The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-15
INDIA HAS FINE PROSPECTS.
Is Making Progress in Many Lines, Re
ported Two Missionaries.

1
Many people who were unable to at
tend the annual meeting of the Woman
Board of Missions at Burlington last
week took advantage of an opportunity
to hear two of the speakers Of that as
lsembly, Rev. and Mrs. William Hazen
lat the Congregational church last even
ing. Mr.. and Mrs. Hazen have beer
working as missionaries in Sholapur, In.
dia, for the greater part of Is years and
have made careful study of the native
life and religious needs.
Mr. Hazen, who spoke first, dwelt chief
| ly on the difference between the India of
to-day and the India found by the first
American missionaries, who went there
from Salem Mass, over 100 years ago.
India, he said, has changed politically, So
cially and commercially, as well as re-
ligiously, and these changes, though
started and in part directed by foreign
missionaries with the aid of official and
unofficial British residents, are being
wrought by the people themselves, who,
through education, are coming to see the
value of modern ideas.
The political changes are being brought
about by evolution rather than revolu.
ton, and, encouraged by Great Britain,
which has control of the country, India
is fast becoming a great nation, capable
of governing itself and one which, in
the opinion of the speaker, will take an
important part in the affairs Of the world.
The whole attitude of the Indian people
toward British rule has changed during
the last seven years, as is shown by the
general enthusiasm in the British cause
and the freely offered aid at the outbreak
of the present war.
Socially, the three great evils, child
marriage. the worship Of idols and the
caste system, are slowly but surely
breaking down under the influence of
the younger and better educated genera
ton and are making way for feeling
of national patriotism.
Commercially, the same process Of evo.
luton is taking place, for India is grad.
ually changing from purely agricultur- !
al country TO a manufacturing nation.
The country is also changing its re-
ligious ideas, and the change il coming
more and more to be managed by the /
natives. The foreign missionaries now
occupy their time in leading. directing 1
and training hands Of faithful followers /
among the natives. To aid this work Is
,ne reason for the establishment Of mis-.
zion schools. though their value as purely
educational institutions is reason enough
or their existence About one-tenth Of
he people working for the cause Of Chris
ianity there to-day are foreign mission.
iries; the other nineteenth are the
Younger descendants Of the first converts,
made a century ago.
Mr.. Hazen believes that the crippling
4 the British missionary societies by
he war will, In the next few years, give
america n greater opport=aitv for work
here than ever; and he made a strong
lea for American men and women 10
AIRY on the work. NJ wen az for Ameri.
an money 10 finance IT,
Az the close ~ Mr.. Hazen's address.
irs. Haven Joined her husband in the
lea for greater interest in foreign mis-
ons. In regard 20 the respective value D
foreign and home missionary work 1
frs. Haven said. "The light that shines
he farthest shines the brightest AZ the =
lurce," She went on 10 tell 81 the hor. 1
'rs Of the caste system and the early n
arriaTe rule and lsmented the too com u
ION idea that the Hindoo religion i 4
bod enough Tor the people that practice
She stated that N India there are
more gods than people" and gave AZ \
'e reason for the great strength Of The y