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Vol. XXXIX OCTOBLR, 1909 No. 10
Miss Annie T. Allen, for the last six years associated with Miss Powers
in the W. B. M. P. school for girls in Brousa, Western Turkey Mission,
Missionary has returned to this country that she may make a home for
Personals. her aged father, himself for many years a missionary of the
A. B. C. F. M. We have had the privilege of brief calls from Mrs. D. Z.
Sheffield of Tung-chou and Mrs. W. S. Ament of Peking. Mrs. Sheffield,
with her husband, is in this country on furlough. Mrs. Ament hopes to
return to the field to go on with the work she shared with her honored and
lamented husband, going under the special care of the W. B. M. I.
Word comes of the death at Colorado Springs on August 21st, of Mrs.
George C. Knapp, for many years a missionary in Turkey. She went to
the field, a bride, in 1855, anc* ner devoted service for the women of Turkey
was greatly blessed. By her addresses she had stirred many hearts in this
country, but recently has been a great sufferer. Her reward is great.
A cabled message from Dr. Rife, by way of Sydney, brings the distressing
word that the Hiram Bingham had capsized and Captain Walkup is dead.
The Loss of the No details have reached us yet. All who have any sym-
Hiram Bingham, pathy for the work in Micronesia and for the heroic
missionaries who struggle against great obstacles in loneliness and remote-
ness, will grieve for them in this overwhelming loss and disappointment.
They had hoped great things from this new vessel, under command of her
devoted captain. We grieve, too, for the natives thus compelled to wait
longer for the gospel they so much need.
Without making much stir the preparations for the World Missionary
Conference of next year are going on steadily, and several thousand mission-
Edinburgh ary leaders all over the world are preparing material to be
in 1910. used there. About 1,100 delegates, 500 of them from
America, will compose the body. The sums expended for missions in
non-Christian lands determines the number of delegates to be 'appointed
by each Board, and many missionaries and native Christians from foreign
fields will also be present. The conference will continue about two weeks,
434
Life and Light
[ October
and its main business will be to hear and discuss reports on all phases of
missionary work. Eight commissions are gathering facts about as many
different themes, which deal with vital aspects of the work.
Those of us here at home who are living on fixed incomes realize, some-
times painfully, that the prevailing high prices are cutting off some of
High Prices in our usual expenditures. This seems to be a world-wide
Mission Fields, condition. Going over missionary letters one morning
recently, we found the same story coming from North China, Ceylon, West-
ern Turkey and Mexico, and the thought of the need in Central Turkey
wrings the heart. Caused sometimes by the failure of the crops, total or par-
tial, sometimes by uncertain financial conditions, sometimes one could hardly
tell how, the fact in those widely scattered fields is the same.
Prices of necessities are so high that teachers and Bible women can no
longer live on their present stipend, always meager enough. When a
woman's salary ranges from two to four dollars monthly, according to the
value of gold in exchange, we cannot ask her to go on at that rate when the
price of food has doubled. It is safe to say that in all our missions the abso-
lute cost of bare living has greatly increased in the last ten years. What
shall we do for these women? Are there not some among us who will cur-
tail their superfluities that so they may share the more generously with those
who are destitute? To dismiss these women would mean grave loss to our
work and keen pain to our missionaries. Perhaps the Master himself is
watching to see how we will meet this test.
Some of our readers may wonder, as we take up The Gospel in Latin
Lands, the book for next year's study, why we should send missionaries to
Missions countries already nominally Christian. But no nation is yet
Needed. Christian. Some individuals in some nations are struggling
toward the Christlike ideal, and even this little leaven changes the whole
community. Here, in our own America, are many things for which we
blush — the greed of the rich, the hopeless, sodden poverty of the poor, the
untrained childhood, the broken marriage vow, the untellable havoc wrought
by alcohol, all these and more cry out that we are not fit to call ourselves a
Christian people.
Yet when we turn to the countries where Romanism reigns it is like
turning from sunny rooms to a darkened cellar. We must remember that
the Roman Catholic church in a Roman Catholic country is very, very dif-
ferent from the church we see in our own communities. The church which
teaches prayers to the Virgin Mary as mother of God, and to many saints,
which does not wish the common people to study the Bible, which gives to
igo9~\ Editorial 435
its priests the power to absolve from sin, certainly is not giving to its people
the pure gospel of Christ.
Look at our neighbor, Mexico, where the Romanists held undisputed
sway for three hundred years, and see a people held in superstition and
ignorance ; look at the character of the priests there who sway the people
with a rod of iron, and see if they do not need help.
It would be well for every leader, yes, for everyone studying our book,
to keep an envelope of clippings from our religious weeklies and magazines
of items bearing on the need of this work in papal lands. See the struggle
going on in France, Austria, Italy, Spain and Portugal, where the people
are waking up to feel their need, and to claim the truth, so long withheld,
which is the birthright of every man.
Think of the meaning of such a fact as this : "At the funeral of Rev.
George Tyrrell, the English leader of Modernism in the Roman communion,
prayers were said by Abbe Bremond, a personal friend. The Bishop of
Southwark, on hearing of it, suspended the Abbe's right to say mass.
There is no forgiveness even at the grave for a Roman priest who refuses
absolute intellectual submission. "
Think what a church must be that forbids Christian burial to one of its
own priests because he dared to think for himself, always humbly and
reverently.
It would be an eye opener to some of us to read a Roman Catholic prayer
book or some book of devotion — The Glories of Mary, for example.
A recent number of The Field Afar, a missionary periodical of the
Roman Catholic Church here in America, gives an account of one of their
printing establishments — the one at Nazareth, near Hong Kong. If we
Roman Catholic could be sure that all these books carry the pure truth of
Mission Printing, the gospel we should greatly rejoice in all this activity.
The writer says: u The printing house employs sixty-four well-trained
Chinese, and from its foundation to this day about five hundred different
books have been printed here, most of them running into many editions,
each edition containing thousands of volumes.
"These books are printed in Latin, French, English, Chinese, Cambo-
dian, Laotian, Annamite, Thibetan, Korean, Malay and Japanese. The
types for Cambodian, Laotian and Thibetan were made and cast in the
establishment.
"We may safely say that, in the Far East, the native Christians work
under no disadvantage since they have such books as are necessary and use-
ful for their spiritual instruction."
436
Life and Light
[ October
We are sorry to report that the amount received in contributions for
regular work — $4,140.15 — again falls short of that which came in August,
Our 1908, so that now we have received $2,539.17 less for this
Treasury. purpose than in the corresponding ten months of last year.
We need to increase our gifts over those of 1908 if we are to receive the
$120,000 necessary for the part of the regular work which we as Branches
are striving to support. For all regular work we received in the twelve
months of 1908 from contributors (individuals and Branches) $123,091, of
which $110,343 came from Branches; in ten months of 1909 we have
received in contributions from all sources, $79,903. To reach the amount
given last year we need $43,188. We would ask each one who plans to
give to the work of the Board to do so quickly, and we especially urge all
treasurers of auxiliaries to send whatever sums they may have in hand, large
or small, to the treasurer of their Branch before October 15th, that all may be
included in the receipts of this year. Who will help?
Do not fail to read Miss Chamber's story in the W. B. M. I. department,
and ask yourself what is your part in the matter. Miss Miner's account of
Take the North China Union Woman's College, with Miss Reed's
Notice. story of their recent commencement, Miss Hartwell's article on
Sunday-school Work in China, Miss Gehman's picture of the patients in
the hospital at Tai-ku, supplement admirably our September number. Our
thirty-six pages never give room enough for all that we want to print and
that you want to know.
Our thank-offering letter is now ready and Miss Hartshorn will send it
free on receipt of postage.
A recent personal letter from Mrs. Winsor, who is working most effi-
ciently and bravely in Sirur, incloses the following, written by a native gentle-
Testimony of man of high caste, who visited her recently : 44 While I was
an Outsider, looking on with pleasure the several good things said and done
by the cheerful little girls in Mrs. Winsor's school, I was inwardly ashamed to
think how poor our own methods of instruction [in the Depressed Classes
Mission Schools]. I was confirmed in my opinion that promptness and
brightness of a pupil is not merely a superficial polish, as some would
think, but the outcome of the inward joy of learning things rightly taught.
The boarding house which contained about a hundred smiling girls wore
the appearance of a home and was free from all the glare of some modern
institutions. I instinctively blessed everything I saw."
The Third Annual Interdenominational Institute for Women's Foreign
Missionary Societies will meet at the Ford Building October 2d, at ten and
two. Mrs. F. E. Clark and Mrs. H. B. Montgomery will speak. Leaders
of local societies will find great help in this meeting.
i9°9\ Two Weeks at Diong-loh 437
TWO WLLK5 IN DIONG-LOH
BY MISS ELIZABETH S. PERKINS
(Miss Perkins, of Alfred, Maine, went in 1907 to Diong-loh in the Foochow Mission,
where she teaches in the Abbie B. Child Memorial School.)
HAVE you ever imagined that our lives are monotonous here in China?
Let me give you a glimpse of life these two weeks. Having finished
two readers, the third and fourth in classical character, and having satisfied
the austere board of examiners that I could narye a reasonable number of
them and tell their meaning both in English and in the language of the com-
mon people, my brain needed a change. So the following week I made a
little journey among the Bible women and station classes in the remoter
MISS PERKINS, READY FOR HER TOUR
places. This year, since Miss Osborne went home for furlough, the work
for women has fallen to me. In our district we have sixteen workers of
this class, located in as many different places. Eleven of these towns are
within two hours of school, so that by starting away soon after tiffin I
can have an hour with a class and return home by dusk. The other five
places are from one to two days' journey away and so have to be made a
definite excursion.
Of all places in the world, China is the worst for turning a methodical
Yankee into another sort of person. One makes plans, sees no reason why
everything should not go like clockwork, but " The best laid plans of mice
and men " were well described by our friend Robert Burns.
438
Life and Light
[ October
You would have enjoyed the journey, for there were novel sights and
sounds. If one wishes, he may engage in conversation with the crowds of
ragged urchins that swarm the street, and who, at sight of the unusual chair
and white-faced stranger, scream in at their house door, "Quickly, come,
look, the foreign devil is coming," and out they dart again to peer more
closely into your face and to ask if you have brought any of those " Little
people" (picture cards) that you had the last time that you passed through
the village. You say " No," for you have planned to save that treat for
some of the remoter places up among the hills. By this time the tiny footed
old ladies and the pretty faced young girls, already wives and also tiny
footed, have hobbled out to gaze and ask the old questions, which one hears
so often that, if only these poor creatures could read, he would like to post in
big letters like the
signs on trolley cars at
home, "This is a
woman, not a man.
She is between twenty-
five and thirty years
old. She wears a hat
because the sun is very
hot. She wears
smoked glasses for the
same reason. She is
not cold. She has
hair under her hat."
But you put aside your
personal likings for
cleanliness and polite-
THE VILLAGE STREET r
ness and answer all
their questions, venturing a few in return, sowing a seed in some poor old
woman's dark heart; and when the groaning chair bearers come back from
their opium to carry you on the next stage of your journey, you leave this
hungry group in pity, wondering if ever again that old haggard face that stared
at you so carefully, will again hear the Name that is above every name.
China has its compensations. If, in America, you were speeding along
in a fast express and came to a rushing torrent, bridge washed away, you
would have to sit and wait perhaps for hours while a wreck train repaired
the damage. Not so in old China. One coolie suggests carrying you over
his back. You glance at his back and cast about for another method. Now
you are glad that you left your load of food and bedding at the chapel back
igog]
Two Weeks in Diong-loh
439
there, where you are to pass the night, and took the extra man to help with
your chair. The width of the stream is about the same as the length of the
chair poles ; so the coolies hold the chair, a man on each bank, the third
coolie stands up to his knees in the water, and using his hand for a step and
the chair pole for support you go over dry shod. Perhaps this bridge has
been down for years, and it may be years still before it is replaced.
The bright-eyed little Bible woman and her new class, organized only a
month ago, give you a big welcome, and though trembling a little at the first
examination, do great credit to her faithful work.
Up in the chapel loft that night, you feel safe and as happy as if at home,
VIEW OF DIONG-LOH FROM SITE OF PROPOSED HOSPITAL
though if you still are a bit human, you may whisper to self that Chinese
rattan beds are not as soft as Boston hair mattresses. Perhaps you fall
asleep humming the old, old hymn about "flowery beds of ease," shaming
self that you still sigh for the fleshpots of Egypt. Along in the night a rat
wakens you by running across your bed, and for the rest of the night a
lighted lantern warns the tribe that the room this night is taken by another
guest. Next morning when packing up for the next stage, a big, red bag is
missing. A search reveals it in the schoolroom below, where the rats had
taken it during the night.
440
Life and Light
[ October
If you only knew the people in the towns you would look forward with
me to seeing them. A ride for three and a half hours in wind and rain, and
we are at Sung-a, a walled town of pirate fishermen close down by the
water's edge. The church, which rents its home, has changed quarters
since my last visit, and the tired coolies are glad enough when they may
leave me at the Bible woman's room and go off for their noonday meal.
