2 13, an a = San Pen 4, r ¥ _ 2084, Ki ome My wis shel | sxe Atl : 1 Modernism.” arene R ROBERTS. Pv gheare The Story of Donhuna. oe Se Ot Pd Published by the North East India General Mission, Inc. 1213, Pennsylvania Building, Philadelphia, Pa. also at 2084, Kirkwood Avenue, Pasadena, Cal. Paternoster House, London, E.C.4, England. THE STORY OF DOHNUNA. WAY on the north-east frontier Ae Kastern Bengal and Assam are the Lushai Hills, an imperfectly explored tract of country, occupied by a tribe known as Lushais, a warlike race who are a branch of the Kuki family. In 1890 their country became British. The area is estimated at 7,230 square miles, and the population at 97,000. Here, where the wooded slopes and moun- tain tracts form a gorgeous background to the quaint and picturesque native huts, lived a man named Chhiinga, a headman to the chief of the village. Though only an ordinary villager, who could neither read nor write, Chhinga was the main spokes- man for his chief when the British were taking over that part of the country, which, before our story opens, was a land of unrest and bloodshed, causing much trouble to the Government. In spite of his ignorance and lack of learning, Chhinga was a keen man, and exceedingly wise in every way. He gave much help to the British Government, with the result that the Commandant was greatly pleased with him, and eventually took a keen in- 2 terest in his personal affairs. Within a few years Chhinga died, leaving an only son, Dohnuna, the subject of our story. The Commandant of the Miltary Police Battalion, under whose direction the work of taking over the Lushai Hills had been so successfully carried through, took a fatherly interest in the orphan boy, as he had done in his father before him. He took him to his own home in the Fort of Ayal, where he was trained both at the Government and at the Mission Schools. This was about twenty-five years ago, when Dohnuna was barely sixteen years of age. He was supported entirely by the Commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Loch, who, although now retired, con- tinues to take the greatest interest in his adopted son, and is still in touch with him from England. DOHNUNA COMES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE GOSPEL. After undergoing several years of train- ing at the schools mentioned, Dohnuna was employed by the Government, but all this time continued to live in the darkness of heathenism; and it was not until about a year later, when he heard that a revival had broker out in the Christian church, that the seed of the Gospel may be said to have gained access into his heart. With 3 A DI-GARO MISMHI. This tribe is still without the Gospel. the object of treating it all in a jovial “spirit; he entered one of the.Christian churches, but instead of what he intended to do his heart was much touched by one ‘of the hymns which were sung. He was not, however, prepared to embrace Christianity, and returned to enjoy himself with his friends at the drinking den, which was one of the chief ‘‘ joys ’’ of these darkened heathen lives. All night he re- - mained in the den, drinking and spending _» the hours in frivolity till daybreak, when ze “the Spirit of God spoke to him in the words and music of the hymn he had heard the previous night at.the Christians’ meetings. ' . Nothing had happened to bring this to his memory, butthe. Holy Spirit was at work apart from any instrumentality. However, he cast the thought aside, did not attend any, more meetings for ‘another twelve months ; but two. Christian lads; who were then staying in his home, seized every opportunity to ‘speak to him. of Christ, though again_and again these young soul- winners. were obliged “to be silent, as Dohnuna was not. Sot ready to respond to their words. «About this time he became very friendly with the late R.Dala, who later became our Field Superintendent in Manipur,: but who’ was himself but a young Christian, at that time; though fully yielded to the Lord, and he (Mr. Dala) 5 os Bars is : A Heathen village Chief, of whom there ee thousands still without a knowledge of the Gospel. visited his home regularly for about twelve months. Although Dohnuna had not the least desire to think about the things of God, yet he respected his young friend so much that he did not object to the instruction Dala gave him in spiritual things. Slowly, the desire to join his old friends at the drinking den began to fade away, though once he yielded to the old worldly pleasure, but came away deeply convicted by the Holy Spirit, Who was slowly but surely bringing this precious soul to a place of decision for God or for Satan. He began to reason in his heart on this wise: ‘‘ Here am I, beer- drinking again, and there is nothing in this to help me; drinking will only take me © to eternal damnation, but Christ promises ~ eternal life to His followers after death.’”’ DOHNUNA’S CONVERSION. Soon after this he joined the Enquirers’ Class, and in 1908 he was baptized. He broke away, as far as he then knew, from all the customs of heathenism, including drink, and was full of enthusiasm to tell others about Jesus Christ and His love. At this time both he and Dala were clerks at the Government Treasury, and during one of their morning talks before office hours they determined that if possible they would go somewhere beyond their % own country to tell others, who were still without a knowledge of the Gospel, about their new-found joy. Dala almost imme- diately resigned his post under Govern- ment and became a mission worker, but Dohnuna continued his work for another three or four years, until he commenced business on his own account as a local merchant. He succeeded in a remarkable way, and in the course of two or three years had five large businesses under his control. His one aim. now was to be ahead of all his friends in the business world—not only that he himself might become wealthy, but that he might also help other Christians who were in need. From all reports he is said to have done this to a greater extent, perhaps, than any other person in the whole country. He gave most freely of his wealth to the poor and needy, and his home was always open to all who visited Ayal. All this time, however, the Spirit of God was working deeply in his heart, and leading him nearer to the ‘‘ call,’’ and to the sacrifice he was yet to face for the Master’s sake. He still did much for his fellow-men, and helped them in every possible way, but the pressure of ordinary yet legitimate things of the world seemed to keep out of his heart that peace which passeth all un- derstanding. He lacked assurance of sal- 8 vation; and many times did he contemplate giving up all in order fully to devote him- self to definite Christian work. He called his intimate Christian friends to talk. over the matter, but no one seemed to give him just the word of help he was needing. Sometimes it seemed as if the only path open to him was to renounce everything, give up his business life, and come right. - out definitely.and wholly as a worker for | Christ, even though this would mean less riches and less ability to help others finan- cially... His wife was even keener than he was, and when opening his troubled heart to her on the subject, she immediately gave him every encouragement, and calmly told him that for two years she had prayed that he might take this step. On looking back now, he says he owes much to her = °: sympathy and co-operation with him over the matter, when he was hesitating and pondering as to what he would do. | DOHNUNA STEPS OUT IN FAITH. For nearly three years previous to this Dohnuna had been a keen supporter of the (then) Thado-Kookie Pioneer Mission, and all the correspondence between our Secretary in India and our Field Super- intendent in the Manipur. State passed through his hands... Our Secretary can thus look back.upon twelve years of very 9 close and intimate friendship with him. He knew the inner workings of the Mission more than any other outside person, and whenever our workers visited the Lushai Hills they almost invariably stayed with him. This not unnaturally helped on his interest in the work, and when he knew =) Pastor Dohnuna, his wife, mother and children. that we were in need of a Superintendent for our new field in Tripura State, after much prayerful consideration with his good, devoted Christian wife, he sent an offer of his services to the Mission. Need- less to say, this was very readily accepted ; but there were naturally many things to settle. | However, once he had fully de- cided he lost no time, and within a few 10 weeks he had cleared up all his business affairs, had left Aijal with his family and was on his way on a journey of over a hundred miles through a country of thick jungles and forests, the home of wild elephants and tigers, and reached Tripura in safety. This step was a real sacrifice to Dohnuna, for a mission salary was a great contrast to his former income; but he had come out from business in response to what he was sure was the call of God, and now he and his wife were prepared bravely to face the change. GREAT PROGRESS IN THE WORK. Since his advent to this district in the latter part of 1917 the work has made remarkable