, two sons of a widower father came from a tribe of people living at the northern part of Iraq. These tribal people are called Ajidis, are and devil worshippers — very similar to the animists of N.E. India. Mosul is situated at the northernmost part of Iraq. Only 2 miles from that city N.E. lies the very old city Nineveh where prophet Jonah was sent by God to preach a few thousand years ago. To memorise the old incidents recorded in the Old Testament there remains still the marble gate of two huge images of beasts. Their bodies are of healthy bulls nearly 8 high, having wings of birds and heads of men. One of those images have been broken but the broken parts of it and the other one are being protected by the local king through a caretaker after they were dug out. The long hair, moustache, beard, eyes, nose and other parts bear the marks of skilled sculpture of the ancient time. Sweet smile of the images lips is the beauty of the feature. Jonah came out of the city after preaching penitence of sin, about two miles to the east where local inform nation says that he lived there till his death. A minaret in the name of Jonah on his tomb was on a later date erected by the Mussulman king of Ira which cannot so easily be neglected as per the facts we find in the Bible.

Being saved through repentance, the citizens of Nineveh might have forgotten the mercy of God later and fallen into graver sins the before, which caused the destruction of the city.

(Maybe continued)

Jitendra Nath Hulder

(Sanyasi.)

(Sadhu Huldar has recently completed a successful tour of Palestine and returned safely home to India during a very eventful and dangerous period of Palestinian history. He has been living on faith which has been more than justified. Let there be more trust among the faith in the living and controlling power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. - Editor)

About Banaras and Ourselves

We would like to share with our friends and the readers of the Seeker some of our experiences in recent months since Easter. Babu Chandra Kanta Behari of Cuttack - a retired Railway Officer - a quiet unassuming man of simple faith and great evangelistic fervour lived with us and shared our joys and disadvantages for two and a half months. We met many pilgrims and seekers on the Ghats and Lanes together and held regular meetings at the Dashashwamedh Library. He is specially good at selling gospels and talking to simple folks. He went with me to Almora in the summer and similarly helped there in carrying on the activities of the annual Ashram session. He is thinking of coming over again if his expenses are found. For about a month Sadhu Dinabandhu Mitra, a young joyous Sanyasi of prayerful spirit and healing power has been sharing the Ashram life here. He is an enthusiastic open air worker also. He has been spending some of his time, besides selling gospels, in visiting and praying over the sick both Hindu and Christian. In two bad cases, there are at the time of writing (Middle of September) distinct signs of recovery. Please pray for his ministry of healing prayer. His home is in East Bengal and is an associate of Sadhu Huldar - writer of the Diary in this issue. He has been for some years working in Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri etc. in the eastern Himalayas as well as among the Garos and Khasis in the Assam Hills. His idea is to start in these places some sort of Fellowship to foster spiritual life among the local Christians and the immigrant coolie Christians in the Tea Gardens. Though not much educated he seems to have practical common sense. He needs our prayers as he goes about his work in these tracts. He is very good at cooperating with Churches and missions where-ever be goes. He thinks of touring the village-Churches in Bengal in the winter and asks me to join him.

Sant … an elderly Hindu Sanyasi enquirer whom I have known for over a year is now living in a Roman Catholic Ashram Christnagar, 3 miles in the country area. He teaches in that Theological institution Hindi and earns his living in that way. Fora year he has regularly attended our meetings, and Bible study and still keeps his close personal contact with me. He is an ex-police Officer who got fed up with social and public life because of its corruption and untruth and took to Sanyas (Life of Renunciation). He has studied the Bible very well and has genuine faith in Christ. When he at last said that protestant atmosphere was not congenial to him, and he wanted to go and live in this Catholic place with the Fathers he had my hearty approval and blessing. ” Let us pray that he may confess Christ as his Saviour and Lord at the time appointed by God. You will be interested to know that inspire of my frank and strong evangelical position the Catholic missionaries here have always maintained friendly relations with me.

Shri … Acharya, a Travancorean middle-aged well-educated man who has been seeking truth for a long time and came in touch with me over two years ago and has been studying solid spiritual books from this Library all on a sudden disappeared a few months back. He had borrowed an expensive book from me. But he turned up the other day, and we hope to have much profitable time together. I am soon expecting a Hindu sadhu seeker from the Punjab. He came in touch with an Indian Christian Military Officer (Retired) in the Ambala District who is sending him over here for further instruction.

For a month now we have had unprecedented floods in Banaras as in other places like Kanpur and Allahabad. It has been really devastating. Thousands of houses have fallen or been damaged and there is scarcity of repairing and building materials. Thousands of people are homeless-taken care of in temporary camps or sheltered in friends or relatives houses. Many are in the open air. In front of us in the main and central road there was waist deep water. Boats freely plied on many flooded streets. We had to use a back-door which was fortunately on high ground. But our living quarters were separated by loin-deep water along a half mile road through which we had to wade at least twice a day. Such a catastrophe is unknown to living memory. As our going about was seriously curtailed, Sadhuji and I concentrated on study, prayer and cleaning up books and furniture. Much of the external religion in a pilgrim centre like this, as can be well understood, is motive by commercial and monetary considerations. The priests are always clever in discovering reasons for any unusual’event. So they said that the floods came because the temple of Visvanath (the Lord of the Universe) was polluted by the entry of a Government Minister who was a low caste man and had just paid a visit. But the floods receded very son afterwards as a very high class Brahman Minister came and worshipped in the temple thus purifying it and appeasing the wrath of the God. Another interesting thing happened. The milkmen of Banaras, of whom there are actually thousands, gave a Puja (Worship) to Mother Ganga on a grand scale and one morning offered 12 twelve maunds of fresh milk just in front of my centre in 5 feet of water and prayed her speedily to retire. But the Mother, to the utter disappointment and dismay of the suffering inhabitants remained steady with ebb and flow for quite a few days like a sulky new bride with swollen cheeks. What an idea in this age of light and learning of appeasing a goddess and what a waste of precious nectar that could have fed five hundred poor babies.

