CROSS MOVES EAST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1941, Page 5

CROSS MOVES EAST

MISSIONARY WORK IN INDIA ACTIVITIES IN NORTH-EAST. OUTLINE OF ACTIVITES. There- was a good attendance at the Y.M.C.A. rooms. Masterton, last night when the Rev. M. J. Eade, of the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, north-east India, gave an illustrated lecture on “The Cross Moves East.” Mr. L. Morgan presided. Referring to the work of the Baptist mission in India, Mr. Eade said that considering the obstacles to be overcome it was a triumph. In effect the result of 150 years’ work in India by different societies had resulted in the emergence of a recognisable unit in the life and heart of India, known as the Christian Church. Mr. Eade referred to the operation, after over 40 years of persistent effort by the New Zealand Baptist Mission, of a new field in north-east India called the Tripura State. The state had previously been closed to the entry of the Christian religion. Three men who came from England in 1890 to carry out missionary work in the Tripura state, had found the door closed so they decided to carry out work further eastward into the Himalayas among a tribe of 100,000 called “Hushois” (like the Maori people in many respects). The Government allowed the men to enter the field very reluctantly. Today the whole tribe, as the result of courageous work had become Christians. Formerly they were 90 per cent illiterate —today they were almost entirely literate. Mr. Eade said that he had even heard them sing the Hallelujah Chorus in four parts. “They sang it beautifully, too,” he added. After only three years of work in the Tripura a church of over 100 members had come into existence. There were 15 village schools. The rajah of the state was very friendly and there was a great prospect for the future because the aboriginal type was that which proved so responsive in other parts of India.

The latter part of Mr. Eade's lecture was taken up with lantern slides illustrating his work in India. At the conclusion of the lecture. Mr. Eade was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.