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Vol. XXXVI SEPTEMBER, 1906 No. 9
Missionary Early in the morning of July 20 we received the word Personals. that Miss Alice E. Seibert with Miss Alice H. Smith had arrived safely at Durban, South Africa, at noon of that day. They sailed on June 9, and their welcome at Umzumbe, where they are to teach, must have been most cordial. Happy letters come from Miss Fowle, who went in May to Adabazar in the Western Turkey Mission, telling of a delightful journey, a glad meeting with her father, her warm welcome at the school, and the prospect of abundant and useful work in the immediate future. Miss Mary E. Kinney of the girls' school at Adabazar arrived in Boston, July 30, for her furlough. Miss Mary P. Wright, who has been assisting in the orphanage work in Marsovan, accompanied her. Miss Marv L. Page of the International Institute for Girls in Madrid has come to America for her furlough.
Recruits The Woman's Board greatly needs workers to take the
Needed. following important posts. All but one or two are to fill vacancies, some of them long standing, where the missionaries now on the field are doing the work of two or three women, to the peril of their own health, sometimes even of life. Western Turkey: Cesarea, kinder- gartner ; Marsovan, science teacher. Eastern Turkey: Van, principal girls' boarding school. Marathi Mission, India : Ahmednagar, principal girls' boarding school ; superintendent of Bible women's work. South China : Canton, principal girls' boarding school. Foochow, China : Ponasang, teacher in girls' boarding school. Micronesia ; two teachers in girls' schools.
The succeeding list tells the places where the work loudly calls for addi- tional helpers. Ten Christian women and the funds to send them would set forward the coming of the kingdom more than words can tell. Who will go? Who will send? Madura Mission, India: superintendent of Bible women; medical worker; educational worker. North China: Kalgan, teacher in girls' school ; Pao-ting-fu, superintendent of Bible . women and of work in villages ; Tientsin, superintendent of Bible women
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and of work in villages. Soutli China : Canton, associate teacher. Foo- chovv, China : Pagoda Anchorage, superintendent of Bible women. Japan : Niigata, superintendent of Bible women ; Miyazaki, teacher in girls' school ; worker in villages.
The Northfield The third annual session of the school for the United School for Study of Missions was held at Northfield, July 17-24, and Mission Study, ^ vvorthy successor of the two which have preceded it. Fourteen denominations were represented by 254 women, 54 of them being Congregationalists. The registered attendance was smaller than that of last year, but the interest was in no way lessened. Prof. Frederick Ander- son of Newton Theological Seminary took the first hour of each morning, presenting the missionary purpose, principles and methods of Jesus Christ as suited to his followers, in earnest and convincing w^ords. Mrs. Helen Barrett Montgomery, of Rocliester, N. Y., author of Christus Redemptor^ the book on tlie island world for next year's study, took up the successive chapters day by day in most charming and illuminating fashion. After the hour under her guidance the school divided into three sections, one follow- ing the work as it would be carried on in a study class, a second adapting it to the usual auxiliary meeting, and a third giving the time to comparison of methods of work with children. Those who are to be leaders in next winter's study will find themselves much helped by hints given in this hour of practice. Some who had shared or seen the work on the foreign field addressed the school at the evening sessions, and none who heard can for- get the pictures of heathenism and of need brought by Dr. A. J. Brown from tlie Philippines, Dr. Gurney from East Africa, and Rev. J. H. Den- ison, of Boston, from New Pommern in the Bismarck Archipelago.
Centennial Con- The Missionary Review gives us the program for
FERENCE IN China. the comiug celebration of the Centennial of Missions in China, to be iield in April, 1907. The sessions will cover ten days, and the topics to be discussed are most important and practical : the Chinese Church, training of its children, setting young men and women to work; the native ministry ; evangelistic work, its methods and difliculties, unoc- cupied fields; new movements in education, normal and industrial schools, teaching of tlie blind ; woman's work ; medical work, training for Chinese doctors, nursing as a profession for Chinese women, lepers, insane ; Chris- tian literature, translation and circulation of the Scriptures; these and kindred weighty themes will come before the gathering. The missionaries of all denominations unite in asking all Christians to join them in confession, prayer and thanksgiving, asking especially that reinforcements may go to meet their need.
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Contributions Our Treasurer received between June iS and July iS FOR THE Month. $7,947.88 in contributions for the regular pledged work. This shows a gain of $1,281. 15 over the receipts of the corresponding month in 1905. W'e have received in the nine months now past of our fiscal year $80,504.69 in contributions from our Branches, an increase of nearly $5,000 over the sum reached last year. To reach the $120,000 in contributions, which is the goal we have set for ourselves, and which our present work imperatively demands, we must raise $39,495.31 in the three months that remain. " The best way to raise money is to give it." Who will help to put the work which the Master gives to us into suitable equipment-^
Conference at The fifth annual conference of the Young People's Silver Bay. Missionary Movement, held at Silver Bay, N. Y., July 20 to 29, was attended by 518 delegates, representing 24 states and 20 denominations. Tlie Congregational delegation numbered 118, and several rallies and one social gathering brought the Congregationalists into fellow- ship with each other and into closer relation to the various missionary societies of the church. Bible and mission study classes met daily in small groups, and institutes for the consideration of various phases of missionary work were held each morning. Much stress was laid on the importance of introducing missionary instruction in the Sunday school, and many valuable suggestions for the accomplishment of this aim were brought out during the conference. The platform meetings were addressed by mission- aries. Board secretaries and others. Daily meetings of the Student Volun- teers were held, and tlie claims of foreign missions as a life work were forcefull}^ urged. Delegates return from such a conference as this to their year's work with new inspiration, a world-wide vision, and practical methods for more efficient service. h. b. c.
The Need All our current periodicals emphasize the fact that just
IN China. now China is passing through a change that one might call a re-birth. Such phrases as " the giant is awakening," " a new day is dawn- ing," often meet the eye. And all our missionaries emphasize equally the fact that just now is an unprecedented opening for Christians to tell the gospel story. Wiiat are we doing to meet that opening.'* Opportunities come and they pass, and not even God himself can bring back a neglected opportunity." A great wave of quickening came to Lin Ching, one of the American Board stations, a few months ago, and many were moved to confession of sin and to a higlier Christian life. Mrs. Arthur H. Smith wrote to the Secretary for China in a letter received since his death : "My heart is wrung for Lin Ching. Mrs. Ellis, a young missionary, is there.
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but she ought to study, not tour. Hold Lin Ching up to the Father, please, every day." The work and the need are so great and the workers so few ; is there no word for us.?
The Opium When we studied China in 1904 our hearts were
Traffic in China, touched and our indignation roused by the stories of the pitiful suffering caused by the use of opium and by the shameful attitude of England in the matter. That she should force China to admit the drug which carries ruin and death to thousands every year simply for the sake of revenue seems incredible. Now the House of Commons has discussed the question, and though the fight may be long, yet it must be that when the English conscience is once aroused some way will be found to end the dis- honor, spite " of three millions sterling of revenue" which now comes from opium. If this can be taken away our missionaries will find one mighty obstacle removed.
One Knocking at " Behold I stand at the door and knock." One of the THE Door. speakers at the Northfield School said that just now the chief pivotal point in missions is not in China or India or South Africa, vital and important as these fields are. No, the one great fleeting oppor- tunity of to-day is among the great Hausa people of the Central Soudan. To-day they are open to the gospel, and wherever it goes they give it a hearing and a welcome. But the missionaries are so few, so far apart ; as if two Christian pastors should live in Sweden and one in Portugal, no more in all Europe. And the Mohammedans are sending in their preachers by scores. The faith of Islam is an advance upon heathenism and the Hausas are adopting it, thousands in a month. But Mohammedans are far, far harder to win to the Christian faith than idolaters, and as the power of the crescent grows that of the cross must wane. To-day we have tlie chance ; in five years it will be gone. One stands knocking at the door, but if we delay too long to open we shall find that the would-be guest has gone. We of the Woman's Board cannot take up this appealing work, but we may pray the Lord " to send forth laborers into his harvest."
Will it Help Word comes that the will of Alfred Beit, an associate
Missions? of Cecil Rhodes in his dreams and struggles for empire
in South Africa, contains a bequest of $6,000,000 for the extension and im- provement of communication, by railway and otherwise, through that vast territory. The day of the ox wagon is passing, and with the advent of steam new possibilities and new problems will come. Civilization and commercialism bring great perils in their train. Shall it be true that these new connections shall carry blessing also? If the line of mission stations
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can advance with the raih'oad and the trader, then it will be indeed for the good of Africa that this shrewd financier gave his wealth to bind the country together and to make it a part of Greater Britain.
One Study Class In the early months of 1906 a class for United Study, AND ITS Gifts. numbering about seventy-five women from ten denomi- nations, gathered at the Presbyterian building in New York. Miss Ellen C. Parsons, the author of Christus Liberator^ the text-book studied, was the leader, and the class was most enthusiastic in its work. Their interest developed in a practical way as one of their committee tells us. Miss Lucy M. Spelman, chairman of the foreign missionary department of the woman's society of Broadway Tabernacle Church, says : —
The full amount contributed was $163.52. Of this sum $63 was desig- nated for Huguenot College at Wellington, Cape Colony, South Africa, and $100.52 to Livingstonia Mission, British Central Africa. The latter gift will be used in opening a new station at Chitambo, sacred as the place where Livingstone died, and under the direction of Mr. Malcolm Moffat, the grand- son of Robert and Mary Moffat, Livingstone's nephew. All will be inter- ested in quotations from the letters of acceptance of these two gifts addressed to Miss Parsons."
The money for Huguenot College was placed directly in the hands of its president, Miss A. P. Ferguson, and she replied with a warm note of thanks. From her letter we quote the following : —
" My jDassage is engaged, and I want before leaving to send a message of loving greeting to the many friends who, for the sake of Africa and for the sake of the Master whom we serve, have received me with much interest and sympathy. I go back to my work encouraged and cheered.
" I felt at the beginning, in looking over the work, that we needed half a million of dollars for building and equipment, for endowment and scholar- ships. . . . We are still a long way short of that amOunt. . . . The money is important, — we must have it, — the work cannot go on without it. The asking for it, the giving it, the receiving it, are all a part of our devotion to the Master, but 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.' Will you, dear friends, work together with us in your prayer to God for us? Will you? When you think of Africa, will you remember that little one that the Lord has planted there, and ask that it may be all that God can make it, to his glory, for that continent? . . .
Yours in Him,
A. P. Ferguson." In The Missionary Record of the United Free Church, for May (p. 215), appears the paragraph below, and, having read it, the earnest and warm-
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hearted givers who joined in the freewill offering, will agree that a very pleasant incident of our United Study Class has been pleasantly concluded. "a transatlantic gift for the chitambo extension ''Among the gifts received in response to Lord Overtoun's article in the February Record on the call to evangelize the district around Livingstone's African grave, one merits special notice. It is a gift of a hundred dollars conveyed by Miss Ellen C. Parsons from a United Study Class representing ten denominations of the Christian Church. Two days before the lesson on Central Africa was reached the February Record arrived, and ' the plan to found the new station on a spot forever sacred to all friends of Africa,' was brought under the notice of the class, and evoked their warm interest. The above-mentioned gift, contributed by about seventy-five women, is the result. Miss Parsons adds : ' It seems to me worth while to draw attention to the fact that united study of missions is broadening the sympathy of many branches of the Church, and tiiat our class would have enjoyed giving to any one of half a dozen Britisli missions in Africa. Its choice was made, not on account of a fervent appeal — we had none — but as the result of study and reading. I am warranted in adding that the history of Chitambo Sta- tion will be followed by those givers with intelligent interest and loving prayers.' "
World's Woman's The World's Conference of the W. C. T. U., including Temperance delegates and friends from more tlian thirty different coun- CoNVKNTioN. ^j.jgg^ ^ijj assemble October 17-25, in Tremont Temple,
Boston. A day of prayer in Park Street Church will open the convention.
Hospitality will be extended to all delegates from foreign countries, and all
Christian women will bid these earnest workers Godspeed.
New We are not unmindful of the fact that. during the sum-
LiTERATURE. nicr months many of our leaders are making preparations for the meetings of the coming winter. Those circles who have found Africa verj' much of a studv, and propose to continue studying that great unknown, will be glad to see a charming little booklet just issued. It is by our well-known missionary, Mrs. Amy B. Covvles, entitled Umzumbe Revisited. One's faith in the power that brings souls out of darkness into sweet gospel light is kindled anew. Price, 3 cents.
Leaders of children's meetings will find a helpful leaflet entitled. School Children in Other Lands. It is so suororestive that those who would interest our little friends in giving to far away children will be glad to send for it. Mothers, and there are many of them, who would have a little home service on foreign missions for their children, will do well to have this little aid.
jgo6'\ To the Annual Meeting in the Central Turke-^ Mission 391
A South Sea Brownie Maid, by Mrs. Theodora Crosby Bliss. This is a cheery story for tlie children. A good reader would hold the attention of the little ones, and lead them to feel that children of other lands are not so very different after all. Send for it and have it ready for the boys and girls to read on the veranda some rainy day. Price, 3 cents.
