INDIA CHRISTIAN

"Go ye into all the tcorlil and pr<*fic/i the fioapel to every creature." (Murk 16:15)
Vol. HI
THIS IS A SHOPPIN
William
The center of every village is t
bazaar. In the smaller places it consisjts
of simply one street two or three blocks
long. The villages and towns may have
a ".square block" devoted to the bazaar
or one long street with smaller streets
running off from the main one. One
always knows when he is approaching
tliis section, because of the large crowds
of people and animals. The people are
crowded so thickly that it is a horn
blowing and pu.shing ordeal to get
through in a car. It is better to park,
always being sure to leave someone to
watch the car, and go on foot with a
shopping bag.
The shops are usually one room with
some sort of porch in front. The floor
of the shop is built about waist high so
customers can stand on the outside and
examine the supplies. The larger places
are .sometimes arranged so the custo
mer can go in aiid sit while he shops.
Sometimes the front portion is made
so it can be closed in at night to protect
the merchandise. The stores are built
very close together depending on how
much the storekeeper has to .sell, but
they can get enough in a small room to
furnish a good sized store in America.
Tiiere is not much attempt made at
arranging things and hardly anything
done to clean them. The storekeeper
will sit cross-legged in the middle of
the porch with his wares laid around
him so he can hand them to pro.spective
buyers. He will have his son or another
boy around to go into the store for any
thing he doesn't have handy. Besides
these permanent shops there arc the
merchants who sit cross-legged by the
side of the street, in front of the shops,
with their wares spread ai'ound them.
These merchants are most plentiful on
JANUARY, 1948
VmjER IN INDIA
..l!baz_aar days" which come twice a week,
in Maudaha on Tuesdays and Satur
days.
First let us go to the provisions store
and get what we need. Here we see
the owner sitting in the midst of piles
and piles of supplies. The wheat looks
pretty good except for the stones and
dirt mixed with it to add to the weight.
It will take quite a bit of this since no
flour is available and we have to use
ground whole wheat exclusively. If they
would charge a little more and leave
the dirt out, it would be much better be
cause all the wheat has to be cleaned by
hand, grain by grain, before it is taken
to the mill for grinding. As it is, though,
1 guess 8c a pound is enough for it.
We won't need so much of the rice,
which is 16c a pound, because it .swells
up and goes much farther than wheat.
This man also has the sugar, so we will
get all our rations will allow. Because
we live in a rural area we are allowed
2 pounds per month per person. Vil
lage folk get 1 pound. This sugar would
hardly be recognized as such by the
average American. It is coarse grained
and very-dark, sort of a gray color. This
is partly due to dirt and partly because
it isn't refined well. When we get home
and start to cat some, we always think
of the big pile of sugar with flies and
bees helping themselves and.the mer
chant using his toes to assist in measur
ing it, paying no attention to his dirty
children running through the pile as
they play. And then he charges 10c a
pound. Besides the things that we buy,
this man also has piles of cream of
wheat and native grains, one of which
is dal, something like the yellow split
pea in America.
(Continued on page four)
No. 1
MISSION AIR
At this Yuletide we would like to
send our Christian greetings to our
fellow-workers the world around. We
pray that the fruits of your Gospel
labors may ever increase, and that you
may have health and happiness for your
selves. To those of our friends who are
not in the fold of Christ, we would
remind you that we are still praying
for the salvation of your souls.
The October issue of the INDIA
CHRISTIAN found your missionaries
of the Christian Mission to India to
gether at the hill station. Now we have
all returned to Ragaul. Dr. Rothermcl
returned first, the Rolands and Mr.
Hartcr .second, and Miss Hunt last.
Each succeeding journey became more
difficult, but the Lord was with us.
Mrs. Roland intends to write an account
of these and other Indian journeys in
the April issue.
On October 5th an Anopheles mos
quito got Mr. Roland's range, which
sent him to bed ten days later with an
attack of malaria. Thanks to prayer
and the new remedy Paludrine he made
a quick recovery.
When informed that baggage had
arrived at Bombay, Mrs. Roland made
a hurried trip; but because of disorder
and confusion prevailing there she had
to return home with many pieces miss
ing. Later the American Express located
the missing pieces, and on November
4th Dr. Rothermel went for them.
Other journeys include three trips by
the jeep to Clawnpore, and a business
trip to jhansi by Dr. Rothermel.
Mary Esther Roland has found many
playmates here and is learning the lan
guage rapidly. She now asks for a
"chummuch" instead of a spoon.
Miss Hunt successfully completed
her examinations on October 22nd.
She celebrated by treating her fellow-
missionaries to candied popcorn and a
table game. But wc tire easily and the
party broke up before nine.
Mr. Harter treated well over three
hundred patients during October. These
have included such things as malaria,
dy.scntery, pneumonia, boils, ulcers, the
itch, conjunctivitis, granular lids, sup
purating ears, colds, and the extraction
of teeth. He has extracted five teeth
here, which raises his grand total to
twenty.
The meat situation has been helped
by our hunters, commandeered by Mr.
Roland, who have supplied us with
such delicacies as a peacock and a quail.
A peacock, we find, is just like turkey.
THE INDIA CHRISTIAN
Published Quarterly by the Christian
Mission to India, Inc.
