The Gospel and the Plow; Or, the Old Gospel and Modern Farming in Ancient India

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X JESUS' EXAMPLE FOR SUCH WORK I went out to India having specialized in philosophy and hoping to be an evangelist. I end up by being a missionary farmer. I have had friends tell me they could not see why I am interested in the things in which I am interested. They ask what plows, harrows, tractors, silos, threshing machines, and better cattle have to do with the evangelization of India. Bulletins upon the use of manure and silage are good, but what is their value as missionary tracts? I am accused of having lost my first love and of having grown cold, of having become a materialist, and of having lost my aspirations, of being indifferent to spiritual and eternal things, of caring only for the things of time and sense, the things that shall pass away, that are not eternal. Now I cannot be indifferent to such criticism from such sources. I do not doubt the honesty and kindliness of my critics. It behooves me therefore to see what there is in such criticism. For, if it is true and justified, my work is a hindrance rather than a help to the spread of Christ's kingdom in India. I should deeply deplore such a result. In speaking of this criticism I do not wish to give the impression that the whole missionary body is opposed to this kind of work. In fact there is a very large majority who heartily approve and wish it God speed. Again and again when insurmountable obstacles seemed to block the way these friends, in every way possible, have helped to overcome the difficulties and encouraged the Agricultural Institute to persevere. They have said that if in Christian literate America, with its abundant wealth and widespread education, there is need for Hampton, Mount Hermon, Tuskeegee, Berea, Kentucky, and the Rockefeller Foundation; how...