The Washington herald., 1908-05-18
Spread of the Gospel in India
Told by Mrs. Butler.
A BIG METHODIST AUDIENCE
Mass Meeting Held in Metropolitan
M. r. Church-eAOther of Mission"
Describes Her Lsse Work Among
HindOOs-Conditions In Africa Ex-
planned by Mrs. John NJ. Springer.

ers at a mass meeting given under the
auspices OF the organization at the Metro
politan Methodist Episcopal Church. John
Marshall place and street northwest,
yesterday afternoon.
The audience tested the capacity OF the
auditorium and galleries and was most
notable, containing many bishops, minis
ters, delegates. and laymen high in the
councils of the denomination In attend
ance at the Methodist Episcopal general
conference now IN session in Baltimore.
In honor of the occasion the altar OF
the church had been decorated with the
flags of this and other countries.
Address by "MOther Of Missi0nz.D
The principal speaker was Mrs. William
Butler, OF Boston. Mass, who. with her
husband. blazed the trail for missionary
work in darkest India ffty-two years
ago.
Mrs. Butter is now eighty-eight years
old. but is still vigorous in the work
which she practically started.
With her husband, she was the frst 20
establish missions in India. The magnif-
the result of her efforts in pioneer days
Mrs. Butler is known all over the
world where Methodism is known as the
Mother Of Missions" a title she prizes
/ highly She was also one Of the founders
and organizers Of the Woman's Foreign
Missionary Society, body that has aided
| IN spreading the Gospel TO the uttermost
ends of the earth.
The meeting WAS presided over by Mrs
Robert NJ. Moore, president of the Wash
ington district. W. +. NJ. s. After she
called the gathering 20 order, Mrs Frank
| y. Warne, OF India, read from the
| Psalms. Mrs Moore introduced Rev. DR..
John W Butler. Of Mexico, who deliv-
cred the Invocation The congregation
then Joined IN singing.
Mrs. Butler Is Presented.
Mrs. Moore said:
'Tt is a rare opportunity We have here
this afternoon. The Me;hodists Of this
city have been jealous Of Baltimore hay
Ing all the glory. When We were trying
to find something which would give
Washington a portion OF it, Mrs. La
Fetra, OF South America, suggested this
idea.
When I was child I always said
that I would either be a missionary TO
Africa or marry a minister. and ! did
the latter. l have. however. always taken
IA deep interest In missionary work, and
read widely on the subject In all my
readings, though, l can remember moth
ing Ia which the name Of Mrs. Butler
did not appear. take pleasure in pre-
senting TO you the Mother OF Missions.
Mrs. Butler was assisted TO the plat
form by her son, the Rev. John ". But
ler OF Mexico As she stepped to the
railing, with her face tanned by the warm
suns OF the tropics. in which she lived so
many years, the audience gave her an
ovation
Mrs. Buffers Address.
Mrs. Butler prefaced her remarks by
saying she hoped the work would never
die out She said that ffty-two years
ago her husband had received an order
to go TO India to take up missionary
work.
Mrs. Butler, IN part. said:
1T was a country unknown. a people
we knew little OF. Ny husband felt that
the command was from God, and so we
went
'As Wa neared the land we were all
anxious to see just what type of people
we we're TO meet Suddenly the cry, Here
comes a man rang out We all rushed
10 the ships rail.
"A man, or what was then called
man.. came up to the side OF the ship in
a small boat. The women took a glance
and fed to the cabin. lie was utterly
without clothing. and his face and body
were painted hideously.
My heart sank when ! saw him. I
recovered my courage, and from that day
10 this I have never felt faint-hearted
or had pang Of homesickness
She told OF her husband visiting the
governor Of one OF the cities. who ad-
vised him TO go back at once. He re-
fused.
In spite of these obstacles she persisted
in the work and came out victor.
She told Of visit she paid 10 India
two years ago. Of the churches teaching
the Christian faith that were there; of
orphanages. hospitals, homes, and thou
sands OF Hindoos converted TO Chris
tianity.
"Bereli Is the heaven side of india"
she said, and Lucknow is on the side
which takes hold Of hell
She closed her remarks with an eloquent
appeal to the women who take up the
missionary work In that country and
keep it advancing.
Conditions in Darkest Africa.
Mrs. John NJ. Springer, of Umtali, Afri-
ca. then spoke of the African heather.
"Teathens" she said, "are ali alike,
no matter what country they hall from.
They are as black as you can paint
them. Sometimes you can't paint them
black enough
'Fhe only thing we missionaries in
Africa can boast Of IS our opportunities,
which are beyond doubt the best in the
world. Africa has been called the dark
continent, but it is awakening and there
Is now daybreak. I don't mean it is
full daybreak. but just the early peep
of dawn.
at was seven years ago 1 went to Af-
rica and looked over the field there
saw, or thought I saw. that it would be
necessary TO convert the women first. II
a converted man marries a heather w0m-
an he generally retrogrades.
$50 ] started out 20 get the women
But 1 could not get them. Then I de-
cided to go to the home for missionary
women and learn the language of the
country.
Some tried to dissuade me. saying
there were lions tigers, leopards, and
all description of wild animals around
the home But went l remained
there a year and learned the language and
then took up my work again.
Superstition Affects Girl.
During my stay at the home I noticed
young girl about seventeen years old
around thn rlaca Nnur In AfrIca theu