Address Abroad: Ragau^, Dist. Hamirpur,
U. P., India
Forwarding Secretary for Dr. Rothermel,
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Roland, Mr. Ralph
Barter:
Mrs. Grayce S. Ensign
906 W. 33rd Street
Latonia Station
Covington, Ky.
Forwarding Secretary for Miss Edna Hunt:
Mr. E. E. Breakenridgc
1910 6th N. W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
BUSY DAYS FOR ALL
Zoeiiii S. Rothermel
It is with pleasure that I report that all
of our new missionaries have been very
busy helping in many ways since their
arrival. Miss Hunt has also done her
.share in helping teach our older boys
for they need it, attending a secular
school as they do.
Last month our evangelists and Bible
women were called in from the out-
stations and are being taught by Miss
Hunt and Jean each day in the after
noon. Mornings they go to the villages
to proclaim Christ. Jean also has a
class for the older boys once a week, as
Miss Hunt does. This is besides their
Sunday School class. It was thought
best to give thc.se classes to the evan
gelists as it has been some years since
they have had any special classes or
study. Then, Ralph Harter has been
doing most of the medical work, except
as he desires to call on me for a bit of
advice occasionally. Each day they take
two hours of language with their pandit
so you can know that with the necessary
study they are kept bu.sy. They have
al.so helped out on trying to solve all
the problems which arise in the schools
and elsewhere in our work, things which
lake plenty of my time always.
It is good to have a man around who
can mend things, make things, and look
after various outside work; and so I
appreciate William's help in many ways
for he has made himself very useful
even though he cannot speak much
Hindi as yet.
Many hours have been spent in stand
ing outside offices trying to get iron,
which is rationed, in order that we
might proceed with our much needed
schoolhouse. After many days and hours
of such waiting we have at last received
the iron rods necessary. Cement also
had to be secured through the ration
office.
In November I had to make another
trip to Bombay to get the freight which
had been delayed in reaching Bombay
for our new missionaries. On my re
turn journey I was met part way home
by Miss Hunt and Jean (Mrs. Roland)
INDIA CHRISTIAN
THIS IS DAISGER IN INDIA
Jean Roland
No doubt you are wondering what
the actual riot conditions are here in
India. We sometimes wonder the same
thing, for even here the newspaper re
ports are not always accurate. Many
false rumors are circulated, while some
times facts arc kept from the public.
I shall try to distingui.sh between eye
witness reports and rumors to the best
of my ability in what I say now.
It is impossible to tell who actually
started the trouble, but most of it is
lx;ing carried on by the Sikhs and the
Moslems. They burn and destroy homes
and stores. They kill, and in many cases
instead of killing outright, they wound
the person in .such a way that death
will be prolonged in agony. In Pakhis-
tan the Moslems drive out the Sikhs
and Hindus, and throughout Hindustan
wherever the Sikhs go they seek revenge
by destroying whole Moslem villages or
sections of villages.
A Methodist missionary, who came to
India on the Marine Adder with us,
recently wrote, "Our district evangelists
have not been able to go out much, but
have been helping in refugee camps.
. . . About 5000 refugees have come to
Brindaban from the Punjab. Many have
lost all of their goods homes, shops, etc.,
and a good many have witnessed stab-
bings and killings of members of their
own families. The things they tell are
that we together might attend the wed
ding of one of our splendid young men,
Samuel Nath. His fatlicr had been our
cook at the time Jean was born. About
that time he was married, and Samuel
is his oldest son. We arc sorry to lose
Samuel in our Church work and in the
community for he was one of our few
independent Christians who worked in
a Government .school which our older
boys attend, and he was a help in keep
ing track of their progress and of them.
Although he has not had any special
training, he has been hired by Mr. O.
D. johnson as an evangelist. With train
ing he .should make a very good evan
gelist. We had hoped he might stay
here and take training for personal
work and remain independent. We wish
him well and trust he will some day be
as good if not even a better soul-winner
than his father has been, for he is now
one of our mo.st trusted evangelists.
Since our last INDIA CHRISTIAN
went out there have been three persons
in one of our outstations who were
taught "the way of the Lord more per-
pectly" and were obedient to Him in
baptism. In Madras four more Hindu
people have accepted Christ through
the teaching of Brother Manuel Jacobs.
Please remember them all and us in
your prayers.
terrible. So many here are facing the
winter with no warm clothes, bedding,
etc., and already some have not enough
food to eat."
Recently a missionary in Delhi saw
a girl stabbed outside his gate, so he
went to see if she were dead, or if he
could help her. A Sikh, standing near,
saw him and warned the mi.ssionary
that if he went near the girl the mis
sionary's life would also be taken. They
do not want any help given to those
whom they hami. It is reported that in
some cases hospitals have been warned
not to give help to the wounded, or they
too would be in danger, and the refugee
camps have to be heavily guarded to
protect the refugees from those who
seek revenge.
In October, when Mi.ss Edna Hunt
was coming from the hills, the train
stopped soon after it left. There were
many Gurka troops on the train, and
they made a thorough search outside
and under the train for any hidden ex
plosives, and then they entered every
compartment and searched the baggage
of every native, looking for weapons and
explosives. One missionary who had a
firearm was told to keep it handy, and
if any trouble started to shoot to kill.
Some of tlie troops returned, (probably
to assist in searching other trains), while
a good number continued on the train
as guards. Before this method was
adopted trains had been stopped out in
the jungle, where there were armed
Sikhs or Hindus who pulled off and
killed every Moslem on the train.