Thus, in Banaras as we live and go in and out we meet with high lights and low depths of darkness, things heartening and many things painful. In a situation such as this, similar to that in the whole country, the idea of opener or Bazaar preaching followed by practically all Christian workers is not only an anachronism but a crime. On this rotten method huge sums of money are being spent presumably to present the Gospel of the love and truth of Christ. What a poor understanding of the Gospel and of India-the land of Munis and Rishis, Sadhaks and Tapaswis (Seers and Devotees). It is indeed a mockery. One hour once or twice a week in a street corner or in a village a called message unrelated to the life and problems of the people by men having no love or concern for the people and anxious to go back to their sheltered centres of comfort. There is no personal or social contact with the people. This is how the missionary urge of the Church is satisfied. The western churches have been spending lack of rupees in organisation and personnel for such work as this. India needs, and the world needs, Christian (i.e. truly converted) men and women, servants of God, who have a genuine love for souls to identify themselves completely-with the joys and sorrows, the needs and problems of the people—to meet men face to face with courage and friendliness in the social, cultural, religious, civic and political spheres and make their Christian contribution and offer their Christian solutions of life’s moral and other problems. Then they will see Jesus and bow to him.

Like Rivers to the Sea

Is there anyone who has attempted to tell an Indian about Jesus, and has not been answered, “All religions are one. They all lead to the same Creator, just as all rivers find their way to the same ocean”?

Is it only rivers which find their way to the ocean? The sewage canals of large cities do the same, as a receptacle for anything - from the pure waters of a stream, down to the vilest, foulest things that are thrown into it. It is a very mistaken simile that compares the ocean to the Creator. God resides in the celestial realms. The ocean lies imprisoned in abysmal depths below us. Rivers cannot flow upwards, but they can roll down-hill easily, till they finally drop into the ocean’s basin. No religion that follows the downward gradients can give mankind a satisfactory solution for the soul’s upward guest.

We have met individuals supremely anxious about their soul future, who eagerly seize upon every scrap of truth, which they deem likely to hold the clue. It is very interesting to converse with such. What-ever his particular faith may be, when you find a man still worried, and still seeking for the truth he is giving you proof, that his religion has not satisfied him. No philosophy can satisfy him, which cannot tell him, and convince him, as to what will happen to him after death. For this reason, the anxious inquirer cannot remain complacent like the crowd, whose only concern is how to get on in this life, and how much they can obtain of this world’s wealth, its office and its power, or at the highest and noblest, how to struggle for a particular cause, spending themselves and spending their all for it, and even perishing to achieve it, in utter disregard of the soul’s eternal future, though perfectly aware, all the time, that any moment Death might sweep them into that eternity, about which they never gave a thought.

Truth-Seekers are very different from the common unthinking crowd. In their very homes, they are unlike the others, who think them queer. These burdened souls go wandering about in search of someone who might be in possession of the truth. They seek sages in forest depths and mountain caves remote from the haunts of men, where in undisturbed night and day communion with God, they might have received revelations that could answer the pilgrim’s quest? They visit holy places, and they mortify their bodies with hard penances in the hope of receiving revelations. They dwell in solitudes in prayer and meditation.

We come across individuals, who are not happy, because their religion gives no comfort to them. They do not lightly retort, “All religions lead to the same Creator.” They feel all religions are not the same. “But truth is the same in all religions,” is what we hear said on all sides. Undoubtedly. It is one thing to believe that a truth is truth everywhere, and quite another to take hold of THE TRUTH itself. These, who have done this, have discovered that THE TRUTH is not an abstract quality, a principle or a system, but a PERSON, and He, no other than the one who solemnly declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father, but by me. St. John 14:6.

But the discovery itself is very simple. We cannot raise ourselves by our own efforts, but God can come down and lift us up, when we pray in the name of Jesus. The lisping child can pray. The penniless pauper can pray. The unlettered boor can pray. The sick and dying can pray. The vilest sinner can pray. “Him that cometh to me, I will is no wise cast out.” St. John 6:37. He who is the way, the truth and the life, is within the reach of all who call upon Him, and those who have called upon Him, have invariably found Him, and in Him have found what they had so long, and so painfully, sought. Those who reject His claim as the Saviour though they might like to call Him, friend, have missed the life that is only in Him to give.

— Miss H. KAVERI BAI (Cuttack).

