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LIFE AND LIGHT
Vol. XLV. APRIL. 1915. No. 4
0n Carter iMornmg
"Certain zvomen of our company made us asto7tished, -which were early at the sepulchre^^
When that Jirst Easter Morning broke
In many a home the humble folk
Watched the blest Marys^ as they spoke
Of Him^ who^n,^ dead^ they sought;
While some^ perhaps^ -whose ribald jeers
Had hurt the matchless Sufferer^ s ears^
Turned half away to hide their tears^
Or eve7t spices brought.
But gladdest morning came at last
To those whose doubts had held them fast^
As when a storm is overpast
And sunshiiie scatters gloom.
So grant it^ Lord^ this Easter Day^ —
Cast fear and hate and scorn away.,
Bring hufjian hearts beneath thy sway,,
As when thou burst the tomb !
A, M. K.
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Life and Light
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THE ANGLL OF THE DAWN
BY GRACE DUFFIELD GOODWIN
ANGELS are not so much heavenly visitants as they are human hopes
and joys projected in a spiritual visualization. The living blue
above us is all agleam w^ith slanting wings when and only when the veil of
sense which hangs dark between" has lifted and we are enabled to
know that the deepest longings and truest dreams of our inmost souls are
not imaginings, lovely but powerless, but real and puissant expressions of
the guardianship and leadership of God. Each soul is so lonely that it
can scarcely find words in which to phrase its own inner secrets; how
much less may it comprehend another's!
The gospel's Easter story is variant, impossible of uniformity, and its
absolute verity is thereby the more certainly assured. Matthew's radiant
dawn angel is more than we expected from Matthew. What was there
in the quiet publican to lead us to anticipate so virile and tender, so
spiritually impassioned an evangel, or to reveal to us that of all the four
it was he whose angel was of the earthquake and the lightning, the angel
.of fear and of triumph? "Very early in the morning," say they all.
Truly,
"From darkness and from sorrow of the night
To morning that comes singing o'er the sea"
is but a wonder moment and in that moment angels are born.
Mark's angel is but a man like himself — a ''young man." It is through
the human he reaches the divine; through a strong and simple and tender
personality. The young man has rolled away the "exceeding great
stone," and now sits in a "long white garment," and says, "Tell his dis-
ciples and Peter." Mark's angel was great enough to awaken fear, to
inspire awe, but there is no feeling to mar the perfect simplicity. He
had evidently seen angels before in the guise of plain men who knew
Jesus.
Luke, whose gospel has been called from its tender pondering and
memory of Jesus' spoken words, the "Gospel according to Mary," tells
of the women, those faithful women "who came with him from Galilee,"
and who returned to gather spices for the beloved, dishonored body.
These women, with "certain others," Peter and John, standing in sorrow
and perplexity by the empty tomb, see, not one angel, but "two men in
shining garments," so sensitive had they become through much love and
ms']
The Angel of the Dawn
147
endless service; and Mary must have told about it, because when the old
Galilee words were repeated to her, she "remembered," exactly as she
had always pondered and remembered from the time when this Man of
the Resurrection was the Child of the Star. I wonder if women, more
than men, do not owe that service of remembrance to their Crucified
Lord? I wonder if. women, more than men, are not granted, if they be
very loving and faithful, to see more and deeper into the "things of
Christ"? Perhaps not, — but these women did.
Luke, like Matthew and Mark, points right on to Galilee, the common,
toilsome service, out of which they had all come, and into which, Resur-
rection led, they were all to go back again, even Peter. Galilee is so
different when, between its barren stretches of unrewarded toil and sorely
tried faith, we can find the dawn angel, and can hear from courageous
lips the message, "He goeth before you." Never the same Galilee now.
Before, a Galilee where we had his half-understood presence, saw his
ill-comprehended miracles, heard his words, to whose meaning we had
no clue; now, a Galilee of resurrection, light and life and wisdom.
That is where the difference really comes. The Christ we never under-
stood has become the Christ that, dimly and imperfectly, we are beginning
to apprehend. And his interpreter to us is the dawn angel of the Resur-
rection— yours for you, mine for me, just as each one needs and can com-
prehend. Or, perhaps there is no angel at all. There was none for
John, he whom the "minute made immortal"; but there was for him,
this nearest and dearest disciple, a spiritual experience transcending
visions. Almost wistfully, as he gives the simplest account of all, he
reminds us that it was, after all, he, "the disciple whom Jesus loved,"
who saw no angel. He "went not in." Peter had hurried, eager and
impulsive, into the tomb. John, torn with love, blind with tears, awe-
held, trembling, in the throes of the great spiritual experience he was
ever to know, opened his soul to be flooded with God, and lost his angel;
lost the unneeded for the attained. Good, to see an angel ; better, like
the women, to see two; best, like John, to see none. John did not realize
even then that he had had the greater joy for he tells of the weeping
Mary, who saw "one at the head and one at the feet where the body of
Jesus had lain." And after all, of those who tell the story, John is the
only one who was there. We have no knowledge that Matthew or Mark
were present; we are sure that Luke was not. They dreamed their
angels — none the less real for that, as burning love and imagination car-
ried each man's soul to meet the great moment after his own fashion.
148
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What does it matter how the Resurrection story comes to you — if only
it come, in all its strengthening revelation? Like Matthew, your angel,
your God-interpreter, sent out from your inmost soul to meet him or from
his immensity of tenderness to meet you, may be a messenger of faith,
triumphant; like Mark, you may find him in some human comrade whose
soul is strong to uphold your fainting hope; like Luke, you may cling to
the supreme faith of those sweet saints whose doubly clear vision must
suffice for us whose eyes are often ^'holden" ; like John, best of all like
John, you may have so '^experienced God," as Luther said, that you will
but live on to recount in joy, as John did of Peter, the story of all those
you know to whom Jesus has said, ^'Lovest thou me?" and who, per-
haps because of you, have learned to say, "Lord, thou knowest all things;
thou knowest that I love thee." When it begins to dawn toward the
first day of the week, when the day star is risen in our hearts, when it is
indeed the hour of Resurrection splendor, how much we shall miss, you
and I, if we have not held our souls at pause to await the vision and the
message of Easter, as once more we take up our daily task, — He goeth
before you into Galilee.'*^
Surely there could be no more appropriate season than Easter for
women interested in the Kingdom of God to unite in an international
"Women and World movement for prayer and an expression of their earnest
Peace. desire for world peace, — a peace in accord with the
principles and teachings of Jesus. Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, chair-
man of the Central Committee on the United Study of Foreign Missions,
has for months had it in her heart to take the initial step in such a move-
ment. On another page will be found the simple statement which
already has the endorsement of several of the leading organizations of
Christian women in this country, both home and foreign missionary
Boards uniting in this appeal to the womanhood of the world. There is
little doubt that missionaries of every nationality will welcome the oppor-
tunity to record anew their adherence to the principles of the Lord of
Life and Peace. A League of Intercession, enrolling those who will
pray definitely and persistently for peace with righteousness, a simple
pageant to instill international friendliness into the minds of young
people, a peace propaganda appearing monthly in the religious magazines,
are among the simple ways by which this movement will seek to make
itself known among the women of all nations and especially among those
who ^'preach peace through Jesus Christ, — he is Lord of All."
igi5'\ Editorial 149
The stirring of the hearts of women in this, perhaps the saddest Easter
the world has ever known, breathes through the words of our president
in the Council Table, and comfort and strength to endure is the message
of "The Angel of the Dawn," from the gifted pen of Grace Duffield
Goodwin.
The Joint Committee of the Central Advisory Commission of the
Federation of Wo7nen^ s Foreign Missionary Societies and the Council
of Women for Ho7ne Missions heartily endorse the plan for prayer and
peace propaganda through women's missionary societies. Besides the
articles which will appear in the women's missionary magazines and the
Federation Bulletin, other literature is being prepared. A ''Pageant of
Peace" on very simple lines will be issued by the Central Committee on
the United Study of Missions, and will be on sale by all Women's Boards
of Home and Foreign Missions. It is hoped that this Pageant, illus-
trating Christian ideals of peace, may be given in every town and village
on the afternoon of Memorial Day, May 30. It will be more effective
if given out of doors. Women's missionary societies are urged to unite
in this presentation. Costumes can easily be devised, and at slight
expense for programs and music a beautiful and impressive appeal for
peace may be made.
To All Missionaries. We know how this war has tried your souls
and has made it seem almost inconsistent to preach a Gospel of Peace,
and yet do you not need more than ever before to emphasize the fact
that you are ambassadors of Peace sent by the Prince of Peace? As we
meet to pray you will be remembered with special tenderness and sym-
pathy. Will you not unite with us in this international peace movement
bringing together your Christian women that we may encircle the globe
with our prayers? Let us unite on July Fourth, making it a Day of
Prayer, rather than a celebration of victory, prayer that peace, if it has
not already come, may come speedily and abide. Will you send a postal
card to your Board secretary if you will join in such a Day of Prayer?
May the Peace of God that passeth all understanding keep your hearts
and minds.
The death of Dr. George Washburn at the age of eighty-two at the
home of his son in Boston, February 15, calls attention anew to the won-
President derful work accomplished by this veteran missionary.
George Washburn, He is characterized by Dr. Barton in The Congrega-
tionalist as "an adviser of diplomats, — a leader whose influence in bring-
Life and Light
\_April
ing about great and fundamental reforms in the Turkish Empire cannot now
be estimated. " For nearly forty years he was president of Robert College,
building upon the foundations laid by Cyrus Hamlin, whose daughter
became his wife. He lived to see the small group of pupils housed in a
little wooden building at Bebek become the splendid college with 500
students of nineteen nationalities, occupying the fine buildings which
are the admiration of all tourists approaching Constantinople. The fees
paid by the student body aggregate seventy thousand dollars annually, and
the property is valued at over a million dollars. All this, humanly
speaking, is due to the administrative genius and the constructive work
of this great and good man, who nevertheless is remembered even more
by his big, affectionate heart and his love for Jesus Christ than by all
the honors bestowed upon him by kings or by the books he wrote. Con-
spicuous as an educator, renowned as a statesman, he was first of all a
missionary of the Cross, forgetful of self and eager always to serve
others. In all his great work his wife who survives him had an impor-
tant part for "she spoke more of the home languages of the student body
*■ than did Dr. Washburn, and what the college and its common chapel
exercises and common classroom failed to accomplish, Kennedy Lodge,
presided over by Mrs. Washburn, brought about."
The passing away of Miss S. D. Doremus, January 24, in New York,
N. Y., after a brief illness, recalls the early history of women's organized
Sarah D. work for foreign missions, in which her mother had so signal
Doremus. a part. To Mrs. Doremus belongs the honor of first enlisting
the Christian women of this country in this enterprise, resulting in the
formation of the Woman's Union Missionary Society. Miss Doremus
followed in her mother's footsteps and gave her life to the same cause,
serving as editor of The Missionary Link and also as corresponding
secretary. Just a few days before her death she read before the annual
meeting of the Woman's Union Missionary Society her fifty-fourth report
as secretary. Shrinking from publicity she yet put away her personal
preferences at the time of the Jubilee and was an honored guest at the
great public demonstration in New York in March, 1911, and also gave
an address at the Northfield Summer School in July of the same year.
It was characteristic of her that she asked that no notice of her work
should appear in the magazine of which she was editor! "But her works
praise her in the gates."
Editorial
151
Late in February the American Board received the sad news of the
death of Dr. Levon Sewny of Sivas. Dr. Sewny went to the front in
Missionary October with the army and was not far from Erzroom where
Personals, his wife, formerly Miss Lillian Cole, had gone with Dr.
Clark and Miss Graffam to help in Red Cross work. Mrs. Sewny had
just reached Erzroom when she was called to her husband's bedside.
Miss Loughridge of Talas writes: *'Dr. Sewny was a fine Christian
doctor and was doing a splendid work in Sivas as head of a large
Armenian hospital. He was loved and respected by the whole city, both
Christian and Moslem." Mrs. Sewny 's great loss will call forth much
sympathy and prayer from her friends in this country and elsewhere.
A card just received from Mrs. John S. Porter of Prague, Austria, dated
February 11, says, "Wonderful things are happening to-day in the air,
under the seas, but the Father's children have a way to the throne, ever
open. My husband is quiet, alert, tries not to feel, — the better to help."
Dr. Eleanor Stephenson of Ahmednagar, India, has announced her
engagement to Professor William S. Picken, who went out last October
under a five year appointment from the American Board to teach in the
Boys' High School in Bombay.
Miss Elizabeth Johnson of the Woman's Hospital at Ahmednagar and
Miss Clara H. Bruce of the same station sailed March 10 from Bombay
returning for furlough by way of the Pacific in company with Mr. and
Mrs. C. H. Burr. Miss Mary B. Harding of Sholapur is probably in
this party. Rev. and Mrs. A. A. McBride, also of Sholapur, are on the
way home via Naples. Miss Gertrude E. Chandler of Madura expects
to reach the United States about the first of June.
In a recent number of The Congregationalist the American Board pub-
lished several stories of persons who have made Conditional Gifts to that
Conditional Board to provide for the future of themselves or their
Gifts. relatives. It was most interesting to read how some persons
of small means even had been able to send in a series of these Gifts from
their savings, until a total was reached the income of which will be
suflJicient to supply their needs when earning days are over. Others have
sent Gifts for the benefit of relatives or dependents, resting in the fact
that the investment cannot fail and that the principal will go into the
foreign missionary work when the beneficiary needs the income no longer.
Perhaps not all of our readers know that the Woman's Board also receives
Conditional Gifts under the same arrangement. In accordance with a
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Life and Light
[April
mutually signed agreement the donor of such a Gift (or a named bene-
ficiary) receives a certain fair rate of interest semiannually and is re-
lieved of all care of her money. If you are interested, or know of any
person w^ho might like to make such a Gift, please write to our Treas-
urer, Miss Day, for further information.
Two societies in Suffolk Branch were reported at the annual meeting
^ ^ March 2, as having attained a place on the Honor Roll
of Life and Light — West Newton and Brighton. It is
with especial pleasure that the editor is able to announce that in her own
church in Brighton forty copies of Life and Light are now being taken.
The following paragraph taken from the annual report of Dr. C. H.
Patton, home secretary of the American Board, is well worth the thought-
Is your Sunday School Giving ful attention of all Sunday school superinten-
to the Mission Boards? dents and missionary committees interested in
the young people. It is amazing to note the proportion of money given
in some churches by the children, apparently with the complacent
approval of their elders, to objects quite outside the limits of their
denominational responsibility, while the regular Board channels are riot
being replenished from these sources. In fact in some cases the very
names of the Mission Boards are not familiar to these "men and women
of to-morrow." As is generally understood by junior leaders, through an
arrangement with the American Board the Woman's Boards should
receive the contributions from the primary and junior Sunday schools
while the adult classes are considered the rightful constituency of the
general Board. We quote from Dr. Patton: —
"The giving of the Sunday schools depends largely, too largely we feel,
upon the attractiveness of the particular object of the year. If it is the
building of a ship, the money comes pouring in; but if it is the sus-
taining of a ship already built, the schools turn a deaf ear. Hospitals
seem to attract when they need to be erected, but to keep a hospital run-
ning is of little account. The trouble arises from the lack of loyalty and
system in the average school. In the multitude of charities competing
for the children's gifts, those are favored which make the most spectacular
and definite appeal. We seek to present attractive appeals and to vary
them from year to year so far as this is possible within our regular
appropriations; but we greatly need among our schools a thoroughgoing
loyalty to denominational work, whether foreign or home, as having a
first claim upon the benevolence of the children."
