The Portland daily press., 1886-03-24
UPPER HuRMAH.
Interesting Address by Rev. Or. j. N.
Gushing, of Rangoon, 6urnnah.

Rev. DR.. Cushing, of Rangoon, Burmah,
one of the most honored of the missionaries
of the American Baptist Missionary Union.
delivered An address upon missionary work
in Upper Burmah before large audience at
the yestry of the Free Street Baptist Church
last evening. The speaker occupied about
one hour in his remarks and was given the
closest attention of his hearers throughout.
The address commenced with an interesting
review of the missionary work and achieve
ments in Burmah in the past. The present
opportunities and needs of the country were
described, and the speaker closed by graphic
ally portraying the former vexatious him
ORANGES and restrictions to travel and resi-
dence in Upper Burmah by foreigners.
Before the delivery of the address brief re-
ligious services were conducted by the pas
tor Rev. Mr.. Dunn, and prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. Small. DR.. Cushing was intro
duced by Mr.. Dunn in few fitting remarks.
The following is a brief abstract of the adj
dress:
Christ's command that his followers should bear
witness OF Him gave an impetus to the missionary
spirit OF the early church and raised It in 800
years 10 place OF great power. But from that
time until about the beginning of the present CEN
Jury, when the missionary spirit was revived,
6sneR Of Christian ang %orR tha We live ii
missionarylage. and point to conversions, due to
missions, numbering 100000 communicates and
a total of 100000 Christians, but there Is ano-
Their side. When we think of the vast amount of
missionary work to be done, it is evident that the
results obtained are but the achievements of the
commencement of the missionary labor
The American Baptist churches did not seek
field of missionary work, but the opportunity was
TudSOn while his to work the
Burmese, in the early part of this century, was led
by study of the New Testament to change in his
belief and bravely cutting loose from his former
religious associations, while just entering new
and unknown country, he made an appeal to the
Baptist churches of America for support; The
first and second Burmese wars, by which Lower
Burmah was placed under British rule, besides
making missionary work easier, afforded new OPP
portunity to the Baptist churches to aid the cause
The third and last war has now taken place.
Upper Burmah is under the rule of Great Britain,
a representative of the Queen is in Mandalay, and
throne room of the royal palace there. This oc-
cupation by Great Britain has opened Upper Bur-
NAH to the preaching Of the Gospel and another
airy work there. The country for which DR.. Jud-
son worked and prayed is. opened from the Bay
of Bengal on the south, to the base of the Hima-
layas, 1000 miles TO the north.
Missionary work in Upper Burmah can now be
prosecuted hopefully and successfully. Assur-
ances of success are found in the conversions
among the natives-not alone in point of numbers
but in the character of the Christian natives,
themselves. AlTtduy sti0OuS tlO cOubtTlS III LOW
er Burmah there are churches which support
their own pastors. and in addition, two missions
are supported by the natives. It is true that all
the natives are not equally active and self-sus-
tanning in their churches, but in the old Christian
countries there are the same active and inactive
classes Of Christians =. Another ENCOURAGEMENT
not an entirely new field in which the missionaries
are without knowledge of the habits and modes
of thought of the natives, and in Burmah, beside
the white missionaries, are native workers who
can more readily find the hearts of their country
men.
begun years ago, but under great disadvantages,
owing to the restrictions on travel and residence
in the country by foreigners. Under the native
rule when a foreigner wished to travel in Bur-
NAH, he must first obtain the royal consent. This
was after considerable delay given to him. If his
request was granted, written on a roll OF palm
leaf about yard in length. The document
stated to what place the permission to travel ex-
the number of FIRE arms, elephants, horses, etc,
they were to be allowed and imposed numerous
other things which must be complied with This
written permission had to be inspected by all the
local officials and petty princes causing many
vexatious delays. When DR.. Gushing was travel
ing through the country ne asked for permit to
ing point thus obtaining the right to travel across
the entire country The reception he received
their rulers, the people not daring to appear cor
dial if the governors and princes were cold.
In 1876, DR.. Gushing established his residence
in Upper Burnah, obtaining the royal consent IN
much the same way as the permits for traueling
were given In the city where he was located,
DR.. Cushing had most interesting struggle for
which to erect his buildings. Finally be was be-
friended by the governor, and got his land after
overcoming the most stubborn resistance from the
deputy governor. The governors motive was not
found in any love for DR.. Cushing, but rather in
the fact that he had quarreled with his deputy,
who was opposed to DIR. Cushng's having the de-
sired land and took this means to spite that Off
cer AS a result, the deputy preferred charges
and had the governor arrested, but the governor
Inv finding MT SOmafhinQ AGAINST the dpnutV rot
out of trouble himself aud got his subordinate
arrested in his place.
At the conclusion of the lecture, prayer
was offered by Rev. DR.. Burrage, and the au-
dience was dismissed with the benediction
by Rev. DR.. Cushing. DR.. Cushing speaks
in the Main street Baptist church in Saco
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