REPORT AND MINUTES OF THill

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING

OF THE

WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONAI{Y SOCIETY, (x)NNECTEO WITII THE

NORTH-WEST INDIA CONFERENCE OF THE

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Held at Muttra, January 15=21, J9000

PRINTED AT THE RAJPUTANA MISSION PRESS.

1900.

.AGRA DISTRICT.

AGRA.

Mrs. J. B. Thomas, jffi,c:.<;ionarg. MiliS M. Seymoure, .A.~$i~tant. Datt, Jl:"ssie Ransom. Hannah Nath, Wive~ 'Of Prear-he1·s-in-Oharge-• .Anna Jacob, Oarl.'re Sahai, Jane Bakhsh, Sarah, 13ible.r(~aders.

After an absence of more than two yearg, we arrived in India February 4th, and came at on~e to Agra, since which time I have had charge of the work in this and the three adjoining ·circuits. For v!1,rious re:tsons I have not been able tl} give much of persona! supervision to thB work, but I b<lVB tested it so far aR to know that it is discoliraging in one feature only, i.~., finallcially. Had I the nloney to employ the tEachers and conveyances I eouJd open new work in twenty-five mohallas ano villages.

Wherever ""e go the people flock about 11S, and are not -only willing to listen to us but are glad of the opportllnity to do so. "The day of small things" is in the past for 'V. F. M. S. work in Agra. Our« Medical Home" for the :Methodist. Mis~ion girls who attenq the Government Medical Sehoul here, and which has been so ably superinttended for several years pa"t by Miss 1\-1. J .. Seymoure, now I1e€ds a Medical .Mi~ionary to take it in hand, and to also open up a dispensary in cOlll1ection 'with the Home. If this w-eredone,in twO} ears time Agra wouJd become the m'Dst important centre of work in this conferenco. WilJ not some one who read" this statement a:-k the Lord to help you coh1prehend th~ truth Df it, and the real needs of the work, and send us the right per~on for the pboo, with encugh mOTley to carryon this work ill an acceptable rnflllnel'. As it is we are just alive and no more, W heu we should be really alive and £rIourishing.

This work is supported by the New York and Philadelphia Branches.

MEDICAL HOME.

Miss Seymoure, Assistant-in-ckarge.

We eommenced this y"ar with fourte'en RtnO'el1ts hl th~ Home. Of our two Fourth Y tar studellts, ~lice Singh pas~{.;d

AGRA DISTRICT •.

in April, and W3IS sent on plague dlllty to R:tjpore for some 1110 nth!;, arid is now in Rae Barielly. Lillian Hakim failed in some su~e(}ts,. but gave another examination in September and, pn,ssed. She is, now; ~mI?loyed on plague dut,y at the Agra Fort Station, and lives in our HOllIe. After the summ.er, vacation, we received two more stndents, making the 11!tmber now in the Home (not including Dr. Lillian (H~kim) the same- as at. the beginning of the year, ~.e., f'.>llrteen. One ill the 1st Glass IV year, five in the 2ud Class III year, four ·in the 3rd Class II year, and fOllr in the 4th Class I year. \\~ith the exception of one, aU the~e girls. belong to· ou,r own )fission, six of tkem..get Mission scholarships, the· rest Duff'erin. All thesimdenns, a.re ~~pt h.ard at work in schpol and hospital every day, and in addition have to do, in turn, aU night duty Cover the patients. There has b~en som.e fe~r and ague amongst the girls during, this. yeaI',. hu:t not. anything serious. Last month a few of them. were able to. attend the District CODference in Muttra for three days, and enjoyed going.

This work is,suppor.ted by: the· Philadelphia and Cincinnati Eranch~s.,

~fU'TTRA ..

DEACONESS' HOME AND TRAINING SCHOOL.

E'aglish Depa.rtment Miss Sullivan, Miss Gregg, Miss Wright, Deacorwsses.

~iss. Ogilv:ic, Assistant.

Anothers year's report is called for~ A very busy year it has been. The- Lord has been good to, us, and no illness has come to any ofus~, and our labors have Dot been in v.ain~

During the first part of the year we had anumher of students in the Engilsh Training Schoe.l, but. some were trans­ferred to other schQols or wO:Gk) and on& graduated, so. since th'e summ-er yaeation we hav.e had £ewer than usual iu this Department, but hase promise of additions SOOl1.

We are very glad indeed to welcome Miss GJ:egg and have her valua.ble help in our work, and trust she may have many years of usefulness among us.

H indu,stani' Depa1rtment.

This department has had Jt year very free from changes, hence we belIeve on the Whole it has been a helpful yeur's WQl'k

to most of th~ students.

KaRA DISTRICT. 5

The year 'opened with examina.tions. 'One of the two senior girls paRsed very well in her studies, and returned to Pitho .. rahgal'h, where she is doing village work. The other girl has been in Bhot with Dr. Sheldon's party. Of the six girls in the Junior Class three pass~d., while the e>thers fell back to take the work more leisurely with the Preparatory Class.

This year's Senior Cla~s of four girls has done very good work, three of whom are now very hopeful as t-o tlle examina­tion to be given next month. Th.e fourth girl severa.l months ago became the wife of \Qur Pastor, M. S. Budrlen. This class has been taught by Miss Wright in Bible and Bible helps, while Kate Silas has taught the vernacular in all three classes. Miss Ogilvie ha.s given her specia.l attention to the Junior Class, which has vari~d in nl'lmbel's from 7 to 16; and to the Preparatory Class. Frem these classes four have married and gone to their villages as workers. We have good news concerning tho~e who have gone out tG teach their village sisters. One has been helping Miss Scott for some months in her Dispensary work, while one woman i~ now a patient at Miss Scott's. N athiya, who was with Miss Means in the District last year, returned in April to re~mme her studies. She is now in the J uni(u Class, and hopES to 'complete her course next year.

The present enrolment is: Senior Class, three; 5unior., eight; Preparatory Class, ·seven. Five new girls have entered and one woman. Two girls from Pi t.horah garh, one from Budaun, and two from the Swedish Mission, Sa.ngor. These are Upper Pl'ima.ry passes, or ab,>nt that equivalent. Of the girls who will complete their course soon, one will remain here as a teacher, one returns to ber own home, while the third returns to PaUl'i, probably to become a worker there. This year's work is very encouraging, and we have the promise now of five llew students for the Upper Clas~ and one for the Preparatory Department. These will come at the opening of the sehoul year in ,January.

Most of the girls have had from six days to several week's experience in itinerating with Miss Sulliv;.tnand her workers. This practical village work, about which we hear so milch and, which is so necessary, shows that those who have come from the villages are most helpful in teaching their simple ignorant sisters. But there is a demand toe for good Bible teachers snch as these higher grade students will make. One of our beHt teachers is a girl who passed the Training School. That the Lord of the harvest may call these girls and be our strength and wisdom in preparing them for this work is our prayer.

6 AGRA DISTRICT.

ZENANA WORK.

Ganeshia White, Lillie George, Bible-readers.

Th~ zanana visiting in l\Illttra has suffered some this year by the, failure in hea.lth of Miss Murray, who has fl)r several years taught most faithfully in the zenana3.

She felt the need of rest, and withdre·v from the work in February. and since then we have been unable to secure any other capable assistant, so this work has been carried on chiefly by Ollr faithful Bible-readers for some time_

It is quite surprising- that in Ruch a bigoted Hindu city the women will listen so gladly to. our Bible lessons~ bllt they seem vel'Y much interested, and here and there are henrts that slIrely have saving faith in Chris.t; though never counted in this world, we believe we will meet around the throne in Heaven.

VILLAGE Ev ANGELtSTIC WORK.

According to Conference appointment Miss Sullivan Rtl1rted out into village itinemtin.~ work, spending February and March in Agra and K;Jshganj Districts. Then the hot Run drove the party back to Muttra. where they spent the time unlil October, gi dng help \\' here most needed in the work there, till again the weather would permit camp life. By the arri val of MiRR Gregg our itinerating party were ahle- again to be spared tro.mMuttra, Sd \\'ithMissMurray, who had returnedto help us in this evange­listic work, and t" 0 Bible-rt--aders, tents: bullock carts, etc., we started out into camp the latter part of Octobel. \Vhile near l\luttra, we had the students of the Training School join us in the wo!'k, so they might have a taste of the work, see its need~, and be inspired in their preparations for work. Mo.ving on, we reached Kasganj District again!- and hope to spend the entire cold reason in the District visiting every village where we have Christians living, and I am glad to say that so far as we have seen of this territory, most of it is in a very hopeful condition, from the fait.hfill work and wise- planning of the Presidiug Elder, Has~an Raza Khan, now in He-d.ven.

The hope of our Hindustani church in this. North-West India is in our schools for' girlR, w here we are a ble to train from childhood onr fut'.lre Christian women,. and next to that

. is this itinerating evangelistio work. This seems to be the only way of reaching these villHge

Christian WOlmen scattered all over this country. The wives of the preachers ('an and do teach the women and girls in the towns where they live~ but ollly such parties as ours can reach those in the outlying districts.

When our pioneer in this work was called Ho.me to rest, it seemed us if there was no one, who could do thi8 work, and

AGRA DISTRICT. 7

thoughnoonecanfill herpJ.ace, yet the Lord has touched hearts and oplmed doors,so now not only one but sevtral such bands as she led are daily wending their way oveL' almost impassable roads to reach and teach these' village women.

May the day soon come when during every cold season, in everyone of our CJnference Districts, an itinerating evan-gelist band rna} be at work 1 .

}{UTTRA BOARDING SCHOOL.

Miss Wright, D~nc(J1tess i1t. c/zarg-e. Miss M. Bobb, Miss A. Bobb A.ssistants. Victoria Downey,.Bertha. Robinson, Harriet Philips, Musahih Khanam,

Teachers. Ada. Scott, Matron.

The Boarding School closes the year with a. smaller number than anticipated, but we believe in· other respects we have great cause to rejoice. The girls are better, and have learned more of real Christian living than they have shown before. l1iss Sullivan's itinera.ting in the villages hhowed her, as never before, the necessity of gathering these little ones into our Buarding Schools. But it is very difficult to get. t.he children, as our work is among new Christians, many of whom are afraid t.o send their girls so far away from borne. In the dea,th of Brother Hasan Raza Khan we have lost a faithf,·,) worker for our school. He had 25 girls from his District, and hoped this year to send 30 new girls. As a result we have with difficulty been able to keep those who were here last year, while few new girls have entered. ThouKh somewhat di8hearLened we shall not give np. Our visits to the District Conferences, and Miss Sullivan's itinerating will surt-Iy bear fruit. The Inspectre'is' examinaliic}fi on the whole showed good results. The Middle Class for January 1900 ranked aoove all other bchools in their Urdu. Miss D'Abrew had reason to be pleased with these results, as one of her M',hammedan ~irls had been our Urdu teR.cher. The number enrolled for the year was 73, with an avera,£!e attendance of 53; most of these are in the lower cla.'iSes. 'Ye send np one girl fl)r the Mlddle in January.

'Ve are very thankful to say that the health of the girls h'iS been very good. There was ·nothing more serious than a few' days ('f fever, excepting one case, that of a little girl who was ill for some weeks. Miss Scott took her to Brindaban, but was unable to do auything for the poor child. We rejoice whenollr Father calls to himself these little ones who inherit such weak bodies.

Dllring the year the Y. W. C. A. Auxiliary, which was organized here in our English and Hindustani Training

8 AGRA DISTRICT.

Departments and Boarding Scho~], has held its meetings faithfully. Many girls have made lace and done other fancy work, of which they have freely and happily given the fil'st­fuits. Their collections have amounted to Rs. 7. The little girls have taken great interest in the Junior Lea.gue. The Sunday Clas.c:; Meetings, in which each membpr of our family has had a class, have proved very helpful. While there has been no great revival, we are thankful to s~y there has been a steady growth of Christian character in most of ollr girls, while there have been several definite, clear conversions.

This work is supported by -the following Branches :-New England, New York, Cincinnati. North West, Desmoines, Topeka., Minneapolis, Columbia River.

MUTTRA. DISTRICT WORK.

Emma Moore Scott, Missifmary.

lfUTTRA CIRCUIT.

Henrietta Budden, Clara Fanner7 Bible"'l'eoders. Plmiya., Ev.mfJelist Trocht:/".

MARABAN cmCUIT.

-Kbaimta:n. Bible·retuler. Soniya., Lachchmis Eva'lJ{l'dist Teachers-.

HATIIBAS CIRCUIT.

Nellie Khan. Pastr".'s wife. Ellen Gardiner, Besin. Rosie Budden, Bible-readers. Moha.n.iya, Grace, Ananiii, Mungo., EVa:nrJelist Teo.ch£Ts.

BHARTPUR CIRCUIT.

Dulari La.1, Bible-reader.

DIGG CIRCUIT. Alice Little, Pastor's 1llife. Chand.a.niya, J awitri, Euangelist Teachers.

BRmDA.BAN ClIlCUI'l'.

Nellie Hem Raj, lJi61e-reader. Bhagwanti, Bhago. EI'angflist Teach(!f1's.

In succeE'Slve annual reports t)f routine work there is necesEarily mnch S!:Imeness, and sllch records are generally only intel'esting to those specially concerned.

The record of 1899 fur the Eible Rea.ders and Evangelist Teachers under my care is no exception as to lack of dis­tinguishing features. It gives the daily labour, faithful or otherwise, of a little band of widely separated women, work­ing chiefly in lonely places, teaching the poor igllorant women and girls of our sadly, needy Christian comnHlnit.y.

Early in March, Beulah Budclen,. our faithful worker in Mnttra, died. It was impossible to fill her pJace until the remarriage of hf+r husband in the autumn to Henrietta Matthews) a Tl'aining Sch(Jo] girl~ which gave us an efficien'

AGRA DISTRICT. 9

worker in her stead. In Septembt>r I was fortunate to secure Miss Murray for a month to give this work a thorough inspec­tion, and get it again into good \yorking order. She did this at the expellse of her own health, for this work among mehtlt'1' women can only be done in t.he middle of the day, from noon till 3 o'clock, when they have a little respite from their scavenger duties in the muhallas. No European could possibly stand for any length of service the heat and stench of these houses, nor the long hot drives bp.tween the widely separated places of work, except in the very middle of the cold ~eason.

All'the Muhallas about Muttra in which Christians live, are regularly visited, besides several adjacent villages. In one place. Naurangabad, where formerly there were a number of men, but no women converts, there are now several bap­tized wives and girls, who are eager learners of the truth.

The work in Muttra Circuit has been conducted, as la.c:;t year, by Clara Farmer and Puniya. The former is a sweet­spirited, mothelly woman, who has the work at heart, but is hatldicapped in it by the care of three small children. Puniya, who at first gave promise of being an excellent Evangelist Teacher, has not done so well this year, t.hough this i8 per­haps principally due to lack of supervision, as she lives in an out-of-the-way place. Miss Sullivan has kindly inspected this work, both last year a.nd thig, in hel' camping t·ours. She reports a great deal of idolatry among the new converts. Clara and Puniya have therefore that to encounter which tried the power~ of even a Pho~be Rowe.. Oh, for the power of the Spirit on these poor, weak native workers! Do we fully appreciate their difficulties and disabilities?

The three workers in Mahaban Circuit, Khairatan, Lach­chmi, and Soniya, have regularly pursued their teaching in the villages, and 1.he former also has done considerable camping with her husband, the Preacher-in-charge. In Hathras Cit)" Mohaniya has sustained the reputation she has had since the beginning, when she worked among the new converts, be­fore she herself could properly read the Firslj Book, Her Success suggested the idea of Evangelist Teachers, who have since been such a help in vi llage work. She is constantly improving, and will soon be able to take the Bible Reader's Course. Anandi and M unga, also Evangelist Teachers, have been employed in villages about Hathras City, and the Junction three miles away. Mrs. Khan has taken a great interest in the work this year, and has both supervised and worked herself as much as the care of a young babe has per­mitted.

10 AGRA DISTRICT.

In the circuit, Ellen Gardiner at Sasni, and Bessie in the villag-es near by have worked among both Christ.ian and heathen women, as there are no Christians in Saani itself.

In the important centre Saadabad, we have both R,)sie Bndden and Grace. Of their work I cun say but little, a'S I have neither been able to inspect it, nor have it. inspected on account of its distance. I hope to manage it somehow this

yeabulari Lal, ,vire of the Preacher-in-charge is the only Bible Reader for the whole of Bhartpur Circuit. Even Gonda, the Evangelist Teacher, has been transferred, hence Dula.ri "holds the fort" alone, but she does it well. Great was h81' joy in being able to persuade three '1nuhalla women to at­tend the last Summer School. She wrute me to look after them particularly, for they had ma.de great sacrifices to go so far. She said if I could have seen the look of victory a.nd joy on their faces as they bade their families and childreu good-bye on leaving for the train, I would have been as thankful as she. This may seem the merest trifle to women accusto!lled to acting freely and independent ly, but for the~e caste and custom-bound creatures to thus break with their narrow environments, meant an amount of courage most un usual in \'illage women.

I visited the Bhartpur work myself early in the year, and had an €.xpelience of what Dulari and her husband have to bear for Christ. Chunni Lal was a B"ahmin before conver­sion, yet his work in Bhartpnr is almost entirely among rrnehtars, so notwithstanding his high bi.·th, on account of his ministering to this class of people, he incurs all the restric­tions of a low-caste man. This is bad enough in his own case, but galling in the extreme when it includes his wife and children especially, as ot.herwise he and they might stand very high in the community, both on account of his farmer caste and his educa.tion, so superior tl.) those about him. One night my husband and I went in an ekha to a tar-off muhalla, fully four miles from where we were staying. \Ve were amply rewarded for our long, jolting ride by a nice little gathering of Christians. and a prayer-m~eting in which for the first time in my twenty-two years of Indian life I heard a woman of the rnuhalla lift her voice in voluntary prayer before a mixed assembly. AfLer the meeting I invit­ed Dulari, who was walking anri carrying a heavy child, to ride with me in my husband's place in the ekha, as our next service was in a rnuhalla over a mile ~way. To 1TI) surprise and embarrassment the eleha-wala refused to even allow her to mount, sayiug no sweeper-woman should ride in his con-

AGRA DISTRICT. 11

veyance. We insisted, and explained t.hat Chunni La 1 was not only a Christian, but formerly a Brahmin, but all to no avail, for when we persisted ill mounting, he went away and left 'Us at the mercy of the obstreperous little native puny. We therefore had to walk quite half the way to the rt/,uhaUn before my husbund finally persuaded him to take us ill. He had his revenge on us next day though, fur he not only failed to fulfil bis promise of driving us to Digg, twenty miles away, but succeeded in boycotting us, so that we were com­pelledtotake wretched ekhas reserved exclusively for rrtehta1'8. Thus we had a little taste of what it means tl) be counted the "filth and off-scouring of the world," a[]d could thereby better appreciate the constant giving-up of reputation which our high-class workers have to endure for Christ's sake.

This year we have bad two Evangelist Teachers i~ Digg Circuit, Jawitri antI Chancianiya. They each reguhrly visit a number of villages, besides wurking respectively in Digg and Goverdhan. Mrs. Little, the native pastor's wife has done what she could III the way of superintendence; put lon,go illness, and absence from the station for medical treat­ment have prevented her executing the plans ~he had formed for the year's work. The Epworth Lague is very successful here, and also in Bhartpur.

In Brin:laban Circuit, outside of Brindaban itself, we have had Nellie Hem Raj, Bhago, and Bhagwallti. Nellie has not been able to do much on account of the continued illuess of herself and child, but the other two have regularly con­ducted their work with sume degree of success. Bhago, be­sides attending Snmmer Schoo], has d~sired permis~ion to continue her studies either in Brindaban or Muttra, and on the recommendation of Miss Scott, M.D., wh!) visited her work recently, I have gladly given the required CQusenc. I wish more of our women would make such requc3ts.

Bnagwanti is a bright little womall, fl)rmerlya girl from the village department of the Training SchooL She has been able to pa:::s two subjects of the firsc year of the Bible R~aders Course, and promises to bl3 a useful worker.

These workers in these six Circuits have access to hut a small proportion of our Christian women, and the greater mass are still uninstructed. When we see h,)\v difficult it is to root Ollt idolatry from among::;fj those under our spe(:ial care .and guidan06, it IS unspeakably such to think of the hnnd­reds in these Circuits without religious training, except for the few crumbs they may pick up ndw and .then from the Paster Teachers or Local Preachers, or perhaps from the less freq uent visi~aticns of the Prea.cherdo-in-cha.rge.

12 AGRA DISTRICT.

The Summer School was well attended this year, and in many respects was more stlccessful than t·he last one.

Ev ANGELIST TEACHERS.

There are now sixty~two Evangelist Teachers employed by the f:pecial fund suppo~ed to provide for but fifty. The extJa twelve are paid from the balance that accrued the first two years, when it wa~ impossible to find fifty village women up to the required attainments. Sixty-two, however, does not represent the entire number of Evangelist Teachers now working in the field, for a few were taken on before this fuud was started, and only new women were employed with this money.

The reports from the various stations have been most en­couraging this year, especially those from Meerut and Cawn­pOle.

