The Devotion of Life — Page 257
257 were a little lagging in chandas (monetary contribution) but they are alert now. In the first year only fifteen people joined the class but last year fifty joined. ” The Third Class of rural Missionaries was opened in 1947, and had fifty-three devotees. Classes had just started when the country was engulfed in riots. As a result most of the students stayed back in Qadian for their education and only six came to Pakistan, who after completing their education, were appointed to Tabligh duties. Following this, a condition was stipulated for the future that only unmarried people would be taken and that they would only be conferred a grant during education. After completing their education, for two years, they would have to work without any remuneration. With these conditions, the Fourth Class began in Lahore in June 1948. When the devotees finished their education they were sent back to their regions. In this manner, four groups of rural Missionaries were formed. Their number reached fifty-nine by 1952. On 28 th March 1954 on the instruction of Hadrat Khalifatul Masih II ra a board, consisting of Maulana Abul Ata Sahib ra and Mian Ghulam Muhammad Sahib Akhtar ra was formed. They took an examination of the rural Missionaries and chose the capable Missionaries and kept them as teachers in Nizarat Islah O Irshad Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya ; the rest were released. (Tareekh-e-Ahmadiyyat vol. 9 p. 98-100)