To the Annual Meeting in the Central Turkey Mission
BY MISS ISABELLA M. BLAKE
AS I had been very ill the physicians dared not let me go to the annual meeting at Adana on horseback, and I had quite given up going, when I remembered that someone had once suggested 77iaaffas. So I ran downstairs and asked Dr. Hamilton why I could not go ill a 7Jiaaffa. " Would you " she said. "Would I! I'd go in anytliing." So maaffas it was. Now a inaaffa is an ignominious vehicle especiallv designed for infants, invalids and Turkish harems. It consists of a pair of large boxes, to be balanced one on each side of a good,
JUST STARTING FOR A JOURNEY IN CENTRAL TURKEY
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strong horse. These boxes are canopied, and can be made very comfortable with rugs, pillows, etc., especially if the maaffa is so constructed that a board can be let down in front, so as to give more room and prevent cramp- ing. I am just as glad as I can be that I went, and when I got to Adana I deserted the fnaaffas and came back in the saddle — a little stronger than before my illness, if anything. The journey was delightful ; the oppor- tunity of seeing Adana and Tarsus at this time of year very much worth taking ; the introduction to the other friends in the mission something that we had long desired ; but above all the insight into the management of a mission, and into the working of the various departments is something that one could only get by going to annual meeting, and something that is a great help and inspiration at the beginning of one's work.
The Merrill's trunk was plunged in a river, drenching all the contents, and the Marash party had a terrible experience getting through a mud- hole, at which time Miss Gordon's zabtieh^ or mounted Turkish guard, was much impressed by the " hanum's " bravery, and told her she was a perfect lion because she did not make any demonstrations v\^hen her horse was floundering in the mud, but managed to stick on until he extricated himself. We met with no such untoward event, tlie chief of our trials being the stubbornness and untruthfulness of our Moslem cartaje^ who managed the pack-animals, and wished to manage us. He had no com- punctions about stopping onW an hour and a half after lunch, and unload- ing all the animals outside a wretched Circassian village, having told us at noon that we could not possibly get there till night. This was not the only time that he lied to us about distances, and seemingly did his best to frustrate our intention of getting to Adana. However, this was a small matter, and we really had a delightful journey, and I became quite entranced with nomadic life, only I suppose it would not be so pleasant in winter. The breakfasts by moonlight or sunrise, the freshness of the early spring mornings, the long rests at noon by some wayside fountain or shaded mountain brook, the delightful sense of home coming when the tent is pitched for the night, and the hot bulgoor filaf ^\\ ready to be eaten were very novel and pleasurable to such a " tenderfoot" as I am.
Everything was full of interest from the castle crowned hills reminding one of the feudal system prevalent in Turkey only about a century ago, to the quaint mountain villages where the women in their red embroidered shirts and aprons and befeathered headdresses came out and stood on the house roofs to watch the strangers pass. The road was thronged with people — whole families, clans and villages of them — migrating to Adana to find work in the wheat fields. They were very picturesque in their bright
/po6] To the Annual Meeting in the Central Turkey Mission 393
costumes, but when one got near to them, and saw the rags and the worn, poverty-stricken faces, the hungry, dirty and often sickly children, and remembered that on those low and iiumid plains these poor people, many of whom come all the way from the Euphrates region, will reap a harvest of disease as surely as of wheat, it is a sad sight, too.
Hassan-beyli, which we all visited on our return trip, is such a contrast to many of the other villages. Christian work has been carried on there
THE PARTING MINUTE. CENTRAL TURKEY
for a long time, and this village is the pride and joy of all our hearts, with its intelligent, cleanly people, its neat church with an Estev organ, for which the church members themselves raised the money, its school- house and school teacher, one of our own graduates, its pleasant, terraced gardens on the steep hillside, its rows of green poplars, and its tidv houses on the flat roofs of whicli goats, calves, hens and babies disport themselves in true Oriental fashion. The people received us with the utmost cordiality, the school children and some of the women coming out for a considerable distance on the road to meet us. They gave us rooms in the schoolhouse, and invited us out to supper, some with the pastor and others at another hospitable house. The women of this village wanted to know what they could do to help repair the loss of our school through fire, and expressed
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their intention of raising some money to send to us, if they have not ah-eady sent it. They are also at work on some clothing which they will send up to the hospital. There is certainly a splendid spirit in this village.
Dr. Hamilton held a regular clinic here, and although we stayed only one night she saw a great many patients. Although this trip was supposed to be a much needed vacation for her, everywhere we went, as soon as it be- came known that a doctor was with us, she was besieged, and she did not get the rest she needed. Of course we tried not to let people know that she is a doctor, but it would leak out, and it is liard, often impossible, to refuse patients who come.
This village with its intelligent people, so ready to interest themselves in useful and profitable matters, might be contrasted with a Kurdish village where we spent our first night on the road. The people seemed fairly prosperous, and we were hospitably lodged at the house of the chief man of the village. Yet there was nothing like the tidiness, cleanliness and thrift of this Christian village. There was of course no church, no school, no sign that the people had any broader interests in life than those furnished by their flocks and their families. With the women marriage is the one all important theme for thought and conversation. The man of the house where we stopped had three wives, two there and one in Aintab, and Mrs. Merrill had a little chat with these two ladies. ''How many of our party were married?" they wanted to know, then "How many were betrothed?" "Was she herself married?" "About a year." "What a pity !" (/. e. that you could not find a husband sooner, was their thought). Of course we and our customs are a source of great wonder to such people as these, and a remark overheard by some missionary tourists about themselves is suffi- cient evidence of this: "And God also creates people like these!" Of course if their flocks fail, or their families die or even sicken, their only hope is gone and they are most miserable.
In Adanathe a la Franca customs are fairly well known, and the railroad is constantly bringing in modern ideas and w^ays, but this is not wholly an ad- vantage to the non-Christian population, for among these " a la Fratica'' innovations are low theatres and dancing halls, saloons, and factories run by steam which employ little children. However, I am sure a good work is being maintained there, for one of the articles upon which our session voted favorably was that a second church should be established in the city, and indeed it seemed necessary, for the church was crowded at all the regular services so that an occasional wail informed us that some child in the rear of the church, or rather in the vestibule, had been pushed off' and rolled down the steps, yet many of tliese were sent home and some sat in the pulpit. One morning the courtvard, too, was filled.
/pod] Wedding Bells in East Africa 395
On Thursday we went to Tarsus to the commencement exercises of St. Paul's Institute. The young men spoke on very interesting and thoughtful subjects, such as, "Play as a Factor in Mental Development," ''The Im- portance of Agriculture," '* The Geology of this Region," and we also enjoyed the privilege of hearing a prize speaking in five languages — French, Armenian, Turkish, English and modern Greek.
Wedding Bells in East Africa
BY MISS JULIA F. WINTER
THIS picture shows a group of our school- girls, and the sub- stantial, dark girl at the right, with the belt orna- mented with white buttons, is the bride of the h.our. Local interest has run as high here as that caused by Miss Roosevelt's wedding at home ; for our bride, too, is the daughter of a chief, and the sister of the present chief, though we must admit that his power is quite limited, and his princely state is chiefly expressed by the consumption of much beer and the own- ership of many wives. Neither were there any advantages to Ziyase from these high-born connections, for all women mt. silinda schoolgirls
are chattels ; a chiefs daughter
is simply a higher-priced commodity. This one cost the groom $135, and it took many conferences between his representatives and the chief's party to keep the price down to that.
When Ziyase was a little girl her mother died, and she and her sisters were given into the keeping of an uncle's wife, who sadly misused them. One night Ziyase saw the woman take her baby sister by the heels and
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swing her head against the floor, and the next day she died. Then Ziyase ran away to the missionaries and has lived with Mrs. Thompson ever since. The sisters were sold, soon after that, as slaves, but one day Ziyase went and stole away the little five-year-old Motasi and brought her to Mrs, Thompson, begging that she would keep her, too. She was then a cowed, w! etched, little drudge, wdio had been made to carry the heavy clay pots, and her body was covered with the sores that come from starving and
A WEDDING AT MT. SILIXDA
neglect. But now she is the bright, smiling little girl w^ho, in the picture, is standing in front of the other girls.
The groom is Mlanganiso, one of our old pupils, who has since studied in Natal, and now is helping Mr. Bunker at Beira. You have heard of him before for he is the same young man who was thrown in prison by the Portuguese, as a result of his teaching the natives there. It took the best talent of Silinda to provide the bride's attire. She wore a pretty white dress, and a Natal veil, loaned by one of the Zulu women, arranged \vith a
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wreath of roses and smilax, which grows wild in our forest ; and the groom had brought, from far-away Beira, white shoes, white kid gloves and a white parasol, — but do not think that this was advised by the missionaries. I wish you could have seen her practicing for the occasion, for, as she had never worn shoes, she donned these white wonders one day, and raising a parasol over the black head, upon which, unprotected, the tropical sun has beaten many years, she promenaded about the grounds with utter solemnity. Now, when the bridal procession descended down the path toward the little thatched church, the attendant maids started up the appropriate ( ?) Zulu hymn : —
"It comes, it comes, the final day, The great and dreadful day."
Arrived at the church, the groom in a new black suit, white gloves and (like Mr. Longworth, as I have read since), with a white carnation in his coat lapel. Then followed an order!}-, impressive service, while the bride wept silently under her veil, — real tears no doubt, for it is no easy thing for her to leave all her friends and relatives and her beautiful mountain home for the long journey of two hundred miles or more on foot, to the strange, less-healthful life of the coast city. Afterwards they returned in procession for the wedding feast. Three tables were spread in the shade of the silver oaks for the bridal party, Zulus and native teachers. A company of school- boys at the left and of schoolgirls at the right, seated on the ground, were also served. The chiefs wives, children and female relatives settled in and about the cooking hut and prepared the sadza, while at a little distance the chiefs men, in heathen garb, ate around their mats. Besides the stamp and white meal, bananas and lemonade, the groom had furnished two goats and the chief sent a third, which arriving too late, gazed on the festivities con- tentedly, feeding instead of being fed upon. I presume there may have been two hundred people gathered here that day.
The Man Who Forgave All ; or, The Story of Wang Ch'ing Yu, of Shantung, China
BY MRS. ARTHUR H. SMITH
"TO, I'm not always quarreling with people. I can be peaceable, r^L^ but if you rouse me I am furious, or at least I used to be before I ^ became a Christian. How did the quarrel that cost me my eyes start.? Whv, Mr. Wang, my neighbor, reviled me, "and of course I had to give him as good as I got, and so we had it back and forth until
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we got so angry tongues didn't answer for weapons at all, and we took benches. He hammered me and I pounded him. Then benches were not enough, and he got a hatchet and I got a knife. He is well off and I am poor, but I didn't care, I wasn't afraid of him. After a while people tugged and pulled and separated us. A second time I went out to find him. A man tried to stop me and I stuck my knife into him. He said he was wounded, but who knows? At all events nothing came of that.
" Once more I started out to find my enemy ; he was on his way to meet me, and when within a few feet of me his uncle, who was hand and glove with him to avenge the insults to their family, discharged full in my face a pistol loaded with powder. I was thrown down. The shock was dreadful. It seemed to me that everything was being blown to pieces. The side of my head was cut open and bleeding, and my whole face swelled dreadfully. After I had fallen my enemy or his uncle had belabored me all over my body with a big sword, not cutting, but just hammering me. The official at the yamen said to go home and wait and he would attend to it.
"He did nothing of the kind. Did the other side spend money.'* Oh, yes, of course. So there I lay— blind, sick, suffering, nursing my rage. When better I went to law. I liad the right, but I was put off' and put oft' and nothing was done. The official said finally that if I lived my enemy must pay me forty strings of cash. (About fifteen dollars in gold.) I actually received a little more tlian half that sum for my illness. I was on the bed for months. I was full of revenge. I carried the case up to the provincial capital, and there they said * You must take your case back home where they know the facts.' I went to the yamen and insisted upon being heard, and wouldn't be put down. I said, ' I have received a few strings of cash for my injuries, but I am left blind, and I demand to know who is to support my aunt, who is dependent upon me.?' The magistrate ordered my enemy to pay me one hundred strings of cash. I wouldn't hear of it. The official got very angry, roared at me, and dashed his wooden ruler upon the floor in a rage. What did I want, you ask.^* I wanted enough money to be sure to reduce that affluent family to beggary, and then I wanted a good square chance to get into that house and kill every single member of that family. That's what I wanted !
" One more way was possible. I sold some land, put the money in my girdle, hired a poor chap to lead me, and started for Peking. (About a thousand Chinese miles away.) Went by way of Tientsin. When we got there the man whom I had hired to guide me left me to get work to earn something. I was very tired with the long journey, and I was a stranger and blind, and did not dare to go about mucli, so I lay down under a gate-
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way and went to sleep. When I awakened my money was all gone. Blind, alone, moneyless, and all that distance from home ; no way to go on and no way to go back. I just wailed. The owner of the place came out and inquired into my miseries, and as he happened to be a yamen man he read over understandingly the bundle of legal documents which I had brought to prove my grievance. He said : ' You have the right on your side entirely, but it is no use, you can't get into that yamen (public court of justice) without an introduction. You have no friends and no money. You can't succeed. Be advised ; have your eyes treated. Get well so you can support your aunt and give up your revenge.'
*'No revenge ! Blind for life ! I might as well die and be done with it ; but no, they wouldn't know what had become of me, and I would die for nothing that way. When at home my friends had exhorted me to go and hang myself at my enemy's front door ; but I couldn't, because I had no family to push my case and my enemies could prevent my death being avenged. I did not want to die for nothing, either at home or in Tientsin. I took my flute and groped about, playing and getting a few cash here and. there, so I had a bite to eat now and then. Then the yamen man took me to a Chinese hospital and the Chinese doctor put on one dose of medicine, and after it I could see a wee bit.