progress: many new workers having been taken on, the Christian community has already increased by two thousand, and his systematic, business-like “way of handling the work has been of great benefit and help in all matters that he has organized in that State. The keenness that once he put into mere money-making efforts has now been put into the work of building up the church where he thus laboured, and his influence has greatly told upon the people. He tells us that the one message that truly brought about the climax of sacrifice in his life was a message given by Dala 11 FORMER DEMON-WORSHIPPERS. This remarkable picture represents a few from among nearly 8,000 converts already won for the Lord. Some twelve years ago most of them were devil-worshippers in utter heathen darkness. Their church is one: of many such buildings scattered throughout our fields. 12 during his visit to Lushai Hills, some months previously, from Romans viil., 35: ““ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ?”’ DOHNUNA’S EARNESTNESS. Our Field Director had the pleasure of a visit from Dohnuna, together with several Christians, at his home near Calcutta not long ago. Writing of this visit, Mr. Roberts says: ‘‘ His earnestness and reality greatly impressed those who met him, and more than once did he express his joy at being in direct and definite work for Christ. It touched our hearts much as we heard him pray with us from day to day, and the earnestness with which he pleaded for ‘ the dark country where he had chosen to work until Jesus comes ’ will not soon be forgotten. ‘ O God!’ he repeated, ‘ the heathen have their temples; the devil has his worshippers; but our precious Lord Jesus has not one among these tribes [naming the unreached tribes in Tripura] to worship and build a temple for Him.’ ”’ ‘The foregoing account was written whilst Pastor H. K. Dohnuna was still Field Superintendent of the work in Tripura State, Eastern Bengal. Since then the Lord has seen fit to call another 13 of our workers, Pastor R. Dala, unto Him- self. This has naturally necessitated vital changes in the work. Pastor Dohnuna has, therefore, been transferred to a more central section, and has now been acting as General Superintendent of the work in our various fields. His natural gift for organising, together with his deep spiritual experience, and remarkable keenness for the spread of the Gospel, have made him of unusual value for this important posi- tion. And that the Lord very clearly led in this is now evident to all. Within the past four years, the number of our Workers and students has increased fourfold; the converts have practically doubled—the figure having reached nearly 8,000 at the end of 1925. He has taught and encour- aged the native churches to take a large share in the evangelisation of the neigh- bouring tribes, and has tramped several thousand miles over these hills in his efforts to extend the work. ‘“ We praise God for what He has thus brought through our beloved brother and colleague, who was himself so recently converted from heathen degradation and darkness. Pray for him, and for the work which our heavenly Father has entrusted unto him.”’ 14 “THESE UNEVANGELISED PEOPLES.” Please, Dear Mr. Roberts, keep these unevangelised peoples before the Christian public, and see what your mission can do to reach them before it is too late. If I had half-a-dozen lives, I would like to spend them all in such work—and so would you I know.’’—Rev. J. H. Lorrain, one of the pioneer mission- aries to the Lushai Hills, where there are now over 30,000 Christians! OUR PLATFORM. May we draw very special attention to the fact that all members of our Councils, as well as all our Missionaries, will be expected to ANNUALLY sign a clearly-defined Doctrinal Basis. If at any time a change of beliefs should prevent such ANNUAL signature on the part of any, their connection with the Mission would automatically cease. We believe in an_ infallible BIBLE, and an infallible CHRIST, and in His Second Coming, according to the Scriptures. Copies of our Doctrinal Basis will be sent to any address on application. SOME OF THE MISSION’S PUBLICATIONS. The Ravages of Higher Criticism in the Indian Mission Fieid. By WATKIN R. ROBERTS. (10c., post free.) . Be 4 o& ot B43 cv MUSIC LEAFLETS. (Over 250,000 circulated.) 1. Wounded for Me. 2. Hast Thou seen the Crucified? 3. Living in God. Free for postage only. & oe & a & {1 Cannot Pray. (booklet. ) By J. C, WILLIAMS. Specially written for those under the shadow of defeat. of & oe oe & Modernism in the Mission Field. (leaflet.) BASIL ATKINSON, M.A. i) Bo) hays i)