The balance-in-hand has been fast disappearing before the inruads made for the various Summer Schools, Meerllt, Al,~garh, Cawnpore, Aluttra. and Ajmer have all benefited by this providential fund, and we are wondering how Summer Schools, our best agency for the training of this class of wo­men, are to be upheld, when the remaining rupees melt away. We trust some Branch or individual will co-operate with the Cincinnatti Branch in furnishing this additional amount. I know of no money that brings III larger returns, distributed as it is througout the Conference. May the Divine blessing continue to rest upon this enterpl'ise, whiC'h sllpplies the one possible way to reach otherwise inaccessible village houses.

AJMER. AVERY GIRLS~ BOARDING ScHOOL.

Lilian E. Marks, W. F. M. S., Missionary. Miss Charlotte Brown, Mrs. C. M. Ogilvie. Assistants. Amy Edwards, Matron Monica. Singh, Khatijiy&, Teachers. J atamba Lal, Kane& Lal, Pundits.

In every department of work there has been progress. The girls have grown in stature, in knowledge and in grace. All seem determined to surne day go back to their old homes to tell their heathen relatives about Jesus. Several wish to go now, but we think it expedient for them to learn more first. We pray that ere they go forth they m~y be emptied of self, filled with the Spirit, and endued with power 'for service.

This year I,gave my summer vacation to the orphans, and was well repaid when they voted it the happiest tl me of their lives. The personal histbry of each child was learned. Some

AGRA DISTRICT. 13

have sad tales. All said, " We didn't know th21'e was a Saviour until we came here." Our hearts burn within us when we remember that millions of India's children can say the f?ame.

Last February 011e of our brightest and best famine orphans was taken to be with Jesus. She was a very patient little sufferer. When dea.th was near she called us, having told the matron that she knew she waR dying. One of her class-mates ~aid, "Pachni do y<vu see Jesus?'~ She replied, '" No, bllt I know Jesus sees me.'" For herself she ma.nifested no anxiety. "Do yon think I shall see· my father and mother and sisters in heaven?" was her oft-repeated question. They died heathen during the famine of 1896 and 1897.

Rebecca, one of our old pupils, married a year ago to a Pres­byterian chemist., also went to her reward, rejoicing in the blessed gospel. Those gathered about her marvelled at her triumphant death, and enquired where she has been edu­cated.

Monica Singh, whO! has been a faithful teacher fOT two and a. half yearR, is married and goes to a home of her own. We are sorry to lose her, becau!',E; of the good and loving influence she exerted over the· girls.

Some very interesting children have come to fill the vacancies. I cite two cases-Alii Rakhi (kept of God), a bright girl of thirteen years, ran away from some dancing women, who kept. her as a slave girl, and soug-ht protection with one of our Christian workers, who sent her to school. She is very original and remarkably fearless for a Hindustani sirl. Otle night Mrs. Ogilvie thought robbers were in the GO use. AlIi Rakhi ventllred forth~ lamp in hand, to slay ~he robber with a stick. Fo.rtuna.tely~ it was a false alarm.

Arlothel' child was brought from Blk:aner State where rnission wOl'k is in it& iufaucy. Her parents were but recently baptized. All the way to school, the poor child wept bitterly, declaring that she knew the Miss Sahib would either Cloison her or put her down a well. Love has won her wild md fearful heart.

Famine is. here again, as gaunt and cruel as ever. As neans come t') us we are doing what we can for the sufferers. We gather the ol'phan::;" the girls being kept here in our Boarding School and the boys being sent to the Parent Board )rphanagcs. Dp to date one hundred and forty-three orphans l.l1d widows have been saved from starvation. 'Ve have ;everal Christian fi\milies working on relief work on our pre­nises, and" e will take others as our funds increase. Many laye had to be turned awa¥ to meet thei~ death. lIow OUI;

14: A.GnA. DISTRICT.

hearts ache f()r the starving' one~ I No pen can exaggerate the story of their sufferillgs. Children are beaten and turned fl'om their homes, timid wives are thrust out with two or three children clinging to their skirts and with baby in arms. F<3thers often leave their famIlies in destitlltion and to cer­thin death to seek food for themselves. Oh, the hundreds of homeless, naked starving (lnes! A living skeleton WflH

brought to us two weeks ago that had lain by the roadside, sick and llaked. without. a mtH'sel of food fur eight days. Vil e despaired of her life, but she is now so improved, that she looks like a different crea.ture. This brief J'eport forbids mention of ma.ny other like cases.

Roman Catholics, Hindus and Mohammedans stand ready to seize the girls, the latter two t') use them for immoral purposes. Friends, help us to save the girls!

Dorulitories are now being crected to accommodate more orpha.ns. A school building with class-rooms is an ab~olute necessity, and we fully believe that ere this century closes, the Lord will put it IIIto the hearts of some of his ~hildren to erect sllch a building. If we could begin it at once, it would furnish employment and bread for many of our starving Christians. Classes ure !)C)w held in our dwelling·house which is by far too small to accommodate them.

We close the year with eighty-five girls enrolled. This work is Bupported by the Topeka, Pacific) and

Minneapolis Branches.

CITY WORK. Mrs. Maston, Assistant. Hulasmonie Lal, Harriet Dayal, Rani Lat, Bi~le-read"s.

The Ajmer city work has been faithfully carried on by onr excellent a~sistant and the Bible-readers ln nine mnhallas and several houses. Rani Lal who was living and working in a Dluhal1a of Christians, has been near del;lth's door and UIHI ble to work for several months. Christmas Day F:he Was able to come to service. There have been several seemingly hc'peful enquirers from among the heathen, whoprovedonly disappoint­ing. Their stories would be interesting, but too long for this general report. The most earnest listener in the big work­slwps muhalla is a childless wife. ODe day she came up to .Miss Tryon and the Bible·readers just as they were starting to leave, and said she want(:d a. son very much. They told her some of the BibJe stories of sons given to women in answer to prayer, but that she must for8ake her idols uIJd sins alld believe on and worship t.he true God before He could thus bless her. Then as they pointed out the way to God through Jesus, and told her how He had forgiven their -sins and

AGRA DISTRICT. 15

answers their prayers, she bllfSt into' tears. Pray that she may he convert ed. Ajmer city furuishes a hard field. Pray specially for this work.

WIDOWS' TRAINING HOME.

Mrs. Xa"ier, Matron.

The projected Widows' Training Home has become a reality since the famine began. God first laid this work on our hearts, as we went about in the district and saw the numbers of young' widows living lives of ~ervitude. Many asked to be taken into our Girls' Boarding School to' learn to read. Tbis was not advisable, and we began to wonder what we could do to help them. At first, we planned to t~ke fifteen, teach them and train them into evellgeiistic work by taking them into the city muhallns with us, just as soon as able to give a testimony. The famine drove many other bright ones to us whom we did not have the heart to tllrn away. Thirty-three are now enrolled, many of them bright and interesting. Those proven too dull to learn will be taught weaving and other industries. For a long time we have prayed t.he Lord to raise up workers. M::lY the~e l\'idows not be the answer to onr many prayers? Who will help to save the poor despised, abused widows, and give them a sheltered home and opportnnities for uSE>fulness?

Pray much for this ne \V department of our work.

AJMER DISTRICT WORK.

Elizabeth V. Tryon, Missionary.

Katlsalia Das, Bible.reader.

Janki Mall, Pastor's <wift. Rachel Daud, Bible-reader.

AJMER CIRCUIT.

BIKANIR CIRCUIT.

Gulkil M ulki, Kulki, Kairki, Eva1tgdist Teachers.

BIR CIRCUIT.

Priscilla Ram, RahH Daniel, Ellen Singh, t3ible-readers.

KACHA WAX CIRCUIT.

Dnrnpatti Das, Nnnhi Bt>g, Bible-rtaders.

KISHANGARH CIRCUIT.

Phulmani'Lal, Pastor's wife. Sarah ~ingh, }j'lorence Bahadur, Bible-reaaers.

PISANGA N CIRCUIT.

Ganeshia Stephen, Sa,rah Stephen, Grace Masih, Bible-readers. J amni, Evangelist Teacher.

" The Lord shall guide thee c(.ntinually and satisfy thy s<?ul in dry places, and make ~trong thy bones; and thou

Hi AGBA DISTRICT.

shalt be likes. watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not." lsa. lviii 11. -

This promise has especially upheld me this year, and has been eagerly seized by many of the workers to whom I have shown it. Praise the Lord! Being now weUacqtiainted with my field and feRow-laborers, it is an easier matter to write a report th&n it was last year. I realize more, too, the import­ance of these reports since a W.F.M.S. sister at home -wrote that she became 80 absorbed in reading the Report thnt she forgot about preparing dinner until reminded by her daughter. I remember that I am talking to the dear patrons af home who are upholding us in the field by their prayers and gifts; and it is my duty to give a fair account of ttJe year which has been more ch£>ckered tha.n common. Sickness and- now the straitness caused by famine prices, and, in a fow cases, wrong­doing and its attendant shame,:have shadowed the homes of onr workers. Vi~its to or from relatives have been bright spots to many, and all came in to our District Conference. This is the event of the year, being to them what the Annual Conference is to us. When I a~ked one Bible-reader in her home if she were coming to District Conference (last year a new baby kept her at home), Rhe answered so earnestly: "0 ye.q, Miss Sahib! I get RO hungry here for worship and

-felJowship with my Christian brothers and sisters." The new Church building not being finished, the meetings were held in our compound, in a Ia.rge tent which Dr. Scott, our Pre­siding Elder, brought with him. The Cunference -examina­tions ~d business were finished in three days, and then followed four days of religious meetings. I often wished the

_ home patrons could see the congregation. In front to the right sat the school boys, and to the left the girls in white chaddars,-baek ~f them were the new famine women in their coal'Serags, there had notbt:en time to make new clothes for them,-and the Bible-women in their warm chaddars of blue or white or green or re(ior salmon. The preachers and other workers bordered tbreesides, and youngsters were sprinkled everywhere inside and out, always causing more or less commotioQ. The meetings were good and did good.

Perhaps I should mention that themont·hs uf May, June and July, which are tool,1ot for district work, were spent busily and happily in DlJ' first:home and work, the Cawllpore English Girls' High School, during a part of Miss Lauck's leave. Then ca.me two months in charge of our native girls' school here during the enforced absence of Miss lIarks. It was weH that she had that rest in the hills to set her up for the extra heavy work which the famine IS bringiflg. This

AGnA DISTRICT. 17

awful famine is greatly bindering our work in the villages. Hundreds of' people e~igrated, otten vacating whole ~ll~ges when small, and whole Jimhallas of the big towus. Those relllainillg al'e too busy tJ:ying t.o earn a meal to listen to the gntJpel, or else too taken up by the famine. They can hardly l"alk or think of anything else, it seems. I have hea.rd some say that they found the peopl~ among whom they went more accessible because of their troubles, but this has not been the case where I've gone. I have seen most pitiful sights, and heard most I)itiful ta)~s. The one good feature we see ii that ii i~ bringing us Rujputana children ano widows which we would get no other way. God bless them, and ra~e up from among them the laborers we need 80 much.

Six circuits have comprised my itiner8.cy, and I have tra­velled inox carts and "ekhas," Ibtle jingling one-horse carts, by rail and by camel and a-foot. ::5ometimes Miss Marks was able to go with me, which WI\S very pleasant and helpfuL With one excEption I stayed loigbt in the homes of the workers. They are "lovers of hospitality," and have been very kind to me indeed. It amused me to fiud that it ~eatly offended them that I shOlJ Id {.ifer to pay fer my food, but if I sa.id, '-for the children:' my offering wa~ very graciously received. Generally. they have good-sized, comfortable stone h0l1ses1 but ona brother's house was so tillY, he had to sleep outside, giving me hispla~ inside. I should have preferred being outside myself, had it not been right on the street. Living thus in their homes, I have come into closer touch with them, and hettel' understand their characters, couditions and work. I love them sincerely, and long to help them, especially to impart unto them "some spiritual gift."

AJ-MER CIRCUIT.

Kausilio. Das visits 3 mohullas, and has 2 Sunda.y Schools in Ru.jgs.rh. There are no Christ.ians there yet. I wish you eould have heard her sing with her husband at the District Epworth League Meeting a son~ which he ha.d compo~ed, com­paring thil famine to the old famine in Egypt.

~rhe good old cOl1pleat Pushkar ga\'e \l p work last spring and went to live with their daughter. Noone has been found yet to supply this "vacaut pl~ee, We greatly need more workers. We caunot even get Bib)e~readers to replace those who fall out of the ranks. Please join us iu prayer to the Lord of the 'harvest.

BU{ANIR CU\CUIT.

As reported last year, the Bikanir work is the most interesting and hopeful in the district. There are only two' Bihle-re:.lder:3 for that large Chr:Stim community, let alone

18 AGRA DISTRICT. ,

the enormous heathen popula.tion. The pastor and his wire, feding 'the. need of helpers, instead of blaming the mission for not starting a trailling school and waiting for it to do so, set resolutely to w(uk themselve~J and have prepared three evangelis-t teachers. Again, instead of compluilling tha,t the mlssil)ll dues notJurnish their work a regular teacher, they are themselves, by extra effort, teaching 8.iI many as possible to read and writo. The girls' day school which started out so well, soon fizzled out. It seems impossible at present to keep up village day schools among the poorer classes whieh need them. I always recall wIth pleasure th~ Sunday spent there. In the morning we went from muhnlla to muhulla among the Christians. In the evening they gathered in the pastor's little courtyard. too small it is, and' had as good a sermon and a heartier service tha.n here in our old church at head-qnarters. The woman mentioned la!lt time as ha\ing left her husband to come here to learn was called home by his illnes-c; as she was starting the Second Book in Hindi. It was a great nisappointment on visiting her to find her faIling back iute) her oldtiOle careless, dirty ways of housekeeping. She still has a good heart though. Another woman of her own a.ccord started to us, and stopped to see her husband who had been working in another city. He. by the way, took her for his wife on the dea.th of the elder brother who first had her. Tilev are high-caste. He had not heard the gospel before, but 8he convinced him, and he ga.ve np his work anti came with, ber. I never saw anyone drink in the Script ure stori~ as he did. It was a delight to meet their little class ()f two c'')\lples and an extra wom m in a Scripture class, testi­mony and prayer meeting all combined. Both are doing splendidly. Jimki Mall hai a dear baby boy, the only child. She ha.s not been well since his birth, and it has been a real regret to her to be awn,y frl)ID her work. We praise God br the zeal and industry of these workers and the way He re­wards them. Oh r I mnst tell you that the last D<:'Wl' COJlcern­jn~ them was that their bonse had been robbed while they were at Conference.

BIR CIRCUIT.

I win never forget my visit ,to this Circuit last April. Each of the Bible-readers was di8tre~~d over a sick child. Ellen Singh'H baby died, only a. few dayv old. She of course could not show me her work (in Srinagar she lives), but some women.cam~~he hOUBe io talk with me/lad I went with the men in 'the evening to meetings among die Chcistian~.

I wish Pri'lci Ila:'~ patron could ha.ve seen the lit tIe goather­ing of 12 or 15· baptized 'women and a few others who m~t

AGRA DISTRICT. 19

me on the rl')of of her house by starlight to show me what they hud learlJed of hymns, cat.echism and Scripture. It may interest YOIl to kuow tha.t Pri~ci1la) in 0111' Zenana Conference, of which Hhe \Va~ Secretary, said she hil.d dropped the nam ~ Ra.m and taken her husband's first name instea,J) so she sign., herself Priscilla John r.OW, becanse, she says, the two Englislt names go better together, and further," of what use is Ram;' a heathen deity.

I arrived in Ramsar dnring a Hindu festiva.l, and saw an awful ~ight, all the men of th~ village gathered at noon in the baza.r and dividing into two parties, began jllst for fun g, promiscolls fil'lt fight, as fierce as if in earnest. When fi~ts were tired they threw stones and dil,t. Many were seriously

. injured. It WitS not a guod time f~)r visit.ing the hefl.then home~, hut W~ had :3ome splendid meeting" with the Ghristians in their muhllllllB. I was pleased with the eviflences of earnest, faithful work. Rahil, too, has given birth to a child, her second.

KISHANGARH CIRCUIT.

The work here is sadly disorganized by the famine. I found a great change this fall. Last winter there wa .. tW(}

or three days' work in visiting open doors ne~r 1 he Bible­reader's house in Kish:Ulgarh. This time it was difficult t., fiud hearer5. Most of the people left early in the morning fur the f~mino relief works, and returned late, and then had to cook their food. Many mllhullas were qnity empt.y, the houses all locked. In others we'd find just a few people. In one place were a man and woman who had been Christians, but have goue completely back. It was awfnl to hear them curse God and Christ.ians. The woman r-aid she wuuld not listen at all> but we sat down a.nd began sillging a common bhaj:ID, and soon she put np her broom, sat Jown near us, and joined in the hymn. Then they and a group of men from 011 tside listened to the story of Elijah arId the famine of his day.

H~re I was invite:l out to breakfast twice, once bv tIle wife of the Rajah's bandma~ter, whe) has two fine gi,:ls in ollr school, and once by a Begum, whom our Bible-reader visits. $he was very friendly but bad no interest in n,y messagp •

It was not surprising that the pure gospel was not welcomed by a mind ~o impure as I saw hers to be from her delight ill a book of vile, though religiou~, pictnre~ which she \Vas showing her children and laughing about with her neighbors. It was shocking and sickening. You can have almost no conception of th~ Obscenity of heathenism. We w('nt to a. dbt.ant villagu and found fonr families of Christian wea.vers utterly destitnt~. They had jusL rtturned from a lung and frui~less enlign~ti\lnJ

AGBA DISTRICT.

and said hundrclds had died on the road. Thp. next day, 2,000 returning villagers p3ssed through the city. . Florence in Rupnagarhas.& friendly neighbourhood.

Women were coming and going all the time we were there. They would playfnlly cateh.hold of our skirts and say tht'y would not let us go. Meetings were held at the house ea.ch e,'ening with the hea.then. There is only a small Christian com~llnity.

KACHAW AN CIRCUIT.

This has been merged into the Phalera Circuit, and other changes made, but I report it as it was the greater part of the year, since l"halera. Circuit proper has Dot been uuder my jurisdiction.. When I visited Darapatti Das. she wa~ working in N awa~ She i8 a vigorous little body and does everything ,vith a Vim. She had there the finest group of Muhammeda.n WOln~ the most in terested body of heathen women I have seen anywhere. They cared more for the ~ospel story than for the hymne, an uncommon thing, and would hardly let us go. "Tell us more,. just one more of Jesus' miracles," they'd say, an.d they seemed really touched~ They were sorry and ~o was I thn.t, Darapatti and her husband had to go to M.akral1a, where there were svme baptized peop1e needing care. They h·.Lve heen helping coosiderably in gathering famine people.

Nanhi Beg is. the only Christian w.oman in a. large town seve tal miles off' the railway. I had a jolly time with her bright,. w~ll.behavedchildreo; and a busy, interesting time tramping from ha.niyas' {high caste grain merchants} houloles to t.he ilJ-smelling mohullas of low caste tanners,. and then to gardeners' fields and weayers' hom.es.. Visitors to the house hardly gave me a chance to. eat~ Men,. women and children came out of curiosity. Small children w.~re often afraid, for they had never seen a ,,·hite WOlDen and such strange clothes ~fo.re. My sola. hat greatly a.mused the women, who were surprised to fiud s.uch a big, thick ba.t sv li.ht in weight. They wanted me to take my hair down and fix it "prettily" like theirs.. That amused me, for of all styles of hail'dressing I ha\·e· seen, the &.jputana 'Women have the ugliest. They wondered wby I wore no jewelry, and proudly showed me their ornaments on head, ears,. Dose, neck, arms, wrists, fingers, ankles aI}!i toes. So~ even have SMyer chains around the wa.ist. 0, thai tlwy a.nd all their Christian sisters, too, would oheythe command about outward adorning, and seek the priceless ornament of a meek and quiet spiritl

PISANGAN CIRCUIT. There are three 1D1ieresting fltations in this CirCll~~... The

villa.Jes- are- so sca:ter~d aud at s.lch diJtances that I have not

AGRADISTRICT. 21

seen any of them. Sarah Stephen is at Kharwa and showecl ' me some good muhallas I)f a.ttentive listener~. The Chri3tians are th)m the Bhils, a caste of thieves f"rmerly. These earn their living, a. very Rcant one nowadays, by gathE'ring and selling "'ood f.·om the jl1ngJes. I was sadly disappointed i,l them. They know nothing about J eSllS, and were less at ten­tivelhan the heathen. They said the workers came regularly to teach them, but that they'd forgotten al1 they had Jearned because of hunger. They did not close their eyes even during prayer, but lC'okell round anj ta.lked. They were a sorry Jot to be Galled Christia.ns. The baptized people in the sweepers' muhalla were a happy contrasl" I am g-h,d to say.

In Pisa.lIgan the people are especlally iHdifferent at the best of times, but it was far worse this time than ]a~t winter. They could talk only about the hard timea. After hewing satisfied their curiosity about me, away they'd go until of a goodsized crowd only the people of the hon~e we were. visiting would rema.in. But we had guod meetings with the little body of 20 or 25 sweeper Christians. Their houses were very clean and they were very orderly, and gave good answer~ to the Cj},techism questions. I am illterestL>d in a retired Hindu Posli-master who ca.lIed me to his house to see his wi'ie, but more for a con\'erRation. He asked for our prayers alJd ceemed somew ha.t in earnest.