(Within Hinduism generosity, liberalism, good will, toleration, catholicity of thought-through centuries of cultivation-has long passed beyond the bare limits of truth and goodness. All paths lead to the same ultimate goal; of course, if reality is supra-personal, supra-rational in its own realm there can be no distinction of right and wrong, true and false and good and evil — it must be supra-moral - above and beyond all morality - ethical categories simply do not hold there. Everything depends on the conception of the goal and ultimate reality - the Divine. Is there a realm of reality - devoid of quality and distinction? If so, every thing - good, bad, indifferent (from our mortal standpoint) will flow there - will be comprehended by that as all rivers flow into the ocean and in here in it. This view has become very common in this country especially after Raja Rammohan Roy and Sri Ram Krishna Paramahansa taught.

Such a view is a sheer abstraction. It does violence to the very rational faculties which we know. A reality undifferentiated and supra rational cannot be experienced or realised. Impersonality is non-entity.

To say that all religions are the same or are equal is again doing violence to historical sense. Theism, atheism and agnosticism cannot be equated. A religion repudiating violence and one approving it cannot be the same. The view that both light and darkness, sin and righteousness have the same source and the view that “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all” are obviously different. Jesus Christ revealed a God who is holy, loving and good and redeems man. - Editor)

Gleanings and Comments

1. Baptists and South India Church Union

(Editorial in the Baptist Missionary Review)

The problem faced by Baptists relative to the Church of South India, is analysed in the Baptist Missionary Review by Rev. H.C. Jackson. Statement could be reversed and one might refer to the Problem faced by the Church of South India relative to Baptists. We share the conviction that the people of Christ ought to be one people. But relative to organisational oneness we have trouble and will continue to have it. But we reject sacerdotalism and magic with an intensity of feeling that goes deeper than mere academic opinion; unless we change or the Church of South India changes its constitution we are confronted by an impossible barrier to organisational unity.

As to organisational Union the very serious question has been raised whether such a ponderous machine as fully united Church for all India would function. A surer reason for staying out of such union rests in doubt of workability. But a more far-reaching reason for staying, out of such organised union is to be found in the fear that it would for altogether too well. There is an ever-increasing mass of evidence that the tendency to totalitarianism is gathering momentum. The individual may be submerged but the community gains and can confront more confidently an unfriendly or unappreciative environment. This argument always grows to religious fervour. Nazism and Communism are religious movements which in turn threaten to engulf society because more Intensely religious than religion!

The question for Baptists and everybody else is whether the submergence of the individual person or group in a much larger mass which is closely knit organically will really work for higher efficiency in saving humanity with respect to truly desirable ends. Baptists are no stronger in their unfavourable reaction of sacerdotalism than in this horror of any infringement of personal freedom. “The wave of the future” is a reality and is swelling and when it breaks in full and final force human individuality may be so deeply submerged that only a cosmic cataclysm can shake it loose again. Mr. Jackson’s paper gives clear indications of the tendency already, visible in the Church of South India toward uniformity and authoritarianism. By all means let us have the fullest unity of all who share the Christian life and experience. But let us remember that life and experience are spring-fed from the cosmic depth of the personality of God and God is infinite in scope and in variety. God hates uniformity. He loves variety. As an intelligent person he esteems a single spark of spontaneity in the man or woman who approaches Him far above the alter fires of stereotyped formalism. There is only one thing worse and more deadening than stereotyped formalism in worship and that is wooden and lifeless informality.

(From the Guardian)

[We have consistently opposed Church Union movement in India on grounds which many will not appreciate. We have supported Dr. Jones in his scheme of Branch Unity plan which is Federal Union. Reasons briefly stated are these.

1. Historically and actually the union movement in India has been inspired by the strategic failure of missionary work and not primarily and fundamental by spiritual motives of fellowship and brotherhood.

2. The sponsors of union have ignored the contribution that could have been made by womanhood, Youth and lay membership of the church. It has been a performance more or less of the priestly hierarchy and mission personnel. So it has no deep roots.

3. Formal organisational union of Christians in the Indian communal context will reflect on their motives in relation to the state and country. It is apt to be regarded as a growing menace like Islam to the growth of the national solidarity.

4. No one type of human organisation can be so perfect as to comprehend all the variety of religious experience and activity. It is apt to be totalitarian suppressive.

5. Church union at this stage does not give the young churches opportunity to be related to the Indian heritage, to be indigenous and rooted in the soil. Because the organisations of the denominational churches are themselves strong, and they are foreign in pattern. If the super-organisation of the united churches became stronger and retains its foreignness the steel frame cannot be broken or reformed, it can only be ignored and deserted.

6. On economic grounds it is a crushing burden on Indian resources and hence it perpetuates our dependence on the west. The slavery of the Indian Christian is far worse, being religious, than the political one we have just thrown off.

7. The administrative machinery of the united churches is complex and unwieldy, strange to Indian intelligence and against Indian genius which stands for decentralisation, simplicity, variety and freedom.

8. Left to themselves, Indian Christians will give women full place in the ministry and use lay ministry to a large extent—thus solving many vexed problems. But this is not possible under foreign traditions

9. All foreign patterned churches in India will have to be it administrative affiliation which the mother churches in order to enjoy the money grants and fellowships. If the churches in India be fully auto famous the grants will cease. The past experience shows this to be true. This means endless slavery. The Indian church should be in spiritual fellowship only with the ecumenical church and in other things (e.g. in administration) she should be entirely free. Church union should be let with the growing church only.

