Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-03-19
WINOHAM COUNTY MISSIONARIES
Paper No. vi.
Missionary Teachers in Thompson and
kiLlinnlN.
Paper No. vi.

Missionary Teachers in Thompson and
kiIlineIy.
! am very glad to bring to more gem
eral knowledge him whom we were
wont to call our one Thompson mis-
sionary-Rev. Elijah Robbins of the
Zulu mission, South Africa. He was
born in THOMPSON in 1928. He be-
longed to family somewhat noted as
evangelistic Inherent exhorters. The
only child in this section who won a
place in religious literature was the
aunt of our one missionary.
A small leahet tells the simple story
OF the last Illness Of Little Rachel
Robbins, aged eleven and a half years"
story Of childish patience, faithful
hope, as native as the singing Of spring
birds.
We learn little of the early life OF
Elijah Robbins. His parents removed
to Ashford in 1880, and in 1852 he en-
tered Yale college. Under what i'm
pulse and by what aid he was fitted
for college does not appear. We might
infer that the missionary atmosphere
of Ashford was the melting spring of
all his effort, but for his own state
ment that his choice of missions
came in connection with his CONVEX
sion while at Yale and resulting influ-
ences. He was graduated from Yale
sor theological seminary in 1859 He
was married at about the same date
to Miss Adeline Bissell and in Septem-
Der sailed for their mission field After
learning something of the language
he went some fifteen miles from any
missionary station, locating at UNI
zumba, Port Natal. where he engaged
IN missionary work. while pursuing his
study of the language and translating
The scriptures Here he gathered a
school and church and built a meeting
house, burning the brick and doing
the work himself with his Zulu con-
gregation, without a penny Of expense
to the board. HIS care for his flock
included medical as well as mechanical
and spiritual service. With true Yam
kee facility he turned his hand to any,
thing. His surgical practice, though
rude was very effective. A poor fell
low came to him with badly swollen
toe which he wished cut off Mr. Rob
bins had him put his foot upon a
stump and with one well-aimed blow
OF a sharp chisel severed the offending
member. Next Sunday the patient
walked several miles to hear him
preach.
Mr. and Mrs Robbins returned 20
their native land in 1872 and enjoyed
q well-earned two years furlough, va
ried by relation of South Africa expe-
riences at the usual missionary con-
vocations. We had the pleasure once
OF recognizing him in our lecture
room and listening to "a plain. unvar-
Vanished tale Of missionary expert
ence-a privilege that we should have
valued more highly and remembered
more wildly had not his native mod
esty and somewhat unfamiliar using
Of English interfered with our realiza-
tion OF the full value of his services.
Mr.. Robbins returned to Africa IN
1874 apd entered upon what he deemed
the browning work Of his life in the
Mission Training school at Adams. His
associate IN the work the veteran Rev.
Zariah Tyler. reports
1.-THE seminary for training young
men for the ministry is in great
measure the fruit of Mr. Robbins zeal
and perseverance. Amid many dis
coura gements he carried out a plan he
had formed nearly twenty years ago
OF training the best men we had In
our stations for evangelistic work. His