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THE

MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

SEPTEMBER, 1883.

The Needs of the Mission once more.

In letters received from India and Italy regret and disappointment are expressed that, at the recent Association at Bradford, there appeared no immediate prospect of the mission staff being reinforced. Nor ought this regret and disappointment to be wondered at when we remember the vastness and the necessities of the mission-fields, the fewness of the labourers, together with the earnest and repeated cries of our brethren for help. To begin with Italy. There we have for this vast, benighted, and priest-ridden country, only one English brother, and that without anyone preparing to strengthen his hands, or carry on his work, in the event of sickness or death. Moreover, even Mr. Shaw is not able, simply for the want of funds, to utilize his strength, or to spend his energies to the best advantage. He is like a workman sent forth without an ample supply of tools, or a soldier without an ample supply of weapons or ammunition. In other words, he is deputed to do our work and the Lord's, while the "sword and trowel" with which error is to be destroyed, and the temple of truth erected, are withheld, or cannot be effectively used. In a private letter to the Secretary, dated the 14th of August, Mr. Shaw observes:

"I note the effort to raise the income of the Society; but unless the facts of the case are in some way persistently pressed on the attention of the churches, our people will soon forget them. I am sad as I think of the slow rate of progress this forbodes for Italy. But we must do something. I cannot be content to be here limiting my efforts to so small a field. It is too expensive for the Mission, and the reverse of economical. I shall have to write fully on this subject ere long. If I had a seaside station I could utilize my time during the summer months better. Moreover, if I had another £100 per annum I could establish such a station, pay rent of locale, and engage another evangelist."

Then, in turning to Orissa, with its nine millions of people, we find that our entire English staff, apart from ladies, consists of only seven missionaries; and that Mr. Pike, who is in great need of rest and

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change, after ten years of faithful service, is about to return to England on furlough. With his return, moreover, the immense districts of Ganjam, Pooree, and Sambalpur, will be left with only one English brother in each, without anyone else being available to take a place which may be rendered vacant. Even supposing, however, that, in the good providence of God, the lives and health of these brethren should be spared, we consider it a great mistake for a brother to be left alone in a large district, in a country like India. Into countries and among peoples with a climate and civilization similar to their own, our Divine Master sent forth His disciples two and two. And, after many years of experience and observation, we are satisfied that it would be a wise policy for modern missionary societies to pursue a similar course. What it is for a brother to be alone in a large district in India, only those who have tried it are able to realize. Missionaries, it should be borne in mind, are not angels, but men, with human weaknesses and wants. And to live alone, in a country where, for months together, the heat is so intense and oppressive that breathing is well nigh impossible; in a country where cholera, small-pox, fevers, and other deadly diseases prevail; where a man is almost cut off from the comfort and stimulus of civilized life; and where the whole atmosphere seems heavily charged with moral and spiritual poison; to live alone, we say, in a country like this, and to keep up a man's physical, mental, and spiritual vigour, is no easy matter. Under such trying circumstances no wonder that a brother should be depressed, both in body and in mind; and when so depressed, with no one to say, "cheer up," or, "come on," that he should feel unequal to encounter the sneers and scoffs of an idolatrous crowd or rabble, and so be tempted to remain at home. On the ground, therefore, of economy and efficiency, we deem it most desireable that men should go forth, not alone, but two and two. Woe to a man, and woe to a mission, when the man that falleth is alone!

But even to maintain our present mission-staff and stations the funds of the Society are unequal. Gladly would the Committee endeavour to augment both forthwith if the churches would only provide the means. Nor is this, as has been shown over and over again, an unreasonable request. One penny per week per member, from each of our churches, would more than supply the sum required to maintain the Mission in its present state. It would enable the Committee to respond to the repeated and urgent calls for help. Whether the additional £500 per annum shall be raised or not depends very much with our ministers. If they will only take the matter up earnestly, prayerfully, and as in the sight of God; if they will occasionally preach and pray about mission work; if they will arrange for the solicitation and collection of weekly, quarterly, or annual subscriptions,-in church, in congregation, and in school,-and will see to it that the work is systematically carried on, then we are quite certain that the needed money will be forthcoming; and that the hands of our brethren in India and Italy will be strengthened.

Extracts from Indian Letters.

