BACK FROM INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1930, Page 3

BACK FROM INDIA

REV. PALGRAVE DAVY. For domestic reasons the Rev. E. Palgfiave Davy, F.R.G.S., well known as the founder and superintendent of the New Zealand Children’s Mission, was reluctantly obliged to relinquish his missionary labours in India, where for the past twelve months lie has been pastor in charge of Coonoor Congregationalist Union Church in the Nilgiri Mountains. He returned on the Maunganui, and will resume residence at liis home in BaVswater. M.r Davy had hoped to remain in India for at least two years. “India is a wonderful country and I was sorry to come away,” said Mr Davy, who mehtioned that he firs went to India as a missionary in 1892 remaining for seventeen years. Conditions have changed considerably since his original sojourn in the East. Speaking of Gandhi, the mysterious and most extraordinary man in India, Mr Davey said the Mahatma continued to have a great following, although it was not what it was a few years ago. When Mr Davy left India there was great uncertainity as to what would happen. It had been declared that the non-co-operation crusade was to be commenced if, by the last day of the year, Dominion status was not granted to India. It was presumed that the .

influence of Mahatma, was to he tested by an effort to proclaim “mass civildisobedience” in conformity with the rule of non-violence. Mr Davey said it was unquestionable that India was not yet ready for Dominion status. In eclesiasticai circles the next leg event on the Indian horizon is the amalgamation of the Anglican, Presbyterian, Congregationalist and other denominations in .Southern India. This great project. which is backed by a majoritv of leaders and workers in each of the denominations, depends for its success upon the decision of the world conference of Anglican bishops at Lambeth in 1931. Mr Davey said one of the nmin questions to be considered was that of ordination in the light, of the Anglican tradition. “No doubt +bev .are ready to do more in India than churchmen would do in England, where questions are viewed more con-

servatively.” he remarked. “Out in India all the denominations are thrown together and work in harmony and there should be no bar Her to amalgamation. This fusion of the churches would affect only Southern India.”