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 PRINCETON, N. J. 
 
 
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 BV 2580 .A9 1877 
 
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 Reformed Church in America. 
 
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 Women's Board of Foreign 
 
 5/5^/y. 
 
 A manual of the missions of 
 
 
 tho PofoT-moH ^nii-i-r"h\ r«hiir-r' 
 
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 GILA RIVER RESERVATION, 
 J\.i-ir»jna 9tfrritori|. 
 
 PIMA &.. A\APJC PAIN, D lA N S. 
 
A MANUAL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MISSIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Reformed (Dutch) Church in America. 
 
 ISSUED BY THE 
 
 ^Oman's ^oard of 'll^oreign ||issions. 
 
 EDITED r. 
 
 MRS. M AUG A RET E. SANGSTER. 
 
 tlftt) IDork : 
 
 Board op Publication of the Reformed Church in America, 
 
 34 Vesey St. 
 
 18V7. 
 
CADMITS PKESS. PKIHT, 
 
 >l lllBI.K IllirHK, 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGS 
 
 Introduction vii 
 
 INDIA. 
 
 Historical Sketch of the Arcot Mission. 
 
 By Rev. J. W. Scudder, M.D 1 
 
 Chittoor Female Seminary. 
 
 By Mrs. J. W. Scudder 101 
 
 Caste Girls' School at Vellore. 
 
 By Miss Josephine Chapin. .... 106 
 
 Village Work. 
 
 By Mrs. Ezekiel Scudder 109 
 
 Hindu Women. llo 
 
 Most Sacred of Hindu TexMPLes. . . . . 121 
 
 Taj Mahal 129 
 
 Sacred City of Hindus 135 
 
 Grand Mosque at Delhl . . . . . 137 
 
 Free Reading Rooms. 
 
 By Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M.D. . . .139 
 
 A Brahmin's Testimony 143 
 
 BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 By Rev. Wra. H. Steele, D.D. . . . • loO' 
 
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 CHINA. 
 
 Amoy Mission. 
 
 By Rev. Wm Rankin Duryee, D.D. . . . 172 
 
 Women in China. 
 
 By Miss Helen M. Van Doren 187 
 
 Miscellanea 191 
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 The Land of the Rising Sun. 
 
 By Rev. Wm. E. Griffis 211 
 
 Explanation Regarding the Church at Yokohama. 255 
 
 Daughters of the Isles 258 
 
 Ferris Seminary. 
 
 By Mrs. Mary E. Miller 259 
 
 •Christmas Festival 278 
 
 Summer Examination 281 
 
 A Visit to Uveda. 
 
 By Rev. E. R. Miller. 292 
 
 First Baptism in Japan. 
 
 By Rev. G. F. Verbeck, D.D 301 
 
 Nagasaki and the Girls School. .... 310 
 
 Japanese Embassy to America. 
 
 By the Editor 313 
 
 Women as Missionaries. 
 
 By Rev. Elbert S. Porter, D.D. . . . . . 31G 
 
 ARIZONA 320 
 
\THSOLOGICi^L/ 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE MISSIONS OF THE REFORMED CHURCn EST AMERICA. 
 
 Missionary enterprises have achieved their greatest gains in 
 modern times, but the missionary spirit has ahvays been a Hving 
 force in the Church of our Lord. On the day in which the cloud 
 received Him out of the sight of His sorrowing disciples, the Master 
 uttered as His last command, " Go ye into all the world, and preach 
 the Gospel to every creature ! " On the wonderful day of Pentecost, 
 the baptism of fire from on high lighted a flame, which shall never go 
 out, till it is merged in the splendor which evermore surrounds the 
 Throne of God. The missionary spirit, in whatever way it manifests 
 itself, is the expression in human lives, of the constraining love of 
 Him who gave up His life that we might be redeemed. In every 
 age, from the Apostolic to the present, there has been somewhere, 
 working to some extent, this desire to go forth and do good ; for no 
 soul can be truly converted without longing at once to tell the glad 
 tidings, and win others into the kingdom. 
 
 The Church of the Reformation, moved with true zeal all oyer 
 Europe. Superstition and idolatry fled before it, a new civilization 
 was born, and history took a fresh start. The Church of the Neth- 
 erlands, under the Cross, was distinguished for its sufferings, no less 
 than for its catholicity. For eighty long heroic years, it resisted 
 grandly the cruel bigotry of Spain, and the remorseless malignity 
 
Viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of Rome. At last a free course was secured for the Word of God ; 
 and the RepubUc of Holland was the ofi'spring of Protestant truth, 
 deeply rooted in the popular heart. 
 