"But I kept going, and never got any better, so my yamen friend said, ' Let us go to the foreign doctor ; maybe he can help you.' I thought I would, but another man scared me by saying that every patient who went in there lost his eyes and had iiis iieart scooped out. My yamen friend said : ' Don't listen to idle gossip. If that were true, how is it that hundreds of people are alwa}s thronging the London Mission Hospital, and one never sees all those dead people carried out? I tell you, it's no sucli thing. Here, get into that jinrikisha and I will take you down there myself.' He did. I felt I had to go, but I was in terror all the time, more than half believing tlie yarns I had heard. When I got there I was left in a large yard. I groped my way about fearfully, and nearly fell into a vault. It seemed uncanny, and I thought, ' Oh, this is the yard where they do them to death.' Then a window opened and someone said, ' Aren't you a patient.^ Come in here.' That was more scary still. vSo they dispatched them inside, but the man was there and I had to go. Wlien I got in folks were all around the room studying little books and learning hymns, and it all seemed so peaceful and cheerful I thouglit there certainly must be some mistake after all.
"There were two characters they kept saying over and over at this hos- pital, Teh Su (Jesus). I had no idea what they meant or to whom they
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might refer, but someliow I just hated the sound of the words, and so every morning when they had prayers I tried to skulk out of tiie way and not come, but the hospital assistant said: 'None of this! The patients are all expected to come to service.' So after that I had to go. The Chinese teacher was very nice with me. He explained about God and his love and said, ' If you can't do any more yet, kneel down on your bed every morning and shut your eyes and say, *' O God, have pity on my eyes."' I was
IN THE KALGAN DISPENSARY Mrs. Roberts, Dr. and Mrs. Tucker, Dr. and Mrs. Hemingway, with assistants and patients.
willing enough to do that, so I made a start ; and T kept on hearing about Jesus and being taught verses until I knew enough to help others, and I liked to do it, and bv and by I believed in Jesus too. Dr. Smith was very good to me, and fed me all this time.
''One day to the doctor's surprise and pleasure, he found my eyes ready, sooner than he thought they would be, for an operation, and so he did all he could first for one eye and then for the other, and now as you know, I can see a little, enough to go about, and to read large print in a clear, strong light. Dr. Smith kept telling me if I was going to follow Jesus I must give up all thouglit of revenge and forgive my adversary. It was tough work,
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The Man Who Forgave All
401
but at last their prayers were answered, and I did. I went back home at the end of the year. My enemy was in great dread hearing that I was com- ing. New Year's morning I dressed and went over and made him a friendly New Year's call. Sometimes he comes to meeting now. God has been very good to me since then. I married a year ago and have a little son now two months old.
Were all these thirty people who came here to keep Sunday in my house my fruit? Yes, all of them, some women who walked three and four miles included. You see how crammed full the chapel was. We had to have meeting out in the yard as you know, though it is December, because we couldn't get into the house. Won't the teacher mother please ask God to give us one hundred strings of cash (about thirty dollars gold) to build a chapel so tliat we may serve God better?
"I gave up smoking in the revival meetings. How about that meeting when I got there too late, and it was all over, and my breath showed that I had been drinking wine? Whose fault was it, honestly? Well, that day I was afraid, and I laid the blame all on Mr. Liu and said he urged me and kept me, but the truth was I was going to drink anyway and the fault was mine, not his. I slandered him. Will you please tell him so, and ask his forgiveness for me when you get back to Lin Ch'ing? I have always felt that I had to have two ounces of wine every chance, I could not do with less.
" About tliose good resolves that soine folks make at the revival. I did not go in for them all. I didn't know what ^'o chl (self-denial) meant. Oh, does it mean that? Then I will cheerfully promise to give up anything the Holy Spirit shows me that he wishes me to. I promised to j^ray early, but how could I promise to read early with these poor eyes which see so dimly by the best light? Will I agree that if God ever restores full sight to use it in early Bible reading? Assuredly. I am glad to pray more for others, and to pray for Lin Cli'ing every day at noon. I already have family prayers. I mean to keep Sunday faithfully even in the busy harvest time. Yes, I will promise to commit a little Scripture every day, too. I will not smoke or drink. I mean to give one twentieth of my income to God, and to fast whenever I think the Holy Spirit wishes for this little church.
*' What? You brought two tins of milk, not having any idea except that someone certainly needed them, and you are going to give them to me for the baby, and all for nothing? Many, many, many thanks. God's grace sure enough !
Will I pray for all these things you have been telling me about constantly, and get this church to? Most certainly. I have just bought lamps and oil, intending to start two weekly prayer meetings for them. Do I have the
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women come? Why no we haven't, but we will now you point it out. Yes, of course there were women at Pentecost, and you are right ; if we want a blessing better not leave them out.
Well, I must be going back now. Good-by, teacher motlier, may you have peace and tranquillity to-day on your whole journey. And don't forget to tell Mr. Liu tliat I slandered him and tliat I am very sorry."
Missionary Letters
CHINA
Miss Andrews tells us the interesting stories of two of lier Bible women at Tung- chou : —
Yes, Chao Nainai and Li Nainai, or Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Li (pronounced Lee) are tlie two Bible.women. They are in no wa}' related, the "Nainai" meaning simply " Mrs." Chao Nainai was left a widow with two little chil- dren many years ago, before we knew her, and before she had ever heard anything of the truth. After she became a Christian she was anxious that her daugliter should be educated, and unbound her feet that she might go to the Bridgman School. She was the first woman in Tung-chou to take that step, ajid it was no easy step to take in that day when unbound feet were a disgrace, marking a girl as disreputable in the eyes of the Chinese. After some )^ears in school the daughter was married to one of our young helpers, but her husband died after a few years, leaving her witli a baby boy. She is now the faithful and efficient teaclier of our station classes. Ciiao Nainai's son was not fond of study, and has but a sliglit education. He has caused her a good deal of anxiety, but is now as we hope a Christian man. His wife is one of our most valued young women. After the be- trothal, Chao Nainai put her also into the Bridgman School, and she is now the teacher of one of our little day schools, and the l)est teacher we have.
Chao Nainai was never willing to unbind Iier own feet, tliough she took long walks day after day in her work as Bible woman. But during the siege in 1900 she ventured out from shelter one day, while an attack was going on, to give help to another woman wlio was sick and suffering, and was struck by a ball which , passed tlirough one foot. She was laid aside by the wound for some months, but wlien she arose it was to walk with free unbound feet about the Master's business for tlie rest of lier life. She has done a good deal since then to induce other women to unbind tlieir feet.
Li Nainai is a younger woman than Chao Nainai, and as you know has only this past year begun work as a Bible woman. She too is a widow, at
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least she considers herself such. When she was quite a young wife her husband went away, 1 suppose in search of work, and never returned, nor was any word ever received from him. So the probability is that he died in some far away place, where he was not known, and so no word was sent to his family. Li Nainai has no children. She has not had as much teach- ing as Chao Nainai, and is not as well fitted for the work, but neither one of them has ever had any school training. Botli of them seem to love their work, and they are very faithful in doing it, are not afraid of long walks or of weariness, nor of long hours of work. They have their morning meal before starting out, and then are, away all day until dark, unless called back earlier by some meeting. They do not go together but take separate routes, so as to reach more homes than they could do together. Sometiines each visits five or six homes in a day, sometimes not so many. It depends upon how much work there is to do in a hoine.
Whenever there are women or girls who want to learn to read they give them lessons, visiting them for the purpose as frequently as thev can. In many homes there are none reading, but some who are anxious to learn more of the truth, and with such they read and talk, trying always to bring the simplest and most important of Bible truths to those who liave never heard. With the Christians whose homes they visit they hold little prayer meetings, and many of them think much of these little meetings, and wish our Bible women had time to come more frequently. They enter quite intimately into the lives of the women in this way, and come to know their special burdens and needs, and are often able to give them just tlie help they need, or to bring their needs to us for help. Man}' homes to which we have no access are open to them, and often their work opens new homes to us. Nearly all the women who begin to read with them are anxious later to come to a station class for more systematic teaching, and will do so unless family circumstances hinder.
The Bible women come to my room Saturday morning, and I take their report of the work of the week, keeping a record of the families visited, the number of visits made, and the number of women and girls who are reading. At the same time we talk over those who are especially inter- ested in the truth, and pray togetiier for them, and for a blessing on the vveek's work.
EUROPEAN TURKEY Mrs Marsh, of Philippopolis, shows us some of the lights and shades in her fiekl : — There is as strong a feeling of opposition to our Protestant schools as there is in America to parochial scliools, and an intensely national spirit which would unify schools as well as churches. The bureau of education
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has decreed tliat only graduates of the national gymnasium shall be allowed to teach in any of -the primary schools of Bulgaria, and this law the local school inspectors of course undertake to enforce, causing delay in opening our schools, and great anxiety on the part of the teachers as to whether after all they will be permitted to teach, till strong personal influ- ence is brought to bear on the minister of education, a man of considerable common sense, who finall)' consents to let the teachers teach one year more. This performance has been so often repeated that we have come to expect it as a matter of course and not to be much worried by it. These same inspectors are obliged to admit that our schools are well taught. Children pass from our schools into the gymnasium, examined by their (pravoslav) teachers, with the higliest marks and hold their own there. But our teachers are looked down on, are constantly threatened with loss of employ- ment, etc., till they have begun to feel that they must have the gymnasium diploma. Of course this extra year in either Philippopolis, Sophia, or Eski Taghea, where there are full gymnasiums, is very expensive for them. I think all these girls have had to borrow money for it, and I have many fears lest tliey will feel, after getting the coveted diplomas, that they cannot work for the verj^ small salaries we can offer them.
But, while there have been these many discouragements, tliere has also been much to encourage. In the village of Abdallai, seven hours west of Philippopolis, Katerinka Stoecheva is busy and liappy in her third year of work as teacher and Bible worker, not at all worried about whether she is to be permitted to continue her school, but saying, brightly : There's plenty other work to be done in this village. I shall be almost glad if they do close our school." A recent letter from her tells of the Inrge and inter- esting weekly women's meetings which she leads at tlie noon hour between school sessions ; of the children's temperance society, numbering 24, and the Christian Endeavor Society, attended by half the young people of the village ; of her three grown scholars, one man and two women, learning to read. There is no resident pastor at this village. Pastor Mirchefl', of Pazardjik, spends one or two Sundays a montli with them ; and for the rest, these simple village folk, farmers and sheplierds, live so faithfully the week througli the Gospel they read and explain on Sunday, that within the past year eleven new families have come into the church. More than half the village has become Cliristian, and the other half is thoroughly permeated with the truth, in all of which our Katerinka has had large part.
About equally distant to the east of Philippopolis is the village of Akhmatovo, where this same process of evangelization has progressed steadily the past ten years, till in that village, too, and in several neigh-
igo6]
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boring villages there are many seekers for the truth. To an unusual degree, those professing Christ are obeying his command to go into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature. The number of Testa- ments and portions of the Bible and of tracts that they sell or give away is . surprising. The military service, which in most respects is such a hard- c I ship, such a waste of time and strength for our young men, has proved for these Akhmatovo boys a blessed opportunity to preach Christ, and they have done it fearlessly and wisely, bringing many to their Saviour.
Mrs. Haskell and I carried out recently a long clierished plan for a visit to Merichleri, a village where on her only previous visit, more than thirty years ago, the infuriated people wanted to stone her. Now she was eagerly welcomed to every house in the village, or would have been had not time and strength failed. We did make over thirty calls, long visits, some of them, in which we had earnest personal conversations and usually a Bible reading and prayer. Most frequently we found the women at work in their yards, husking or shelling the newly gathered corn. The}^ were days never to be forgotten. We visited, also, two other villages, Karaach and Altun Chair, in each of which there are several families of followers, whom Pastor- Koumanoff, of Merichleri, visits as often as he can. In Altun Chair the village people responded readily to an invitation to attend service on the Sunday afternoon we were there, and gave quiet, earnest attention to Pastor Mircheft's excellent exposition and application of the story of the Prodigal Son. We were too many for any room, so gathered on a threshing floor, sitting a few on rough board seats, more on the soft heaps of sweet smelling corn husks, the warm, September sunsliine shimmering through the oaks that shaded the thresliing floor, and that was another beautiful time. The next day we visited the neighbors who had not ventured to come . to the Sunday service, but had listened behind the hedge that separated the yards, and had a long talk and reading with them.
WEST CENTRAL AFRICA Miss Margaret Melville tells of the work in Chisamba : —
Miss Bell has charge of the out-station schools and has spent several months at Ciyuka and Matenda teaching. She is very much encouraged at the progress made, and would enjoy going again this term if it were not for the other two out-station scliools need supervision. All of these out-schools have always been in the hands of natives only, and they feel so delighted that she has been able to teach there. My sister has charge of the medical work, which is not so heavy just now as it will be in a couple of months from this time. It seems as though there must surely be something wrong with our
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faith, for it is two 3'ears now since Dr. Masse}- left, and our prayers for another doctor have been continual. The difficulty, or whatever one may call it, is surely here, but what it is we do not know. My sister has also all the housekeeping duties for three of us and she will soon have two gentle- men beside. Then too she has charge of the girls' school with an average of 96. Six natives assist in both this and in the boys' school, of which I am in charge. It has not been quite as large as usual because so man}' have been away teaching, but almost all are home now. My sister and I rise at 5.15 A. M. in order to breakfast at 6 a. m., for as soon as that is over I go to the evangelists' and teachers' school until 8.30, tlien immediately the bell is rung for kindergarten, where usually about 55 little tots gather. Oh, how I wish vou could come and see those children, if you are fond of them.