Govindgarh aft"l.rds the best opportunity for preaching:Ule gnspel of any place I have seen. All c1as~es are friendly and accessible. As Grace and I were goipg about among ,'the women's houses, the men would stop me ~s I passed their ~hops and beg rne tv preach to t hem. I was !wrry I did 1101; ha ve time. l'he high-casl e women there do not seem so ~ecll1de,l as common, and the preacher-in-charge ooasts that he preacht'd ill a zenana. The women did not even veil their faces before the men, at least not many did: I here reviewed the largest and best villa.ge Sunday ~chool I have seeD.

PHALERA CIRCUIT.

Mrs. Ella Plomer, iIIissionary.

I am tha.nkful to say that I have had cause for great rejoicing when going round my cir~uit inspecting the work of the Bible-women. I finti our women who teach are waking uf:l, and are now beginning to realize the great responsibility lald upon them.

Phalera.-Pha.lem village and station has been worked by Mary Wheeler. Jane Joseph, the , ... ·ife of the NJltive Prea­cher-in-:charge did a little work in May and June, but has not done much siuce.She does by her examl:'le stimula.te the

22 AGRA DISTRICT.

nmbition of the workers. Alice Singh WfiS helping and doing Kuchrowda villAge \\'01 k (a village] i miles uway l, but I was obliged t ~ dismiss her- in July, as -she has not the right spirit. 'rhe work done by Mary ,Vbee]er has been good alld steady. She is very much liked by the pwple, nnd is free to work, -having no fl-lmiiy. She is, I think, a better and a stronger Christian this year, and her work nece-:sarily is more !'ubMt.an­\ial. We are t.rying to g-et these Bible Teachers to preach Sa'vation, and aim only at the Salvation of these women.

N a'rairaa.-J a~e Kamls. has worked with Lucy Das in the muhalla .. , and I was really pleased to see the progre~s the 'work had made. There aI'e a nnmber of eager listent-'rs and a llum\ber who confess Christ secretly, hut have not the ('ournge tl). C0me out. We are still patiently working among them, aud know the Word will not ret/urn ,·oid. Sunday Schools fOig-irIs and women are held on Sundays, and the work has progres:,ed well. A workel' of ollrs whl) w~s dismissed for bm-yillg hi~ Christian father after the heathen custom, tried to hinder our work, and for some mont hs we had trouble, but I am thankful to say no oppo::ition is now shown to us as we go among the women.

Sali.-Patori and Rupmaui Anthoney have d~ne a real1y good work in thi~ village, Ulld I know that lllallY from here wilJ Le among the jewels for the Saviour's crown. I am always glad to visit Sali, for the work grows and prospers and the women are attelltive. The- Word is taking hold of them, and thE'Y wilJ tum to the Lom, and with true repentance seek Him.

Tilornia.-8hahednn I.Jnl has J'eally waked up. She was an indiiferellt l\'orker, and I had to be a Iitde hard on her, hilt after remonstrating and showing her her privilege she seems ltOW to take a real iuterest in her work. I went rOlllld with tier and saw her work, vif'iting from house to house, which I find more satisfactl)ry, for then we get to klJOW each family, and are iu friendly ~ympathy with the wltmen. Here tliO the nttpntion paid to the teaching and the questions aJlswered l\'aS indeed gratifying. It is such a plea.~ure to see tile women following us in thonght and illterest as we teach them of the Saviour. Here as in Sali Sunday schools are beld. Owing to the famine we can get no collections from the people.

Dudu.-Owiog to my poor heft,lth I was Dot a'hleto "isit Dndu, as it is 13 miles away fl'tJID the nearest Rai1way st,atiou. But the Preacher-in-charge lias seen Azizun Mule's and Krishna's wife', wurk, and reports favorably.

AGRA DISTRICT. 23

We have much to be grateful to the Lord for. For healtll and life spared t.o do His work, and as we work on ~wd Oil for Him we feel how much of wisdom we ueed to do the wOl'k, su that the Ma."ter may approve of what has been done and say of each of 11S, "She hath done what she could." Out' District Conference has made two changes in my Bible­women's work, a.nd I trust that the change of women will be fur the good of the \\'ork. Pray for us.

ALLAHABAD DISTR.l:CT.

ALLAHABAD.

~frs. Rockwell Clancj,Ml's. Dctwis Clancy~ Mis:riimaricS'. Susan Brave, PrewJur's wifo. Constance Parshad, Mary Lan. !:J'i6lt--rmtkrS'. Mn.Thompson, .Assistant Girls' Urphamtg!!. Agnes Henry, Matron " ,. Martha. Lal, Martha Stepben, Milca:h Briscoe, Teacller.s Gi,·N Orfoc1nap.

CI1UNAB. CIRCUIT.

Mrs. Dea.tker, lIIissionary. Lali Jacob, DiM!-reatier • .Mary Clift:>D., Evangelist 7m,"'-."..

MANAUItl cmcmT.

Snndari Singh. P'rencmr's wi P­Ella Singh, Dibk-uadlr.

lUNIKPUR CIRCUIT.

Ju.mmiya Bakhsh~ Nanhi DIL88, Parbati Lall, Bi/Jk--~cai"s.

KA~w.t omcu!'!!. Louisa JosepO, RiO/c.reruler. B.ukhiya Panhad, Evrzwg~/ist 7~ac"er.

BANDA CIRCUIT.

Gompti ComeIi1l1J', Prearntr's wift. 1M ionie Singb, Monica Lal, Bihle-narlen. Sunda:r Ans.iya, E 'I1r117geiisl Tenclter.

GENERAL WORK&. l'rs. Rockwell Chncy.

Our third year as a District, apart (rom Cawnpore, has gone by~and a few weeks ago, NOVE!m'ber 21-26, we held Ollr D~trict Conference. Nineteen women workers with their children were pre.scut, besides five village women from the Manikpnr Circuit,. t\\'"o of whom are not tJhrisrianH, but came to see what was done at our CtJDferen('e. The Reports from the women were enoouraWDg, and I WfiS c-spE-cially p}ea.~ed to ~ee a spirit ()f independence8ndresponsihiJity for.he work in their particular Circuie, which promises wt"!ll for future ad­vancement.

Some of the reports were as follows:-Jummiya Bakhsh of Mallikpur Mid: "We work in

three villages, among people of t.he low eastes, who Jisten to us very eagerly. We have fOllr S,mday scbools, in which are an average of 60 or 70 ",omen and childrell. The women who have reeentJy~come Christians help in the work very willingly withon"t pay,. and they give glad.lJ:" to the support of the gospel. LlUlsa Joseph of Kat'wl reported two women inquirers. with four children. Louisa

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT.· 25

has a small school in her own home,· three lovely boys, wbo will no doubt be preacher.; some dny, and she cannot 1!et ahont as much as I would like. Her field is a very needy olle. I was there in April, and in one village we had a splen­did audience. The women had never seen a white woman, so at ~ight of me they fled into their honses and peeped at 11S from b~hind the doors. But on being assured that we .wl)llld. do them no harm, when we bega.n to sing, they al! cnme Ollt and flocked round us, listening intently, and se€med to think it such wtmderful condescension for us to have visit­ed them. and beggf'd us t-, come aga.in. Abclut two milt·s from L!luisa's hOllse, in a village called Kasahai. this year we put u. training student and his wife, Har Parshad aud Rukhiya. She caDllot read yet, and her speech is clum~y amI difficult to Ilnderstand, but she loves Jesus, and can tell about Him. She CSlIJ pray too, and knows the Commandments, Apostles' Creed, and some Cat.echism, and f,{oes among the women,:~and holds a Sunday school. Poor girl! she h::l~ had a hard time. In her rt'port she Mid, " I often feel so lnnely, lmd fi)r some time after we went there the peuple did not wantns,ancitheywould pot let us draw water ont ot' the village well, so we had to get it at night, when th€y were as­leep; and when my bah) came, I was so frightened, and no Hne wa.~ near me to help, but my husband. But now they lil(e us better, trpat us kiudh', invite us to their house~, and corne and sit, near OUl's." I~ the Banda Circuit Sister Cor­nelius superi"tends the work, and we have just provided them wit h a little pony cart, so that. she and her husband can go ali over their Circuit without difficulty. Sundar is an Evangelist 1'eacher who helps Sister Cornelius, and who is being trained by her. She can read a little, and has jus:, been gi ven a Testamt'Dt. She goe::- among women of all classe2, sing­ing and telling them a bout Jesus, and helps her husband teach 2 or 3 Sunday schools on Sunda.y. Monica Lall lives in a village, twenty mil~s away from Banda, where she and her husband have begl1D new work. The people objpcted to them Vf:r.v much at first, and when they did sacceed in rent· ing a house, the Brahman who rented it to them Sclid, " Beware! if you kill !). fowl in this houss, I will turn you Ollt. U And sometimes he would break their earthen waterj21J'S. Minnie Singh has done good work in Mahoba. She hRoS some very interebtinB' Zenanas. I'visited them some mont hs ago, and she tells me that one of t.he WOInt·n

ill whom I. feltespecial1y interested, h~ given up worshiping the honsehold idols. Sister Cornelius and Minnie. also t.old of a visit to Chal'khari, a Native St;lt?, whose ~ju. object~!JO Missionaries. A Molo. (Fair) was being held, and the Raja.

26 ALLAH.A.1lA.D DISTRICT.

~Pems to hnve be~n in an indulgent mood, rfor theladie~ of the Christian Mis~ioll were allowed to have a bookstall, and if. wns with their workers that ours went. '1'hel'e was a won­,derfd ~how of idole, pr-lh:lhly 5,000, which had been bruught to the Fair frl.Jm all part~ of the COllntry. Our people were told not to preach, bllt as nothing was said abont not singing, they sang several Bhajans (hymns set to native airs), aud (·xplained their meanillg to the crowri that soon ga.thered ~.r{)und them. We hope the day is not far distant when a I worker will go to live in that place so defiled by gro:3S idolR-try.

l'he }Iananri Circuit ha~ had no woman's work this year, :IS a widnwer and a young man ha.ve been the ou ly wurkers. But both have provided them~lves wit.h helpmeets now, and we are sure that Sundri Singh and Ella' Singh will do good work.

The Chunar Circuit is progrc~ing wen. Mrs. Deatker gi"es her own report, but she does not say in it what a mar­\"ellous w~man she is, 30 I must try to tell you, though it is difficult to ttll of suffering and tria.ls patiently borne, difficul­tie.:; overcmne, a.nd work a.ccomplished cheerfully and lovingly for the Master, while in her home the angel of death seems cunstantly hovering. A few months ago a loved grandchild was taken thr'ough that most terrible of diseases, choh>ra., and now her husband, who has been an invalid for months, lUIS

become bliud. \Vhen able l he is led to the little Church, for which they raised the money, and pr·each<..-'S to the two congre­gations (If English and Hindustani People that gat her there. Mrs. Deatker 8U pel'intends aU t he work, and often goes ber­self with the workers to the vilJage acrCiSS the ri ver, where the people seem very glad to hear the Word. This year their prea­cher, Simon Jacoh, was married again, aud Lali his wife i6 a very goad \Vorker-yoang. energetic, and bright. Next year we intend giving them another couple, Babu Lal and Mary, who ",ill live in the villa6'e, so Mrs. J)dutker is very expectant of good results. Before closing this report I must tell about our flmiue wid)ws. W6 have twelve here, and they liv~ justasfree a iife as they would in .thoir own \'illl\~es, are not cuufin~d behind walls, but can go and come as they pl~se. They are learning to read. recite Bible verses and stoties, sew, andsillg, in addition tll grinding ~rrllin and watet'iug the ga.rden. I examined them at the District Conference, and they knew a g:eoo deal mOle~ than I supposed. Most llf.them could re­cite the Lf,rd's Prayer, Apostles' Creed. 'ren C'm.mandmel1ts, }lOd anS\\'er questious inCateehism covering most of the Old Testament stories anc{ life of Christ. They are steadily improving in behaviour. Abusivelanguuge, which need to

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT. 27

be a part or their ordinary conversation, is seldom or ne\'er heard, and qllarr~1Iing has become les~ frequent. A month or two agl ) tour of them went in the early morning to the river G'mge~; they bathed in the river. and gave some money to the Brahman Priest. This wa.s told me a few da.ys late}', and I felt "ery grieved, for one of the women haa been wit·h 11<; three years, and she, at, any rate, should have known bet­ter. I spoke about the matter at prayeL's, and before I had said much, the women looked so ashamed, and one burst illto tears. I fancy the r~ason of their guing \Va!'; this: a young Hindu widow had come in only a few months before, and she 110t having had much teaching, no do .• bt mlssf-'d the old &cts of worship, and mllst, have persuaded the othprs to go with her. 'rhey all promised faithfully never to go again, and I do nat think they will. It was very (,'Omical to henr our heathen sai~, the man who takes care of the horse, harangue them. As soon as I had finished, he f.aid, "Yon ought to be ashamed of yourselves ; the mistress takes fO much trlluble in teach­iug you every day, and yet YOIl do not follow her teaching !"

Pray for these wllm~n that they may b~comp, ti tted for the Lord's work. \Ve are hoping that. soon some of thenl will learll enough to go out into the work with the Bible-women, and be aI/Ie to tell the st.ory of Jesus; to their own frjends and relati\re". They are allowed two cents e:wh a. day for their f(lod, which they buy and cook as they l11ease, and uut of this they give dadl.\' to the Suuda.y and Mi:-;sionary collectiolls.

One of them works ill a Hospital for five honrs a day, in order to le:11'l1 nursing. She quite feels her own importance.

Readers of this report, pray for all the Departmeuts of work, that Christ may be glorified.

REPORT OF THE CHUNAR CrRCU1T.

ltrs. Deaiker.

Our woman's work at Chullar has made sOllie little head­way. At the beginnlilgof the y£'sr we were VdY nluch press­ed f,)r want of a worker, but later on our Local Preacher br.ll1ght home a wife from Mrs. Lawsnn's staff at Aligarh, who has proved an excellent worker, the result being a baptism of a very intelligent woman from among th,.> st>rvant class.

We are now IJlanuing to open out during the coming )'far ~ day-school fur girls in one of our village~ where the work IS very encouraging. We feel confident that with a good worker this branch uf God svineyard will prove a succes.~.

The latter part of the year has bef'll a very trying time, and for a while our work was al most at a standstill in C1mse­quence of cholel'a having broken out in epedemic form in our station, b :th amo.."lgthe Euro.pean. and Native communities,

28 ALLAHABAD DISTRICT.

1he nverage number of deaths being over 70 per cent. of those attncked by thiR dreadful disease ..

Altogetht>r, however, we have had nbnndant reason for tha.nkfulness to OU1' Lord fOl' the mea~lll'e of RllcceliS, He has given us in the past and bright prospects in the near future.

GIRLS' ORPHANAGE.

Mrs. Dennis Clancy.

The report of the Girls Orphanage and Day School for the year 1899 is a~ filllows:-

During the year we ha,v? had a gr('at deal of sickness, though for the last six monl hs we have not had very IIItH.·h to complain of. In April last we had gO childl'en; at pretient We huve but 67. A number died uf various sicknesses which they contracted after mea.sles, nine were ~ent to Aligarh to he ta.ught in the bliud school, one to Shahjahanpur to bp wit h her mother, a few have run aWRY, and some little boys were dl'9fted into the boys' school. A very great strn,iu WlotS put upon our Matron, Agnes Henry, and Martha Lal, teachel, ,,-ho live in the s~hool with the girls, uwing to the sickn~ss, t,hirty children having measles at the same time. '~rhey worked nobly. The children are very much impro\rec] ill appearance, particu1ar care being given to cil'anlilles8 and food.

In the day school the improvement has not been so great as one could wish, bllt when the circumstances arc considel'p.d, name]y that of irregular attendance on the part of teacher:, and children, due to sickness, we can ha.rdly be disappoint('rl at results, when 15 children pns,.:ed well in their several Fillb­

jects, and the rest ha\'c made good progress, \vith a few excep­tions. In addition to last year's work we have intl'oduced into the fltudics of the first, ~ec:olld, aud third classes, Urdu, RO'nan Urdu, Arithmetic and GPography. In needle-work there is improvement, the girls being able to do work that will sell. They have done a gooddell.l of kuitting. etc., for the Dorcas bnx, and we hope to make that and the sewing cluss a financial suc~ess. The children are as keen as they ever were in giving. They paid into the self-support fund ahont Rs. 1-4, or 40 cents, the bulk of which I.do not kno'r where or how it was obtained. This was iuaddition to the collection ~iven in flour every Slinday, which up to date amounts to Rs. 37, or 12 dollars 33 cents. They have also.given this YPRr to the Mis!'ional'Y Society. We have abont 20 girls rending­the Bible~ now and· 11 the Gospels. The I. B. R. A. card has been llsed throughout the year f"r morning prayers. 'rhe school Bihle study has been the life of Christ, in which I believe they passed· a very fair examination. A Bible CltlSS

hus been .started by .Mrs~GlancYl with the view ofprepa.ring

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT. 29

girls for work in t,he villages. Last year we could report upon ~he .deep spiritual aw:~kening among our ~hiidrell during 1 he Dlstflct C01.1ferel1ce. I thank God that In many of our ~irls we have seen a great change in their genera.l COli dueL. I d·) trust they will grow up stro:lg Chl'istiaL characters.

ALIOARH DISTRICT.

AUGARH CIT~ AND DISTRICT.

Miss Anna Gallimore, 411issibnary. Hrace Dass, BiDk·r~tld'r, l'hulmani llat;s, E'tJdngdz'st T,oc/ur.

DELHI CIRCUIT.

Choti Lo.velett, Annie Georae • .Minnie Singh, Bib/e·r,aiers.

OURGAON CIRCUIT.

Lillie Bode, Maryienne Samad, Grace IJort.er, Jessie L3.11, Biblt··readers.

PANIPAT CIRCUIT.

Catherine Dutt, ElJa Jacobs. ~f:Lrtha 1>as.". Bib/,.,..-odt'rs. Lachmi, Bednne, Bella. Han8o, Mama Dails, ~v(ml1dist-tt!'I.hr:rs.

SOMNA CIRCUIT.

KaunsillR. McGee, Jamna Lall, Bibll.rladl"s, Tulsa, E'lIansdis/-l,:acJur.

GUNGlRI CIRCUIT.

Lachmi Singh, Jaaki, Nanhi. Dhanya, Evangdis/-/uuMrs.

IGLAS CIRCUIT.

Hera John, Lali James, Bl6".l"lad~rs. Choti Hashori. Evangelist-INt, It"~. Gumti, BI6ie-reader.

KnAIR CIRCUIT.

Budiyha Edson, Fhulmani Parshad. Tahitha Caleb, Bible·rladen.

ALIANLI CIRCUIT.

Pirani Dass, Mareienne La.l, Sundri, Choti, Bi6/(·naders.

HARDUAGUNG.

Mary Fad Masih, BiOll·rlader.

ALIGARH.

Annie Cladues. Jamna Shaw, Bibk·rHders.

" All your estimates have pa~d," is the g1ad ,vnl'll that comes to us from the dear home land, n.nd we take fresh c(.>urage as we look forward into the coming year, WIth the increased work tha.t it will bring, knowing that we shall be able to work to much better advantage with the needs of the wMkm~ ,

Our hearts go IIp in great thankfulness to our Heuvenly Father for all His mercie~, and we do ml)st heartily thaI! k the Bn.ltimore and Des Moincl\ Branches, who:le child thi~ gre~t district is, for t.he increased financinl help given Its, ;)/1111 for the maray pr~1yers off.:reJ fiJr t,hepr~)Rperity of our work.

ALIGARH DISTnlrn'. 31

The best of all is, that we can report a deeper r-piritual life in onr Bihlp-readenz, a greater love for God's Word, a 'greater desire for self-improvement.

We had our Summer School for six weeks, in August and September. Most of the women were present during the term. We were pleased with much of the work done .. The most advanced class studied the Book of Genesis in RomaH, the Gospel of St. John in Hindee, Mirat-ul-urus in the U rdru ch;tracter, and a hook in Roman on the Sacraments of the Church. The examiners were well ple~sed with this da~s ; many of them received perfect marks in m,)st of their studit~S, some, in the under classes, aid good work. It Was not ('asy~ by any meanFl, to study, :fi)r a.lmo:,t every woman had a yonng baby to look after, and very often these lit.tle cherubs were a disturbing element. These women were five hours in the class room, then each one had to 'be present, if possihle, Mt the morning lecture and the evening service, wit h a half day's work on Sn.tnrday, awl they did their cooking in between times. 'Ve felt on those hOIi days, when sometimes study wa~ a wearines~ to tre fl~sh, that these women were brave and loyal, and often they gave their teacherlll a l€'sson ill patience.

We have twenty muhallas in Aligarh City, five villages and a few hOll!'.es where girl~ and women are reading the gospels. The Missionll.ry-in-chnrge cannot look after this work Vt·ry well in the itinerating season, but two Bible-rf>aders are left in '!harge, alld a strict accoullt of the work taken. The medicine which hilS been used has b~en a blessing to many. All the mODey is used, and the missionary is waitillg patielttly for l'ext quarter, when she can get in a new supply. She hn.~ used six bottles of quinine, many bottlt:s of fever mixture, 8 doz. Pain Killer, and doctored all kinds of ailments, and could have used twice the am.:mnt of medicines had she had theTn. She often goes into villages far removed from any hospital.

