Presbyterian Missions in India and Persia

The author describes this 694 page report on Presbyterian missions in India and Persia (modern Iran) as “formidable”. It is certainly a thorough and detailed survey of the state of missions in these countries in 1922. My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing a copy of this book to digitise (originally it was presented to Exeter Cathedral library). This title is in the public domain.

Robert E. Speer & Russell Carter, Report on India and Persia of the Deputation sent by the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. to visit these fields in 1921-22. New York: The Board of of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., 1922. Pbk. pp.694. [Click to download complete book in PDF]

Contents

• Introduction
  

1. The Shifting Thoughts of Japan
2. China
3. Past the Crossroads of the World
4. India
5. Persia
6. Property and Finance
7. Some Concluding General Observations

• Appendices

Extract from page 393

What the Christian converts from Mohammedanism in Persia regard as the weakness of Islam and the attractions of Christianity, and what they believe to be the best method of approach to their fellow Mohammedans are set forth in an ingenious and instructive way in the answers which a score or more of these converts gave to a set of seven questions sent out by Mr. Wilson of Tabriz. I am glad to be able to quote some of these answers which Mr. Wilson let me copy. They come from all types, educated and ignorant, men and women, young and old, from different social levels. As indicated in the answers to the first questions, some had been Christians for long years before their open baptism. [Continue reading]

The report goes on to give the results of a fascinating survey of the reasons why Muslims in Persia decided to become Christians.