For two hours while the coolies rest, we talk together, and the Christians
come in. There are not many in the town, so they can all crowd into the
small room. Among the first to come is " Jewel Bright," and she brings a
dozen new laid eggs, a present which she wishes to offer, in return for the
beautiful American doll that Santa put in her stocking at Christmas. I
must always remember this little one as she said to me, when we visited
there last year, " I would like you to pray for my mother." To-day she
comes bringing the mother, too, and tells me with joy that finds a full
response in my heart, that mother has given her heart to Jesus, too, and we
are all happy together.
Next day there is a climb for two and a half hours up to Nang long, a
cluster of comfortable farmhouses hidden in a hollow on the top of a moun-
tain. The old house mother gives a royal welcome, and says, 44 We are so
glad you have come, you are a woman and we can talk to you. Mr.
Hubbard was here the other day, but he was a man, and they said I must
keep out of sight." Here thirteen girls and young wives are reading in the
class, all have the tiny feet, but I think some will soon unbind. There is a
strange dislike of being the first to do such a radical thing, so several are
making the larger shoes and there is to be concerted action. There is a big
ache in my heart for four of these girls who want to unbind with the rest,
but because they are betrothed, they cannot do so, at least not without the
consent of their lords. The 19th Psalm was singing in my soul all that day
as I climbed up and down the hills covered everywhere with the beautiful
wild azaleas. Here a gaudy bunch peered out at me around a big rock,
and here a cluster leaned over a clear pool as if to see if her neighbors were
really any richer in hue than she herself.
For the first time since I have been in China I saw fields of the beautiful,
deadly, poison poppy. Its nodding heads, pretty and graceful indeed, but oh,
the poison in its cup ! Well do the children's readers say, " O opium, the
worst of our country's evils and woes and sorrows is because of you.
Among the evening visitors that flocked to the Kongcheng Chapel, there
came one night the father, mother and three brothers of Jewel Fairy, one of
the new children whom we have received into school this term. The family
are all members of the Kongcheng flock, the older ones having united with
Two Weeks in Diong-loh
441
the church, and little Peter, aged one, promises to add himself in time. The
mother said, " My neighbors said I should not send little sister to your school
for if I did I should never see her again, that you would sell her, and she
would be very unhappy. But when big brother, who went along to carry
the load, came home he said, uO mother, the house is so beautiful, so big,
so high and so clean ; and sister has so many nice girls to study and play
with ! It is beautiful. I almost wish I were a girl too ! Then I felt more
peace in my heart." Inquiries for the child's health then followed, and I
could tell that because the tortured little feet had been set free the child's
whole body was much stronger. The plate of freshly roasted peanuts and
two fresh eggs that the timid mother brought, bespoke her good will and
were enjoyed in proportion.
At Gu-gaing on the homeward way such a funny little lady was waiting at
the roadside, under a big stone ''widow's arch." She had heard I was in
this locality and had been watching for my return. So the chair is put down
and her story is told. A widow with two children, she was once employed
at one of the mission schools as cook, but because of a hasty temper lost the
position and has recently been earning her bread in the occupation of " middle-
woman " in betrothal. She says, " Because I am a Christian I must tell the
truth about the girls whom mothers wish me to find husbands for ; if they
are ugly I may not tell that they are beautiful ; if they are sickly I may not
say that they are well ; I may not make them out more desirable than they
are. So the mothers are not happy to employ me." As is so often the
case she thought it would be very fortunate if I would employ her to live in
a little house in her village and teach her neighbors. I feared she was not
very well qualified to instruct, but I said I would bear her in mind and
confer with Mrs. Hubbard in whose employ she formerly was.
I have never been more oppressed and weighed down by heathenism
than that afternoon which I spent at Su-Tau, a town of more than
a thousand homes where until last year there was no Christian work. Now
there is a day school where twenty boys and a few girls receive instruction,
and on Sunday the teacher gives a talk on gospel truths to all who will
come and listen. A foreigner was a rare sight for the small boys, and for
the grown-ups as well. I felt much like " the elephant come to town " as
the troop of small boys preceded us along the way and proclaimed our
approach. Wherever we entered the women flocked, and sandwiched in
between their many questions we tried to tell them a little of the love that
is seeking them. Perhaps they grasped a little, at least no one was hostile
or laughed at our message. There, as everywhere, was the same heart
hunger which none but the Bread of Life can satisfy.
442
Life and Light
[ October
There is always a touch of humor. It was furnished this time when a
girl whom I suggested was old enough to come to our school, said she did not
wish to come for there we did not allow the children to speak aloud. This
notion it seems has arisen from the fact that our children are taught to study
without sound, which is the opposite of native method. In a native school
merit is based on lung capacity rather than brains.
Home at dusk to find a bunch of letters, a warm welcome from Miss Hall,
a delicious roast goose from our own flock, a warm bath and a good bed.
Sunday we spent at Sunday school and church in Diong-loh, and afternoon
Sunday school at a chapel we have just opened in a nearby village. Here a
group of our older scholars go with me to help with the singing. This is
voluntary and the girls all clamor to be allowed to go. Sunday evening is
the Christian Endeavor meeting.. Our Sundays are well filled.
Monday as a sort of rest from regular work, my teacher and I spent the
morning over a box of bugs, beetles, worms and other Chinese medicines
which I had asked him to buy for me to send to home friends. He found the
words in the dictionary and told me the method of application, and I wrote in
English the directions for use. There were long-legged grasshoppers for
44 a chill on the liver," a big lizard for consumption, herbs for fever, and
beetles of varying stripes for numerous ills to which the flesh of man is heir.
44 Do you send these queer things home to ridicule us Chinamen ? " my teacher
asked. fc4No,"I said, 44 I want some of my friends to know how much you
need a doctor in Diong-loh. When they see these medicines which are now
being used, perhaps some one will find out that God can use him here."
Heaven forbid that I should ever make fun of these Chinese, they have a
wonderful number of good traits, and — they are my friends.
Chinese paper dates back to the second half of the third century after
Christ. Some lay buried in the sand of the Gobi desert, where, in the
ruins of a city, manuscripts were discovered covered with Chinese script,
preserved for some 1,650 years. The Chinese claim that paper was manu-
factured as early as the second millennium before the Christian era, and it is
probable that the making of paper out of vegetable fiber was already an old
art in the third Christian century.
One thousand Chinese Bibles and Testaments have been distributed this
year among the post office clerks in China. Each volume was separately
addressed with a personal letter from the members of the International
Christian Association of Postal, Telephone and Telegraph clerks. The
books were distributed through the British and Foreign Bible Society,
which paid one half of the cost of the gift. — Mission Field.
Our Nurse at Sivas
443
OUR NUR5L AT 5IVA5
Miss Lillian F. Cole, supported by the Eastern Connecticut Branch, is
a nurse in the hospital at Sivas, in the Western Turkey Mission, a hospital of
which Dr. C. E. Clark has charge. The report of the past year's work tells
of 190 major operations, in which the share of the nurse is almost as
important as that of the doctor ; of 181 in-patients, their stay averaging
fourteen days; and of 1,700 out-patients helped and cared for, for varying
AT THE HOSPITAL DOOR, SIVAS
lengths of time. The in-patients have been Turkish, Kurdish, Circassian,
Armenian, Greek and American ; and among the diseases were measles,
pneumonia, typhoid and typhus fever. Owing to the failure of the grain
crop for two years the people have been very poor, sometimes almost
starving, yet they have paid 70 per cent of the expense of their treatment,
aside from the salaries of doctor and head nurse.
Miss Cole speaks to the women every Sunday, bringing them some
gospel message, and the patients hear her gladly.
444 Life and Light [ October
THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN CONSTANTINOPLE
BY MRS. ETTA D. HARDEN
(Mrs. Marden has been a missionary in Turkey since 1881, and has for several
years, with Miss Jones and Miss Barker, had charge of the Gedik Pasha work, in the
heart of old Stamboul.)
THE situation here for the time is quiet, actively quiet ; after the accession
of the new Sultan, and the forming of the new cabinet, together with
the co-operation of the army, much has been accomplished. The city is
well governed, the new police, trained men from Salonica, make a good
DEPOSED SULTAN ABDUL HAMID II, AND HIS RESIDENCE AT SALONICA
appearance, and seem to be equal to the trust confided to them. As long
as the citv is under martial law there is a feeling of security shared by all of
the diverse elements that make up this great city. Just how the new
police will conduct themselves after the army withdraws is something we
shall know only by experience.
The Sultan is making a good impression and is evidently enjoying his new
freedom. He goes out almost every day with little pomp and ceremony,
visits the wounded soldiers in the hospitals, the graves of those who fell in
The New Government in Constantinople
445
defense of the constitution ; goes out on the Bosphorus in his twelve-oared
caique. When he lias a function he has out the army and all the pomp
and glitter of uniform, gold lace and braid, but at other times he is very
simple. His returning five thousand liras of the amount assigned him
monthly by the parliament has made a good impression. The cabinet is
fairly strong. Ferid Pasha, the Minister of the Interior, on whom falls the
task of dealing with the provinces, is a good man, and will do all he can to
regulate the country. But to hope for speedy results is to underestimate
the gravity of the problem. To subdue and hold in hand all the diverse
elements that make up the Turkish Empire is a tremendous task, and
patience, wisdom, firmness and time are needed to accomplish results.
The present attitude of the Turks toward the troubles in Adana and the
region round about is quite different from that of twelve years ago. They
are filled with shame, grief and humiliation over the situation.
Halide Hanum has written an article which was published in the Turkish
papers, and copied into the Armenian journals of the city. In it she
expresses her grief in the most eloquent and touching language, and calls
on her countrymen to cherish and protect in the future with their swords
and with their honor their Armenian brothers. I was just reading it with an
Armenian, who was melted to tears, by her tender sympathy and beautiful
language. She voices the feeling of a goodly number who cannot express
themselves so well, but who feel the grief and shame of the whole thing.
In Aintab, when Dr. Shepard returned from Hassan Beily after caring
medically for the remnant there, to collect supplies for the poor, bereft,
homeless ones there, a Bey, Turkish, gave thirty liras for their succor, and
Turks gave several hundred pieces of furniture, cooking utensils, etc., for
their distressed brethren. We weep for Adana, but we hope we see
springing from those multitudes of graves broad scattered over that whole
fair province, shoots of the tree whose leaves will be for the healing of
nations. We hope that all the loss, the grief, the suffering, the shame, the
nameless woe, the cries of fatherless children, and tears of widows, will be
forgotten — no, never forgotten — but will live in the memory of those who
see in them the death throe of a fatal despotism, the birth pangs of an
eternal liberty.
Last w*eek I went to Brousa for my first visit. Those two ladies are
doing good work there, but with what odds ! Old tumble-down, ramshackle
buildings, no yard, little sun. They are in marked contrast to the fine, tidy,
commodious building of the Jesuits on either side of them, and a comment
on our methods. I wonder that any parents care to send their children into
such accommodations.
446
Life and Light
[ October
While in Brousa I renewed the acquaintance made here in this city last
winter of a very interesting Turkish woman. She is twenty-three years
old, sweet, winning and devoted to the new regime. She has now a little
kindergarten of nine girls, in Brousa, which she is managing as well as she
can with her limited knowledge. She is taking English lessons of Miss
Powers, and hopes to go to America and get a kindergarten course. It is a
very hopeful sign that a Turkish woman wants to do this, and I hope that
in some way her desire may be realized. She has means for her traveling
expenses. There is no suitable opportunity for such a course for her here,
and she would be enlarged and benefited by a sojourn in some other
country than her own. The Turks need to know that although the natural
beauties of their country are many, they fall far behind in the things that
make up the requisites of good order and stability, and an object lesson is
the most effective means of conveying such information. It is the experi-
ence that such of the Armenians as went to America, in the early history of
work here, returned and rendered large service to their people. My con-
viction is that our first effective workers among the Turks need this same
experience. They must see themselves as others see them. To surround
Hurze Hanum by the sweet, pure ideals of Christian womanhood would
awaken in her soul possibilities as yet unknown.
COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT IN PEKING
BY MISS BERTHA P. REED
(Mrs. W. S. Ament, for several years a fellow-worker with Miss Reed, says of her
service : Miss Reed's work is very varied. Besides her teaching in the Woman's
Union College of Peking, she has her hand upon educational movements in the city,
and holds classes for physical training in some of the high grade private schools for
young women, thus multiplying her power for good. She is very tactful, and the
influence of her gentle, yet strong personality is felt by all those who come in contact
with her.
She also takes a kindly interest in the welfare of the Emily Ament Memorial
School, and examines the classes each week, giving in addition helpful talks on vari-
ous subjects. A few girls who received their preliminary training in this school
have been received into the Bridgman Academy, and we hope that some of the girls
from the Memorial School will take a complete course so as to be fitted for assisting
in the teaching at the school which gave them their first glimpse of the world. The
majority, however, coming from heathen homes, have not that element of persistence
which we find among the children of our church members in their quest for education.)
FOR the first time, and after many years of effort, we may give so preten-
tious a title to the commencement of June, 1909, in our Peking school.
