Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-04-28
Ladies', Missionary Society.


The first anniversary of the woman :
Missionary Society OF the Methods; F.
Church, OF st. CIairsville was he'd on
Sabbath afternoon. Addresses were de-
livered by the Pastor, w Z. Lauck,
and Rev. J. B. Johnson, of the United
Presbyterian Church, and Rev. r. Alex
ander of the Presbyterian Church. The
Speakers congratulated the ladies for
their good work, and urged them on
ward, assured that their efforts would
result in enightening and dchristianizing
many of their sex in heathen lands.
The following letter from Miss Bella
Thoourn, formerly of this place, was
read:
LUCKNOW, INDIA, FEB. -, 1870.
To the Eomaas Missionary S3ciesy oflte s.. Glars,
vile N. E. Church.
My DEAi: SISTERS:- can hardly
realize that so long time and distance
has elarset. since ! sat among you al
your second Missionary Meeting, but :.
parisuu Of dates proved it to be
nearly half q year since l left you, and
in that time l have passed half way
round The world. Many times my
thoughts have gone back TO you, CRATE
fully anu iJndly remembering all your
friendship ana kindly favor, and pray
ing that Goi who has cared for me may
keep you united in his work.
[ have only been in Lucknow to
which [ am sent by the Mission Confer
ence, few days, and consequently can
not write You as | would like to do, of
my work or that OF the ladies OF the
Mission. But can speak with assur-
ance Is to one feature of it; it is abund-
ant. When | look around me it seems
SO great ani my hands so feeble that
| wonder | dared hope to accomplish
any thing here, but because it is so
great, and so little is being done proper
tionate 10 its magnitude, am thankful
that was allowed to bring my mite Of
strength to join with that little, and
do not long forget that weakness is
power in Gods hands. You, dear friends,
can increase that power by your pray
ers, by your perSevering, Self-denying
labor in this cause,
During the month that has elapsed
since [ reached Bombay, [ have many
times wished | could show you as it is
the condition of these women. And yet
as | said l scarcely know it, Lut know
enough to show me that the only hope
for the people is to elevate the women.
From the high-caste women, shut away
in the seclusion of the harem, to their
lew-caste sisters, who are mere beasts
of burden, they are all degraded as only
heather women can be,-So low down
us to be beyond the consciousness of
their own degradation. They have lit
tie ambition 10 rise, and when they try
to do o they are opposed by their re-
ligion, by the customs of their people.
through hundreds of years, and by all
their friends who are still heathens
rlris last opposition is sometimes for
midable. There are now in tnis house
three women, converted Mahumedans,
who have taken refuge here from their
husbands. They are a moth + Ind two
who became Christian
through the influence of a Zenana
school. They will stay here until they
get protection from the law, and failing
that, they must either go back TO a per-
secut:on that may result in death, or be
placed in some place OF cOncealment
until better day comes in both law
and customs. The daughters are young
and beautiful girls, and when | see |
them [ can not but compare their con-
home with those whose hopeful, happy
faces | used TO meet i'll St Clairsville; |
and TO you, my young friends, I appeal |
by all that makes your lives worth
living, by all the privileges you enjoy, |
socially and reiigiously, do what you
can for these girls. There are thousands |
more such as these. They are married |
when they are mere children and shut |
away in the Zenana, to live a life of
Incidence and ignorance that keeps |
them children uu, il they have lived past |
the possibility of developing into true
Only Christianity ever
has, ever can do anything for wOman's
condition in heather lands, and for His
sake to whom we as Christian women
owe all that we are and hope to be, let US
never weary IN the work of raising these
to q position favored as our own.
[ wish you could Look from your pleas
ant homes into theirs. The wealthiest |
are but poorly furnished with the COM
forts Thought necessary By their hus-
bands, while among the lower classes,
the idea of a nome is scarcely developed |
ut all. | went last week into the home
Of a native Christian, a2d at once the
difference was apparent. There was
cleanliness and order rs I had not
before seen il, while some books, and
few pictures aud other ornaments show
ed that intellect and taste were being
developed. When in India there is
home life for the people there will be
hope for them. and this can only be
given them thraugh their women.
This country is very bea ltiful. This
weather that they call winter here, is
Dalny as May in Ohio, an,! far over the
nj tnin 10 yir at f,.i, in olo Il
ess blue rruly in nature here "every
prospect pleases" and truly man is very
vile. In hope of that better day when
God shall re gn here as everywhere, let
Is make it our life work to To hasten
hat dar. / like to feel thai you are
with me, that | am your
agent here. I do not seem so isolated
hen, but il seems that I am one of
7ou still. In spirit am with you often.
Mag ! hope to hear from you, either as
. society or individually And though
else you may forget me,
mo, for my works sake,
when you pray. BELLA THoBURN.
Martinsville Items.
THE eoiored population of this place
nave in operation Sabbath School, con-
lucted by white teachers. The school
5 not only composed of colored children
,,t the heads of families attend. They
nave, since the election, organized Il de-
,ating Society. 1t is wholly carried on
~ the blacks, and quite an interest is
manifested in political matters; the
question discussed last evening was, II
SHOULD the women have the right of
utfraee before the negroes" They be
anne quite enthusiastic before the close
If the discussion. They are preparing !