Replies submitted by Umri Mission Hospital, Umri, via Yeotmal, Madhya Pradesh

To-Secretary, Christian Missionary Activity Enquiry Committee, Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Dear Sir,

I wish to present a few statements in answer to the questionnaire your office has circulated regarding the activities of missionaries.

69. There is one Mission Hospital in the Yeotmal district.  It is a general hospital known as Umri Mission Hospital.  It was started in July 1951.

79. Admission is allowed to all depending only on limitation of accommodations available and services available.  No criterion of the patient�s religion is made to determine his admission.

71. Treatment in the hospital is not used as a means of conversion.  There have been instances of non-Christian patients being converted to Christianity while in the hospital but it was at their own request and not necessarily because of the treatment given.

Nathaniel is one such person who was converted.  He persistently requested baptism for weeks before the Christian authorities (that is, Indian preachers) would consent to baptism.  An Indian preacher finally baptized him.  The reason for holding him off so long was fear that he may have some ulterior motive.  Once the genuineness of his conversion was ascertained baptism was allowed. O�karam is another case converted.  He had had contact with Christians before coming to the hospital and was interested in becoming a Christian.  While at the hospital he received baptism.  In both cases the patients were charged for treatment and receipts issued upon payment.

No inducements were offered of any kind to the patients who were converted.  Only a desire for peace of heart and from sin in their lives attracted them to become Christians.

72. Patients are not required to take part in Christian prayers or religious exercises.  Patients are never asked, if they have attended prayers before treatment is given.  No Christian Pracharaks are at present employed in the hospital.  One preacher from the local Christian Church does visit the hospital.

73. We know of no instance where patients were not allowed to read their own religious books.  There is available in the hospital books and literature of the Christian religion at the hospital but most of these can only be had by purchasing them.

74. Names and nationality of members of medical staff:_
 

75. The managing body of the hospital is known as the Board of Directors.  At present they are all Americans (only 3 members) and are all Christians. This body has now drafted a constitution for the hospital which is being presented to the Mission for approval.  The constitution allows for enlarging the Board of Directors and having some Indian nationals as members.

76. No members of the staff are prohibited from following their own religion because of their service in the hospital.

77. There are no established dispensaries under the control of this particular mission outside of the hospital.  Several of the missionaries dispense medicine under the direction of the medical superintendent of the hospital.  These missionaries get instructed in the use of the medicine allowed them.  They do not dispense any poisonous medicines.

The 27th December 1954.