Often has it been recorded in these columns that we of Bridgman School
were gradually working our way up to a college, but it must have seemed
to many that the fulfillment of our hopes has been long delayed. Perhaps
College Commencement in Peking
447
our old friends may be a bit mystified by our present names, since we are
divided into two departments, the Bridgman Academy and the North
China Union Woman's College. But at last the goal of our plans has been
reached, and a class has been graduated from the college, after four years of
hard work since leaving the academy, the first of the girls of China to reach
so high a point in education. All honor is due to the educators of our
mission girls, past and present, who have by persistence and patience made
possible this success.
Many and arduous were the preparations for this final great day in June.
The four seniors had their final examinations to pass, and wished to gain all
possible honor in this last effort. And then there were their essays. The
writing and the correction, and the rehearsals — who shall chronicle these
labors, so necessary and so hard? The others of the school also had their
preparation, in much training in music which should be fit for such an
occasion.
But all was ready' at last when the day came — a day bright and clear and
cool — a beautiful pause between the days of dust storm and rain preceding
and following it, as if it had been arranged especially for us. Within the
church was corresponding beauty. In the center, in front, were groups of
plants and palms, and above them hung two Chinese flags, great dragons
disporting themselves on pale yellow silk. At the sides were long banners
of pale blue silk, with the class motto in large gilt characters : —
"The wisdom of the world does not merit praise.
True wisdom is to follow God's will joyfully."
The audience was a fairly large one. Only a few favored men were per-
mitted to come — this being a girls' school in China — and among these were
a few officials and others interested in education. The women who came
were many and gaily dressed, and we were glad to see representatives from
a number of the girls' schools of the city. We were proud of our school
throughout the exercises. Their music for the day was very difficult, but
they won great praise for the singing of it. If you knew these Chinese
girls, you would realize that our four graduates took their part with great
dignity, and showed that the work of these years had done much for them.
Yet it seemed a time for sorrow, too, when the diplomas had been given,
and the four sweet voices were singing the farewell song to the school, and
all realized that here was the end of the happy school days, which had
begun for each of them in childhood, and the beginning of another life, with
new and unwonted responsibilities and cares. Still we are glad to see them
going into what we know will be years of usefulness. We think of their
power of mind, of their growing self-reliance, and of their spiritual life
448
Life and Light
[ October
which has deepened much in these last months, and we feel sure that they
must make leaders of strength in the circles to which they shall belong
in the years to come. At present their work will be teaching, giving help
to which we have long been looking forward.
After the exercises in the church were finished, all the guests were invited
to the school, which had been set in especially good order for their reception
and inspection. In one room was a table on which were spread examina-
MISS REED WITH MOHAMMEDAN WOMEN OF PEKING AND VICINITY
tion papers, notebooks and essays, and many came here to look at the work
that had been done. In another room tea was served, and this was indeed
a busy scene. Here the younger pupils rejoiced in an opportunity to help,
and it was a delight to watch them, in their eagerness to serve the guests in
their best possible manner, and to see them later going about with different
groups, showing them schoolrooms and dormitory. We note here a kind
of democracy which is most pleasing. Sometimes it is embarrassing to have
guests of different degrees, who are not willing to mingle with each other,
The Tragedy in Turkey
449
but a result of the honor paid to education seems to be that they are willing
now to talk with the students, who seem to stand apart from divisions of
rank, a class by themselves. And so it comes that pupils from humble
families may have most cordial conversations with ladies of rank and wealth
on these special occasions.
It was long before all these ceremonies were over, and guests were gone,
and pupils and teachers might pause and realize that the year was ended.
It seemed good that it might end with so perfect a day, and it left us with
joy and gratitude for the many blessings of the year, and with abounding
hope for the year to follow.
The accompanying picture shows Miss Reed with a group of Moham-
medan women from Peking and relations of theirs from the country. The
country woman has bound feet. The city woman has the city dress. An
interesting story is told in connection with the woman standing at Miss
Reed's left. Having but one daughter, and no son, she was determined
that instead of marrying her daughter out of the family, she would marry a
son into the family. The betrothal was arranged with Mohammedan
friends, and to carry out the fiction the daughter was taken to the young
man's home, while he was brought to hers. It is the custom of the bride's
mother to make humble salutations to the family into which her daughter
marries. This the mother of the groom did, as if she were really the mother
of the bride. During the wedding, which was held in the courtyard of the
family, three Mohammedan Ah Hungs recited the Koran in turn, the two
not reciting partaking of the feast. This woman has shown great hospitality
to the missionaries, and as they pass her door going to one of the mission
stations, she has often called them in for refreshments and a quiet rest in her
comfortable home.
THL TRAGEDY IN TURKEY
(Miss Isabella M. Blake, of Aintab, has written to home friends a vivid description
of the events of last April, as they affected our missionaries and their work. After
telling of the horrors at Adana and Osmanie* she gives some details we have not seen
elsewhere.)
OUR mayor received telegraphic orders for a massacre but refused. He
summoned the head men of the wards, both Turks and Armenians,
and told them that he wanted peace and order in the city, but he could not
keep it alone. Each man must be responsible for quiet in his own ward.
The mayor, like so many mayors at this time, tramped the city like a police-
man night after night. The three troublesome effendis tried to get the
450
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[ October
mayor out of the city under all sorts of pretexts, and fathered all sorts of
nefarious schemes to make trouble. One fine Monday morning the com-
mandant began to distribute Martinis to Turks and kept it up all day. Then
began a panic. All the shops were shut, and in some streets one might see
Turks fleeing one way with their household goods on their backs, and
Armenians fleeing another with theirs. The Turks were afraid of resist-
ance and revenge on the part of Armenians. Some people even began
digging up silly little earthworks. The better class of people sat quietly in
their homes, and the prominent Turks and Armenians went about urging
the people to reopen their shops and go about their business. The com-
mandant was quietly sent off in chains to his 44 baba " in Salonica.
Oorfa also had a good mayor, and there is a very interesting story told
about him. I do not know whether it is true, but it might easily be, it is so
thoroughly typical. As he was walking the streets of the city one night in
policeman's dress (he really did that) he discovered and arrested three men
who were engaged in painting the door of a mosque with filth. He put
them under guard in separate rooms, and discovered then that the three
men were three Moslem khojas, white fez bands and all. So the next day
he summons the great Moslem congregation, describes what he has found
without telling who the men were, shows the pails and brushes, and begins
to stir up the mob. 44 What does our Koran say must be done to men who
defile the mosque?" If you had ever seen an Oriental audience, you could
just imagine the growls and groans of rage with which they answer such
questions as these. Then they demand the three Armenians guilty of the
crime, all ready to tear them to pieces, and the mayor produces — three
Moslem khojas with white head bands. I do not really believe this story
because I happen to have heard it about some other city -in the old mas-
sacres, but it illustrates one true thing, that everywhere the lower mobs of
Turks have tried hard to incriminate Armenians.
The emissaries of the Sultan came to Aintab and held two meetings of
the beys and men of rank, trying to urge a massacre. Of course they went
for the beys first, for these have scores or hundreds of villagers whom they
can bring up to help. At the first meeting only three beys agreed and at
the second only one.
I do admire the courage of the Armenians who first went down into the
city and began to open their shops, not because they expected business but
for the moral effect. For a long time it seemed as if the least incident would
precipitate trouble, and once or twice the incident seemed to be forthcoming.
One day a veiled Moslem woman rushed into the market and told the Arme-
nians to go home because there would soon be an attack. Men began to
The Tragedy in Turkey
451
shut up their shops and there was a great fright, when the mayor appeared
on the scene, made a speech in which he told the people not to believe all
the reactionaries told them, and quieted things. Another time a Turk killed
his brother-in-law, dismembered the body and threw the head into the
street, intending to do the same, one by one, with the other members of the
family and lay the murder of several Turks on Armenians. The mayor
seemed like one inspired. He went straight to the Turk's house, found the
evidences of the crime and put the man in prison, and telegraphed to Con-
stantinople for permission to hang him, which was done. This is true.
Then we heard that the mayor had broken down from overwork, and was
to leave the city, and everyone was mourning and worried except those who
wanted him to leave. But he did not go.
We did not miss a day of school, though many girls were absent for a
week or two. The girls were very much frightened naturally, but we kept
them hard at work. One could hardly call them terrifying days but they
were anxious days, and as reports began to come in, nothing less than
heartbreaking. I do not think I was at all frightened at any time, but I
was worried enough so that many times I would start awake during the
night with some shout from the city ringing in my ears and think, 44 What
was that?" Then of course as soon as I was fully awake I would know it
was nothing. Then little by little the boarding school girls from that region
began to hear about the burning of their homes and the killing of their
fathers, mothers and brothers and so on. One girl has lost fourteen rela-
tives, including father and brother. In all, eight of our girls have lost their
fathers, others near relatives, and about ten have no homes left. We have
only about eleven from that whole region. Yesterday I heard one girl
jollying another, 44 Hoohanna, you've got a kitchen left in your house." It
was just heartbreaking to try to comfort the girls. Even when they knew
that some of their families, or all, were safe, they were obliged to think of
them as utterly forlorn and destitute, often in danger, hiding in caves or
huddled in crowded places of refuge, homeless, in need of beds, food and
clothing. This was hard enough in itself, but we had one remedy that
helped them a great deal — work for the sufferers.
As soon as Dr. Shepard's first letter came with a call for relief the people
of the churches began to organize and collect supplies of money, bedding,
clothing, wheat and cooking utensils. Supplies poured into the churches.
It has been a winter of extreme poverty in Aintab, but the very poorest
went down into their chests and brought out something — their best, too,
because the women that inventories the goods say there was little mending
to do. Our girls hemstitched twenty-five dozen handkerchiefs, gave a little
more, and were able to send about twelve dollars.
452
Life and Light
[ October
"HOW THE GOOD NEWS CAME TO" VAN
BY ONE OF OUR MISSIONARIES
(Though the events occurred a year ago, jet the story is so vividly told, and the
picture of conditions so clear, that it is full of interest to-day.)
YOU write, u I would like to know how the good news came to you."
In order to fully understand it, you must know that it takes the post ten
or twelve days in the best weather to come from Constantinople to Van,
and that the telegraph was under the closest espionage of the government,
and so no one thought of telegraphing for information.
Monday, July 27th, at noon lunch one said, "There is a report around
town that the Sultan has granted a constitution, but no one knows anything
about it or how it has come about, or whether it is likely to last." Naturally /
it was the topic of conversation everywhere, but no further information
could be gained, unless it was, " It is said the prisoners are to be released."
The second day after an influential Armenian family received a telegram
from a son in Constantinople, announcing his release from prison, and
adding* the words, Libert}', Fraternity and Equality. The fact that such
a telegram had been sent — the more astounding fact that it had been delivered
to an Armenian family — made us all feel something had happened, while
we declared the last three words of the telegram was the greatest piece
of folly, involving a great risk in such a city as Van.
For the last three or four years there has been a rich young Turk from
Constantinople in exile here for his political opinions, and we all were more
or less acquainted with him. Next he received a telegram announcing his
pardon and freedom to return home, and congratulatory telegrams began to
pour in on him. Reports began to spread that prisoners in Bitlis had been
released. Prisoners in Erzroom had been released, but our prison bolts
were as tight as ever. Armenians were impatient, and the question was
often asked, " Why are not our prisoners let out?" The answer given, and
I presume it was true, was, " The Van Turks don't fancy this change in
the government, and the officials fearing a massacre dare not release the
prisoners." For one or two days some anxiety was felt, and merchants
did not go to the market to transact business. The consuls were three hours
away at their summer resort, and we could get no news from them. After
a week one of the English missionaries who was tenting with the consul
came to the city, and he told us that the revolt of the Macedonian army had
forced this step on the Sultan, and that the Young Turks were in power
and that first congress or parliament was to be convened in November.
igog}
The Propagation of the Faith
453
This news we thought best to keep to ourselves and to let the government
make its own announcements.
Some telegraphing went on between Van and Constantinople with regard
to the prisoners, and ten days from first announcement, after sundown, the
prison doors were open and the five hundred, all save four of the revolu-
tionary leaders, poured out. Mr. Yarrow and Miss Rogers happened to be
driving by the city gate, three miles from our houses, at the time, and they
saw the whole procession and declared it a sight worth seeing. I presume
some people had an inkling of what was coming, as a few carriages were
waiting. These were quickly filled and rapidly driven, and all along the
route women and children were seen embracing fathers, husbands, sons and
brothers. Two days later the post, which left Constantinople after the
announcement of the change, came in, and in less than an hour the soldiers
were selling around the city pictures of the Sultan surrounded by flags and
the words Liberty, Fraternity and Equality. The newspapers, too, were
the greatest wonder, full of pictures of officials and minute accounts of every-
thing that had happened, and editorials and articles on the change of govern-
ment. The exclamations of astonishment, with the words, " Three weeks
ago if a man had done that or written that lie would have been put in
prison," were heard on every side. Pictures of the Sultan have not been
allowed here, or at least among the Christians.