Editorial
163
The Woman's Board of Missions will hold its semiannual meeting
with the Old Colony Branch, Thursday, May 13, in the Winslow Church,
The May Meeting Taunton, Mass. The program committee is at work
of the Board. on the plans for the meeting and a profitable day is
anticipated. Please reserve the date and look for full announcement in
the May Life and Light.
A representative company of women, numbering nearly five hundred,
met Wednesday afternoon, March 3, to listen to Miss Laura M. White of
Christian Literature for Nanking, China, and Mrs. Helen Barrett Mont-
Oriental Women. gomery, as they set forth the need of Chinese women
for elevating and practical books and magazines to aid them in their new
ideals of motherhood and home-making.
It was announced at this meeting that the first number of Happy Child-
hood {Fu Ttt Pao) was to be issued March 1, and that other plans of
the Woman's Committee were well under way. At the informal re-
ception which followed much interest was expressed in Miss White's
magazine. The Woma?i^s Messenger^ and the whole subject made an
appeal to the women whose homes are overflowing with a wealth of read-
ing matter. Mrs. Montgomery set forth in her own convincing way the
substantial help each woman could give to the movement by sending a
book or magazine to some missionary of her own Board, and it was
further suggested that many women might be willing to forego one new
book or one subscription to a popular magazine each year in order to
add to the fund which the Woman's Committee is slowly gathering to
finance such work on the foreign field. The treasurer of the Committee
will be glad to receive such donations. Make checks payable to Lila V.
North, 7 Belair Drive, Montclair, N. J.
A successful Institute was held in New Bedford, Mass., February 26.
Miss Calder conducted the conference hour and Miss Gilson gave the
Institutes and missionary address. At many of these winter meetings
Study Qasses. The Spirit of Motherhood or scenes from the Pageant of
Childhood have been given with acceptance. In Manchester, N. H.,
on March 3, Mrs. Daniels was the Board representative and Miss Gleason
spoke of her personal experiences in Mexico. At these and other Insti-
tutes careful planning on the part of Branch oflfiicers and the co-operation
of neighboring auxiliaries have made the attendance and interest a grati-
fying feature. Many semiannual Branch meetings during the spring
will take the form of Institutes. A series of conferences in connection
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Life and Light
\_ April
with the meetings of the county associations of churches in Vermont is
being planned for the latter part of May and early part of June, looking
toward the annual meeting of the Woman's Board of Missions in Burling-
ton, November 10-12.
From several towns come the reports of interdenominational Lenten
classes. In Northampton, Mass., the churches have united in the study
of The Child in the Midst. Mrs. Labaree gave the first address before
an audience of 300 women. In Holyoke on the occasion of the first meet-
ing Mrs. Daniels was the lecturer.
The Woman's Board of Missions and the Woman's Board of the
Interior have united in reprinting from the Shanghai ^Educational
New Review an admirable article by Miss Luella Miner ot
Publications^ Peking, entitled "The Christian Education of Chinese
Women." The pamphlet is illustrated and may be obtained from Miss
Hartshorn. Price, five cents.
A set of programs based upon Our World- Wide Work is being pre-
pared by Mrs. Francis E. Clark and will be ready in April. These
outlines are designed for smaller societies who for any reason may not
care to take the regular text-books. All necessary material will be found
in the popular handbook of the work of the Woman's Board on the field,
and in current missionary periodicals. Price, five cents.
THL FINANCIAL STATLMLNT OF THE, WOMAN'5 BOARD
Receipts from February 1-28, 1915
For Resrular Work
For
Buildings
For
vSpecial
Objects
From
Legacies
TOTAL
Branches
Other
Sources
Total
1914 ....
1915
.$7,009.43
6,889.85
81,072.20
2,395.76
88,081.69
9,285.61
$1,400.67
2,563.54
.$108.27
257.75
.$8,050.00
$17,640.63
12,106.90
Gain ....
Loss ....
119.. 58
1,323.50
1,203.92
1,162.87
149.48
8,050.00
5,533.73
October 18, 1914-February 28, 1915
1914
1915 ...
337,261.53
35,478.78
$1,728.91
6,098.13
$38,990.44
41,576.91
$27,169.15
5,-353.78
$900.02
1,210.03
$14,088.25
2,135.15
$81,147.86
50,275.87
Gain ....
Loss ....
1,782.75
4,369.22
2,586.47
21,815.37
310.01
11,953.10
30,871.99
WOMEN AND WORLD PLACE
We are suffering to-day not only in our sympathies with those who are
involved in the awful war in Europe, but in the terror that t9 us also may
come as suddenly the horror of war. The strongest, most stable govern-
ments have collapsed and the closest human relations have broken down
while neutral nations and statesmen stand powerless to aid.
Women have found relief in knitting mufflers as did their grandmothers,
but is there nothing that women can do really to help bring and preserve
peace? Have they learned nothing in fifty years of the power of organ-
ized womanhood? Is there no place for our great women's missionary
societies to fill in this crisis?
It was just after our own civil war when our country was poor and
weak and not fully united, that God called the Christian women of
America to carry his message of peace to the nations, and women's foreign
missionary societies were born. To-day there are forty such societies
with a chain of peace stations extending around the world. Foreign
missions being interpreted are just international friendliness and world
neighborliness, based on the love and teaching of the World Saviour.
Statesmen and pacifists tell us of new plans and international laws which
will make war impossible. Poets have long sung of a "Federation of
the World." God grant it. Yet while we have sympathy with every
honest effort for better legislation for world peace we know in our hearts
that it will fail unless back of human policies are the ideals and the
power of Jesus Christ. Because we are women and have good reason
to hate and fear war and the sins responsible for war, because we repre-
sent the cause of constructive peace in our missionary societies; because
we are Christians and still have faith in the power of God and his will-
ingness to answer prayer, because we are summoned by every divine and
human impulse into this fellowship of suffering we urge immediate
action. We do not need to form a new peace party since we have our
efficient missionary organizations with all the machinery needed.
We do not propose to enter into the political side of the question but
will confine our efforts to a peace propaganda based on the teaching and
spirit of Jesus. We submit no elaborate program, but we will promise
to enlist individuals and societies for intercession. We will teach the
children in our homes and churches Christian ideals of peace and hero-
ism. We will study the New Testament and accept its teachings concern-
ing Peace. We will endeavor to promote the understanding and
friendliness of the nations by thinking of none as alien but all as children
of our Heavenly Father,
156
Life and Light
\_Apf'il
Mrs. Helen Barrett Montgomery, President of Woman's Baptist Foreign Mis-
sionary Society.
Mrs. W. F. McDowell, President of Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Charles H. Daniels, President of Woman's Board of Missions, Congregational.
Miss Margaret Hodge, President of Wo?nan's Foreign Missionary Society of the
Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.
Mrs. W. a. Prentice, President of Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the
Presbyterian Church, New York.
Mrs. Daniel J. Burrell, President of Woman's Board of Foreign Missions,
Reforjned Church in America.
Mrs. Mary Clokey Porter, President of Women' s General Missionary Society of
the United Presbyterian Church of North America.
Mrs. Samuel J. Broadwell, President of Woman's Union Missionary Society of
America.
Miss Belle Bennett, President of Board of Missions, Methodist Episcopal Church,
{South).
Miss F. Heck, President of Woman'' s Auxiliary Southern Baptist Convention.
Mrs. W. C. Winsborough, Wotnan's Foreign Missionary Work of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States, {South).
Mrs. Anna R. Atwater, President of Christian Woman's Board of Missions.
Mrs. Charlotte E. Vickers, President of Woman''s Foreign Missionary Union of
Friends of America.
Mrs. E. M. Spreng, President of Woman's Missionary Society of the Evangelical
Association.
Mrs. DeWitt Knox, President of Cefttral Advisory Committee Federation of Woma?i^s
Board of Foreign Missions.
Mrs. Henry W. Peabody, Chairjnan of the Central Cojnmittee on the United
Study of Foreign Missions.
Mrs. Fred Bennett, Vice President of Cou?icil of Wo7nen for Home Missions.
Miss Harriet Taylor, Secretary of National Board of Tou?ig Women'' s Christian
Association.
Dr. Kate Boggs Shaffer, Editor of the Lutheran Woman's Work.
Dr. John R. Mott writes in the International Review of Missions:
There is greater need to-day than ever before of relating the limitless
po-wer of united intercession to the missionary enterprise. A time of
unexampled opportunity and crisis like the present is one of grave danger.
There have been times vs^hen in certain parts of the world the situation con-
fronting the church was as serious and as inspiring as it is to-day ; but has
there ever been a time when simultaneously in so many non-Christian lands
the facts of need and opportunity presented such a remarkable appeal to
Christendom as now.''"
AN UNLXPLCTLD PAU5L IN ME.XICO
BY SARA B. ROWLAND
This letter from Mrs. John Howland, written at Manzanillo, Mexico, was mailed
at Gardena, Cal., having been brought out by the Chattanooga.
This morning I sit looking over the broad, blue waters of the harbor
to the gray and green hills beyond. Not a boat is moving now, in fact
in this harbor there seems to be everything but boats. Day by day we
listen for the bell from the signal station on the hill and hour by hour we
watch for the flag and the black balls to announce the arrival of some ship
with news from the outside world. It seems so strange to have week after
week go by with no letters or papers or messages from anyone. The old
year was just going out when we heard last from home and now the
second month has begun. We are shut in by sea and mountains and we
must let the world go on without us for a time. We had planned to start
back to Chihuahua several weeks ago and had changed our money into
the Villa currency just as late as possible, for there were risks in keeping
it in the house, as well as of its being invalid. Bills were in circulation
stamped Chihuahua, Sonna, Sinaloa, Durango, Constitutionalist army,
etc., as well as those of Banks of Mexico, Jalisco and many others.
January 18 the city was retaken by the forces of Carranza after a long
day's battle about five miles out of the city. **A11 day long the noise of
battle rolled," but it grew less in the afternoon and we thought that the
enemy had been repulsed. We had been invited to dine with the Ameri-
can Consul that day, and as the city was still quiet, we went out as usual.
We were taking our dessert when one of the American residents came
in hurriedly to get the Consul to go to the Palace for soldiers to protect
his house, as his daughter had telephoned that bandits were trying to get
the horses. Our party broke up hastily and for awhile we stood near the
hotel watching the groups of soldiers coming back from the field. They
were of Villa's army and we still thought them victorious. By and by
the wounded began to come in on horseback, sitting erect with bandaged
limbs. Soon came a pathetic little company, bearing a long black
coffin, and it was whispered that it was the body of General Ortega of the
Northern Army. Then the groups came faster and faster and we went
back to our quiet home away from the center of the city. Soon began
the shots in rapid succession and from that time until morning there was
little rest for us, or for anyone in the city. The Villa soldiers were
closely pursued into the city, and as the uniform is nearly the same as
158
Life and Light
[April
that of the Carrancistas and as it was all unexpected, there was the
utmost confusion, no one knowing the right countersign. The Yaqui
Indians were in the advancing party, and they are very hard to control
unless one knows their language, so a great many peaceful citizens were
shot.
The next day few people of any nationality ventured into the streets
while the victorious army was entering, but at intervals the shots sounded
and it was whispered that executions were going on. Some of our people
were passing and watched the suspected people marched away from their
homes and heard the cries of the children. There are many political
plots, no doubt, but nothing has unstrung my nerves so much as to hear
of executions. War is certainly a terrible thing in any land under the
sun.
We had come down the Mexican Central Railroad from Chihuahua to
Irapuato and then to Guadalajara, the line being open to Mexico City,
and we were receiving mail from both directions. Everyone supposed
the Villa forces to be strong and there was nothing to be expected in the
way of an attack on the city. Now all was changed and in a few hours
communication with the outside world was cut off and there was nothing
to do but to resign ourselves to remain. If we had been expecting to go
on with the work in Guadalajara we could have settled down but all our
goods were packed, the church had voted to ask the Methodists to send a
pastor at the end of the month, the schools were disbanded and the fare-
wells said and the rest of the mission waiting for us in Chihuahua to
hold important conferences as to future work. It was said that the road
to Manzanillo would soon be opened and that steamers were due for the
west coast so that was our next hope. The intervening days were full of
anxiety for our boys and others we had known in the city, all of whom
had joined the Constitutionalist Army before the unhappy division, and
by reason of the changes among the leaders had found themselves upon
different sides. Most of the young men have risen rapidly in the ranks
and there are lieutenants, captains and even a lieutenant colonel among
them, while others are paymasters or secretaries. Many receive salaries
of six or seven dollars daily and find the adventure much to their taste. It
would be hard to collect the students again if we were to open the
Colegio this year, though younger ones might be entering. Thus far
none of the students have been killed or wounded, much to our gratitude,
and none have been taken prisoners.
Wednesday morning we found that a train was going directly to Man-
igi5^ An Unexpected Pause in Mexico 159
zanillo and we decided to take it, as a steamer had been advertised to
leave on the 29th. Quite a crowd of the faithful friends assembled even
though the hour was early, and we have never had any harder experience
than to leave this dear home where we have grown into the life of the
people and found them loving and loyal. Some day I shall write more
of the last days among them, but now the path is simply onward and I
am trying not to look backward. The only motive was to do God's will
more perfectly, so the results must be left with him.
I have always heard of the wonderful scenery of the road to Manzanillo,
of its crossing the canyon and climbing the mountain at an unusually
steep grade, skirting the edge of precipices and shooting through dark
tunnels, and I thought the trip would be very interesting. But when
every step seems fraught with possible tragedy, one does not care about
^'scenery, " and I was never more relieved than when we reached the
level of the sea. Only a few days ago there occurred on this very spot
one of the most terrible railroad accidents of modern times and ours was
the first passenger train to make the trip afterwards. To take such a
journey in safety one needs experienced engineers and a large, oil-burn-
ing engine. Here the roads are frequently torn up, and the officials are
all changed with each turn of the political wheel, and all of the good
engines have been reserved for military trains. There is no more oil and
even wood is scarce, so you may imagine the difficulties of travel for
passengers. Indeed there is no ''schedule time," but each train goes
when it gets ready and trusts to pick up wood somewhere on the way.
After the troops had entered Guadalajara, the governor ordered that the
families of the soldiers should be taken up from Colima in a special
train. There were more than twenty cars, simply packed with humanity,
the roofs covered with women and children and many slung under the
cars in a most perilous position even for ordinary travel. At the top of
the steepest grade coming down, the engineer lost control, the cars
rushed down the long incline throwing off its human freight on both sides
and finally plunging into the abyss. It is estimated that nearly nine
hundred people were on the train and only six were unhurt. More than
six hundred were killed outright and between three and four hundred
were wounded. Some of the Yaqui Indians committed suicide when
they were told of the accident to their families and they have sworn ven-
geance. All the railroad men were killed so there are none to suffer.
