Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-04-21
RIVER BRETHREN MISSION
i,lsIToRs ARE IN INDIA
strange sights and sse.es in the Far
East.

Bombay. Feb. 15.--Oa SATURDAY.
the 18th, we were landed at Bonn
bay. After passing the customs WIN
our baggage, we went up through tho
c,tv 70 the home Of Rev. Mark B.
Fuller. who is superintendent OF the
"Christian and Missionary Alliance
work in India. His present wife is
a daughter Of Bro. Eli Hoffman, dec,
Of Kansas. Her Older sister, Elmina'
who has for some years been con-
nected with Panditti Ramabafs or
MANAGE work, was also here; and
we were glad to meet them both' es-
necially so, since they grew up IN
our home neighborhood. We were
soon handed a number of letters
which had accumulated the paso
few weeks, as we'll the Visitors ana
our home county paper. The Reflec-
, tor We of course were buried IN
these for an hour or more, geling
in touch with home, and some OF the
workings of the church, not having
had any letters from our own family
! for nearly six weeks. 1t is but nat
ural that being away from home so
! long, we anxiously await the news
! ana information from there. we
III
| praise the Lord for extending MS
/ kind care over them.
| In the evening Bro. Fuller took US
to the Y. M. C. A. rooms, where qul'e
a number of native young men were
gathered, also few mission workers
| Of the city. Sunday morning we went
to the Methodist church and heard q
converted Brahmin preach in one OF
the native languages. After which
a service was also held in Hindu
stani, for which we did not remain.
At about A o'clock we went down to
the Congregational church, in charge
of native preacher; a large build
ing and well filled. They have IN
connection with their work here an
4 orphanage. In the evening we went
J, TO a tent meeting where an English
service was held which was in charge
of the aforesaid minister. This was
a very interesting service. The con-
yerted Brahmin referred to above
spoke first, giving somewhat in de-
tail an account of his early heather
life. and his conversion at the age
of nineteen.
After this a Rev. Rogers from ONO
spoke, relating his experience from
a boy; following which we both were
requested to speak.
This native congregation consisted
entirely of young men, many OF them
students, some of them favorable tc
the gospel; but some manifestly
4 stand against Jesus Christ and Hill
gospel. We feel confident that goot
seed is being sown in these eIIortS
May it become fruitful.
ON Monday, we went in a small
launch to the Elphanta Cave, a MS
toric place on an island about 81
miles from the city. This is not
natural cave, but was hewn out OF
rock and was many centuries ago
noted place of Hindu worship. 1t Il
about one hundred and thirty Zee
square. having had twenty-six pillar
of which several have fallen down. :
great many large figures OF human
and animal form, representing thei
gods, are hewn in the sides OF TN
cave. The principal one Is made VIII
three heads; one looking north
which is SILVA in the character 0
} Brahma, the creator. One LOOKING
/ east is the character of Rudra, tn
destroyer. The one looking west
J the character of Vishna, the preser
yer. We see even in heather worsnl
a recognition of the Trinity.
Another figure represents the go
SILVA, with Parvati standing by nj
right in their marriage ceremony
and then to eat with her husban
the wedding meal. This priVileg
I IL youchsafed to Hindu woman pu
once in her life. Then there is a
open four-sided chamber with an alta
ON which the childless women woul
offer sheep and goats in order to be
come fruitful. Anciently women
and heather women now, consider
] an honor to bear children, and a re
: proach to be unfruitful.
Again there is chamber or Ling
ma. with massive walls around 1t, an
an open space around it which tn
worshipers would encircle from on
to two hundred times to do penance
thinking thus to appease their goo
ana find peace. Then there are tw
chambers cut out in the corners 0
the cave about twelve by fourteei
feet where the priest is supposed I
have lived. We were told that eve