This mail brought instructions for three days of rejoicing with illumina-
tions at night, and then began here those scenes which you have read of as
occurring in Constantinople. It was simply miraculous — streets packed
from wall to wall, so it was difficult to get through, with every class of
people of every nationality and of both sexes, and yet no disorder, no
arrests — dancing, clapping, speeches, cheering, in which soldiers, revolu-
tionists, school children and officers all took part. That day the four
remaining prisoners were released.
ACAULAY'S famous essay on Ranke's History of the Popes says:
1 I " There is not, and there never was on this earth, a work of human
policy so well deserving of examination as the Roman Catholic Church."
From pope and cardinal down to priest and acolyte it is like some great
military organization, where each has his own place and function; an
THL PROPAGATION OF THL FAITH
A LESSON FOR US
BY E. R. A.
454
Life and Light
[ October
immense machine, with countless interdependent parts, yet all subordinate
to one controlling power. And this organization goes on through hundreds
and thousands of years, unchanging, though its leaders come and go and
kingdoms wax and wane. The network of this great organization covers
the whole world, and no humble priest is so remote or so obscure that his
very thoughts are not known at the center, if these thoughts be in any wise
too independent.
The great machinery for sending out missionaries and keeping touch with
all their work centers in the so-called Propaganda, or, to give its full title,
77 Colhgio de Propaganda Fede, the College for Propagating the Faith.
In the year 1620, just when the Mayflower was bringing the little band
of Pilgrims to found the state where conscience could be free, the pope at
Rome,' Gregory XV, was devising important schemes. Moved partly by
the great defection of Northern Europe in the previous century, partly by
the thought of the new countries recently discovered by Columbus and
other mariners, he felt that the church must lay hold of these ignorant
people with vigorous hand. His dream was of world-wide dominion and
his plans were far-reaching and wise.
He formed a college of high officials, carefully chosen, whose duty should
be to gather promising lads and train them to be missionaries of the true
faith. Funds came from generous givers, and under the guidance of
Urban VIII, Gregory's successor, the new college began its work and found
its home.
Visitors to Rome will remember the Piazza di Spagna, with its noble
stairway leading to the church of Trinitd dei Monti, and the great gray
granite building at the right. This is the home of the Propaganda, the
greatest missionary center in the world, the spot whence go out workers
and instructions to every corner of the earth. The college is made up of
high ecclesiastics, men of great learning and shrewdness, under the head of
the cardinal prefect. As his position gives him world-wide power he is
often called the " red pope." The college meets every Monday, with more
important conclaves monthly, and all decisions go to the pope for final judg-
ment. They discuss and decide matters of policy, form and re-form
dioceses, appoint bishops, listen to minute reports, and keep close watch
for openings for advantage or possible heresy.
Hither come the lads, chosen by the priests as the most promising, to be
trained to be " laborious and pious" missionaries. When they are fourteen
they take an oath dedicating their whole life to missionary service, and
promising to go when and whither the orders shall send them. They
study the usual courses of church history, doctrine and discipline, and pay
igog'] The Propagation of the Faith 455
much attention to languages, learning the chief European tongues, and often
one or more dialects of the countries where their work will be. Their
expenses are all met from the college funds, and after they go to the field
their salary is meager.
The different nations which make up the Roman church have colleges of
kindred scope, all of them controlled by the central Propaganda, so that one
purpose and plan rules in these training schools in Paris, in Holland,
England, Ireland and countries far away. The college also directs like
schools on the missionary field and trains strong and efficient native workers.
Many brave and devoted men have gone out from this great seminary to
lives of sacrifice in Asia, Africa, America and the island world. So
successful have they been that some provinces, as Goa and the Philippines,
are reckoned as truly Christianized, and the work of the " White Fathers"
has transformed whole tribes in Northern Africa. They succeed in training
their converts not only to build their churches, but to sustain the services
and to give generously for missions to others. They regard all America as
a missionary field except Mexico, and probably there is not a village in our
land which is not noted and described in the reports forwarded frequently
and in detail to Rome.
The college lays great emphasis on the printing press, and sends out liter-
ature in many languages, being perhaps better equipped for Oriental
languages than any other press in the world.
More than 60,000 men and women sent out by the Propaganda and
directly under its control are now at work. What a spectacle could we see
them pass in one grand review, bronzed and toilworn heroes, sweet-faced,
self-denying sisters, eager young neophytes just beginning their fight!
Funds are never lacking for any work which the Propaganda approves,
for the faithful in all lands make generous annual donations to its treasury.
When shall we, who feel that we have a purer faith, learn from this ancient
church, her secret of devoted, whole-hearted service? Her missionaries are
loyal to the "church" — shall not we who love the church's Master serve
him with even greater devotion?
The world suffers incalculable loss because of the vast multitude of one
talented people who fail to appreciate their limited capacity, and do nothing
because they cannot do much. The widow and her mites, the lad and his
loaves and fishes, represent the units of society, and the atoms of service.
The failure of these is the failure of life, and their fidelity is the world's
salvation.
456
Life and Light
[ October
MISSIONARY LLTTLRS
WESTERN TURKEY
Miss Adelaide S. Dwight, of Talas, tells us about the close of their school year*: —
Our commencement exercises were very quiet this year. We had asked
Dr. Christie, of Tarsus, to be the speaker, but of course, after the massacres,
that was out of the question. So, instead of trying to get another speaker,
we went back for this year to the old way of having essays. The boys had
not time to memorize theirs, so we had the three girls and the four boys all
read their essays: three were in Armenian, two in Turkish, one in English
and one in Greek. There were about a thousand people in the big tent, but
they were a well-behaved crowd, and all seemed interested. Our three
graduates are all Christian girls and we feel very safe for them. One of
them has given us a good deal of anxiety before this year, but last fall she
had a real " change of heart," and has been one of our best girls all the year.
She is to stay at home next year. I believe one is to teach, and the other,
who is very young yet, will study further, we hope.
Miss Madeline Gile, of Adabazar, tells of actions truly Oriental : —
Last week the stream from which our water comes was so high that the
waterwheel did not turn, and no water could be pumped into the fountain.
We had water brought to the school for three days and found it quite a task
to supply so large an institution. At last we discovered that there was
water in some of the other fountains and sent a man to find out why our
fountain was empty. An official said, " There is no water in any of the
fountains (which we knew was a lie I), and the only thing to do is to pray to
God that the water may be lowered." [On account of heavy rains the
water in the river had risen.] After a little meditation upon this reply,
some money was sent, and the next morning there was water in our foun-
tain. It seems that at night the water lowered sufficiently so that the wheel
turned very slowly, and there was water for part of the fountains but not for
all, and those who paid for the water got it, and the others continued to
bring it. But just see the apparent piety of that Turk's answer !
Just now the people are very angry about the recent order that they shall
use teskeres, or permits to travel, again. The teskere system was one of
the most irritating features of the old regime, and I don't wonder that the
people object, even though it is declared that it is simply for revenue, a
small fee to be paid for the vise. Thus far the people have resisted, and I
think the matter will be brought before parliament.
Missionary Letters
457
On the other hand, there are some reasons why travel should be restricted.
These people are just children ; as soon as the teskere system was done
away with last summer, they flocked to Constantinople and the large cities,
most of them with no money for a return ticket. As many of them have
been unable to find work, the government and charitable institutions have
been obliged to feed them. Much of the lawlessness in Constantinople the
past winter can be attributed to this roving, unemployed class. Then there
are the Armenian revolutionists going through the Interior, stirring up the
people, shouting, "Long live Armenia!" and flourishing their revolvers in
the Turks' faces, talking of revolution to the village people who know no
better than to follow them. These men should not be allowed to travel
about, they do too much harm.
There is a good deal of lawlessness here, especially shooting at night.
Usually the shots are fired into the air, but a week ago Friday night there
was a lecture in the church, and some one fired two shots through one of
the windows. The bullets lodged in the overhead beams and did no harm.
But all the men and boys rushed out to find the culprit, leaving the women
and girls in the church expecting every instant to be killed. The man could
not be found, our kavass had seen no one, so the men came back and the
lecturer proceeded. The next day the girls had so far recovered from their
fright that they were inclined to pity me because I had not been present ; I
was at home taking care of a girl with the measles. But on Sunday the
Adabazar girls who come to Sunday school brought word to our boarding
pupils that a plan was on foot to burn the school buildings; so after the
second service Sunday afternoon the girls went to work to pack their trunks.
We told them it was nonsense and forbade any more packing on Sunday.
They slept safely that night and there have been no more scares since.
CENTRAL TURKEY
Miss Harriet C. Norton, of Aintab, gives us a touch of the Bible women's work in
that station : —
When the Bible women's work fell to me, left me by Mrs. Merrill, I took
it unwillingly and of necessity, but acquaintance with it has shown how very
interesting a work it is and has made me very thankful for the insight gained.
There has been a very interesting revival in one of our villages and I enclose
a letter from our Bible woman there, thin-king you would find it interesting
as I did. The writer is a young woman of about twenty, I should say, and
my translation is quite literal.
458
Life and Light
[ October
( COPY OF TRANSLATION OF LETTER )
Eybez, February 22, 1909.
My Dear Miss Norton : Although I have wished for a long time to
write you about my work, different reasons have prevented. I rejoice that by
God's will this opportunity has come for me to give you a little information.
As you know, for two months God's spirit has been at work in this little
church. I praise God for this. In a wonderful way the Holy Spirit is at
work. Day by day the number of those finding salvation is increasing.
Every day people are confessing their sins and acknowledging Christ, they
are growing strong in testimony, and their prayers are becoming sincere and
earnest. There are four meetings every day. In the prayer meeting as
many as eight or ten at a time are standing waiting to pray. Men and
women, old and young, rich and poor, it makes no difference, they all con-
tinue in prayer and testimony. As it was in the early church, day by day
they are increasing in strength. I hope that in the future, by the Lord's
strength, they may go forward still more. I want to give a little information
about my pupils. They are twenty-five, of whom two are reading from the
reader, two from the primer and twenty-one from the Bible. They are
reading with longing and eagerness. Before this I had to seek them, but now,
praise God, they are seeking me to learn the truth. I have been trying to
help them understand the truth but now they are telling me what they have
learned by the help of the Holy Spirit. We are very thankful for this.
This little church among the mountains is full with its joy. We ask your
prayers that it may go forward and become still stronger.
MICRONESIA
A recent letter from Miss Elizabeth Baldwin, who with her sister is working
bravely at Truk, till the German society can find two women to take their place,
shows us the perils to body and soul with which the islanders must contend : —
We have been passing through trying times. When I forwarded my last
letter to you by the January mail I told you of the epidemic of dysentery
which had made its appearance in our midst, and of the death of two of the
Ngatik boys. From December 31st to January 31st there were seven deaths.
Every week there was a funeral, and once there was a double funeral, when
the bodies of the only son of Edgar, the teacher of Ngatik, and of his nephew
were laid side by side in the church. Edgar's wife was sick herself with
this disease at the time of the death of their only son, and the night following
she gave birth to another little son, but his advent was premature and he
lived but an hour and a half. She lingered on for ten days, and then she,
Missionary Letters
459
too, was laid away. The oldest daughter, in our school, had one attack and
recovered, and is now ill again. She has been very, very low, but we hope
the crisis is past and that she is on the way to recovery, although her progress
is very slow. The other three motherless girls we have taken into our
school, and they are being lovingly cared for by our Truk girls during the
illness of their older sister.
There is a very strange fact about this epidemic which is widespread
through these islands, and that is, that the natives of the island visited by it
recover almost to a man, but it proves very fatal to strangers. This has
been the case here. There have been many sick, but all have recovered
but the Ngatik people. We now hear that on Ponape and Saipan it is the
Mortlock islanders who have died, and on Nauru the Truk young men, who
went there to work in the phosphate fields. At last report some twenty to
thirty of them had died with this disease. The Lord has been very gracious
to us, and we have had no very serious case but that of Julet, the Ngatik
girl, yet this has been a good deal of a strain on us as we have had to lose
so much sleep. We trust that, if it is the Lord's will, her life may be spared
to be a mother to her motherless little sisters, and to be a light in this dark
world.
Very few days pass by without a visit from one or more of the native
teachers, and they come bringing their encouragements and discourage-
ments. Two, who visited us last week, were burdened because their people
seemed to want only to acquire some learning, and cared nothing about
instruction from the Word of God. They said that during the arithmetic
classes the people were all attention, but when they had their Testament
lessons they were listless and careless, as if they had no pleasure in that
kind of instruction. Poor people, their hearts have been hardened, we
fear, by the unfaithfulness of a former teacher who was stationed for many
years in their midst, and who since his fall has continued to reside among
them, although his home is on one of the other islands. It seems as if his
influence at present was doing much to hinder the work among the people
for whom he formerly labored.
We have just heard with sorrow of the fall of another teacher on that
same island, and report says that he intends to copy the example of this
man and remain among the people, who have given him some land as his
own. This is a terrible step for our fallen teacher to take, and we wonder
what is to be the outcome. Truly we need a mighty work of the Holy
Spirit to convict these who have turned from the Lord, of their sin, and to
open the hearts of those who are under their influence, to the knowledge of
the truth.
460
Life and Light
[ October
CHINA — FOOCHOW
Dr. Woodhull, of Foochow, tells of a new enemy which their Christians must
fight. Why will men for lust of gold send ruin to their fellows? And when will the
children of light learn to be as earnest and inventive as the children of this world?