Everyone on our train was oppressed by the horror of this terrible
occurrence and there were many pale faces when we crawled slowly up
160
Life and Light
\_ April
the steep with our little engine, and just above the abyss, where we could
see the pile of wreckage and the black ashes of the funeral pyre, we
stopped short for lack of steam! The men flew to the hand brakes and the
train was held and by and by we crept on and over and down, but the
'^scenery" was not appreciated by me. There were so many delays on the
way that at eleven o'clock at night we were in Colima and were relieved
to find that the train would not go on until daylight. It was a comfort
to rest in the quaint hotel, with its broad corridors filled with palms, our
window opening upon the beautiful plaza, so silent now in the soft
moonlight. The days of fiesta are over and instead of enjoying the
lights and music under the laden orange trees the people hurry to their
homes fearful of plot or invasion or street riot. Changes come so rapidly
now that one does not know what to expect.
The ride from Colima to Manzanillo is along the edge of the cliffs, but
the grade is not very steep and there are most beautiful views of canyon
and volcano and finally the blue waters of the harbor at noon and our
journey ended. We hurried to the American Consul's to learn about the
next boat and were told that the Pacific mail had just left and there was
no other expected for a month, though a Mexican boat might touch at the
port. So here we are — maybe for a month — with no way of sending
even a telegram to our friends. The Consul gets no word except by
wireless, if a ship happens to touch here. There is communication within
the territory of each army but none with the United States or with the
ground occupied by the enemy. Not a paper is published here and not
even an old one comes in. The censorship is absolute and the answer to
our questions is almost invariable, ^uien sabe.''^ (Who knows.)
Others are just as anxious for news as we. At this little boarding house,
recommended to us by our good friend, the Consul, we are a cosmopolitan
set, but the best of comrades. Our own table is American — Mr. Fritts,
Mr. Woodyard, a miller from Guadalajara, and the Rowlands. At the
other table we find Mr. Stadden, the Consul, a German sailor who has
been wrecked three times and seen all manner of adventures, a Norwegian
mechanic, a Spanish civil engineer, a Mexican colonel, an English
merchant. The hotel is kept by Chinamen, absolutely devoted to our
interests as "boarders." The waiter. Fan Tan, has a face like an ancient
idol, impassive as a Buddha in eternal repose, but he remembers the
slightest wish, as far as he is able to understand.
We have always been told that the climate here is unbearable and the
summers must be intensely warm, but we have found a good deal to enjoy
An Unexpected Pause in Mexico
161
at our enforced "watering place. " The harbor is beautiful. The intense
blue of the water and sky reminds one of the Mediterranean coloring, and
the lofty hills on every side, the wonderful breakwater curving half
across the port, the schooners and fishing boats, the sea gulls flying slowly
above make a scene of wonderful beauty. Sometimes a shark gives a
glimpse of himself and several whales have come up under our very eyes
as we stand on our own veranda. Blanket fish of immense size and por-
poises are very common and flocks of white pelicans mingled with the
gorgeous flamingoes sweep across the sky.
It is very warm during the day but as we can keep quiet we do not
mind it. A beautiful evening walk is to climb the steep path to the
signal station on the mountain behind our dwelling, and see the sun sink
slowly into the ocean — its departure heralded by three strokes of the bell
and the raising of the red flag and two black balls — which mean "good
night" to the port. We have learned many of the signals, and indeed
the whole town rushes at the sound of the bell to see how many balls have
been raised, and if the flag says "north" or "south." Alas! we have
seen only a few variations in our two weeks' stay. It is always em-
barcacion menor^ "a little ship." Some day we hope to see a warship
or an ocean vessel for which the whole port is waiting now.
Later, The ship has come, and we can send our letters, though there
is no way for us to go. We may have to go to California. We are safe
and well and will write when we get out. We do not know anything
about the real Mexican situation. {^Dr. and Mrs. Howl an d' s arrival in
San Francisco has been reported in personal letters.^
News from the Nearer East.
Mrs. Stanley Emrich writes from Beirut, Syria, sending out her letter
by the North Carolina: "This week is likely to prove one of the most
momentous in Turkish history. The attack on the Suez is now going on
and Russian troops have been landed near Constantinople ready for the
attack there. Our ignorance of what is going on outside is amazing. But
we do see the suffering of those left at home, — the wives and little children.
My little son Richard said this morning, ' I wish I could go back to
Mardin, mother, and then I would not hear so many beggars crying.' But
the awfulness of the situation is in the fact that all places are alike in their
suffering. The last call is now taking men from forty to forty-five. All
our servants and helpers in Mardin go with this call, so Dr. Thom writes
162
Life and Light
\_April
IN THE HEART OF NEW 5ERVIA
Some Summer Experiences of Two Itinerant Missionaries
BY DELPHA DAVIS
IN these times it seems almost useless
to try to send anything half around
the world and there have been weeks
together when scarcely a word has come
through to us from the outside world.
Letters and papers used to come from
America in fourteen days but now we
consider ourselves fortunate if they come
in a month while usually they take much
longer if they ever reach us at all.
Last summer when school closed Miss
Pavlova and I went on a tour. Even
though war was not going on at that
time, we knew it would be difficult to
cross boundary lines so we made up our
minds to stay in Servia, and in order to
do this we had to go across country some
seventy miles by carriage to reach the
other line of railroad which leads north-
ward to Belgrrade.
A SERVIAN GRADUATE FROM PRISHTINA ®
Faithful to Her Light
Here w^e found a lodg-
ing place just across the
street from the home of
our Servian teacher. She
and her mother were very
hospitable and through
them we wxre able to
meet a number of the
young people who were
interested in Bible study.
There was one girl in
particular who attracted
us. She was lame, as so
many in Servia seem to
VELIS, WHERE THE TEACHERS TOOK TRAIX FOR BELGRADE
In the Heart of New Servia
163
be. Really, in the ten days we were in Belgrade, I think we must have
seen no less than a hundred halt and lame. This Miss Militza was very
sweet and so simple and childlike. She seemed to be just taking her first
steps toward the Father and it was touching to see her interest and eager-
ness. One evening we had a little prayer circle. She had never learned to
pray but so wanted to show her love that she repeated the Lord's Prayer
in the ancient Slavic as she had learned it in the state church. We have
had cards from her just now at the Christmas time and know that she is
in a very hard and dangerous position working as a stenographer in gov-
ernment employ among rough men. How we hope that the little light
she has had may be enough to keep her safe through these hard months.
Belgrade was a pretty city. I wonder what it looks like to-day.? It is
beautifully situated between the rivers Danube and Sava, with ancient
fortifications on the headland in the fork of the two and a well kept park
of good size surrounding them. At the opposite end of the city is another
similar park about the old palace which belonged to the first Servian
kings. All these things together with the unfinished palace of the Crown
Prince in the heart of the city must be in ruins now. We know the
beautiful steel railroad bridge spanning the Sava is gone. How many
times we watched the trains spin across it and admired the picture it
made against the background of water and the Austrian shore. Senjlin
is so close that one can almost distinguish the separate buildings, and the
villagers come over from the Austrian shore to do their marketing in
Belgrade.
We left Belgrade before war was declared, stopping at Scopia where
we had to change trains. There we have a small Protestant church, so
found ourselves among friends. We went on to a small town several
• hours to the north of Scopia where one of our former graduates has her
home. There we spent ten pleasant days. They have a little church
which the few Protestant families have built chiefly by their own efforts.
It is not completed yet but I hope it may be if ever this war comes to a
close. The three homes composing this tiny community give tithes of all
they possess and that is how the little church building had come into
being. It was while we were there in Esther's home in Prishtina that
the war broke out. We went to the mayor, a pleasant man, and asked
his advice about hurrying home, but he said there was no need of haste
as there would be no trouble about our traveling where we chose with
our foreign passports.
164
Life and Light
lApril
Apprehended as Spies
SCOPIA FROM THE RAILROAD STATION
We rued the day we
listened to the mayor's
advice. We had been in-
vited to spend Sunday at
a small tovs^n between
Prishtina and Scopia
where the sister of our
Monastir pastor lives.
Her husband met us at
the train and took us to
his shop to wait until the
train should move on so
that we might go to their
home which was on the
farther side of the tracks. We had scarcely gotten inside the shop when a
police came in, looked us over, asked who we were and went out again.
In a moment the mayor appeared, ostensibly for the purpose of ordering a
new cap, really to look us over. Even then we had no thought that we were
being especially watched, but a moment later we understood when the
police who had come in first returned with the chief of police and placed
us under arrest because we were traveling with foreign, not Servian, pass-
ports. They were going to hustle us off to a hotel (fortunately not to
prison) but we refused to stir. It seemed that our host was suspected
because he had been a friend of the Catholic priest in town. All Catholics
were considered as Austrians, consequently enemies and, never having
come in contact with any Protestants, the officials classed us as Catholics,
consequently Austrians, dangerous, probably spies! Luckily for us,
there was another family in town having a daughter who had been in the
American school so we begged to be permitted to spend the night there.
For seventeen hours we were under guard, not allowed to leave the house;
but on Sunday morning a telegram came in answer to the one sent from
Ferizovitch back to Prishtina saying that we were really what we claimed
to be and we were set free with a very grudging apology. We left by
the first train on Monday and were glad to shake the dust of that town
from our feet. In spite of the excitement of our arrest we had had a
good visit with the two families of friends and felt that we had really
accomplished something.
In the Heart of New Servia
165
Homeward with Rejoicing
The rest of our journey
after leaving Scopia was
not hard. We came back
over the long carriage
drive by night winding
through the moonlight
up and up over a high
mountain ridge. That
was the best and most
beautiful part of all the
trip, but I think that
nothing ever looked quite
so good to us as our
MISS DAVIS AT HOME IN BITOLIA (mOKASTIr) r , . i
own front gate when we
reached it on the evening of the next day. We had had a rather exciting
summer experience, to say the least.
The rest of the summer passed quietly enough. We got the buildings
ready for the opening of the school year and fitted up a room for Miss
Lavagood, an American who has come to help us this year since Miss
Matthews is still away. I think very few of the friends of the school in
America even know that she is here. She was visiting friends in Bul-
garia when I was there last spring and, hearing of our need, consented to
come and fill in the gap
this year. She has taken
charge of the kinder-
garten department where
she is doing beautiful
work, not only with the
children but in the train-
ing of the older girls and
younger teachers in the
principles and practice
of kindergarten teaching.
She has had two mothers'
meetings which were
something entirely new
here and proved very bringing charcoal into bitolia (monastir)
166
Life and Light
^ April
successful. It is so nice to have her here, I hardly see how we could
have gotten on without her.
The school is very full this year. I have had to turn many applicants
away for lack of books, seats and teachers. There is plenty of room in
the buildings but we lack equipment and we cannot get what we need
until the war's end. You know all the work is in English except the one
hour a day given to the Servian language. About a month ago the C.
E. Society gave an evening program — all in English except three recita-
tions which the Servian teacher had helped some of the girls prepare.
Our schoolroom was crowded. It is wonderful how these people enjoy a
thing of the sort even when they do not understand a word of what is
said. We tried as much as we could to give things which were full of
motion and costumed, which helped out very much. It was such a
success that the boys begged that they might be permitted to prepare a
program also, so we are looking forward to having another evening enter-
tainment in February, and I think we shall have to admit by ticket this
time.
Unspeakable Conditions Among Prisoners
There are many Austrian prisoners in town. Among them are men of
talent. They have organized an orchestra which plays really fine music.
They gave a concert not long ago which was the first real music I have
heard since leaving America. We all hope they will play again so that
the younger teachers may have a chance to hear them.
There are several thousand wounded in town too, some Austrians,
most Servians and Macedonians. We visited many of the hospitals on
Christmas Day and gave away a great basket of apples. The condition
in these places is awful beyond description. There are no sheets on the
beds and the men are eaten up with vermin of various sorts. They have
little or no care. There cannot be more than a dozen nurses in all this
big town and the care of the sick falls principally upon a few of the Austrian
prisoners and some untrained servant men, soldiers, so that more men die
from lack of care than for any other reason. There is a young man
whom we know in one of the hospitals who tried to escape from the arrny,
wandered about in the mountains for some days during the very coldest
weather, had to give himself up finally because both feet were so badly
frozen and was brought here. After days of suffering one foot was am-
putated. There are eight other men in the same room with him, all in
about the same condition. Some of them will die just as we fear Tryan
In the Heart of New Servia
167
will, not because there is any need for they have fine constitutions, but
only from neglect. The worst of it is that if women in the city offer their
services they are refused. The authorities do not seem to care. I read
now and then a story or article which makes war seem a noble and heroic
thing and which is desired to send a thrill through the reader. We have
called that thrill patriotism. I wish that every editor and author could
see but once what war really is. If all the world could know as we here
know what beasts war makes of even the best men, surely this pseudo-
patriotism would give place to something truer and better. God grant
that this may be the last such upheaval the world need ever see. It is
beyond conception that people calling themselves Christians can engage
in such awful slaughter. We are on the very outermost edge of the war
territory yet we see enough to fill us with horror. What must it be in the
more central places .5* When this war ends there will not be a city, town
or village in all Central and Southern Europe but will count its dead and
maimed by the score.
But let us not let this letter end with all this sad talk about the war.
Some one wrote me not long ago wondering whether we should have
Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations this year. We did. Our
young girls need not and should not feel all the sadness and^ sorrow of
these times so we keep on with our school work just as if world history
were not being lived out under our eyes every day. We had a splendid
tree with heaps of presents, most of which we made ourselves out of what-
ever materials we could find in our bags and boxes. It is wonderful what
one can do with odds and ends when she sets her mind to it. We manu-
factured all sorts of things, ranging from needlebooks for the girls to hats
and blouses for the teachers.
We had company during Christmas week. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper came
up from Salonica. It was such a treat for no guests come our way now
that the workers in Albania are scattered. The week they spent with us was
a very full one for on Tuesday we closed school for the holidays, on
Wednesday we had our tree, on Thursday we visited the hospitals with our
apples, on Friday and Saturday we made calls and, it being the week of
prayer, every afternoon we attended meeting in the church. On New
Year's Day we received here at home. More than forty callers came
during the course of the day.
I wonder how many of my letters will ever reach their destinations?
I wonder, too, how long they will be on the way? They may reach
you in time for Easter greetings. Easter comes early this year.
Whenever they may come to your doors they will bring you my
greetings and best wishes, and let us all hope and pray that before
another year rolls around men may be living as brothers in word and
deed.
168
Life and Light
[April
MEETINGS AMONG WOMEN 5TUDENT5 IN CHINA
BY MAUD H. EDDY
Through the kindness of Mrs. Sherwood Eddy we are allowed to give the follow-
ing extracts from report letters written for friends during Mr. Eddy's recent meetings
in China. Mrs. Eddy is an English woman and the daughter of former mission-
aries in Madras. Assisted by specially trained workers in each city she was in
charge of the meetings for women. While these letters speak of only a few cities,
the same wonderful results were seen in other places. In looking over the records
since her return to America, Mrs. Eddy finds that 100 meetings for women were
held during this evangelistic campaign. Five hundred and eighty-nine women
definitely decided to lead a Christian life, while about 2,000 signed cards promising
to read the Bible and give attention to its truths. With all the sadness of this
Easter time in the world, a great gladness must fill the hearts of Christians as they
learn how the Word of God has had free course and been glorified in these apostolic
events in China. — The Editor.
