--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Lilley, Henry J. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 6 published: 1909-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Lilley, Henry J., \"From India's Coral Strand,\" *Improvement Era* 12, no. 6 (April 1909): 423–434." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1206unse start_page: 423 end_page: 434 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # From India's Coral Strand FROM INDIA'S CORAL STRAND." BY HENRY J. LILLEY. [For a number of years the author has been a reader of the Era. When his subscription for volume 12 was received, last October, he was requested to seDd a short description of the M. I. A. work in India. He states that in Karachi there is no Mutual Improvement Association, so in reply to the request, dated December 17, 1908, he concluded to give a brief account of the establishment of the Karachi branch. His simple narrative, in which he expresses best wishes for Zion and her people, carries one back to the days of the early 50's, when missionaries were sent from Utah with the gospel message to many nations, including far-away India. It demonstrates, also, that in the gospel seed there is wonderful vitality, and that once planted, it may grow and bear fruit many decades after, even if poorly tended and left to grow in fields untilled. We are indebted to Elder A. Milton Musser for the illustrations. — Editors.] Karachi is the British capital of the province of Sind. Prior to the annexation of Sind by the British, in 1843, Hydrabad, a hundred odd miles inland from Karachi, was the capital under native rule. In the 50's a batch of missionaries came from Zion, two of whom visited Sind, namely, Elders A. Milton Musser, and Truman Leonard. What a simple sentence this is to write, but how much it signifies! Think of the zeal of the Church, hardly a quarter of a century after its establishment, and hardly a decade since it was deported and mercilessly driven a thousand miles into the heart of a barren desert, sending the gospel to this corner of the world, tens of thousands of miles away! Think of the zeal of the missionaries who were ready to carry it so far, at such a time, without purse or scrip ! The magnitude of their task can be dimly appreciated when we consider that at the present time, with all the wonderful improvements made in steamboat and railway, a letter takes fully a month to travel between Salt Lake City and Karachi, and a Saint intending to gather from the latter place to CO o 05 ^ -a fa "FROM INDIA'S CORAL STRAND." 425 Zion can hardly do it cheaper than two hundred dolors. Think also, in the light of events which have since happened, of the wonderful providence of the Lord in preserving the seed scattered by them, and bringing it to fruition in the establishment of the Karachi branch fifty years later! I do not know how far Elders Musser and Leonard traveled. The former, who still survives in Zion, and takes an active interest in the branch, can that tale unfold. But certain it is that Elder Leonard went to Hydrabad and Elder Musser labored in Karachi. In Hydrabad Elder Leonard gave some literature to a Mr. Robert Marshall, then a young man, by whom he was accommodated. Amongst this literature was the now well known revelation by the Prophet Joseph Smith, on the Civil War. Mark, this was in 1856 or '57, and the revelation was contained in a book published oven earlier, — some time in the 40's — namely, the first edition of the Pearl of Great Price, published in Liverpool. Other books were the Journal of Discourses, volume!., and some volumes of the Millennial Star. These books were read and laid EXPRESS MARKET, KARACHI, INDIA. 42(5 IMPR 0 VEMENT ERA . aside by Mr. Marshall, who did not at the time heed the gospel message. But the actual occurrence of the American Civil War, a decade later, re-attracted his attention to the books, and a re-perusal of them brought him a testimony that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and the gospel he preached was the true gospel restored. From that time on he was at heart a "Mormon," and was known locally by that epithet, though the elders were now far away, and there was no one to initiate him into the fold of the Church. The books now formed the most valued subject of his reading, and took a part in the family prayers, especially the Journal of Discourses. It was not to be wondered at, therefore, that some of his sons and daughters were also converted to the truth of the gospel. They were now, in Karachi, and remained in this state for years — a household of unbaptized "Mormons," treasuring and preserving the little leaven of the gospel left in this land so L.D.S^ints Cha.pel butt by A. Mllf...i. MtlSS< L. D. S. Chapel built by A. Milton Musser at Karachi, India, 1855. many years previously; thus truly does God move in a mysterious way his wonders to perform ! It never seems to have occurred to them to communicate with the body of the Church until some time in the 80's when they wrote to the European mission, Liverpool, and received a reply from Elder Albert Carrington, who was at that time the president, after which followed another long period "FROM INDIA'S CORAL STRAND." 