He was evidently much taken by Buchman and his friends. After dinner on the evening of a Hindu festival, Buchman and Wade were strolling under the moon when they encountered him. 'He said to Frank, "Come and talk to me," ' recalled Wade, 'and we all sat down on a marble bench. First there was a long silence, which Buchman did not attempt to break.

Then the Maharajah said, "Do I understand that you believe Jesus Christ can change human nature?" Frank replied, "That's exactly what we do believe, that's why we're here."'

Buchman wrote to the Maharajah a few days later, 'Further answering your question about God's guidance, I find that the appetites of the flesh are the most damaging factor in keeping us from knowing God... .'12

In a brief lull in the journeying, Van Dusen Rickert attempted 'to bring some order into Frank's chaotic correspondence. And it is an amazing correspondence, from people all over the world; religious workers and loafers, nobility, and celebrities and common people... and is a hopeless morass of letters, postcards, photos, cablegrams, bills, receipts, notes, wedding announcements, pamphlets, duplicates, guidance jottings, guide books, tracts, steamship booklets, reports, etc., all floundering stubbornly through 14 valises and trunks. A two-weeks' job to straighten it all up; and I have had a day and a half. And nothing must be thrown away, however useless – old barren envelopes, toothpicks, battered Romanian hotel stationery – all are priceless … Well, I got two-thirds of it roughly classified, and stowed away the residue into the absurd black patent leather drum bag without a handle which completes his impedimenta.’13

A good many doors opened to Buchman and his friends because of their effect on the lives of those they met. In Madras, for example, they came across a prominent Scottish business man called George Kenneth, whose alcohol bill was reputed to be the largest in the city. Buchman called on him at his office, but was received with marked curtness. 'I am busy,' Kenneth told him flatly.

'So am I,' retorted Buchman with matching crispness; he left Kenneth with a copy of Life Changers and his name and address, and departed. Next day, Kenneth called, saying that he had read the book and had all the time in the world.

As a result of their talks, Kenneth became a practising Christian, gave up alcohol and dramatically altered the running of his business life. He began by calling together the dozen foremen of his printing company - most of whom were Hindus - and telling them about his change. 'This business', he said, 'has been a failure. From now on, Christ is to be the head of it, and we shall work together along entirely new lines. I have treated you like dogs and you have worked only because you feared me. Now, I would like you to help me put this business on a wholly new basis.' He then shook hands with each in turn. It was the change in Kenneth which first interested Lord Lytton, then Governor of Bengal, in Buchman and his work.

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