The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-16

without complaint. They were not driven by hard taskmasters-they were gathered there to be saved from death and this was being accomplished, But 1 It IS reason for regret that while the higher officers of the government, with heroic self-sacritice, did all in their power to carry out the wishes of the | government. There were very many among the subordinate native agents through whom they were obliged to work, who were far from honest in obeying the commands of their supe- riors. There is no doubt but that con- siderable sums of money which were designed for the very poor, found their way into the pockets of these agents. This shows the value of Christian rul- CTS and also illustrates the difficulties with which the British government meets in trying to give good govern ment to India.
 On account of these difficulties, the relief which was distributed by the missionaries was more effective and valuable in most cases. The mission aries are very grateful to friends in America, and especially to the Chris tian Herald of New York, for the large | ol illoliSJ etllNl llC e'iAA sAAeSS "NN
 sent for famine relief The missionar- ies sought as far as possible, to pro- vide work for the applicants for aid, as the moral effect was so much better. Sometimes they were employed in dig ging wells, and one lady had them dig out the rock in her compound and fill in with earth so that the shade trees might grow. One missionary says: A dense crowd used to gather at our gates several times day and the most needy of them were helped in various ways. It was pitiful to see the little children who, when they had plenty or good food would keep searching the ground for kernels of grain After be- ing starved food does not satisfy them. Often mothers used to give their babies opium to quiet them so that they would not cry for food, Many parents have been willing and glad to give away their children to anyone who would care for them In other cases they nave abandoned them or died and left the little ones to starve. So the missionar- ies have been compelled for human1ty's s sake to take in these orphans. At Wal six were taken in, at Sholapur 14,, at Satara 15, and almost every station has it's orphan asylum" The largest num- Der has been received by MT. and Mrs. Edward Hume, at Bombay who gath cred in nearly two hundred girls from the most distressed districts Of course the care of this large number entails much labor, anxiety and expense. But probably nearly all of them, if given Christian education, will become use- ful Christian men and women. Funds from America for this purpose will be urgently required until these children have grown large enough to take care of themselves.
 The effects of the plague and famine and the relief on the people have been truly remarkable. Many of the people have been humbled by these calami- ties and there is an unusual readiness to hear the truth One missionary says:
 Tt takes a hard hammer to break a flint. Severe suffering must have seem ed necessary to a merciful God to break the hard crusts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Mohammedanism, the strongest non- Christian religion in the world. But it seems to have produced an effect. During the twenty-two years since I came to India, there never has been time when the people listened so attentively as now" The famine and the pestilence were garded as judgment from heaven for the sins of the people and their long rejection, of the true God. Another missionary says: For monthr our whole time was given up to famine relief It gave us oppor- tunities of becoming acquainted with the people, and putting the truth be- fore them as never before. Three thousand at a time have assembled to receive the grain which we were en- abled to distribute Thee effect has been wonderful, villages to which we could not gain access have been open, the hearts of them people touched, and we made most welcome, and they seem to long to have us near them" In the trying circumstances through which the missionaries have been called to } pass during the past year, they have } been sustained and encouraged by the thought that God was working out some definite purpose through these strange and sad scenes which they were daily called to witness; and as the year drew to it's close it became more evident what that purpose was. It was seen that famine and plague, affliction, sorrow, uealH Hdu SOlleleu liie iieeti ts of many who had withstood all the blessings of the past, and had led them . to see their need of something better
 in life than they had ever known be- , fore. It was also seen that there was a growing disposition on the part of many to leave their helpless idols and turn to the true and living God. The number of baptisms and accessions to our churches was three and half
 times as large as it has been in any
 previous year. And this has taken place in spite of the caution exercised by the missionaries in the time of the : famine not to receive any who came from worldly motives. Most of them
 were waiting until the famine was over
 to test them, and so that no one could : say that they became Christians in the : hope of receiving something. The re- ception of this large number brings g great responsibility to instruct them 1T
 the Christian faith, so that they may
 become strong and intelligent Chris tians.
 Surely a. great harvest is awaiting \ | the Christian missionaries in India
 But it is matter of regret with then l lo1o o1t