IN a letter to the Secretary Miss Bundy writes:

Dear Mr. Hill,-You will think me long in writing to you, but I knew you were well supplied with Cuttack information for some time after our arrival, so thought I would wait until your other correspondents are writing less frequently. So much has been written about our school that very little is left for me to say, but I may add, that it is still prosperous, and I find great pleasure in my work, as I believe the other teachers do in theirs. We began early school three weeks ago, commencing at a quarter-to-seven a.m., and finishing at eleven a.m. That is for English studies, for of course music lessons cannot be given during those short hours, so other times have to be arranged for them. You will be glad to hear that since my arrival I have enjoyed my usual good health, and so far have not felt much inconvenienced by the heat, although we are on the verge of May, and you know better than I do what that means. But then you also know that we do not feel the maximum heat here any more than the maximum cold in England. The one great question, "How

Under date of the 18th of July, observes ::

It will gratify our friends to know that the Mission English School for native boys is prospering as to numbers beyond our expectations. It has only been established two months, and the number on the roll is already seventy-five, and this number is likely to be increased. An engagement has been made for six months with a Hindoo gentleman, who, it is hoped, will prove a competent headmaster, and as our funds do not at present admit of our paying more than one master, gratuitous, but very valuable assistance continues to be rendered by three native preachers, Shem Sahu, Sada Sebo Praharaj, and Gideon Mahanty.

shall we keep ourselves cool?" having been successfully met, in the shape of double doors, and other means with which you are acquainted. Then, too, the cool breeze in the evening is very enjoyable.

Last Sunday week I witnessed, for the first time, a tropical storm. We were in chapel, and Dr. Buckley was preaching. A few flashes of lightning, followed by distant thunder, did not alarm us. But, suddenly, the whole chapel was filled with lightning, accompanied simultaneously with a tremendous crash, as if the whole building were about to fall on our heads. This, for an instant, brought many to their feet. Then came a moment of silence, when the throbbing of our hearts plainly told us that we were in the land of the living, and it was a great relief to find that all were safe. Dr. Buckley, with that calmness and majesty that characterize him, continued his sermon, referring to the wonderful works of God. When the service was over we dispersed with thankful hearts that we had thus been preserved in the moment of danger.

writing from Cuttack, Dr. Buckley

Mr. Young, in addition to his work at the
Protestant School, devotes an hour daily
to one of the classes. This is a very
important help, and inspires much con-
fidence in the management. As I have
said before, we are anxious to do all we
can ourselves, but we shall need help
from home to carry
on the school
efficiently.

The European School continues to prosper, and few country stations in India have such educational advantages as are now happily afforded at Cuttack.

We expect to baptize several from our English congregation next month.

Mr. Mulholland has forwarded several letters in which reference is made to work in the bazaar. Though not written for publication, friends will be interested with the following extracts. Mr. M. writes:

You will be pleased to know that I have made a start in Bazaar work. The idea has occurred to me that a printer's band might be formed to do some work in this direction. I consulted my men (some of whom are good singers), and they seemed delighted at the idea. They do the singing, The native brethren

(among whom is your old friend Sada Sebo) do the speaking, Bro. Young (my fellow-labourer and fellow-countryman) and myself do what we can, by giving away tracts at the close, to any who really wish them. The native brethren are all the better for a European brake, for they are continually being drawn into

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MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

personal discussion, not edifying to the rest of the congregation. When it is getting too warm, I stop the flow of eloquence and sing a hymn, which brings the people back to the speaking point. I do long to be able to tell them, in their own tongue, the glad story of the Cross. What an interesting congregation one gets in the bazaar. What a study to watch the countenance of each individual. On the face of the Brahmin you see wonder, curiosity, and scorn, blended together. The lower castes are equally interested. All the body, but especially the head, combines to give assent to some of the propositions of the preacher. His "ha ha!" tell that he has fully understood the remark. But I must add that he shows his dissent in an equally manifest way. Fifty are speaking at the same time. Last night we had the amusing scene of our native preacher doing his best to make clear the claims of Christ, while right over his shoulder there was a Hindoo jesticulating over the merits of Hinduism. But Christ is preached. The Almighty Word is declared, and as true as yon burning sun rises in the East, so the darkness of idolatry, in every form, must fly away before the cheering healthy rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Oh, for the full blaze of His longed-for beams! One interesting fact I must not forget. Right opposite we saw several women peering out through a sort of lattice. Who can tell but the Word may, in a quiet way, open their hearts as it did that of Lydia. One thing presses itself upon the heart of everyone willing to face the truth-" the land is not yet possessed,"-nay, not much more than the fringe has been touched. Walk or drive through the bazaars, and the sickening conviction presses you at every point that you are in the midst of a people sitting in darkness. I have written to my friends in Scotland, (I might add in tears,) of the awful reality of heathenism. I may be told that I shall get used to it. God forbid that I

should get so use to it that I can view it with indifference. The world stands aghast at Nero fiddling while Rome was burning. Why, sir, a greater, immensely greater, crime is being committed by Christian Britain at this hour-India perishes, helplessly perishes, and the hand is not stretched out to help. But let not the churches think they can be blameless in this matter. The parting command of the risen Saviour is resting on them. It cannot be shaken off. To attempt to do so is to have the candlestick removed, because they refuse to shine out. Bro. Young saw that sight, so often heard of at home, viz., two poor creatures measuring their length to Pooree. How far they had come he knew not-possibly two hundred or three hundred miles,but they had yet a journey of fifty miles to travel in this weary way. They were travel-stained in the extreme; but what must have been the state of their darkened, sin-laden minds. Their weary eyes were lifted time after time to heaven, as if in appeal to the Unknown God. Is it possible that all this journey would be completed without some one, Philip like, preaching to them Jesus.

