UPLIFTING INDIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 7

UPLIFTING INDIA

BREAKING DOWN CASTE? MISSIONER’S LECTURf “The visit of the Prince of Wales Uj India, and the sympathy and friendliness he showed to the out-case peoples was a big factor in offsetting the influ ence of Ghandi. the Indian agitator.** sail! the Rev. Henry W. Whyte, M.A., during an address on mission work .it the Beresford Street Congregational Chursh last evening. Sir George Eowlds was chairman. Mr« diun mission field for the past 20 years carrying on the work of the London Missionary Society at .lannnalam ~I gar. South India, is on a visit to New Zealand. He said that in 1920. In South India, the society had 30.000 Christian Indians to protect, and it had been found hard to carry on owing to ... • of money. Last year's contributions from the churches to the society had been £27.000 more than over before, and all obligations had been met "The ‘untouchables’ ’of India are being uplifted by the influence of Christianity.** said the speaker. "People may say that education is the cause, but there would not have been eduo. tion in India had it not been for the influence of the Christian faith. It gives them self-respect and self-confi-dence, and makes it possible for the lowest born ones to take their places anywhere." The caste system had been bail, continued the speaker. High cast.* had been set against low caste. and both against the out-caste, and Hindus and Mohammedans against each other. lie quoted eases to show that wlioi.* Christianity had come in caste had faded away. Haughty Brahmins had been subdued, and the lowest pariahs had been uplifted. “If we. as Britishers, are going to do our duty to India," concluded the speaker, "we must follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ." At the conclusion of the address .i vote of thanks to the speaker, chairman and soloists was proposed by M» . J. Jarvis, president of the Auckland Auxiliary. Mr. Whyte will speak at Green Lane Congregational Church this evening, and at Devonport Church to-morrow evening.