— Editor]

2. Bishop Neill’s Visit to Japan

On his Far Eastern journey on behalf of the World Council of Churches, Bishop Stephen Neill has recently visited Japan. His visit resulted in the acceptance by the Kyodan (United Church) and the Sei Kokwai (Anglican Church) of membership in the World Council.

Bishop Neill, accompanied by Dr. Decker, Secretary of the International Missionary Council, had also interviews with the Emperor and General Mac-Arthur. Concerning the interview with the Emperor be Writes: “The Emperor spoke feelingly of the moral and spiritual deterioration that had been brought about by the war among the people of Japan, and his desire that spiritual forces from outside should cooperate with those within Japan in the recovery of a better moral standard. He expressed the desire that Japan as it now is for friendship with all nations.”

Concerning the interview with General Mac-Arthur Bishop Neill writes: “The General himself is a devout though undogmatic Christian. He has never concealed his conviction that, for Japan, democracy and acceptance of the basic principles of Christianity must go together. Christianity, as he sees it, with its insistence on the value of human personality, on rectitude in conduct and purity of heart is the greatest idea in the world.” “But,” said the General, “if you agree that now is the chance to bring the Japanese people under the direct influence of Christian teaching, your missionary enterprise is on far too small a scale. You have something like twelve hundred missionaries; you want to multiply your effort about a hundredfold. In the past the missionary has gathered round him a little flock of faithful Christians; their life has been inward looking, they have been a segregated flock. Now you have got to get your message out broadcast. The only way is for the missionary to create an immense army of Japanese who will go out to be missionaries to their own people, and get this message out to the whole nation. That is going to cost money. But the generosity of Christian people, when they see a need is illimitable. If you can get the Christian world convinced of the greatness of the call, surely there is no doubt of its rising to the height of the opportunity.”

— E.P.S. GENEVA

(From the Guardian of Madras)

(That after the devastating war Japan, like many other countries, has been morally weakened and that the religion of Jesus can strengthen her character will be admitted by many. But in order that the church may be clear of any ulterior motives the political, military and economic hold of Japan by the west must end. The second important consideration is that the initiative and direction of evangelistic and educational and humanitarian work must be in the hands of Japanese Christian national in co-operation with the churches of the west and other Japanese. The churches should not forget the victor nations whose moral and spiritual needs are probably deeper. Then the world will believe that missionary work has no imperialistic motives. - Editor)

3. Indian Problems

SIR, — Mr. Tomlinson’s letter makes strange reading coming from the pen of one who knows his India well. I am not in a position to reply to his remarks about Dr. Stanley Jones’s meeting, as I was not there, but I should like to show my absolute disagreement with his remarks about the farewell picture of Lady Mountbatten.

What does Mr. Tomlinson want people here to forget? What is at the back of his mind? Why not be honest about it and say that she seemed to lower British prestige or the prestige of English womanhood by allowing the incoming Governor-General, an Indian, to press her against his heart?

A Britisher — man or woman, even though he was a missionary who goes through years of work in India always conscious of this prestige outlook and so watching his behaviour and social relationships as not to forget that be belongs to a superior race, does not leave a permanent shrine in the heart of the people, however efficient he may have been as an organiser.

The Mountbatten farewell was symbolic. According to Indian custom, a man of 70 bids farewell to a daughter, not conscious of her nationality. She responds to the gesture of a saintly old man and is glad that she has this privilege. What is wrong or unbecoming in this Except that she is English and the old man is an Indian-so what? But was it not something more? Was it not a symbol of the passing of an old era of ruler and ruled, superior and inferior, white and brown, and the incoming of an era of equality and partnership ?

About one thing people ought to be quite clear that the India of the future will soon find out who are the missionaries in whose heart the love of Christ burns in such fierceness that they have no weeds of social consciousness left, and who are the ones whose discipleship of Christ and its implications carry reservations. The question of Anglo-Indians needs a detailed reply, but space will not allow my dealing with it. Should the British Army have been left behind for their protection? Has any law been enacted against them? Have their schools suffered? Have they been dismissed from their posts? Have they been attacked?

The Anglo-Indians unfortunately showed their contempt for Indians even more than the bad British did. The decent Britisher’s attitude was far more courteous than that of the Anglo-Indian.

The most important contribution, however, which C.R. will make in the life of the new India is the emphasis he will lay on things spiritual. The Christian Church will find in him a great friend, if the Church does not waste its energies in decrying other faiths, but gives its witness in the power of Christ positively and constructively. The atmosphere of the new India is becoming more and more secular and the younger generation of Hindus, and even of professing Christians, is turning away from religion to a scientific and material view of life and the universe.

SHORAN SINGHA
London
BRITISH WEEKLY
29-7-1948

4. Atomic Weapons

“Use Morally Right”: Church Commission’s Conclusions”

LONDON - The Church of England Commission which has been deliberating for nearly two years on the problem whether the use of atomic weapons was morally right has decided that their use against military targets can be justified as a defence against an unscrupulous aggressor. The Commission considers that the warning of retaliation with atomic weapons might avert a war.

The Commission appeals for a World Order based on justice and declares: “At present the chief obstacle to such co-operation is found in the conviction and claims of the rulers of the U.S.S.R.” The Commission concludes: “The atomic bomb is inadmissible for attacks upon objective in cities but as far as we can see there would be no objection to using it against military targets which could be attacked without injury to the people. The bombing of military targets without mass destruction of life is quite feasible.” - (I.P.S.).