At the baby table yesterday there were fourteen, and not one more than three and a half years old. They are so good and love to come to school. It may seem like waste of time, but we think not. At the Christmas enter- tainment I tried when training the children to have them sing " The tiiumb is the mother," but I could not get them to open their mouths, so instead I had them play ball, a larger girl standing in the middle and each trying to catch the ball. The parents were delighted and it was not necessary for them to speak.
Mrs. Fay of Bailundu writes : —
It takes five or six months to be sure of an answer to one's letter. We send our own mail carriers to the coast, a journey of about 180 miles, which must be made on foot both wavs, and often the men are delayed owing to heavy rains that wash away the bridges, which of course means the letters missing the steamer wlien they get there. A letter that came from ?\Irs. Billings not long ago had been over a year in reaching me, as it had gone to the Portuguese fort and been waiting there an indefinite time. This year we are having unusually heavy rains so that the rivers are almost impossible to cross. ISIy husband has just returned from a trip to the south- east of us, where he went to help decide upon tiie site for a new station to be held by Dr. Wellman and Mr. Ennis. He brought INIrs. Wellman and the two children back with him as the exposure of camp life is anything but desirable at this time of the year. They had some lively experiences in crossing the rivers, Mrs. Wellman being carried across on the top of her tepoia, steadied by a number of men, while ]Mr. Fay waded across as best he could in native costume with the water up to his chin.
Just now we are short handed, as Mrs. Stover and Mrs, Webster are both in America, and Mr. and Mrs. Neipp have gone to the station at Cileso which they will hold for a time during the absence of Mr. and Mrs.
igo6'\
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Woodside. But Miss Redick has come to help Miss Campbell in the school work, which is really more than one person is able to manage, our schools being filled to overflowing with scholars all anxious to learn. There have been numerous requests from outlying villages for teachers and the church is really becomhig quite stirred up in the efibrt to supply their need. This is being done on the basis of self-suj^port, the teachers only receiving the help actually needed, and they are quite enthusiastic in seeing the work under their care grow. Thus we are trying to teach all to feel a personal responsibility in spreading the word among their own people.
JAPAN
Mrs. Curtis, of Niigata, pictures for us a meeting which must have been a power for good : — {See frontispiece?)
But perhaps you will be most interested in our annual woman's union prayer meeting held here in Niigata. These meetings, as you know, are held in various parts of the country every year, the same day and same sub- ject being observed everywhere. At a committee meeting of the three Niigata churches held to plan for the meeting I was surprised and pleased to have them propose an all day meeting, the first ever held here. They chose for the place of meeting a tea house in our park, a quiet and very beautiful spot on the bank of our wide river, nestled in a pretty Japanese garden, and they served luncheon for all at seven and a half cents apiece. It is no easy task in this conservative out-of-the-world corner of the world to get even our Christian women to leave home for a meeting, but by much calling and giving of personal invitations by oiu* two Bible women, and by a written invitation sent roiuid two days before, we succeeded pretty well. Delegates, too, came from all oiu" out-stations, two from Nakajo, the pas- tor's wife bringing her two children, three from Sliibata, one lady taking the twenty mile ride that morning before nine o'clock with her six weeks* old baby.
We had badges for all the delegates, a committee to meet them at the station, and places of entertainment provided for all wliom I could not entertain in my home. The reception committee consisted of ladies from the three churches here who did much to make the meeting a success. At the morning meeting our chinch Bible woman presided. After Scripture reading and prayer, a most excellent address was given by the Presbyterian pastor on " Fasting and Prayer," beseeching the women to come out from the world, and live for Christ. Then followed a season of prayer, simple and earnest and heartfelt. The meeting closed just before twelve, when we had lunch all together. It was a beautiful sight to see that great room lined
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on three sides with our women. There was the group of our dear old ladies, the dearest of all to my heart, our church workers upon whom I depend so much, our delegates, women who are working so earnestly for the coming of the Kingdom in our lonely out-stations, some of our young ladies, and a few women not yet Christians but interested and regular attendants at our woman's meetings. We missed some faces, for sickness kept away several, and some have moved away during the past year whose places we cannot fill. After dinner the women enjoyed visiting together, meeting old friends, and strolling about the beautiful grounds. Then we had a group photograph taken, and about two o'clock began our afternoon meeting. Both our girls' societies, the King's Daughters, and Sunshine Society, joined us then, as they were just out of school, and largely in- creased our numbers, as well as greatly helping in the music. The after- noon program consisted of reports from the various woman's societies here and in the out-stations, each report being followed by a prayer for that society and a special song. At the close each of our Bible women gave their reports, also one of our women who is carrying on a night sewing school for poor girls. Thei followed a social hour with tea and cakes, and then they began to scatter to their homes, but it was five o'clock before most of them got away, and they seemed in no hurry even then. I drew a long breath when it was over, not of relief but of satisfaction, for everything had gone ofi'so nicely, and it was such a success. I am sure more than one will look forward to next year's meeting.
JUNIOR WORK
EVANGELISTIC MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL
Helps for Leaders
CHILDREN'S WORK, 1906-1907
Workers with boys and girls will find it an easy task to interest them in the study of the island world of the Pacific. The Central Committee on the United Study of Missions has prepared a text-book, A Cruise in the Island World, adapted for leaders of children's societies. This book contains many suggestions for making the study interesting to the children, and biographies and books of travel furnish additional material. A program based on this study will appear each month in the Dayspring^ and it is
Helps for Leaders
409
hoped that many of our mission circles and Junior Endeavor Societies will unite in this study. The map, pictures and report of the Northfield Summer School will all be helpful to leaders teaching this course. Kwuli and Tiria, stories of Micronesia, give true pictures of life on the islands where our missionaries are working.
The offerings of the children, unless contributed for some specific work of the Branch to which the society belongs, will go for the support of school children in China, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, India and Africa. Attractive leaflets containing pictures of school children in foreign lands can be se- cured in quantities sufficient to allow each child to have one. A leaflet for leaders contains a statement of the work to which the children are asked to contribute and a number of missionary Bible verses and prayers for use in the meetings of the bands. A large chart, to be kept in the room where the meetings are held, will be ^ stimulus to the children to bring their offer- ings regularly, and to learn for each meeting one of the verses and one of the prayers. A description of the method of using the chart is found in the leaders' leaflet.
Much of this material can be adapted for use in primary and intermediate departments of Sunday schools, and we hope that all friends of missions will endeavor to circulate these publicatons widely among leaders and teachers of children. We publish below a list of the leaflets referred to, all of which can be obtained from Miss A. R. Hartshorn, 704 Congregational House, Boston.
A Cruise in the Island World, price 20 cents; The Mission Dayspring, price 20 cents a year; Map of the Island World of the Pacific, price 50 cents; 25 Pictures of the Island World, price 25 cents; Report of the Summer School, price 10 cents; Kwuli, a South Sea Island Maid, price 5 cents; Tiria, a Micronesian Story, price 2 cents; Leaders' leaflet. Children's leaflet and coral island mite box, free except for postage or express ; coral island chart, price five cents.
The Committee on Young People's Work has awarded the prize (a framed Japanese photograph) for the best work done by a young women's society to the Junior Auxiliary of Danielson, Conn., whose exhibit com- prised an outline study, a postal, and a general scrapbook on Mexico. This exhibit is to be presented to the committee and will form a part of the reg- ular exhibit. Valuable donations to this permanent exhibit were made by other societies, whose work evidences the faithfulness of the members. The prize offered for the best work done by children's societies was not awarded, because of the incompleteness of the material submitted.
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[^September
OUR WORK AT HOME
Out of the Depths
BY EMILY YOE
Out of the depths they crv,
That countless throng Of those who know Thee not,
Yet for thee long. Unheeding, can we turn awaj? Is it from lips or heart we say
Thy kingdom come?
Let thy great love o'eiflow
The lives of all, That streams of love may reach
To those who call. Can children of one Father be Content till all draw nigh his knee,
And all come home.-*
Our lamps are dirri ; they give
But little light; Can we thus change to day
The heathen night.'* Spirit of God, descend with fire. Rekindle in us fresh desire
1^ shine for thtfe !
Out in the depths they cry;
We, can but hear. What wilt thou, Lord — ourselves.
Or those more dear.? Oh I lead us each to take some share In answering our daily prayer.
Thy kingdom come.
— Selected.
A Missionary's Impressions of Christian Life in America
THE land is a Christian land and we expect great things of it. And we find great tilings here : wonderfid inventions, by which the work of life is made easier ; beantifully fashioned churches, employ- ing every means to attract the multitude ; glorious music, stirring lectures and delightful hospitality. One cannot say too much in praise of her noble philanthropists and Christian men and women.
The missionary comes back for her furlough weak and weary from the lonely toil of a decade of years. She longs for rest and quiet, and notwith- standing the wonder and gratitude that the marvels of her native land arouse in her, notwithstanding tlie love and care of old friends and new, she finds much tliat makes her anxious for our land and our church.
In the first place she is conscious that all this noise and bustle of travel, this strain of work, this competition in trade, commerce and profession is unnatural, and is ruining the minds and bodies of many, and far more, their souls. Tiie tension reaches her own nerves and produces such trouble tiiat
/pod] A Missionary's Impressions of Christian Life in America 411
she realizes as those who are always in it never can, what a harm it must be. She wonders over men who fret because the train is five minutes late when she has been calmi}^ grateful over her bullock cart, or her caravan of mules arriving at their destination two hours late.
Perhaps she has come from a land where she has encountered savages, massacres, or earthquakes and cyclones ; but she wonders if these are anv more dangerous than the crowded elevators, the liglitnlng-like electric car, the fiery locomotive or the audacious automobile. Indeed, she begins to regard tlie rush and bustle and the consequent lightness with which the value of human life is regarded as one of the sins of tlie age, something totally foreign to the simple life"wdiich all Christians should live.
She finds that this haste of living is one reason for the sad neglect of morning and evening family devotions which she remembers as the hallowed influence of her own father's home and of all her life in missionary liomes. How she hungers for this service as she goes about among friends. But she sees that after breakfast everyone is in terrible haste for the work, not for the devotion, of the day, and alter dinner to prepare for the enjoyments of the evening.
In her missionary home she sees the Bil)le in evidence in every room, but here she often wonders where it is kept and when it is read by the members of the household. She has been accustomed to see lights in missionary homes burning long before sunrise, for private devotions. She wonders, when people rise so late and rusli from breakfast out into the woi ld, when and where the private devotions come in, and if the lack of this quiet time is not answerable for much of the coldness of Christians.
She has sat down at many a humble table in foreign lands and heard the reverent grace offered, knowing that, if omitted, the father and grandfather would be eagerly reminded of it by some wee boy or girl taught in the mission school. She goes to beautiful homes in her own land and sees it omitted without a protest. She is surprised, for there are written forms which anyone can use, or silent grace in which all can have a part. What motive can there be for leaving oiX these simple acts of devotion which are a token of a Christian household?
In the foreign land the missionary is accustomed to talk over the work of a church, or school, or the welfare of a household, or one of its members, with one of her fellow missionaries and to say, Let us together tell the Lord about this perplexity and he will show some way out." Then follows a pouring out of the heart to God by each, witliout the thought of any con- straint. She can seldom find, even among her best-loved in the home- land, those who are free to do this with her. A mother has written her
412 Life and Light [September
for many years, begging her to pray for her son, yet, when she sees that mother face to face, in her elegant home, something tells her that it is not the custom to kneel in that drawing room and she may make her lovely friend uncomfortable. God forgive her if she was wrong and missed the opportunity for which she so hungered. And thus many opportunities pass, though slie constantly approaches as near to tiiem as she can, for she realizes that she may do more harm than good by too fervent speech and too great simplicity and frankness in drawing near to souls.
She would gladly speak to the children of her friends as to their soul's salvation, but again she is held back, for one or two attempts have shown her that many parents feel that it, is not necessary to seek the conversion of children now, for are they not baptized and the children of the church"? '*Are they not taught from their childhood?" They have no great sins for which to repent." " They will grow up Christians." Alas ! what little knowledge of the human heart do these words show ; how little real love and anxiety for a soul. This is truly the ideal at which to aim, but surely it does no harm for a Christian friend to help your child on toward heaven. Perhaps the holding of these easy views about conversion is the cause for parents allowing children to remain away from church and Sabbath school and prayer meetings. How many heads of houses called Christian are most indifferent about their own attendance on these services, much less do they urge it upon their children.
As a matter of course where no religion is visible in a home, the children grow up thinking that fun and enjoyment are what we live for. To my grief I see tliat college life fosters tliis idea and mothers plainly say, " I want my daughter to enjoy all she can while slie is young." So she is no check upon spreads " in college or a wild race after pleasure during vacation. How can she hope that a nature so untrained is going to settle down to Cliristian work in home and church in mature life? How different from the quietly happy girl life in our mission schools, where the schools are passionately loved for the sake of the lessons and the meetings and not for fun and frolic.
This worship of pleasure makes the young people often reckless of good manners. In public places they indulge without shame in loud talk and laughter, they push and jostle in a crowd, and if you meet two or three on the sidewalk you must turn out of their way and not expect them to give you room. At table they must absorb the conversation to tell about their fun and, all profitable subjects seem to be laid aside for this. Of course all households are not so, and of course even these young people are interesting, but is not this life and eagerness in fun carried to an extreme?