In all this, I am not under-estimating or despising what has been done. But I maintain that, the means at the disposal of the Mission are miserably inadequate. It would be encouraging to know that there was the prospect of this unhealthy state of matters being remedied, but from your last meeting, hope almost gives place to despair. A continually failing exchequer is very discouraging, but help will come.

The work is the Lord's and

must go on. The General Baptists may fail to do their duty, but help will come from some other quarter. But, such assistance will throw a dark shade over the General Baptists as having failed to act up to the high convictions of their worthy predecessors. Men who believed that they had a Gospel meant for alland that a grave responsibility rested upon them to give it out.

Letter to Mr. Bailey.

THE following letter was addressed by the Rev. W. B. Ottley, M.A., the late chaplain of Berhampore, to Mr. Bailey. Though not intended for publication, we see nothing in it that need be withheld, and, as it expresses the opinions of one outside the mission circle, we think it will be interesting to our readers. The writer, we have known for many years, ever since he came as chaplain (the first appointed) to Berhampore, in the year 1856. His attachment to his church and his dislike to

LETTER TO MR. BAILEY.

357

nonconformity has been unmistakable, but his bearing towards the members of the Mission has ever been courteous and gentlemanly. Having completed his term of service he is now entitled to a pension of £365 per annum-payable out of the Indian revenue. As a full chaplain his pay and allowances were about 10,000 rupees, or at 2s., £1,000 per year. As he was the first, so we hoped he would be the last chaplain of Berhampore; but since his retirement a junior chaplain has been appointed. We have reason, however, to believe that Lord Ripon has recommended the withdrawal of state support from all government chaplains; and we trust that the unjust regulation, which takes the taxes contributed by Hindoos and Mahomedans for the support of Christianity, will soon be entirely and for ever abolished.

Berhampore, 4th May, 1883.

My dear Mr. Bailey, I have not ceased thinking of the agreeable meeting which you allowed me the privilege of attending on Saturday last; and can assure you that I came away feeling benefited and improved by what I saw and heard, and slept unusually well afterwards. The gathering appeared to me to be considerable, and it was pleasing to see a crowd of young men (there were some, indeed, who had passed the verge of youth-others yet children) so attentive, and evidently impressed by the papers read, and all else that was done.

The female portion of the assemblyeven to little girls-particularly surprised me for their unflagging attention to the proceedings of a meeting which, though interesting all through, was of no short duration. Very small children were, I believe, hushed in sleep-somewhere out of view, and not incommoding their parents.

I hope I can truly say that, though we do not move on the same line (the convictions of us both, alas! strongly hindering it), I rejoiced to behold "your order" and discipline, and felt what a good leaf -yea, how many leaves-I could take out of your book, for the improvement of myself and others more especially with me.

My own edification derived from the meeting would have been greater had I kept up my knowledge of the Oriya language-I should, indeed, have increased it but alas! I have lost ground rather considerably. I began to learn Oriya, as you know, rather late in life; but there was a time when I read it with the greatest ease-striving to give every letter its full force with every nasal

sound and aspirate. I may say, moreover, that I love the language for its great simplicity and freedom from irregularities and the beauty of many of its words. And here let me presume to add that I was charmed with the way in which you acquitted yourself in that language, speaking it with sweet fluency, and making all your utterances so sweetly persuasive a style which, I think I may say, I desiderate in many Oriyas themselves. Surely you ought to have had the thanks of the meeting for your conduct in the chair, which left nothing to be desired. But never mind; I am persuaded all present must have felt how kind you were.

Before you invited the young preacher, Balunki, to speak, I had observed him with interest, and marked then his sedateness and retiring pleasing modesty. It was he, I think, who led in our aged friend, and placed him between Daniel Mahanty and myself.

The next speaker, Niladra Naik, who once did me the favour to call, had had, of course, more experience, and seemed to employ a persuasive eloquence in tone and gesture. Our ancient friend's, Daniel Mahanty's, strong and prevailing voice was known to me before.

I have yet one word to add. I think you told me that the meeting of Saturday was held to commemorate the anniversary of a society for mutual improvement, established by some of your young men. Let me say, then, that, if there be any fund supporting the said society, I should be delighted to be allowed to make a slender contribution to it. Believe me, yours faithfully, W. B. OTTLEY.

"To plead the heathen at home as a reason for not sending the gospel to the heathen abroad, is a plea for exemption and indulgence on the ground of our own neglect and sin. It is like the murderer of his father asking the Judge to have pity on his orphanhood."-Phillips Brooks.

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