The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-03
MISS STEVENS
TALK on INDIA
Missionary Worker Spoke in Elm
Park Church-Was Accompanied
by Sooboonagam Animal.

by Sooboonagam Animal.
one of the most absorbingly inter-
csting missionary talks ever given in
this city was heard last night in the
Elm Park Methodist Episcopal church
by Miss Grace Stevens. a Methodist
missionary worker who comes from
Madras India. and who has spent her
whole life in that far-off Asiatic land.
She is making a tour of the country
in company with Sooboonagam Am
NAL, high caste Hindu woman, and
recent convert to Christianity. This
young woman. brown as the prOver-
biai Derry and wearing a long loose
yellow robe, occupied a seat on the
platform during the service. as did
also Mrs G. ID. Simpson, president OF
the Women's Foreign Missionary So
cietE of the Elm Park church.
Miss Stevens began her talk by a
description OF the mode of life of the
higher caste Hindu women, who are
Kept in ignorance by their husbands
ana parents. and who are obliged to
live in separate rooms in tho back
part of the house, shut off from the
world and from all Intercourse with
their Kind. They can neither read nor
write. and are left without the very
rudimentS of an education.
In these rooms in which the wO-
men live. she said, are scores of idols.
which they spend the larger part Of
their time in worshipping. If wo-
man becomes an apostate and joins
the Christian church. she suffers the
most bitter prosecutions. according to
Miss Stevens. She is cast out of her
home and her children are taken from
her. as is also any property which she
may possess. For this reason. there
are number of secret disciples
among tn. high caste women of India.
who are at heart Christians. but who
conform to the outward forms of the
Buddhist religion to save themselves
from persecution.
Miss Stevens devoted a large part Of
her talk to recounting of the story
OF the conversion of Sooboonagam
Animal. She told at length some of
the things which this young woman
oid While pagan and said that her
life was typical of the lives of all the
better class Hindu women. In her
room there were twenty-five idols. and
was obliged to pray daily. while the
priestess, who was her companion.
piled camphor into a little brazier un-
til the fumes arising became almost
suffOcating.
Sooboonaeam ANIMAL went to a
temple by the river every Friday
night at o'clock and remained stand
ing before ali idol until Saturday
mornings sun rose in the sky. She
said no less than 5000 prayers TO her
various idols every day. When she
was being taught in the school she
refused to allow any of the teachers
to touch her because she firmly be-
leVed that their touch meant defle-
ment.
She gave up her home ana her
thousands of dollars worth OF Jewels
one Christmas day, and came to the
mission, where she has since remain
ed, true and devout Christian. Her
mother came the next day and pub
licly cursed her and n mock bur ial
ceremony was gone through with. to
show that as far as her family was
concerned she was dead for all time.
AT the request of Miss Stevens,
SOOboonagam Animal arose and in all
most perfect English spoken with a
delightful accent. she said that since
she had ac, ept"d Christ, she had
gained more than she had left. She
was glad tn be able To testify to his
wonderful love and care.
Miss stevens told of the conversion
of Il Erahmin priest, who for thirty
years had been a power in village
near Madras. and who had cursed
every time he heard of or saw Chris
tian, He was one of the most tarcely
fana,ical devotees in all the country
round. and Vet h became II Christian
without ever having been spoken to
by Christian missionary, simply
from reading copy of the Bible and
some tracts which came into his pos
session.
This man, on the very day on which
he was baptized, Went back Ia his
village 10 preach the glorious tidings
of the Risen Christ Her voice broke
as she told how he had said to her as
she was sailing away, that he would
pray for her seven times day.
she told of another convert an old
man who took the name of solomon
when he WAS baptized. and who, AL
though he earned only the meagre
pittance of one dollar month, never
let the collection box pass him in
church. She was most affe cted as she
said that she had recently received a
letter telling her that solomon had
died.
She closed with an earnest plea for
the support Of the work among the
women of India. whom she referred
To as my children"
Mrs, simpson made few brief re-
marks. in which she expressed the
hope that the women of the church
would take greater interest i'm the
work of the Women's Foreign Mis-
society, and become members.
The Elm Park society already sup
ports one woman missionary in In
dia.
,
Smoke the Pocono &c cigar. ~