Mrs. Stevenson, the W. C. T. U. all the world round missionary, has
just made us a visit in Foochow. Her visit was most timely, coming as it
did when the fight against the English cigarettes was at its height. Two
persons have come from England to introduce the cigarette into Foochow.
They both failed, praise the Lord! Then they went back to England and
said the only way to succeed was to have men come here and give away ciga-
rettes for a few months and in that way create a market for them. The
Chinese are rising to the occasion and making a grand fight. Some of the
government schools have made a vow not to use cigarettes. When a student
was seen smoking a cigarette in the street, they told him of the action of the
school and persuaded him to throw it away. The foreigner who had given
it to him was so angry at having his business interfered with that he struck
the student. This has made quite a commotion. The student was a German
and his father appealed to the German Consul ; he referred it to Peking and
they cabled back that it was a matter to be settled in Foochow. I think the
matter is not settled yet. Emperor William will have to let England know
that his students in a foreign land are not to be struck because they will not
smoke their miserable cigarettes. They call them little cigars here. The
common people like their water pipes so well that they will not be very
likely to change for the more expensive cigarette. Well, they have sunk a
good deal of money here already, covering every available wall with great,
bright-colored ads that are very attractive to the Chinese. A good many
are praying that they will fail, but they are few compared with those who
are either indifferent or would like to see them succeed.
In the report of the Girls' College, written by Miss Elsie M. Garretson, we read : —
The old story of being unequally yoked with unbelievers in betrothals in
which they have no choice deters some who fear they cannot withstand the
opposition of heathen friends. We are saddened to see that with some, as
the spirit of enthusiasm for study increases, the warm-hearted zeal for soul-
winning which has at times so characterized the school seems to decline.
This has been especially noticeable in coming back after two years' absence.
Some regard it as a phase of the times through which we are passing. It
certainly emphasizes the need of much prayer for Christian students in
China, for their own sakes and because of the important place of our schools
in relation to outside Chinese schools. The remedy is in higher standards
of Christian living, in keeping the Bible in the first place, and in prayer.
Missionary Letters
461
Needs. — We say the need of money is great, the need of more mission
workers is great, but greater than all else is the need of world-wide prayer
for the missionaries who are meeting these problems and for the Chinese
Christian students who are trained in our schools. The outside schools
springing up everywhere emphasize this need of prayer. Their fine build-
ings and abundant apparatus make a mute appeal, but very pathetic, to our
Christian schools. To us they look to fill the empty chairs with teachers
competent to teach. Their curricula include everything except Christianity.
Here is our opportunity. What kind of teachers shall we furnish them?
Furnish some we must.
We would emphasize again the need of one more new worker. The in-
troduction of English is now no longer optional but a growing necessity,
and the burden which it imposes must fall in a large measure on the foreign
teacher. But this is only one branch of our curriculum ; all other books are
taught in either classical or vernacular. Four foreign teachers, including
the work of the executive, all prepared to give full time, would no more
than meet our need. The Chinese teachers are also indispensable, but they
cannot make up for the lack of foreign teachers. .
INDIA — MADURA
Good news comes from Miss Mary T. Noves : —
Mr. Eddy and Mr. Azariah, a native Y. M. C. A. worker, held in our
school five very helpful meetings, for which much prayer had been made.
Fifty-four girls have given me their names as desiring to lead a new life.
Some were already church members, and some really sincere Christians
before, but their hearts are newly stirred to desire a fuller life in Christ.
Seventeen asked to unite with the church at once. One we thought needed
a little testing and three themselves decided to wait till another communion ;
but on Easter Sunday thirteen united with the church. As I sat in front by
the organ, I was much touched to see the earnestness in the young faces.
With them came an old man from one of the villages, a convert from
Hinduism. Mr. Banninga baptized this old man, who knelt for the rite.
He had brought a brass cup from which he had been accustomed to sprinkle
the idols, and gave it to Mr. Banninga. At the same time, in our East Gate
Church, was baptized another convert from Hinduism. He was a young
man, a clerk in the mills, and was first interested in Christianity by reading
a copy of The Epiphany, which was sent to him by a Christian friend.
His mother and sister were opposed to his coming out as a Christian and
unwilling to stay with him ; so he has deeded to them property which will
support them separately.
You will be glad to know that we now have no Hindu teachers in the
462
Life and Light
[ October
school. Even as Tamil " Pandit," or teacher, for which usually only
Brahmins are fitted, we have secured one of the young men of our mission,
son of Mrs. Washburn's old cook, who has fitted himself especially for this
work. I have also engaged a trained mathematics graduate, to begin
work in June. We need him very much, for the work in the higher classes
has not been entirely satisfactory. WTe hope, too, as it meets government
requirements, it will for another year secure a larger grant from govern-
ment. If we receive the extra grant voted to us by the Executive Committee,
I think we shall be able to meet the expense.
INDIA — MARATHI MISSION
Our Mrs. Winsor has charge of the whole Sirur field with work of many kinds —
educational, industrial, medical, evangelistic. Rev. D. R. Shinde, a native pastor of
one of the Sirur churches, sends a report of some of this work, from which we take a
paragraph : —
In connection with the Boys' Station School, Sirur, Mrs. Winsor has a
school for blind. They are taught to read and do some useful industry.
Besides this they are taught music and singing, and are made able to do
something for themselves and for others too. Though the blind are gen-
erally thought useless and miserable in India they help us when we go out
to out-villages for preaching, and in a village where we have no hope of a
good number of people to hear us, their music and singing is an attraction
to bring many people to hear the gospel, and in this way they are very useful
in evangelistic work. We are planning to take them in the district with us
on a preaching tour, and we hope to do much for the work of the Lord with
their help in the soul-winning which God tells everyone to do.
JAPAN
Mrs. Bartlett, of Otaru, tells of a promising bit of their work: —
The new chapel, with services Thursday and Sunday nights, continues to
be most interesting. We have often over two hundred children there for a
short service before the sermon, and you ought to hear them sing. Some
of them are my own Sunday-school scholars, but man}/ of them have never
been anywhere else, and there are all kinds. One boy seemed very rude and
didn't take off his hat when he was told. I found that he was deaf and
dumb ! He seems to love to go, and two other little fellows go with him
and look entranced with something when we sing ! There is a little hump-
back with a sweet face, and all sorts of thin, worn, miserable little folks,
besides jolly, grinning mischief-makers and babies by the score. After
three-quarters of an hour we ask the children to go home and make room
for the older ones, and they are pretty good about it, too, though at first they
didn't want to budge until the end of everything.
A Word to the Modern Mother
463
A WORD TO THL MODERN MOTHER
Something is lacking in your pleasant home. You do not realize it. It
seems to you a heaven on earth, with a loving husband, three beautiful
children, and enough of this world's goods to give them all that is needful.
There is certainly a great deal of the heavenly in it, but something is left
out of those children's lives. You do not realize it, because you are living
on what your parents stored up for you, for you and your husband have had
the best of training, and it has not been lost on you. Dr. Holmes' sugges-
tion that a child's culture should begin with a wise selection of grand-
parents has been carried out in this case, and your children " have a goodly
heritage." But this lacking something will be missed later, when your
children are older, and then it will not be easy to supply the lack.
I mean that the religious instincts of your children are not being devel-
oped. You wince under my criticism, for you pride yourself on your
broad views of education.
You do not believe in taking them to church when they are young.
Church services, you say, were tedious to you as a child, and you do not
want your children to dislike church. Do you know that your own ideas
of wliat is sacred were formed during those hours you call tedious? You
were learning reverence for holy things, you were absorbing the spirit of
worship, and your whole life has been affected by what you drank in uncon-
sciously in church before you thought much about listening. Have you
noticed that our young people are noticeably lacking in reverence? And
have you thought why ?
When did you grow familiar with the grand old tunes of your church,
with which the grand old words are inseparably associated in your mind,
and which have become so thoroughly a part -of you, that you are uncon-
scious of ever having learned them? You would not have them obliterated
from your memory for any price. Do you know that your children cannot
sing them ? But you sang them before you were as old as they.
You say you hated church. Stop and think. Did you hate it then, or
have you in latter years grown to think it must have been tiresome? And
if you sometimes did not enjoy it, are there not many pleasant memory spots
connected with the church of your childhood ? I think we have lately been
464 Life and Light [ October
greatly exaggerating the sufferings of children in the old days, and some
people brought up in the old-fashioned way have fond memories connected
with it, and hold those memories as a cherished possession.
Your children are not in Sunday school, for you tell me you do not want
them to have such wishy-washy teaching as you had in your childhood.
" Wishy-washy" was the very word you used. It would not apply to the
teaching I had, though that was very poor compared to the Sunday-school
teaching of to-day. But it was a great deal better than nothing. Perhaps
you have found a way and a time to give your children Bible lessons at
home, in just the way you wish them taught. Are your Sundays conscien-
tiously reserved for that? You blush to tell me that Sundays are too full.
Yes, full of" many tilings," perhaps very good things— as good as Martha
was doing for Christ when he regretted to the point of reproving her, that
the " one thing needful" was omitted. Remember that a true estimate of
relative values, is one of the secrets of right living. We cannot afford to
choose the good if it means omitting the best. Christ recognized this in
Martha's case, and we must recognize it in our busy lives.
Frank wanted to join the Junior Endeavor Society, but you did not
believe in children taking pledges before they were old enough to under-
stand the full meaning of them. Will there ever come a better time for
you to teach him the sacredness of a pledge? I fear you have lost an
opportunity.
You say you abominate narrowness, and want your children to have
broad ideas. Broad as the world, my friend. Jennie asked you one day if
she could join the Mission Band, with the other girls, and you told her you
thought she had better give all her spare time to her music. All? That
means that Jennie must lose this glimpse of the wide world, and the onward
march of God's kingdom in it — this that the other girls are getting. Are
your plans broad or narrow ?
The missionary collector from your church called and found you with
your last beautiful rosebud of a baby, fresh from heaven, in your arms.
You told her your expenses had been much increased this year, with the
coming of the new baby and with Jennie's music lessons — that you had
decided your first duty was to your own family, and you could not give an\ -
thing this year for foreign missions. Jennie heard the remark, and she had
not forgotten that you objected to sparing any time from those music lessons.
The impression gained a hold on her that all the time and all the money
belonged to one's own family. Were Jennie's ideas growing broader or
more narrow? She might have learned that God's gifts to us are not for
ourselves alone.
Book Notices
465
You say it would be a sin to neglect Jennie's talent for music, and that
you cannot do everything, nor can she. Quite true. But experience
shows that thought and planning help us to do many things we think we
cannot do. Paul forgot all human limitations when he said, UI can do all
things in Him that strengthened me." But, with no hyperbole, One greater
than Paul said very plainly, "These ought ye to have done, and not to
leave the other undone."
MRS. LEMUEL GULLIVER
Died at South Hadley, Mass., August 4th. This brief statement
announces the close of a very useful life. The record of what it meant
to Mount Holyoke Seminary and College is written in the hearts and lives
of many of the students. For twenty-five years Mrs. Gulliver had official
connection with the Woman's Board either as director or vice president.
During the earlier part of this period she was a regular attendant at the
meetings of the executive committee, with vital interest in all the work of
the Board, and ready with helpful suggestions toward wise decisions.
In later years physical disability has curtailed her activity, but her love for
the work and sympathy in it has never failed. Two years ago when she
was very ill and thought the end near, she left this message to be sent to the
Board at her decease, " I give God thanks for the privilege of being asso-
ciated with the noble women of the Woman's Board, and ask his blessing
on the work they have done and will do." WTe gratefully accept this
message as the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous woman which
availeth much.
BOOK NOTICES
Life of Isabella Thoburn. By Bishop J. M. Thoburn. Published by
Eaton & Mains, New York. Pp. 373. Price, $1.25.
There are several noteworthy things in regard to this biography. In the
first place the illuminated face of Isabella Thoburn, which forms the frontis-
piece and is full of spiritual radiance. Miss Thoburn's brother, the mis-
sionary Bishop of India, has naturally done his work con amore, and has
been able to interpret his sister's wonderfully consecrated life with the deep
sympathy of one in a similar environment.
Bishop David H. Moore's brief foreword is so compact and comprehen-
sive it can be quoted entire. His tribute is as follows : " Isabella Thoburn
stood for a host bannered and resistless. She filled the eye of our young
womanhood ; she was the pick and flower of their chivalry. She united in
466
Life and Light
[ October
herself the limitless receptivity of Mary with Martha's ceaseless activity.
She made godliness plain to tha-aged and attractive to the young. She illus-
trated the whole circle of Christian virtues. Speak of woman's work and
the saintly form of Isabella Thoburn rises to thought, aureoled in love.
Her life glorified the missionary work ; her death enshrines it in the
church's heart forever." Given such a biographer ; given such an interpre-
tive summary of her life ; the next supreme contribution is from that gifted
Hindu scholar and teacher in the Isabella Thoburn School, Lilivati Singh.