Our Dail}> Prayer in September
413
One's lieait aches to hear of the amount of ''bridge whist" and other card phiying which is indulged in even in the day time, and whicli often draws away interest from missionary and other profitable meetings. Can we keep the world in our hearts and also Christ?
The missionary looks at the quarters and half dollars tliat are spent on fads — new styles of neckwear, hatpins, belts — etc., and sighs to think of churches in her field that are in ruins and cannot be built for lack of money, and communities that have no preacher or teacher for the same reason, and how soon the want could be supplied out of tlie money expended on fads and candy, or hixuries in the liouse and table furnishings. In one city she lately saw several huge mansions empty — built, no doubt, for a long lifetime and many children. Tlie lives passed away and the children scattered. No one can now pass over the wasted money for church or school on some far away mission field. Is tliere no argument which will make men and women convinced of the wortli of souls, as compared with such houses and elegant dress and adornings?
I am aware tliat I toucli upon a most delicate subject; that many of my readers are wealthy and give largely ; that many are prayerful and lovers of the Bible. They sigh and cry as does yqur missionary for the condition of the majority in the exactions of fashion to whicli they are subjected, and the worship of wealth and enjoyment. I have wondered why a club of men and women of station and influence oould not be formed, binding themselves to simplicity in home and dress. I take great heart in hearing of the mighty work of the Spirit on multitudes of souls in our land, and believe that it is He who is to give a new impulse to a holy, consecrated life, and that great changes are to take place in our churches, so that they shall indeed be altogether of Christ and not of the world.
The Marathi Mission, whose field is in the Presidency of Bomba}-, India, is one of the largest missions under the care of the American Board. It works in eight central stations with 143 out-stations, and the force consists of 48 American missionaries and 537 trained native helpers. More than 6,000 communicants form the 60 churches and almost 10,000 pupils gather in the Sunday schools. The day and high schools train the young from the kindergarten up, and the number of pupils in 1905 was more thr.r. 7'"^^*
Mrs. Hume with her husband is now in this country, and her earnest words for India's daughters have stirred many hearts. Mrs. Hunsberger,
Our
414
Life and Light
\^September
dnugliter of Mrs. Hume, lias cliarge of the girls' school in Bovvker Hall, with about 140 girls and several native teachers under her care. Last \ear's report tells us that Dr. Karmarkar saw over 7,000 patients in that twelve months. Mrs. Peacock gives lier first care to her own little children. Miss Millard gathers more than 50 blind orphans under iier wing, and the sciiool " is a mighty object lesson of the efficiency of Christianity to lift the burdens of the afflicted and to bring joy to darkened lives." Greatly to the regret of all the mission and of many natives, Miss Abbott has resigned her commission on account of ill health. Mrs. Abbott has oversight of primary schools and of the Widow's Home.
Mrs. Bruce has charge of six Bible women and of station schools. Dr. Grieve's medical work brings her into touch with many Mohammedans, and with women of the higlier classes.
Mrs. Clark adds to the care of her own little child the oversight of schools, while Mrs. Fairbank combines school work with work for women.
Mrs. Bissell, after almost fifty-five years of devoted service, was called to her rest April 3i, 1906. Mrs. Beals, herself a physician, is the wife of a phvsician, and they find limitless need for their help. Mrs. Smith does much for the boys in the schools utider the care of her husband, the mission higli school and the vSir D. M. Pettit vSchool of Industrial Arts. She has also edited for a part of the year the Balhodha A fezva^ an illustrated monthly in Marathi. Mrs. H. G. Bissell is now in this country on furlough with her famil}'. Airs. Hume has care of the Orphans' Home and of Bible women. Mrs. Harding will soon return to this country with her fatherless little one. The hospital has 30 beds, and is utidtM" the care of Dr. Hume wi^th her assistant. Miss Camp])ell. We gladly join with them in our thought and prayer. Dr. Eleanor Stephenson went last January to share their work. Miss Nugent has now supervision of the great scliool for girls, with three departments, more than 400 pupils, and nearly 20 native teachers. Miss Hartt, who had been in charge of this school for five years, married Rev. WilHam Hazen in December, 1905, and she now resides in Sholapur. Since Miss Nugent has been called to be the head of the sfirls' school the training school for Bible women has been closed.
Miss Bissell has charge of three schools for Hindu girls and also of some industrial work. Mrs. Fairbank is now in Ahmednagar, in care of woman's work. Those wdio heard Mrs. Ballantine speak here in America will realize something of tlie devotion with whicli she supports the blessed service of her husband, a pliysician. She does much for many women and children in all her vicinit}-.
Mrs. Sible}^, with her associate Miss Gordon, directs schools for both boys and girls, and they also guide the work for women.
igo6^ Helps in the Study of Christus Redemptor 415
Miss Moulton has taken some of tlie work of overseeing native Christians in the large ontlying districts which liad been the care of Mrs. Bissell.
The frontispiece of Life and Ligmt for February, 1904, shows some of the girls in the school at Sirur. Docs it not stir us to praver and to gifts? Mrs. Winsor is now at the head of tlie station, and school, Bible women, widows* home and industrial work all turn to her for guidance. Surelv her heart and time are full.
The boarding school for girls at vSholapur numbers about 113, and the girls have done all the work of the home under the care of a matron. Miss Fowler, the principal, who has been at home for furlough, hopes to return to her work in the coming autumn. Miss Harding, who has charge of the kindergarten, is also here, hoping to return very soon to Sholapur. Miss Judson has married Rev. H. A. Kernen, and has joined the Presbyterian mission.
The mission has 161 day sch.ools and more than 2,200 orphans in its care. About 100 Bible women and 334 native teachers are emploved.
Helps in the Study of Christus Redemptor
BV MRS. ALICE G. WEST
Leaflet literature describinsf mission work in the Pacific Islands is verv scanty. Annual reports of the few Boards at work there, and letters from missionaries published in the various magazines furnish about all our available side-lights on the new text-book, apart from volumes of travel, letters and biography. But it will be no drawback to mission study that students will be forced to resort this year to bound volumes instead of leaflets for collateral information. We do not handle books as much as we ought in these days of the sixteen pnge newspaper. To search the index of a book for a partic- ular topic sometimes traps one into reading the whole book, and the reading of a new book often opens a window for life upon a new horizon.
For instance, Mrs. Montgomery gives in Christus Rede7?iptor only a tantalizing outline sketch of the elder Bishop Selwyn, and no allusion even to the younger ; but she gives a reference to Armstrong's " Melanesian Missions." Searching for that book on the American Board shelves, one finds a handsome octavo volume, published in London in 1900. giving the thrilling story of the work of the Church Missionary Society in the South Seas for the sixty years covered by tlie successive bishoprics of tiiose four
dauntless and unquenchable spirits," George Augustus Selwyn, Joiin Coleridge Patteson, John Richardson Selwyn, and Cecil Wilson, with
416
Life and Light
[ September
four noble portraits that preach, by themselves alone, a sermon on the type of manhood that is called to missionary service.
Speaking of missionary portraits reminds us of the frontispiece to another fascinating volume, found in the loan library of the Woman's Board, Letters and Sketches frotn the New Hebrides^ by Mrs. John G. Pa ton. Tlie picture is a group of the Paton family, worth fifty pages of ordinary leaflet text to make one " care about foreign missions." These letters were never intended for publication ; they are Mrs. Paton's private correspondence with her home circle in Scotland ; letters of a loving and gifted woman, full of humor and grace. Tlieir editor truly calls them " one of the most charming pieces of missionary literature."
Everybody has heard of tlie autobiographies of John G. Paton and of James Chalmers. Both of these books have been recast for younger readers. The former is published under the title, The Story of John G. Paton^ and is brought down nine years later than the larger book. Tiie smaller life of Chalmers is entitled Tamate^ and is written by Richard Lovett, the editor of the splendid autobiography of 500 pages that was published by Revell in 1903.
The South Sea missionary hero who has been most written about is Coleridge Patteson. There are the two volumes of minutest detail written by Charlotte M. Yonge, a friend of the Patteson family. There is also a small but well written biography by Jesse Page. Patteson is found also in most collections of missionary biography. He is one in Mrs. Charles's Three Martyrs of the Nineteenth Century and in Walsh's Modern Heroes. A fine sketch of him was given by Rev. J. H. Twichell in a sermon before tlie A. B. C. F. M. at Seattle in 1905. This was printed afterwards under the title,, A Modern Kitight of the Cross. Several other famous missionaries of the Pacific are found in the library lists of Biography.
A good book, and easily accessible, on the general history and appearance of the islands, is Alexander's Islands of the Pacific. The best brief sketch of the part played by the several mission boards in the drama of Pacific Missions is found in Beach's Student Volunteer volume, Geography of Protestant Missions.
The reason for the scarcity of current American literature on this subject is, of course, the fact that the island work has been so lar^gely British and Australian, and the official reports do not find their way to our smaller libraries. Of the seven Boards that have made history in Pacific missions only one is American, the A. B. C. F. M. The American Board prints separately tlie annual report of its Micronesian work, and has also issued a little pamphlet history of the Morning Stars" and a sketch of the new
Sidelighiis from Periodicals
417
mission at Guam. Secretary Hicks has prepared a valuable pamphlet, entitled ^'Lighthouses of the Pacific," giving in compact form the funda- mental facts of island missions. This can be had free at the rooms of the American Board.
The Woman's Board has printed two leaflets written by Mrs. Theodora Crosby Bliss — "Tirin, the Story of a Micronesian Girl," and " Kwuli, a South Sea Brownie Maid." These are sold at five cents each, at the rooms of the Woman's Board. Mrs. Bliss is also writing a history of the Micro- nesian Mission, which is promised for early September. The recent tragic cliapter in our island work must be culled from letters from Mrs. Garland and others, describing the storm of last year and its disastrous results, to be found in the latest files of Life and Light and The Missionary Herald.
Funk & Wagnalls are to publish soon a collection of the more valuable articles bearing on Pacific Alissions that have appeared from time to time in the Missionary Review.
Annual Meeting of W. B. M.
The Annual Meeting of the Woman's Board of Missions will be held in State Street Church, Portland, Maine, Wednesday and Thursday, Novem- ber 14 and 15, 1906. A meeting for delegates will be held on Tuesday, the 13th.
The ladies of Portland will be happy to entertain delegates appointed b}' Branches and women who have ever been under appointment as mission- aries by the Woman's Board or the American Board. All such desiring entertainment are requested to send their names, stating what they repre- sent, to Miss Jean L. Crie, 79 State Street, Portland, before October 8. Any wishing to secure accommodations at their own expense may also apply to Miss Crie.
The usual reduction in railroad rates on the certificate plan has been secured.
Sidelights from Periodicals
France. — "The Year in France" in The Atlajitic for August. "French Politics and the French People" and "Religious Events in F. ance " in The Conte?nporary Review for July.
Spain. — "The Foreign Policy of Spain " in The Conte??iporary Review for July.
418 Life and Ligl^t [September
Japan. — Japan After the War " in T/ie North American Review for August.
China. — " Dr. Tenney and Education in China" in The Congregation- alist for August 4.
Turkey. — The War of Moslem and Christian for the Supremacy of Asia Minor " in The Co7itejnporary Review for July. e. e. p.
The Human Family
The human family living on earth to-day consists of about 1,450,000,000 souls — not fewer, probably more. These are distributed literally all over the earth's surface, there being no considerable spot on the globe where man has not found a foothold. In Asia, the so-called cradle of the human race," there are now about 800,000,000 people, densely crowded, on an average of about 120 to every square mile. In Europe there are 320,000,000, averaging 100 to the square mile — not so crowded as Asia, but everywhere dense, and in many places overpopulated. In Africa there are, approxi- mately, 310,000,000, and in the x\mericas — North, South, and Central — 110,000,000; these latter, of course, relatively thinly scattered over broad areas. On the islands, large and small, there are probably 10,000,000 more. The extremes of the blacks and the whites are as 5 to 3, the remain- ing 700,000,000 intermediate, brown, yellow, and twany in color. Of the entire race, 500,000,000 are well clothed — that is, tiiey wear garments of some kind tiiat will cover nakedness — 250,000,000 iiabitually go naked, and 700,000,000 only cover the middle parts of the body ; 500,000,000 live in houses, 700,000,000 in huts and caves, the remaining 250,000,000 virtually having no place to lay their heads. — Selected.
God is not short of money for missions, neither are the bulk of Christians short of money. Hard hearts, ratiier than hard times, cause the trouble. Have you a mission study class for your young people? If not, hurry up and get in the procession. You will be surprised at the new life and power it will bring upon your entire congregation even to have a few people warm at mission study class fires. — Selected.
Woman's Board of Missions
Jteceipts from June 18 to July 18, 1906. Miss Sarah Loctse Day, Treasurer.
Norridgewock.—X Friend, 5 00
Western Maine Branch.— ^Vi?,s Annie F. Bailey ,Treas., 52 CbaUwick St.,Portland.