— A.B. Patrika 30/7/1948

(The right to such discriminating use of atomic weapons can be claimed or exercised only by those who are thoroughly impartial and unselfish. Can such an international body be evolved of men who are sinful? After the League of Nations even the U.N.O. are showing its feet of clay. Can a single nation today undertake this terrible responsibility? Is not radical disarmament a wiser and more practical policy based in the principle-all war is wrong? - Editor)

5. Pledged to Combat Race Mingling Durban Terror Gang

Under the heading “A Disgrace to the Commonwealth,” the Sunday Pictorial writes:

So called “civilised” white men and women in South Africa are behaving in a way which brings shame on the British Commonwealth.

They have presented twenty-four feather cushions and several barrels of tar for the first operations of Durban’s newly-formed “Tar and Feather Club.” This degrading organisation plans to deal with any male European found associating with a non-European woman or any European woman discovered in the company of a non-European male. The cut has formed a committee of eighteen men and seven women to combat the intermingling of races in Natal.

A wealthy Indian woman has pledged to pay fines resulting from the activities of the Tar and Feather Club as the happiness of Indian homes is being endangered through the association of their husbands with white women.”

Like K.K.K

No sane person approves of such intermingling of the races. No one with any decency will uphold the barbaric methods used to counteract it.

Notes

1. Local Christian Councils

For various reasons enumerated below the organisation of these local bodies will not be helpful for any party.

1. The Christian community and the Church are already segmented and over-burdened by too many organisations. Its size is too small and its mind and soul are too weak to carry such heavy burdens.

2. The Christian Councils (both national and provincial) have for some time been representing the Church and the community to Government and the country-the propriety of which may be rightly questioned. These are top level bodies representing the foreign missions and their workers mostly. They largely leave untouched and unaffected the great majority of laymen who are the backbone of the Church and the community. For these councils to penetrate the local communities and churches will simply mean in actual fact, though not in theory, that missions which are religious and communal bodies will be the guardian’s of all Christians-a dangerous position for them in relation to their other fellowmen. It will foster communalism which is not altogether absent in the community. It will make the whole Christian body in the country appear as a proselytising agency in a western sense.

3. The more serious reason is that historically Christian Councils are foreign and superimposed in India in origin and development. Their father is the International Missionary Council which in its turn has never been a real representative of the western Church except as being the result of a spiritual and political revival. Movements and organisations arising in foreign lands when imposed in other countries inevitably produce slave mentality and dependence. It is high time for Christian Councils as such to pass away and for real independent Church organisations to arise and take initiative in all matters. Missions and Churches cannot compromise; they can temporarily cooperate as distinct entities. Church organisations should develop from within and from the bottom in order to be self-respecting and strong. Foreign missions have a vast field of opportunity for Christian service but not within the Church. If local Christian Councils are organised all over these Provinces with any success, it will simply mean harmful domination of the Indian Christian Church and community by the entire mission system because in reality the Councils are Mission Agencies. This will be easily realised when it is remembered what a vast amount of money and foreign personnel control the mission organisations. For independence, self-respect, efficiency and self-expression the local units of the Church least should be allowed to grow unfettered in free India.

4. Local Christian Councils, is successful, will eclipse the real Indian leadership at the base. It is mission personnel, Indian or foreign, that will in fact dominate the scene from above and outside.

For fellowship and unity we do not need to extend an organism ton that has come to this country from beyond the seas and originate from other motives-mostly missionary and evangelistic. We have enough inspiration in the Bible and in our local needs for service and worship The ecumenical nature of the Church is inherent in the life of the Church itself, To develop or maintain it, we do not need to be administratively integrated with Churches of foreign lands. We do not need to integrate foreign organisations and persons into our Church life in an artificial way to be able to appear as catholic and universal.

Our loyalty to ecumenicity is spiritual and moral. The Church’s membership is open to all non-Indians but only in a spirit and religious sense for worship and fellowship but not for administration. If non-Indian nationals control our church affairs however indirectly remotely, how can the Church here grow spontaneously and be loyal to the country and the state? We shall be suspected of unchristian ulterior motives. Let us beware-before we take any hasty steps. The Church must increase and missions must decrease not by the Church swallowing the Missions — an impossible feat - but by missions with drawing themselves from the Church.

2. Our Government, Pakistan and World Powers

The position of our Government is not so, easy as is sometimes imagined. The legacy of British Government in this country is a heavy burden. Yet the Government, being a popular one and inspired by high idealism is in a better position than many other countries.

Our relations with Pakistan can never be satisfactory to us until Government follow certain clear-cut policies based on fundamental principles. The general impression is that our Government have been too appeasing and hesitating in matters where firmer and prompter treatment was required. The authorities in Pakistan will not at present understand anything other than bate self-interests and opportunism. Our political and administrative policies should be devised and applied with this understanding of their mentality.

In our relations to other countries, nothing will be appreciated more in us than internal unity, economic self-sufficiency and prosperity, and military strength. Our good will and liberalism may be utilised by interested parties to our loss and disillusionment. If we can stand as a strong, self-respecting and self-conscious state, then others will respect us Otherwise they will admire our idealism and praise our culture but on the political and economic field will ignore us.

