Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-27
ATFIRSTBAPTIsT CHURCH.

Melodious Singing and Interesting
Descriptions of Life in India by
MIR. and Mrs. George c. Stebbins.
The announcement thai Mr.. and Mrs
| George G. Stebbins would sing and give
descriptions of DR.. Pentecosts work il
| India was sufficient to fill the large church
| to the doors last evening. All the seats il
| the church were taken and many chairs
| were occupied, late corners being obliged
to stand through the very interesting
| service.
After singing hymn, as only Mr.. and
Mrs. Stebbins can sing, Mr.. Stebbins gave
the following lecture regarding the ex
perience of himself and wife and the mis-
sionary work of DR.. Pentecost in India
A synopsis ofthe address is as follows
CATER few days in London we sailed fol
Calcutta, through the straits of Gibraltar
We visited Pompeii, saw the celebrated
Mount Vesuvius and at Ceylon stopped
one day, where we saw the announcement
on posters that we would sing.
After being cordially entertained we
| left for Madras, where we met many
Americans, among whom were several
friends. On the thirty second day of ou1
| journey we arrived at Calcutta and com
menced to hold meetings among the En-
glish and Scotch people. The services
were held alternately in an opera house
and church. We made many converts
among the people that are called the edu-
Gated natives-that is, the English-speak-
ing people. No women came to these ser
vices, which were attended by men only.
After very interesting visit we said
goodbye to Dr. Pentecost and went to
Penares which is the seat of Hindooism.
We passed by the river Ganges where we
saw the natives worshipping fire and
water We sang at Campore where we
met many missionaries who are doing
well. We also attended a Methodist
Episcopal conference. We then went to
Delhi where we saw many wonderful
buildings, then to Bombay a very large
city where we remained a week, after
which we went to South India and stopped
at Bangalore, then to Madras where we
remained three weeks, after which we re-
turned to Bombay. We passed some time
in Egypt and stood where Moses stood.
We read the scriptural story with renewed
the sacred hills and valleys, then to
Italy, Naples, Rome and Paris, stopping
occasionally to sing and give our testi-
here in New Haven where we have been &C
kindly received"
Mr.. and Mrs. Stebbins then sang the
| beautiful hymn ''Steal Away" the melo
dious voice of Mrs. Stebbins harmonizine
beautifully with the rich deep voice Of
Mr.. Stebbins.
Mrs Stebbins then made an address OF
absorbing interest which was substantially
| as follows: "What impressed me was the
condition of the women In India. The
government provides for the education Of
men but the women-what of them-they
| are shut up in their homes where they are
downtrodden and oppressed. If this EN-,
| pire is ever to advance in the scale of civ.
| iization the women must be educated and
elevated. Iu every city where we went
we saw something of this state of affairs
When girl is born in India she is not very
| welcome. The first teaching she receives
/ is that there is no salvation for her with
| out marriage, and she must marry very
young. -,
At the age of eight or nine years she is
| married, as they term it, but it is more
| properly betrothed. A certain GER
emory is performed, but the girl does moi
| leave home until she is about twelve years
of age. After this ceremony she must re-
main in doors. What would our lives be
if we remained necessarily indoorsa
If parents are wealthy they can buy hus-
bands for their girls, which many do. The
| poor people can't do this-they frequently
marry their young girls to old men, who
perchance have lost one or more wives. ]
have visited homes in India from the
high caste palace with it's marble halls to
| the common mud hut. Women are never
taught to work.
If you ever hear of woman who leaves
this land for missionary work in India
| give her credit for undertaking great
| work.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stebbins, who are guests
/ in this City of General Greedy, will leave
| New Haven to-day for Mortified, Mass
| where they will remain through the month
of August and assist Mr.. Dwight L. Moody
in his great work there.