Far north in India : a survey of the mission field and work of the United Presbyterian church in the Punjab /

Front matter

Presented

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Preface

Foe many years the need has been felt for a handbook which would portray, in broad outline, both the character of the field and the development of the Mission in India, of the United Presbyterian Church of N. A. In attempting to present a picture of this field and Mission, the illuminating and popular method has been followed which is so widely used by the Young People’s mission study movement of our country. A sketch of the country and of its people, together with a brief historical summary and a survey of the religions of the land, has been first presented. An acquaintance is thus formed with the mission field, its outstanding characteristics, and the conditions of missionary work. At this point the story of missionary effort is introduced, with the hope that the earlier chapters will lend coloring and life to what must necessarily be the briefest sort of a summary.

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PREFACE viii

Two facts present difficulties which have not been wholly overcome, and which leave, therefore, their impress on almost every chapter. On the one hand, the subject treated is not wholly distinct and separable from other subjects. Although comprising a population as large as that of Pennsylvania, the mission field of the United Presbyterian Church is but a section of the great Province of the Punjab; and this Province is itself only a limited section of the whole of India. The Punjab has been generally selected as the unit for description under the several headings of Country, People, History, Religions. Some references have been made to matters relating to other sections of the country, or to India as a whole, to assist the reader in keeping the true perspective. Nevertheless, caution should be used in any generalization, for what may be true of one section, or province, may not apply at all to another. A chapter has also been introduced to relate the missionary work of the United Presbyterian Church to the great missionary movement in all India, of which it is a part.

The other, and chief difficulty experienced, was that of bringing within the limits of a small book the double sketch of missionary conditions and of missionary work. This book cannot lay any claim to thoroughness of treatment. Its

PREFACE

IX value must lie in the direction of its comprehensive, though not detailed, treatment of a great enterprise. This extreme limitation of space and the largeness of the subject presented, will account for innumerable omissions both in the description of the field and the narrative of missionary work.

The book is sent forth with the earnest hope and prayer that it may advance the Kingdom of our Lord, and hasten the day when the “ diadem of India” shall be given unto Him Who is alone worthy to receive it.