 Our Dutch ancestors planted the Reformed Church in this 
 country, at a time when all Europe was convulsed with religious 
 wars. Directly after its independent organization here, it took 
 measures for rearing and training a missionary ministry. The 
 condition first of the colonies, and afterwards of the States, required 
 such a ministry. Toward the close of the last century, the New York 
 Tvlissionar)^ Society was formed ; and our Pastors, with the eloquent 
 and illustrious Dr. John Livingston at their head, joined heartily 
 in its efforts to Christianize outlying regions. How far that pioneer, 
 associated missionary body, contributed to awaken missionary zeal 
 and enterprise in the American Church, it would be difficult to 
 determine. It is very certain, however, that it originated influences 
 which, early in the present century, resulted in the formation of the 
 American Board. 
 
 The General Synod of the Reformed Church, at the openmg 
 of the missionary era, appointed its own committee on Foreign 
 Missions; but soon made arrangements to carry on its work 
 with all the Evangelical Churches, then constituting the American 
 Board. There were at that time, wise and thoughtful men who 
 doubted the expediency of turning over our work, as a Church, into 
 the hands of any merely voluntary agency. Still, there was no 
 factious opposition. At length, experience in Borneo, Arcot, and 
 Amoy, demonstrated the duty of conducting our Foreign Missions 
 
 in our own way. 
 
 Decisive action was taken in 1857; and immediately the 
 wisdom of the measure was amply justified by the increasing liber- 
 ahties of the people, by augmented efforts to strengthen missions 
 then established, and by endeavors to inaugurate new enterprises. 
 For twenty years the experiment has been submitted to the care of 
 Providence, with most encouraging results. 
 
 The Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the Reformed 
 Church has been organized as a fit and useful, as well as needed, 
 auxiliary to the Synod's Foreign Board. Almost at once, those whc 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 composed it, were confronted with the lack of information con- 
 cerning our mission fields, and the trouble of obtaining it. If the 
 women of our Church were to be enlisted cordially in the work, it 
 was essential that they should know where it was, by whom carried 
 on, what were its important features, and what the cost of various 
 departments. They must be brought into sympathy with the men 
 and women who had gone to distant lands to tell the old, old story 
 of Jesus and His love. The converts must cease to present 
 themselves as vague and unreal phantoms of the imagination, and 
 become to them flesh and blood, human beings with like passions 
 and a like immortality with their own. 
 
 THIS VOLUME. 
 
 This Manual of Missions is the outgrowth of necessity. W'c 
 looked about us, and finding only fragmentary details in the files of 
 our religious papers, while it was inconvenient to apply to our 
 Secretaries for each item as we wanted it, we decided to prepare an. 
 adequate book of reference We have had, in its compilation, the 
 generous help of those who were best able to speak on the subjects 
 they have undertaken. We have divided it, so far as practicable. 
 into topical sections, properly indexed, so that information desired 
 may be readily found. We have given it an attractive form and. 
 dress. Its beautiful illustrations, clear type, and appropriate cover, 
 fit it to lie as an ornament on the family table, where one and 
 another may often handle it lovingly. 
 
 A moment's attention may be claimed for the cover, since its 
 design is emblematic. The harp, palm-branch and dove in the fore- 
 ground, are introduced as the symbols of peace, promise and praise. 
 In contrast with these, a hideous idol peers from the jungle, and one of 
 the most ancient of Buddhist temples, the Boodh Gya in Burmalv,. 
 is represented. For more than two thousand years this temple and' 
 its predecessor on the same site, with the old tree at its rear walls, 
 have been objects of barbaric adoration and heathen rites. 
 
 Our thanks are here rendered to the Rev. Dr. Jared W. Scudder.. 
 the Rev. Dr. Wm. R. Duryee, and the Rev. Wm. E. Griffis, for the 
 painstaking and interesting papers they have presented us on Indii^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 China, and Japan ; to the Rev. T. S. Wynkoop for his careful mono- 
 graph on the Temple of Juggernaut, and to the Rev. Dr.Wm. H. Steele 
 ■ for his retrospective article on our abandoned mission to Borneo. 
 We are indebted also to the artists whose skill has embellished our 
 pages, their interest having been kind and hearty. Mr Charles E. 
 Sickles designed the cover, and Mr. F. S. Church the small vignettes. 
 Nor would we forget a grateful word of appreciation to the 
 ladies : Mrs. Mary E. Miller, Mrs. Jared W. and Mrs. Ezekiel 
 Scudder, and Miss Helen M. Van Doren, who have told for us, in 
 simple language, the story of their labors among heathen women. 
 Many will be pleased to read the extracts we insert, from the letter 
 written to one of our Secretaries, by the lamented Mrs. Doremus. 
 
