The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1888-09-27

4 very interesting missionary meeting
was held the Congregational churcl
last Friday afternoon and evening
Threatening Skics--or to speak with eX
actness-pouring rain and liquid muc
kept all but the bravest of people al
home. Those who did venture and how
ever were well repaid. The speakers
were those who have made for themselves
uamc ON missionary fields in foreign
lands, Mrs. Capron who spoke boil
afternoon and evening, went to India ii
lsjG and has been there most of the time
since. Thoroughly convcrsant with the
needs and nature of the work there, il
was pleasure to listen to her. Her talk
to the ladies in their special meeting was
one of great interest. Her address in the
afternoon was upon woman's work in
India.
An interesting feature of that work is
the use they make of native women a
assistants. Under the name of Bible
women they 90 from house to house to
read the scriptures and tell as best they
may their understanding Of it. These
women are selected for the most part
from those who have few it any family
cares. Equally interesting was her ad-
dress in the evening upon the influence of
caste as an obstacle to christian work.
From her own experience she gave
several instances in which the feeling
arising from these class distinctions
threatened disastrous results. In one
instance, admitting n pariah or low caste
girl a. pupil in one of the schools came
near breaking up the school simply be-
cause, belonging to another caste, the
others fell that contact with her was pol
lutiun. The point made by Rev. Mr..
Crcegan of Boston in his inspiring ad
drcSc which followed, was appreciated
by the audience. He quietly reminded the
people that caste was not confined t.
India; that class distinctions were the
banc OF Christian work anywhere
His address which was full of telling
points consisted of a rapid survey of the
various missions fields.
Rev Otis Carey who for ten years has
been in Japan followed Mr. Greegan. His
address had to do chiefly with Methods
of work, and Signs of progress, Here
in 1872 there were ten christians there
are now nearly twenty-five thousand
The people are losing faith in their owr
religion and christianity is commanding
itself to them as adopted to their needs
An editorial in one of their leading papers
recently written by Japanese who is
not himself a believer in the christian
religion, stated that the hope of Japan
lay in their adopting christianity As tn,
national religion Morality has gone
With their departing faith in their owr
religion. Not unlike this way the story
told by Rev J. II Roberts of China He
too has been on mission fields for tel
years Some of the people present re-
membcrcd Mr.. Roberts as having preach
ed at Bingham one summer while {
student in the Seminary.
In his address he gave an interesting
sketch of the life of Chinese women
| their social condition and moral status
The story so graphically told by hin
| held the closest attention of the audi
cnce. The many little details of theil
| life brought out many facts of intercs
that were new to those of us who have on
ly general knowledge of the people Hi
address in the evening though equally
interesting was unrcportable from mem
DRY. one significant remark should b.
recorded, that work for the Chinese il
! China would he easier if the Chinese il
| America were better treated. The meet
| ings were success. The only regret cX
pressed was that the attendance coul'
not have been larger.