CHRISTIAN STUDENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20175, 8 February 1929, Page 14

CHRISTIAN STUDENTS.

THE MYSORE CONFERENCE.

INDIA'S HOSPITALITY.

INAUGURAL PAGEANTRY.

BY CAIRNGORM

Mysore is a moderr city in an ancient Indian State at the southern extremity of the Deccan Plateau. From a hill on its western suburbs can bo seen tho jagged silhouette of tho Western Ghats that slopo steeply down to the Arabian Sea. Tho air is fresh and tonic, and the heat a trifle moderated, as compared with the lower levels, for we are .hero 2000 ft. above the sea. It is late afternoon on December 5, and most of the foreign guests present have discarded their topees for tho cloche, or Stetson, oi bowler of tho Occident. Of tho many notablo public buildings in tho city, tho Royal Palaco and the Jagan Mohan Palace arc outstanding. It is the latter which is the centre of attraction on this day, and tho populace is crowding eagerly to see, with or without admission tickets, their native ruler receive his guests from tho Student Christian movements of tho universities of tho world. Tiioy delight in pageantry, and their prince excels in providing it. A Royal Reception. The floors of the ample entrance ball were yesterday baro tramped red earth. To-day they are covered with rich carpets. The mounted police, with splendid orange and gold turbans, line the route, and inside the hall stand the boy scouts of Mysore, some in natty blue uniforms, others in white. In one corner of the lofty arched galleries, under tho mosaic ceiling, an Indian orchestra of 35 instruments is tuning up, and presently renders alternate Indian and European selections, while tho guests take their places. Ninety seats are reserved for members of tho World's Student Christian Fedoration on the left in the very front, a corresponding number on tho' right for the most distinguished citizens of Mysore, and on the gilded platform, on each side of the twin gold thrones for the Maharaja and the Juvharap ten seats, each caicfully labelled, thoso on tho left for high dignitaries of Mysore St ? f.' those on the right for officers of the genpval committee, and for one representative of each Continent, Europe. Asia, America, Africa and Australasia. Ladies take the three rearmost seats on the dais; and, except for some of the overseas delegates, there is an exclusively male audience visiblo in the auditorium. However, one divines, in tho vaulted galleries with their silken hangings, the presence of ladie3 in tho seclusion of an Indian caste lady s "purdah." What manly heart could beat with utter equanimity as the silken curtains swayed significantly here and there and he fancied what bright eyes might even then bo fastened on him ?

Entrance of the Princes. Rut now all is attention. Through th» open front door appear dashing outriders of the Mysore Lancers, then a carriage drawn by six milk-white horses draws up at tho door, and the Maharaja and his brother, tho Juvharaja, descends. Occupants of the platform, previously warned and drilled, rise to their feet, tho audience follows suit, and tho orchestra bursts forth into the Mysore National Anthem, of which the first two bars are exactly reminiscent of tho well-known hymn, "Fight the Good Fight." Their Highnesses advance to their thrones, and take their seats. The detail of Mysore pageantry leaves nothing to be desired, and the ensemble is most impressive. But two little boys have appeared in front of the silken draperies in the gallery, and hang over the rail, all agog for an afternoon's amusoment, missing nothing, pointing occasionally and nudging each other with knowing smiles. They aro half-brothers. Tho elder, aged nine, is heir to the throne. In the pause before the Maharaja rises to speak, some of the personalities present merit attention. The Maharaja himself is a Hindu, erect, alert, widely-travelled and highly educated, with a broad, rounded forehead, widely spaced eyes and a keen-featured face on which the cares of n 25 years' reign have left not a wrinkle. His Dowan— a sort of chancellor and Prime Minister in one—is a Mahommedan with a business-like grasp of all affairs of State, an aristocratic bearing and a Semitic cut of countenance. The Maharaja's private secretary is a Christian, an English gentleman who has twice visited New Zealand and was formerly Governor of a province in British India —kindly, bustling and efficient, ho, too, makes an invaluable contribution to a unirjue and hospitably conceived "team"—Hindu, Muslim and Occidental Christian. Distinguished Visitors.

Mrs. Datta, the Scottish wife of the distinguished Indian legislator, Dr. Datta, who visited New Zealand in 1921, the hostess of tho conference later appointed to the Federation Secretariat, is occupying one of the rear scats on tho platform. Boside her, also socrotly "tickled" at being out of tho rungo of Anglo-Saxon wonion's supremacy, is Miss Juliette Derricotte, a brilliant United States negress, who later electrified several meetings of Mysore women with, spirited accounts of emancipation achieved by women of her own race in America and elsewhere Max Yeigan, saintly and talented South African negro student leader, is also there, and with him is Shen, tho courtly Chinese, clad in his national garb of tight-fitting long frock and trousers, all of pala blue silk. In tho front row is the general secretary of tho federation, Henri Louis Hcnriod, a French-Swiss, whose vivacious face and deft movements betray his dashing temperament. For a moment ho is in repose for all his heavy work is past—or still to come. Besido. him, in snow-white turban, sits one of tho prophets of modern India, K. T. Paul, vice-chairman of the federation. Presontly his turn will como to welcome the delegates, and he will project himself, a burly, short, vigorous figure, into tho centre of tho stago where his faultless periods peal forth in a staccato thunderous tone, whoso Abcrdotiian "burr" bears eloquent witness to tho pervasion of Madras Christian College, where bo was educated, by übiquitous Scots influence. Besido him sits tho bestknown and most influential figure among tlie students of tho whole world to-day, Dr. John R,. Mott, the "chief." Presently he, too, will speak in acknowledgment of tho welcomes and his aquilino profile surmounted by its grizzled mano of hair will become animated with youthful vigour as ho communicates to an enthralled audience bis cafflo vision of wido perspectives Tho federation was bis child, for ho founded it. And this is the last meeting over which ho will preside, for his resiErnntion has been tendered and his 33 years' connection will soon bo sovercd. The Maharaja lavs aside his heavy turban of gold cloth, unrolls his opening speech and rises. Tho audience riso also and are graciously motioned to be seated. In a clear precise voice, His Highness declares tho 1028 session of tho Federation's General Committee open and welcomes it in tho namo of Mysore.