It is not possible to give a detailed account of all the cities in which
meetings for women were held, so for this purpose I have selected two
centers only, Soochow and Hangchow.
Meetings for Women Oney
Soochow is a conservative old city, and is called ^'the Venice of
China," owing to the many canals which intersect the town. Descending
from the modern railway car, we entered a primitive canal boat, and for
nearly two hours glided along the placid river beside the old gray city
wall over which green vines climbed in rich profusion. The spire of a
church rising in the distance marked the mission compound, which was
our destination. Soochow differed from all the other cities in one
respect; it was the one place in the whole tour where meetings were held
for women only. The first meetings held there were for the deepening of
the spiritual life of the Christians, and 160 girl students attended the
conference, and received much help and inspiration through the addresses
of various speakers. The second effort was for non-Christians. For
months beforehand the local workers had carefully trained a normal class
of Bible teachers, young women who were ready for volunteer service.
They had also established friendly relations with the principals of the
different government girls' schools in the place, and had carefully dis-
tributed tickets of admission. A large tent was erected on a site loaned
by the government, and a thousand non-Christian girls filled the benches.
The response of the students surpassed our highest expectations: 483
signed cards promising to join Bible classes, and every woman principal
pf the government schools there entered her name as a Bible student,
19^5^ Meetings Among Women Students in China
169
We had previously visited these principals, and had been much impressed
by their dignity, capability and earnest desire to help their students. One
of them said to us: ^'I have done my best to train my girls in character,
and while they are here under my influence they seem to respond. But
v^hen they go back to their homes they gradually drop back and seem to
lose their ideals. Education alone does not hold them, and T am trying
to find some other way. Can you help me?" We were glad indeed that
we could tell her just what she wanted to know. Another principal is
a woman of such striking character that she is known locally as the
"Empress Dowager." She is a wealthy widow, and receives no salary
for her work. Three of her daughters are now studying in American
colleges, and they have all become Christians. The mother did not
oppose them but thought that Confucianism was sufficient for her. The
very day we called on her a letter arrived from one of the daughters say-
ing that she was earnestly praying for her mother's conversion. The
"Empress Dowager" was much exercised at the growth of gambling
among the women of the city, and tried to form a league to check it.
One day she came to a young Christian teacher in utter despair. "I
cannot get the women to be interested although I have done my best, so I
have come to you. Will you help me?" she said. She was conscious
of the fact that with all her wealth and influence she lacked the power
that this Christian girl possessed. Opposition to the holding of Bible
classes has developed since we were in Soochow. Will you not pray
earnestly that these women and others may have the opportunity to learn
more of the truth ?
Leaders Among Chinese Women
At Hang-chow we found a band of earnest women who had worked
hard to make the evangelistic meetings a success. A thousand non-
Christian women students attended for three days, having received official
permission to do so. The governor's dainty little wife took the chair the
first day and prepared an address of welcome. She was not accustomed
to appearing in public, but she bravely stood up while a Chinese lady
friend read the address for her. Here again the principals of the govern-
ment girls' schools were most sympathetic. Two hundred and eighty-
three students signed Bible study cards, the principals setting the example.
The leading principal invited us to a Chinese feast to meet the other
principals and teachers. It was a most interesting gathering. In the
address of welcome, after a cordial greeting, our hostess said: "Chinese
jyomen are as those who live in the bottom of a well : with the exception
170
Life and Light
of a streak of light everything is invisible. The women of Western
nations are standing on the summit of a mountain, seeing everything.
Words cannot describe how wretched is the condition of Chinese women.
. . . From the time when I began to have education even to this day,
from morning till night I have been trying to think out a plan to deliver
my country women from hardships and difficulties. . . . For the sake of
China I have decided to face danger and drudgery, and sacrifice my life.
... At last living together in this world of liberty, we Chinese women
can be equal with the women of Western nations." This woman is one
of those now studying the Bible and there she will find the Light which
drives away all darkness, and brings joy and peace to troubled souls.
It seems as if for the first time in the history of China the non-Chris-
tian women students are willing to study the Word of God. In every
place where the meetings were held, trained teachers were ready to give
their services, but these leaders will need earnest prayer to sustain them.
Humanly speaking on them rests the greatest responsibility. It will not
be an easy task. Let our faith prevail for these Chinese Christian girls,
many of whom are making their first effort to lead souls to Jesus Christ.
"Organize Victory Out of Defeat"
When we reached Canton we found the Christians in the depths of
despair. Political conditions were most discouraging. The Progressive
Party, disgusted at the overthrow of many of the improvements they had
introduced, started the so-called "Third Revolution," and many bombs
were thrown in different parts of the city. The governor therefore felt
obliged to forbid any large gathering of students, and the great mat shed
which had been especially erected to hold four thousand students for the
evangelistic meetings had to be torn down before it was once used. It
was a bitter disappointment to the Chinese Christians who had cheerfully
subscribed to erect it, and who had worked for months beforehand to
make the meetings a success. It looked as if all their plans and all their
hopes were doomed to failure. What happened? First of all meetings
were held to inspire the Christians with fresh courage, and they rallied
splendidly. Most encouraging reports still reach us. "The Church
was never so stirred before," writes one missionary. Then the Chris-
tians were asked to bring non-Christian friends to a meeting in a large
central church, and in that one meeting so many women students signed
Bible-study cards that the workers had as many as they could properly
handle. Classes were formed at once, the voluntary teachers having been
prepared for this purpose some months previously.
^^/jT] Meetings Among Women Students in China 171
Two young Christian teachers in a government normal school were so
stirred that they influenced the lady principal to extend an invitation to us
to come and speak to the students. We found 250 girls gathered in the
lecture hall, and for an hour we were able to present the claims of
Christianity to a deeply attentive and responsive audience. News has
just reached us that requests were received from two government schools
to form Bible classes for the students, and seventy of these girls are now
enrolled. The whole Chinese Church seems to have received a new
impetus, and individual members are working to win souls as they never
did before. Canton has asked for a province-wide campaign for next
year, and the Christians have already laid out plans and started work
with this object in view. And so defeat was turned into victory,
lamentation into a song of praise to our God.
In the Old Capital
The last city we visited was Nankhig^ the old capital of China.
There had been adversaries in many places, but here the committee of
preparation had been forced to change their plans so many times, in order
to adapt themselves to local conditions, that they could not tell until the
THE PRESBYTERIAN GIRLS' SCHOOL AT NANKING
172
Life and Light
[April
final day whether or not the city officials really intended to carry out their
promises. They offered to lend the theatre in the former Exhibition
Grounds, and promised to grant free railway passes to students attending
the meetings. As the day came nearer and nearer, opposition developed,
and the workers had a hard time trying to adjust matters. But in the end
ail difficulties were overcome. When we started in the morning the road
was lined for several miles with carriages and rickshaws filled with
women; a train passed by with open cars crowded with girl students,
while others bravely trudged along the road, carrying their school
banners. I shall never forget the scene at the theatre door: a seething
mob besieged the gate, pushing and pulling, excited and anxious, all
intent upon getting in. Two policemen guarded the gateway and only
those possessing tickets were allowed to enter. The governor's wife
arrived, accompanied by the wives of some high officials, and the soldiers
attending her cleared a passage so that she could make a dignified
entrance. The governor's band, kindly lent for the occasion, broke out
into a gay martial air, and with all due ceremony we escorted Her Ex-
cellency to the platform. We began the meeting with two thousand non-
Christians in the theatre, while another thousand outside were entertained
by Professor Robertson's demonstrated Science Lecture, until they could
have their turn. The governor's wife was formerly a teacher in one of
the government schools, and she graciously prepared and read a cordial
address of welcome.
As we faced that immense non-Christian audience the greatness of the
opportunity was overwhelming. Such an audience of women had not
been gathered in any part of China, I believe, for a religious address.
It was unique, and it was awesome as well as inspiring. Facing us were
students from non-Christian government schools with their principals and
teachers, wealthy Tai-tais and women of influence, most of them know-
ing absolutely nothing about the teachings of Christianity. That audience
seemed to lay a hand upon our very heartstrings. *'Who is sufficient for
these things ?" ''Our sufficiency is of God." The interpreter was Dr.
Mary Stone, the well-known Chinese doctor, and her beautiful interpre-
tation, her vivacity, and her earnest spirit held that great crowd attentive
and responsive to the very end. Beginning with patriotism and morality
we led them to the simple first principles of Christianity, and then we
sent them out while another thousand came in to hear the same address.
One Tai-tai was so interested that she begged one of the missionaries to
come straight back to her home to teach her this new doctrine. Another
Meetings Among Women Students in China
173
result of the meetings was a small gathering of the leading principals of
government schools in the city, who met to discuss the question of letting
Bible classes be formed in their schools. One of the principals is being,
prepared for baptism, having been won to Christ by the kindness she
received at the hands of missionaries during the awful days of the rebel-
lion, when pillage and outrage were the order of the day. She was the
first to open the discussion. "I feel that I must tell you what Christian-
ity has done for me," she said. "You all know why I became a Chris-
tian. They might have spoken to me for years about Bible study and I
would never have listened, but I saw the lives of those Christian people
AMERICAN TEACHERS IX NANKING — MISs COLCHIiR, .MRS. IHLRSTON, MISS MEAD
(Taken in Kuling at Mrs. Thurston's summer home.)
and that convinced me. We had not even known each other before,
yet they were willing to give their lives to save us." She spoke
of the joy and peace that had come to her own soul, and of the practical
help she had found in the "Jesus doctrine." Another principal rose in
hot haste. "Of course you became a Christian," she said. "The for-
eigners saved your life and your school, and conferred so many favors on
you that no one would blame you for joining them. But how about the
rest of us? We would like to have these Bible classes but we cannot.
We are entirely dependent upon government support, and we might lose
our positions." Before she had finished another had risen: they were
174
Life and Light
[April
fairly brimming over! One by one their difficulties were settled, and
finally every principal there agreed to attend a weekly Bible class, and
^also asked a young Chinese Christian teacher to present the matter to
their students, inviting them to attend voluntary classes.
Both in Canton and Nanking our God showed his power, and wrought
victory out of seeming defeat. Will you pray that the Chinese Chris-
tians may come to know Him in a fuller and deeper sense? The Can-
tonese are fond of quoting a saying, Canton leads China," and they are
famous for their qualities of leadership, adventure and hardihood. If
added to these natural qualifications they are endued with power from on
high, who can say what will be the results of the future province-wide
campaign? It is our privilege to be fellow workers with them in prayer.
Let us see to it that we do not fail in our share, then we too can rejoice
with those who reap the harvest of souls. Let us also remember the
Bible classes for principals meeting every week at Nanking. Let us pray
these women into the Kingdom of God, that they may use their influence
to win their students for Jesus Christ. '*Lord, teach us to pray."
But if you are of the purely altruistic type, and wish to enter medicine
solely for the sake of doing good, then I have but one piece of advice for
you. Be a medical missionary. Instead of settling down in New York
City to be a doctor to ninety-two families, in a block where there are four
hundred families, go to China (for instance) and help that brave man Dr.
Taylor, who, when he went there, was the only scientific physician
among twenty million people.
Go out to such dark countries as this, and teach the native doctors that
the ideal remedy for an aching tooth is not to hit it hard enough to kill
the black worm that is supposed to be gnawing at its roots. Show them
that the best cure for failing vision is not to pierce the eyeballs with a
needle in order to let in the light. Go and tell them that melted wax is
not the best thing to pour into open wounds; that all diseases in the
spring do not come from the liver, nor all diseases in the summer from
the heart; and that a red-hot needle run under the skin is not a panacea
for every ill that flesh is heir to. Yes; if you wish to go where help is
most urgently needed, secure the best school and hospital training you
possibly can, and then carry the gospel of anaesthesia and antisepsis, of
bacteriology and physiological chemistry, — whether by canoe or camel or
jinrikisha, by sledge or palanquin, — to fhe dark nooks and corners of the
earth. — Robert Haven Schauffler in " McClure s.'^
BOARD OF THE PACIFIC
Southern California auxiliaries have had the inspiration of Miss
Henrietta Brewer, our Branch Secretary, during the weeks of February.
Field Work in Her appointments have often been two and sometimes
California, three a day, before Sunday schools, C. E. Societies and
midweek services, as well as before our missionary societies.
The Southern Branch and Home Missionary Union are teaching us
many a lesson of co-operation. They hold their executive meetings at
Co-operation in the same time, in the Y. \V. C. A. at Los Angeles.
Missions, After separate sessions in the morning, they have joint
devotional service at 12.15, followed by cafeteria luncheon together, and
a fellowship meeting at 2 p. m., at which reports of everything of mutual
interest are given. Mrs. Raymond addressed the January meeting. The
Northern Branch and Home Union hold all business meetings, and pro-
gram meetings as well, in joint sessions.
In the beautiful new building of the North Berkeley Church, February
4, occurred the midwinter meeting of the California Northern Branch
Midwinter and the Home Union. In the afternoon, Mrs. Bell spoke
Meeting, upon "The Effects of War upon Missions," and Mrs. Clay
of Oakland described her recent visit to Japan, Korea and India.
Forlorn and deserted may be the Peace Palace at The Hague, but
abounding in life and good fellowship are the wonderful palaces of the
Peace Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Pageants? There
Palaces, are real ones every day, spontaneous and jubilant. Other ex-
positions have been cosmopolitan, but with a limited representation from
the Orient; in San Francisco, we have the real Orient at our doors.
Japan takes precedence at the opening reception and in many an ex-
hibit. One can take a trip to Tokyo, see Fujiyama, visit temples and
theatres, and study national customs and art.
The Maori tribes who have never before been transplanted, have a
village, and so has the Somali tribe from East Africa.
The Y. W. C. A. of the Exposition is entertaining upon a grand scale,
the eight hundred girl cashiers being banqueted one night, and the three
thousand women employed within the gates given a dinner in the same
week, at which time each nation on the grounds had present a hostess
speaking its language. It is an opportunity for Christian work that will
be splendidly improved.
176
Life and Light
[April
BULGARIA IN WAR TIML5
BY MARY MERRILL KING, SAMOKOV
I took a day off this week from language study and from doing much
of anything, and took time to read the last copies of Life and Light
and Mission Studies^ and I thoroughly enjoyed them. My desire and
intention to write to you was thereby strengthened, for of course I always
turn to the W. B. M.-P. pages first and think of you in connection with
the notes and articles there. It is almost like seeing old friends to read
what Edith Parsons and Mrs. Cowles have written and to see their
pictures. I'd like to assure you that all your work in that connection is
worth while, if only for the enjoyment of the missionaries in the field,
because it is about the only way we get news of what is being done by
our particular Branch at home and by our friends abroad.
Although Edith Parsons and I are comparatively near to each other, it
is a question how long it may be before we see each other. One of our
dreams has been to visit Constantinople next spring or summer, but under
present war conditions that is most improbable, because from all reports
the war or wars are likely to be of long duration.