Within the past year she, too, in the midst of ever-increasing usefulness, has
been called hence to join her great friend and teacher. It was the remark
of one of England's queens that heaven was as near Palestine as London ; so
Miss Thoburn found heaven as near India as America, while Miss Singh
was called hence from America instead of her own native India.
The picture of her large, intense eyes and fragile, graceful form is a dis-
tinct addition to the book. And her recollections reveal Miss Thoburn's
rare nature in most fluent and forceful English.
There are other tributes given by those who had been associated with
Miss Thoburn in educational work, and in this way is obtained a many-
sided view of a most rare and devoted personality. Several of Miss Tho-
burn's papers and speeches make a valuable addition to an inspiring life
history. G. H. c.
From the Crucifix to the Cross. The Heretics. By Harriet Crawford.
Those who think of the Roman Church only as we see it in Protestant
countries will do well to read the little volume containing these two stories.
Mrs. Crawford was for several years a missionary in Mexico, and she
writes with a warm love for its people. She gives us pictures of the
scenery and the customs and homes that help to make our next door
neighbors seem more real. Her pictures of the ignorance of the lower
classes and of the superstition and devotion of the women, are vivid and
not overdrawn. She shows us the cupidity, the domination, the treachery
of the priests, and one shudders to know that such tilings as she describes
may be going on to-day. Certainly the priests in Mexico are striving to
resist the " accursed Protestants " by every means they can devise in open
warfare and secret plotting. Some of the quotations from Romanist books
which she gives us seem incredibly silly and others are equally blasphemous.
Running through each of the two stories is a thread of true love-making
which comes happily out of the tangles at the end. The book should have
a wide circulation, and will be particularly useful to those who are studying
The Gospel in Latin Lands. The few illustrations are beautiful, but one
wishes that printer and binder had done their part of the work more worthily.
Send to Miss A. R. Hartshorn. Price, 50 cents ; postage, 5 cents.
Receipts
467
ANNUAL MELTING OF THL WOMAN'S BOARD OF
MISSIONS
The forty-second annual meeting of the Woman's Board of Missions will
be held in Park Street Church, Boston, Wednesday and Thursday, Novem-
ber 10 and ii, 1909, with a delegates' meeting on Tuesday, November 9th.
The ladies of Suffolk Branch will be happy to entertain delegates from a
distance appointed by the Branches, and women who have ever been under
appointment as missionaries by the Woman's Board or the American Board.
All such desiring entertainment are requested to send their names and
addresses, with statement of Branch appointment, to the chairman of the
hospitality committee, Mrs. J. C. Lane, 704 Congregational House, Boston,
before October 1st. Railroads in the New England Passenger Association
have authorized a rate of a fare and three-fifths, certificate plan, upon the
usual conditions.
WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS
Receipts from July 18 to August 18, 1909.
Miss Sarah Lodtse Day, Treasurer.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
New Hampshire Branch.— MissElizabeth
A. Brickett, Treas., 69 No. Spring St.,
Concord. Atkinson, Aux., 20; Hath,
Aux., 15; East Andover, C. E. Soc, 5;
Hanover, Aux., 30.74; Keene, Court St.
Ch., Aux. (with prev. contri. to const.
L. M's Mrs. E. A. Kingsbury, Mrs. C. M.
Darling), 38; Milford, Aux., 26.10; New-
ington, Aux., 4; North Hampton, Aux.,
38.98; Penacook, Aux., 45.31; Salmon
Falls, Aux., 24; Warner, Aux., 7 , 254 13
VERMONT.
Vermont Branch— Miss May E. Manley,
Treas., Box 13, Pittsford. Barton, Aux.,
7.25: Brattleboro, Aux., 5; Brookfield,
FirstCh., Aux., 5; Burlington, First Ch.,
Aux., 55; St. .lohnsburv, North Ch.,
Aux., 6.18; Waitsfield, 5; Waterbury,
Jr. C. E. Soc, 5,
MASSACHUSETTS.
Andover and Woburn Branch.— Mrs. Mar-
garet E. Richardson, Treas., 22 Berke-
ley St., Reading. Lawrence, South Ch.,
Aux.,
Barnstable Branch. — Mrs. C. E. Delano,
Treas., Kox 296, Falmouth. Centerville,
Aux.. 5; Falmouth, Woman's Union,
41 .20.
Cambridge —Friends, through Mrs. E. C.
Moore.
Essex North Branch.— Mr*. Wallace L.
Kimball. Treas.. 16 Salem St., Bradford,
Haverhill, North Ch., Aux. (to const. L.
M. Miss Lulu O. Haines), 25, Union Ch ,
Aux. 10; Ipswich, Jr. Aid, 5.
88 43
36 50
46 20
77 00
40 00
10 15
Franklin County Branch.— Mrs. John P.
Logan, Treas., 3 Grinnell St., Green-
field. North-field, Aux.,
Hampshire Co. Branch. — Miss Harriet
J. Kneeland, Treas., 8 Paradise Road,
Northampton. Southampton, Dau. of
Cov., 25; Westhampton, Aux. (100 of
wta. to const. L. M's Mrs. James R.
Clapp, Mrs. Lyman W. Clapp, Miss
Julia M. Edwards, Mrs. Franklin How-
ard), 105; Worthington, Aux., 10, C. E.
Soc, 2, H2 00
Middlesex Branch.— Mrs. Frederick L.
Claflin, Treas., 15 Park St., .Marlboro.
Coll. at Hudson, 10.47; Natick, Aux., 46,
Monterey.— Aux.,
Norfolk and Pilgrim Branch.— Mrs. Mark
McCully, Treas., 95 Maple St., Milton.
Easton, Aux., 23, C. E. Soc, 4; Plv-
mouth, S. S., Prim. CI., 5, C. R., 5; Ran-
dolph, Aux., 6,
Northampton.— Smith College, Miss
Helen E. Brown, 10, Mrs. Everett E.
Kent, 5, Class of '89, 120, 135 00
North Middlesex Branch.— Miss Julia S.
Conant, Treas., Littleton Common.
South Acton, Aux.. 10 00
Springfield.— South Ch., 101 00
Springfield Branch.— Mrs. Marv H.Mitch-
ell, Treas., 1078 Worthington St., Spring-
field. Jr. Dept. of Branch, 12; Spring-
field, First Ch.. Mrs. Abbie C. Dickin-
son, 25, Hope Ch., Aux. (25 of wh. to
const. L. In., Mrs. G. S. Rollins), 45
South Ch. Aux. 30.20; Wilbraham, C.
E. Soc, 5, 117 20
Suffolk Branch.— Mrs. Frank G. Cook,
Treas., 44 Garden St., Cambridge.
Boston, Park St. Ch., Aux., 250; Britrh-
ton, Pro Christo Club, 10; Dorchester,
56 47
5 00
43 00
468
Life and Light
[ October
Village Ch., Aux., 8.50; Foxboro, Beth-
any Cli., Aux., 30; Jamaica Plain, Cen-
tral Cli., Aux., 40; Roslintlale, For.
Dept. Woman's Union (Len. Off., 12.15)
(to const. L. M. Mrs. Mary F. Chenery),
25; Somerville, Highland Ch., Aux., 15;
Prospect Hill Ch., S. S., 3; Walthani,
Friend, through Mrs. M . M. Foster, 1;
West Somerville, Day St. Ch., Aux., 10,
C.R.,8.71, 401 21
Worcester Co. Branch.— Mrs. Theodore H.
Nye, Treas., 15 Berkshire St., Worces-
ter. Blackstone, Aux., 5; Leominster,
Aux., 20.67; Warren, Aux., 10.60;
Whitinsville, Aux., 1,077.30, Extra-Cent-
a-Day Band, 17.37, King's Dan., 80;
Winchendon, C. E. Soc, 5, Worthley
M. B.,2, 1,217 94
Total, 2,438 67
LEGACIES.
Fitchburg— Mary Johnson, by James H.
MacMahon, Adm., 500 00
Maiden— Mrs. Anna E. Pierce, by Arthur
H. Wellman, Extr., 5,000 00
Northampton.— Sarah M. Lyman, by F.N.
Kneeland, Extr., 235 00
Westjield. — Mrs. S. Augusta Butterfield,
by George J. Burns, Extr., 200 00
Total,
5,935 00
RHODE ISLAND.
Rhode Island Branch,— Miss Grace P.
Chapin, Treas., 150 Meeting St., Provi-
dence. Barrington, C. R., 4; Central
Falls, Prim. S. 8., 5; East Providence,
Hope Ch., Juniors, 2.40; Newport,
United Ch. Guild, 30; Peace Dale, Miss.
Soc, 160, M. B., 5; Pawtucket, Aux.
Knights of Round Table of Miss Mary
Adams' Class, 50; Providence, Plymouth
Ch., Aux., 17.75, C. R., 6.59, Whittlesey
Mem. Cir., 10; Pilgrim Ch., Laurie
Guild, 30, C. R., 15.50 ; Westerley, King's
Dau., 20; Woonsocket, Globe Ch.,
Ladies' Union, 45, C. E. Soc, 3.46, Prim.
S. S., 1.50, 40G 20
CONNECTICUT.
Eastern Conn. Branch.— Miss Anna C.
Learned, Treas., 255 Hempstead St.,
New London. Hampton, Aux., 20.50;
New London, First Ch., Aux., 5, 25 50
Hartford Branch.— Mis. M. Bradford
Scott, Treas., 21 Arnoldale Rd., Hart-
ford. Int. on Clara E. Hillyer Fund,
200; Buckingham, Aux., 14; East Wind-
sor, Aux., 20.70; New Britain, South
Ch., Aux., 32.42; Tolland, Aux., 7.17, 274 29
New Haven Branch.— Miss Edith Wool-
sey, Treas., 250 Church St., New Haven.
Jr. C. E. Soc, received at Ann. Meeting,
2; Bridgeport, Olivet Ch., Bell M. B.,
10; Brookfield Center, Dau. of Cov., 5;
Centerbrook, Aux., 3.60, C. E. Soc, 9;
Derby, C. E. Soc, 50; Durham, Little
Light Bearers, 2; East Canaan, C. E.
Soc, 5; Fairfield, Ladies of Cong. Ch.,
10; Greenfield Hill, Friend, 1; Green-
wich, M. C, 11.50; Guilford, Mrs. John
Rossiter, 3; Harwinton, C. E. Soc, 5;
lvoryton, Dau. of Cov., 6.75; Meriden,
First Ch., Jr. C. E. Soc, 5.75; Middle-
* burv. Willing Minds, 5, Mizpah Cir., 7;
Mid'dlefield. Friends, 13, C. E. Soc, 9.35;
Middle Haddam, C. E. Soc, 5; Middle-
town, First Ch., C. E. Soc, 25, Third Ch.,
Busy Bees, 5; New Canaan, C. E. Soc,
5; New Haven, Center Ch., Aux., 377.33,
Humphrey St. Ch., C E. Soc, 12, Pil-
grim Ch., C. E. Soc, 10, United Ch., C.
E. Soc, 50; North Haven, Mizpah Cir.,
10; Plymouth, M. C, 5; Redding, Dau.
of Cov., 10; Ridgebury, Starlight Cir.,
1; South Britain, C. E. Soc, 5; Strat-
ford, Alpha Band, 5, Miss. League, 10;
Thomaston, Mrs. J. W. Skilton, 80 cts.,
C. E. Soc, 10; Warren, C. E. Soc, 7;
Waterbury, First Ch., C. R., 10, Second
Ch., Jr. C. E. Soc, 3; "Westbrook, C. E.
Soc, 12.50; West Cornwall, C. E. Soc,
20; Winchester, C. E. Soc, 8.70; Win-
sted, Second Ch., C. E. Soc, 10; Wood-
burv, M. C, 35, 816 28
New London.— M\s. M. S. Harris, 500 oo
Total,
,616 07
LEGACY.
Bridgeport.— Charles M. Minor, by Egbert
Marsh, Extr., 618 39
NEW YORK.
Gouveneur.— Miss C. O. Van Duzee, 1 00
PHILADELPHIA BRANCH.
Philadelphia Branch.— Miss Emma Fla-
vell, Treas., 312 Van Houten St., Pater-
son, N. J. Pa., Wilkes Bane, Hillside
St. Ch., Women's Home and For. M. S.,
5; Williamsport, Miss Mary A. Fleming,
10, 15 00
ILLINOIS.
Chicago.— Friends,
50 00
TENNESSEE.
La Follette.— Cong. Ch., Prim. S. S., 25
GIFTS RECEIVED THROUGH BUILDINGS
COMMITTEE.
Massachusetts.— Whitinsville, Mrs. Ar-
thur F. Whitin, . 100 00
Don ations,
Buildings,
Specials,
Legacies,
4,140 15
651 00
178 60
6,553 39
Total, $11,523 14
TOTAL FROM OCT. 18, 1908 TO AUG. 18, 1909.
Donations,
Buildings,
Work of 1909,
Specials,
Legacies,
79,902 97
5,742 35
11,544 10
2,829 14
21,553 29
Total, $121,571 85
Ih-raibrnt.
Mrs. R. B. CHERINGTON,
Sunnyvale, Cal.
Qlrpaatircr.
Miss MARY McCLEES,
Adams Street, Oakland, Cal.
