Neil, Judge Henry

[Judge Henry Neil ( -1939) of Chicago, became known as the Father of the Mothers' Pensions Legislation because of his successful advocacy of the pensions so that widows would be enabled to care for their children at home. He founded the Centenarian Club, a non-profit, humanitarian association.]

Letter, December 11, 1927¹²³

[Judge Neil wrote from Berlin on October 8, 1927, that he was writing an article about the effects of the teachings of Jesus on modern life and would like to receive from Gandhiji a statement on the effects on the people of India. He also asked for information about the care of Eurasian children in India when they were deserted by their fathers. He wrote another letter on 16 October that he wished to publish an article about care given to dependent children in India. Lord Lytton had told him that Gandhiji had not given much attention to this subject, but he could not believe that. He enclosed an article which described the conditions under British rule, and requested comments on that article. He also requested information on Gandhiji's teachings as to the care that a nation should give to its children.¹²⁴]

As at the Ashram,
Sabarmati,
December 11, 1927

Dear friend, 
I have your kind letter and enclosures. I do not feel that I can really write anything that would suit you. You will therefore excuse me for not complying with your request. So far as the question of child welfare is concerned, it is quite true to say that in the sense Lord Lytton means I have not interested myself in the problem, but in a sense, which I consider higher and which takes in not a few thousand children but millions of children, I am continually occupied in attending to their welfare. For, the hand-spinning movement is designed to affect the starving millions of this land including little children. And if I succeed, I know that the child welfare of the type known to you and Lord Lytton is assured. With reference to the printed sheet by you, it is difficult to reply to it because the writer has seen the same thing from a different angle of vision. I have no desire therefore to enter upon a criticism of the writing which in accordance with your wish I return herewith.

Yours sincerely,

Letter, February 22, 1928¹²⁵

[Judge Neil wrote again from Berlin on January 3, 1928, thanking Gandhiji for his "splendid letter." He enclosed a copy of his article on "Gandhi and Starving Millions in India" in which he highly praised Gandhiji. He then made a request: "Please tell me the condition of the poor children of India, under their non-Christian religions, and under British rule. Then in contrast please tell me what you think would be the condition of these children if Jesus was in full control of India and the people followed His teachings."¹²⁶]

The Ashram,
Sabarmati,
February 22, 1928

Dear friend,
I have your letter. 
Under British rule, millions of children are starving for want of nourishing food and they are shivering in winter for want of sufficient clothing. And this I say not of the cities of India, which contain but a microscopic minority of the population of India, but I say this without fear of contradiction about the seven hundred thousand villages of the country scattered over a surface 1,900 miles long and 1,500 miles broad.
I suppose your first question `under non-Christian religions' is included in the second. But, if your first question relates to India before British rule, I can only give you my inference that the little ones were infinitely happier than they are now under British rule.
Your third question is difficult to answer. Which Jesus have you in mind? The Jesus of history? Not being a critical student of history, I do not know the Jesus of history. Do you mean the Jesus whom Christian England and Christian Europe represent? If so, your question is, it seems to me, already answered. If you mean the mystical Jesus of Sermon on the Mount who has still to be found, I suppose the condition of India's children will be a trifle better than it is now when men conform to the precept of Love.

Yours sincerely,
M. K. Gandhi

Judge Henry Neil, Esq.
c/o American Express Co.
Rue Scribe
Paris, France

Letter, May 14, 1931¹²⁷

[Judge Neil wrote from the United States on April 7, 1931: "I would like to be of service to your campaign for freedom. Especially if you should come here."128]

May 14, 1931

Dear friend,
I have your characteristic letter. Only I am not going to America in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Letter, August 19, 1931¹²⁹

Ahmedabad
August 19, 1931

Dear friend,
I have your letter.¹³⁰ You evidently seem to imagine that I have an unlimited purse. The fact is that I have not even a farthing I can call my own. I have certainly control over some funds but they are all earmarked. If, therefore, I undertook to do anything in connection with your proposal I should have to beg, but you would not expect me to add to the number of begging bowls I carry with me. They are al ready far too many and perhaps embarrassing for the donors.

Yours sincerely,

Henry Neil, Esq.
East Aurora,
New York