We are affected but very little by the war. Our schools opened at the
usual time, and while there are slightly smaller numbers than last year
this difference is accounted for otherwise than by the war. At last the
girls' school has received government recognition, so that probably will
mean an increase in numbers next year, but where more girls are to be
put, I don't know, for all the available space is used now, and the mis-
sionaries have to give up their rooms in their houses to both students and
teachers from both the boys' and girls' schools. They keep them sepa-
rate, however, for Bulgarian custom is very strict in that regard and it is
quite an innovation to have even mixed classes, as there are in our schools
in certain courses where there is only one teacher for both schools. I
am impressed whenever I read of missionary work in different parts of
the world, how there is the same appeal from all sides for more support,
more funds, better equipment, more adequate plants in order to meet the
present need, to say nothing of the possibilities of the future.
What Miss Parsons says about Brousa School would apply with a very
few changes to the Samokov Girls' School, and it is so always. My
greatest wonder, I think, when we first came was how they could do so
much with so little, such poor equipment that even a country school in
California would scorn, — such old, fifty-year-old, buildings and so few of
Notes from the Transvaal
177
them! The old definition of Mark Hopkins and the log for a university
holds good here, for I am convinced it is largely the people that count,
but I think that most of them would like a little more bark on their logs!
To return to the war, since Bulgaria has not mobilized, it has been
very calm and quiet here, and there has not been the suffering that the
poor people of Turkey had to endure for weeks even before Turkey went
to war.
We have had a little difficulty in getting funds from Constantinople,
prices on some things are slightly higher, and mails have been more or
less delayed, but that is all the war has actually done to us. We feel that
we are in about the safest place in Europe so far, but we never know what
a day may bring forth. . . . We would like some California oranges and
prunes, and a glimpse of our friends, but we have said good-by to the
three people going from here to America at three different times this
summer and fall without any wish that we were going too.
NOTL5 FROM THL TRANSVAAL
( Concluded)
BY FREDERICK B. BRIDGMAN
*'What do you eat out there?" was the momentous query repeatedly
fired at me in America. Well, on this trip I took some crackers, cocoa
and raisins, these articles mostly for emergency use. Otherwise I lived
on what the natives put before me — corn mush, sweet potatoes, pumpkin,
eggs and chicken. Any one of those was good enough for a meal. I still
smile when I think of the old woman who wanted to give me ten boiled
eggs for dinner with absolutely nothing to eat with them. But it was a
bit tough to tramp all day with only a few crackers and raisins for
luncheon as frequently happened. I had a roll of blankets and experi-
mented with a number of native-made corduroy bedsteads, bone-racking,
but no vermin. Everywhere the people simply did their best for me.
Touching thoughtfulness to anticipate my wants was frequent. At one
kraal fhey provided me with a bowered bathroom next my hut! After
one long day's walk I came to a kraal at sundown, still an hour from my
destination, and found a hot meal of chicken and rice awaiting me. One
of the men had in the morning sent word arranging this.
You may recall that some months ago I mentioned the great service a
motor cycle would be in helping the Board's one missionary here to over-
178
Life and Light
S^April
take his opportunities. The need became so imperative that I borrowed
money and bought a nice secondhand machine, an English make bearing
the name of '^Triumph." For two months this machine was of such
exceeding value that I blamed myself for not taking desperate measures
sooner. Imagine my feelings one fine morning when I awoke to find the
Triumph gone! stolen from the well-built, securely locked storeroom
attached to the house. My trusty steed vanished, and only a gruesome
debt to show for it. And what irony of fate, it was insured against
everything but theft! Police, detectives, circulars offering a reward
through the land were of no avail. Months passed. In the meantime
some generous readers of these notes sent gifts for a machine. This I
bought at once; a great saver of time and energy, a comfort every way.
So there was only that miserable debt in this connection to worry over.
Now the sequel! Wonted as she is to all manner of crime the city has
recently been startled by a series of daring robberies and murders; a post
office, railway station, two banks and finally two stores within three
blocks of our house, four men killed and others wounded, the desperadoes
always escaping on a motor cycle. From newspaper cut a man recognizes
one of the gang who wanted a motor cycle repaired. The bandits' den
is raided but they escape by auto car. In attempting to stop the robbers
the police by mistake shoot dead General De la Rey and a doctor. The
auto breaking down the gang are tracked by bloodhounds to a cave in our
neighborhood. After twenty-four hours' siege the three burglars commit
suicide. Despite disguises I soon proved the motor bicycle figuring in
this lurid record to be my long lost Triumph! It was not seriously
damaged and I have sold it for enough to square accounts. We are
thankful for answered prayer not only in this remarkable recovery of the
machine but also that I was not disturbed on the night of the theft, for
had I interfered I would surely have been shot. This story also illus-
trates the example set our poor natives by members of the self-styled
^^superior race" !
I have referred previously to the effort to build a chapel at Block B
Mino. I want you to know that this church is completed and has now
been opened for sometime; the cost, $700, being met almost entirely by
the people.
I hear a clear voice calling, calling,
Calling out of the night,
O, jou who live in the Light of Life
Bring us the Light ! — John Oxenkam.
OUR FIELD CORRESPONDENTS
We are permitted through the kindness of her friends in Western Maine to make
the following extracts from the personal letters of Miss Elizabeth S. Perkins, who
reached Foochow December 27, returning from her furlough in America.
On Board Steamship Siberia^
We sailed from San Francisco yesterday, November 21, friends seeing
us off and presenting us with roses and violets. The two recruits, Miss
Laura D. Ward and Miss Stella M. Cook, were with me from Philadel-
phia, and Dr. Katharine Scott going to India, and Miss Olive Hoyt,
returning to Japan, came aboard soon after we did, so our American
Board party is increased to five. We have secured steamer chairs together
on the bridge deck and seats opposite at the table. They haven't as
good cabins as ours, because they decided to sail later. Ours is a good
one, on the promenade deck, has two berths and a sofa, a wardrobe,
washstand and two chairs. There is room under the beds for a good deal
of baggage. I am established in the upper berth, my choice, though
booked for the lower. One can lie in this berth and watch the ocean
through the porthole, or draw the curtains and be quite private, with an
electric light at one's head, reading steamer letters. . . .
Thanksgiving Day.
To-morrow, I shall wake up in Honolulu Harbor. It has not been an
exciting voyage so far. It is delightful to-day on deck. I am sitting
here without wrap or veil. Dr. Scott has just said, "1 believe the big-
gest asset is to be able to understand people and put yourself in their
places." . . .
There have been birds flying about the ship to-day and we are ex-
pecting to see land to-morrow and reach Yokohama Tuesday morning.
We shall take the trip by rail to Tokyo and Kyoto, joining the steamer
again at Kobe. I must tell you of our doings in Honolulu. We took
the trolley car out to a famous aquarium, which is the finest in the world
except that in Venice. Here were fish of many colors, pink, blue, green,
red, gray, etc., beautifully marked. By getting a transfer, we came back
another way and so saw a good deal of the town. We came back to the
steamer for a rest and after luncheon started out again, taking another
ride. . . .
180
Life and Light
We are back on the Siberia and passing through the Inland Sea. Mr.
and Mrs. Jerome Holmes (Bates College people) met us at Yokohama
and were at our disposal. We divided into two parties, Dr. Scott and
I going with Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and the Misses Ward and Cook going
with Miss Hoyt. This party went by train to Kamakura to see the big
idol, Dai Butsu, back to Yokohama and took the night train to Kyoto,
where Miss Ward stopped with friends and Miss Cook went on to Kobe
with Miss Hoyt. We rode to Tokyo third class, and though the car was
crowded we got seats and enjoyed it. From the station we took the
electric car, transferring twice, and got off three minutes' walk from the
Holmes' home. Miss Rupert lives with them and they all attend lan-
guage school. It was very nice to have a genuine bed and a family table.
Japan seems cold after Honolulu and winter clothing is none too warm.
Wednesday morning we breakfasted early and took a rickshaw for a half
hour ride to the station. The express train to Kyoto takes one through
the beautiful hills, for hours in sight of Fuji and going very near its
base. It was covered with snow about a third of the way down. We
tried to eat a Japanese lunch bought at one of the stations, but gave it up
and went into the dining car, where a European tiffi?i was served table
d'hote. It looked well in the menu, but was not very appetizing. Sev-
eral Siberia passengers were on the train and some other Americans who
had come to Japan on the Korea, stopped over a week, and are going on
with us. The observation car was good. We reached Kyoto at 7.30
p. m., and Mr. Lombard met us and took us to his home. Next morning
we visited the Doshisha, and took the eleven o'clock train to Kobe. . . .
This is our last day on the Siberia, for we are due in Hongkong early
to-morrow morning.
. . . We came in sight of land Thursday and sailed along the shore of
Luzon for several hundred miles slowly, as we could not get through
quarantine before daylight. Friday morning when breakfast was over I
went on deck and found we were already docked. Mr. Wright, one of
the fine Presbyterian people whom I met last year, was there to meet Dr.
and Mrs. Laubach, who are to work for the American Board at Mindanao.
As they had not taken the Siberia, Mr. Wright wanted to entertain two
of our party. Miss Bartholomew sent word for me to come to the school.
First, we four were given a ride around town and later all went for a
car ride out to Fort McKinley. After lunch we went to the Bureau of
Science where Dr. Johnson showed us his work in leprosy. In the even-
ing I went with Miss Hodge and several of the schoolgirls to an open air
t
jQiSj Our Field Correspondents 181
meeting, a regular affair with them which I had not taken in last year.
The meeting was held in the dooryard of a Christian man, a half hour's
walk from the school. Four or five young men from the Theological
Seminary were there, and two of them took charge of the meeting which
was in the Tagalog dialect. . . .
I will tell you about our arrival in Ponasang, New Year's and Christ-
mas all at once, for we have only to-day been celebrating the last of these
festivals. All my fine plans for arriving on Christmas Day were quite
upset for we did not arrive until Sunday evening. However, the friends
were glad to see us and forgave the delay. Mr. and Mrs. Beach and
Frances, Mrs. Hubbard, Misses Deahl, Dornblaser, Blanchard and Brown
had come down to Pagoda Anchorage in a house boat to meet us, and
had been waiting all day. We took the launch up to Foochow and
arrived at the Ponasang compound about 8.30 where Miss Garretson had
a dinner waiting since noon for us all. Miss Crane and Mr. and Mrs.
Christian were there also from the city. The schoolgirls and the women
from Miss Brown's school were also out to greet us with firecrackers.
My, but it was good to be back among all the nice people!
Tuesday morning Miss Ward and I took the Diong-loh launch and
reached that beloved place about one. Chair coolies were at the wharf
to meet us and the head man of the stand put off two bunches of fire-
crackers to show their pleasure at my return. Such attention from the
poor coolies is very touching. When we reached the compound gate
there were more crackers from the school children and friends who had
gathered to have the Christmas celebration in the new church. How
glad I was to see every one of them ! After lunch we all went down to
the church. It was packed full of happy people, men, women and chil-
dren. There were songs by the different schools and a graphic presenta-
tion of the Christmas story by some of the boys. The Chinese love to act
and take their parts very well indeed. At the close the pastor called on
me for remarks and although I had no idea whether I could remember
Chinese enough to express my thought, I was so glad to be there that I
just had to get up and tell them so. It was a case of having a message
and being given the courage to deliver it. I had no trouble with the
Chinese. The words came and I just talked.
New Year's afternoon the American Board was *^at home" here at
Ponasang and invited the Methodists and English to meet all the 1914
newcomers and returned. This included Mr. and Mrs. Belcher, Mr.
Gardner, Mr. Urch, Misses Ward, Cook and Perkins.
182
Life and Light
\_ April
Miss Caroline SiUiman writes from Van, Turkey : —
School opened just on time and with full classes. Our enrollment is a
few less than last year, due to the small number in the kindergarten.
We take no free children there and many parents*, thinking that kinder-
garten training is not absolutely necessary, decided to keep their children
at home. Money is very scarce because many of the breadwinners have
gone and many more are working for the government without pay. Since
the news from the Black Sea yesterday we think our letters will not go
through unless we are very careful what we write.
The city was so unsettled the last days of August that we were very un-
certain whether it was wise to try to open or not. Mr. Yarrow called on
A VINEYARD SCENE IN EASTERN TURKEY
the Turkish superintendent of schools and on receiving encouragement
from him we began to register and collect the half year tuition. The
classes filled up immediately and as among our teachers there were no
young men of soldier age there was no reason why school should not
open. Our boys' school and all the other schools in the city were some-
what delayed because of the soldier question. Finally, the government
gave permission and all are running regularly. Very likely there will be
some trouble after this. Miss Rogers and I have both been impressed
by the fact that our girls seem more eager and grateful for school this
year than ever before. I suppose the reason is that they had been very
much afraid that they would be deprived entirely.
Our Field Correspondents
183
Our tuition is somewhat less than last year, but that is inevitable. We
wonder that our pupils could give what they have. In several cases I
know that the money brought should have been kept for bread. This
shows how much school means to the common people when they are will-
ing to sacrifice so to give their tuition. The sentiment along this line
has changed very much during the six years I have been here. When I
first came even those for whom it was easy saw no reason why it was
necessary that they should pay good money for their children's tuition.
The Moslem Kindergarten is being continued this year. We waited
for the committee of Turks, who had the work in charge, to give us word
that they were ready to do their part. Last year they supplied the money
for room rent and fuel from their own pockets. The superintendent of
education told us that he had hoped this year to make an appropriation
for this out of their regular school funds but owing to scarcity of money
they were not able to. We are very much pleased with the interest these
men take in the kindergarten. It is encouraging that they care enough
to give to its support from their personal income when money is so hard
to get hold of.
None of us^e suffering for any necessity. We have been more fortu-
nate than the missionaries in some of our sister stations. Nothing has
been requisitioned from our premises except medicines from the
dispensary.
Miss Stella N. Loughridge writes from Talas, Turkey: —
Last Wednesday evening was New Year's Eve according to the Turkish
calendar, so we had a New Year's dinner for the school. We turned the
whole work of preparation and entertainment over to Nellie Hanum, our
housekeeper, and the teachers and girls. They accepted the responsibility
and everything was done beautifully. I wish you could have seen the
long tables with their white cloths all decorated down the middle with
pretty designs worked out in green moss and red berries. The pillars in
the middle of the room were wound with red paper and twined with green
myrtle vines. After dinner, games were played in the parlor and then
followed a short piano recital by our two senior piano pupils whom Miss
Phelps is training this year. Besides a few outside guests our five senior
girls and their parents were the invited ones.
One of the pleasantest events of our Christmas week was a gathering of
children yesterday afternoon in the schoolroom. A sugg-estion was made
to the girls' club a few weeks ago that the different clubs prepare some
184
Life and Light
\_Aprll
kind of Christmas gifts for poor and lonely children at Christmas time.
A few days ago a display was made of the girls' work. There were
scrapbooks and bags of nuts and raisins, rag dolls, all beautifully dressed,
and pictures mounted on large cards and tied with bright ribbons, and
some underclothing, and kerosene. This last was brought by one of the
clubs because they thought that Christmas should be a time of bright-
ness. Many homes just now are without kerosene, the little lamps stand
empty on the shelf and the family sits in the dark or by the light of a
feeble candle, so these girls thought that a little kerosene would be the
most acceptable Christmas gift. Kerosene is imported so that it is very hard
to get now in war time and everybody who has any uses it with great care.