3Forrign f^ecrrlarg,
Mrs. E. R. WAGNER,
San Jose, Cal.
Ectttar Pacific Separtmrnt in Cifr anil £igf}t.
Mrs. J. K. McLEAN.
D05HI5HA GIRLS' SCHOOL, KYOTO
Dormitories. — There are, at present, three dormitories accommodating
50-60 scholars with the single lady teachers as the dormitory heads. The
second floor in each building is devoted to the dormitory proper, while the
first floor is used for other purposes, as for class rooms, music practice
rooms, sewing rooms and the like. Two of these buildings are in the rear
of the compound, while one is located nearly at the central position where a
new school building should be built in the near future. The last dormitory
building, which is the oldest of this school, is now, after its thirty-two years'
existence, too far gone to be worth any further repairs. (By the way, all
the present buildings are frame ones.) Moreover, this old dormitory is too
close to the general school office and to the main recitation halls, so that
each is apt to disturb the other. Thus we are in an impending need of
money to move one dormitory further back to the rear of the compound, to
the row of the other two dormitories. The present missionary home, which
is also getting old and out of repair, also requires to be moved back to the
ideal site already prepared for it.
A New School Building. — The Japanese government gives certain
privileges to schools with (1) an improved curriculum, (2) an approved
efficiency in teaching force, (3) a school building built according to certain
approved scheme and standards as to the number of windows, cubic feet of
each room and such like. Girls graduated from the schools without the
privileges or "recognition" are refused admission either to a college or
regular standing or to a higher technical or professional school. They are
also refused the right to run for a competitive examination to get license as
school teachers of any grade. By enforcing all these requirements the gov-
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470
Life and Light
[ October
ernment tries to elevate the efficiency of schools in the land to a higher and
higher level. Under the requirement of an approved curriculum, the
government does not lay any restriction on the teaching of the Bible or of
Christianity in general ; we are still including it in our curriculum. Accord-
ing to the second requirement for efficiency in teaching force, two thirds of
the faculty must be holders of the government's license, which is given
only to those graduated from schools with the "recognition" and have
passed a competitive examination in a special line of studies. The require-
ment for an efficient teaching force is no easy matter to fulfill, but financially
it is not half as hard as the third requirement, viz., for the school building
coming up to a fixed standard of construction. Our present main building
is too old and out of repair, and the recitation rooms are too dark and nar-
row to enable us to get the coveted government recognition. We are
beginning to feel the effect of this in the decrease in the number and quality
of applicants for admission. Because of this lack of "recognition" of our
school, many of our Christian friends are reluctantly refusing to send their
daughters to us; they are driven to send them to secular schools that have
this recognition.
We educate girls to be teachers, evangelists, social workers, professional
women and wives and mothers of homes. If we continue in the present
state of the absence of "recognition" we must deny to our girls the prospects
of unrestricted activity in many of their chosen fields. We are thus badly in
need of money for a new school building for securing this government
recognition.
Total money needed : for the above outlined purposes of moving old dormi-
tories and erecting a new school building, a sum of at least $20,000 is requi-
site. The best season for building is between the middle of July to end of
November, or March to middle of June.
Discussing the religions of India Dr. Fitchett tells us, " To be born on
one side of the Ganges at Benares is to be sure of eternal bliss ; to be born
on the other side is to be eternally doomed. In the great temple at Madura,
the filthy oil with which the chief image is perpetually smeared creeps into
a shallow tank, and every day groups of men and women stand there,
smearing brow and lips and eyes with that foul oil, in the belief that it will
cleanse their souls. Shaving is a mode of salvation. Sins, according to
one Vedic text, adhere to the hair of the head, and, says the devotee, 4 for
these sins I undergo this shaving.' So the barber is a person clothed with
religious offices." — The Missionary Link.
Micronesia — Sickness at Kusaie
471
LLTTLR5 FROM TWO OF MI55 DENTON'S PUPILS
Doshisha Girls' School, Kyoto, Japan, April 21, 1908.
My dear Miss Denton : I should like very much to read an easy Eng-
lish poem, and I made a very unskillful one in this spring vacation which
applauded the spring. The following is what I wrote : —
It is spring it is spring, how beautiful she looks ;
All the trees bloom in the garden, and on the hill ;
Big of them are cherries, and little of them are violets;
A singing bird on every bough, soft perfume on the air,
A happy smile on each young lip, and gladness everywhere.
Oh Spring is a pleasant time with its sound and sights ;
Its hazy morning, balmy eves, and tranquil, calm delights
I sigh when first I see the leaves fall on the ground,
And all winter long I sing sweet Spring come again.
Dear Miss Denton: How do you do? It is very hot now. I haven't
met you for a long time I should like to see you. I am very well and
studying. I was very fearful the other day because it thundered it the wind
bloused and the rain comes down in torrents. I was very fearfully. But
after the rain, the clouds roll away, the sun shines out again and a rainbow
is seen in the sky. It was very fine scenery. I wish it to show you.
Good-bye.
MICRONL5IA— 5ICKNL55 AT KU5AIE
BY MISS LOUISE E. WILSON
Do you suppose there is anyone who is alive in the Lord's work, who
finds time for all that they feel ought to be done? Here I have had it on
my mind for several weeks that I want to have special talks with certain
girls, as their actions tell me they are not living up to their Christian privi-
leges, but day after day has gone by and there has not been time for it.
Last evening a report came in that one of them was not feeling well, and
after attending to bodily needs, I said, " I want to have a talk with you some
time and when you feel so inclined I wish you would come to me." She said,
"When?" "Oh, any time, come and sleep at my house some night." (A
girl always stays with me at night, as my shanty is about sixty feet from the
other house.) She looked and asked, " Why not to-night?" So it all came
about naturally without setting any special time on my part. We had a
good talk about her difficulties and I believe she went to sleep happier
than she had for many a night, for we took all to the Lord in prayer.
She suggested that I interview some of the others who were discouraged
because they felt they were not what they ought to be.
472
Life and Light
[ October
The long siege of sickness in our household has set our work back several
months, and in more ways than one, it is hard to catch up. Just think,
Easter Sunday was the first time since January 25th that all were able to
attend service. And two of our number were weak at that time. Oh, it
seems too good to be true that those weary days of watching are over. One
girl, who has been up and around for about a month, now denies herself
fish because she is afraid the disease might come back again, for she has a
horror of it and well she might, as she had it very hard. If you knew how
fond they are of fish you could better understand how much it meant for
Limmejab to leave it alone, when we assure her it is perfectly safe for her
to eat it now.
One day I went in where a dozen girls were on the mend, and said, u If
you keep on improving I will make you some fish soup on Saturday. One
of them brightened up and replied, " Why 'it just makes my mouth water
to hear you talk about fish, we have had to go without it so long." It
seems strange to me that in spite of all we did to down the disease, so many
of them should have taken it. The only way I can account for it, is that our
quarters are so small, and the ones who were beginning to recover had to go
back with the well ones to make room for the new cases before they had
gotten the disease all out of their system. I used my shanty for a hospital,
and it would in a pinch take in six. We took them there as fast as they
were taken sick, and kept them there until new cases necessitated their
removal, which was every week or two. The girls who nursed them
camped with me on the six-foot veranda. We had our hands and minds
full, but they were all good and helpful, and many petitioned beforehand
that if I got the disease they wanted to be the ones to nurse me. But I am
thankful to say I did not need their care in this special way. I feel that we
cannot be thankful enough that we were spared the sorrow of losing any of
them, for some were very near death's door.
Many instances are given of the liberality of native Christians in India.
A year ago the Tamil Christians in the north of Ceylon sent a birthday gift
of 250 pounds to the British and Foreign Bible Society. Six years ago
some of the Christian coolies on the Kandyan estates sent as a centenary
offering to the Church Missionary Society 125 guineas. The boys of Kandy
College maintain their own college mission, and send workers to outlying
villages. The girls of a boarding school recently gave up meat and fish
and lived on rice for a fortnight in order to send five pounds to the Bishop
of Calcutta toward the Indian Famine Fund.
Jlrrsiumt.
Mrs. LYMAN BAIRD,
The Pattington, Chicago, 111.
Corrtspaniiing, l^prretarg.
Miss M. D. WINGATE,
Room 523, 40 Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.
Srrasurrr,
Mrs. S. E. HURLBUT,
1454 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, 111.
Assistant ^treasurer.
Miss FLORA STARR,
1719 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, 111.
Srrnrntng Srrrctarg.
Miss ANNIE E. NOURSE, Room 523, 40 Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.
Ebitor of "Htssion g-ruotrs.*'
Miss SARAH POLLOCK, Room 523, 40 Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111.
©hatrutart of Comtmttre on "Cif? anb Eight."
Mrs. G. S. F. SAVAGE, 628 Washington Boulevard, Chicago, 111.
AFTER THL MASSACRE, AT KESSAB
BY MISS EFFIE M. CHAMBERS
Kessab, July io, 1909.
Oh, if you could only know what an awful tiling this has been, and what
our dear women have suffered and our brave young men — who defended the
village for six or seven hours, and kept the murderers back, giving the
women and girls a chance to escape to the m6untains and hide in the caves
and clefts and underbrush, from where they slowly and fearfully made their
way down to the seashore — the young men when they could hold out no
longer, retreating slowly and forming a rear guard as it were for the fleeing
women as they went, carrying their children in their arms or on their backs
with older ones clinging to their skirts. In this way the escape was effected
on that awful Tuesday, April 23d.
I was absent from Kessab, as you already know, but my schoolgirls fled
with the others and were taken into the Presbyterian School in Latakia,
where I found them on my return from the scenes of carnage in Adana.
They were all safe, not one of them missing, and I was glad and thankful
for that at least, but like the rest of us they have lost all, except what they
wore. We are all alike in Kessab these days. There are no rich or poor,
but we are all one. Sometimes the thought comes to me, if they had not
burned my house and the girls' school, I might have given shelter to many,
but I am glad on the other hand that I can suffer with them and suffer as
they do. It is different from any other relief work I have done, but I am
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\
474 Life and Light [October
not sorry to have it so. It brings us so near together and gives me such an
opportunity to help them.
More than 500 families are homeless, and we have 5,500 people on our
relief list for bread, clothing, household utensils, farming implements and
tools, also bedding and mats — for everything went, we had not even needles
and thread, thimbles and scissors. We have distributed about 1,000 quilts
and blankets, cotton and a few mattresses and pillows, but need still 4,000
more that everyone may have a mattress, and 700 more covers are needed.
For clothing to give each person one suit so he may have a change, we need,
aside from what we have already distributed, 100,000 yards of cloth.
It is no small problem to plan to house, clothe, feed and find bedding for
ten villages, containing in all 8,000 people or more, but it is what must be
done before winter or all our people will die of hunger and exposure and we
can't have that. These people must be saved and encouraged and started
again. I must do it, so you will excuse me from a vacation this year, won't
you, as they cannot be left alone.
We are having our preaching services out of doors in the girls' school yard
under a big walnut tree for the present, but we are trying to get a floor in
the big new school building we made since I came here (it was not burned),
and if we can do it, we can use the upper story of it for chapel and the
lower one for schools.
And now you want to know about me, you say. Well, my history during
these past weeks can be told in few words. I went to Adana for annual
meeting, reaching there on Tuesday evening just before the beginning of
that awful time. I staved there ten days, leaving on April 24th for Tarsus,
where I stayed a day or two waiting for the roads to open a bit, then made
my way back to Kessab where I have been ever since, except for a brief
tour through the outside villages and a short stay in Antioch. I am in a
native house, and if you ask about my circumstances, I am more comfortable
than anyone else in the village, and glad to be here and do what I can for
these poor people. When court-martial proceedings are over, and a few at
least of the guilty ones punished, we hope the people will gather some
courage. But it is scarcely to be expected they will be very confident until
something is done.
I am in a native house since my return — one of the few not burned — but
Mr. Gracey has just been down and we have planned a few changes in the
former stable in the mission yard which we think will make it inhabitable,
and we hope to begin to do it soon. I can have here, at a very small
expense, bedroom, sitting room, kitchen and a small storeroom ; all ground
floor to be sure, but better than I now have and quite good enough for me
until the people get something.
The North China Union Woman's College
475
Antioch is awful. The outside villages of that region are not so bad, as
they were not really attacked, only threatened. Some men from there were
killed, but they were either in Antioch or out in Moslem villages doing
silk-worm work. In Kessab and the near outside villages, we have about
60 widows and about 100 orphans, some of these in the most destitute cir-
cumstances imaginable. I am hoping Miss Shattuck, Miss Salmond and
Miss Frearson will be able to take the children that ought to be taken, and
we not be obliged to open a new orphanage here in Kessab. But something
must be done.
You asked about my clothes. I saved nothing I had in Kessab, and very
little of what I took to Adana, but Miss Shattuck and the friends in Latakia
have helped me out, so that I have what I need at present. Winter flannels
and stockings are the things I most need. With so many needy ones
around me I don't have time to think of my own needs. In fact when I
compare myself with others I don't seem to need anything. They are
so awfully, awfully destitute that the other day when I found an old dress
skirt of mine among the returned stolen goods, I thought, " Oh, well, this
went once, and I'll not keep it now," so I sent it to a poor woman who had
the day before asked me for a skirt and I had none to give her, and she was
glad to get it.
