Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-05-25
MISSIONARY TELLS OF Diff
CULTIEs WHICH HAVE TO
BE OVERCOME.
POLITICAL UNREST FOLLOWS
People tlamor For Self Government
Which II Many Years
Behind.

| 'huH' " INC hhhlN system ~ ueSfIlncu
In an interview by Prof. j. l., Shaw Of
Lucknow, India, the superintendent
Of tho India Union Mission of seventh
day Adventsts, who is now n delegate
at the worlds conference OF the de-
nomination being held at Takoma
Park, Prof. Shaw also declares that
there Is considerable unrest among
the native Indians under British rule.
THE unrest of few years ago IN
India Is not yet entirely quleted," he
said. The people are finding that agi-
tation and bomb throwing is gaining
for them political opportunities which
they never had before. and they are
being given opportunities in the gov
ernment heretofore unoccupied by In
dians. But they are not wholly con-
tent, as shown by the bomb thrown
at the viceroy Lord Harding, when
opening the new capital at Delhi
| Thirty thousand dollars was Of
fered by the government for the ar
rest Of the man who threw the bomb,
but without success.
Seek Self Government.
tlnued recognition, they are looking
for that fair day when they Will be
granted self government, but that can
not be for many years TO come. The
great majority OF the people are ig-
norant, illlterate and unable to gov
ern themselves. The English govern
ment, however, Is doing much in pro-
NJ tA oil 10 ct
generation. The present year large
additional grants We're made to edu-
cation.
THE reading public in India, In
creases one-half million each year,
newspapers are increasing i'm numbers
and circulation in all parts Of the em-
pre-, and western thought and learning
are arousing Indians to greater posi-
bilities in political and social life.
christianity Is continually getting
a stronger foothold, In different parts
Of the country mass movements are
taking place. Large numbers of Tele-
CUES and Punjabus are becoming Chris
tians, The Parsees, among the most
influential people Of India, are becom-
ing more favorable to Christianity.
The number of Christians. according
to the census of 1911, has risen from
2,923,241 in 1901 to 3,S76.2O3 in 1913,
a gain Of - per cent.
"The caste system is one Of the
greatest barriers to Christian missions
in India. There are no less than 1000
different castes and tribes. BARRIERS
belong to one caste, shoemakers to an
other. House servants are divided
into nearly a score of different castles
and so it goes. The man who cooks
will not sweep the floor or do the
family washing Higher castes will
do no kind of manual labor. If they
have a parcel to be carried they look
for n coolie, who is n low caste man,
to carry it for them It is impossible TO
describe in modern words the havoc
which caste has wrought. It produces
dlsunion and dscord. BY It manual
labor IS thought contemptable
Castles Cannot Tntcrmarry.
at against caste rule for those of
one caste to intermarry with those
Of another, and for that reason mar
riage is confined within narrow cir
cles, thus bringing physical degener-
acy upon the people. Early marrla-
ges are also brought on by the caste
system, and eXorbitant matrimonial
fees are charged which sometimes
plunge several generations into debt.
There are more than 100000 child
wives under the age of ten years;
some are even married when mere
babies. But Indians are awakening
TO the evils OF early marriages, and
reform movements deprecating child
marriage are rapidly growing. A
leading Hindoo recently said: Early
marriage is the reatest evil of our
country. 1t has stood at the very
springs Of the life Of the nation and
prevented the normal expansion OF
which 1t is capable
The caste system is not as rigid as
n quarter Of a century ago. Last year
a Hindoo from Benares. who had
been making n trip abroad for the
purpose Of study, returned and some
members Of his own caste insisted on
his passing through the ceremony Of
'atonement' which Is n very disgust
ing performance. He refused to do II
and was ostracized by his fellow cas-
temen, much to his discomfort and
both social and religious standing. He
therefore took the case to court and
received q decision in his favor, which
was an exceptional surprise. They
thought they would compel him to
cleanse himself from the sea trip and
English environment which had bro
ken his caste, but the court. which
was a thing wholly unexpected, took
his part and punished them
Christians Are Outcasts.
Caste opposes Christian enterprise
The Hindoo who becomes a Christian
must leave his own house. The other
members OF the family oppose him.
They will not allow him 10 eat with
them or drink water from the same |
well. He becomes TO all intents an
outcast and his inherited rights to pro-
perty are gone.
And yet Christianity Is making |
progress, mission schools are educat- |
Ing the people, village preaching Is
to the gospel of Christ. |
medical mission work opening I'D |
the hearts and homes OF the people,
and the wide distribution OF the Holy
Scriptures Is placing the Bible In their
many languages. All OF this Is max
ng for the advancement Of Christian