Each girl was allowed to choose some little child for her guest and yes-
terday afternoon they all assembled in the big schoolroom, each girl with
a poor little boy or girl in tow. After a song one of the teachers told a
Christmas story and then to the music of the organ the children marched
around the room to inspect the gifts. Then each girl was allowed to take
her gift and present it to her guest. Happy indeed were the little chil-
dren, but far happier were the girls who saw what delight their efforts
brought to those little ones. The funny little rag dolls were hugged up
in little arms with as much ectasy as any doll ever was, and were covered
over from the cold wind with thin and tattered little capes just as
affectionately.
We still have enough picture postals to give one around and we hope
before next Christmas that some one will send us a new supply. If the
way is opened I do hope we may have some more Christmas boxes. But
for this time I think we shall have to adopt the plan suggested in a letter
from a missionary lady in China — empty all our scrapbags and make a
fish pond of the contents. At least, we could have a jolly time over it,
and the girls understand that it is the spirit and not the gift that makes
Christmas. Even the usual white sugar candy which helps to fill the
little bags must be omitted this year for sugar like kerosene comes from
outside (or rather doesn't come now) and we must be very careful of what
we have, for who knows when more will come if the war goes on. We
hope we may continue the kindergarten which Miss Burrage has started
here in the school this year as a permanent part of our school. We have
a very good beginning.
Note. — Will not some societies who follow the suggestion for A Summer Christmas
Tree on page 195 remember this school at Talas ? — Tke Editor.
Our Field Correspondents
185
Miss Elizabeth Ward writes from Kitano, Osaka^ Japan : —
Miss McKowan has a normal class in vt^hich she trains the schoolgirls
how to teach the lesson and they carry that out in their classes.- She
looks after the machinery of it and I the music, and teach a class of six
or seven of our first-year class. Three or four come from the school
dormitory. Miss McKowan does not teach in the afternoon, but teaches
in the morning at the Umeda Church.
My Junior Christian Endeavor Society closed the term with a pretty
good record, — thirty-seven not absent for the fall term, and about twenty
for both the spring and fall terms. There was an average attendance of
seventy-five or eighty, I think. The best attendance was in the first-year
classes.
Our street railroad has been in operation since August. Our brick
fence we find a very great help though the cars themselves are quieter
than we had feared. They are all small cars and so far use only foot bells
instead of the steamboat, screeches of the other road. They are noisy
enough, to be sure, passing about every three minutes. We hope to
break the noise further by planting trees along that fence. Our house is
painted at last, — just finished about two weeks or less ago. It is so nice
to be clean and bright. The color is much as it was before, a light sage
green with dark sage green trimmings.
Miss Ward writes under later date : —
One day last fall after Sunday school a lady with a very friendly face
and voice came in, bringing her little nine-year-old son whom she wanted
to have come to our Sunday school. She gave us her name and residence
and invited us to come and see her which a few weeks later we did. We
were much surprised at our reception, she seemed so glad. It came out
in the course of conversation that she was a graduate (years ago) of a Bap-
tist girls' school in Tokyo, was in fact a baptized Christian but evidently
for years past has not been able to keep up church-going or connection in
anyway. She said her husband while not directly opposing, still did not
show a '^glad face" when she went or suggested going. Her mother-in-
law, like most old women in Japan, is a devout Buddhist. She came in
to see us and found us very interesting" and was surprised to find that
she could really talk with us and understand what we said. Two of the
sons also appeared, bright-looking boys. We enjoyed our visit and the
cordial atmosphere very much, and of course asked her to call and see us,
giving our at-home day as the third Tuesday, but if that was not con-
venient she might find us at home at other times. So one afternoon
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Life and Light
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before long came Mrs. Oiwa. She said her children had tried to get her
started on our at-home day, but she could not well get out then so had
risked it this day. She said our coming had given her family "seeds of
conversation" for some time and had helped her to speak a little of
Christianity; and the Christmas season drawling near she had spoken of
it till the old grandmother w^as curious to see v^hat it was like. If we
had only known of it and invited her to our school Christmas! I am sure
it might have been enlightening to her. Mrs. Oiwa too was sorry to
learn that the school Christmas was over. I urged her to take the "Ota
San" and the children to the Umeda church celebration the night of the
26th but she was not sure that she would be able to go out at night. I
sent a little Life of Christ in Japanese to the Ota San with my com-
pliments, saying that as it was His birthday she might like to hear about
him. Mrs. Oiwa's oldest son is in the boys' middle school and is study-
ing English so we urged her to ask him to enter Mr. Allchin's English
Bible class at the Umeda Sunday school. The little nine-year-old is so
bashful we have not succeeded yet in getting him into our Sunday school.
I think we'll have to go after him and bring him, if we get him.
Mrs. Oiwa is only one of the many girls, graduates of girls' schools,
who have to keep alive the spark of their religion under many, many
difficulties. She seems to have kept hers alive. I see in her only our
own girls now and hereafter. But the Lord of the Harvest will look after
his seeds. Our little Sunday school was very successful during the fail
and had a very good Christmas entertainment. The teachers (except my-
self) are schoolgirls and they have been very helpful and faithful. Miss
McKowan has a normal class in which she gives suggestions for the
teaching of the lesson, pictures, stories, etc., and they teach it on Sunday.
I have a class of the youngest of our schoolgirls. This training is fine
for the development of our girls, and the Sunday schools will do as much
for the teachers, I am sure, as for the pupils. Mr. Allchin holds preach-
ing services there once a week, and we aim to make it a feeder of the
church, especially of the Umeda Church.
Miss Minnie A* Tont? writes from Mount Silinda, Africa : —
I am no longer a beginner who is struggling with the language. The
reason is not that I have become master of Chindau but it is because I
have had to teach ! In June the Mission decided that I should not be
given more time for language study, but that I should begin to teach in
July, and so I am now in the harness. I have taught five months. The
Our Field Correspondents
187
term has brought many new experiences to me. Some have been happy
experiences and some have been disappointing; but I have enjoyed meet-
ing with the boys and girls from day to day. They have helped me very
much. One forgets entirely that they are black. After all, what differ-
ence does the color of the skin make? I have admired the courage of
some of the older boys and girls — a few married men and women — which
they show in being willing to stand alongside the tiny ones and learn to
read. We have had a pleasant term of school. I tried to teach Bible, a
little English and arithmetic. From twelve to two o'clock while Miss
Clarke was teaching sewing I had a group of girls in laundry work.
From two-thirty to four-thirty, I had another group of girls in laundry
work. Since we have no laundry building we used a corner of the much
crowded dining room in the girls' dormitory. Besides our regular school
work Miss Minnie Clarke and I have been keeping a sort of school sup-
plies' store. All times of the day we sell books, slates, pencils, and the
like, and receive money, fowls, eggs or grain in exchange. I am living
in the woman's cottage where Miss Gilson lived. Miss Clarke has her
room in the girls' dormitory, but we have the sitting room and dining
room in common. Miss Clarke is most kind to me. She works very
hard.
I take much delight in my Sunday school class of over twenty little
girls and boys. They are the beginners and I am teaching them the
graded lessons. I try to teach them in Chindau. You see I am trying to
put into use the little Chindau I have learned. I wish I knew Chindau
as Miss Clarke knows Zulu. It is wonderful how she understands these
people and how they love her.
The war affects us little here. We have been getting war news through
the telegrams which come to the post office from day to day and from the
Rhodesia Herald. But we can never realize the awfulness of the war.
It seems too dreadful to be true. All we can do is to trust God to carry
out his plans, for we know that he has plans.
French Missions in South Africa ♦
The outbreak of war has placed the Protestant missionaries of the Paris
Evangelical Missionary Society, now at work in British South Africa, in a
serious position. For over eighty years these missionaries havvfi carried on
their work in Basutoland, and for twenty-five years they have been at work
in Barotsiland, on the upper Zambesi. Though both territories have
passed under the British flag, the Paris Society has continued to maintain
the missions. British friends of the missions are now undertaking to raise
an emergency fund for the work of the Paris Society in the French
colonies.
188
Life and Light
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OUR WORK AT HOME
AROUND THE COUNCIL TABLE WITH OUR PRESIDENT
"Love will find it, tho' the nations Tho' they trample child and mother
Rise up blind, as of old, As red clay into the clay.
And the new generations Where brother wars with brother
Wage their warfares of gold; Love will find out the way."
Love has already found out the way. God's love found it first v^hen
"He so loved the world that he gave" ... a Deliverer. After a time
men forgot the way He had shown them. Then, by His love breath-
ing through their hearts, they rediscovered it. They began to send a
deliverer, another and another, with love, and longing to rescue every
creature.
It was Love, holy Love, which found out ways among the nations, ways
which are widening until they will become highways thronged with people
of every clime who mingle in a loving Peace.
Those of us who heard Dr. C. H. Patton, fresh from a visit to Africa,
will not forget his vivid picture of the countless footpaths crossing and
recro&sing the continent in a network, hardened by the feet of centuries.
Just so has Love made paths among the nations.
William Carey, Elias Riggs and all the other translators, made books
by love, and so cut a way for Education. Dr. Peter Parker, opening
China with his lancet, made a way for the Healing Art to work by love.
Dr. George Washburn, though statesman and scholar, was in the Turkish
Empire first and always because of a simple-hearted love for a burdened
people. David Livingstone would have fled Africa in his longing for
home and friends had not a mighty love held him to make a way for his
dark-skinned brothers out of degradation into a new life.
Time would fail to tell of all the heroes and heroines of the past whose
love found ways to hasten Brotherhood and the Dawn of Peace. And all
the present force of missionaries in all the lands under the sun are loving
the nations out and up to a preparedness for universal, permanent Peace
and Good Will.
Dear friends of the Table, I am thus reminding you that we, all of us
in the missionary circle, belong to the Blessed Order of Peacemakers by
virtue of our Loving Mission.
/p/j] Around the Council Table With Our President
189
The Foimdatio7is of Permanent Peace ca7z be Laid Only by Love.
We have had the honor and joy to send forth those who could lay
some of the Peace foundation stones. We share to a degree in their rewards.
We are co-builders of the new World City which is to be. Simple Love and
only Love can build such a city! Self-seeking, worldly ambitions,
jealousy, hatred, militarism, cut their own ways — ways which lead to
destructive warfare. The proof is before us for our pondering.
A Call to the Advocates of the Love Way
We are a great host of women who have advocated and used the method
of Love as a world-winning power. We have not thought of ourselves
pre-eminently as peacemakers. We have thought in other terms — in
terms of child rescuers, home regenerators, educators, messengers of the
Jesus Doctrine" to women weary of vain petitions and oblations.
Suddenly, with empires gone mad in war, we begin to study Peace,
its roots, its ways of growth, the necessities for its future establishment,
and we discover that the missionary forces have been and are the real
Peacemakers for the world. Did the Master think of them when, sitting
on the mountain side, he declared, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they
shall be called the children of God"? Did He dwell with joyful hope
upon the thought of a missionary church, whose members would be
"children of God," because they helped make a world peace .f* The call
comes to all the missionary clans to declare now that they do belong to
this blessed Order.
The call comes to us, members of the Woman's Board, to redouble
efforts in active building for the future, that we may help on ancient
militarism to its final downfall, and the new World City of Peace to its
supremacy.
"Your dreamers may dream it Yet our kingdom draweth nigher
The shadow of a dream, With each dawn and every day,
Your sages may deem it Through the earthquake and the fire,
A bubble on the stream; Love will find out the way."
M. L. D.
' ' German soldiers at the front have sent remittances from their pay.
Letters as w^ell as personal interviews have proved that the religious wave
which has caught the whole nation has also reached the missions, and has
deepened the devotion to the missionary cause. This explains why some
of the German missions have had even higher receipts than last year.*'
190
Life and Light
lApril
THL OPENED WINDOW
BY ISABEL M. BLAKE
**Miss Felton would like to see you, ma'am. She said she had important
business." Mrs. Carteret's English housemaid paused a little wistfully
in the doorway. She longed to win a cordial welcome for the caller, who
was almost the only one among Mrs. .Carteret's many guests who habitu-
ally gave her a personal smile or word, '*for all the world as though I
was a girl, and not a talking machine," as she confided to the upstairs
maid. But Mrs. Carteret responded coldly, ''Oh well, bring her up."
Miss Felton was a dainty little lady with a nervous, birdlike manner.
Though she belonged to one of the very oldest families of this large New
England town, she never felt quite at her ease in the presence of this late-
comer whose husband was the owner of the great factories which had
brought so many foreigners into town. Factories, foreigners and "new
aristocracy" alike. Miss Felton thought were ''undesirable," and regretted
that Mrs. Carteret was on her visiting list for the missionary society; but
she was determined to do her duty, and walked, inwardly trembling, but
outwardly sturdy, into Mrs. Carteret's presence, like a true Spartan.
That charming lady could not have greeted a guest ungraciously.
Before many minutes, Miss Felton had succumbed completely, as most
people did, to her hostess' fascinations. She had wondered how che
would begin the conversation, but it never lagged a moment. The ques-
tion was how to introduce her errand gracefully.
"Yes," Mrs. Carteret was saying, "we go into the city twice every
week to the opera. Mr. Carteret is exceedingly fond of music, and feels
that he cannot miss it. He knows fa^ more about it than I do. It is such
a wonderful thing to have a husband who can point out to you the depth
of feeling, the truly elemental appeal of the Niebelungen operas. Every-
one in the boxes uses it just as a social occasion. So Mr.^ Carteret will
not have a box. He says he wants to hear the music and see the acting
without interruption. So we always sit right in the middle of the front
row in the first balcony. We have engaged those seats for the season.
They are the best seats in the house for seeing and hearing, and so cheap.
I always feel money is purely wasted on box seats, don't you?"
Miss Felton always sat in the family circle, and couldn't manage that
very often. But she had plenty of dignity, and savoir faire.
"Yes, indeed," she said. "It is all for show. But don't you think a
great deal of money is wasted on things that don't give much in real
satisfaction ?"
The Opened Window
191
^^Satisfaction? Oh what is it? It's what we're all chasing, and never
really get more than a whiff of, isn't it?"
"Oh do you think so? I think there is a real satisfaction when one has
to save for weeks and then does manage an opera." (Her pride could not
quite consent to a mention of the family circle.) ''But there is still more
in giving the pleasure to some one else, and watching their enjoyment.
Or in giving anything to people that they really need. And I have come
to ask you to do that. It is nearly Easter, and we are trying to raise an
extra offering, to show our gratitude for the resurrection. You know our
church raised its apportionment, but this is such a hard year, prices are
so high, and work so scarce, that I think we must make an extra effort to
even pass our apportionment to help the Boards fill up what lacks from
the many churches that may not be able to meet theirs."
"We always contribute our share, and I have no doubt we shall do so
this year, though really, I think Mr. Carteret will be obliged to diminish
his benevolences. You know the mills are not working full time. We
wanted a new five-passenger Buick. The limousine really does not
answer our purposes. But we shall not be able to get it this year. So
why should we try to give extra or even as much to foreign work, when
we can't have what we need ourselves? Really, I don't see how you can
carry on foreign missions anyway, with this war going on. Why don't
you send for them all to come home?"
"Oh, Mrs. Carteret, not one of our workers would come home now.