In some cities where there has been
rioting the trouble is now reported to
have subsided. We suspect that the
reason there are no more incidents is
that all the Moslems of the community
have fled or been killed.
Thus far the Sikhs have not come
into our district, and we hope they will
not, for that would mean trouble. Our
nearest city, Cawnpore, which is in the
next district, has in years past been a
source of repeated riots between Hindus
and Moslems, but such rigid laws have
been made there that the city has been
calm for several years. It is said to be
the key city of the United Provinces,
so the authorities are doing all they can
to keep trouble down. They know that
if it breaks there it will probably spread
throughout the United Provinces.
At prc.scnt there is practically no per
sonal danger for the missionary. The
riots and hard feelings are between the
Sikhs and Moslems mainly, and the
Hindus to .some extent. The political
leaders, who would be the ones to act
against tlie missionaries, are too busy
with other problems to worry about the
missionary.
INDIA CHRISTIAN
Joseph, Mary, the cradled Jesiis, and the Wise Men
in an Indian Christmas pageant.
THIS IS CHRISTMAS IN INDIA
Miss Edna Hunt
To icll of Christmas in India I must
tell of the activities of Christmas 1946.
I am sorry we could not tell of this
year with our new missionaries but this
must get to the press long before that
if you arc to read of it before May.
We have been trying to tell the peo
ple here just what our Christmas is like,
aud they can't imagine it as being fun.
We have gifts to share with our family
and friends, and then we eat. It sounds
stupid and dull to these people. I hope
you can enjoy this Christmas with us
and won't think their holiday too dull.
It is hard to say just when Christmas
really starts, but for the small children
(5-8) it started the middle of Novem
ber when they started to work on a
play. They memorized the story of the
birth of Christ as recorded by Luke.
They learned many of the carols; and
these were worked into a play with
Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, wise men
and angels. The play was lovely, for
it was so filled with scripture and was
done so nicely for such small children.
Hou.sc cleaning is the thing that keeps
the women busy, but as most of them
iiave only one room it is not such a job.
I sat in the sun one day trying to get
warm (it is cold in India in December
and January) and enjoyed watching all
the people. One woman was washing
her hair, and another was bathing her
children. One was wa.shing her clothes,
and another was lepoing her floor.
Many of the homes have earthen floors,
and to keep the house from being a
dirty dust hole they plaster the floor
with a mixture of cow manure and
water. When this is dry it leaves a
hard crust all over and is really clean.
Most of the women's work is clone out
in the yard for it is so much warmer in
the sun than inside the house. During
the cold months these people live out-
side except at nights. They cat, cook,
work and study in the sun.
Here they call Christmas "Big Day"
and it is true in many ways. Christmas
really starts on the eve of the 24th. Our
evening services arc usually held be
tween four and five p. m. so people can
get home before dark. The program on
this occasion started a little later than
usual when eighty to ninety crowded
into our living-dining room. After a
short devotion and a play by the boys
the gifts were given out. Each year the
mission gives clothes to every worker
a .shirt for the men, dresses for girls, and
blouses for women. This year there may
be enough old clothes sent from home
to go around, and warm clothes, old or
new, are appreciated. About mid-night
the men start to run about to get things
ready to sing carols. The one who plays
the drums sits in the ox cart and the
others walk all through the village. When
they come to the hou.se of a friend, they
may be asked in for tea and sweets. Some
even have a meal prepared for them.
They return to the bungalow about
6 :30 a. m. and close with a final carol
and prayer. It is a thrill to hear them
sing of the "King of Kings" and is a
testimony and message to the unbe
lievers.
Christmas day begins with a good
many sleepy people getting their best
clothes on to go to church at 9 a. m.
The women wear their brightest sarics
and some of the children even wear
shoes. One little girl walked to church
with shoes that must have been bought
for her the year before, and you could
see that it was painful for her to walk
in them; but wear them she must for
this was "Big Day". The next meeting
was to be at 2 p. m. so there was just
enough time between the two for a
quick lunch. This meeting is for all
the people of the village and it was at
this time that the children gave their
play. They did well and it was a fine
message for all. The play was fol
lowed by a sermon to unbelievers. Then
grain was given out to the poor who
came.
By the time the afternoon meeting-
was over we had all decided that the
celebrating of two Christma-ses in one
day was too much. We were all tired
enough to go to bed, but the dinner
was ready so we made one last brave
attempt to look alive and gathered for
an hours' fellowship together. You will
want to know what we had, .so I will
hurriedly mention some of the things.
We had wild peacock to take the place
of turkey, and we all like it just as well.
We had carrot .salad, sweet potatoes,
Irish potatoes and gravy. Then from
parcels from home we had saved cran
berry sauce, fruit cake, fruit, candy and
nuts. I don't think we missed anything
usually considered necc.ssary to this great
feast. The candles on the table and the
gifts in the corner made it veiy much
like home.
Friday was sports day and from
9 a. m. till dark they ran race.s, had con
tests and played games. Saturday was
a rest and we were all ready for it.
Sunday the regular meetings were held,
but with all the visitors home it made
it a special day. Early Monday morning
things started again. The women were
out in the back yard to clean the rice
and prepare the feast. I spent as much
time helping as I could for I wanted to
know how this food was cooked. They
rented two large brass pots from the
village to cook the food in. It reminded
me of the pictures we see of the pots
tb(; cannibals use to boil the missionary.
