AMERICAN, AN

Letter, April 4, 1932¹

[The following letter was in reply to an American who offered to obtain Gandhiji's release from prison "on condition that he devoted himself entirely to propagating the teaching of Christ."]
I thank you for your letter. My answer to your first question is that I would not like anybody to get me out, and certainly not on any condition. I cannot give up, for any consideration whatsoever, what I regard as my life's mission.

[This letter was to an American, formerly an atheist who became a follower of Christian Science. He asked for Gandhiji's views on Christian Science.]

I have met many Christian Science friends. Some of these have sent me Mrs. Eddy's works. I was never able to read them through. I did however glance through them. They did not produce the impression the friends who sent them to me had expected. I have learnt from childhood, and experience has confirmed the soundness of the teaching, that spiritual gifts should not be used for the purpose of healing bodily ailments. I do however believe in abstention from use of drugs and the like. But this is purely on physical, hygienic grounds. I do also believe in utter reliance upon God, but then not in the hope that He will heal me, but in order to submit entirely to His will, and to share the fate of millions who even though they wished to, can have no scientific medical help. I am sorry to say, however, that I am not always able to carry out my belief into practice. It is my constant endeavour to do so. But I find it very difficult, being in the midst of temptation, to enforce my belief in full.

[This letter was to an American who wished to stay in Gandhiji's Ashram.]

Dear friend,
I was touched by your letter. If you can possibly stand the climate of this country and the strenuous life of the Ashram, I would be delighted to have you as a member. There is no fee to be paid and you will not be called upon to pay for your board and lodging, so long as you can share the common meal. But the life is hard and incredibly simple. All the inmates are expected to labour in the field and the factory for a certain number of hours daily. All work, including scavenging, is done by the inmates. The dress we wear is also very simple and is all handspun and hand-woven, and sewn at the Ashram. If, therefore you feel inclined to venture out, whilst you are welcome, I would warn you against coming unless you have enough funds to take you back to America in the event of the climate or the institution not being agreeable to you. In spite of this letter [if] you desire to come to India and join the Ashram, I would like you to see Mr. Richard Gregg, who has lived at the Ashram for a long time and knows all about it, and you will not think of coming unless he gives you encouragement. His address is: Richard Hurst Hill, Esq., Spl. Asstt. to the President, Howard University, Washington, U.S.A.4

Yours sincerely,
M. K. Gandhi