Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-30
MISS MINNIE CLIFF


Miss Minnie Cliff, who for several
years taught in our public schools,
and who, for the past five years, has
been in Singapore, Malaysia, laboring
as a missionary and teacher in that
far away country, in the Methodist
denomination work. is In the city, and
will remain here the balance of the
week, visiting friends. She came di-
rect from Singapore to Ingram, Wis,
where her parents reside. After a
brief visit she came to Wausau. On
Sunday morning she gave an inter
esting talk in the First M. E. church,
telling of her wonderful experiences
in the far East. She was greeted BY
a large audience and all present gained
much knowledge concerning mission
airy work activities in one of the most
cosmopolitan and interesting cities of
the world.
The evening address was made the
accession of union services and was
held at the Presbyterian church. II. C.
Berger introduced Miss Cliff in a very
pleasing way and referred to her great
and noble work as a teacher, and a
missionary. The church was filled by
large and attentive audience and
Miss Cliff delivered one of the most
entertaining addresses ever heard in
this city. She told of the great city
of Singapore and it's location geo
graphically; tits only about a degree
from the equator; an island of FOG
square miles. 1t is an English pos
session of which Singapore, a city of
Sc hn
seems to be mixed in the minds of
many, as she had received letters di-
rected to Singapore, India, and other
countries. The city is one of the most
cosmopolitan ones of the world, for
there, and in adjoining islands, are
to be found the Japanese, Chinese,
Coreans, Javas, Byaks, South Sea
Islanders, Burmas, Maylays and the
multiplied races of India as well as
from the European and Western hem
ispheres, all jostling in it's streets and
meeting on the great ocean liners.
The Chinese, especially, are there
in large numbers, strong and efficient,
and become the commercial princes,
land and mine owners. To show what
mix up there is, she said that
Chinese tutors may be found in
English families; French tutors in
Hindoo families and Philippine in
English families, etc.
Mss Cliff gave a brief history of
the country which was very interest
ing. She told of an instance which
happened at the beginning of this war.
A German cruiser, "the Engen," came
in and bombarded the city. After
few days of fighting, the cruiser was
sunk by the English cruiser, Sidney"
The crew was captured and interned.
The British troops had been called
to war and the Bengal troops were
placed on guard at the prison. The
German troops bribed these soldiers,
which had not been, at all times loyal,
and they agreed to open the prison
doors and to attack the whites. The
doors were opened, by mistake, at
p. M, instead of a. M, and as a re-
suit the Bengal troops were repulsed
after three days of fighting. The Ger
mans escaped. During the time the
women and children were ssent out to
sea in ships The one on which Miss
Cliff was placed was supposed to carry
800, but 1000 were placed upon it.
They were out three days and met
with many hardships. Many of the
Bengal troops were executed. Order
was finally restored and since that
time there has been no disturbances.
The mission in which Miss Cliff was
principally engaged was under the
Methodist church, which is the
only denomination from this coun-
try doing mission work there. She
said there were 5000 pupils be-
ing instructed there and in the school
in which she was an instructor there
were 45S pupils. Times were chang
ing; a few years ago girl students
were very hard to get, now they are
anxious to come and be educated in
the Christian religion. The Chinese
are quick to learn that the educated
girls make the best wives. Miss Cliff
told of an instance where an old lady
commenced to bring at first one OF
her grandchildren to school each day
and finally bringing four, insisting
that they must all be educated in the
Christian religion.
She said that never have the doors
of the Orient been so widely open
as at the present time to Christian
workers. She found deep and abid-
ing satisfaction. in her work; at times
it seemed almost impossible to &C
complsh the tremendous task, which
was placed upon the workers. She
felt that here the work was local;
there, one becomes a citizen of the
whole world.
She quoted from letter written
by a soldier in Kitchener's army about
a month before he died, in which he
spoke with ,unstinting praise of the
missionaries, and of the great good
they were accomplishing, and how he
had Just realized how much they had
done for him. They were most beau
tiful expressions.
Miss Cliff likened the missionary
workers in the field far away to the
boys in the trenches; they take their
lives in their own hands when they
go there: many are not able to stand
the climate.
In closing she said: ut is great to
be out where the fight is on; out where
the heaviest troops belong, in the
fight for man and God"
1t was an evening of enjoyment to
all in attendance.