The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-13
MISSIONS In INDIA.
Bishop Thoburn Describes
Thirty-Three Years There.
GOOD TEACHERS ARE LACKING.
Over 10000 Converts, and Hundreds OF
Schools, but More Funds Needed
for the Work.

Missionary Bishop j. NJ Thoburn. D. D..
of India. gave the benefit of his wisdom.
eloquence and experience yesterday at
three seperate places and before three dis
tinct classes of hearers. In the morning
he preached before large and fashionable
audience at the First NJ. K. church In the
afternoon he looked into the faces of sew
eraI hundred earnest Christians at the
Young Mems Christian association, and
in the evening preached at Trinity NJ. f.
church in Queen Anne town in the pres
ence of a congregation that filled every
inch of available space in the structure.
His morning sermon at the First NJ. r.
church was a skilful and earnest plea for
the support of mission work and the justi-
fication of the theory of the missionary
work of the church of Christ He drew
his inspiration from Acts is, con-
tanning the farewell command of Jesus
Christ on the duty of giving the Cos.
pei to all nations. This mission to
impart the divine knowledge was
supreme one to all Chris
tians. not only to extend the system of
religion but to communicate to all men
the knowledge of Christ himself, His
wonderful. great and noble deeds The
third division Of the subject was an ex-
haustive consideration Of the manner in
which this duty. as laid down by Jesus,
has been performed The bishop adverted
10 the slowness of the Christian world to
take up missionary work in the spirit that
the Great Master intended. The last
century witnessed a great awakening in
this respect and the churches are now
striving TO do their full duty in carrying
the gospel to all the nations of the earth.
The speaker then gave a rapid sketch of
the work in India for the last quarter of a
century and closed with a strong appeal
for greater financial support for the work
in that great land. A special collection
was taken up for the cause, to which the
peonle contributed literally.
In his talk before the Y. NJ. C. A. Bishop
Thoburn spoke on the basis of character.
According to his theory Christian principle
was the basis of character. Without Christ
there could be no such thing as perfect
character. He explained many lines of
usefulness to young men and conclud d
with an appeal to all to never rest con-
tented-until in the possession of beauti-
full and firm Christian character.
the bishop gave a more detailed account of
missionary work in India. Among other
things he said: L went to India i'm 1852
The voyage occupied LIT days on 650-ton
ship laden with rice. l returned few
months ago in a steamer of 10000 tons in
twenty-five days.
began work in North India. At that
time there was not girls school in our
field, and not more than two dozen Chris.
tians among the IL ,o00, 900 living in the
province where we began. As railroads
were extended over India we enlarged our
field, until we have missions in all parts
OF the empire. Sixteen thousand miles of
rail are open in India.
India is like Europe, a group of great
nations. The chief of these are the Hin
dustani 100, 100000 in number; Bengalis,
100000; Mahratis, 20, 900, 900, and others
ranging from 5000, 900 to 100000.
The mass of the people are very poor: so
poor that people in America can't under
stand the meaning of the word. A labor
ing man earns 5 or 6 cents day, and on
this sum will support wife and children.
They live in the utmost sim licity. The
clothing is scanty and cheap. The food
consists of millet meal. peas, rice and
wild green's gathered in the fields. They
eat two meals daily. if they have enough,
but most Of them can't afford two meals.
Our work has had healthy prosperity
from the beginning, but in recent years
the progress has been very marked. Dur
ing the past four years the baptisms have
been as follows: 1883, 1850; 1889, 4. 800;
$780, 1900; 1891, 10, 800.
At the present time there are Is, 900 peo-
pie willing to become Christians. but we
have not the means to provide teachers
and preachers for them. The converts
are very anxious to have their children
educated, and we provide simple schools
Tor them. In many places We have no
house or hut, even, for school, nor have
We any books, pens, ink or paper. The
teacher gathers the children under tree
and sprinkes sand on the hard ground,
and then writes the letters with his finger
in the sand. By and bye the children
learn to make the letters, and in this way
thousands of little folk are learning 10
read and write.
After the children learn little We Sc
iect the best among them and put them n
boarding-schools, where they are kept two
or three years, and if they manifest supe-
rior ability they are passed on TO high
school and finally to college. Some sue
coed very well, indeed. A graduate OF a
college in India has to pass examinations
Set by the university authori' es, and
their diplomas are az vaiuable-superior.
Indeed, 10 the average diploma received IN
America
The outlook in India is very hopeful.
the missionary work has never been so
successful as at present, and beyond al
doubt final success is fully assured.
Bishop Thoburn was horn in a small
town in Ohio IN 1886, and entered the min
istrv in 1897. Two years later he was
sent TO India. in which land he has been
tolting in the cause of the Gospel ever
snce. Up 10 the year 1874 he lived IN
Northern India, but since that date he has
had his headquarters in Calcutta. lie was
elected = bishop four years ago at the
Methodist Episcopal conference. held IN
New York city, lie lett India in January,
and he calculates To return some time IN
November He is noble looking man,
Whose kindly Christian character beams
forth from two merry twinkling eyes he
talks well. and having been Keen oo-
server tells many interesting stories con-
corning the land of his labors. lie mas
grown gray in the service. but talks OF MS
Work with the zeal of an ambitious man
s'id full Of youthful dreams.
My field" he said 10 Posi- lNrEfII-
sENcER reporter Yesterday. embraces she
Whole empire OF India and part OF MI
lesia. a i strict containing i,7500n square
miles and population of 80 opo'oo sous,