The rice was cooked in one pot, and
the meat and potatoes in the other.
The meat dish is much like our stew
without the thickening, and made so hot
with peppers we can hardly eat it. When
these people cut up an animal for food
they don't waste any meat. I tried to
close my eyes when eating it; for it is
best not to know what part of the animal
you are eating.
About four in the afternoon the
food was ready and one of the boys
was sent to call everyone to the feast.
This is still done in this land as in the
days of Christ. No one offered excuses
for they were all ready to enjoy the
food. They all came with their plate
and cup and sat on the floor of the big
tent. The huge pots were brought in
and the rice was served in large basins
and the meat in pails. They .servo no
extras so everyone fills up on rice.
Tue.sday we went about our work
as usual and at about 10:30 that night
the bell started to ring to call the people
together for the watch-night service.
THESE ARE THE SOUNDS
OF INDIA
Ralph R. Harler
India is the soundingcst nation in the
world. I do not say noisiest because
noise annoys, while sounds astound.
(My own definition.)
There is never a time here when
things arc completely silent, although it
is quietest just before dawn. Whenever
we awake in the middle of the night
there is plenty to entertain us. The
drums which were beating when we
went to sleep may still be beating. The
bats arc swooshing; the rats arc chew
ing ; the jackals are screaming; and the
crickets are cracking.
During the day the air is constantly
filled with the sound of bird calls. Be
sides many of the birds we have at
home, most prominently the dove, there
are a hundred birds we have never
heard. With them wc hear the cows
and the dogs.
The road past the mission compound
is no Lincoln Highway, but mcthinks it
can boast of more sounds. There arc
the o.x-carts with their big iron-rimmed
wheels grinding on the hard-mud road.
There is the sound of a pack of donkeys
laden with bricks. Then occasionally
there is a motor vehicle with the driver
leaning on the horn and these horns
are ferocious almost beyond description.
The closest we have come to a descrip
tion is that they are a mixture between
a cow and Donald Duck. At "Times
of Parting" the departing guest can be
heard walking along the road wailing
his sweet sorrow. Other times the pedes
trians entertain themselves by singing,
and we think, "The Dormitory was
never like this."
There are two bells which are com
mon to our ears, the dinner bell and
the Hindu Temple Bell; but there are
plenty of clangs. Some cows wear bells,
but more often it is just a couple pieces
of tin. The metal anklets and bracelets
of the heathen women remind us of the
Georgia chain gangs. Every morning we
are awakened and summoned to morn
ing devotions by a clanging of metal,
and just such an apparatus calls us to
the Lord's Day Sewiccs and to Wcd-
esday night prayer meeting. At the
THE CHRISTIAN MISSION TO INDIA
c/o MRS. GRAYCE S. ENSIGN
906 W. 33rd Street
Latoniu Station
Covm|;ton, Kentucky
INDIA CHRISTIAN
Tahsil (Tax Collectors Headquarters)
the time is banged out every hour, but
not on the hour. The Mohammedans
are not rung to prayer, but we can hear
their vocalist every morning and eve
ning.
It seems that one can always hear
voices. There may not be a person in
sight, but voices can be heard from
every side. As one nears the bazaar the
din becomes as voluminous as the beach
at Coney Island on a hot summer after
noon. It appears that there are so many
people here that they must all talk loud
in order to be heard.
There arc other sounds which can be
heard in rural areas all over the world:
clashing of buckets, chopping of wood,
chickens, roosters, closing of screen
doors, and the breeze rustling the leaves
of the trees.
Last but not least arc the joyful sound
of the native brethren at worship
the singing, the praying, and the preach
ing. And on week-days we enjoy hear
ing the children studying aloud in their
school.
In the evening wc are thrilled to hear,
"This is the Voice of America" (Amer
ican Government Broadcast) ; and on
some afternoons it is the postman who
delights us with his, "Here is a letter for
you".
THIS IS A SHOPPING CENTER IN INDU
(Continued from page one)
By this time one usually gets hungry,
but it doesn't do us any good to turn
to the "restaurant". It looks like the
other places except for a wide plank
counter across the front over which
things are served. The food isn't pre
pared in a kitchen and then served, but
it is .seen cooking there behind or on
the counter. To those who buy, the
food, always Indian of course, is served
on large tree leaves usually along with
tea. These places also sei've Indian
sweets of various .sorts. If we see them
made, wc .sometimes indulge; but not
knowing how dirty the food is and see
ing flies standing all over, we never try
to satisfy our hunger at an Indian res
taurant. In the cities, however, there
are restaurants much like European
one.s, which can be relied upon.
It won't take us long at the clothing
store. To buy our ration of cloth doesn't
take long. The cheaper cotton materials,
on which the natives are dependent, are
all rationed. If we had plenty of money,
which we don't, we could buy all the
more expensive cloth we need. We
are certainly thankful we are able to
bring clothing and considerable yard
goods with us.
Now it is time to go to the fruit and
vegetable section and finish our shop
ping. Here wc find a big disappoint
ment, especially in the village bazaars.
In Maudaha, potatoes, the onlv Euro
pean vegetable, are not always avail
able at this season. Some days oranges
and bananas that are not very good arc
displayed. For these things wc have to
go to Cawnpore, 65 miles distance. Here
we find potatoes, cauliflower, Indian
beans, turnips, onions, egg plant, etc.