Ollr itinerating this year ha..~ c~vered almost all Ol'.r fif'ld once, and to seven Circuits two visits ha\'c been made. 'Ve were not able to begin itinerating as early as la..r;t year owing to the intense heut, nor has onr working party bt·en as large, but we huve been able to visit m0re places, the total numher of villHges and muhaHa.s for last yeaI' being 209, this year 234. Much of our traveling has bef'n by raill1ay, more by ox-carli and ckha. Sometimes the vilIages are far removed, and it ta~e.s all day to visit three or four. Everywhere people are wIlltng n.ndglad to hear the gospel. From the lowe~t caste, where the people live among the swine, to the proud Brahmin who conRidel's himself the chnsenand favorite of Brnhmll.. t.hey come to learn of th~ meek and lowly One, the former

32 ALIGARH DISTRICT,

to be lifted to a higher and bl'ighter life, ill every ~en'le of the wnrd) the la.tter to le'lrn tha.t God hath made of one blo"dHll men, and that what Gud ha.th cleansel he must. not ~l.ll common nOlO uuclean.

As a whole,., much, very milch, improvement ha'l been made. The wnrk is still far below our ideal, but ther'e ha.; been steady gMwth in nearly all the Oircuits.

SIX years a.go Mif;S Rowe went to Tappe!, and l\'hil~ talking of Jesus aud His love, two meu came and fell at her f't>et and said, ""1e want to believe in Jesus as our Saviour; Im.ptize us." Miss Rowe told them ~he eould not, but if they were really in earnest for their SOli Is' salvati .. n, she would ~e1Jd £U' Mr. Lawson to baptize them. They have been faithful all through th~· year:;, and have suff~red much for the sa.ke Hnd name of Christ.. Two months ago the wiveg of these men be­Crlm~ Christians, and now severa.l of their chidl'ell am ill OUf

sch(JOl. One of these men writes very good lIative hymll~, sud. it may be. in the future, be will be a hymn writer for our church; he is to go soon to Bareilly for a course of slilldy,

In the train, in the fields, along the wayside, at the weil, in villages and Iliuhallas, in hOllses, at the door of our hilt the gospel story is being told, and often as we talk our hearts burn within us, for the Mastel' Himself drilw~ near.

'Ve feel, as workers, we need more of the love t hat never faiJeth; the love th!lt hopet.h all things. the sure fa.ith that will always take God at RiA word. To God be all glory.

GIRLS' ORPHANAGE.

Mrs. G. F. Matthews, Superintellde1lJ. Miss Bannerjee, Miss Strong, ~1i88 Glynn, Assistants. }frs. Lawrence, Industrio.l "f/Jartlllenl. Mariyam Bakbsh, Ballo Singh, M.ullica, Nellie Johnson, Amy ~litter,

Te.7r/Jen. Mrs. Pel'Ct!ll, Matron..

I am very thankful to our Heavenly Father that he has been with us and blessed us in all the wOl·k of the year. \V ~ have ]OSti some of our we~k girls, but others have come in and taken their places, and we have now enrolled 220. '1'wo were married early in the year, and are. de,ing good work as Bible­readers. As we were short of Teachers I bawe had to take some of our bi~ger girls and put them to teaching. They)t.re ma~g their little classes wonderfully well. Twentv-t.hrae of OUf girls joined the chul'ch recently. During our District Conference which was held last month mallY of our girls were richly blessed, and did p.ot he"itate to testify to what our dell.r Master had done for them. There nre manv earnest Christians amon~our girls~ and I do. thank the L,wcl for th~ wonderful way lIe has 'been lea-mllg us this year.

ALIGARJ{ DISTRICT .• 33

\Ve h1tve 35 girls in the IndustrIal Department. Some of hese girls have had to give up their studies for a time op. cconnt of weak eyes, so they are giving most of their time o spinning and weavillg. 'Ve are also making baskets for the lairy farm here. The proprietor, who is a good Ohr:i~tian, has ,ff'ered to take all ~he baskets we can make, and 1his gives ~ork to some of our girls who are not able to learn, neither an they spin or weave on account of bad sight. The children laVE: got to like their work, and we have not the trouble we lad at first of making them come to work. The troll ble is he ot.her way now, they all want to learn.

OUf bigger girh~ have made all the clothing for the school his year, and this is a big work.

In the Home we have had 15· women: three were married ,Dd two have gone out as cook women, and so this brings onr LUmber down to 10. Now there is a great improvement in the mmen. I am glad to sn.y they are not so quarrelsome, aud ,re doing their work with a better will.

'l'his work is supported by the N orth-Western Branch.

GENERAL WOFK.

nen H. La.wson, Missionary.

A year's report! How impo!'sible to tell· in the short :pace given of the many thillgs that crowd into a twelve nonth-the duties to be performed, the care and disappoint­[lents, the heart-aches, yes the joys too; for after all it is a life f joy, and we rejoice all the way. because, through the maze f trinls find troll bles, we see vict.ory before U~. It is rather mmiliatiug though to be a "jack of all trades" only, but a nissionary's wife must ever be t,his; so many people of the hurch to care for, sick ones to look aftE:r, troubled ones to onsole, Epworth League, Tern perance Work, &c., t~ keep going. had hoped to be entirely free from the Boys' Orphanage

,ork, but the young missionn,ry sent to take charge of it {as ~oon r.ompelled to leave the country on account of ill­ealth. 'l'hen we be~ged the services to the end of the year f another missionary and his wife who were about to Iroceed home, so at various timE'S during the year the boys' rork has fallen back on me" Oqr hearts are cheered by the rrival of a ·promising young missionary just from the hlJlne md, Rev. E. B. Lavelette, who already has taken over charge nd got hold of things in a marvellous way.

I had hoped t,O spend all the cold season in evangelistio rork in the villag(ls with my husband, hut on the first trip ut I was thrust into iamine work on the borders of our own i~trict, and the burden wa~ laid on me,as in the fumine

34 ALIGAItH DISTRICT.

of three years ago, to rescue orphan children and widows. It was not of my own planning to begin a widows' home here in Aligarh. There never has been a place in North India where we could send 9 widow unless her support year by year was given too. We want this place to be a home for any poor widow who seeks a shelter. Just near our mission we have secured 45 acres of land at Rs. 57 per acre free from taxes. We have a certain time in which to pay for it, and we trust our Father to selld Ud the needed mOlley. The sons of these widows can enter the boys' orphanage, and the girl~ can be cared for in our girls' orphanage, both of which institutions we began in the famine three years ago, and have in them together 400 children.

We are in the midst of canals, and grain is cheap in this region. We are not likely to have a famiue herp, hence this is a most desirable place for these large institutlOns. It is hoped that out of our widows' home maoy bright olles may go forth to preach the gospel of Jesus. This is to be the aim of the institution, but for tho:;;e who do not have the ability to prepare for such workr we will have industrial work as weaving, farming, &c. We are busy get.ting buildings and clothes ready, so we can go out and gather in the scoreR of widows, who" if not helped, must soon die of starvation. 'Ve feel that God's blessing will be upon this work.

The Christian women who teach in the Boys' School have kept up regular visiting on Sundays to the villages DeaT by lIS, so in this way the gospel hrls been carried to quite a Dumber. Tract distribution in English and the vernaculars, lending books to the railway people, sending ont religious papers to those in the station who do not receive such other­wise, thftse are a few of the oppart.unities to do gOt1d that have come to me in particular. With perfect confidence in God our Father and Christ our Saviour and the Holy Spirit our Comforter, we go focward.

CAWNPORE DISTRICT.

Mrs. HosKins, Missionary. Another twelvemonth has .passed, and the time has come

to sum up the resul tR of the work for the year. Th('re are six Circuits on the Cawnpore District, each of which will be reported by those in charge of the work.

CA WN PORE CIRCUIT.

Mrs. Hoskins, Missionary. Miss M. Clark, .Assistant. Mrs. Cornelius, Pastor's wife. Khadima John, Khadima Dhar, Evan.tlelists. Chitiya LaI, Bessie Charles, Hetty Baij Nath, Rebecca Par5ha~

RiMe-readers. SOpJly Das, 'l'eacher. Dharmo Ham, KalIu, Ra.chel, Evmlgeiist Teachers.

The work in this Circuit has been carried on.a.~ in former years-h(JUse-to-house visitation among the families of Christlans .and inquirer8, zacana and muhalla visitiug, neigh­br)rhood prayer meetings, schools and Sunday schools 'Inelas aud suburban gathering~, and 00 lit.tle \\ayside sowing of S('ed, some of which we trust will pr<>ve to have fallen on good ground.

Miss Clark has fuund much encouragement in her work, and could open many more houses if she had the time to give. In only one installce has any opposition been made to the Bible tea.ching. One man thought that his famIly werE' becoming too much interested in Christian teaching, and said tha.t Christians were not wanted in his house, but after a fe\,· days the Bible women were called to renew their VIsit.s. The g-ospel i~ slowly but surely making its may into the darkened humes of heathendom, and we r~joice to know that many burdened hearts have been lightened as tbey have listened to the simple story of a Saviour's love.

The Bible women frequently have encoUl'aging ineidents to rela.te. In one muhalla a company of women were seated listening to the cl)nlforting words of a Blble woman who had just read the words of the Saviour, " Cume unto me, all ya that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest 1" aud as she talked a woman, weary with the burden of many hard ye~rs of life, interrupted her. "Read that again," said she, "rest, rest, rest! weary-heavy-ladeu-rest!" and when the precious words had beeu repented, Rhe sighed heavily

36 CA WNPORE DISTRICT •.

and said, "That is what I want, restl" With a glad heart the Christian woman told her of Him who said, " I am the Way," and explained to her that for nineteen centuries weary ones, coming to Him, had found the rest they sought, and that the way is op€'lJ still for all who feel t.heir need. "Good words, good words!" s~id the old woman," I, too, want that rest. I will seek that rest." 'fhis poor woman continues to find comfort in the gospel story, and declares that she no longer worships idols.

Work has been, at times. interrupted by ~ickness in the homes of the workers, but on the whole we see that some­thing has be€'n accomplished for the Master, and with re­newed courage look forward to the work of I-\nother year.

The Evange1i~t Bands have done good service in the District, visiting the different Circuits and spending some time -on each. In company with the Preacher-in-charge and his wife they have dsited the towns and villages, hulding meetings daily among the Chri~tians and· giving the go~pel mes~age to all who would listen. Oftentimes weary with walkiug over rough roads they have reached their destina­tion to find an audience ready to listen to them, and ignoring weal'illess and hunger 'have ~iven the call to the ." gospel feast" to the hnngJ'.v of soul, and encouraged them to accept that which is offered to them in Christ J eI:iUS, (' without money and without price."

In Cawnpore city the day schools have heen well attend­ed, and gnod prug' e~s made, while many changes take place, owing to remuvals of families or marriages aIllong the girl~, Some few stay on fr:>m one year tCJ afloth~r, and we are eOctJUraged to feel that such girls are becoming weH grounded in religious as well as secular instruction. Not infreqlleutly, when· a girl maITies into a family io the city, the teacher and Bible women are invited to ViRit the:oe, a.nd c'lntinue the 'instructiun given in the school. Prayer meetitlgs are held in Connection with two of these schoo1s, and heathen neigh­bors frequently gather in, attracted by t he singing.

Sunday school work is vigoroulolly carried on, taught by the Bib!e women and day school teachers. Several persons in the station contributed liberally toa Sunday School Christmas Treat last year, and with the conterts of boxps received ffom Am~rica all WEre made happy. Gifts of clothing were giv~n to needy ones, and thus the cold season WilS less of a trI~l than it otherwise would have been.

'fhe weekly prayer D)'eetings have been well attended, and the women nnd girls have takentbeir part in the Epworth League Prayer and ~ittrary Meetings.

CAWNPORE DISTRICT. 37

The Monthly Missionary Meeting hOB made us acquainted with the" reg-iolls beyond," several of the . lessons and essays being Oil foreign countries.

A monthly meeting of the' Woman's Christian Temper­ance Union has been held, and a deeper interest in this subject awakened through the distribution of Temperance Litera.ture audthe study of the Tt3mperance Catechi!'m. The women subscribe for twelve copies of" Parhezgari," a Temperance paper edited by the Rev. J~ W. Hal1, Meprnt, and as many more copies are given by Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Robertson.

The Young Womer!'s Christian Association Daily Readings are used every afternoon at the Dorcas Class, and the I. B. R. A. Readings for morning study.

The missionary has fuund less time for literary work than she had hopnd, still something has been aceomplished in this line which we trust may be ut:ied to God's glory.

The New York. N orth- Western and Philadelphia Bra/n­ches su pport the Bible women and schools in this District, and, with the New England and Pacific Branche~, are the patrons of the Hindustani Boarding S~hool.

AKBARPORE CIRCUIT.

Allce Da.ya Sin~h, Preacher's wife. Sachendl.-Adalina. Testov. Pakhrayan.-Elsie Das. Mariyam Jan, Evangelist Teachn-. Satt. -Esther Izhn.q. it

Twenty-five villages are regularly visited on this Circuit and sevellteen Ohristian women are under regular instruc­tiun. Two Christian and thr~e non-Christian girls form the nucleus of a school which, we trust, will soon increase in numbers. Female education is nl)t yet popular on this Circuit, but the workers are not without hope, as they are able to gather sixty pupils illto the three Sunday schools organized, and have always an interested crowd of mother s looking on and listening to the teaching giveu to their children.

Three woml3n have been baptized and much preliminary work done. The Evangelist Bands have twice visited this Circuit, once early in the year, and once in November.

Sctti has lately been opened for work, a number of men having been baptized and wishing a teacher for their families. This would have been impossil)le, but that the house iu which the teacher at Jhiujhak was living fell in during the rains, and as no other was a.vailable there, it was thought best. to transfer Mati Izhaq and his wife to Sati.

• Esthtlr Izhaq wa.s a.t Jhinjhak on the AuraiyaCircuit the first part of the you.r •.

38 CA WNPORE DISTRICT.

AURA.IY A CIRCUIT.

Bertha J a.i Ram, PreaCMY s wife. Auralya.-Ruth Dey La.J. Dibiapur.-Alice Ram Singh. Phaphund.-Minnie Rae.

The work on this Circuit has gone on about as usual. The Preacher's wife has been abundant in labors, and, so far as her strength has allowed has travelled over the Circuit with her husband.

Some interesting cases among inquirers have been noted, and the instruction given has resulted iu the baptism of six women.

There are yet seventy families on this Circuit where the families are divided as regards their religious interests, but in many of these homes the women listen with interest to the gospel message. and leem to have no faith in their. old religion, but hesitate to take baptism, as this will separate them from their relatives, who now oppose them when they speak of joining their husband in a profession of faith in Christ

Bertha relates that on one of her trips she visited a woman whose husband had recently been baptized. He was firm in his adherence to Christ, although obliged to bear persecu tion from his friends. When Bertha approached the house, the women called out to her from the door, "Do not come here: I want no Christians here. The Chnstians have spoiled the father of my children. Go away." Bertha ~p)ied: "I have come a long way. I am tired; you will surely let me rest a little!' After a little the woman reluc­tantly consented, a.nd a conversation followed, and presently Bertha ventured to give her mess8~e. The woman had already become interested in Bertha s children who where with her, and when the older one began to sing with her mother, she drew closer to them. Ere the visit was over the woman was bemoaning her hardness of heart, and with tears asked forgiveness for her discourtesy, begging Bertha to pray for ber, and to come again to visit her.

The pegple in Auraiya city are very friendly. When the Prea~her-in-eha.rge expl'esseda desire last year to have a. Christmas celebrat.ion, Hindus sud Mahomedans ·eontri­bnted liberally, with the result that joy reigned all through thetowD and its suburbs. At the earnest request of the Christians and others, the Missionary and his wife spen t Christmas among them.

At the morning service in the tent were Americans, Anglo-Indians, MfI,homedaus high and low, Hindus of many castes, and on the outeJedge, people of no caste, or outcast~.

CA WNPORE DISTRICT. 39

A forlorn company of women and children, scantily clothed­and entirely unclothed were several children-gathered later about the missionary's wife, and received from her clothing and food. Our hearts ached as we saw the evident poverty of these 'people, the most of whom were known to the preacher and his wife as truly needy and deserving of charity.

At Dibiapur two Chriftian women are under special training for Evangelistic work. They have completed the first year's course of study, and are eagerly pu~hing on in the second )ear'8 course. ,,7 e hope to have these both working as Evangelist teachers before another year closes.

Alice Ram Singh has done efficient work here, and also at Phaphund, where she goes once a week. In both places Fhe gathers the Christian women for instruction, and assists those who are learning to read. She also visits the neighbouring villages and finds many interested hearers.

M unni Rae in Phaphund, though quit~ an invalid, and not an educated woman, has been able to 1 ell the gospel story as she learned it, and fmU} her own Christian experience has taught the value of the" free gift" to many in the town and villages around.

There are five Christian girls and three non-Christians in the one day school on this Circuit, and the three Sunday schools register seventy pupils.

BITHUR CIRCUIT.

Rosma Khan, 'llIift of Preadur-i1t-charge. Bithup.-Martha Bakhsh. Old Bithur.-Bilasu Lal. Sheopajpup.-Rosma Khan

KaUDsilla. Da.tt_

Although Bithllr is the chief town of this Circnit, it has seemed best for the Preacher-in-charge to have his head­quarters at Sheorajpur. Nine villages and towns on this Circuit were visited by one of the Evallgelist Bands! and with good result s.

In Beri there is a small community of seven Christian families, and here was found a Sunday school of twent.y-fi\·e children, with an equal number of adults. At Lachman Purwa, one mile from Sheorujpnr, a little company of six Christian families were greatly strengthened and comforted by the presence and help of these experienced Christians. So also at Shamsapore, nearly six miles distant, and at Jarari, where three Chl'istian families a.re living up to the light they have receiYed, and longing for n. resident. teacher.

In Sheorajpur house-to-hollse \'i~itation and mnhalla work is carried on, and the neighbouring \'illnge~ are visit.ed a8 OppOI'tuuit,y offl\l~.

40 OA WNPORE DISTRICT.

Martha Bakhsh carried on the work in Bithur for a time alone, but we were able to arrange for another hBlpel' there, and we are glad to resume work at Old Bithur. Bot.h these women find their time fully occupied with zanana and muhalla work and school teaching. Twenty-two pupils w('re ,present when Mrs. Bond and I visited the school a short time ago, and the Sunday School registerl:l a mnch larger number.

Some of the more Hdvanced girls have a good knowledge {If Scriptlll'e verses and hymns.

A gond work was done at the mela in Bithur this year. Missionaries and helpers. preachers and Bible women and col­port~urs were all busy in making known the way of Salvation to the crowd who had gathered at this, to them, sacred place. ,; Mother Gunga" had retreated, and to reach her waters, the crowd must travel a mile and a half across her sandy. deserted bed, and the people willingly lingered to hear the gospel story, ere they started on their toilsome wa) to reach t.he priests and get their blessing.

The gospel was preached at night to immense crowds. by means of the Stereopticon, and it seemed as if the aGdience~ would never tire of -seeing and hearing the pictured and explained Bible story.

KANA UJ CIRCUIT.

Tamizan Gardner. wife of- Preacher-in·charue. Kanauj. - Nasiban Ma.n. Tirwa.-Martha Singh. Bilhaur. -Lilian Masih*

The Kanauj Circuit suffered severe1y from ttboycotting" in the l~tter p~rt of 1898, and for some mOllths of "his year, but is beginning to recover itself: A number of ChntStian families ~oved away. Some did not for a time reveal them­selves to the new preacher, and altoget.her the work seemed discouraging. Time, pa.tience and Christian courtesy have combined to bring about a better stat~ of things, and the preacher's wife reports twenty h')uses regularly visited, six: muhal1as and five villages under the supervisi\'n of the wor­kers. But one woman has been baptized, but thirty-five al'e daily learning the word and r~ceiving Christian instruction.

There are two Sunday schools with thirty-:five pupils. and in other places as many onlookers and casual hearers.

The workers on this Circuit are not discouraged, but are tru~ting in God for a blessing on their labors, and f'll1y believe that another twelvemonth will show much better reRults.

* For nille months only.

CAWNPORE DISTRICT.

ORAl CIRCUIT.

Mary·Birj Lal, wife of Prea.cher-i11--ckarge. Ol'ai.-Pasandida Lal.. Kuneh.-Mary Hamilton. Jalaun.--Bella. La.l, Dulari Ramzani. Kalpl.-Miriam Lal Moth.-Janki Masih.

41

The work on the Orai Circuit is most encouraging. The Bible women have been faithful in labors, and the Christi>l.D women have been growing in grace and ~he knowledge ()f our Lord Jesus Christ. •

The Circuit Report, as given by the Preacher's wife, shows one hundred arId D.\'e hom.es, fourteen muhallas, and ten vill­ages regularly visited, four hundred and two constant hearers of the 'Vord, with varying numbers of lisfjeners as the Bible women travel fl'um place to place.

The Evallgelist Band have given assistance on this Cir­cuit with much profit, for, although hut four baptisms are reported, the women in hfJrnes where the husband has already b~en baptized, are much more inclined to Chri~tianity; indeed, there is a marked interest among them, and a notice­able decrease of idolatrous worship.