THE NORTH CHINA UNION WOMAN'5 COLLEGE, 1909
BY MISS LUELLA MINER, PRINCIPAL
Half a century after Mt. Holyoke Seminary first opened its doors it was
incorporated as a college, though long before that date it was doing full
college work. Far more humble were the beginnings of the institution
which may be destined to be the Mt. Holyoke of China. In 1864, at the
American Board Mission in Peking, Mrs. Bridgman gathered together a
few girls from poor families, giving them the most elementary instruction,
little dreaming that forty-five years later, on that very spot, would stand the
first four young women in China, to receive a full college course. It was a
sleepy, half-dead city in which Misses Porter, Chapin and Haven wrought
until the close of the century, laying foundations so deep that when the
storm of 1900 came, though it swept twenty of the pupils and recent gradu-
ates into martyrs' graves, and left not one brick upon another in the rambling
Bridgman School compound, the true foundations stood firm, so that two
years later the enrollment was larger than ever before.
It was an alert city, gazing in dismay on its ruins, in which the school
was rebuilt in 1902, and though eighty-five girls were that year gathered
476
Life and Light
[ October
into its halls, those in charge could not forecast the educational revolution
soon to take place in this old empire. In 1905 were started the first schools
for girls in Peking which were not under missionary auspices. In this
strange new China, turning its back on the past and reaching out for it
scarcely knows what, the education of women is one of the demands of the
times. Even before 1900 a college for women was not beyond the hope and
faith of women from America, and among the Christian Chinese were some
of clear-eyed vision who were seeking the very best for their daughters.
But the spirit of the new life stimulated to more speedy accomplishment
than could otherwise have been attained, and the storm had obliterated some
barriers which in the old days might have hindered the laying of broad
foundations.
In North China, " Union" has been the God-given watchword since 1900.
Three union institutions for men are the result — the college of Liberal Arts,
located with the American Board Mission at Tung-chou, the Theological
College, located with the Presbyterian Mission in Peking, and the Medical
College, located with the London Mission. In 1904, by formal vote of
mission boards, was established the North China Union Woman's College,
an outgrowth of the Bridgman School, which then took the name " Bridg-
man Academy." In 1908 was added the Union Woman's Medical College,
which had matriculated its first class a year earlier, and with its quarters in
the Methodist Episcopal Mission brought the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society of that church into the North China Educational Union.
Those who despise the day of small things would not give a passing
thought to these two institutions for the higher education of women, for
our equipment is meager, and our classes are small, but those who have a
sense of potentialities and see how many of the two hundred million women
of China are already looking with covetous eyes upon the opportunities of
the American woman, mark here the germ of a collegiate development
which may surpass in numbers even that which we see in favored America.
The work in these union colleges for women is genuine college work, as
high in grade and not inferior in quality to that being done in any college
for young men in China. The medical course now covers six years, but
when the requirements for admission can be raised, this time can be short-
ened at least a year. The medical students have come to the laboratory and
teachers in the American Board Mission for their work in chemistry, biol-
ogy, histology and embryology, the other class-room work and all of their
hospital and clinical training being under the teachers in the Methodist and
Presbyterian Missions.
Although only the three American Missions in Peking have as yet form-
igog\
The North China Union Woman's College
477
ally entered into this union for the higher education of women, its benefits
are shared by many North China missions, and no other mission plans for
work above a high school or normal grade. In addition to the American
Board Mission, which still has the majority of the students, the following
missions have sent students or plan to do so when they have reached the
required grade : American Presbyterian, London Mission, English Baptist,
Canadian Presbyterian, China Inland, American Lutheran, Swedish Holi-
ness, Anglican and Methodist Episcopal. The students come from five
provinces in North China, and two in Central and South China. While
they are mostly from Christian families, a number have come from the
official and mercantile classes, four important Peking boards, the Board of
Posts and Communications, the Board of Revenue, the Board of Admirality,
and the Foreign Office, being represented among the fathers of our students.
Three of these men were themselves educated in England or America, and
appreciate for their daughters the advantages to be gained in such a school
as this. With the prestige which this school has already gained, and the
desire of non-Christian schools to have our help in furnishing teachers, our
opportunities seem to be measured only by our strength and our financial
resources.
On the 9th of June, four years after the principal and faculty of our newly
organized college were elected by the Board of Managers of the North
China Educational Union, we graduated our first college class of four girls.
It was a glad, proud day for both teachers and pupils — a day which for our
small staff of teachers had cost many hours of overwork and burdens borne
only in the hope that these well-educated young women might be ready with
their aid to carry future classes through college. So those four college
diplomas meant as much to us in capital expended and hope of returns as a
hundred mean to the president of an American college. Our beautiful
church, decorated with the college colors, blue and gold, with two dragon
flags in the gold of the college colors crossed in the great arch behind the
platform, and plants massed for a background as the graduates stood there
in their simple dresses of blue to receive their diplomas, made an interesting
picture. Our select and appreciative audience of about a hundred contained
many of the missionaries in Peking and vicinity, many teachers and pupils
from girls' schools and a few gentlemen especially invited. Each graduate
read a long essay in the literary style, which was not so much enjoyed by
the greater part of the audience as was the music, a piano duet played by
two academy students and three choruses sung by eighty academy and col-
lege students — Haydn's " The Heavens are Telling," Mendelssohn's " The
Lord is Mindful of His Own," and the " Bridal Chorus" from "Rose
Maiden," for which had been written words of praise to our Woman's
Union College. That our students can render so well these long, difficult
musical compositions shows what training will do for them.
478
Life and Light
[ October
And what training will do for their voices it will do for their minds and
hearts. A few weeks before these commencement exercises these four
young women, with three others who were studying geology and their
teacher, stood on the Great Wall north of Peking at a point where it has
climbed a mountain height, and we looked over a green sea of piled-up
mountains, with a plain stretching southward toward Peking, which lay
invisible in the distance. The students, five of whom had never before been
off the great plain of North China, felt the hush and thrill of that mountain
landscape, and one of them could hardly be dragged down to take the train
which that night would carry us back through the famous Nank'ou Pass.
Uneducated Chinese do not appreciate mountain views, but these college
girls sang strains from Gounod's 44 Praise Ye the Father," and their eyes
shone with emotion. The interest which they showed in rock formations
and in collecting specimens, would have delighted the heart of any teacher
in America.
But the teacher's highest joy is not the intellectual and aesthetic capacity
developed during these long years, but the moral and spiritual growth.
These young women go out with a loyal love for the Master, and an earnest
purpose to work for God and country and alma mater which must bear fruit
in the future. In young men and women like these is 44 China's Only
Hope," and when they leave our educational institutions by hundreds
instead of units and tens, we can say 44 The kingdom of God is at hand "
in China. y
WOMEN PATILNT5 IN TAI-KU HOSPITAL, CHINA
BY MISS DAISY GEHMAN
Of the one hundred and thirteen in-patients in the hospital during the
last year, thirty-nine were women and girls, or more than one third of the
total number. Ten women took the opium cure treatment. None of these
failed to complete the cure, while two men did. Of eighty-eight operations
performed, thirty were on women patients.
After the Chinese New Year's the hospital filled up with patients, and
most of Mrs. Hemingway's time was spent with them. Mrs. Chang also
transferred her efforts from the village to the hospital, and was constantly
with the women, telling them the old, old story that to these women is so
very new, and teaching them hymns. Mrs. Keng also taught the women in
the evening when her own work was finished. The patients are generally
glad to listen, and receive the love and sympathy so freely given. Usually
two or three care-takers come with the patient, so there is opportunity to
reach a number of women. Mrs. Chang also frequently leads morning
pravers with the women. Last summer Miss Heebner and our two bright
Peking girls shared in conducting the morning hour.
There are several ways in which patients are led to come to the hospital.
Patients who have been successfully treated will send in others. Quite fre-
quently a Christian familv in a village will make the hospital known. Mr.
Pai, of Ch'u T'sun, a recently baptized convert, has sent in during the past
First Days in the Old Home
479
three months three detachments of his relatives to break off opium, and be
cured of other diseases — a niece, an older sister and her husband, another
niece and her mother-in-law — all well-to-do and intelligent people, who
learned much of Christianity while here. More relatives have sent word
that they will come soon. Mr. Pai is determined that all his family shall
break off opium, and hear the gospel. When they won't go to church at
Tung Yang he stays home to sing and preach and pray with them.
Mrs. Ch'eng,of Ling Shih, has been in the hospital now for three years.
She had tuberculosis of the right foot, and of the left arm. Through all
these vears the devotion of her husband has never failed. The doctor
decided in the fall that her foot would have to be amputated to save her life.
She hesitated at first, but afterward became willing. Her amputation wound
soon healed, and she walked on an improvised foot. But her arm, instead
of improving as was hoped, became worse, and an operation was performed.
However, nothing availed, the arm must be amputated. It was a long
struggle before she could decide, but finally, with calm resignation, was
willing. The arm, too, healed rapidly, and her general health has improved
much. Her face is beautiful to look at, for in it is the light of peace. The
committee on examining candidates for baptism was very tender when they
came to her, and her answers showed that she knew whereof she spoke. We
think she will make a splendid Bible woman some day. She can walk
better now than some of the small-footed women who come to the hos-
pital. One tried to walk from her room at the back of the compound to the
dispensary rooms to be treated. But her little feet gave out, and she sat on
a stump half-way, crying, and saying she would never get home again. Two
of the strong young women of the station class, who had unbound feet
(former schoolgirls), took pity on her, and ran with the stretcher to carry
her the rest of the way. They also carried Mrs. Ch'eng several times.
FIR5T DAYS IN THE OLD HOME ' '
BY MISS HELEN STOVER
Bailundu, Africa, July 4, 1909.
Miss Redick, Dr. Hollenbeck and I arrived here on June eleventh, after,
what seemed to me, the most awful of journeys. I am sorry that I proved
such a poor traveler, but certainly there wasn't one pleasant thing about the
journey from Lisbon here that I could name, except our days at Madeira
and Loanda. My traveling companions will bear me out in this as far as
the ocean trip is concerned, but they enjoyed the up-country journey.
We came up from Benguella by way of Ciyaka (Sachikela) in order
to visit Mr. and Mrs. Ennis. It is a comparatively new road (the road
itself is really only a rabbit track) and much harder than our old way by
Government road. After ten days of traveling we reached the Ennis'
place, and you have no idea how I felt (I never imagined such a feeling)
when I saw those houses and Mr. and Mrs. Ennis, and our American Flag
flying in the breeze. My only sensation was that I had reached the M prom-
ised land." We were sorry to find the Ennises looking poorly, but not sur-
480
Life and Light
[ October
prised considering the long, hard, lonely year they have had. Our stay
there was an exceedingly pleasant one, and we were glad to leave with the
certainty that the Ennises would follow us in a week for the annual meeting,
which they did.
It seemed perfectly natural, and so it should be, to find myself in my old
home, next door to the house in which I was born, now the kindergarten
house. Things around have been changed a good deal in the last fifteen
years, the woods have disappeared, old villages are gone and new ones sprung
up, still the general appearance is the same. I found the three missionaries
looking very well, but rather tired. Many of the older natives I was able
to recognize and call by name, a thing which pleased them very much. Keto,
my old nurse, of whom you have heard so much, came to Benguella to
meet me and be my special escort. It seemed the most natural tiling in
the world to have him with me, as I never made a journey here without him.
He had an opportunity to look after me very much as he used to when I was
a baby, as I was ill nearly all the way inland, some malaria acquired at
Benguella.
Mr. and Mrs. Bell went to the annual meeting and will stay for the Con-
ference at Chisamba. They will be gone a month or so. Mrs. Webster and
I are holding the fort in the meantime. It is rather hard on her as I am no
help. I'm glad the Bells could go, for Mr. Bell has had a hard and busy
year. I cannot understand how he could possibly do all that he has.
My work commenced on the afternoon of my arrival; through an inter-
preter I can manage the medical work, and the boy who was in England
with father is my interpreter. We have plenty to do and my first conviction
was that we need a doctor and need him badly ; the conviction grows.
I am disgusted about my Umbundu. I studied some in Lisbon with
father, also some Portuguese. It seemed to me that the Umbundu should
come to me easier than it does, being really my native language. This
same boy of ours, Ueke by name, gives me lessons ; he tries to cheer me by
saying that I'll get it some time.
WOMAN'S BOARD OF THL INTERIOR
Mrs. S. E. HURLBUT, Tkeasurer
Receipts from July 10 to August 10, 1909
Bulgaria ....
$1 00
Illinois
1,872 26
Japan
66 00
Miscellaneous .
273 25
Receipts for the month
. S6.036 68
Previously acknowledged .
. 53,015 64
Total since October, 1908
. $59,102 32
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FOR SPECIAL OBJECTS.
Wisconsin .
353 69
California . . . .
2 00
Receipts for the month
$19 88
Previously acknowledged .
982 45
Total since October, 1908
. $1,002 33
Miss Flora Starr,
Ass't Treas.
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