 As befits a book for woman's reading, and sent forth by a 
 Woman's Board, we have laid special emphasis on that which has 
 been done in the cause of Female Education, in each field under 
 •our care. We think it will be plain to every observer, that the ladies, 
 who are devoting their time and talents to the instruction of their 
 own sex, in these darkened lands, would take high rank as instruc- 
 tors at home. Our own daughters are not receiving better teachmg 
 from more gifted brains and hearts, than are these girls in the far-otif 
 East, from the tender, lovely, and cultivated women, who have exiled 
 themselves, in this cause, for Christ's sake. 
 
 Does not this fact, dear sister, carry a lesson with it ? Let each 
 press home the question, to her own soul : " How much owest thou 
 to my Lord?" 
 
 The training of native preachers and teachers is felt to be 
 extremely important, for obvious reasons. By attention to the 
 reports given in this volume, by missionaries writing from their 
 posts, it will be seen with what success this has been attempted. 
 
 One final word : The cost of this undertaking has not come 
 from the funds of our Board. We have not felt it right thus to use 
 the contributions of our auxiliaries, nor to divert them from iheir 
 legitimate channel. Our President, Mrs. Jonathan Stnrgcs, with 
 rare devotion to the good cause, and genuine missionary zeal, has 
 herself assumed the expense of publishing ihis Manual. The 
 thought which inspired it, was hers. She has watched every step of 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 its progress with maternal solicitude, and her taste has supervised it 
 from beginning to end. 
 
 We send it to mothers and daughters. May they be stirred up, 
 as they read its narratives, to larger efforts, to more entire consecra- 
 tion, and to wilhng self-denial, for the Kingdom and Crown of the 
 Lord we and they love. 
 
 OUR FRONTISPIECE. 
 
 In the picture of the Reformed Church and Parsonage at 
 Yokahama, from a photograph taken on the spot, the parsonage of 
 the missionaries (built to accommodate two families) is seen on the 
 left. The church edifice is 60 feet long, 40 wide, and will seat in 
 the interior 450 persons. The property on the right is the yard of 
 the Consulate of the United States, with our national flag at the 
 mast-head. The avenue in front of the church leads down to the 
 " hatoba " or landing place. Two steamers of the Pacific Mail 
 Steamship Company he at anchor, and in the distance are the 
 mountains of Awa and Kadzusa. In the picture may also be noted 
 the tiled roofs, jin-riki-sha or " man-power wagons," the gas lamp- 
 post, the "'traps" or one-horse low carriage used in Japan, and a 
 number of natives and foreigners. 
 
 KOTE. 
 
 We acknowledge the courtesy of Messrs Harper & Brothers, 
 who have permitted us to use several plates from '• The MikaJos 
 E)?ipire," in the article on Japan. Also the cut of the Borneo 
 Mission, taken from " Piersoiis American Missionary Memorial.'' 
 
 M. E. S. 
 
INDIA. 
 
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 VTIISOLOGIOiiL 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 BY 
 
 Kev. Jaked W. Scudder. 
 
 THE FIELD. 
 
 The Akcot District, from which 
 oiu- Mission takes its name, is situated 
 on the Peninsnhi of India, about sixty 
 miles from its eastern coast, and di- 
 rectly west from the City of Madras. 
 Lying between the twelfth and four- 
 teenth parallels of north latitude, and 
 the seventy-eighth and eightieth pai-a!- 
 lels of east longitude, it covers an area 
 of 9,093 square miles, and has a popu- 
 lation of 3,048,980 souls. Previous to 
 its occupation by our missionaries, a 
 little evangelistic work had been done, 
 and small cliurches gatliered in Velh)rc 
 and Chittoor, two of its principal towns, l)y agents of an 
 English Missionary Society. A third church, also of a few 
 members, had been organized in Chittoor, as a result of the 
 hibors of Norris Groves, Esq., an English layman of undoubted 
 zeal and piety, but holding unique and independent doctrinal 
 views. Beyond this, nothing had been done for the Christian- 
 
THE ARCOT 3IISSI0N. 
 
 ization of the district ; and at the time when the Ameri«;an 
 Missionaries entered it, the inhabitants were, to all intents and 
 purposes, as beniglited and ignorant of the religion of Jesns, 
 as were their ancestors a thousand years ago. 
 
 FOUNDING OF THE MISSION. 
 