North Hridpton, Jr. C. E. Soc, 10; North Yarmouth. Walnut Hill, Coll. Cumber- land Co. Conference, 2.20; Portland, State St. Ch., Miss Ellen H. Libby (to const. L. iM. .Miss Susan Evelyn Larra-
Receipts
bee), 25; Wells, Second Coug. Ch., Aux., 20.10. Less expenses, 2.29, 55 01
Total, 60 01
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
yew Hampshire i?ranc/i.— MissElizabeth A. lirickett, Treas., 69 No. Spring St., Concord. Dover, Aux., 20; Duiliam, Aux., 57.03; .Merninack Cont., A Friend, 10; Nelson, C. E. Soc, 4; Troy, Aux. (25 of wh. to const. L. .M. .Mrs. J. H. Bige- low), 30, 121 03
VERMONT.
Vermont Branch.— Mrs. C. H. Stevens, Treas , St. Johnsbury. Brookfield, First Ch., A Friend, 5; Burlington, Col- lege St. Ch. (25 of wh. to const. L. .M. Mrs. Bertha Clapp Smart), 49.50, First Ch., 25, Opportunity Circle, 22; Enos- burg. Prim. S. S. Class, 1.30; Middle- bury, 19; Newport, 4; St. Johnsbury, North Ch., 19.80, South Ch.,Search Light Club, 7.61, • 153 21
MASSACHUSETTS.
A Friend, 100 00
Z. A., 100 OU
Andoverand Woburyi Branch.— Mrs. Mar- garet E. Richardson, Treas., Reading. Andover, Al)l)Ott Academy, 29.50; Lo- well, Eliot Ch., Aux., 9; Reading, C. R., 19,19; Stoneham, Aux., 9; West Med- ford, Woman's Christian League (50 of wh. to const. L. M's Mrs. George Cum- mings and .Miss Mary Parker), 65 ; Wo- burn, First Ch., Mission Study Class, 17, 148 69
Berkshire Branch.— Mrs. Charles E. West, Treas., 123 South St., Pittsfield. Hins- dale, Aux., 16.05; North Adams, Aux., 82; Pittsfield, Pilgrim Dau., Aux , 15. Less expenses, 5.65, 107 40
Cambridge — Friends through Mrs. E. C. Moore, 25. 25 00
Essex North Branch. — Airs. Wallace L. Kimball, Treas., Biadford. Newbury- port, Round the World .M. B., 28, 28 00
Essex South /irayich. — Miss Nannie L. Odell, Treas., 23 Washington St., Bever- ly. Gloucester, Aux., 67: Lynn, Cen- tral Ch., Aux., 25, 92 00
Frankliyi Co. Branch.— Miss Lucy A. Spar- hawk, Treas., 18 Congress St., Green- tield. Greenfield, Aux , 10; Northfiekl, Aux , 11.85; Turners Falls, Aux., 10, 31 85
Hampshire Co. Branch. — Miss Harriet J. Kneeland, Treas., 8 Paradise Road, Northampton. Hatfield, Aux., Len, Off., 32, Wide Awakes, 4; North Am- herst, Aux., Len. Off., 11.90; Northamp- ton, Edwards Ch., Aux., 17.65; South- ampton, Aux. (to const. L. M. Mrs, S. E. .MacGeehon), 25; South Hadley, Mt.. Holyoke College, A Friend, 25; Worth- ington, Aux., 7, 122 55
Middlesex Branch.— Miss .Mary E. Good- no w, Treas., South Sudbury. Marl- boro, Aux., 6; Milford, C. E. Soc, 10; Natick, Aux., 22.38, C. R., 10.25; Welles- ley, Aux.. 55.50, 104 13
fforfolk and Pilgrim fira»ic/i.— Miss Abb>e L. r.oud, Treas,, Lock Box 53, Wey- mouth. Brockton, Porter Ch., Jr. Aux., 14; Weymouth, South, Old South Ch.,
Aux., 5; Whitman, C. E. Soc, 3; Wol- laston, C. K. Soc, 15.70, 37
.North Middlesex Branch— Miss Julia S. Conant, Treas., Littleton Common. Fitchburg, Rollstone Ch., Aux., 5; Shir- ley, Aux., 25, 30
Springfield Branch.— Mrs. Mary H.Mitch- ell, treas., 1078 Worthington St., Spring- field, Agawam, C. E, Soc, 10; Feeding Hills, Golden Rule M. C , 5.70; Holyoke, Second Ch., Agnes R. Allyn Mem. Fund, 26, S. S. Intermed. Dept., 5; Long- meadow, C. R., 10.64; Ludlow Center, Aux., 8; -Mitteneague, Aux, (with prev. contri. to const. L. M's .Mrs. Edwin Smith and .Mrs. Emily Flagg), 25, The Gleaners, 20; North Wilbraham, Aux. (to const. L. -M. .Mrs. Charles H. Gates), 25; Palmer, Second Ch , Jr. C. E. Soc, 8.25; Springfield, First Ch., Aux. (25 of wh. to coiwt. L. M. Mrs. A H. Watson), 257.57, Opportunity Seekers, 10, The Gleaners, 25, Hope Ch., Aux,, 15,50, C. R.. 4.50, South Ch., Aux,, 29.05, 485
Suffolk Branch.— Miss Lucv K. Hawes, Treas,, 27 River St., Cambridge, Au- burndale, Aux., 5; Boston, Berkeley Temple, Aux., Len. Off., 9, Mt. Vernon Ch., Aux,, 35, Y. L. M. S., 35, Old South Ch., Aux., 250, Park St. Ch., Aux., 366, Jr. Aux., 30, Union Ch., Aux., 30; Brook- line, Leyden Ch., Beacon Lights, 2; Cambridge, Pilgrim Ch„ 2.60, C. R., 12.66; Charlestown, First Ch., Aux., 5; Chelsea, First Ch., Aux., 40; Dedham, Aux. (of wh. Len. Off., 52.62), 171.49, A gift, 15; Dorchester, Central Ch., Aux., Len. Oft'., 6.55, Village Ch., Young Peo- ple's .Miss. Soc, 8; Everett, Mystic Side Ch., Add'l Len. Off , 1.40; Foxboro, Aux , 35; Franklin, C. E. Soc, 20; Jamaica Plain, Central Ch., Aux., 80; Newton Centre, First Cli., 6.50; Norwood, W. F. M. S., 46.50; Roxbury, Eliot Ch., Aux. (to const. L. .M. Mrs. George P. Wilder), 25, Walnut Ave. Ch., Aux., 17.50; South Boston, Phillips Ch., Aux, (25 of wh. to const, L, M. Mrs, Filena H. Colby), 125,90, Y. L. M. S,, 80, Village Branch, Mothers' Meeting, 5; West Roxbury, Anatolia Club. 40, 1,506
Swam2)scott.—Vrim. Dept. S. S., 6.66, 6
Worcester Co. Branch.— Mrs. Theodore H. Nye, Treas., 15 Berkshire St., Worcester. Gilbertville, Aux., 55; Lancaster, Y. L. M. S„30; Rockdale, Aux., 49.77; Spen- cer, Aux., 33.80, Young Women's Miss. Club, 11.50; Sturbridge, 20; Templeton, Aux., 5; Ware, Aux, (125 of wh, to const, L, M's Mrs. D, C. Marsh, .Mrs, G. F. A. Spencer, .Mrs. Franklin Eaton. Miss Clara Eaton, Miss Ellen Davis), 132.17; Westboro, Aux., 26 80; Whitinsville, Aux., 867.20; Winchendon, C. E. Soc, 5; Worcester, Park Ch., .Aux., 6.93, Ex- tra-Cent-a-Day Band, 9 72, Pilgrim Ch., Aux. (75 of wh. to oonst. L. M's Mrs. Lucy C. Bemis, Mrs, Clara E. Covell, Miss -Maud F. Steele), 82.16, C. E. Soc, 10, Little Light Bearers, 18.14, 1,363
Total, 4,288
CONNECTICUT.
Eastern Conn. Branch.— Miss Anna C. Learned, Treas., 255 Hempstead St.,
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Life and Light
[ September
New London. Dauie'isoii, Aux., 11.73, Dayville, C. E. See, 1; East Woodstock, Aux., 12; New London, First Cli., Aux., 20.95; Pomfret, Aux., 15; Thompson, Anx., 16, 76 68
Hartford Branch.— Mrs. M. IJradtord Scott, Treas., 21 Arnoldale Rd., Mart- ford. Berlin, Aux., 40, Golden Ridge M. C, 5; Enfield, Aux., 70; Hartford, Fourth Ch., Aux., 14.61, Wether.sfield Ave. Ch., S. S. and Frim. S. S., 13.50; New Britain, South Ch., Aux., 44.99; Rockville, Aux., 20; Sinisbury, C. E. Soc, 5; rSouthington, Aux., 31.56; Suf- tiekl, Ladies' F. M. S., 11.50, 256 16
New Haven Branch.— iM iss J u 1 i a T w i n i n g , Treas., 314 Prospect St., New Haven. Ansonia, C. E. Soc, 31.25; Bethlehem, S. S., 5; Boardman, C. E. Soc, 5.63; Brookfield Centre, S. S., 5.50; Centre- brook, C. E, Soc, 8; Cobalt and Middle Haddam,C. R.,64cts.; Cromwell, Eaton Circle, 10; Derby, First Ch , C. E. Soc, 42; East Haven, C. R., 14. B. B.. 30, W. U., 35; East Litchfield, C. E. Soc, 5; Essex. M. W., 10, C. E. Soc, 12; Had- dara, C. E. Soc, 8; Hadlyme, C. E. Soc, 5; Harwinton, C. E. Soc, 5; Higganum, C.E. Socio; Ivoryton, INI. H., 5, Dau. of Cov., 8, C. E. Soc, 13.50, Ji-. C. E. Soc, 3.85; Kent, C. R., 4.05, C. E. Soc, 10; Killingworth, C. E. Soc, 5; Marl- boro, C. E. Soc, 9.25; Meriden, Centre Ch., L. C, 10, C. R., 8, Sunbeams, 10, First Ch., C. G., 40; Middlefield, C. E. Soc, 9.32, Jr. C. E. Soc, 5; iMiddle Had- dam, C. E. Soc, 5; Middletown, First Ch., C. R., 10, C. E. Soc, 25, South Ch., G. W., 30, Third Ch., B. B., 9; Milling- ton, C. E. Soc, 2; Mount Carniel, C. E. Soc, 5; New Haven, Center Ch., Aux., 136.25, Y. L., 165, Jr. M. C, 83, C. E. Soc, 5.28, S. S., 20, Ch. of the Redeemer, Y. L., 80, H. B., 50, S. S., 20, Dwight Place Ch., Y. L. Guild, 25, Grand Ave. Ch.. Y. L., 86, L. W., 37.17, Helpers, 28, Pilgrim Ch., Sunshine C, 20, Plymouth Ch., L.
B. , 16, C. R., 16, Prim, S. S., 5, United Ch.. S, S., 30, C. E. Soc, 100, Welcome Hall, L. B., 7.50; New Milford, Y. L., 66.59; New Preston, C. E. Soc, 3; Nor- folk, M. B.. 15; North J?ranford, C, E. Soc, 10; North Kent, C. E. Soc. 4; Norwalk. Hillside School. King's Dan., 16; Portland, Juniors and liuilders. 30,
C. R., 14.12: Shelton, Prim. S. S., 2.20; Stamford, First Ch., Y. L., 40; Strat- ford, E. Soc, 15; Thomaston, C. E. Soc, 10.50; Westbrook, C. E. Soc, 12.50; Westville, C. E. Soc, 10; Whitneyville, C. E. Soc. 8 .50; Wilton, H. H., 5; Win- chester. C. E. Soc, 10; Winsted, First Ch., Dau. of Cov., 6.60, C. E. Soc, 8; AVoodbridge, Dau. of Cov., 10, G. R. Band, 8, C. E. Soc, 10, C. R., 4; Wood- bury, V. G., 30, 1,748 20
Total, 2,081 04
NEW YORK.
New York State Branch.-Mrs. F, M. Turner, Treas., 646 St. Mark's Ave., Brooklyn. Aquebogue, Aux., 2; Bridge- water, C, E. Soc, 25; Biooklyn, Central Ch. Aux.( with prev. contri. to const. L. M.'s Mrs. Samuel Parks Cadman,
iMrs. Frank S. Jones, Mrs. R. Henry Duncan, Mrs. Geo. A, Low, Mrs, D. G. Wild, Mrs. Celia D. Hoole, Mrs. Charles D. linker, Mrs. JohnL Bliss, Mrs, Lewis D. Nash, Mrs. Byron Horton, Mrs. Ida V. H. Townsend, Miss Florence M. Kempf, Mrs. Frederic ]VI.Turner),Philon Circle, King's Guild, 20, Parkville Ch., 3.82, Puritan Ch. S. S., 12.50, South Ch. Aux., 100, United Ch. Jr. C. E. Soc, 5; Buffalo, First Ch. Aux., 40, First Circle King's Guild, 5; Canandaigua, Aux., 65; Clifton Springs, Friends, 35 ; Deans- boro, Dau. of Cov., 8; Elmira, Park Ch. Aux., 25; Jamesport, 1; Jamestown, Aux., 100; Newark Valley, Dau. of Cov., 1.75 ; New York, Bedford Park Ch. C. R., 7.23, Bethany Ch. C. E. Soc, 22, Broad- way Tabernacle, Light Bearers, 15.61, C. R.. 4.36, Christ Ch. Prim. Class, 3.20, Jr. C. E. Soc, 5; North Collins, Aux., 5; Nyiack, Aux., 8; Orient, Friends, 17; Poughkeepsie, Aux. (25 of wh.to const; L. M. Mrs. Charles L. Knapp), 48; Vas- sar College Y. W^ C. A., 385; Riverhead; First Ch. Aux. (50 of wh. to const. L.M's Mrs. C. W. Hallock and Mrs. Mary P. C. Buckley) 60; Rocky Point, Mrs. M. S. Hallock, 15; Warsaw, Earnest W^ork- ers, 11.50; White Plains, C. R., 5.50. Less expenses, 105.61 955 86
PHILADELPHIA BRANCH.