3. Hence the Absolute Necessity of National Honesty and Efficiency

There is too much of corruption in our public and private life, too much of poverty and disease, ignorance and superstition, division and disunion. The government possesses enough light, they need some heat. They must have a strong mind to carry out in practice some of its own ideas, fulfil its pledges and promises. The primary duty of a state is to feed, clothe and protect its citizens in every sense. Can anyone say that this is being done properly and adequately? Do not the people expect much more from their national Government and can the Government, really not do much more for its poor and under-privileged population? If the Government took courage in both hands and went forward implementing many of its own resolutions, the entire country would stand with them and the Governments’ prestige would go skylight. The administrative expenses of our Government must be considerably reduced. Railway fares at least for third class passengers should be halted, cloth and food provided at a quarter of the present cost, anti-social elements utterly liquidated or else one can only see chaos ahead.

4. Defeatism: Lack of Faith and Vision

1. Sometimes ago in East India a famous mission hospital was closed down upon the murder of some of its missionary and medical staff. Rumour has it that this institution is going to be sold over to the Government. If this rumour is correct it shows like many other things that the spiritual basis of mission work in India has been either a camouflage or having deteriorated has now disappeared. One would have expected that the work would be restarted with new staff with new zeal in new India to demonstrate the undying love of Jesus for the sick and suffering. It might have been a regenerative lesson to those who committed this foul deed from whatever motives. The mission system needs a renewal of the spiritual power so characteristic of the early pioneers, there are places where a more democratic regime and a more equitable distribution of patronage are urgently necessary. Sometimes there are odious distinctions of race, of social and economic position. This creates snobbery and lust on the one hand and humiliation and frustration on the other. Then some day the situation gets out of control. Will mission authorities listen to the small still voice within?

2. Many missions and Christians are prepared to close down their schools and colleges and other humanitarian institutions if Hindus will be given the right to observe their ceremonies and say their prayers within the Christian premises and if Bible instruction will not be given the place it has so far occupied. This again shows lack of insight and a perverted mentality.

3. There are many Christians especially among the young, and also very strangely, among the ministers who openly say that the Gospel of Christ can no longer be preached in India. So, most of them have ceased to witness and are biding time. This also shows a very superficial understanding of the nature of the gospel or the function of the true Church. It is most disheartening to meet such people among missionaries and Indian Christians - One wonders why they ever came to India or still remain were. It is quite true that the mission strategy so far followed has failed and that the methods have become mechanical and ineffective. Some of them out of fear and waywardness are sticking strongly to the old ways however barren. These friends do not probably realise that Christianity of Christ is a living religion and can create new strategy and discover fresh methods to meet new situations. On the whole the spectacle is sad and poor. It proves the bankruptcy of their own lives, not certainly of Christ. They will not experiment upon their faith but will try to live on traditional authority. They are sure to be disillusioned. God will choose new vessels and new channels for his glory because the Lord omnipotent reigneth.

5. Politics in Churches

A contemporary has resentfully complained against politics in Churches It is alleged that political methods are used in Church elections and politically minded men who have no interest in religious life try to get into positions of power and influence in the Church. No intelligent man should be surprised at this. The whole structure of the Churches is politically erected. Indian Churches are replicas of western Churches which are governed by political principles either democratic or autocratic. Malpractices and competition, however regrettable, are inevitable under the circumstances. There is an excellent way of gradually eliminating these evil things-legacy of western missionary regime, and that is getting into the spirit of India in matters religious-more simple organisation and fatherly care of congregations-something akin to the apostolic Church. The nearer essential orthodox Hinduism the closer to Christ. Indian Christians will have to unlearn, and learn afresh.

6. Christian Schools and Colleges

In some centres trouble has appeared over Hindus’ claim to have their religion represented in institutional life. For the most part these situations, difficult and explosive, have not been tackled tactfully. Christian authorities have been too rigid and formal, narrow and dogmatic aware of the liberal spirit of Christ - often anti-rational. On the other hand Hindus having tasted the new wine of freedom have lost perspective and balance. They are carrying their claims too far. However, it will be useful and healthy for Christians to analyse some of the causes of these untoward happenings and wonder over some suggested remedies.

1. CAUSES

   1. For over a century Hindu boys and girls have been given instructions in the Bible under compulsion in some form or other. Roll-call has been taken in Bible Classes. Fines have been imposed for absence. Even under the Conscience Clause a practically nominal consent has been taken from guardians in behalf of their wards to attend religious instructions. In most cases this consent has been badly compromised because of many attractions and temptations to join a Christian Institution.

   2. Generally in these institutions the Christian authorities and not to speak of the local Christian community, have kept themselves aloof form the struggle for freedom, have avoided and sometimes opposed the Congress activities and have often very foolishly obstructed the natural urge and manifestations of the nationalist spirit. One could it numerous examples to prove this.

   3. Christians have kept away from “Hindus also socially and culturally-even physically in many cases.

   4. Teachers and preachers have denounced Hinduism to show the excellences of Christianity. One has seen this almost ever where for a long period of forty years. Some of us foresaw the outcome of all this years ago, warned mission authorities and raised the specific issues of compulsory Christian teaching for Hindus. But we were turned down.

   5. The Hindu mind is naturally opposed to all manner of compulsion in spiritual matters. You can do anything with a Hindu in a free friendly spirit.

2. EFFECTS

   1. Hindu youth have acquired a contemptuous attitude to Christians - though they have a respect for their religion and the Bible and would like to know them.