Examining the cauliflower, wc find there
arc no heads larger than three inches
acro.s.s; all arc soft and wilted; and they
want 12c a head. Wc bargain with
them and they agree to sell us three
heads at 8c, so we visualize the nice
big .solid heads wc u.sed to buy in Amer
ica and put three of these in our shop
ping bag. "How much arc your pota
toes?" "20c a pound!" "No, thank
you, not for those things the size of
walnuts and smaller." Wc move on to
another stand, being careful not to
molest one of the many cows waiting for
a chance to snatch a vegetable while
an owner is not looking. At this stand
potatoes are the same price but nice
loig ones, so we pick out a few that are
not sun burned. At another place wc
find a few egg-plant that arc long like
long cucumbers and a few red turnips.
Witli these few supplies we must make
ruir way to the car and thcncc home
ward.
Watching the many people constantly
coming and going in the bazaars, peo
ple bound by fear of idols and super-
itition, I have often wondered if noth
ing is ever done to tell them of Christ.
To my joy I find that our evangelists
often go to the bazaar, especially on
bazaar days, to preach and to teach the
people as they pause from their buying
weekly supplies. It is one way of reach
ing these needy people with what they
need, and the evangelists are taking
advantage of it.
Sec. 562 P L P
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Permit No. 6204
INDIA CHRISTIAN
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Maik 16:15)
Vol. Ill
YOHUN FINDS A HOME
Edna Hunt
When one begins the day's work on
the mission field, one never knows what
might happen before it is finished.
March 5, 1947, was just such a day.
Mrs. Rothermel went to Cawnpore for
the day, so I had the house to myself
with nothing to keep me from studying
Hindi. In the afternoon I was called
out by one of our women. With the
little Hindi I knew I just went hoping
I would be able to understand some of
the excited chatter later. In front of
this woman's home stood a group of
our Christians looking into a large
basket that seemed filled with dirty
rags. When I came near, they lifted
some of the cloth, and there was a
thin, naked, starved baby three weeks
old. His body ^vas covered with sores,
and I could not see how he could live
or what I could possibly do to help him.
Then they explained that he was
without a home and they wanted me to
take him. They told how a sweeper
woman had gone into the house and
found this child beside his dead mother.
They had planned to give him sufficient
opium to kill him, for there was nd one
to care for him. Someone .thought of
the mission and brought him to us. I
was happy to take the child and sent
for a few necessary things from Mrs.
Rash. About that time I was wishing
that Mrs. Rothermel were near to help,
but I managed to bathe the child and
get him into warm clothes. When
wrapped in soft, sweet smelling blankets
he looked very sweet, and within half
an hour he had won his way into my
heart.
He had been given opium before he
came, and the effects of it and of being
so nearly starved made him very hard
to care for. Since I was not well and I
felt he needed better care than I was
able to give, we decided to take him to
a mission hospital about seventy-five
miles from here. One of our girls,
Naomi, was in training there at the
time; and two others spent their holi
days there. They loved Yohun so and
took such good care of him that he was
able to pull through the first hot
summer.
OCTOBER, 1948
Yohun and Naomi, March, 1948.
.A picture of what love can do.
I was over to see Yohun when he was
just over a year old, and he is a lovely
boy now. He is not fat but is the pic
ture of health. He is well, bright, and
normal in every way. I thank God for
this. There are two other babies in the
hospital with Yohun, and they are
separate from the sick. They are used
to teach the nurses the proper care of
children. A couple of years there will
give him a real start for life, and I am
thankful to be able to find such a good
place for him. The last word we have
had from there was a letter written the
last of July which reads as follows:
"John is fine except for some malaria
which he has been having off and on
in spite of adequate treatment. He takes
three or four steps alone now but still
prefers to creep, going all over the place.
I found him sitting out in front of the
hospital, all alone, big as life the other
day and quite pleased with himself."
The Sisterhood group of the churches
in Calgary, Alberta and the Loyal
Daughters class of Yellow Grass, Sask.,
Canada, have taken over his support;
and we are thankful for their help. Our
desire is that Yohun may grow up to
serve the Lord. If he is to serve his own
people, he must live among them; so I
want to bring him home before he is
too old. I would love to keep him with
me, but we have seen too many children
become misfits in their own country in
this way. I want him to live in a home
where he will eat the same kind of food
and live in the same kind of house as
other Indians. I am looking for a good
home for him, but those with large
families do not want another to care for.
Pray for Yohun that he might grow up
to be a true servant of the Master.
No. 4
MISSION AIR
The Lord has continued to shower
His blessings upon us, for which we
praise His Name. There was a bit of
sickness, but the Lord granted speedy
and complete recoveries. Mrs. Rother
mel was in the hospital five days with
an infected foot. Jean Roland followed
suit by spraining her ankle. Then Wil
liam Roland and his neighbor, Gemel
Getter of Bilaspur, were ill for a few
days about the same time.
Before the monsoon, workmen were
busy rebuilding the retaining wall that
supports Zoar Cottage on the moun
tainside. But because they neither fol
lowed our directions nor completed their
job, the first heavy rain sent two-thirds
of it back down the mountainside. A
second heavy downpour took the rest
of it and some of the yard. This .sent
Mr. Harter seeking safer ground at
2 :00 a. m. Since then no more damage
has befallen the property. Mrs. Roth
ermel is busy getting the work started
again.
