Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-25
OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAYOR INTEREST.


you read this il will no longer seem
to date our letters "1S97." Ny
letter goes TO day from Ahmednuggur,
in Western India; and, as | write, the
firing OF big guns, and tbs rattle OF
IN usketry, aud the blare of brass bands
from the British parade ground, re.
mind me that it is the first day Of the
year, wbile the bIdeous din of a Hin
doc wedding that is taking place under
my window foroibly tells me that l am
in heather land.
But through tue open window with
the early morning light comes the
sweet, cool air OF an Indian winter's
morning, a morning like our rarest
days in June, reminding me that,
whatever the din nf war or Of heather.
ism, the atmosphere OF God still
enyolops this old world.
Gods in his heaven;
AIS right with the world.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvon ON TIE RED SEA.
After leaving the Christian Endeav
orers of Cairo, concerning whom /
wrote you in my last letter, we steamed
through the Suez Canal, and down tho
hot Red Sea for five days. and then
across the Indian Ojean for five days
more, in the teeth oil strong northeast
monsoon, which somewhat delayed our
good ship.
use the plural "we'' with the
understanding that you are all taking
the journey with me, though as a
matter OF fact it is only tho singular
and melancholy II" that Embarked.
and ono ticket answers for US all. The
travelling companion Uf many voyages
could not go with me on this long
journey; so that in my loneliness l
make the more of your imaginary COM
partnership, dear fellow travellers. How
ever, there were on ths Ealetta no less
than 10 Christian Endaavorers (where
will you not find Christian Eneavorers
in these daysg) and we had delights
full meeting on tho Sunday evening of
our voyage, on the Red Sea.
Two of the Endeavorers were from
Illinois, one from Oaio. one from
Missouri, two from Canada, two from
Australia, one from Massachusetts. and
one from England cosmopolitan
Endeayor meeting. you geo. Several
were coming as missionaries to India
and Ceylon.
Sunday noon, December 9th. in
the hroiling heat of Indian midday
we landed at Bombay. Sad indeed is
the condition of this great city. the
socond city in population in the British
Empire. One hundred cases day of
buhonic plague 1.-THE old black death
that depopulated London in the 18th
century, nearly as many deaths; little
diRinfecting fires burning on the side
walk before many of the houses, show.
ing that death is within; the burning
CHATS blazing night and day 100
bodies waiting for cremation at single
rrematory; people fleeing from tho city
by tine ten thousand by every railway
such, 10 sentence, is the story uf the
great plague of 1S96-97.
Those words have acquired new
Significance to me Of late: "There
shall no evil befal thee. neither shall
any plague come nigh thy dwelling. "
IN BOMBAY.
Three hours after landing I preached
in the beautiful Scotch church; and a
little later the came evening / spoke to
the EndeavorerB of the American
mission church. Connected with this
church are really five societies; one
general society for the church, and -four
junior societies for the boys and girls
of the schools. All flourish under the
kindly care of Mr.. and Mrs. Hume.
On account of the plague the public
| Christian Endeavor meetings, which
had been planned, had to be given up,
AS the physicians advised against all
general gatherings, and my stay il
| Bombay was shortened to less thar
| two days.
From Bombay to Poonah is a single
/ nights ride by train, and hero
was tho guest OF Mr.. Robert Wilder,
whom many of you remember with
| great affection for the missionary in,
spiration he brought to many of oul
early conventions. He is doing mag
niticont work for tho students of India.
| AMONG THE SOLDIERS OF PooNAu
The address was given in the Soldiers
| Home of Poonah, under the auspices Of
the Poonah Christian Endeavor So
ciety, OF which Mr.. Reed, the earnest
chaplain OF the post, is the president.
After the address two red-coatec
soldiers fingered to talk about theil
souls salvation with DIR. Grattan Guin
ness, who was also present.
1t was most affecting scene. vi
all knelt down on tho floor, half {
dozen soldiers, Dr. Guinness, Mr..
Wilder, Mr.. Reed and myself. SomC
earnest prayers were offered for the twt
wavering ones. They were urged Il
commit themselves to Christ A
length, after a long pause, one of then
began to sing upon his knees, will
bowed head and in trembling voice
Lord Jesus, long TO be perfectly whole;
want thee forever to dwell in INV soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
| Now wash me, and | shall be whittier thai
! snow.
Then the other soldier offered
broken. earnest prayer, and both ros,
from their knees, saved men, trust
Mr.. McBain, noble officer, "the fathe,
of his regimsnt,'' on whose breas
gleams more than ono medal won ii
battle for his country, is the secretar,
of this society.
But my letter il already too long.
must save until the next an account o
unique and delightful visit to Sirur
when + will tell you about Harrio
Clark Lashmiya Nagaya, John Will
Ananarac Limhaii. and others lik
them. Your friend,
Francis L. Clark.
.------------s--------
Bishop Walden VIII be, Here.
Bisohp John M. Walden, who vii
~. q L