 In January 1851, the Rev. Hcniy M. Scuddcr, -who liad 
 already been laboring for some years in the city of Madi'as 
 as a missionary of the American Board, obtained leave to seek 
 a new and less occupied field of effort. Selecting the Arcot 
 District, he established a medical dispensary in the large town 
 of Wallajanugger ; and, for a season, labored without coadju- 
 tors in the vast Sahara-like waste of surrounding heathenism. 
 In 1852 he was joined by Rev. Messrs, William W. Scudder, 
 and Joseph Scudder : and the three brothers, all still connected 
 with the American Board, but supported by funds derived 
 from the Reformed Dutch Church, were in 1853 constituted a 
 new Mission, under the name of the " American Arcot Mission 
 of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of America." At 
 the date of its establishment, the entire spiritual property of 
 the new organization, consisted of no more than " a church of 
 eight connnunicants, and a small but interesting school for 
 the cliildren of the church members; " so mucli being the fruit 
 of the preliminary work of Rev. II. M. Scudder. Such wore 
 the little beginnings of the Mission, which, as we shall see in 
 the sequel, lias from an almost imperceptible germ, developed 
 into a widesprcading and luxuriant tree, laden with fragrant 
 blossoms and golden fruit. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 PLAN AND METHODS OF WORK. 
 
 These are clearly and defiuitelj foresliadowed in llie Con- 
 stitutional Kules adopted at the founding of the Mission. We 
 give a brief synopsis of them : 
 
 1. Believing that the teeming populations of India, can, 
 without any educational or other preparative human instru- 
 mentality, be readily reached and affected by the direct 
 preaching of the Gospel in their vernacular tongues, and 
 persuaded that the way to the triftinphs of Christianity could 
 most effectually be prepared l)y its public proclamation, the 
 missionaries of the Arcot Mission resolved to make it their 
 paramount duty to go into the streets of the towns and villages 
 throughout the district, and persistentl}^ and patiently preach 
 Christ and Him Crucilied, as the alone hope of lost sinners. 
 
 2. The extensive distribution of Tracts and Books specially 
 adapted to the Hindu mind and character, together with 
 the free dissemination of the Bible in the vernaculars of the 
 district, was recognized as a powerful auxiliary agency, only 
 second in im.portance to the direct oral" proclam.ation of the 
 Gospel to the masses of the people ; and it was determined to 
 compose and utilize such a literatm-e as speedily and on as 
 large a scale as possible. 
 
 3. Appreciating the impracticability of evangelizing the 
 millions of India through an exclusively foreign agency, as 
 well as the importance of early transforming Christianity from 
 an exotic into an indigenous and self -propagating institution, 
 the Mission adopted measm-es for the immediate founding of 
 educational establishments, in which native youths of both 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION 
 
 sexes miglit acquire thorougli equipment to serve both as ag- 
 gressors on heathenism, and as conservators and cultivators 
 of spiritual garden-spots, wherever such should be reclaimed 
 from thy dismal wastes of Paganism. 
 
 •i. Tlie necessity of instructing and spiritually training- 
 individuals and comnnmities, who might, tlu'ough the forego- 
 ing instrumentalities, be proselyted to the Christian faith, was 
 too obvious to escape notice ; and it was provided, that when- 
 ever tliree or more families in any one town or village should 
 renounce heathenism, and signify their Vidsh to be instructed, a 
 Catechist should be placed among them, and a small, inexpen- 
 sive building be erected to serve as a school-room for the 
 children, and a place of Sabbath convocation for old and 
 young. The worship of tlie true God would thus be inti'oduced 
 and familiarized, and, with the divine blessing, material 1)0 
 speedily provided for the organization of Christian churches. 
 
 .5. Caste, the hoary tyrant of Hindu nationality, and 
 Intemperance, a recently introduced but rapidly spreading 
 vice, were distinguished as being not only formidable antagon- 
 ists to the spread of Christianity, but also most potent forces 
 working ever for the disruption and dissolution of the native 
 Church after its establishment ; and stringent rules were, 
 therefore, framed to shut these pestilent enemies outside the 
 precincts of the youthful Mission. 
 
 Such are the general principles, whicli, adopted at the 
 founding of the Mission, have governed its policy and action to 
 the present time ; and to a faithful carrying out of these princi- 
 ples may, we believe, be fairly attributed much of the success 
 that has crowned its efforts to advance Christianity in the district. 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 The period under review, extending from the year 1853. 
 to the close of the year 1875, may be divided into two parts ; 
 which, for convenience, we will designate as, 1st, The Initial 
 or Rudimental Period ; and 2nd, The Village Movement, or 
 Rapid Development Period. 
 
 I. 
 
 THE INITIAL OR BUDIMENTAL PERIOD, 
 
 EXTENDING FEOil THE FOUNDATION OF THE MISSION TO 
 
 THE CLOSE OF A. D. 1S60. 
 
