Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-19
Returned Missionary Tells of
Difficulties Which Have to
Be Overcome.
EDUCATION Is FOLLOWED
BY POLITICAL UNREST
People Clamor for Self-Government.
Which Is Declared to Be Many
Years Removed.

Something of the difficulties which
confront the gospel missionary in India
because Of the caste system is described
in an interview by Prof. j. J.. Shaw OF
Lucknow. India, the superintendent of
the India Union Mission of Seventh-d y
-Adventists. who is now delegate at
the worlds conference of the denomina-
ton being held at Takoma Park. Prof.
Shaw also declares that there rs con-
siderable unrest among the native In
dians under British rule.
The unrest of few years ago In
India is not yet entirely quieted, ne
said. The people are finding that asi-
tation and bomb throwing fs gaining
for them political opportunities which
they never had before and they are
being given opportunities I'm the gov
eminent heretofore unoccupied by In
dians But they are not wholly con-
tent, as shown by the bomb thrown at
the viceroy, Lord Harding. when open
ing the new capital at Delhi. Thirty-
three thousand dollars was onered py
the government for the arrest of the
man who threw the bomb. but with
out success.
Seek Self-Government.
The people of India demand con-
tnued recognition, they are looking
for that fair day when they VIII be
granted self government, but that can
not be for many years to come. The
great majority of the people are ig-
norant. illitcrate and unable TO govern
themselves. The English government,
however. is doing much in providing
schools TO educate the rising genera
tion. The present year large addt-
tional grants were made to education.
The reading public OF India In
cTeases cne-half million each year. news
papers are increasing in numbers ano
circulation in all parts of the empire, and
western thought and learning are arous-
ing Indians to greater possibilities In po-
ltica and social life.
Chris tianity is continually getting a
stronger foothold. In different parts OF
the country mass movements are taking
place Large numbers of TelegueS and
Puniabus are becoming Christians. the
Parsees. among the most lnnuehtiai
people of India. are becoming more 1aVor-
able 10 Christianity. The number OF
Christians according to the census of
1911 has risen from 2.923,.H In lWl 10
:.S16,2n3 in 1913. gain of 3'3 per cent
The caste system is one of the great
est barriers 10 Christian missions IN IN
6ia There are no less than 1000 different
castles and tribes. BARRIERS belong 10 one
caste shoemakers to another. House
servants are divided into nearly a score
of different castles. and so IL goes Inc
man who cooks will not sweep the floor
az. do the family washing. Higher castles
will do no kind of manual labor III tney
have a parcel to be carried they look TOT
a coolie. who is a low caste man. 10 carry
il for Them IL is impossible to describe
in modern words the havoc Wnicn cas.s
has wrought 1t produces disunion and
d:scord. BY it manual labor Is thousnt
.tntsmptble.
Castles Cannot 1ntermarry.
1T il against caste rule for those OF
En-. caste TO intermarry with those OF an
other. and for that reason marriage 10
confined within narrow circles, tnus
ringing physical degeneracy upon the
people Early marriages are also
brought on by the caste system. and ex-
crb.tant matrimonial fees are charged
which sometimes plunge severai genera
tons into debt. There are more IMAM
COCOON child wives under the age or ten
years; some are even married when mere
LabsS But Indians are awakening 10
the evils of early marriages. and reform
movements deprecating child marriage
are rapidly growing leading Hindoo
recently said: Early marriage Is the
greatest evil Of our country. 1t has stood
at the very springs Of the life of the ma
ton and prevented the normal expansion
Of which X is capable
The caste SYSTEM is not as rigid as a
Quarter of !. century ago. Last year a
Hindoo from Benares. who had been max
ne TRIP abroad for the purpose OF
study returned and some members OF his
own caste insisted on his passing through
tire ceremony OF .atonement. which is
ve~y disgusting performance. He re-
fused 20 do il, and was ostracized by his
fellow castemen. much to his discomfort
and both social and religious standing.
lie therefore took the case TO court and
lt-ga L.ss- IL y,
was an exceptional surprise. They
thought they would compel him to
cleanse himself from the sea trip and
English environment which had broken
his caste. but the court. which was "A
thing wholly unexpected. took his part
and punished them.