427 of quiescence. Had they made themselves known, it would have perhaps resulted in the benefit of themselves as well as of others, for during the long period that elapsed since their hearts inclined to the gospel message, missionaries from Zion came to labor in this land — on more than one occasion, if I mistake not. How happy A STREET SCENE, CALCUTTA. The native quarters are for the most part squalid and dirty; but in recent years great efforts have been made to improve their sanitary condition. should this family have been to have had an earlier opportunity of converting their faith into works, and entering the Church by the prescribed door! How happy would the missionaries have been to have found a household of faith like an oasis in this gospel-barren land! But the hunters and fishers came and went, perhaps weary and heart-heavy from want of success, while here in sleepy Sind, the quarry, ready-made, did not even hear the noise of the hunt. All the same, the gospel leaven was fermenting. The literature was lent out to those who were not afraid, or not unwilling to read it, for thanks to calumny everything "Mormon" is a bugbear to many uninitiated persons, while anything religious is "taboo" with many others. The writer was one of those who read and was personally con- THE GOSAIN TEMPLE, BENARES. One of the 1,500 temples that are said to exist in this city. "FROM INDIA'S COR Ah STRAND." 429 vinced of the truth even against his will. In conversations and friendly discussions, also, the truth must on many an occasion have joined issue with and overcome error. Nearly naif a century had passed since Elders Musser and Leonard had come to Sind sowing the seed, the gradual growth and development of some of which I have feebly tried to trace above. Mr. Robert Marshall, who had left well behind him the Psalmist's state of three score years and ten, and who had lost the use of his eyes, longed for baptism before crossing the great divide — a longing which was perhaps intensified by a certain dream with which he was visited, and which he still delights to rehearse. One of his sons consequently addressed again the European mission, in 1903, with the result that President Francis M. Lyman informed him that there was an elder — Elder John H. Cooper — in India. The sequel was that Ellder Cooper, who was located in Calcutta, the other side of India, eighteen hundred miles from Karachi, just preparing to sail forZion, was invited to "come over to Macedonia and help us." Elder Cooper came to Karachi and in a short time baptized thirteen persons, eight males and five females, all adults, six of whom he ordained elders, and established the Karachi branch. Out of these thirteen persons, six belonged to Mr. Marshall's household, and some of the others had heard the gospel first through that source; so that the branch was virtually the growth of the seed sown half a century previously. Thus in the establishment of the Karachi branch was once again the experience repeated of Paul sowing, Apollos watering, and God giving the increase. Elder Cooper did not stop long in Karachi. He arrived on the 26th of June, 1903, the first baptisms were performed in the first week of July, the branch was organized with six male and three female members on 16th August, and on September 24th Elder Cooper left for Bombay en route for Zion, via Liverpool. Since then, though we have anxiously prayed and longed for some, this land has not been visited by any missionaries. Thus it will be observed that though it is true we could never have heard the gospel except the preachers were sent, yet the word of God has established itself in this land by its own inherent merit; or, in other words, by the influence of the Holy Spirit, rather than by i:H) IMPROVEMENT ERA. the co-operation of man, which perhaps is only typical of the great Latter-day work as a whole, even in lands where missionaries abound— this work is not of man, but of God. To repeat, the Latter-day work has not made much headway here, it is remarkable that the gospel light has been burning," dimly, if you will, in Sind for over fifty years, during which period, no one clothed with authority to administer the ordinances visited the province save one solitary elder for the short space of three months. This is perhaps a good reason why we have no M. I. A. work here. There has been no one acquainted with the working methods of Zion to put us in the way, and take the initiative. But it must not be imagined that the local members have been altogether inactive. They are all more or less educated, and the branch has got together a good library of Church works for the mutual improvement of the members, some of whom have acquired a good knowledge of the principles, the history, and other matters pertaining to the Church. They have distributed a number of tracts and leaflets, and lent out books whenever occasion offered. THE NEW PALACE 0? H. H. THE GAIKWAR OF BARODA. Built in the Indo- Saracenic style of architecture. "FROM INDIA'S CORAL STRAND.1' 431 For quite a long period after Elder Cooper left, they maintained meetings twice a week in the pattern set; and up to date the sacrament meeting on Sundays continues, though only three or four members are now resident in Karachi. Misrepresentations in newspapers have been refuted, and, in short, members have individually tried to spread the truth as they understand it. Lately, at the expense of the branch, the following advertisement has been inserted in the principal English newspapers, from three to six insertions in each: THE BOOK OF MORMON. An inspired history of ancient America, the complement of the Bible: that is, the stick of Ephraim added to the stick of