Philadelphia Branch.— Miss Emma Fla- vell, Treas., 312 Van Houten St.. Pater- son, N. J., D. C. Washington, First Ch. Aux., 90.40, Lincoln Temple, C. E. Soc, 5. Mt. Pleasant Ch. Aux. (of wh. Len. Off. 7.70), 28.25; Nl J. Bound Brook, Anx., 30, Pilgrim Workers, Jr. Aux., 50; East Orange, First Ch. Aux., 18.22, (Jlen Ridge, Aux., 25; Newark, Belle- ville Ave. Ch. Aux., 6, Y. W. Aux., 16.32; Orange Valley, C. E. Soc, 25; Passaic, First Ch. C. R., 3.60; Upper Montclair, Aux., 55, 352 79
Harpoot.— Western Ch. Woman's Miss'y Soc, 6.12, 6 12
Donations, Specials,
7,947 88 70 66
Total, 8,018 54
MRS. JANE PALMER MEMORIAL FUND.
New Fork State ^mnc/i.— Contributed through the Brooklyn, Tompkins Ave. Ch. Aux., by friends both within and outside the society. The interest to be used for Village Schools in India, until such time as may seem wise to make a permanent memorial, 307 00
Total from Oct. 18, 1903 to July 18, 1906.
Donations,
Specials,
Legacies,
80,504 69 2,957 56 26,436 30
Total, $109,898 55
BOARD OF THE PACIFIC
Miss LAURA M. RICHARDS, Saratoga, Cal.
Sffarrign S'rrrptarg
Mrs. C. W. FARNAM, Fruitvale, Cal.
UiteaBttttt.
Miss MARY McCLEES, Adams .Street, Oakland. Cal.
Stories from India
WORK OF THE BIBLE WOMEN IN ARUPPUKOTTAI
We have fourteen women at work in the Arup2:)ukottai station, and some of them have had a hard time this year. Again and again their work has been stopped in some street or house, and they have been forbidden to teach there again, because some pupil has shown signs of conversion, or at least a desire for the things of Christ. In these cases both teacher and pupil would send in requests for prayer, and in answer many a door has been reopened to the gospel.
To the east of Sokalingapuram, where the weaver castes live, there was a large district that seemed wholly untouched by the Bi-ble woman's work, so at the beginning of the year one of our best Bible women was sent there to start work. For the first few months she had many a cry over it, and begged to be allowed to work elsewhere, but by degrees she won her way into a few houses, and women were allowed to study on condition that she did not bring the missionary to their houses, for, they said, "If she comes she will draw some of our women away." They have very strange thoughts about us still, and think we may use mesmerism in order to get converts. After a time they grew more friendly, and in November I was invited to one house where they gave me a warm welcome, and I spent a happy after- noon among them. Six women gathered to recite, and the way they recited showed me that the Bible woman had been faithful, and made the most of her opportunity. The gospel story was real to them, and they were eager
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to learn more. Several of the husbands were present, and, interested, they begged for books, and are now reading the New Testament themselves. " Meenaminal," a widow thirty years of age, used to spend most of her time wandering from one shrine to another, and in reading the Hindu sacred book. When at home she would waste her time in idle gossip from house to house, and all the time living a life of sin. She is so changed now that it is a matte*' of remark among lier Hindu neighbors. She is reading the Bible, and we hope the light will soon break into her heart. " Sunthoshan" is another young widow, who, according to the'^ caste custom, was married when a little child, only five years old ; within three months the young hus- band died, so she was counted a widow, and wears the widow's plain, white cloth — no color is allowed. She is now seventeen years old, and for rather over a year has studied with a Bible woman. The truth has taken root in her heart, and she expects to be baptized soon. Her mother is dead, and her father is a very feeble old man. He seems to have grasped something of the truth, and says to the Bible woman, '^I have given my daughter up to Christ, and want her trained to be a Bible woman like you ; only let her stay with me while I live." There is some talk of his being baptized, too, but we fear he is not ready to stand the persecution that will probably come.
In Kolangkulam we have one convert this year as a result of Bible woman's work. Then in answer to her prayers .and ours her husband came out, and both are now members of the church.
In Paliampetty three old women who live together are much interested in Christianity, and if our Bible woman fails to visit them for a day or tw^o they will send for her to tell them more. How we shall rejoice if they are won for Christ, but it is not easy for old people to leave lifelong customs, and they seldom come out. Two other high-caste women are asking for bap- tism. Both are Christians, but in each case the husband is opposed, and there would be great persecution should they unite with the church. So they hold back for a time.
Just one incident concerning an ordinary Christian woman, Yellaminal." Her daughter is a Bible woman, but slie is a native midwife. As she is knbwn for miles around as a praying woman even Hindus will send for her when in trouble. Last Sunday she was called to see a baby about seventeen days old, but it had never opened its eyes, and they feared it had been born blind. Yellaminal and her daughter prayed about it, and anointed the child's eyes witii oil, then returning in the evening, they prayed again, and the little thing opened its eyes. This made a great impression on the family and neighbors.
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THE GIRLS SCHOOL AT ARUPPUKOTTAI
It is always a pleasure to visit our Hindu girls' school, — the children are so bright and happy, though very cramped as regards room. We ascend a flight of steep, narrow stone steps and find three small rooms, and a piece of flat roof over our boys' school, and with just a shed downstairs to cook in. This is all the accommodation there is for the teacher, his wife, four children, and wife's sister (who is assistant teacher) to live in and hold classes for sixty-nine children. It will be a liappy day when we can get a better and larger building. The teachers are very earnest Christians and the children are well taught, especially in Scripture, of which they have more than a head knowledge, as the following will show.
Some of the big girls who have passed out of the school still attend Sunday school and Christian Endeavor meeting when possible. One of these girls is evidently a witness for Christ in her home, for her grand- mother (with whom she lives) is now interested in the gospel. She visits the teacher, and asks to hear 'more about the Bible, wliich her grand- daughter reads and talks about. Sinnaminal " is a little girl, who delights to bring some offering to the Lord. So wlien she has no pocket money she will collect sticks, etc., to sell as firewood, or in some other such way earn money to give. Lutchmi is a dear little child of seven years. She has taken in the fact that it is wrong to quarrel and fight ; so one day when she found her mother quarrelling with another woman she tried to stop them, telling her mother it was wrong. The mother herself came and told the teacher about it, and at the same time asked why her little girl always said something about Jesus wlien she got up in the morn- ing. We thought that a splendid testimony to the fact that that small child prays aloud every day in her heathen home.
''Selli " is a bright girl of eight or nine years ; but just full of mischief. She has caused her teacher some tears in the past, for she was constantly quarrelling and even fighting in school. Now the change is so marked that even her parents say ours must be a good school to bring about such a change. However, we want to see a change of heart, too. When that takes /place the parents are not so pleased ; indeed, we have lost several nice children recently, simply because they had learned to love the Saviour and spoke of him at home. Some of the parents say ; "If our children attend the school, they will become Christians. It may be the true way, but we do not want them to leave the religion of their fathers." It seems terrible that so many of the people in Aruppukottai are convinced of the truth, but they will not yield ; they are bound by caste as with iron bands. Their caste rules and customs are law to them.
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A LETTER FROM OUR NEW MISSIONARY
Pang Chuang, China May 9, 1906.
This has been a very happy, though a very busy winter. When Miss Lyons, the otlier new young woman who is getting ready for the opening of Lin Ching, and I reached Pang Chuang, we found a teacher ah'eady pro- vided, and two days after our arrival the lessons in Chinese began, and have continued with only an eight days' intermission, just before the Chinese New Year, when with the Misses Wyckoff we made a trip to Lin Ching.
My progress in Chinese has not been rapid, but has been all perhaps that I had any reason to expect. In six months of study I shall have completed about half of the prescribed work of the first year," which for those com- ing earlier than we did is a ''year " of eight or ten months. During the next six months I hope and expect to make much better orogress. My study and recitation takes five to seven hours a day, and leaves me in a state of mental weariness that is not conducive to bright letter writing. Here- after, however, I will try to realize that writing letters is really a part of m}' work as truly as the studying, and if sometimes necessary, will let the study- ing come second. We have a very good teacher, one of our Tung Chou graduates. He is an earnest Christian young man, and very much inter- ested in his work.
Mrs. Peck is indeed as charming in her own home in Tientsin as when we knew her in America, and she is doing a beautiful work there in the union church and socially among the women of the foreign community. The other missionary friends rejoice to see something of her and to have her help and sympathy. She will probably be at Pei Te He this summer, and I am looking forward with great pleasure to knowing her better.
In less than two weeks we are expecting Miss Mary Porter and her brother. You doubtless know something of their journeyings, — their visit in Honolulu, trip to Manila, visit to our mission in Foochow, their stay in Japan with all its pretty attractiveness. They are to visit at Pao Ting Fu on their way here, and make their visits to our more northern stations later.
We leave for the north about the first of June. On the way to mission meeting at Tung Chou we will visit Peking, and after mission meeting we go to Pei Te He for the summer. We " does not mean all the members of the station, but does include the new members usually, for they are of so little use if they do stay at the station. Miss Lyons and I take our teacher with us, and expect to accomplish much during the summer months at the seashore.
Susan B. Tallman.
BOARD OF THE INTERIOR
Prraibrnt.
Mrs. MOSES SMITH, 115 S.Leavitt Street, Chicago, 111.
U^rraaurpr.
Mrs. S. E. HURLBUT, 1454 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, 111.
Miss M. D. WINGATE, Room 523, 40 Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.
AaHtatant ©rpaattnr.
Miss FLORA STARR.
Ebitor af "^taaion habits." Miss SARAH POLLOCK, Room .523, 40 Dearborn Street, Chicago, IIU
(Slfatrman of (Eammittrr on "Zitfp and Ctgtft." Mrs. G. S. F. SAVAGE, 628 Washington B'd, Chicago, 111.
I
A Brief Glimpse of a Hindu Festival
BY MISS MARY E. MOULTON OF AHMEDNAGAR
Monday there was to be a big pilgrimage at Dongargan, eleven miles out. All my schools were to be closed for the day, and the masters thereof, to- gether with the pastors, preachers; and Bible women, were to go to Don- gargan to preach. Over ten thousand people were expected to be there. There had been some question about the advisabilit}' of any Bible women going, SO I decided to go and see what the preachers were doing and whether I should take the women another year. A Miss Goodfellow, of the Canadian Presbyterian Mission, was visiting here in Nagar, and I invited her to go with me. It was a beautiful morning, fresh, and bright, and cool. It is our rainy season, and though our rain has been much less than the average, just now we are having our latter rains, and the grass, which had become brown and burnt, now is green again.
At length we reached Dongargan. Here the crowds had already begun to gather. Shopkeepers were busy displaying their wares. Beggars, the lame, the halt, and the blind all were engaged in asking and receiving, for charity given on a holy day or on a pilgrimage multiplies the merit stored up for the giver. The chief reason of this pilgrimage is to bathe in the springs of the place, especially one named after Seetabai. We went down there and watched and then went through the crowd. The people had come from all the surrounding villages, and even from some far away.
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They were all engrossed in their bathing, and it was evident that they had no desire to think of anything else. After returning to the bungalow, and getting our lunch, it looked so much like rain that we decided to go back to Ahmednagar at once. Up near where the tonga awaited us were our men preaching under a tree, and though from one to four the crowd changed constantly, still it was orderly and one that listened quietly.
A Letter to Christian Endeavorers
February 7, 1906.
Many things have happened in our small circle here since I last wrote to you. The latest thing of immediate concern is my removal to Bailundu, for how long I cannot tell, but I hope to return to Chileso in the dry season.
It became necessary for Mrs. Woodside, on account of her health, to make preparations to return to America as soon as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Moffatt, of Cisamba, are leaving also, as both have been suffering from fever. Miss Stimson, whose furlough was due last year, goes with them. The Neipps, who have hoped to make Chileso their home, found an oppor- tunity at once to go there, as Mr. Woodside was asked to help the Cisamba Station until someone comes to their relief. It was thought the school work of Bailundu would be too much for Miss Campbell alone, so I was asked to come down. I cannot tell how hard it was at first to leave my work at Chileso, which was in a much more satisfactory condition this year than last. I was afraid, too, that Mr. and Mrs. Neipp could not carry on all the school work besides the other necessary work of the station, but at last T was able to leave the responsibility with the Lord, and am trusting him to sustain me and give me the needed wisdom for the work here, which is different in some respects from my work at Cliileso. For one thing there are no regular helpers in our school here, and the whole responsibility rests upon Miss Campbell and myself. She has the girls' school and I the boys'. There are young boys to help us in kindergarten in the morning. The afternoon school for boys begins at two o'clock. At four I have an ad- vanced class of boys in the Harmony of the Gospels for an hour three days a week. The other two days at the same hour I have the old women who cannot learn to read. They have good memories for committing things, so they learn catechism, hymns and Bible verses. I try to sing with them too, but they seem to think their part is to listen. However, I enjoy them. I also have them in Sunday school.