   2. They have dubbed Christians as zealots like Muslim fanatics.

   3. With a few exceptions here and there they dislike Christian teachers as a class even when they are well qualified teach their secular subjects. There is hardly any intimacy which should subsist between teacher and pupil - Guru and Shishya.

   4. Consciences of Hindu youth have been badly compromised and so injured. So even good enquirers cannot look at Christianity with that sincerity and courage - essential qualifications of true enquiry.

   5. They oppose conversions wholesale and catch any opportunity to create and spread trouble sometimes very thoughtlessly. In fact their emotional life has been disorganised because of the lack of integrity and straight forward and free approach to spiritual life. The confusion has been worse confounded by other external forces. Religious instruction, because of its wrong basis, has not produced adequate discipline, reverence or idealism.

3. SUGGESTED REMEDIES

It is too late in some cases to apply any remedy. The system may just crash, and the schools closed. To many Christians these suggestions may appear too radical and even opposed to Christianity. But we claim that we love the Lord no less than these brethren who may think that we are wrong. We are persuaded that these friends having been trained in narrow exclusive circles have missed the depth many-sidedness, the liberalism and magnanimity of Full Truth-which is but another name for Love, and we claim to base our views and conclusions matured over many years on the Word of God. These are the simple suggestions which ought to have been adopted from the beginning and may even now be practiced.

1. All Bible instruction should be free and voluntary. If Christian teachers are worthy and able they are bound to draw a certain number to a religious class or meeting-outside or inside the School hours or school premises. The Kingdom of God and the Reign of Christ will be far more effectively established and spread out through a few whose consciences and minds would be free and active than through a whole mass of youth who do not reverently respond.

2. The teaching of Hinduism should be allowed on the same basis and terms as the Bible teaching. A good reconciliation can be effected by mutual agreement. Out of five or six days at least two can be set apart for Hindus and one or more for Muslims. Christians, both student and staff, will benefit by attending these classes or meetings to be managed by Hindus and Muslims.

3. Hindus and Muslims, if they desire, may have separate prayers open to all.

4. There is one important condition good for all parties. The demonstrative aspects of any religion may not be allowed by mutual settlement as some of them may be offensive to the other party. We do not see why Ramdhun or other Hindu songs should not be sung in a Christian school and why Christians, if they like, should not join. True participation in worship is essentially a mental attitude rather than mere attendance.

5. Christians should have their own specific prayers open to all in a chapel or schoolroom or even in the open air under a tree. Christians should be tended spiritually in other ways also.

6. So-called Christian institutions have become more or less public property both legally and morally through long association, Government grants, students fees and public donations. Hindus have acquired a moral right to give spiritual nurture to their own students. They should have the freedom given to do so. But this should be strictly their own responsibility and conducted in such a way as not to give offence to other faiths. In no way should it be mixed up with Christian prayers or Bible teaching though all should have access to it. The Hindus and others may have separate places so that everything may be done decently and in order.

The idea that Christianity will be compromised by such cooperation or association with Hinduism is an immature one. Those who think Christianity becomes weak or ineffective in the light of, or in close comparison with, Hinduism, do not deserve to serve India. Our firm conviction is that in the Indian Pantheon Christ can preserve his identity, distinctive- “ness and in God’s own time be recognised as the unique Saviour and Lord.

So our strong advice is that Christian Institutions of all types should not be closed and the arms of the Christian enterprise such as property and funds should not be reduced but rather related to the Indian Church in such a way that her independence and self-respect may be enhanced thereby.

7. The Incidence of T.B. Among Christians

Workers of lower grades has been very high - one has observed for a long time. Many years ago the C.M.S. sent out a Medical Commission to India. They found the majority of boys and girls in Boarding schools loaded with its incipient forms. The essential Indian services in Missions-such as Co’portage, evangelism, pastorate and even teaching-are practically starved. Under-feeding, under-clothing and malnutrition are common causes of this fell disease. In the schools the students have to play very hard games such as football, hockey, etc. without suitable and adequate food. The result has been general breakdown in health and discipline. Many in recent years have been influenced by Marxian-communism. The financial and social gradation of Christian workers on the basis of functions is quite contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ. The socialistic and the communistic principles of the New-Testament and the example of the apostolic Church have been rejected by the Churches in later ages with the result that Christianity has no better way to show to the world than other cultures and faiths. In India all foreign missionaries enjoy more or less the same status irrespective of the kind of work they do. Have they planted differences among Indians to grow among them quarrels, jealousies, discontent, disease, disunion and consequent slavery? A teacher in a school or college drawing a fairly good salary and feeling drawn to the pastorate or called to evangelism is prevented by awful thoughts of starvation. So people, mediocre and sometimes very unworthy, have filled these “Low” posts and stations degrading the Church life in every way. Competition for positions of better emoluments (such as those of Bishops, superintendents, senior teachers) has poisoned Christian life. The greatest tragedy is that while foreign missions are supporting a few “white elephants” they criminally ignore the needs of Colporters preachers and priests who are the pillars of the Church but being weak and unqualified they have produced a poor slave church.

8. World Council of Churches

For the first time in the history of the Christian Church divided Christiandom (except the Roman Catholics) came together at Amsterdam last August. That the desire for unity was divinely inspired is undoubted. It was a unique gathering in many respects. The churches of Africa, Asia and the Far East were duly represented. Such ecumenical conferences are a necessary phase in the growth of the Church in the fullest realisation of truth.

