NEW DAY FOR INDIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 166, 31 July 1937, Page 14

NEW DAY FOR INDIA

A penetrating review oi tfce position' in India was given at a meeting in tfce Central Hall, Westmdnster, by tfce Archbisfcop of Canterbury, wfco said: — "Tfce Movement Cfcristward in India is not new but sfcows signs oi remarkable and rapid increase. I waut to make it plain tfcat it is indepondent of and prior to a recent political movement wfcich is endeavouring to find some place for tfce Depressed Claesca wfco jaro outside tfce stricfc system of caste upon wfcich Hinduism is fcased.'" Tfce Archbisfcop was loudly applauded wfcen fce stated: "We will never consent to exploit any political movement in. tfce interest of Cfcristianity. We are not going to take part an any auetion in India for tfce souls of Indian people! "We shall probe and discipline tfce motives of communities seeking to enter tfce Gfcristian Cfcurcfc, and before we go further be satisfied that these peoplo understand what Christianity really is. (It is inevitable that Cfcr/.stianity sfcould attract tfcese outcastes. It is the glory of Cfcristianity that it offers tfce Gospel as tfce Charter of Human Ereodom. How natural, tfcen, tfcat these despised people, feeling witfcin themselves tfce throb of new •'life and hope, should see in Christianity the basis of manhood. ' ' A typical incident was related of an outcaste who was asked why fce desired to become a Christian, for to do so means in most cases severe persecution from caste employers and landlords. Passionately tfce man explained: "Wo were dogs until tfce missionary came and told us of Jesus Cfcrist, and fcow He dip'1 ■ ■■ fcring us to God! Only your Jesus i-'n • ke a man out of an outcaste. I come to Cfcrist to become a man!"