Upon returning to the plains Mrs.
Rothermel and Mr. Harter will take up
residence in Hamirpur, twenty-one miles
from Ragaul. (Address; Christian Mis
sion, Hamirpur, U. P., India). Miss
Hunt and the Rolands will continue
living at Ragaul. Mrs. Rothermel and
Mrs. Roland lived at Hamirpur some
years ago while the Fred Smiths were
in India. Three native Christian fam
ilies have been living there, including
one of our evangelists, Peter.
During the absence of the other mis
sionaries, Miss Hunt has very efficiently
carried on the work alone at Ragaul.
The day school which Miss Hunt super
intends reconvened in July.
Charles William at three months
weighted ten pounds. "He is good look
ing like the rest of the family," says
Mr. Harter.
Manuel Jacobs, our evangelist in
Madras, reports continued progress in
the work there. Samuel, the recent
convert pictured on page three, had
been a nominal Christian of the C. M.
S. mission ; but slid back into Hinduism
for business advantage. Through Man
uel's preaching he was brought to re-
pentcnce and a full acceptance of
Christ. This man attended the final
service of our institute at Madras in
February. Manuel is expecting a mass
baptism in that district in the near
future.
THE INDIA CHRISTIAN
Published Quarterly by the Christian
Mission to India, Inc.
Address Abroad: Ragaul, Dist.
Hamirpur, U. P., India
Forwarding Secretary for Dr. Rothermel,
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Roland:
Mrs. Grayce S. Ensign
100 Commonwealth Avenue
Erlanger, Kentucky
Forwarding Secretary for
Miss Edna Hunt
Mr. E. E. Breakenridge
1910 6th Street, N. W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Forwarding Secretary for
Mr. Ralph Harter,
Miss LaVon Eagley:
Mrs. Louise B. Harter
Box 144
Clinton, Ohio
WITNESSING FOR CHRIST
Tjoena S. Rothermel
Women have far less opportunities of
speaking to men about their souls' wel
fare than do men, yet this past month I
had this privilege twice within just a
few days.
The first was a group of Hindu young
men working in the office where I went
to reserve a seat on the lorry. They
oflFered me the opportunity by asking
questions, and soon all were listening. A
few seemed quite interested, and one
followed me out of the office, so I in
vited him to come to Ragaul to leam
more. One's heart goes out to such
young men who know nothing of the
love of God for them and who do not
realize their need of a Saviour who was
victorious over sin and death and who
can give victory to those who have faith
and are obedient to Him.
Three days later the young man who
was taking toll at the Jamna River,
which I was endeavoring to cross, hin
dered me so that I failed to make my
train that night and had to wait over
twenty-four hours in Kanpur. After
hindering my crossing, however, he be
gan asking questions which gave me a
wonderful opportunity to tell him of the
marvelous Saviour. He was a Sikh and
new to our part of India, having come
from Pakastan; but we hope that we
may have the chance of seeing him
again and that his heart may be opened
to the truth. I think of all these young
INDIA CHRISTIAN
LESSONS FROM LIZARDS
Ralph R. Harter
Although the name of Agur is prob
ably unknown to most of you, neverthe
less his wise sayings in the thirtieth
chapter of Proverlss provide some of the
Bible's most interesting reading. In this
small remnant of his teachings we read
of the four things that are little upon
the earth and yet are exceeding wise.
The fourth little thing he mentions is
the lizard, and he mentions it because:
"The lizard taketh hold with her
hands, yet is she in king's palaces."
(Prov. 20:28)
The lizard is one of the most common
animals in India, only here it is called
"chhipkali." Because they are so plenti
ful and because she "taketh hold with
her hands" they are to be found almost
everywhere. There is no house built
men and pray for them, though I do not
even know their names; but I trust that
we may see the day when many shall
turn to Christ for their true liberty.
India has her freedom, it is true; but
we long for the time when her young
men and women, and older ones also,
may have their liberty in Christ our
Lord, for then we know they "shall be
free indeed."
Recently Brother Manuel Jacobs
wrote telling of the baptism of another
young man who had been a member of
the Church of England. He had come
to Madras to get work and had been
passing as a Hindu; but upon hearing
the Gospel message he felt convicted of
his awful sin, repented, and asked for
immersion. Brother Manuel always
pleads for our prayers in his own behalf
and those who are laboring with him.
We should all remember this godly man
daily before the Throne of Grace. At
present he is laid low, having been at
death's door with cholera. He had his
brother write to tell us how wonderfully
the Lord had spared his life and how
grateful he is. Though very weak he was
gaining strength. How he has prayed
and pled for missionary help these past
several years! We continue to pray
that his pleading and prayers may soon
be answered and that help may come
while he lives to assist them. Will you
join us in this prayer?
well enough to exclude them, and
usually at least one is to be found in
every room. They are often known to
fall from the ceiling, walls, windows,
and doors upon your head or shoulders;
or worse still to fall upon your dining
table while you are eating. Sometimes
they meet their end by falling into your
bath water.
We are told the story of a dis
tinguished notable who, while visiting
India, was entertained by one of the
British governors. This must be one of
the "king's palaces" to which Agur re
fers us. During the course of the
pompous banquet a lizard fell into the
distinguished visitor's soup.
We never kill these lizards because
they are both harmless and helpful.
They perhaps have a greater terror for
man than other common animals and
make all haste to get out of your way.