In every house and every muhalla \1isited the work of God is read and explained, and hymns sung and taught. Women and children are taught Bible verses, and six women are learning to read, knit and sew. The baptized women receive special instruction, for from among these, it is hoped a few at least will become teachers or evangelists.

Thongh poor, the women give a little gladly to help on the work. When one of the Evangelist Bands was on this Circuit in .'March, they were well received at every town and village, and gr!lin, 'regetables, and sometimes money was urged upon them, and requests were frequent that they would repeat their visit soon.

There are five Sunday Schools on this Circuit, with an average attendance of seventy-four girls. Many women come in to listen, but these are not (~ounLed as pupils.

Mil,jam'LaI was traiued in our Evangelist Training School in Cawnpore, and is one of our most efficient workers. She walks long distances, and never tires of tellin~ the story of God's love. Her heart overflows with gratitude for what she has received, and she longs for all to have the same bleEsings.

42 CAWNPORE DIS1.'RICT.

CA. WNPORE GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL.

Mrs. Worthington, Supmntmdent. Miss Weathrall. Miss Leach, Assistants. Sundri Dhar, JJ111tron. Julie Lal, Miriam Singh, Lily Johanil'3, Ra.chel Lal, Frances Gangu,

Parbatti Laltu, Teachers.

The year now closing has been one of uninterrupted work, and IDallY blessings. The health of the girls has . been remarkably good, and there has been a kind, helpful spi.·it among ·them, and all have been happy. More than any other year before, the girls thiR year have been trying to do what is right ; even among the very little ones this has been notice­able. Om; older girls are, with one or two' exception~, living bright Christian 'live~, and iii is gratifying to IoJee the younger ones, as they grow in years, grow in gooclnees and helpfulness.

We clo~e the year with 12g boarders. We have had as many as 135, but some changes were made, and two married, alld have gone to homes of their own. Our dear Annie Tracey, who was the organizer and leader of a little bstnd of girls who have given their mite and entertainment year aft.er year to raise monf'Y fur village work, is now the wife of a good chrif:tian man, and has gone herself to live and preach ChrIst in the vil1ages. This work has always heen dear to her heart, for she was a village girl, and came to llS starvt!d and weary of life. and ~he has always felt she wanted to tell others of the bles-;ings that came to her here. Five out of ollr six Dat ive teachers are onr own girls. They have been faithful workers, and have lightened many of our burdens. Two of these passed the Go\'ernment Middle Examination this yeur. One'of our Middle-passed girls ib now studying in T.Ju('know, in the Entrance ClaRd. When she has finished she will come back to help us. We have very gratifying reports of her.

Another of onr girls is helping Dr. Scott in Bindraban, and is doing well. We have now a class of girls who are learning to do fancy needle work. Though beginners, their work ,has been much admired, and has had a ready sale.

Four girls were received inte' full connection this year, and 27 more joined as PrOblttioners. Our lfissionary Society have had their regular meetings, and have collected Rs. 10-10-0.

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

A •• 1. Lauck, Prindpal. Laura BobenllOuse, A.H9iHtantPrincipal.

CAWNPORE DISTRICT. 43

The regular w()rk of the year has been carried on ~tca(lily and with unu~ual zeal. Both teachers and pupils have manifested a sustained interest, which has amounted to enth usiasm.

The number is not as large as last year, but this is due to the removal of some paren ts with their children to other parts of India. Applications have already been recei'\'£'d for next year wh~r.h will bring the number up, we believe, higher than it has been.

Financially the school has held its own this year. We have added some necessary conveniences at a cost of about R~. 600.

The Government examinations are only just over, but we have every reason to believe all the girls have done well in it. The Inspector's report was very g.ratifying, the more so, as he took the fichool quite by fiurprisc. His appreciative words to Miss Bobenhouse helped to lighten the extra burden of work she had been obliged to carry during three months when she wa~ left so much alone. He was especial1y pleased with the practical lines on which the school is working.

The pupils have learned sumething of all kinds of house­work, and have enjoyed it in a degree which was a pleasant surprise. The class in cutting l:tnd fitting is begun iu a sys­tematic way, and we feel tha.t uur teacher in that department has been given to us in answer to prayer. The spirit of harmollY and perfect oneness of purpose which has pre\'ailed throughout is a matter for deep thankfulness. This school is thoroughly Christian, nut in name merely, but ill fact. Every teacher and every pupil is profe~seclly a Christian, alJd all but the very youngest take part in Christian services and work. If one of our teachers should be asked what her first object in this school is, she would without doubt say, to serve God by training" theFle childr~n fur Him I and the conscientious way they perform all dut.ies would confirm it.

If allY of the pl1pil8 who are old enough to think were a~ked what they are here for they would sa) to learn how to please God. We believe this school is in a position to do and is doing a work which is accomplished by no other school in India. 'Ve may not be altogether self-supporting yet, nor have the numbers some other schools may boast, but weighed in the light of eternity it shall not be found wanting.

CA WNPORE EXGLISH CHURCH. Mrs. Robertson, Missionary.

A review of the year's work brings much enco\Jrag~ment, yE>t we feel that, milch more might have been done. Indeed, when the work presses around, one wi~he~ t.here were more

CAWNPORE DISTRICT.

hOUTS in the day than ordinary, so asta meet the manycal1s a.nd thereby accomplish more. But Godhas given us only 24 hours in the day, and He knows best.

Since we returned from Conference last January there have been innumerable blessings and tokens of love ·to us as a Church. The visit of Mr. Hill (R. Scotch Evangelist;) made was very opJilortune; $9veral were converted,whilemsny in­different ones were stirl'ed up. and older ChristIans too were definitely led to fuller submission and deeper'sprituality. Sad and ouly too true is it that some did not keep the bless­ings long, but, thank God, some have steadily grown. This has been most noticeable iu the claAs 'meetings~ of which I am privileged to be the leader. The class meetings were regularly attended by good numbers the nrsthalf of the year; then the numbers grew less on ncconnt of the trying weather, and latterly the attendances have been small, yet the faithful few come, and the hours from week to week are seasons of refreshing and mutual uplifting. Speaking for myself. I think it the choice hour of the week.

There is a little money box in connection with the class . meetings which receive offerings for the poor, averaging

Ra. 2-4-0 a month. In connection with onr work the weekly Dorcas meeting

"has been carried on, as of old, by the ladies. SlIme have had to leave the statiO'Il because of their husband's business, some because or sickness, and one was called Home by the dear Filther. Tue year's work has been very mllch less than in previous years, because of the It)~s ofthcse energet.ic "'orkers ; yet, not a little has been done ill one way and another, while the monthly bills for a girl in cur Girls' High School have been reglllarlymt::t. And I am glad to say our money does not seem to have been paid out on her in vain. Although at the beginning of the year some things were discouraging, she has been doing very satisfactory in school, made progrp.ss in the sewing class, and carried oft' the prize for dressmaking.

l'here is a branch of the W. C. T. U. in Cawnpore, and I am glad to say tha.t a. number of the ladies of our church with a few others systematically keep this np, with monthly meetings of a combined devotional business and instructive natnre.

Weare a.lso in touch with the Y. W. C. A.., which has been blessed of God this year. Last mentioned, yet not least in interest, is the Layton Chapter of the Epworth League. Being privileged t:> be the President, it gives me very grea,tpleasl.lre to record that there has been progres~, and the spiritual Con-

CAWNPORE DISTRICT. 45

dition of the individual has improved, giving in' cODRequence better meetings, more - definite testimonies an~ more prompt respt)llsesin prayer.

'fhe devotional meetings are taken charge of by a differ­ent person each week. and this too has proved very helpful.

The long loo"ked-for all India Convention in October will never be forgotten by all faithful Leaguers and I am glad to say that our leaguers received many lessons and much in­spiration which will serve us for more successful work in the future.

KASGANJ DISTRICT.

After the death of Rev. Hasan-Rasa-Khat;t in August last Rev. J. B. Thomas, my husband, was appointed to super­intend the Kasganj district until Conference, and so it falls to my ~ot to write the report of the woman's work of the dis­trict. In November we held their District Conferences. Mi~8 Sullivan joined us in the work, and we sperit a very profit­able week in their midst. The work is well organized, and is fairly prosperous, but is sorely in need of more thorough supervision. The workers, with a few ex(!eptions, are very young, and need some one to lead th~m. I wa.~ very pleased to find three of my old girls from the BudaoD Girls' Boarding School. The contrast between them and theChristian women from the villages was very striking, and from their reports it would seem that they are developillg into very valuable workers. '

Miss Rullivan with her Evangelistic Band is travelling about the district, and it is hoped she will give these girls some valuable lessons in met,hods of work.

I have had no opportunity of vigiting the out Circuits, consequent,lyam able to give a general opinion only of the wOlk as a whole. There, as elsewhere, are some discoul'ag­ments and many encouragments, but upon the whole we think the work of the district is about on a par with that of others, which speaks well for native supervision.

The work is supported by the DesMoines Branch.

MEERUT DISTRICT.

Mrs. P. M. Buck, M'zssionary. ANUPSHAHR CIRCUIT.

Sophia Haqq, Pastor's wife. J anki Shah, Bholi Singh, Georgiana Singh, Bible-reatkrs. Slmdri LaI, Evan~list Te.uher.

BULAND,.,UAHR CIRCUIT.

Elizabeth Masih, Pastor's wife. Mary Cornelius, Grace Duyal, Jane Wilson, Sophie Samuel, Gyano.

Martha Lartiu8, Bible-readers. Salome Lal, Martha Daud, Mary Samuel, Salome Benjamin, Evangelist

Teachers.

GHAZTABAD CIRCUIT.

Rachel Wesley, Pastor's wife. Annie Jeremy, Annie Ma.sih. Bible-readers. Harda.i, Sukhdey, Evangelist TeacMrs.

HAPUR CIRCUIT.

Pauline Phillips, Pastor's wife. Rose Phillips, Nellie Dass, Mary Matthew, Mary Charan, Julia Lal, Bible­

rtatUTs. Junia, Gaurja, Kernna, Evangelist teaclurs.

KHURJA CIRCUIT.

Pyari David, Pastor's wife. Elizabeth Chand, Harriet Bllrnes, Bible-readers. Manglo, Evangelist Teaclter.

MEERUT CIRCUIT.

Mary Lal, Pa,stor's wife. Sundri Mall, Traini11K Sdlo"l. Alice Maaih, Clara Alexander, Elizabeth Roberts, Lizzie Da\is, Bible­

reatkrs. N eoli, Sugundi, Evangelist Teacltn-s.

IlUWANA CIRCUIT.

Phulmaui Dass,Pastor's vuije. Janki LaI, Karuna Dayal, Bible·readers. Saggo, Nanki, Pyari, Phebe, &damo, EvanueliBt Teachers.

MUZAFFARNAGA.R CIRCUIT.

Ruth Buok, PalloYs wife. Fyari, Elisha, Gauri Dd.88, Hira, Elma George, Bible·rcladers. Jane, E1:a'llflelw Teache1'.

RABUPURA CIRCUIT.

Grace Haqqf Pastor's tmfe. -Alice Samuelt Phulma.ni Lal, Alice Raymond, Dulari Lal, OilJ/e.reaaers. Rosie, Pyari,BvallJ(lelist Teachers.

8IKANDARABAD CIRCUIT.

Emily Williarms. Hannah Phillips, Eli7A JAI, Bib'e-readf"a. Pyari, Kbimia, Jane List, EVIIKeliJI 1 caclters.

MEERU'l' DISTRICT. 47

At Ollr last Conference, in the rearrangmg of the work, three of our circuits, Delhi, Soneput and Paniput, were put in ~he Aligarh District, while the Bulandshahr District was merged into the Meerut one. We also re(~eived back the Ra.bupura Circuit where the work is support.ed by Mr. and Mrs. Ingram. This gave us the carE; of a Christian commu~ nity of about 16,000 sonls living in more that 800 vill~ges. l'he District covers an extent of territory of about 120 miles in length and 60 in wid th, \vith a population of abuu t 3 millions. Our work is divided into ten circuits, each under the charge of a nati ve ordained minister. To reach this vast work and hold it. as a whole my plan has been to go with my husband as far as possible to atttnd the quarterly Conferences which are held in different centres of these circuits. The Bib]e~ readers and Evangelist teachers when able to be present give their reporrs in tht'se meetings, and, when the distance i~ too great for them to come, they are given by the workers that comc from the places where they live. The Pr6t1cher-in­charge also gives a careful account of the woman's work in his quarterly report. Hc is al,vays made to feel rcsponsible for this department of work in his circuit. How often when it has been given us to speak in theEe meetings have we urged on these dear Indian brethren that the strength of their work lieEl in leading the mothers and childrcn of th('se new converts away from idolatry :lnd their old heathen cust.oms into the light of Christ. For the hand that touches the baby's cot that swings from the thatched roof of the~e little mud huts is the one, as in more favo'.lred lands, that moves and molds this vast empire. \Vhile 'we ha\"e been able to do so little ourselves save touch­ing these centres, we have been able to interest ollr people in planning to do more for the village women. The wives of our preachers-in-charge, most of them as unpaid workers, have helped very much. In cases where a pony has been allowed to the preachers they have, at t.heir own expense, provided H,

cart in which they cq,n take their wives with them, we helping in the kbeping up of this itinerating outfit which they could not do with their small salaries. \Ye have now eight of these carts in our district. Aside from this mallY of our pastor-teachers' wives amI Bible-readers are walking with their husbands t.o the near villages in the circle of which they have charge. I have llmged to have more of this kind of work done. But often our Bible-reader lives alone in a town of from three to fivc thousand inhabitants, she has a number of new Christians under her care, has also work among her heathen neighbours and such zena.nas as have opened up to

48 MEEUUT DISTRICT.

her. Then there is -the inevitable black-eyed baby- that smiles and winks at you, and the other little ones which have only gotten a few stages further on who are aU-unconscious of how they stand in the way of the teacher ar.d mother going off ten or a dozen miles through the hot India sun on foot to instruct these -new converts, who so sadly need her and long f,lr her ~~omiDg. Under the~e circumstances it is a joy to find our brethren are taking a deeper interest in this work. But yesterday I was lamenting to two of them that their wives had only reached six of the sixteen villages under their charge. With earnest words they assured me they did teach the women as far as posssble in their jou:-neyings from village to village. And yet it seems after all we have tried to do we have scarcely touched these eight hundred villages as far 8S our womellls work is concerneo. The call is as urgent, the need is as great as ever for labourers in these "regions beyond.N

It is hard for the uninitiated to J'ealise the needs of our village Christians. As a rule, they belong to the depressed classes. We first found them at disadvantage. They had for ages been oppressed by their neighbours, they had neither social . privileges nor were allowed to attend any schools or have anything in common with the better classes. In many cases their becoming Christians brought a storm of persecu­tion upon them. Over and over fulse charges have been breught against them, some have been cast into prison, afJd we have had no power to overt.um t.he fal~ charges that with cunning hate have been brought against them. Then often on their becoming Christians they knew but little. It was the old hung-er for the Ood-created solut for God, that no heathen worship could satisfy. The Holy Spirit shone into their darkened hearts, they saw the truth in Jesus and accepted it; but it found them down on the old level of heathen superstition. They knew nothing of the Bible and little of the historical Christ, they had no Sabbath, and were unacquainted with Christian u8aies. Their women were still more ignorant, their little girls had been given in heathen marriages that no po\\er could annul and their boys had some infant bride. With all the old rites which ior ages had been fastened upon them with reference to births, marriages, and burial, for in these social functions idol worship has its citadel, it is seen ho\v dark· their state is. No ma.tter how true they are, how sincerely they renounce idola.try, yet much is still to be done. Thepaptor-teacher, as a rule, has the care of many villages, he cannot see them often, he can scaroely stop to teach them to I'earl their Bibles.

MEER UT DISTRICT. 49

Then a~ a rlile he himself hHs not been a Christian long. Under these circumstances, is it a wonder we long fur more labourers? Aside from this direct work for our Christians there are thousands of inquirers waiting for instruction, and the need of the millions who still corne and go in heathen darkness and know not how dark it is.

'Ve have had this year a number of things to encourage us. Our Snmmer Bible School was a great blessing. We held most of our Bible·readcrs and Teachers in from the district. \Ve kept up regular classes, had evangeli:->tic ser­vices, and workers' meetings. It was indefd a blessed time. Often we held to crowd back the tears when some village sister who had just been lifted out of heathenism a few years befur~, who had been taught ill our Training School or by some faithful worker, would stand up and read a well pre­pared e~sny on some Bible subject or some pLase of mlr work. Miss Lawson and I gave most of oar time during this month to this school. ~

Anothf'r feature of real E"ncouragement was OUl' Annual Mela held as usual in November. Our people had Dot reached their homes after the Bible School, when we saw the summer rains were failing and prices began to go up. While in t his district, most of which i:; netted with canals, we were spared real famine with all its horrors, yet we were soon battling with all grains at famine rates. The plentiful har­vest of the winter had been garnered, and the summer crops were not an entire failure, yet the avaricious (( bnniya " keeps his hand on the pn lse of all India and a large failure of crops in any extended religion, brings at once everywhere all prices of grain t.o famine rates. OUl people had not yet recovered from the awful famine of 1896 and 1897 and so it came to them with double force. As so many had at.tended onr Sum­mer School and all were feeling the hard times so keenly, I "Tote that I would not a~k the women workers to come to the mela. Indeed, I doubted if we would hold our Women's Confer~nce at all, as the workers were so scattered and the di'3tances so great. Before the day of opening an doubts were scattered for of all the workers, I think not one had failed us un account of the pinch of poverty. Tender ly I looked at the faded dresses that had been kept over from last year, noted their thin cotton" chadars" and ~aw the little children wore no gala dresses as their mothers love to deck them in for this great gathering. No words were eaid, but we felt the dear Master kllew it all, and they went back to their distant homes re-robed in the garments of righteousness ~nd fitted, we trust., for higher service. Our hearts often grow heav) with

50 MEERUT DISTRICT.

the burden' of these great responsibilities, but bowed beside these dear workers in a oonsecration service all doubts are swept away and faith triumphs.

It has been a great grief that we have had so f~w in our Traimng SehC?ol this yetjr. We closed the year with only f(>ur women. This iR the great hope of uur work, bu t with such great pressure OtI the work of the General Society by whom t~is ~ork has been supported, we could not do much in this line.

At times our work in the villages has been hindered ~vhere it has been impo!'"sible to find a home for our workers, as village people seldom build houses to rent, and, where OppositlOn prevails, WIll IJot rent those they could. To meet this want and to establish a few centres where we could have a home for our workers and a school in the midst of these large oircuits, I have appealed to a few friends at home for help. One response has ovme from a c1Jnsecrated broth€r. He-is arranging t·o give us a building, an.d support the work in a way that will do much for God's cause in this needy field.

Our Sunday School and school work will be seen from the statistics. We ha.ve had about 1,100 baptisms during the year. In the list a fair proporlioL of these have been women and girls.

CITY ANY VILLAGE EVANGELISTIC WORK.

Anne E. Lawson. -Missionary. Harriet Fisk. Martha Peter, Alfrida. Sterling, Gulbi ltobin, Mary

Sa.ndal, Bible-readt:rs.

The great need in our work at the pJ'e~ent time is to gi ve instruction to our village Chrisr.ians, and we have made spe­cial effort this year to reach as many as po~siblf\, though the work in Meerut City hots been carried on Te:-gularly. Our work is almost eutirely among baptized peop\c, but we have a few high caste zenanas whose doors were opened ill such 9.

way that we could not refuse to entel'. During the past two months I have spent much time in

camp and touring among the villages of this district. Mrs. Fisk has beeu my faithful helper, and I have been pleased with the way she addrefises the people.

We have visited and talked to the people in forty villages, and our hearts have been touched with eagerness to letlrn that many of these poor people maDill'st, an~ the earucst pleas they make for a teacher to liv,e among them.

This work is intel'estingand certaillJymost important, but often sad and ,discouraging. Tbe people are extremely. pOOl' and th~se famine times keep them working from morOlDg till night. The workers are few; many of ow' pnstoI-Lcachers

MEERUT DISTRICT. 51

having from fifteen to twenty vilJag.=-s in their· circuit. I\fa~y have never seen a Bible woman a.s it is difficult for the wives of the pastor-teachers to walk such long ciistances. Conse­quently the village women are vp.ry backward and neglected.

In one village a grizzly old man came up to me and said "lEss Sahib, I have been baptized sixteen years and 110

teacher has been sent to my village yet. When will you send one t'

In another village we entered a certain house and were cordially received, but our attention was a.t once attracted to the freshly white-washed mud shrine in the little court-yard. When we told them that God w~s a Spirit alld that it was ,nong to wurship images made with hauds, an old man said "Teach us a better way and we will break down this image." A bright boy from the same group said "when shall we become Christians 7" I was glad to be able to say that the young man who had corne with us that day would return and teach them regularly.

We also found an earnest inquirer in the Mohammedan who drove our ox-cart, who wauted to know whether in America there were any other than the Christian religion. He seemed much impressed with thp trut,h of Christianity, but as usual, he is bound by customs tha.t are like fetters of steel.