Judah, {vide Ezekiel 37, 16 et seq.) Price, cloth bound, Rs. 2. A few copies obtainable from Henry J. Lilley, Gharikhata, Karachi. So far, the advertisement has appeared in the Pioneer (published at Allahabad) the Statesman, (Calcutta) the Times of India, (Bombay) and the Madras Mail, (Madras), and we propose to follow up with the Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore) and the local paper, the Sind Gazette, so that the Book of Mormon has been offered practically to the whole of the English speaking population of India. The outcome has not been very encouraging. We have so far received only seven or eight orders for the book. To each of those who purchased it was sent Elder George Teasdale's tract, The Restoration of the Holy Gospel — which we deemed was an appropriate preface for outsiders, and the following letter from the writer : In compliance with your letter of . . .1 have very much pleasure in sending you per value payable post a copy of the Book of Mormon. Should its perusal interest you in the gospel, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly known as "Mormonism" and "Mormon" Church), and should you desire to have more information on any particular points, I would be most happy to assist you to the best of my ability. In the meantime I take the liberty of attracting your attention specially to the promise contained in Moroni X. 4 and 5, (page 621) and remain, Yours truly, Henry Lilley. But we have not heard again from any of them. 432 IMPROVEMENT ERA. As regards the actual exercise of the powers of the priesthood after Elder Cooper's departure, the local elders performed one baptism, ordained one teacher, blessed a number of children, and anointed with oil a number who were sick. There remains only a word as regards the present condition of the branch. Though I use the designation "branch," I am afraid I do so merely by force of habit and courtesy, for the original organization has been disorganized by death and departures from the station, and there only remain in Karachi at present President Marshall and one son, and myself and wife of the adult membership of the Church. The other members have been scattered far and wide throughout India, some have fallen away, and one has fallen asleep. In fact, any on2 who has closely followed the career of the branch from its establishment, and also is personally acquainted with all its individual members, can, without presuming to sit in judgment on his fellowmen, easily make a local application of the Savior's beautiful parable of the Sower. He can see some of the seed fallen by the wayside devoured by the fowls of NANDI, THE SACRED BULL OF SHIVA Hewn out of a huge rock, situated or a low hill near the city Mysore, "FROM INDIA'S CORAL STRAND." 433 the air, he can see where it fell amongst the thorns and was chocked; and where it fell on stony ground where there was not much depth of earth, and sprang up but to wither away; and when he is inclined to be discouraged and disheartened, he can also see reason to hope that some of it has fallen on good ground and will bring forth fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. He is inclined to hope that though the Karachi branch has not given much tangible evidence of growing and putting forth blossoms and fruit, yet, in the same mysterious way in which, during the past half century the work of God was silently and invisibly spreading in this province, to suddenly burst forth in a branch in due time, so the effect of its existence will as surely, if as unseen, tend toward the preparation of this field for some kind of harvest, when in future years the Church finds it possible to send laborers to this part of the vineyard, to work it as systematically as other parts are worked. Of course, you know that the natives of India are not of the negroid races; they are principally of Aryan stock; while the Europeans in India are chiefly from Great Britain, so that amongst them, as well as amongst their mixed descendants — the Europeans — there are probably many of the seed of Israel ready to hear the voice of the Shepherd when it reaches them. I will now draw to a close. If my narrative has created in your mind an interest in the members of the Karachi branch, I Trinity Church, Karachi, India. 434 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . may mention that you will perhaps be able to see a photograph of the charter members of the branch, together with Elder Cooper and three children, with Elder A. Milton Musser, or Elder John H. Cooper, or President Francis M. Lyman, or the president of the Church, President Joseph F. Smith, all living in your city, I believe, if they have preserved the copies sent to them; some members were baptized after the branch was organized and after the photograph was taken, who are, of course, not included. The general news of this country you must be getting from the newspapers. The judgments of God seem to be heavy on it. Famine seems to have become chronic in some part or other of it. Plague is a yearly visitant in many parts; cholera, small pox and other epidemics are frequent, while malaria slays its hundreds of thousand 3 yearly. Between European and native there is no love lost, and among a large section of the latter great discontent prevails, which has indeed culminated in anarchy in Bengal. Nevertheless, it is a good land to live in, and not half as black as it is generally painted. Gharikhata, Karachi, India.