The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-25

Concerning missionary work in India,
Miss Lillian Dietrich, formerly of this
city, interested a gathering in Grace
Reformed Episcopal church last even
ing. When DR.. Stearns was pastor of
the church Miss Dietrich went to In
dia as a missionary for the Women's
Union Missionary society, of New York
city. This was the first society or
ganized for work among only women
and girls. Miss Dietrich is one of its
representatives at Cawnpore.
Miss Dietrichs remarks last even-
ing were not in the form of an ad-
dress. She gave an informal talk in
answer to a series of written questions
and to verbal queries from the audi
ence.
Is the Hndoo easier to be reached
than formerly? was asked. 1t is so
much easier, she said. that there are
not enough missionaries to visit the
houses open to missionary work. Not
only are the Hindoos accessible but
they are anxious to be taught Chris
tianity.
AT THE SCHOOLS.
OF the missionary schools, there are
thirty in the Cawnpore district. The
average attendance is perhaps "a doz-
en- or Is women and about 10 children.
The difference between a mission
school child and one not so fortunately
instructed is remarkable, a comparison
being greatly in favor of the former.
School children are not only taught
Christianity. but, in the orphanages,
are taught to be good, useful and in
| dustrious lives, and to do missionary
work themselves if fitted for it. The
industrial feature is remarkably ef-
| fective.
Miss Dietrich's description of the
system of study, indicated its great
| thoroughness. The children were
| taught native customs as far as prac-
| teal In the past it has cost only
| $50 per pupil per year in the orphan
| ages. An effort will be made to re-
| duce the cost to $50. More boxes OF
| supplies would help accomplish this
| All articles sent in boxes from Ameri'
ca and Europe have been made useful
| Common sense should govern people il
sending these supplies. Not all clotf
suitable in this country can be uset
to great advantage in India.
| Before children are II or II years oi
age they are not encouraged to unite
with the church.
One of the greatest hindrances tC
| good work is the bad example of non
| protesting Christians from European
| countries. The Hindoos are unable t
understand why the whole of the so
called Christian race does not illustrat
in their lives the teachings of tn,
Bible.
SUICIDE PRACTICE.
The suicide practice so prevalent
especially among widows, has beel
lessened by the punishments inflicted
by the English government, throug
laws recently passed, upon those VIII
do not succeed in self-destructior
When a husband dies his widow be
comes an outcast. All valuables ar
taken from her and she is made t
shift as best she may. Suicide b
jumping into a we'll is the most com
mon method and poisoning is frequent
ly resorted to. The practice of repud
iating the widows applies to hig
castles as well as the poor, There
no distinction after the husband
death.
Hindoo women are not permitted I
| go ABOUT on the streets. OF tHlS Ied
son female missionaries dress in III
European garb and are thus unmolest
ed and free to go about at will.
Missionary work continues through
out the year. Its character is changed
however, according to the hot and co,
seasons. In the hot season at til
Cawnpore mission it is the custom
transfer the work to nearby village
the missionaries living in a tent, whic
is changed from place to place.
1t does not take long to learn II
! Hindoo tongue sufficiently well to u:
it in practical work. Six months is a
lowed a missionary to study the lar
guage before entering fully into mi'
, sionary work.
RECENT FAMINE.
The recent India famine was III
, doubtedly followed by much chron
, disease and an increased rate of mo
tality. Natives who survived the lor
fast have many, of them, been hop,
lessly diseased from eating grasse
mud and other substances whic