Snch is our work with its lights and shades, jolting in our ox-cart over )'ough roads, toiling throu~h the saud or walking through freshly irrigated fieHs of wheat, St0pping for an hour or so in a village to teach of sin and salvation and then on to allothel'. Oftien have I been rernindt:!d of the work of John the Baptist, that voice in the wilderness crying "Repent for t.he Kingdom of heaven is at hand II and of that ~Iaster 'l'eacher who "went throughout every cit.y and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God," and I have felt that no work is ~o important a~ this and have prayed at the close of a weary day" Lord, if I may I'll serve anoth~r da)'."

HOWARD PLESTED MEMORIAL SCHOOL

Miss Melva. A. Livermore, W. F. M •. S~ Missionary. ~Hss Eva Harris. Miss Edna. Baily, Assistants. Shepherd Ga.rduAr, Margaret Gar~uer, Khrishuu Swami, Alice Swa.mi,

Rosie DaliS, Annie Brown, Harriett Dass, TeacMrs. Mrs. Price, .Matron;

Another year has C:lme! The old year had many tests and many ble~sings. As we look back UP')fi it we can truly say, "He hRoth led all the way," "There hath not fallen o;e word of all his good promise."

52 MEERUT DISTRICT.,

To us, a novice in work, Miss Law~on's helpful counsel and wise judgment, born of experience, has been of untold benefit.

Six girls were married ir'lID our school this year. Five became the wives of workers .. One was married to a Ohristian farmer. From four word has already come of their love and zeal for the work and of their real success in it..

Three gir~s will spend their new year iu Heaven. Dear Francis was one of our teachers who had come up through the school to that position. She was one of our best teachers. It is so difficult to realize that she has really gone. Her death was triumphant. God took little Chotti Christmas eve. Ear]y Christmas morlJing in the grey dawn of the late sunrise, we laid ber little body away io au uncoffined grave to await the Resllrrection Morn. The last few days of her il1ness she told us thai she woula soon go to Jesus, that He was calling her. . The older girls often go with the Bible women to the city. This gives them practical training in Christian work. Occa­sionally they go with me to hold meetings in different places of the city, and the sweet, helpful way in which some of the older ones present simple Bible truths to those darkened minds s1.lrprises me greatly. I question if girls at home could do so well.

During the year that has jU8t closed, one hundred and five girls have been enrolled. At present ninety are in regu­lar attendance, The girls do all their grinding and sewing, and all their own cooking with the exception of the help of one woman.

To increase the missionary collection this year the girls gave up a part of their food for oue week. Many are learning to give in other ways.

Word oomesn-om one of the Missionaries, who is itinerat­ing in the villages, that H Our schools are the back-bone of the work." It is not easy to write a school report. Not Dlany startling· incidents to rela.te, not many extraordinary occur­ances. The everyday work is much the Si1.me. But we believe that under-God we are bnilding Christian character tha.t shall stand the test of time and of heathenism.

This work: is supported by the New Ellgland, Topeka, Dea Moines, and and Columbia. River Branches.

MU550RIE DISTRICT.

MUSSOORIE AND RAJPORE.

Mrs. N. M. Mansell, M.D., J.J1issionary. Mary Jacob, Parlor's wife. Eliza Philip, Miriam JOl>hua, Teachers. Tabitha, Phulmani, Bible-readers.

We have just closed a successful year in Mussoorie anc! Raj pore. The work has steadily iucreased and im proved in quality. Our helpers have more and more gaiued the con­fidence and gf1od-will of the women in the Zanauas, and are making their iufluence felt amOIlg' them.

The School in the Landour Bazaar, MUSBoone, taught by Eliza Philip, bas done better than usnal and has held its own in numbers and tone. The Rajpore school haq done fairly well under Miriam Joshua, and has had only one interruption this year.

The Prayer and Praise meeting on Tht1r~day afternoomt, the Class Meetings OIl Saturday afteruoons, the Christian Endeavour on Thursday, and Epworth League on Friday, have been well attended by our christian women and children. Some high caste Hindu women atl end our meetings. They say they come to learn to pray and to worship God. The monthly missionary meeting has been kept up as usnal, but as our people are poor and can offer only a few shells or occa­sionallya pice, our collections have been small. All our Christ­ians have taken a decided stand against old and idolatrous customs, especially the old marriage cnstoms, and there is a fl'esh and healthy impetus ou edu\!at.ion~d lines. All the Christian women ara faithful in attending cc cottage n prayer meetings, held daily in snme native Christian's honse; as a result. Christi~n family life is improving, and will compare favorably with European Christian hODle-life in India.

It is my vel y painful duty to record the dt>at h of my esteemed and beioved sister and co-worker, Mary Jacob. She .came to us about three years ago fnll of promise aud hope, Intensflly interested in the work which she took up enthu­siasticallyand which she continu~d until her death in October. Her life seemed consecrated to di vine service. She was ill only a few days and died of puerperal fe'ler. Frequently during her short illness, she recited the I~I Psalm clasped her hands in prayer, and asked for the hymn "Jesus Lover of

54 MUSSOORIE DISTRICT.

my Soul " to be sung by the sorrowing ones whohovercn ab(lut her bed. She spoke often of the abiding city to which she was hastening, and of her expectation of meetiug them all again in the Radiant Hereafter. She left behind man3Y weeping friends, a husband and two little daughters, one of whom continually wailed" Mama, my mama,," at the open grave. The completest sympathy was felt for these children throughout the gathered multitude. Truly uur Christians "die wel1."

The work throughout the Muss!)orie District is enCOll­raging. It was my privilege to go over the entire field this ~'ear with my husband. We saw much to be thankful for. We saw hundreds of mell, women and children being instructed and led to the blessed Je')us. The plagll~ hm; subsided in nearly every placp, but a very severe fa.mine is again imminent, in fact is here, and the suffering is great in many places. Our native Chris~ians will not escape sdfering starvation and death, for the famine is grpat in the M ussoorie District. We need your prayers and your sympathy.

P ATIALA CIRCUIT.

H. R. Farnon, 'lbij~ of Pastor. Banup.-G. Jacob. Sanamain.-Eva Singh. Rajpurah.-A. Thomas.

The work is done from four centres. We have five Dliy Schools in which are 41 are taught, and 6 Sunday Schools with an attendance of 181. The women and girls sing Christian laymns .and bhajans gladly, repeat the catechism and ten commandments and learn Scripture verses. There are Chnstian women in Ajraur and in SamanaJ who are left without tEo.aching for lack of a Bible-reader.

RoORKEE CITY AND VILLAGE WORK.

Mrs. LYOD, Missionary. Choti Sba, Rosie Ransom, Ja.ne RobiD, Nakoria Singh, Romna Singh,

Lucy Lal, Lachmi Lal, Julia Singh, Kabulia Din, Phuimaui Ohand. Bi6Ie-reatlers. Also six ElIanceiiJt Teadurs.

Another year of hsppy service for the Master is now near its close, and with joy we can say it 11a..:; been a blessed one. E"pecially as we think of the Evangelistic meetings we have held with our village Christians in viIJagetl away with no resident worker. Twenty seven (27) villageR in our circuits thus have been visite.d. MeetingR held under trees, inopeJl yards, iti village homes, in the beautiful mc,on-Iight, the glad tidings of great joy ha.ve been gil-en to meo, women and children, hnlrts have been blessed, many have bowed with us

MUSSOORIE DISTRICT. 55

nprayer, some have learned to pray themselves. To some of iheee villages I have been able to repeat my visits, and now ihati the village carts are started, regular visits by our Bibl~­~eaders will follow and better work is bound to be the out .. !Ome. We have been able to give two months to this village ~vangelistic work this year, and hope 800n to be out again tfter our District Conference. The Bible-readers have each oeen of good help in villages around the centres of their work. [ aLtribute onr success and manifold blessing in a great measure to our prayer-meetings held regularly every Satur­Jay. Last District Conference I was led to tell our women we would thus pray every Saturday for oue honr, especially for our village work in our circuits and the whole district too, that God would fit and flll us with His Spirit and bless our messages. At times when our monthly meetings have been held we have all met together; at other times a few of lIS; but everyone I think has kept this in her villa~e by herself. In Lazikepnr circuit in one village all the Chamars have become Chri~tian~, and though they have been persecuted by the higher castle people, they are keeping time. They are now being taught by our Bible-reader an::i her husband.

V ILLAGE SCHOOL.

Our eight Village Schouls in the centres are thriving. We rejoice over 55 women and girls reuding; some are beginning the 3ed book in Hindi and the Bible as well. Their teacher.:;, some of our Bible-readers, themselves have to bring up their own studies; notwithst.anding this, the schools are get! ing good care. Our evangelist teachers are getting to be good helps. I pray the time may soon come wheu they will be able to take the work of their muhallas themselves and so let the Hible-reader be free fur other needy places. At the beginning of the year Mrs. CalJaghan was transfered fur Bengali work to Brindaban and we have Lucy Lal in her stead. "\\7 ith grain at famine prices our village Christians, who are very poor, suffer much. It iFi hard times for them to get a daily meal. It means something for the children to come and sit to. learn when they are huugry. Our worker, Chhoti Sha, has lam at the point of death. It has pleased ottr Heavenly Father to spare her and we pray she may be fully restured to health and to her little flock whom she has taught so faithfully and who love her much. As often as pos!!ible we have held OU1Y

Missionary meetings, had many iutl~resting profitabl~ hourti. " ... e pray for the grow~h in grace of oar dear Bible-readers that, going on from strength to slirellgth, they may win many souls for the Master. .

56 MUSSOORIE DISTRICT.

Our English Church work is growing. A Christian Associa­tion has been started, with a membp.r~hip of 40, of which a good number are students from the College here, some of whom lell.d the weekly meeting-s, and others take part also. Our Leper Asylum with 40 inmH.tes, 37 of whom are Christians, are happy in spirit. Visitors have been sur­prised at their cheerfulness. 220 Bapt,isms of women and girls thi~ year brillgs my number up to 758. Now to feed this large flock will be my aim, to try and reach them all and teach the word will Dot be an e~sy task as they live in vil­lages, running through our circuits far apart from each other.

We close now with prai~es to Him who has guided and blessed us the past year and with a bright outlook alld happy hearts for 1900. Our work is supported by the Minn~apolis Branch.

Minutes of the Eighth Annual Session

OF THE

WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOOIETY CON~ECTED WITH THE

North = West India Conference,

HELD IN

Muttra, January 17-21, 1900.

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Officers and Committees. 1900. ---P"esi,Zent .. MRS. N. M. MANSELL, M.D.

Vice-Prf.sidenl... . .. MISS MEI,VA A. LIVERMORE. Rerretary ... .MISS Ln.IAN E. MARKS. Offidal Oorrespondent... . .. MRS. EMMA MOORE SCOTT.

'l'1'easurer ... MISS ANNA E. LAWSON. Editor. "Ra:.!iq·i-Niswan" .. , MISS ISABEI,LA THOBURN. Statistical Secretary... ... MIS':; MARY EVA GREGG.

Finance and Reference Committee. Treasurer and Offichl.l Correspondent, Ex-Officio. Brs. Hoskins, Miss SulUvan, Miss Marks, Mrs. ~Iatthews, Miss Liver­

more, Mrs. Thuma!:!. Alternates.

Miss Lauck, Miss Gallimore.

Board of Education . . Mrs. Hcskins, Mrs. Worthington, Miss Sullivan, Miss Wright, Miss

Marks, Mrs. Scott. Board of Examiners.

Mrs. Emma. Moore Scott, Pre.,irlent; :Miss Wright, Re:'l;strar. Fi1'st Year.-Mrs. :Matthew8, Miss Sullivan, Miss Livermore. Secoud rear.-Miss Marks, Mis" Wl'igh:., }Irs. Buck. 'PlLird Year.-Ml's. Hoskins, Miss GallImore, M.rs. Scott. Fourth Year.-Mrs. Lawson, .:\11'8. Scott, Mrs. Hoskins.

Examining Committee for Muttra Training School. Mrs. Emma. Moore Scott, Miss Eva Brown, Mrs. J. C. Lawson, Miss

Li \'el·mo~e. Literature Committee .

. Mrs. Mansell, M.D., Miss Tryon, Mrs. Hoskins, ~liss Marh.

Publishing Committee. Miss Marks, Miss Bobenhouse, Miss Gregg.

Auditing Committee. Treasurer and Mrs. Matthews.

Building Committee. Mrs. Matthews, Miss SulliYan, Miss Marks.

Joint Committees. AGRA. MKDIC,\L HOl\m.

North- 'fVcst India Con/entice. Nortlt b,t/ia Confi-rmce.

Mrs. Mausell, M.D. Miss Scott, M.D. l\1iss Marks. Mrs. Thomas.

Miss Sheldon, M. D. Mrs. '\7 i1 son. .M rs. Parker. Miss F. Scolt.

MtTTTRA TRAINING SCHOOL.

North- Ut.es/ htdia Conference. },~orth India Co,rftrencc.

Miss Lauck. Miss Budden. Mrs. Matthews. Miss .J. Kule. Miss Lh·crmore. Mrs. T. J. Akott.

WOMA.N'S FmE!W.

Nor/h. West india Conferrn(e. Nortk flU/ia Con/t-rtnce. Mrs. Hoskins. Mifos Thoburn. Miss Bobenhollse. Mt·So Blackstock. Miss Livermore. Mrs. Dease.

Appointments· for 1900.

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT. Allahaba.d, District Work, Mrs. Rockwell Clancy.

" English Work and Girls' Orphanage, Mrs. Dennis Clancy. Chunar, 'Mrs. Deatker.

AGRA DISTRICT. Muttra, Deaconess' Home and Training School, MissGregg, Miss Wright.

n District Work and Superintendent of Evangelistic Tea.chers, Mrs. 8cott. •

Brindaban, Medical and Zenana Work, Miss Scott, M.D., MISS Burman. Ajmer, District Work, Miss Tryon.

" Cit~ and Boarding School, Miss Marks. " Superintendent; Boys' Boarding School, Mrs. Plomer.

General Evangelist, Miss Sullivan.

ALIGARB DIS'fRICT.

AJigarh, Widows' Home and Blind Scbool, Mrs. La.wson. JJ Girls' Orphanage, Mrs. Matthews. ,. City and District Work, Miss GaUimor~.

CAWNPORE DISTRICf. Cawnpore, District work, Mrs. Hoskins.

" Hindustani Girls' Boarding School, Mrs. C. Worthington. tt English Gir1e'High Sobool, ODe to be supplied, Miss Boben·

house. " English Work, Mrs. Robert80n.

Transferred to South IodiaConference, Mias Lauck.

KASGANJ DISTRlCf. Kasganj, District Work, Mrs. Iboma.s. Agm, Medical Home. Miss Seymour.

MEERUT DISTRICT.

:Meerut, City and District Work, Mrs. Buck. " Girls' Boa.rding School, Miss Livermore.

On leave, Mi .. La.wson.

MUSSOORIE DISTRICT. b.bore, Mrs. J. Jacob. lIultan, AIrs. McNair. Mussoorie, Literary Work and Eng1ish School, Mrs. Mansell.

" lUridustanf Work, Mrs. ManselL 1?atiala, Mrs. Farnan. 'koorkeeCircuit, Mrs. Lyon.

Minutes of the Conference.

FIRST DAY.

MUTTRA, Januar), 17th, 1900.

Opening. -The Woman's Conference. of the Methodist Episcopal Church North-West llJdia,convenedin Muttra, 17th.Ta.nuary, for its eighth annual.~ession. Mrs. Buck. President of the preceding session, called the conference to order and led the devotiouaiservice. "0 God, our help in ages past" was sung and the 52nd of lea. read, followed by a prayer of thanksgh'ing for the mercies of the past year.

Roll Call.-The roU·was called by the Secretary and sixteen members respon,led. .

Oftleers fop the Session were elected as follows :-Prt!sidmt .Mrs. Maltsell, III.D. Vict-Presidml Miss Livermore. Stcrdary .•. ... ... ... Miss Marks.

IntJ'oduetions.-Ml'8. Dennis Clancy, Miss Aliee Means, Mrs. Cbristie Mrs. Thomas alld Miss Gregg were introduced to the Conference. Ea,ch made a few appropriate r~mn.rk8. .Miss Oregg spoke of hE'r conversion at nine years of age and her m~rest ill the \V. F. M. S. work from the age of twelve. Bf.cause of her peculiar £itneM obtained at the centre of Deaconess work in America, it is not· strange to us that God called her to this great work.

AuxUiuy RepOM;s. -The reports of the Woman's Foreign MiS8ionary Society Auxilia.ries 'were called for and gh'en as follows :-

Agra • ..,-Mrs. Thoma.s,Rs. 4. Al(farh.-Mrs. Matthews, School Auxiliary, Rs. 12; Miss Gallitnore,

District Auxiliary, Rs. 9. Ajlllt're.·-~1i8l:l Ma.rks, Rs. 4-8; usedior famine. Allalurbad.-Mrs. Chmey. Rs. 10; given to Miss Marks for famine relief. C(lwf1port!.-Mrs~ Hoskin;.;;. &so 9~ 13 ; given for E,-angelistic Work. Girls' HigkSchool.-MissLauck, It,. 30; givenforsnpport of a. girl in Na­

tive School and Ra. 1-11 ~O; given to Miss Marks for famine relief Native Girls' BordingSchools.-Mra. Worthington, Ra. 10-8; given to

Miss Marks for fatrine relief. Meerut.-Mra. Buck,English Auxiliary, Ra. 58. Native AUxiliary

Miss Livermore, Ra. J5; used in part. for supplies for J)ist.rict Work. .-' Afllssoorie.-Mrs. Ma.nsell, Rs. 2-8; given to Miss Marks forfa.mine relieL Roo,.kie.~Mrs. Lyon, &.7; llsed iu Hindustani Work. Report ~The l'eport of the Board. ofEd..;.eation was preeented and

accepted. Set Reports. . .. ' Resolution.-l'he following resolut.ion was adopted. Whereas, many

Biblfl-l'eadcrs and Evangelist· Teachers hold unauthorized Certificates therefol'e,-

Resolved.-That the' Missionaries in charge investibrate sncb cases and wheretbe woman is really entitled to a. p"opel' certific~te that it be given her, but that a.ll doubtful cases be rcfered to the Cummittee sent by tbe Bou.rd of Edl.lcation to e~Ii)Dline at I>istrict Conference time.

Motion.:-l t was moved anti cal'ried, since Mrs. Rockwell Clancy . con­templates a \risit to America that Mrs. Scotts' name take t;he place of hers on the Board, of Education.

Reports. __ 4 partial report of the Board of Examiners was accepted. Sec Rep()rts.

The Report of the Official Correspo. n. dent was givenand '!lccepted 1'he Publishing Committ~c's l'Opol't was accepted. •

62 MINUTES OF CO~FEnENCE.

The (·ommittee on theWom~n's Frie~ltl reported, and a.fter the accepta-tion of the report. the following motion prevailed. . . . . ,

Motion.-,-Mo\--ed that the Committee on Resolutions be asked to draw up a memorial to Central Conference on the Fina.ncial condition of. the \Voman's Friend. Carried.

Committee.--::The following Committp.e of three on reRolutions was ap­pointed by the cha.ir :-Mrs. -Hoskins, Mrs. Thomas. Miss Lh'ermore.

lIot!ons.-Moved and' carried that the' correspondence regarding .Agra ~ledjC&1 Home,be referred to the Standing Committee and that the Committee hll.vc power to double its numbers.

Moved !ihat the question concerning the Cawnpore Native Girls'School be referretl to the Building Committee. Ca.rried.

IntroductioD.-Miss Sheldon of Bhot was introduced to the Confer­ence .

.rhe hours of ~h~eting were fixed from 2 to 4: p. m. daily. A motion for adjournment was in order and the Conference was dis-

missed with the doxology. .

SECOND DAY. M UTl'RA, 7anuary 18th, 1900.

Opening.-The Conferen<".e was called at 2 ~.m. Mrs. Christie led the dovotional exercises. One verse of "\Vba.t a frIend we have in ,Jesus" was Bung and parts of the 23rd and S3rd Chapters of Exodus and a part of the 7th Oeut. were read, followed by pray~r.

lIinutes.-The minutes of the pre\rjous session were read and approved. Introduction.-~lrs. McNair was introduced and told us of her work

in Multan. Report.-The report of the Literature Committee was read and I:IrCcept-

ed. See e~jorts. . Motion.-~oved that one dozen Annual Reports be allowedea.-::h

Missionarya.nf tbatall above this number be given at a fixed rate. Carried. The report of balanCAs was callecl for and given. Rev. J. C.Lawson presented aud read a letter regarding the opening

of a Witlows' Home in Aligarb. Motions -Moved that a Committee of eeven, ctLlled Committee on

Famine Relief, be appointed by the chair. Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Bnck, and Mis&es Ma.rkK, Sullivan, Scott and Livermore were chosen.

Moved that the Superintendent of Boarding Schools be a. Committee on Boarding Schools. Ca.rried.· .

Adjournment.-The session adjourned with the doxology.