I had a pleasant journey of four days coming here. Station boys carried
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me and my loads. The first day we crossed the Kutatu River in a small boat and reached a village where one of our young boys has been teaching. His own relatives are here, and that is why he was teaching instead of re- maining on the station. I found some promising pupils, the most encour- aging a middle-aged chief. They intend moving the Christians to a more favorable place, as the rum traders are so near, and part of the village is not in sympathv with the school. As we reached tlie village about three o'clock I had some time to hear different ones read besides the boys who came with me. I had brought bool<:s along with me. Meantime two of the boys were cleaning a house for me, putting fresh grass on the bed before they undid the blankets. After supper we had a good meeting in the onjango, a central place roofed in, but the sides left open. The next day we reached another school about noon ; those carrying the loads, except two, a young boy carrying the food and extra things, and the one with the bedding. They kept right along with the tepoia every day. At this school at Nandavala I was kept busy all afternoon. A number of young men belonging to the school, but living about twenty minutes away in another village, came as soon as they heard we had come. They read well and seemed very prorn- ising, especially one who, I think, will be a good leader for them. The teacher himself was not very promising, but the Lord has used him to begin a good work. My carriers bought lots of beans here for the rest of their journe\' going and returning. I occupied the small room at the end of the schoolhouse. We had a good meeting that evening. Most of those with me were Christians, and seemed glad to speaic encouraging words to the people trying to live Christian lives in the midst of village temptations and surroundings. I myself did not find it hard to speak at these meetings, and was glad of an opportunity to see the work and help by a few suggestions.
The next morning, after two hours, we reached Epanda, where Bailundu Station has a large school of several years' standing. We stopped here for half an hour and received a cordial welcome from the two teachers, Ngulu and Katito. We had met crowds of women going to their fields before we reached the village. That afternoon we stayed at a village wliere there is no school, and the people are not very friendly to the "Words," but they treated us well. I took a book and went some distance to an old village site where there are beautiful large shade trees, and spent a restful time. When I came back to the village mv bovs were waiting to read. One of my help- ers was along so he helped with those in the primers. There were eleven carriers in all, six for the tepoia. There was a good spirit among them for which I was very thankful. We had a meeting that last evening, too, and a good many came from curiosity. I hope the seed sown will take root.
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Life and Light
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Saturday about eight o'clock we reached Bailundu where I received a warm welcome from the missionaries and nati\es. ISIr. and Mrs. Neipp tried to tell me about the work they were leaving for me, but they were busy with their preparations for going on their journey to Ochileso on Monday. It was a long time Alonday morning before they got their loads off. They had sent a number up the week before. We met them on the path. But there were still many things left, and as the native load is sixty pounds it takes a good many loads to move all one's household furniture. I left mine packed at Ochileso, thinking to go back in a lew months, but I have had to send for a few things which Miss Campbell needs in her housekeeping. Mr. Stover also boards here.
The Neipps finally got off at half past ten with their " circus," as tliey said their caravan resembled. They had my carriers, some Bailundu boys and villagers from several places. We have heard from them since they arrived. There was no rain until after they reached Ochileso. I had been fortunate in that respect, too, having had rain only one night, none in the day time except a sprinkle the day we came here. Mrs. Woodside said the people gave the Neipps a good welcome. Mr. Woodside had suggested their cleaning up their places which were getting overgrown with grass and weeds, and they did, also filling up holes that remained from last year's building.
Mrs. Wellman is here now, too, coming back with Mr. Fay who went on a visit to the new place to help them decide on a site for building. She will remain with her two children through the rest of the wet season. They are having good times with Charley and ISliriam Fay, and Mrs. Wellman is teaching them every day, and I for a little while Sunday afternoons, while Mrs. Fay takes the woman's meeting.
While at Ochileso I was iKiving two Endeavor meetings a week, one for the young girls on Tuesday evening, and one for the young boys on Thurs- day evening. I miss these, and I fear there will be no one now to have them at Ochileso. Will 3'ou not please help us pray for more missionaries.^ The American Board has said they could not send anyone this year, but this would not prevent their being sent if their salary came from other sources. The W. B. M. I. would gladly send us someone I know, if she could be found. I am praying for two young women to come to us this year. It seems to me it would relieve the situation here at Bailundu and at Ochileso. The W. B. M. also feels that it ought to send us someone in Miss Bower's place, who left^the mission almost three years ago. Last year three left the mission. This year four are leaving. Mrs. Wellman returned last year. I know of your interest and sympathy both from letters I have received from
igo6} Letters from Our Missionaries 429
some of you and from Mrs. Wellman. It makes me giad to be called your missionary, and I want to.be faithful.
With kind wishes for the spiritual growth of all your societies, and thank- ing you for all you are doing to help the work here, I am.
Your friend,
Emma Redick.
Extract from letter from-Miss E. M. Chambers, Aintab, Turkey, May i8, 1906: —
I HOPE someone can be found for Kessab, for while I am not afraid to go alone, and expect to go if no one comes, I think it will be much better for the work and for me personally to have someone with me. But I am will- ing to wait until the right one is found.
Our work here moves on rather heavily since the fire, like swimming against a strong current, but it does move. The building we are now in, the only place tiiat would accommodate us, is rather unsanitary, and that, together with the nervous strain and losses of belongings has told on the health of many of the girls, so that the greater part of the time someone is ailing, and what with caring for sick ones, getting the naked ones clothed, and trying to teach without sufficient text-books, we are more than busy, but there is only about five weeks more and then we may rest on our laurels, and wait for our new building which it is hoped may be so it can be occu- pied by the time we open school in the autumn.
I plan to go to Kessab as soon as may be after the close of school here, as I want to get things in hand for next year's work before time to begin it. Five of our graduates this year are from Kessab, and will be our teachers next year. It seems nice to have our own girls, does it not? I have had them here for two years, so know them well. Just now the girls seem to be many of them greatly awakened and earnestly seeking the way of salva- tion. We are so glad for this, and I am sure you will pray with me that it may continue, and that especially of the ones who go out to return no more, the seniors, all may know him as their own personal Saviour who died for them.
Work in Aruppiikottai, Madura District, South India, by Miss Quickenden : —
We have had a very bright and happy year as regards converts — here and there one all over our station : a farmer and his family, a merchant and his wife and son in one village; in another village several families, among whom is one bright boy named Krisnam. He came to the boarding school last year, but only stayed one term, then did not return, and I did not think that he had gained much. However, the seed was sown, and
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the catechist in his village has reaped the reward, for, though his father still remains a Hindu, he is a very bright, true Christian, and only fourteen years old. He was so eager that his little sister should come to school that when I went to the village last week I succeeded in getting the father's consent and brought her back vv^ith me.
In our boarding school there has been quite a revival ; several boys and girls have been converted, and many others greatly changed. Three bovs and seven girls are to unite with the church next month, and sixteen chil- dren joined the Christian Endeavor Society this week as active members, and all seem so happy.
Among our helpers, too, there is new life, especially noticeable in our Aruppukottai native helpers. Anotlier Hindu woman was baptized and received into the church last Sunday, the result of Nachrammal's (Bible woman) work, and I think Sunnammal (Bible woman) had a good deal to do with the coming of the two families mentioned.
Last week I went to visit the Bible women in Pommai-kottai-karisaku- 1am, Neeravi and Perunali. Those villages are seven, seventeen and twenty miles from Aruppukottai, so it took five days to visit the three places. I slept one night in each place, getting my meals where I could, sometimes by the roadside. In Pommakottai and Neeravi it was harvest time, and the women are mostly very poor so that they work in the fields all day, and it is only at night, after they come home tired and have cooked and eaten their evening meal, that they have time to sit down and listen to us or come to a meeting, but often the Bible woman will follow them to the fields and try to teacli them something while they work. Just^ now, owing to the lack of rain, many are suffering, and they say that some of the people are digging up the ant-hills in the grain fields in order to get the grain tliat the ants have stored up, which they cook and eat. They told me they sometimes get nearly a quart measure from one ant-hill.
In Perunalai, where our new Bible woman, Mariammal, is at work, we have a different class of women. They are mostly from the wealthy classes, who do not allow their women and young girls to go out ; so they are shut off' from all chance of hearing the gospel unless a Bible woman succeeds in winning her way into the house. This Mariammal has done, and I went with her to see some eight or ten bright young girls and women of fourteen to twenty, and a few older ones whom she was teaching. She is doing a very good work, and I was much pleased with lier work.
I should like you to pray specially for the Bible women's work in and near Aruppukottai, for having had two converts baptized recently — one in December and one last Sunday — tliere is some persecution. Valli is the
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last convert. Now she has taken the name of peace"; Samathanaui, in Tamil. The Bible women are forbidden to go to her house now by the relations. They say sev^eial young men are ready to beat anyone who comes, but Samathanam is very brave herself ; slie came to church again yesterday, and she insists on being allowed to, thougli her friends object.
This evening a boy of fourteen came and begged to be taken into the boarding school. He has heard the truth through Paripuranam, Bible woman, who teaches his sister, and he says he wants to be ; Christian, but, alas ! we had to send him home, for we could not take him without his father's consent.
Last month Mr. Perkins, Dr. Harriet Parker and I went out for another ten days' itinerary, and we had a real good time. We had fiv^e camps, a half a day to a day's journey apart. We started out on the 23d of Janu- ary, reached Mandapasalai at noon. A few people were there before us, and while our breakfast was being prepared and we were unpacking our few necessary articles — as cot, chair, etc. — the crowd gathered, and within an hour of arrival we had eaten and set to work. First we had a very good meeting with the people, then Dr. Parker began seeing patients, and our hands were full ; but our native helpers kept up the singing and preaching at a little distance until dark, when we stopped work, but only to begin again as soon as we were up in the morning, and oh ! what crowds came. We had arranged move on to the next camp at noon, but could not, and at 2 p. m., when we were obliged to stop in order to reach the next place that night, we had to leave with heavy hearts, for there were more than one hundred people unattended to, who'had gathered while we were eating and packing up to go, and on the road we met two carts full of people coming to us ; but, happily, we persuaded theiti to follow us next day. Dr. Parker saw and we did our best for 284 sick people in tliat first village. In Perunali the crowd was not so unmanageable, and the people much more attentive to the preaching. We were there one whole day and Dr. Parker treated 194 patients. In Sevalpatti another 136 obtained her help; and then being Saturday evening we went on eight miles to a hut on the seashore, where Dr. Parker and I thought we would spend a quiet Sunday. But even there a few people found us, and on Monday we started oft' on an eighteen miles' journey across country to Sengotampetti, a village where, as far as Mr. Perkins knew, no white doctor had ever been. Here we bad the hardest day of all. From early morning to 9 p. m. an eager crowd pressed one upon the other. When we stopped for the night the number seen was 280, or more, and in the morning while the men were taking down tlie tent to move on you might have seen Dr. Parker, her dispenser, Koilpillai, and
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myself, all sitting round the medicine boxes under a big banyan tree, trying to do something for 30 or 40 people who hemmed us in on all sides clamoring for medicine, and in all, the names taken amounted to 335 in that camp alone. Our next and last camp was in an ideal place among a group of big trees, which gave shade to us and the people, and all day long we could look round and see little groups of people gathered round a catechist, or seated round a Bible woman who had a Bible picture spread out beside her on the ground. Mr. Perkins had his monthly meeting for the catechists in his tent near by, so a number of workers were present and each took a turn in the singing and preaching. Two hundred and fifty-two patients were seen, and at 7 p. M. we had finished, so walked across the fields three quarters of a mile to a new church in Poonalaipetti, where Mr. Perkins conducted a communion service. We enjoyed it, and it was such a nice finish to our tour. With a few odd people here and there counted in. Dr. Parker treated 1,223 patients on that tour; and that they appreciated what she did for them is seen by the fact that when I went tlirough some villages near where we camped last week the people asked if I had not brought any medicine, and "When will the doctor come again.'*" and some spoke of benefit received.
Woman's Board of the Interior
Mrs. S. E. HURLBUT, Tkeasurer Receipts from June 10 to July 10, 1906
Colorado Illinois . Indiana . Iowa Kansas . Michigan Missouri Montana
>fEBRASKA
Ohio
South Dakota Wisconsin Wyoming Maine
Massachusetts
108 55 2,063 37 41 30 445 (15 152 90 308 85 793 81 15 40 51 30 1,216 25 18 20 292 51 4 00 6 35 613 50
New Mexico . Turkey . Miscellaneous
Receipts for the month Previously acknowledged
Total since October, 1905
15 00
3 39
S6,616 62 40,308 37
§46,924 99
additional donations for special objects.
19 90 788 54
Receipts for the month Previously acknowledged .
Total since October, 1905 . . . §798 44
Miss Flora Stabr, Ass'tTreas.
Annual Meeting of W. B. M.
The Annual Meeting of the VV^oman's Board of Missions will be held in State Street Church, Portland, Maine, Wednesday and Thursday, Novem- ber 14 and 15, 1906. A meeting for delegates will be held on Tuesday, the 13th.
The ladies of Portland will be happy to entertain delegates appointed by Branches and women who have ever been under appointment as mission- aries by the Woman's Board or the American Board. All such desiring entertainment are requested to send their names, stating what they repre- sent, to Miss Jean L. Crie, 79 wState Street, Portland, before October 8. Any wishing to secure accommodations at their own expense may also apply to Miss Crie.
The usual reduction in railroad rates on the certificate plan has been secured.