But the decisions of such a body are necessarily limited and at best of a commendatory nature possessing no binding force upon any particular section of the Church. In this respect it is unlike the Roman Church and fortunately so. Certain other reflections arise in one’s mind, while top organisations and universal assemblies are necessary from time to time to give us a due sense of the catholicity of our fellowship and the age long world heritage of the church, these are apt to prove futile unless enough spadework is done right at the bottom level of the church. The representatives ought to be chosen upon the basis of the real needs and problems, experiences and attainments of ordinary congregations in national churches. Other-wise the idealism and the enthusiasm are apt to evaporate from the high mountain tops. The real problem is for the top and the bottom of the church to interpenetrate and interplay upon each other. The church is divided around the Lord’s table. There is caste right in the spiritual centre of Christianity. Until that is abolished no amount of efforts at organisational union or assembly will create real brotherhood and fellowship. Freedom and diversity in organisation and doctrinal opinion but authority and unity in essential faith and devotional acts must rule the behaviour of Churches. This is India’s position, and we believe it to be thoroughly Christian. There can be and should be no one Church under one administrative machinery. If you make one to-day you will unmake it tomorrow. Only Christ is the Head of all Church organisations. But the Church is already one.

9. Slogans

Ever since 1910 when the First International Missionary Confer once was held in Edinburgh under the imaginative leadership of that great missionary Statesman John R. Mott-there have grown in the minds of Church Mission leaders a world-consciousness of Christianity and evangelistic urge of its message together with the emergence of a number of slogans indicating great truths and ideologies. Some of these are:

1. Evangelisation of the world in our generation
2. Missions must decrease and the Church must increase
3. Acclimatisation, Indianisation, Nationalisation, Indigenisation, etc. of Christianity
4. Cooperation
5. Partnership
6. Merging
7. Integration
8. Older and younger instead of foreign and Indian
9. Non-Indian instead of foreign or western
10. Ecumenical instead of East and West etc.

There is a plethora of slogans. It is a pertinent question to ask how many of these really signify any advance and how many died prematurely. Has any one of the many Church-mission problems been solved-racialism, economic distinctions, financial misery, autonomy, self-respect, financial and foreign domination literature, theology, preaching methods, personal relations, Church Union, paucity of workers, poverty, indifference of Church, etc. Edinburgh, Jerusalem, Tambaram - have come and gone. Millions of Dollars or Pounds have been spent, precious time spent. But the dire need of all Christians remains-personal conversion. Then all other problems will be easier of solution.

10. Preaching Methods

In recent months we have witnessed Christian preachings in several stations. In some cases the preachers were theatrical in manner. In all cases there were either cheap jibes at Hinduism, or lurking sympathies with Islam and Pakistan, or clever hits at Gandhi, or ignorant references to national culture. There was very little of the Gospel in all this. In places young Christian girls were prominent. At least in one place there was a fracas. There was hardly any realisation of the importance and necessity of personal friendly contacts, study of the Bible, practice of prayer and silence. The whole show is mechanical, formal and controversial in method and spirit. How long will Christians be laughingstocks of our countrymen who want depth and reality?

11. Christian Giving

A respected contemporary has recently bewailed very bitterly the lack of the giving spirit among Christians either for the Church or for any good cause and has been advocating “Tithes” as a way out. Tithing, unless it is voluntary, intelligent and extensive - is devoid of virtue and ineffective. If imposed by high ecclesiastical authority it will be no better than resented tax and many might leave the church as a consequence. Before applying any remedy it is wise to diagnose the root cause of this apparently selfish spirit. Why do not Christians give and give liberally to the maintenance and development of Church life? One of the fundamental causes which we mention here and now is the fact that the Church properties and accessories are not our own. Legally they have been all along properties belonging to foreign missions and the Church organisations and systems also are not our own creation but have been imposed on us. In many cases this is an unconscious reason. But it is a psychological fact. Until Church properties are owned by Indian Congregations and adequate assurance is created in their minds that organisations can be modified according to their genius and under Indian conditions-this sort of indifference and lack of vital interest will continue daily weakening the Church as a whole.

12. Mission Property

Rumours have it that in an important city in this Province a large piece of property may soon be alienated to rich non-Christians though many suggestions by many parties have been made to the mission authorities for exploitation of such properties in the interests of the Church and the Christian enterprise. We discourage rumours and should not believe them, but past experience shows that they have a strange way of coming A contemporary in Bengal says that the Baptist Mission is going to sell certain properties inspire of objection and opposition of many to it. Missions by such deeds simply break the arms and cut the feet of the already weakened Churches. Under the circumstances it does not look brave or worthy of the missionaries to be integrated into the Churches and hold controlling positions in the same.

Notice

(The study of Hinduism in Banaras)

The course that was planned for last October had to be given up because of the disastrous floods that visited Banaras. The postponed course is now spread over two periods viz 15th to 29th January, and May 1st to 15th 1949. Friends wanting a cool holiday together with leisurely studies may later move up to SatTal and Almora Ashrams with me. It is hoped that Father Fallon who has a fine contribution to make will be able to join us in the summer. Intending students both for the winter and summer courses must contact me soon.

R.C. Das
129, Dashashwamedh,
BANARAS