The Portland daily press., 1897-09-13

on.
rumbling down the corridors of tina o,i
long ais an editor needs groceries. 90
THE MADuRA MISSION.
The American Boards Report From Wor,,
ers In This Field.
Boston, Sept. 9--The American BOARD
of Foreign Missions, whose SSth annmsi
meeting will be held in New Have1ra' ave.
Oct. 1915, has received the last animal
report of its Madura Mission, Southern
India. The work of this mission covers
an area of 10,70o square miles, about
equal. to the state of New Hampshire
The city of Madura is it's center, a civ
that has population of 81, 428; of which
IS per cent are Hindus, 8 per cent Mo-
hammedans, and per cent Christians
The mission is in its 9th year. Each
missionary fhas a district containinn
from $50, 900 to 1000 souls.
The missionary force is composed of 10
men, 9 married and 6 unmarried ladies'.
Their co-workers consist of % pastors. 1913
catechists, 2S7 teachers, 67 Bible women
16 evangelists, and 10 medical agents
There are 3S churches, with a total mem
bership of 4, 595. The total number of
adherents, or members of congregations
is Is, 495. The total number of congrega-
lions is 307, but there are Christians in
443 different villages. Of the Christian
community only 5,067 can read, or about
one third. The greatest ignorance pre-
wallis among the women. To remedy this
defect the catechist is expected to give
faithful and systematic instruction in the
rudiments Of Christianity. The new
congregations are sometimes found with
out woman present at service on the
Sabbath. There are five Young Mem 8
Christian Associations in the mission and
20 societies of Christian Endeavor. I'm
til recently people have expected pay for
all Christian work, but these societies
are giving them new idea of what it is
to be Christian. This Endeavor move
ment is changing the aims and spirit and
tone Of the churches.
Bible wonen's work has developed
rapidly and is destined to work change
81 Bible women, now in employ, a move
nerit Is being inaugurated that will prove
great blessing.
One of the sad features Of the life of
natives in India is that there is no such
thing as "home life.' One Bible woman
works among the high class women and
reports their condition as most wretched;
they are slaves to their servants. If they
see a hawk flying overhead they cry, 'call
our lady, here is our god flying" and at
once the harem b. ladies worship. If
woman offers them sacred ashes, saying,
silva, Siva," they reverently take it and
rub it on their foreheads The servants
tell them that they must make vow to
krishna Swami. and Immediately the
purse is opened and the servants get the
benefit of it. All the Bible women report
increasing interest among the women in
learning to read and in asking questions
about the Bible, Jesus and Christianity
Many refuse to worship the household
gods One old man whose daughter is
reader, said to the Bible women, ssThe
young people are all becoming crazy
through the influence of the English and
their religion. Here is my daughter who
will not worship our gods, because she
says they have no power to help us; and
my two sons refuse to attend our feasts
and do not worship our gods but say that
the Christian religion is the only religion
worth believing. am afraid that they
will all become Christians some day, but
want to die before that happens" Miss
M. NJ. Roots IS Bible women are doing
new ones during the year. The total
number of pupils is 700. There have.
been Al itineracies held during thu year.
1857 different villages have been visited
and 167, 902 persons have heard the gospel
message. In one village where thre had
been no Christians up to that time 81
persons were organized into congrega-
tion and given catechist.
The American Tract and Bible socie-
ties make an occasional grant of money
by which missionaries can sell Bibles
and tracts at a very low price. They,
have sold during the last year Is, 1858
school books, scattered broadcast 15D, 600
handbills, and sold and given 37s Bibles,
256 New Testaments, and 1856 portions of
the Bible. &.
Hindu girls schools number IA, with a
total of 500 pupils on the rolls. OF the
1899 children in the mission only 1857 can
read. The total number of village
schools is 1874, of Christian pupils in
them 841. of other pupils 1926, total 1885,
In the village life there is neither order,
system. rule, fneatness nor puritysof body,
mind or heart. In the boarding schools.
missionaries insist upon all these. And
the change which comes over boys and
girls after a few months residence in the
school is vely noticeable. Unwashed
faces and hands, unkempt hair scant cloth,
ing and that guiltless of washing for
weeks together, are things of the past.
The old, dull, listless manner, the stub.
born. sulky way, the filthy conversation,
the stealing, lying, and deception are ali
exchanged for better things. In these
boarding schools no caste distinction is
allowed. All eat together and sit upon
the same bench in the recitation room.
In the Pasunalai College and Training
Institution the average attendance for
the year in the entire Institution has
been 329 Donations from friends in
America amount to 1871 rupees; govern
ment grants to all departments 1887
rupees The generous contribution of
Williams College of S401.7 70, received in
the most critical time of the year, enabled
the principal of Pasumalai College to
tear up letter already written to the
secretary at Boston asking for help. The
contribution enabled the school to 90
through the year without cutting off any
department..
By means of three Itineraries and sof
weekly village preaching no fewer than
$4,000 people have heard the gospel. A
party of over twenty preachers addressed
over 25, 900 souls and covered thoroughly
in their journeyings an area Of $50 SQUARE
miles. This was mostly in the region Of
thief.. caste villages, amongIa people who
are VIGOROUSLY ignorant, superstitious.
bigoted and lawless. Throughout part
of this region no preachers voice has been
heard for at least thirty years.
The Madura girls training school has