THIRD DAY. If UTTRA, January 19tk, 11.00 •

. Opening.-A,t tbe nsual hOl1t' the conference convened and Miss Liver­more letlthe opening service. After singing, "All Glory to .Te8us ~ given" part~of the folbwin,3 Chapters!were read, }t~ph. Ill, and II Cor. II: IQ, and prayer _offered. ,

lIinutes.-The minut.es were rend fl,nd apprO\·e<l. Beport.-The report of the Committee on Ji'amine Relief was adopted. l1otion.-It was then moved ann ca.rried that the Conference hear reports

of Evangelistic work. A profitable discussion followed. IntrOduetions.-Mr.Keislcr and Mr. Lavelette, two of' the twelve

young mPD sent to India this year, were introduced and responded with suit­able remal'ks.

MINUTES OF CONFERENCE. 63

Communicatlon.-A much appreciated letter from i\iiss BauC8S,-who visited our Confereu(le four YCbrs ago, in behalf of the Japan Woman's Conference, was read.

Motlon.-A motion prevailed that the Secretary be authorized to reply to the letter and to send a copy of the Annual "Bepnrt.

Report.-The Registrar's report was called for,reOO, and adopted. See Reports.

Motions. -The following motions were made and carried :-1st. -·That enough statistical forms be printed to last four years. 2nd.-That eight hundred reports be printed. Srd.-Tha.t the Secretarv be authorised to collect the Annw

Reports and have them bound in a suitable volume. Adjournment.-Moved to adjourn to meet again at 4 p.m.

ADJOURNED SESSION.

The Conference wa.s called together by singing" Jesus Lover of My Soul."

Resolutions.-As desired by the Conference, the Resolution Com­mittee presented the following rellolution concerning the ., Woman's Friend" which was adopted and referred to the centrol Conference. Whereas, it is underst.ood that the Vernacular pa.pers, the \Voman's Friend, exceed in cost the amount received for their maintainance, there­fore, resolved in that we depreciate the forming of a debt, and dei!ire the Central Conference to devise some pl'.l.D for the extinction of the existing debt, and for the fllture arrangements for these pdopers. From the North­West India \\Toman's Conference.

Resolution.-The following amended resolution from the FinaI.lce Com­mittee of the Woman's Conference was ado~ted by the ConfErence and referred to the lfinarce Committee of the Men B Conference.

Whereas.-Under the present rules the Woman's Foreign Missionary SC'ciety has been virtually obliged to employ and continue on salary in4 efficient women because the salary of the husband was insufficient to support the family, and whereas these same women ha.ve received a salary equiva­It'nt to the salary of a.n efficient wOl'ker, therefore,

Resolved.-That we thoroughly investigate our pay list before making our next estimates and drop the names of such women, and further resolven, that we ask the General Board to increase the pay of the husballd thus affected so that the family may be comfortdobly supported.

Motions.-It was moved and carried that reports of Boarding Schools be given at the Ilext session.

A motion prevailed tha.t the Conference meet a.t 11 a.JL., Saturday, in executive session.

The Conference adjourned with 1.he doxology.

FOURTH DAY. M trrTRA,7anuary 2Otk, 1900.

Openin~.-The Presideut <'.&l1ed the Conference a.t 11 a.m. "I would follow Jesus' was sung and Mrs. McNairrea.d the 21th Psalm and offered pra.yer.

Minutes.-The minutes were read and. after correction, approved. ~ePOl't.-The report of the Board of Education was read and discussed

sectl11U by seetion after which it was adopted as a whole. Stt Rtport$. Motion.-Moved u.n~doarried that the changes made in the Bible-readers'

course ta.ke effect at onoe a.nd that those in charge of Bible· readers' be llotified.

64: MINUTES OF CONFEnENCE.

Repol'ts.-The report of 1;hc Committee on ·Agra Medical Home was adopte(l. .

Aunualreport of the Standing Committee on Agra Medical Home was accp.pted. See R~port~.

A partial r~port of the Oommittee on Muttra Training School, was ac· cepted and permission granted the Committee to prepare the remainder of the report forpnblica.tion. S~e Repurts.

The Conference yoted to proceeo to hallot for Standing Committees. Miss Bobenhouse and l\Iius Gallilnore were appointed tellers. The following committees were elected:-OMcial COl'respondent.-:\1rs. J!~mma. Moore Scott. Finance and Refe:rence Commtttee.-Mrs. Hoskins, Miss Sullivan,

Miss Marks, Mr&. Matthews, Miss LhTcrmore, Mr.i.Thomae. Altel'flates.-Miss Lauck, Miss Gallimore. Central Conference Delegates.-Miss Lawson, Miss Marks. Alternates . .....:.Miss Wright, l\1iRS ~uIIivan. The remiWling Committees were elected byaccla.mation. See Standing

Col1lmitte~s. , Motions.-·lst.-Moved and carried that the Secretary be authorized to

send. out the Annual Reports aud to collect the bills for the extra copies ordered.

2nd.-On motion it was decided that 50 credits out of 100 credits be the minimum for passing Bible.readers. . 3rd.-Motiol1 preva.iled tha.t the Building and Auditing Committees be made StanclingCommittees.

Report. -The Resolution Committ.ee reported. See Resolutions. Ilotion.-It was moved that the Conference recoUlmend that the Bishop

appoint the Treasurer and Mrs. Matthews to a.ct on 1,11e Auditing Committee the coming year.

lliss Sheldon gave us a very interesting account of her work in Bhot o.nd her Fltruggle to establish the work on 8. self.supporting basis.

Jlotion.-A motion to adjourn to Uleet 11 a.m. Monday pre\'ailed, alid the session was dismissed with the doxology.

FIFTH DAY. MUTTIU" Januar1l21/t., 1900.

Openilllfi,~ Conference convened at 11 a.m. with Mrs. Yansell in .tbechair. . Sheldon led the devotional service. " I know not wby God's wondrou.sLove" was sung, the VII Chapter I Cor. was read and pr&y~r offered.

Mlnutes.-The minutes were read, correct-ed and approved. Report.-The report of tlu~ Muttra Trai.lling Committee was given. Motions.-Motion prevailed to take up the report item by item. 'All

but one were adopted. Sit Reports. Moved and carried that the MuUra'Tmining School Committee of the

North-West India Conference be empoW'eroo.to act with the Superintendent in all matters concerning the institntion.

Report.-The Commit~ on Famine Relief reported. Permission was granted Ml"R. J. C. Lawson of Alig&rh to open a Widow's Hom~. .

lIotion.-Moved and carried that all Books of Certifica.tes in the hands of Superintendents of District Work be l'ecalled aud seutto the President of the Board of Education.

Repol't.--The report of the Board of EXILminera w&8.presented anq considered item by item and accepted Il.A 8. whole. See ReportJ.

Nomlnation.-MilJil Livennore was nominated as Treasurer. Resolutlons.-The followiDg resolution concerning the Protestant

Federatiou for India, Burma, and Ceylon was adoptcd :-

MINUTES 0)' CON:FERENCE. 65

Wbereas, we have heard with mnch interest the lecture of Colonel Porcelli, R.E., of Agra, setting forth the nature and objects of the I>rot;f!s­tant li"ederation for India, Ceylon and Burma, and believing that there is at the prcsent time a great nend of such a society for the defence of the Protest,ant faith aga.inst error, and false doctrine,-

Therefore, Resolved, that we, the members of the North-West India Con­ference, hereby express onr approval of t.he services which Colonel Porcelli is rendering to the Church of Christ, and that we will commend the Federa­tion to the favorable consideration of all our people, and encourage them to become members of the same, ano that wc will do everything in our power to promote the interests of the Federation.

J, 13. THOMAS. H. M.A.NSEJ,L. 1<.. HOSKINS. J. C. LAWO:;ON. J. E. SCOTT.

We the members of the Woman's Conference heartily concur in the resolut,ion passed by our 'Brethren of the North·West India Conference, and

, ple1ige ourtielves to use Ollr influence in favor of this Federation. R~Qlution.-The following resolution concerning Lal Bagh was carried,

"Whereas, the class of girls received into the Cawnpore Girls' High School are also received into the Lal Bagh School at Lucknow, :Lnd since there is ample provision, and also great need Qf increased. numbers at the first-men­tioned school,

R~olved, That we request the North-India. Woman's Conference to refer all Eurasia.n and English girls to the Cawnpore School

Adjournment.-After several prayers of thanksgiving for the mercies of the PRost year, a.nd for God's blessing upon the work of the coming year, the Conference a.djourned. sine die.

-4~"'"

~eports of Committees. ·~IIIa: ..

Registrar's Report. EXAMINATION OF MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS.

FIRST YEAR.

Mrs. Thompson parlsed in all the studies of the first year. Miss Browne passed in Urdu Gospels and English. Mis. .. Roseboom passed in Grammar a.nd Translation, thus completing the

year''3 course. Miss Herring passed in Gospels and Translation, thus completing the

year's course. Miss Bobenhouse bas pa8I:Ied in Urdu and the Gospels.

SECOND YEAR.

Miss Livermore pa.ssed in Transla.tion and Dharm Tula. Mrs. Thompson passed in all the books of the second year. M iss Tryon passed in Tra.nsla.tion and Mirat-ul-Urns, thus completing the

year's course. Miss Herring passed in Mirat-ul-Urus.

TumD YEAR. Miss Marks passed in the Ba.nat.un-Nash.

" E. Harris passed in Translation. " Wright b8.tl passed in translation and Persian Grammar. " Ogilvie passed in Translation and Mumuksh Brittant.

FOURTH YEAR.

Miss Strong has completed aU the studies of thie year. n Harris passed in Gntka.

L. S. WRIGHT, R~gistrar.

Report of Board of Examiners. The following changes were made in the Course of Study :-

In the first year Platt's Hindustani Grammar was substituted for Forbtls Grammar.

In the second year Talim-un.Nisan was substituted for Mirat-ul-Urus. In the third year Mirat-ul·Urus was substituted for Banat-un-Nash. In the fourth year Sat. Mat Nirupan, with three parts, was substituted

for Gutka. Kempson's Syntax and Idioms, Part J, was put in the second year,

fan lL in the third year, and Part III in the fourth year. Arithmetic and Geography Wl?fe dropped out entirely.

OOURSE OF STUDY FOR .MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTANTS.

FIRS'!' YEAR.

Platt'. Hindustani Grammar, 1st and 2nd Urdu Of Hindi Books, with spelling and dictation.

Gospel of St.John in charact.4'r; other Gospels in Roma.n with writing aud spelling.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 67

Written Translation of English lBt book (C. V.E.S.), Conversation_ in Hindustani.

Required to be rea.d.-Hunter'8 short History of the Indian People. (Thacker Spink & (1.0.) .'

SECOND YEAR.

Talim·un-Nisan with passages in Roman Urdu, Dharam Tula, with dictation.

Written Translation in English, 2nd Book (C.V.E.S.) KfDlpson's Synta.x ann Idioms, Part L Required to be read.-Wilkins' Hindu Mythology (R8. 7), Methodist

Publishing House, Lucknow.

Mira.t-ul-Urus. Mumuksh Rrittant.

THIRD YEAR.

Forbe's Persian Grammar with exercises, including poetry. Translations of not less tha.n 1,5UO words from English. K~mpson's

Syntax and Idioms, Part n. Requiren to be read. - Hinfluism in its relatioB to Christianity (Robson's),

(Rs.4-4. Thacker Spink & Co.)

Sat Mat Nirupan. Gulistan, 2 Books.

FOUTH Y 1':AR.

Kempson's Syntax and Idioms, Part m. An essay in Hindustani, not le&s tha.n two pages foolscap, nor more than

four. Rer01lltlund,d /0 lie 1'eod.- Sell's Islam. Forman's Arya Samaj. R~tjuired to be re.,d.-Religiou8 Reforms (Foul:" Parts). Popular Hinduism, Philosophio Hinduism, Vellic Hinduism, Modem

Electric Systems (21 annlls eacb), Methodist Publishing House, LucknQw.

RULES RELATING TO EXAMINATIONS FOR MISSIONARIES AND ASSISTA.J.~TS.

This Board shall not exceed fourteen members, one of whom shall he Chairman and another Reflistrar. The Board shall be continued for a krm of four years. subject to re-appointments; vacancies to be filled at each session of the annua.lConference.

The Chairman shaU assign to each examiner the books or subjects which she is to examine, for which she shall send to the Chairman printed or written questions-at least ten copies of not Jess than ten questions-by the first week of August. Candidates for examinations shall report them­selves at this time to the Cha.irman . . The'le examina.f,ions will be held on the first week of September, in loca­

tlOns convenient to the stuuents, under the personal supervision of some member of the Board delegated by the Chairman.

b The person superintending the examination shall sign all papers sent in

y the candidates under her care. The examinations shall be in writing and in the presence of witnesses;

tThe papers shall he sent to the exauliners to whom they respect.ively belong. hey shall be graded upon a seale of 100, and none below 65 per cent. shall

pass. The examiner shall report the results to the Registrar. ~ember8 of Conference, in addition to the written examination shall be

re'lul~ed 11.180 to take an oral test in reading and conversation, such as her examlDer may require at Conference.

New missionaxies, exoept in English work, shall be given at least six months for the study of the vernacular.

68 REPORTS OF COMMIT'l'EE8.

SCHEDULE OF CONFERENCE EXAMINATION FOR THE NORTH. WEST INDIA W. F.M. S. CONFEltENCE FOR SEPTEMBER 1900.

·FIKST YEAR. Subject. Exam.inn.

Platt's Hindusta.ni Grammar .. ~ ..• •.• Mitis Sullivan. Conversation and ~glish translation ... ••• Mrs. Matthews. Gospels, St. John IB Verna.cular ... ... • .. t Miss Livermore I and II Urdu books with dictation and spelling ... J •

SECOND YEAR.

Talim-un-Nisan ... ... ... ... •.• ••• Mrs: Buck. Dbarm Tula. witb dictation... ... ." ... Miss Wright. Kempsou'ts Syntax and Idioms in Hindustani, Part I, Mrs. Hoskins. English Tra.nsla.tion, C. V. E. S., Book IL ... Mrs. Matthews.

TRIRD YEAR.

Mumuksh Brittant Mimt-ul-Urus ... ... Kempsou)s Syntax and Idioms, Part II. Translation, ] ,500 words ... ... Persian Grammar: Exercises, Poetry

FOURTH YEAR.

Miss Gallimore. " Marks.

Mrs. Hoskins. " Matthe'\\"B. " Scott.

Sat Mat Nirupan, in three parLs (6 annas) ... Mrs. Worthington. Gu1istan, 2 books ........ "Scott. Kempson's Syntax and Idioms, Part HI... ... " Hoskins. Essay ...... .•. ... • ..." Worthington. Kempson's Syntax and Idioms may be procured from Th:LCker Spink & Co.,

Calcutta, ~rice Ra. 4-14. The other books will be found at the Methodist Publishing House,

Lucknow, and N. 1. Tract Society, Allahabad. The Gulistan from Punjab R.·B. Society, Lahore, Price 8 annas.

Report of Board of Education. The Boarding Schools of our Conference were examined in April, as

ordered by the Conference. Written test qUe&tions for tbe IV, V, \,,1 and VII Standards were prepared by different members of the Boord, and the results were, for·the most part, sati!Sfactory.

The Chairman of thE' Board vi~ited all the schools except Ajmer, and conducted an oral examination, and at the request of the Missionaries, examined the Boys' Schools at Muttra and Meerut.

The TOfical a.rrangement of the course was commended by the Superin­t.endents 0 the Schools, with the aSfl1.lrIlnCe that tbe teachers had {ountt it much easier to go over the required lE'SSODS in a given time by having before them jU6t whtl.t was expected of them .fo1' the day.

It is the opinion of the Board tha.t the IV Standard Lessons are beyond tbe ability of the chil(lren to understa.nd, and few teachers of that Stalldard are able to teach this part of the Course in its entirety. Genesis and Exodus hold the attention of the pupils, lmt the weightier words of the Law are beyonet their comprehemion. Mr. Bu·.:k'sarticles on" Types" which have appeared in th~ Kauka6 theJast year, if printed in book form, wouJd1>e an exc. clIent accompaniment to this part of our Course.

The Orphanages at Aligu.rh and Allahabad are. worthy of special mention. When one remembers the poor little starvelings bl'ought into these and other schools, and looks upon the hright. henlthy, happy. children, and listens to the words ofScriptl1rc, the Cateohism exercises and the Christian songs from those whose pa.rents worshipped dumb iclols,olle seems to realw..e Hod's pnrpose in allowing gauntfa1llincto sweep the laud as it~,l t.wo yea:,sago. .

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 69

In addition to the regular Bible study one of ~the Standards Df tbe Meerut School had. memorized several· Psalms, two of which the girls repea.ted in concert with great exactitude, and in a manner that showed tha.t elocution, too,. bad been a part of. their tra.ining. . "

The Cawnpore School was th~ only one which had a VIlth Standard; the examination was extremely satisfactory, the girls having studied maps in connection with the book of Acts.

The Chairman of the Board visited three of the District Conferences and examined the Bible women. She found that the examinations on the Bnlandshahr ])itstrict had, in former years, been quite superficial, and Miss Sullivan found the same condition on the Kasgunj District. Our Hindu­stani sisters who had charge of this work, doubtless did the betst they could, bnt we are assured that more carefulsupervisjon is necessary.

On the Meerut District eight appeared for the ill Year'Rexamipation, of whom one passed in all but one subject. Two passed in all the subjects of the I I Year. Three passed in a part of the Course only. Seven appeared for the I Yesl"s examination, but uone passed in all the subjects.

A t the Allababad Conference one passed in tbe I Year, and several gave ptwtia,l exa.minations in the I antI II years. The examiner was much plea!!ed to note the fluency with which the candidates for the IV Year read the Hindi Sat Mat Nirupan, and was sorry not to be able to pass them.

Five out of a large class passed in all the subjects of the I Year at the CawnporeConference, one passed weU in the II year, and two lack:e!l but one mark of passing in aU the II Year subjects. Two appeared for III Year, but failed.

No Zenana Conference was beld this year in connection with the Aligarh District Conference, but Mrs. Lawson kindly conducted the local examin­ation and forwarded the papel"R to the Chairman. The examination in MUlDukhsh l3rittant was vel'y satitsfactory, the Hindi being well written, as was the Roman Urdu.

Four appeared for the I Year's examination at the Agra District Con­ference, three of "hom passcd in Dharm Tum and Arithmetic, but failed in the other subjects. None pa~sed in the 11 and HI Years. .

At the Mussoorie Conference one was passed in lihe m Year, and one in the I Year.

A number of. women presented themselves for examillation at the Kasganj Conference. Nune pdsserl the Elementary CQurse, and it was suggested that a more simple course be arranged for those who are not where they CRn have proper teaching.

The women in the Training Class for Bible women in Kasganj city have heen well instructed, and di~ well in their examinations.

At Miss Marks' request Mr. Plomer examined tbe Ajmer 'School in the Cou1'se of Bible study, and he" repOl1is that the classes did very well indeed. Some (of the orphan waifs are very hright and learn rea.Jily, and are interest­ed in Bible Stories. The Ajmer Conference passed one woman in the II Year.

The Suinmer schools were well attended and much progress ma.de by mallY of the women, and we feel that these schools are a great benefit tit the work.

RESOLUTION.

C. L R. HOSKINS,

Ckairman.

At n. meeting of the Board of Education it ,,&8 resolved that for the eXlllnination of Bible-reauers no certificate of examina.tion shall be consi­dered valid except those signed by the President. of the Board. and the member of the Board authorized by tl1e Board to take the examination at the different District Conferences, ", The Ct"rtificatt!s should be held by the President of thf' Board of -Cld ncation.

L. S. \'~li1GIlT,

St'crelary.

70 REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

CDU aSE OF STU:py FOR BrBLE.;.READERS AS REVISED BY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

FIRST YEAR.

I Dharm Tula. 2 Arithmetic; Addition and Sllbtraction.

*3 Muqaudas Kitab-ka-Ahwal. Parts I and II, in Urdu or R-oman Urdu. 4 Dictu.tion in Hindi and Roman Urdu.

SECOND YEAR.

"'1 Talim-un·Nisa.n in Urelu or Roman Urdn. t2 Baibal bar Haqq with draft. of arguments.

3 The EpistleS with exception of RODlu.ns and Hebrews. 4 Dictation in Hindi and Urdu or Rt,man Urdu.

*1 Mumukbh Brittant. :1:2 Masih ka. Namun&. 3 Romans and Hebrews.

*1 Sat Mat Nirupan. *2 Kawaif. 3 Essay.

THIRD YEAR.

FOURTH YEAR.

Report of the Literature Committee. Doubtless much work has heen done in this Department, hut little has

beenreported. This bra.nch .of the work ought to roceive our very best enneavours, as wholesome literature is almost an unknown quantity, while India is flooded with all sorts of infidel and impure literature.

There are scores of delightful books which if attractively illustrated, and put in simple language and idiom would foster a love of sound and pure literature, and would counteract in a measure, t.he influence of the bad which is so easily procurable and so seductively written.

On the Cawupore District, scores of Tracts and Gospel portions have been distributed in cities and in the villages, some given gratis and many sold for a nominal sum. At the melas the Missiona.ries and Bible women had crowds of people daily surrounding them asking for tracts and papers, and new supplies were brought out from Cawnpore.

Some tracts and other literature have been ,prepared by the Mi88ionary and published at different Mission Presses.

