The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-26
UNOFFICIAL MISSIONARIES.

Three YoaDg Women Procure Valuable In
dorlements in an Irregular Way.
Special to ihe indianapolis Journal.
NEW YoRK. Dec. 25.-The Christian Advocate,
the official Methodist Episcopal organ, contained
paragraph two weeks ago saying that there
had sailed from this port, for Secunderabad,
India, three young ladies who had devoted their
lives to missionary work on the self-supporting
basis. Miss Salient Armstrong NJ. D., had for
some time been resident physician of the New
England Hospital in Boston. and had taken
high rank among the physicians Of that center.
She had given special attention to surgery, and
took with her medical and surgical equipment
of unusual completeness She was accompanied
by her sister, Miss Villa L., a young lady of
fine literary accomplishments. Miss Head, a
trained nurse, was also of the party. They
would labor within the bounds of the
South India Conference, in what is known
as Bishop Taylors work" Their travelling
expenses bad been met and their exceptionally
complete outfit paid for, by friends who had
unhoupded faith in their "godly zeal, good iudg-
ment and r@sS adaptation to missionary work in
India" That appeared to be frst-rate send off
for three pious and self-sacriicing young women
who had conseorated themselves TO the work of
saving human souls but to your correspondent
the Advocate editor Indignantly retracts his
Endorsement, and declaresthat the Jealous young
women have nos connection either with Bishop
Taylors work or with the South India Confer
ence: that they go out under no official auspices
and that nobody is responsible for them. He
complains that the Misses Armstrong have set
af0at circulars containing his paragraph as
commendation. The assistant editor explains
that women physicians are in much demand in
India, because men are not permitted to enter
the harems for any purpose There are few fe-
male practitioners in that country, and
their services are we'll rewarded. Fame ana
fortune await American doctors in petticoats in
the harems of the heathen The Misses Arm
strong saw their opportunity, and realized that
missionary backing would be great business
advantage In India, as it would give them en-
entrance into circles otherwise difficult of &C
cess. That explains the fattering personal item
In the Advocate and the advertising circular.
The editor says he was imposed upon The gen.
tleman who had unbounded faith in their relig
ious zeal and paid their expenses is Mr.. j. G.
Miller, formerly of Nebraska, but now of Pasa-
dena Cal, and the editor thinks Mr.. Miller gave
his money under some misapprehension. The
Misses Armstrong first applied to the Bishop
Taylor Transit Fund to defray travelling ex-
penses, but that fund is no longer used to send
missionaries to India. Bishop Taylor is on the
Congo, and the fund is used to send people to
that country. The missionaries to the African
heathen are not empowered to preach, and
are described as mere adventurers, who sup
port themselves by trade. or in any way
that comes handy. Bishop TayIor's work is the
establishing of Christian colonies in heather
countries and the transit fund is used for that
purpose, and is not connected with the church
The bounds of the South India Conference are
the boundaries of Hindostan and the editor has
no doubt that the Misses Armstrong will confne
their labors within those limits. He trusts they
will do good work in the cause of Christ, but
wants 1t distinctly understood that they are not
officially in the missionary service. He does not
mean to cast any reflection upon their morals, or
to insnuate that they are frauds, he says, but
he does think they procured the Methodist in
dorsement of their "good Judgment and rare
adaptation to missionary work in India" in an
improper manner, and by representations not in
perfect accord with the facts