You don't know them. Even in those countries, like Turkey, where
there is really war going on, they are keeping at work in their hospitals
and schools the same as ever. They say the people are in such poverty
and distress that it would be like desertion to leave them now. All the
men have been draughted into service, all the animals commandeered, and
almost all food supplies requisitioned. Yet the people are thronging to
the churches, praying as they have never prayed. Isn't it wonderful
how, in trouble, the hearts of men turn to their God? And more won-
derful yet, the Moslems were never so friendly. They are openly con-
trasting the Christianity they have seen in the lives of missionaries and
native converts these fifty years, or more, with the 'Christianity' of the
warring governments. The talk of a Holy War has fallen flat. And in
India and China and Africa, where the doors are open as never before,
shall we cut off the resources of the missionaries because there is war in
Europe? Oh, it would be base desertion all along the line, if we didn't
stand back of our work at this crucial time!" The enthusiasm of a long
192
Life and Light
\_Aprtl
line of New England preachers glowed in Miss Felton's kindling face.
It almost conquered Mrs. Carteret, but she did want that new Buick!
*'It's all very interesting, Miss Felton, and must be most encouraging to
one so deeply devoted as you are. Another time, I hope we can help
you, but you must excuse us now. Expenses are very heavy, and we can
not give more than we have done."
Nevertheless she could not quite forget the little woman, and to appease
a restless conscience, she mentioned the matter to her husband that noon.
He frowned. Expenses were heavy, and profits small. He wanted the
Buick too, mainly for his wife's sake because her heart was set on it.
"You might give her a couple of dollars. But aren't they torments,
these missionary women? Such persistent beggars!"
'^Well, anyway, Robert, it's not for themselves. All right, I'll give
them a dollar."
She was still thinking about it that afternoon, as she sat in her
limousine. She had sent the dollar at once to Miss Felton, a glow of
pleasure at her own generosity suffusing her face as she sealed the enve-
lope. A moment after, as she thought of Miss Felton's enthusiasm, the
gift seemed paltry. She felt uncomfortable about it, and resented her
own discomfort as she rode along. Suddenly the car stopped with a
jerk. From the window she could see a tiny girl lying on the pavement
beside the wheel. In an instant Mrs. Carteret was bending over the
unconscious child.
"Oh Michael, Michael," she cried, "how often have I told you, you
must be careful about your driving. Pick her up and drive at once to the
hospital. "
The chauffeur stooped to pick up the child, but as he did so, he said,
"Don't worry, ma'am. The car didn't pass over her, but just grazed her,
and she fell. She hadn't no business in the streets nohow. She's just one
o* them foreign brats that no one cares for."
Angered by the callousness of the driver, Mrs. Carteret snatched the
child into her own arms. As she sat with her in the car, she looked
down at the moist, dark locks curling around the blue-veined temples — an
Armenian, she judged. There were many Armenian mill operatives in
this part of the city. As she looked, the eyelids fluttered open, revealing
a pair of great dark eyes, then closed again, but the little form nestled
closer to the lady.
There proved to be no serious injury, just some severe bruises, but the
doctor thought that the child had better stay in the hospital a day or two.
The Opened Window
193
Mrs. Carteret drove around to see the child's parents, thankful beyond
words that the message was not one* of great sadness.
She found the woman living in a wooden tenement house that reeked
of the weekly wash. "Evidently all the washer-ladies in town live in
this block," she said to herself. Mrs. Darakjian was bending over a tub,
but she left her work as soon as Mrs. Carteret, her caller, stepped into
the room, and set a chair for her with a smile of welcome that made the
warm-hearted lady love her at once. She had a gentle, tired face, great
dark eyes, and masses of silky hair.
Mrs. Carteret did not sit down, but took the woman's hands in hers,
soapsuds and all.
"Oh, I've come to tell you bad news. I'm so sorry — but it's not so
very bad. Your little girl, your Gracie, was coming home from school
and our auto — oh, don't cry! She isn't badly hurt. She could tell us
her name and where she lived. She's in the hospital just for a day or
two, but the doctor says it's nothing but bruises and the shock, and
children get over those things quickly. I've come to take you to see her."
That was the first of many calls. The little girl was home, as well as
ever, by the end of the week. Mrs. Carteret was not satisfied with paying
her expenses. She had come to feel a real friendliness for the gentle,
sweet-faced woman, who had never uttered a word of reproach or com-
plaint, and for the slow, mild, blue-eyed husband, who was so different
from the usual Armenian as she pictured him. She felt that they were
above their station, and tried to hint delicately at helping them. She felt
that it would be a real satisfaction to her to give them a lift.
"Oh no, madam," said Mrs. Darakjian, "I am t'ankful to you for
your kindness and mostly for your fisits. But we are not needink any--
think. My man, he be foreman in de mill, we only live here till he build
his house. He workink on it after hours. We do not need — but madam,
if you should wish to give, give to the missionaries who are helpink the
piple in our poor country."
By degrees Mrs. Carteret learned the story. The woman and her hus-
band had been happy in the old country. Both had gone for a short time
to the mission school, where he had learned carpentry as his trade. They
loved each other, their home, the church, the school, the missionaries
whom they spoke of as their best friends. But Mr. Darakjian's father
had been killed in the horrible uprising of 1909, and these people had
left the country, dreading a repetition of such scenes. Beside, they did
not want their little son to grow up in a country where he would have to
194
Life and Light
\_Aprtl
give the best years of his life to service in a w^retchedly-managed army in
Arabia or some other unhealthful, far-away region. They had had a
hard time on their journey and when they first reached America, but
now things were going well with them. Mrs. Carteret liked the grateful
way in which they spoke of Americans as their best friends, as the ones
to whom their people could now turn in an hour of desperate need. And
again she heard the story that Miss Felton told, of poverty and distress in
Turkey, but with many little personal touches. Her uncle, counted a
rich man over there, had had to pay the fee for exemption from military
service three times over for each of his three sons. The armies in pass-
ing through on their way to the front, proved to be rationless, and had
helped themselves liberally from the stores of the well-to-do. '^So they
cannot help the poor, much, madam. They have not enough for them-
selfs. No, it is the missionaries, madam. They are like God. They
stick to us through all."
Mrs. Carteret went away with the tears in her eyes. What if the mis-
sionaries should suffer because the American churches did not pay their
apportionments; or could not stay, or had to close the hospital!
Strangely enough, that evening her husband told her that she could
have the Buick.
*^Oh no, no, dear," she said, "give me the money."
"Why, dear, I never knew you to be so mercenary. I thought you
wanted the Buick, so it seemed as though you must — just must have it."
"Oh, I did, but — " then she poured out the whole story. Her husband
listened gravely.
"Won't you regret this?" he said at last.
"Oh no, I'm sure there's no satisfaction like that of giving to those
who are really in need for themselves, or for some splendid work they are
trying to put through. And I have so much and they so little," she
answered.
She carried the "Buick check," as she called it, to Miss Felton, her-
self. She told her all that had happened. Miss Felton listened with
shining eyes.
"And you know, dear," she said, "it's not only in Turkey, but there
are many other countries where our work would suffer if the churches
were not loyal to it as a whole. It's a world-wide work, thank God!"
"Yes," answered Mrs. Carteret, "and that little Armenian woman
opened the window for me to look out and see the Real World."
JUNIOR DEPARTMENT
A 5UMMLR CHRI5TMA5 TRLL
BY MARY PRESTON
Everybody loves a Christmas tree. And most people, including boys
and girls, love to get one ready. In churches where a Christmas cele-
bration of giving instead of getting has been planned for the Sunday
school, it has again and again proved a signal success. Why not, if it is
really "more blessed to give than to receive"?
Now there are many boys and girls over the seas whose Christmas
depends entirely upon the people in America. Hundreds of them are
children who have come into the mission schools for the first time this
year and have never before even heard the magic word "Christmas," or
known that to part of the world the 25th of December is very, very differ-
ent from ordinary days. How co2ild they know about the birthday of
Christ when they never so much as heard the Saviour's name? Then
there are others who have been in school longer or who belong to Chris-
tian families, yet whose Christmas is only two or three or four years old.
Could there be anything more enjoyable, do you think, than planning
and sending a Christmas tree to boys and girls like these?
Of course an actual fir tree cannot very well be shipped over the seas,
but any missionary, no matter how busy, can easily find a substitute for
the original tree if all the things to put upon it are sent her. And it's
easy enough to pack "all the things to put upon it" — the things that
make a plain tree into a Christmas tree — into a box and send them across
the ocean!
Through a certain obstinacy of facts Christmas comes only once a year
— which has always been something of a hardship to children because it
has limited Christmas trees to once a year also! But recently some one
has thought of a way of breaking up that long wait from January way
round to December and putting in a second tree midway, in June maybe,
or July or May. And this is the "how" of it.
First, way back early in the winter or the spring, you must select a
date in one of those months. Then the next thing is to begin preparing
the gifts, for the more time you have to think about them the more fun it
is. Every boy and girl in the Sunday school must have a chance to
196 Life and Light [April
share in the getting- ready and that means a little planning so that when
the day arrives there will not be too much of one kind of thing or too
little of another, such as too many candles and not enough holders, or too
many presents and not enough trimmings! Of course some of the things
can be made, like the candy bags and the paper chains to decorate with,
and the dolls' clothes and the sewing bags and book bags and the scrap-
books and aprons and wristers for presents. And some things can be
hunted up, like remnants of silk (to make Chinese shoes!) and embroidery
silk and simple games (which do not require knowledge of English) and
picture postcards (to be prepared by pasting white paper over the writing)
and pictures to put on the walls. But other things have to be bought —
such as tinsel and candy and picture books and balls and ribbons and
pocket knives and beads — and that requires time to earn money. Then,
too, money has to be provided for freight expenses, and there must be a
collection for that, or a committee to solicit it from the older people, or
perhaps a special tax levied for the purpose. So one needs to begin a few
months ahead of time and do a bit of planning.
It is well to decide at once to what boys and girls the tree shall be sent
because sometimes that makes quite a difference about the gifts. For
instance one mustn't send stuffed dolls to the Hindu children because the
white ants would eat them up in no time, but Japanese children like that
kind very well indeed! And wristers wouldn't be of any use at all in
Ceylon where it's hot, but they're a great help in North China, say,
where there is plenty of snow and winter wind. It is possible to decide
all by one's self where to send one's tree, but it is better to write the
Woman's Board, for they can often suggest some station where there is
special need of it and can provide at least a little information about the
children there. They can tell you too by what date the box must be
started. In any event you will want to send for the free leaflet "Concern-
ing Missionary Boxes," which gives lists of acceptable gifts for various
countries and details about the shipping of a box (like itemized list of
contents, valuation, etc.).
When at last the day arrives a real fir tree must be set up in the
church, or, since it is summer, out on the lawn perhaps. As soon as the
people have all gathered with their contributions for the tree, the service
must begin with a Christmas song. After that some one must explain
again (because of course this was all explained once when the plan was
first launched) where the tree is going and why. Then those who have
the trimmings march forward and give them to the three or four people
A Summer Christmas Tree
197
who with step-ladders and scissors and all the other necessities are ready
at once to put them on the tree. Each child might even help a little in
this. While it is being done, the other children should sing again — all
the well-known Christmas and missionary songs. If desired, it will give
the decorators a little more time and will add meaning to the service if
some children dressed as the boys and girls of the land to which the box
is to be sent, appear in some simple little scene representative of their
country. Some of the worship, or play and work, or school scenes in the
pageant, Contrasts in Childhood" (10 cents), may be adapted for this
purpose, or other exercises may be used. If this is quite impossible a
story of Christmas in some mission country such as the Here and There
Story for December, 1914, "The Christmas Tree That Travelled" (3
cents) might be told. When the decorations are all in place the children
with gifts may march forward so that these can all be tied on also; and
then afterward if the number present is not too great, a circle and gleeful
dance about the tree is in order. A pretty feature of this is to have the
American children at first ignore the little foreign-dressed boys and girls
who have been left standing at one side and then to have one or two
young girls, dressed to represent angels, appear in the midst and point to
them until the American children go and take each one by the hand and
bring them to share in the dance.
"I think when I read that sweet story of old" is a good song to sing as
the dance is brought to an end and then the children should sit down on
the floor while the Christmas story is very simply and beautifully told and
a star placed upon the "tip-top" of the tree. Just a word should be
added of how the things will be packed in a box and unpacked again at
Christmas time way over in the land across the sea, and of how at the
very same time that we have our Christmas trees here in December, boys and
girls there will be made happy by the things we have sent. The service
should end with a simple prayer. If the children know a suitable one
which they can repeat together, it will be an ideal ending.
Afterward of course the things must be taken off the tree, carefully
packed and started on their long journey, with a letter to the missionary
who is to receive them. "Concerning Missionary Boxes" gives all
necessary directions for this.
Such a plan as this is capable of innumerable additions, subtractions
and modifications, of course, to fit local situations. The writer only
hopes that it will be submitted to multiplication also! It is one of the
most beautiful and helpful services in which a child can be led to join.
198 Life and Light \_ April
OUR BOOK TABLE
Gleanings from Chinese Folklore. By Nellie N. Russell, compiled by
Mary H. Porter. Published by Fleming H. Revell Company. Pp.
169. Price, $1 net.
Under the above title are now published for the first time a number of
charming old Chinese legends and a few accounts of modern Chinese
heroism. The former Miss Russell learned from her Chinese friends
during the long evenings spent in their villages as she journeyed from
place to place in her evangelistic work. It was her cherished plan as
soon as she should retire from active service to edit carefully the rough
drafts made from her first notes and to add to them more tales of Chinese
life as she had seen it. The book was to be her contribution toward a
better understanding of the people whom she loved by those of her own
land. Her sudden call to her heavenly home while still in the thick of
earthly work prevented the accomplishment of this purpose, but the tales
fortunately have not been lost. For with loving desire to fulfill Miss
Russell's wish Miss Mary Porter has now gathered them together, editing
as little as possible and prefacing them with an account of Miss Russell's
beautiful life and with appreciations from the pens of those who knew
her best. As the expense of publishing the volume is borne by
friends, all the proceeds of the sales are to be devoted to the work for the
Chinese which was built up by Miss Russell. It may be said emphatically
that the book is well worth reading for the illuminating glimpses its folk-
lore gives into Chinese life and character. But to those who could not
know Miss Russell while she lived, there is equal reward in the inspira-
tion breathed forth from this account of her rich personality.
M. p.
WOMAN'5 BOARD OF MI55ION5
Receipts frofti Fehrtiary 1 to February 28, 1915
Miss Sarah Louise Day, Treasurer
Friend,
25 00
42 00
Eastern Maine Branch. — Mrs. J. Gertrude
Denio, Treas., 347 Hammoncl St., Ban-
gor. Bremen, Ch., Ladies, 3; Newcastle,
Aux., 22; Searsport, C. E. Soc, 17,
Wester7i Maine Branch. — Miss Annie F.
Bailev, Treas., 132 Chadwick St., Portland.
Portland, State St. Ch., Aux., 25.29, Wil-
liston Ch., Cov. Dau., 100, 125 29
Total, 167 '29
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
New Hampshire Branch. — Mrs. W. L.