There is a grea.t call for Sunda.y School .Literature. In the Ajmerwork 60,000 Urdu and Hindi tracts have been distributed

by'the workers. The Ajmer Epworth League bas been so fortunate as to secnre the interest of the Napa Dlstrict League of California, and through it have been able to keep the Ajmer English Sunday School supplied with literature, suob as the "Sunda.y School Advocate" and the U Class mate." Ma.ny English religious papers have been distributed among English speak. ing baboos and railway gullorda.

N. M.MANSELL, Ohairman. C. L. R. lIO~KIl'iS. L.E. MARKS.

it May be obtained in Allahabad, North India Traot Society. t Methodist Publishing HQllbe, I..ucknow. :t: }Iay be obtained, PunjaB ·.Ro1i~Out Tract Society, Labore.

REPORTS OF. COMMI'M'EES.

Report of Examination Committee on Muttra Mission Training School.

71

This Committee examined the Senior Class, Vernacular Department, in the Bible, Makhzan-i-I1m-i~nahi, Kawaif-us-Sahaif, Sa.t .Mat Nirupan, and .Jugraphya-i-pak..,kitab, and all were passed.

Out of the eight in the Junior Class all passed but two, and four received unusually high marks. . .

The English Department has not yet been examined, as their examina­tions are taken immediately before the summer vacations.

The Committee wish to heartily commend the thorough work done in this excel~ent school, and would earnestly request ladies in charge of English and Vamacular Boarding Mhools and Orphanages to use their influenee in getting middle passed girls to enter this school, as nowhere else can such splendid preparation be relleived for. MiRSionary works as Assistants ann Bible-readers. Such training is especially desirable now in this crisis of our work, when our village people are "perishing for 'Want of knowledge. "

The Committee aho desire to express their pleasure in the appointment of .Miss Gregg to this institution, as her years of experience as Vice­Principal of the Chicago Training School eminently fit her for the position to which she has now been called.

EMMA MOORE SCO~. (~"or Committee.)

Report of Muttra Training School Committee.

The Committee met and discussed various phases of the work • . We recommend-

1. That there be two courses of study in each department of the Training School, which shaJl be called the Regular Training School Course and the Special Training School Courst:!: and that they be ad­mitted to the R-egular Course who meet the educational requirements in the conditions of adml&sion, and that they be admitt-ed to the Special Course who cannot meet the educational requirements but show fitness for Christian work.

2. That the salaries of our Hindustani helpers be 10 adjusted that those holding Diplomas from the Mllttra Training School may receive at least Re. 2 more than the Middle Pass girls from the Schools.

A. J.LA UCK. G. F. MA~BEWS. M. A. LIVERMORE.

R.eport of the Committee on Agra Medical Home.

At a recent and· unexpected visit to the Agra Medical Home, fourteen studentl:l were in residence-thirteen belonging to our own Mission, and one to the Presbyterian. They all were well, cheerful and seemed to be working hard.

They attend College twice a day, unless all important case is imminent or they are dissecting. For the former' event they remain in the College from 24 .tG 48 hOUTS. Six of O'lr girls are on l\lis<lion Scholarships and eight on Hufferin Scholarahips. One of our U old)l girls WRS then temporarily on fJ/agUt duty in Agra.. while a waiting II. pernl!l.nent Government appoint. ment. She was living just as the other girls were-in simple native style, althougb she receives Rs. 35 per mensem. At. one time Medical Students attempted European table style alid foreign mannera~ but soon th-ed of them and returned to theil' own natural style of living.

72 REPORTS OFCOl\nf(TTr~ES.

-They maketbeir own boarding arrangements, and all bills are examined and settled in the presence of the Assistant in cha.t·ge. The students are free fromdebt.; ...... ;unhkeother mediQalgirl students boarding . and living elsewhere. . They attend our Mission Church twice every Sunda.y, aud Epworth ~ague once a week, unless a special case is in progress at the Hospita.l. . .

The house and beds, outhouses and compound were in good order. The food w~ palatable and wholesome, the l?alihing a.rrangements were good and converuent.

:The Civil Surgeon and others connected with the medioal work in Agra. speak well of the, home. a.nd wish that a.ll the girl stud,ents of the College could have the advantages of a home like ourf<. They affirm that our girls are better cared for, better mannered, hnd in better ht'.s.lth than others. Dr. Valentine, an old resident Medical Mh~siona.ry of Agra, speaks well of the home.

The influence of our girls when they leave the home and Jollege to live and to work among the people of this land is incalculable, and should be worth much to the cause of Christianity.

MRS. N. M. MANSELL, H.D., Chairman. MISS MARKS. MISS SOOTT, M.D. MRS. G. F. MATTHEWS.

Meeting of Agra Medical Home Committee. The Committee of Agra. Medical Home met with Mrs. Mansell in the

oha.ir. Correspondence from Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Keen WIlS read.

The following motion prevailed :-That the Committee 011 Agra Medical Home r('comrnend that the Confer­

ence adopt the following .resolutions passed by the Joint Committee. l~t. that the home be m&intained;2ud~ that this Committee recommend that as soon as practicable 'a. lady of Indian Medical experience be placed in cbarge of the home.

Moved and carried that in reply to Mrs Keen's letter we ur~e the diffi­cultyof closing the home, and request that if the Philadelphia Branch cannot continue the support. that they ~e their influence to secure another patron.

L~ E. M ARKS, Secretary.

Report of Committee on Woman's Friend. At the beginning of the year it became a question with the Committee

how to conduct the Rafiq-i-Niswan and Abla Hitkarak. and it W8.& proposed to issue a monthly edition instead of two issues a month, as had been the custom, but· after much ~Hberation it was decided to continue the Urdu and Hindi elUtions as usual, but to change the size of the pa.per. By using smaller type the usua.lamount of matter could be given to the readers.

The absence of pictures has excited some comment especially among non-, Christian readets. The rea'3on for their discontinuance was that . the oM p~tes had heen reproduced again and again. We a.re . hoping that the Editor will bring from America. a new instalment, and that we maybe able to continue the paper as heretofore. .

About the same number of each edition has been printed this year as was issued last year. And the Committee a.re glad toobaervethat the little paper does not lose its popularity. At some of the tlu/as persons who had before recei ved copies asked for the "yellow paper."

During the.Ed,itor'a absence different memhers of the Committee ha,'e furnished editorials Bnd other rnatter, and our .M.issionary sisters have sent oCC&8ional articles .. We would strongly urge that thiS. pa.per.,. \1 hich. oertll,in­ly baa a miesion, be more frequently remembered by our friends, both in the way of literary contributions a.nti financial aid.

R"WO({1':~ OF' €O:\lMI'l'TEES. 13

It would be I(ratifyin'g to the Manager if postage should be promptly paid ill adyance.. " ".

We regret to record that there is a considerable debt upon the paper. C. L. R. HOSKINS, Chairman.

RESOLUTIONS.

Resolution I.

Resolved, That we extend otirsiucere thanks to the la.dies of the North­Western Branch of .theWoman's Foreigt;t Missionary Society for sending Miss Gregg to the " Deaconess Home" at Muttra, where help was 80 much needed. M.a.y she prove a great blessing to the work.

Resoll,tiolt II.

R~so/vld. Weare grieved to know that famine is again in our midst. 'Ve sympathize deeply with our Hindustani brothers and sisters who are suffer­ing from this present distress, and also with Miss .a1arks who is in the midst of a famine area.

We also recommend that Miss Marks be allowed to Sel!Ul'e fundil from any source to which she may see fit to apply.

Resolution III.

Ruo/vIci. The Publishing Committee having demurred at the length of some of the lwports, which are enhanoed by t.he number of n!LlllE'S whicll appear at the head of the District Reports. We feel that we can hanUy omit the naUlfO,8 of workers who are supported by patrons in America. We wouM therfl­fore suggest that condt"nsed I'eports be prepared. not howHer so condensed as to leave out important incidents, for from these Reports the history of Ollr work will in future be culled in a great measure.

It is also suggested that Reports of Educational Institutions be pla<.'ed before the District Reports.

Resolution IV.

Rtsoh1td, The Committee on Resolutions ·in behalf of the "roman'~ Coufer­ence would tender to Dr, and M l'8. Scott, to the ladies of 1 h e Deaccness Home, and to Mr. 'and Miss Ingram their warm appreciation of the:r hospitality and their succesSful efforts for the comfor~ and enjoyment. of their guests, anel we trust it may be our privilege to render to them the like pleasant senice under sirniIa.r"circnmsta.noes. "

We would not forget to thank (tur Hindustani brothers of 1\1 uttra for the help which they have given in making arrangements for the elltertainDlt:nt· of the Cunference.

hhs. C. L. R. HOSKIN ... MKS, J. M. T8{)M..\~, Itllss LJ n:n.MlllOJi:,

74:

CONFERENCE ~OLL. North-West India.

~Yames. Joined Mi~Bion.

l. ~I rs. Ho~kins 1868 2. ~liss Swain, M.D.* 1~70

3. Mrs. "Huek 1871 4. ~Irs. Ma.nsell, 11.D. j~73

5. ~lt-s. Emma Moore Scott 1R;7 6. M I'S.J. e. J ... a wson 1881 7. Mrs. Lyon 1~81

~ '_. M 1"8. Plomer 18~6

9. ~ri~s Anna Lawson 1886 10. Mrs. McBurnie Bond 1886 11. Miss Lucy Sul1ivan 1888 12. )liss Anna Gallimore 1889 l:t )11"8. Matthews 1889 14. ~I r~. H.ockwell Clancy If,92 15. i\li~s Ada J. Lauck 1892 16. ~riS8 Lilian E. Ma.rks 18~3

1 i. Mrs. ~lcNair 18941 18. ~I iss Elizabeth Tryon 1895 19. l\fiss Laura Wright ... 1895 20. ':\f ("s. ,\V orthington . .. 1896 21. ::\Iiss Emma Scott, M.D. 1897 22. M rs. De~ tker 18!l7 2:3. 1\1 iss Laura. Bobenhouse 1898 2·1. l\'liss Melva A. Livermore 1898 :!5, )1 rs . .J. T. Robertson IH9~

26. Miss BUI'maD. 1 "!.I~ 9- ~lrs .• J. B. Thomas 18q9 -l- ... 28. Mrs. Dennis Clancy ... IS:)!)

2U. Mi8H Mary Eva' ;regg 1899

-- --_ .. __ . __ .. _----- - -_._-----'Now in Amer;l'Il.

DISTRICTS.

AGRA DISTRICT.

Agra ..• Brinc:Jaban Muttra Ajmer

Total

ALIGARH DISTRICT

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT ..

CA WNPORE DISTRICT

KASGANJ DISTRICT

MEERUT DISTRICT

MUSSOOlUE DISTRICT.

Lahore Mnltan Mussoorie ... Rurki

Total

GUND TOTAL, 1899

Total, 1898

Increa.se

Decrease

North-West India Conference Statistics for the year ending 30th November 1899. 'VOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

WORJrERS. WORK IN CHRI8TIAl'C COMMUNITY~ ZENANA WORK: MEDICAT, WORK. AGRA"MEDI­CAL HOMJl:.

.,. 1 1 ••• I 6 6 7 U 22 21 201 87 2761

537 193 58...... 13 26 22... ... ... 1 ... 1 ... I... 13 I 14 2 ..• .,. 1 1 5 21 2 80 25 38 269 30 4 273 229 30 ... 4- 162 430 26... 33 6,369 266 8,500' 2 2 1 1 1... 8 9 4 575 60 105 1,518 265 930 2,448 771 127 1 3 60 185 - 40 II I

2 1 3 1 20 5... 199 42 33 596 134 45 641 756 24 I! I 6 2 3 5 ~~ -391 22 ~~ . 938 149 197 2,644 516 1,255 3,H99 1,949 -=-!~9 1 7 235' 641 88 33 6,3~~ 266 8,500:~ 13 1 -14 I 1 3 ... 28 10 ... 217 175 204 595 28 25 620 628 188 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... •.. ... ...! ... ... ... ...

I 2 1

2

3

2

1

1 1 1

1

2

1 1

1

9

29 4 9

21 21 4

44 20 8

2 ... 4 8

lO 6 ...

35 23 18 136

465 76 92 433

736 62 109 3,054

1,009 128 328 4,745

25 4 ... 56 7 4

1,573 24 47 186 8.'37

28 38 174 48

447 880 984

165 766 3,820 3,160

377 1.89716,642 2.188

1

124

197 3

120

II 56

165

::: '" 71 ... 7 ::: ... 186 ]86

27 864 557

151

3 280 390 41

I I

... I ... ! '" 3 25 7 7

-------I--~~I----------------- ---. -- -- --- -------- - --------------------... ... 3 2 ... 12 6 12. 1,654 35 51 1,023 232 27 1,050 750 7... 3 25 7 7

- ----------------------- ----- ------ - - -- --- - ------ ------- ------11 4 13 13 4 182 87 48 5,054 648 999 12,630 1,381 4:,455 17,085 9,707 875 4: 13 691 1,038 136... 33 6,369 266 8,500 2 13 1 H

... 104. 12 17 5 175 125 46 4,391 580 968 14,013 1,567 2,082 16,095 10,inO l,iM -;- 6 608 1,346 131 1 15 '5,7i2!lOO,l7,659 2 15 1 16

... -1----1------7---;- 663 "6sru----2,373 990----- --7 8"3---5;--18- 6571166-------- ----------------------- -- ---- ------ ------ -- - --- -- ---- --- - --'---- -----.. ... ... 4 1 ... 381

... ••• ... ... 1,:183 186... ... 803 259... ... ... 308 ... 1 ... ... ... 9,159... 2 ... 2

* Including deaconesses sent out from the United States, or forma.lly elected by the Home Secretar es. t Inclnding deaconesses taken on in India. those in charge of work, and members of the ,,7oman's Conference. ::: This is the sum of baptized and unba.ptized women a.nd girls in Christian families.

REMARKS.

Some Circuits did not report;,

The decrease'in baptized women and girls iH chiefly due to a more correct count.

North .. West India. Conference School Statistics for the year ending 30th November 1899.

DISTRICTS.

AGRA DISTRICT.

Agra

Brindaban

Muttra.

Ajmer

ALIGARH DIbTRICT

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT

CA WXPORE DISTIUCT

KASG~NJ DI!'TRICT

MEEltUT DISTRICT

Tot.'l.l

MUSSOOItIE DISTnICT.

Lahore

Multan

MUS800rie

Rurki

Tota.l

GR,\ND TOTAL, 1899

Total, ]898

Increase

D('crease

MUTTRA TRAINING SCHOOLS.

ai Q) ~

;:n 1-0

~ s = r.ri "'Cj 0 'Gj .. 0 ~ = .:; ai r:l! Q)

r:l! ] .. be "0 = := '"' '"'

~ s:: -" ~ d '"t:' :a r:l! s:=.. E 0 = d ..s::: 0 bO 00 ~

m as ~

~ E ~ 8 :g 5 c Q) r<e

ril l> r 'iii 0 0 d 0 ~

~ Z Z Z Z ------ -- -

I

WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

ENGLISH SCHOOJ.s.

rn .,j ..."

1-0 = as ~

'0 "0 ai ..0 = '"' '"' .0 ..." ~ Q) 0 00

..c:::: "C rn 0 0 '"' as S ~ Z ~

~ ~ A ""; 0 0 d "'0 Z Z Z E-o i----- -

VERN ACULAR SCHOOLS.

:r. ai -= '"' til ~

i '0 "C ai r.ri ai :=

= '"' 1-0 .c: ..:> as ~ ~ = 0 r:l! .. ..c:::: "'Cj as 00 m ..c:::: 0 .;; 0 1-0

.e til s::l. >.. Z 112 Q.I 0 ;... as <Il t-i ~ G ~ G3 <5 0 G c5 0 .....

0 Z Z Z Z Z 8

- -- - -- ----

EVANGELISTIC SCHOOLS.

'"' Q)

S ~ S ..s::: := bO r:l! := .s bI)

iii = '"' ~ = ]-5 ..s::: ~

S 0 Q) 0 d 0 ~~ ~

~ ~ <Iloo 0 <5 0 Z Z Z -- ----

DAY SCHOOLS,

.s 's.. ~ = ~

'a. = ~

til ::::: .~ r.ri .~ .,j 1-0

1-0

~ ..c:::: '0 .c 0

.;!3 0 0 c ..s::: as ::: ~

0 0 :3 z 00

0 ~ 6 c5 Z Z Z ---- - --'

~ 's.. := ~

0 Z c; ..." 0 ~

-

SUNDAY SCHOOLSI

ai ai 1-0

~ .$ '0 .c: 0 0 's.. .c as ~ := 0 E-1 ~ 00

d Q Q

Z Z Z - --

13 10 ~;, 71 166 24 13 384

5 5 24 32 54 61 26 375

REMARKS.

41 3 12 5 17 2 4 5] 2 53 15 39 12 12 99 4 ]03 16 16 324

... 1... ... ... ... ... ... ... .., 2 5 17 5:3 .,. 70... .., .. , ... ... ... ... ... 2H 23 7'2.7 Evangelistic and Day Schools ________________________________________________ broken up on account of Famine.

_41~1~ _5 ~ ~ ~ _"_' _,,_. _4 _9 ~ ~5~ ~ 123 _,,_. ~ ~ ~ 27 21fl ~ 325 1~9 ~ 181e

... . .. I ... ... ... ... ... ... u' 2 8... 220... 220... .., 37... ... .. '1'" I'" 251

21 297

... ... ... ... ... ... .., .;. ... 2 4... 67... 67 1 11 13 6 6 20 30 50 15 16 408

6 65 23 88 2 8 130 129 16 4g. 10 10 5Ii 70 126 27 27 666

14 35 123 10 144 23 20 432 1

2 71 !l2 35 4 91 6 45 41 35 :11~ 106 422 Il() 81 !I ii59

No report.

2 4 61 18 79 5 4 ]H;

I ••• '.. II... ... ..• ... ... ... ... ... ... ... '" .,. ... ... 2 9 9 90 ... ... ]5 12 432

______ . ____ ---------------------------1------·------... ... . .. I ... ,'" ,.. ." ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...... 2 13 15 179 48 227 ~2 20 673

4 3 12 51]7 6 65 23 88 13 au 25C 377 -"5 6a2 3 48 185 114 128 H12 371 ~~ _~~ 263i~~

~1~.2~-~~.~_::~ .. ~9 ~~ l.~ I: _~~~_::17 ~~-~~-~-~ ~.~ ~~i:~~.~~~~I~~ -,>/1--

4/- --;:'1-- -20 -2 -"4 -12 -16 ---- -8 --;1-]2 -;,; --; -- -- -19 ---;19130 -::5"3 ---20 489 .The large decrease in Day Schools

_ • ••• ._ ••• ....-... ....- i>, ••• 1S due to almore a.ccurate count.

2 28 30 58 2 2 4 ]26

North-West IndiaConferenc AMOUNT REOEIVED FOR ~

~::\r, ; ;'

, I'~':

a> '8

~ i3 t m 00

~ = ..c: 0 III

~ ::s :.::I

.~ co =

rD j ~

DISTRICTS. :Ii = i rt.J J r;r;;

.rJ 'tS

= Iii =< c ~ 110 =

'a .S g cd

.. = C) .,.!o :rs 0 =:: !

GIS .~

~ ~ ':; C Eo!

AoBA. DISTRfO'r. Rs. A. P. Rs. A.. PI :Re. AI P. Rs. A. P. 1

Agta· .... 0'" .. , 8.000 o ()

Brinda'ban ... . .. 12,000 o ( ... .... , 208 14 { . .. . ..

M'uttra ... ,., ... 35,000 o ~ ... . ..... 2~ o ( . .. . ......

Ajmere ... ... ... 13,800 o C ... "e ••• ... . ..... --- - 9=

--- -I- --- -:- -Total '0 68,800 r 228 14 e .. + .. -----I- -i-

AuQABH Dnmuar ... 88,200 0; ( 397

··l~ A LLA.B.iB41> DIBTBlO'l'.;. 20,000 01 ( 72 o ( .. . ..... CA w-NPORB DISTBIO'r ·.00 96,000 0'( 2,367 o C 173 9 e 5,746 15' (; t~

KAso !NJ DJflTRIC'l' ... ··1··. ... ...... ." . .. . .. , ... MEERUT DJ 8TH I(.'T ,27,000 0; (] 483 9 0 S o ( . ,. ... . 1 ,

MUSSOORUC DJM'RJO'r. I I

i

Lahore ... ... ... I .. . ...... . .. .. , .., ... .. ... .. "" . . ..... M.u1t&D ... ,0' ... , .. ... .. , , .. ". ... ... , .. ' .. . ..... .. . Mussoorie ... ... ... ..... • oo ... , .. -.. . ... "e ... ". .' Rurki ... ... ... , ..... ... . .. , . ... ... .. ... . .. . .. ..

,f - --- -I- ---- - -Total ... ... ... . -t- . .. ... -. . ..... .. . .. . ...

-- -I- ----1---- - 1--- - - -GllAX» TOTAL 1~99 .. - 2,50,000 Ol(] 3.248 ~I~-~ 8 0 6,746 15 0 1

-!- I~ - Total 1899 .•. 2,.1)5,000 0', 3,127 .2, 0 1,278 3 Nore [po rt

---- -1- -1-- -Jncreaae ... ... ... , .. / ... ]20 lUI 0 ... -:---f---- 1---Decrease ... .., to,OOO 0' 0 .. , ... .•. 800 11 0

I