Brother Russell invited A. A. Hart of London and S. J. Richardson, a colporteur in Singapore, to transfer to India. Hence, upon Hart’s arrival in 1913 he and Joseph journeyed to see Devasahayam at Neyyattinkara, and the three laid plans for the furtherance of the work. However, Devasahayam did not endure, and as to just what he did with the publications provided him there is no record. But the evidence is that he was like so many independent “evangelists” in India: He sought to have people follow him, rather than leading them to Christ. His work came to naught.

At Tiruvella in north Travancore, however, faithful Brother Joseph and his companion Brother Hart set up a temporary headquarters from which to cover the northern part of the state.

In view of possible disruption of all communications with America and Europe because of the war, Hart and Richardson were recalled to Britain in November 1914. Joseph, full of zeal and enthusiasm, did his best to carry on alone, but soon began to appeal again for outside help. Brother Russell then asked Hart of London to return to India. Arriving in July 1916, Brother Hart soon went up into the northern provinces of the land, particularly distributing Bible study aids in English among the Anglo-Indians. These descendants from British stock were nominal Christians in their beliefs and ways of life.

IMPORTANT “FIRSTS”

In 1916 the brothers arranged for the first assembly of Jehovah’s people in India. It was held in December at the city of Tiruchirapalli, in south Madras State. Brother Hart organized this All-India convention of “Bible Students.” At least four friends came over from the island of Ceylon, and a total of thirty-five were in attendance on that historic occasion.

OPPOSITION AND A BAN

Following the publication of The Finished Mystery in 1917, real trials began. A. A. Hart himself began to oppose the very work that he had helped to get started. Some of the local believers in Travancore were stumbled over The Finished Mystery and sided with Hart. He published an open letter to the “Bible Students” of Travancore and himself returned there to try to persuade the brothers to support him in opposition to the Watch Tower Society. Some fell away and accepted the leadership of Paul S. L. Johnson of the United States, who had led a similar revolt in that country. But, in general, these efforts did not cause much disturbance in India.

Opposition, however, sprang up from a different source. When Brother Rutherford and his co-workers in the United States were arrested and imprisoned on the false charge of sedition in 1918, the news got into India’s newspapers. As a consequence, the British government began to take action against our brothers in India.

A. A. Hart, though becoming disloyal to the Society, was then completing a preaching tour of Ceylon and southern India. Upon reaching Brother Joseph’s house at Kottayam, Travancore, he was served with a notice by the local maharajah. Based on instructions from the British rulers, it required that Hart leave the country within seven days. He went to Australia.