They live mostly on insects, which is a
great boon to us. One day Mrs. Roth
ermel heard tapping at her window, and
investigating she found a lizard busy
beating a scorpion to death. So you
can see that this cold-blooded creature
almost becomes lovable.
Last winter one lizard seemed to make
his home in my "study." I named him
"Dave" after my little nephew in Knox-
ville, Tennessee. At nights he slept on
the window screenevidentally a fresh
air fiend.
Another thing that God has given
them is speed. Standing at my door I
have never ceased to be amazed as I
watched them dash from tree to tree,
from tree to house, and back. They are
almost quicker than the eye.
I was spared one of the shocking
experiences with lizards that many new
arrivals in India suffer. When the new
arrival sees his first Indian lizard, he
may desire to remove it and then grabs
it by the tail. The tail comes off and
it is a surprised individual indeed that
remains holding the tail as the lizard
escapes. Perhaps we can admire this
proficiency at details.
Agur mentions that the lizard "takes
hold with her hands" to encourage his
readers to also take hold with their
hands. It is a symbol of industriousness,
persistence, and determination.
You must now be somewhat envious
of the fine qualities of the wise little
lizard.
For the missionary who enjoys tramp
ing and crawling through the forest
"shikar khalna" is both an enjoyable
and profitable relaxation from his daily
duties. So that you may know what I
am talking about "shikar khalna" is a
Hindi phrase meaning to "play the
prey"in other words, to go hunting.
Within a radius of twenty miles from
Ragaul there are .several good places to
hunt. Throughout India there are gov
ernment reserve forests. Eighteen miles
from Ragaul there is quite a large one.
To hunt in these, one must have permis
sion from the District Magistrate. Be
sides the reserve forests there arc numer
ous smaller forestsland that is not
cultivated. In most cases the areas are
left so that there will be grazing places
for the cattle.
A hunting trip will usually award the
hunter with the sight of several different
kinds of birds and animals. The game
birds are quails and peacocks. Quails
are not too numerous. So far I have
gotten only one. Peacocks are quite
numerous and are very destructive to
the crops. We have enjoyed the pleas
ure of eating several of these. They
arc about the .same size as a full grown
turkey. We think they are better than
turkey for eating, because the meat is
not so dry. In spite of the fact that the
peacock Is considered a sacred bird, the
people of many villages are glad for one
to kill them, provided one does not shoot
them close to the village. The Hindu
thinks that those which roost in the
trees in or near his village are certainly
some dead relative come back to live
near him. One morning early, I was
hunting, accompanied by two of our
high school boys. We were going along
the bank of a small stream. On the
opposite side was a village. Near it
was a large tree with a peacock high up
in the top. I .said to one of the boys,
"Go over under the tree to get the bird,
and I will shoot it." As he was going, I
shot. The bird fell; he picked it up
and started back to where we wore.
Unfortunately another boy was sitting
on the wall of the village. He im
mediately started yelling. In no time a
crowd had gathered, shouting to us
about the evils of killing the peacock.
Needless to say, we made ourselves
scarce in a hurry.
I believe the male peacock is the most
beautiful bird I have seen. During the
winter months the long tail is shed.
Along in February a new one begins
to grow out. By the end of March it
has grown to its full length of about
three feet. A full"feathered peacock sit
ting in the top of a leafless tree in the
INDIA CHRISTIAN
SHIKAR KHALNA
William H. Roland
Manuel Jacobs, Christian evangelist
in Madras, is shown with a new con
vert, Samuel, at the baptismal cere
mony in the Saidapet River.
early morning is indeed a beautiful
sia:ht to r'cward the hunter.
The best animal for eating purposes
is the .blue-cow. It is given this name
by the Indians because of the bluish
color of the male. The dictionary refers
to it as a white footed antelope. The
male grows to the size of a small horse.
The female is a grayish color and a bit
smaller than the male. Last winter I
was able, with the help of Mr. Harter
watching the Jeep, to get two blue-cows.
It was during the Christmas season, and
it made a fine Christmas treat for the
Christian community.
There are two types of small deer
that are often seen. One is a small,
mouse colored aiumal about the size of a
veal calf. Then the spotted deer, for
which India is quite famous, is some
larger and is reddish brown with white
circular .spots all over the body. The
male is a very beautiful animal, espe
cially when he has full grown antlers.
Another animal that we always look for
when hunting is the wild boar. I have
seen several but as yet have not been
able to shoot any. In the vicinity of
Landour there are wild goats and what
are called "barking deer."
Last April, soon after we had gone
to Landour, I went hunting with an
Indian gentleman who is a retired Cap
tain of the army. We left early in the
morning and descended into one of the
valleys. As luck would have it we saw
nothing but two pheasants which we
were not able to shoot. The Captain
blamed our luck to the fact that Sikh
refugees had killed everything during
the winter. The hike was enjoyable,
nevertheless, and on the way back he
started reminiscing about the "good old
days" when hunting around Landour
was better. He told me, among others,
the following story:
"One day my servant told me that
he had seen a bear below the grave
yard. Just below the lower fence of
the cemeteiy there is a cave. I de
cided to walk past the cave so sent
my servant around another path to
watch for the bear. Just as I passed
the cave I heard a deep throated
growl behind me. I turned, and
there at my side was a big she-bear,
standing on her hind legs, ready to
hug me. I quickly pushed the shot
gun against her chest and fired both
barrels. She fell to the ground and
rolled down the hill head over tail.
