The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-28
RAMABAI ASSOCIATION.
Animal Meeting Of the Rhode Island Branch
In Chapel Of Central Congregational Church

III Undpel VI VeWti di uvW6Iubauv"e' o"u''"
The annual meeting OF the Ramabai
association. OF Rhode Island. held in the
chapel OF the Central Congregational
church. on Diman place. yesterday after-
noon, was attended by n large number
OF members and interested persons and
an unusual degree OF interest prevailed
throughout the meeting.
The president OF the association, Mrs.
George r. Baker. presidef and called the
gathering TO order at shortly after
o'clock after which the usual reports
were presented brief addresses made,
and officers elected for the ensuing year.
The meeting opened with prayer by
Rev. Robert Il. Parker. rector OF l.
James church. Mrs w. o. Banantine,
for many years a missionary In India and
a personal friend OF Pandita Ramabals
then gave interesting personal remenis-
ceces OF Rama bsi's great work among the
child-widows or India. In this connect
ion she told OF the school for high caste
Hindu widows which Ramabsi has estab-
llshed and where a great work is being
carried on and pictured Its needs and It's
wide spread influences.
The second address OF the meeting was
given by Mrs. 3. l.. Joshi who. In native
costume OF purple with a gold bordered
band told simple. pathetic story or her
own experience as child widow and or
her wonderful dehverance from her bon
dage through the influence OF Ramabai
and OF her later conversion and education
at Ramabafs school.
81 was married at nine years or age
and became a mother at thirteen and a
half years, and a widow at H. che said,
after that ! came TO RamabaTs home an
when there one year / became christ
Ian and then my parents tried to get me
out of the school.
Then when they got me out they scold
and scold me and say all kinds OF bad
things TO me. They make me st down
In corner for long time and not speak
TO me. / pray to God To take me away
and cry and cry all the time"
Continuing, Mrs. Joshi told OF her deliv-
erance and return 10 Ramaba!s' school
and the happy years spent there. Later
she became a student at the girls school
In Bombay and while there made the ac-
quaintance of Mr.. JOSH. teacher there
and was later married to him.
She Is now with her husband and child
ren at the Pentacostal institute In North
Scituete where she Is studying and later
intends 10 take a course in medicine at
the Woman's College OF medicine In Phil
adelphia, after which II IL the intention
OF both Mr.. and Mrs. JOSH To return Co
India and take up teaching In one OF the
Christian colleges there. with the uiti-
mate end OF establishing n Christian In
stitution there
At the close OF Mrs. Josi,is talk. Rev
Mr.. sarker, spoke briefly adding that
he was ashamed OF his ignorance OF this
splendid work of this splendtd woman
Pandita Ramabai, whose work he be-
lieved was the greatest OF any I'm the
foreign field. ] cannot imagine any one
not wanting to belong TO this society he
said who has any OF the spirit of Christ
In him.
After those addresses, Mrs. Baker call
ed for the report of the secretary, Mrs
Arba u. Smith who gave tn brief a report
OF the proceedings OF the last annual
meeting.
Mrs. HARRIET J. Roworth the treasurer,
then reported the receipts for the year
to be 1@.S, expenses, 5000; balance,
sllS.s7. which sum will be contributed 10
the work OF Ramabai
Miss Ruth Haskall. chairman of the
nominating committee next presented
her report which named the following
officers who were unanimously elected.
In each instance:
President. Mrs. George T. Baker; vice
president Miss Annie Crosby Emery.
secretary. Mrs. Arba j.. Smith; treasurer.
Mrs. Harriet j. Roworth.
Al the close OF the election the bene-
diction was pronounced by Rev. Mr.. par
ker. after which the meeting adjourned.