Fickett, Treas., 120 North State St., Con-
cord. Int. Hadlev Fund, 76; Int. Sarah
W. Kendall Fund, 16; Brentwood, Aux.,
12.70; Colebrook, Ch., 5; Dublin, Aux.,
6; Gorham, Ch., 10; Greenland, C. R.,
1.50; Hampton, Aux. (to const. L. M's
Mrs. Sarah M. Lane, Miss M. Emma
Locke), 50; Hanover, Dartmouth College,
Church of Christ, 139.50; Meriden, S. S.,
2; Newmarket, Ch.,4; Portsmouth, Mrs.
Martha J. Kimball, 1,000; Wilmot, C. E.
Soc, 2, 1,324 70
Receipts
199
MASSACHUSETTS.
Friend, 1,000; Friend, 500.50 ; Friend, 440, 1,940 50
Andover and Wobtirn Branch. — Mrs. Henry
A. Smith, Treas., 12 Belmont St., Lowell.
Bedford, Aux. (25 of wh. to const. L. M.
Mrs. John C. P. Riese), 40; Lowell, High
St. Ch.,Aux.,25; North Wobum, North
Ch., S. S. Kinder., 6; Winchester, First
Ch., Miss. Union, 25; Wobum, Aux., 3.75, 99 75
Barnstable Association. — Miss Carrie E.
Mitchell, Treas., South Dennis. Centre-
ville. South Ch., 10.43; Yarmouth, Aux.,
5, 15 43
Berkshire Branch. — Miss Mabel A. Rice,
Treas., 118 Bradford St., Pitts fie Id.
Canaan, S. S., 5 ; Housaconic, Aux., 11.25 ;
Lee, First Aux., 290; Pittsfield, First Ch.,
5. Less expenses, 49 cents, 310 76
Essex South Branch. — Miss Daisy Ray-
mond, Treas., 120 Balch St., Beverly.
Gloucester, Trinity Ch., Aux., 5; Lynn,
Central Ch., Aux.,10; Lvnnfield, Second
Ch., Aux., 10; Salem, South Ch., Aux.,
5.81, 30 81
Franklin County Branch. — Miss J. Kate
Oakman, Treas., 473 Main St., Greenfield.
Greenfield, Second Ch, Aux. ,23.77; Heath,
Aux., 15; Montague, Aux., 10; North-
field, Aux., 25; South Deerfield, Aux.,
6.23; Whately, Benev. Soc, 10, 90 00
Hampshire Cotinty Branch. — Miss Harriet
J. Kneeland, Treas., 8 Paradise Road,
Northampton. A m h e r s t, Aux., 30 ;
Northampton, Edwards Ch., Friend, 100,
Aux., 70.73; Williamsburg, Aux., Friend,
100 , 300 73
Maiden.— Yx\&r\A, 50 00
Middlesex Branch.— 'Sirs. Frederick L.
Claflin, Treas., 15 Park St., Marlboro.
South Framinghara, Grace Ch.,Jr. Dept.
S. S., 2; Welleslev, Wellesley College,
Y. W. C. A., 250, " 252 00
Norfolk and Pilgrim ^rawc//.— Mrs. Mark
McCuUv, Treas., *115 Warren Ave., Mat-
tapan. "Friend, Th. Off., 2; Braintree,
Aux., 6; Braintree, South, Aux., 10;
Halifax, Ladies, 6; Holbrook, Aux.,
Add'l Th. Off., 10.25; Plvmouth, Aux.,
35, C. R., 12.50; Rockland, Aux. (Th.
Off., 12.85), 63.40, S. S., 4.09; Sharon,
Aux., Th. Off., 81.37, 180 61
North Middlesex Branch. — Miss Julia S.
Conant, Treas., Littleton Common.
Fitchburg.Rollstone Ch., Aux.,60; Little-
ton, Aux., 10.50; Lunenburg, Jr. S. S. CI.,
4.46; South Acton, Aux., 10, 84 96
Springfield Branch. — Mrs. Mary H.
Mitchell, Treas., 1078 Worthington St.,
Springfield. Holyoke, First Ch., Aux.,
100; Longmeadow, Woman's Benev. Soc,
7; South Hadlev Falls, Aux. f25 of wh.
to const. L. M.'Mrs. Frank E. White),
40; Westfield, First Ch., S. S., 30, Prim.
Dept., 12, 189 00
Suffolk Branch.— ^Irs. Frank G. Cook,
Treas., 44 Garden St., Cambridge.
Arlington, Bradshaw Miss. Soc, 10;
Aubumdale, Searchlight Club, 25 ; Boston,
Mrs. Edward B. BaiTev, 250, Miss Emily
D. Croswell, 10, Mrs. Henry D. Hvde, 10,
Miss Sarah D. Mason, 25, Central Ch.,
Aux., 46, Miss. Study Cir., 207.54, Mt.
Vernon Ch., Aux., 49,76, Guild, 30, Friend,
25, Old South Ch., Aux., 826.50, Friends
through Miss S. L. Dav, 115, Park St.
Ch., Y. W. Guild, 60, Union Ch., Aux.,
40, Monday Eve. Club (25 of wh. to const.
L. M. Miss Marion W. Webbsr), 26;
Brook line. Harvard Ch., For. Dept.
Woman's Guild, 400, Y. L. F. M. S., 170,
Levden Ch., Woman's Union, 80; Cam-
bridge, Mrs. S. H.Dow, 20, Miss Helen
G. Dow, 20, Miss Hattie E. Dow, 20, Mrs.
H. C. Herring, 15, First Ch., Aux., 119.75,
Pilgrim Ch., Y. L. M. C, 15, Prospect St.
Ch., Guild, Friend, 70; Dedham, Aux.,
14.80, Chicatawbut Club, 25; Dorchester,
Pilgrim Ch., Aux., 6, Romsev Ch., Aux.,
10, Second Ch., Aux., 16, Village Ch.,
Aux., 15.75, Dau. of Cov., lU; Foxboro,
Aux., 40; Franklin, Mary Warfield Soc,
6, Y. L. F. M. S., 10; Hyde Park, Aux.,
10; Jamaica Plain, Boylston Ch., Aux.,
5; Newton, Eliot Ch., Woman's Assoc.,
60, Guild, 50; Newton Centre, First Ch.,
Woman's Benev. and Aid Soc, 100; New-
ton Highlands, Aux., 65.84, Jr. C E. Soc,
10; Newtonville, Central Ch., Queens of
Avilion, 30; Norwood, Aux., 150; Rox-
bury, Eliot Ch., Aux , 33.75, Imm.- Walnut
Ave. Ch., For. Dept., 98, Y. L. F. M. S.,
20; Roxburv", West, Woman's Union, 8;
Somerville, B r o adway Ch., Aux., 14,
Franklin St. Ch , Aux., 50, Highland Ch.,
Women Workers, 15, Winter Hill Ch.,
Dau. of Cov., 60; Somerville, West,
Lower Lights, 10; Watertown, Phillips
Ch., Aux. (25 of wh. to const. L. M. Miss
Rachel P. Snow), 44.30; Wellesley Hills,
Aux., 6, " 3,678 99
Worcester Co. Branch. — Miss Sara T,
South wick, Treas., 144 Pleasant St.,
Worcester. Holden, Aux., 25; Millbury,
First Ch., Miss. Study CI., 5; Shrewsbury,
C. E. Soc, 2; Warren, Aux., 9.50;
Worcester, Adams Sq. Ch., Aux., 5,
Bethany Ch., Prim, and Jr. S. S., 6,
Piedmo'nt Ch., Little Light "Bearers, 7.80,
Plymouth Ch., Woman's Assoc., 35, 95 30
Total,
RHODE ISLAND.
7,318 84
Rhode Island Branch. — Miss Grace P.
Chapin, Treas., 150 Meeting St., Provi-
dence. Barrington, Prim, and Beginner's
Dept. S. S.,16; Kingston, C. E. Soc, 8;
Providence, Union Ch., The Friends
King's Dau., 5; Westerly, C. E. Soc, 5, 34 00
CONNECTICUT.
Eastern Connecticut Branch. — Miss Anna
C. Learned, Treas., 255 Hempstead St.,
New London. Int. Eliza Freeman Wood-
ward Fund, 10; C o 1 c h e s t e r, S. S., 2;
Daniel son, Aux., 8.17, C. E. Soc, 6;
Greeneville, S. S., 5; New London, First
Ch., Aux., 10, Second Ch., Aux., 15; Nor-
wich, Park Ch., Aux., Mrs. G. D. Coit, 25,
Miss M. P. Huntington, 25; Stonington,
First Ch., Aux., 10, 116 17
Hartford Branch.— Mrs. Sidney ^^/. Clark,
Treas., 40 WiUard St., Har'tford. Int.
Clara E.Hillver Fund. 90; Enfield, Ladies'
Benev. Soc," 25, First Ch., Jr. Dept.. 10;
Hartford, Immanuel Ch., Mrs. BuUard, 50,
Aux., 62, South Ch., Jr. Girls, 5; New
Britain, South Ch., Aux., 15; Plainville,
Aux. (to const. L. M. Mrs. Hiram M.
Harris), 25; Suffield, First Ch., 250 ; West
Hartford, Aux., 67; Wethersfield, C. E.
Soc, 5, ^4 00
200
Life and Light
\_April
Neiv Haven Branch. — Miss Edith Woolsey,
Treas., 250 Church St., New Haven.
Milford, Miss Emily J. Baird, 5; Nauga-
tuck, Ch., 75, 80 00
Total,
NEW YORK.
800 17
New York State Branch.— ^rs. F. M.
Turner, Treas., 646 St. Mark's Ave.,
Brooklyn. Albany, Aux., 5; Brooklyn,
Lewis Ave. Ch., Aux., 25, Parkville Ch.,
S. S.,10; Beta Philathea CI., 3; Camden,
W. M. S., 22; Greene, Ladies' Aid and
Miss. Soc, 5; Groton, S. S., 14; James-
town, Pilgrim Ch., Aux., 10; Massena,
Aux., 9.25; Middletown, First Ch., Aux.
(prev. contri. const. L. M's Mrs. A. J.
Hornbeck, Mrr . A. F. Pierce), North Ch.,
Jr. C. E. Soc, 2.50; New York, Man-
hattan Ch., Gt ild, 16; Oswego, W. M.
Soc, 47.17; Riverhead, Sound Ave. Ch.,
C. E. Soc, 5; Saratoga Springs, Aux.,
24; Syracuse, Geddes Ch., Woman's Guild,
52, S. S., 5, Prim. Dept. S. S., 85 cents,
Plymouth Ch., Woman's Guild, 100. Less
expenses, 50, .305
PHILADELPHIA BRANCH.
Philadelphia Branch. — Miss Martha N.
Hooper, Treas., The Victoria, 14th and
Clifton Sts., Washington, D. C. Z>. C,
Washington, First Ch., Aux. (to const.
L. M's Mrs. Bertha F. Ball, Mrs. Mary
C. Blodgett, Mrs. Alice H. Gould, Mrs.
Margaret G. Hughes, Mrs. Delia C. Per-
ham, Mrs. Julia H. Piatt, Mrs. Emma J.
Price, Mrs. Mary C. Rugg), 200; Mission
Club, 135; Fla., Lake Helen, Aux., 6.73;
N. J., Glen Ridge, Aux., 25; Montclair,
Watchung Ave. Ch., 6; Upper Montclair,
Aux., 75; Westfield, Aux., 75; Pa., Phila-
delphia, Park Ch.,5; Wilkesbarre, Aux.,
10.84; Wllliamsport, Aux,, 25, 563 62
W. H. M. i/.— Mrs. W^ J. Drew, Treas.,
28 South Palmetto Ave., Daytona. Or-
mond, W^. M. Soc, Mrs. Carrie Foster
Pitts, in mem. of her mother and sister,
Mrs. Caroline Foster Packard and Miss
Susie Perkins Packard, Brockton, Mass., 277 00
CANADA.
Cawarfa.— Cong'l W. B. M., Miss Emily
Thompson, Treas., Toronto
Th. Off.,
Donations,
Buildings,
Specials,
1,266 51
$9,285 61
2,563 54
257 75
Total, $12,106 90
Total from Oct. 18, 1914 to Feb. 28, 1915.
Donations,
Buildings,
Specials,
Legacies,
Total,
golden ANNIVERSARY GIFT.
Previously acknowledged.
Receipts of the month,
Total.
$41,576 91
5,353 78
1,210 03
2,135 15
$50,275 87
$84,887 97
2,563 54
$87,451 51
WOMAN'5 BOARD OF THE PACIFIC
Receipts for January, 1915
Mrs. W. W^. Ferrier, Treasurer, 2716 Hillegass Ave., Berkeley, Cal,
CALIFORNIA.
Northern California Branch. — Mrs. Arthur
Moore, Treas., 415 Pacific Ave., Piedmont.
Adin, 1; Alameda, 55; Berkelev, First,
37.50, North, 38.25; Fresno, 7.50; Hvdes-
ville, 2 ; Oakland, First, b. S., 10.78, Guild,
200, Mrs. Fowler, 500, First, 73, Plymouth,
25, W'ard Memorial, 1; Oleander, 9.25;
Petaluma, 14.08; Pittsburgh, Cradle Roll,
4; San Francisco, First, 25, Bethany, 1.25;
Sanger, 2; San Jose, 120.50; Santa Cruz,
50; Saratoga, 15, S. S., 25; Sunnyvale,
12.90; Watsonville,10; Woodland, 2.50, 1,248 51
SoutherJi California Branch. — Miss Emily
M. Barrett, Treas., 178 Centre St., Pasa-
dena. Chula Vista, 18.20; Highland, 10,
Cradle Roll, 2.50; Lemon Grove, 5; Los
Angeles, East, 19, First, 429.07, Mission
Study CI., 5, Mt. Hollvwood, 32.50, Olivet,
11.48; Monrovia, 10;' Ontario, 50; Pasa-
dena, Lake Ave., 25, North, 10; Pomona,
50, S. S., 15; Redlands, 25; Redondo
Beach, 9; Santa Ana, Cradle Roll, 10;
San Diego, First, 125, 861 75
IDAHO.
Idaho Branch. — Miss Cora B. Russell,
Treas., 1904 Eastman St., Boise, ^oise.
6; Bruneau, 1; Grand View, 1; New Ply-
mouth, 4; Weiser, 7.50, 19 50
Oregon Branch. — Mrs. A. L. Cake, Treas.,
421 West Park St., Portland. Ashland, 5;
Atkinson Memorial, 8; Corvallis, 5.72;
Eugene, 15; Forest Grove, 22.85;
"Friend," 200; Hubbard, 7; Portland,
First, 35,
298 57
UTAH.
Utah Branch . — Mrs . Geo . H . B ro wn , Treas . ,
Sandy, Salt Lake, First, 5 00
WASHINGTON.
Washington Branch. — Mrs. M. A. Ken-
nedy, Treas., 4517 11th Ave., N. E.,
Seattle. Ahtanum, 10; Chewelah, 5;
Eagle Harbor, 2; Natchez, Lower, 6.50;
Seattle, Bay View, 1; Sunnyside, S. S.,
12.25; Tacoma, East, 5, 4175
Total,
$2,475
For we In Lft 'iiu7 (miy
1-7 V.45
Life and Light for Woman
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