Life of Ahmad — Page 385
as DEBATE WITH ATHIM 385 Christianity appeared to be making some headway in a small village known as Jandiyala 77 in the district of Amritsar. The local Muslims began to defend Islam, and whenever Christian missionaries delivered their open-air speeches, they began to ask questions and raise objections. The mission authorities were compelled to take notice of this opposition. The Rev. Dr. Henry Martyn Clark M. D. , C. M. (Edinburgh), M. R. A. S. , C. M. S. , medical missionary in charge of Amritsar district, wrote a letter to Muhammad Bakhsh Pahnda, Maktab Desi, Jandiyala, in which he suggested that decisive action should be taken in the form of a public debate between accredited representatives of the two faiths to stop the daily pin- pricks. As soon as Pahnda received this registered letter, he wrote, on April 11th, 1893, to Ahmad as enclosing a copy of the letter and asking for instructions. Ahmad as wrote directly to the Christians of Jandiyala on April 13th, 1893, expressing his pleasure and intimating his acceptance of the invitation. But they refused to have any direct dealing with Ahmad as and wanted an answer from the Muslims of Jandiyala. Ahmad as again addressed a letter to Dr. Martyn Clark on April 23rd, pointing out to him that the Muslims of Jandiyala had no learned person among them and that, therefore, it would be better if the matter was decided with him directly. 77 The Jandiyala Mission was commenced in 1854. A branch of the Amritsar Medical Mission was established there by Dr. Martyn Clark in 1882.