We stood listening for some time as
she continued crashing down the
mountain, breaking off small trees
and loosening rocks. We followed
her down, expecting to find her
lying dead, but instead found the
place where she had lain for a while.
We decided to follow her, thinking
that she couldn't have gone far with
two rifle slugs in her chest. Follow
ing the blood trail down the valley to
the stream, wc crossed it and went up
the other side until the blood ended.
After looking around for some time
wc decided to give up the .search for
that day, as it was getting late. That
section of the forest belonged to a
Jain, who lived here in Landour.
(Jain is the name of one of the
religions.) The next morning I went
to his house to get permission from
him to search for the bear. When I
arrived, he greeted_me cordially; and
we sat down on the veranda to talk.
Eventually I ventured to ask permis
sion to .search for the bear. The man
looked at me and thought for a little
while. Then he said, 'No I can't
permit you to enter my property to
search for the bear. She has come
into mv land for protection. I must
do all in my power to protect her
and save her life. We Jains believe
in the transmigration of the soul.
That bear is a friend or relative of
mine who has died. She knows that
T will protect her, so she has entered
my domain for protection. I will
give her what protection I can.'
After seeing how he felt, I didn't
press the question any more. As I
was leaving, he walked to the gate
with me. Looking up into a tree he
said, 'Sec those birds there? We be
lieve that all birds, animals, insects,
etc., that arc around us are reincar
nated relatives and friends. They
have come to live near us while they
are in this form.' He then motioned
(Continued on page 4)
AN ENJOYABLE SUMMER
OF SERVICE
LaVon Eagley
Many opportunities were opened this
past summer in which I tried, with the
help of Almighty God, to do all that I
could for Him. It was my aim to put
into practice some of the things I had
learned while attending the Cincinnati
Bible Seminary and from studying His
Word. Although I did not get to
speak in as many churches as I would
like to have, I feel as though my sum
mer was well spent.
This summer the activities were con
fined to Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and
Michigan with speaking engagements in
each of these states. After spending the
first few weeks visiting various congre
gations in behalf of the Christian Mis
sion to India, I returned to my home in
Buchanan, Michigan, where I taught in
the Deiily Vacation Bible School and
also assisted in a revival being held at
the same time. Immediately after that
I went to Angola, Indiana, where I was
house mother and taught "Missions"
during Junior Week of camp. Returning
to Buchanan for a week, I was able to
start a Daily Vacation Bible School in
the Negro section of the city. For the
two Junior weeks at Lake Region
Christian Assembly; Cedar Lake, Indi
ana, my classes jvere "Missions" and
"The Life of Paul." At Pioneer Chris
tian Service Camp, Clermont County,
Ohio, I had some interesting experi
ences as Chapel Speaker. In August I
THE CHRISTIAN MISSION TO INDIA
c/o MRS. GRAYCE S. ENSIGN
100 Commonwealth Avenue
Erlanger, Kentucky
INDIA CHRISTIAN
attended Lake James Christian Assem
bly and Lake Region Christian As
sembly during their "Missions Week."
Here I was able to display curios and
pictures from India which were of in
terest to those who saw them. I have
also supplied as teacher at the colored
mission in Cincinnati, Ohio. The re
maining weeks have been spent talking
to groups and congregations.
At the present time I am attending
the Cincinati Bible Seminary and am
available for engagements at mid-week
services and on week-ends. I have a
projector and colored slides of India
.and those laboring there to use if people
desire. By filling every possible date
while attending the Seminary, I hope to
raise enough support so that I can go to
India after graduation in 1949, it if is
God's will. I thank God for guiding
me during this summer, and I pray that
much good might have been done by
my humble efforts in His behalf.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
In the future please send all corre
spondence and contributions for Dr.
Rothermel and Mr. and Mrs. William
H. Roland to Mrs. Grayce S. Ensign at
her new address:
100 Commonwealth Avenue
Erlanger, Kentucky
All personal letters for Dr. Rothermel
and Mr. and Mrs. Roland should be
sent directly to them in India unless they
contain a contribution also.
SHIKAR KHALNA
(Continued from page 3)
toward another tree, where a man
was lying on a bed. He said, 'See
that man lying there. I pay him to
lie there for a while each day. There
are bugs in that bed. They have
come to live with us so it is my duty
to feed them. That man is paid to
let them suck his blood. If he desires,
he may push a bug loose and make
him move to another place; but if he
should kill one he doesn't get paid
for the day'."
Such is the story the Captain told me
that morning. You will probably say
that I have strayed far from the subject.
That I have, but the story illustrates
very well one of the beliefs that the
Christian has to refute in India. I
guess it isn't too far from the subject,
though, for it all came in the course of
a hunting trip.
The fifteenth of September we had
the first part of our language examina
tions. I decided to celebrate its com
pletion by going hunting. I started
early, taking our servant boy, Stephen,
with me, hoping to get down into the
valley before the villagers came out to
cut wood and grass. Shortly before
sunup we got down far enough and
found a place where I thought it would
be well to sit and wait for something to
come along. The wrong thing came
along. We didn't do much celebrating.
We turned out to be the prey, because
I soon noticed leeches on my shoes and
legs, drawing blood. I immediately lost
all interest in hunting and resolved not
to go hunting in Landour again during
the rainy season.
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PAID
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