 The fii'st Annual Keport of the Arcot Mission was issued 
 at the end of the year 1854, a little more than a twelvemonth 
 from its organization. Tokens of a vigorous and robust youth 
 are ah-eady perceptible. Three " Stations," — Yellore, Chittoor, 
 and Arnee, have been selected as conv^enient centres of opera- 
 tion, and are occupied respectively by the Rev. Messrs. Hem-y 
 M., William W., and Joseph Scudder. Already, t^vo chm-ches, 
 each consisting of thirteen communicants, have been organized ; 
 one in Yellore, and the other in Cliittoor ; and two congregations 
 of native Chiistians, nmnbering severally about seventy souls, 
 assemble on the Sabbath to worship then- newly found Lord. 
 An " Out-station " has been established in the City of Arcot, 
 fourteen miles east of Vellore, and a small building of mud 
 and thatch has been erected there to serve as a school-house 
 and church. Four vernacular Christian schools are in operation, 
 and a "Prseparandi Class" of thirteen selected and promising 
 lads has been formed in Vellore, which is instructed daily l)y 
 the Missionary and his assistants, in the Scriptiu*es, Systematic 
 Theology and Heidelberg Catechism; as well as in secular 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 studies, embracing among the rest, Sanscrit, vocal Music and 
 Medicine. The Missionaries, accompanied sometimes by the 
 Praeparandi Class, make preacliing tom"S in the district ; and 
 the Gospel is systematically and diligently proclaimed from 
 street to street, in the large central cities occupied as Stations. 
 '• Spiritual Teaching^'' a tract of 96 pages, is printed and put 
 ill circulation; and a portion of the Heidelberg Catechism is 
 in the Taiuil press. In the Dispensary, kept open throi^-hout 
 the year, many interesting surgical operations are performed, 
 and a vast amount of relief is afforded to the sick and suffering. 
 Thus, within one short year of its formation, we find the 
 Mission already fully and actively at work in all its multifarious 
 departments. The only apparent drawback is the lack of 
 funds to publish several tracts and treatises which are ready 
 for the press ; and to erect chm'ches at the principal Stations. 
 This latter need was of so pressing a nature, as to dictate the 
 following earnest appeal to the Christian public in India : 
 
 " For church edifices, we have no appropriation. We now 
 conduct divine worship in our private residences. Last Sabbath, 
 at one of our Stations, the room was too strait for the people 
 who came. We wish to build one church in Vellore, one in 
 Chittoor, and one in Arnee. Cm- design is to build them in the 
 heart of the town, in the midst of the population. Then many 
 heathen will come in to hear the AVord, as it is regularly 
 preached. Evening meetings by lamp-light can also be held 
 on week days, which will attract many. We need about 
 4,000 Rupees ($2,000) for each churcli edifice, making a 
 sum of 12,000 Rupees. .We do not know where we are to 
 get this. We simply know that we need it. A neat, com- 
 modious, substantial building will be a perpetual declaration 
 
TLii:: AKCOT ]\I1SS10N. 
 
 to the heathen, that Christians have taken possession of 
 the land, in the name of the Lord Jesus." 
 
 The case of a young lad who joined the Mission this year, 
 is of peculiar interest ; he being its lirst high caste convert to 
 Christianity m tlie district. 
 
 SHENGALKAYAJf's CONVERSION. 
 
 " The fact that we are about to mention will show that the 
 preaching of the Grospel to those who attended the Dispensary 
 has not been in vain. More than a year ago, a lad of good 
 <'aste, named Shengalrayan, belonging to the town of W^dla- 
 ianuo-frer, was entered as an out-patient. He was treated for 
 about a month and then discharged as well. He, witu other 
 patients, heard of the great Physician. He became convinced 
 that his own religion was false, and that the Atonement of 
 Jesus is the only hope of the soul. He applied to be received 
 1)V us. We could not refuse. His father and m.other visited 
 us. They were allowed to see him whenever they pleased. 
 Affectionate entreaty, threats, sarcasm, all were variously tried 
 upon him, but in vain. He not only remained iirm, but 
 coni-ounded them by the wisdom of his replies. He broke his 
 <;aste of his own accord, and himself requested that the tuft of 
 hak on his head — being a mark of Hinduism might be 
 removed. In a few days the missionary was summoned to 
 appear before the Magistrate with the lad. The examination 
 was ably and carefully conducted for two days. So pertinent 
 and firm were his replies to all questions, so consistent were his 
 statements, so clear were liis views in regard to the difference 
 between Hinduism and Christianity, and so decided his inten- 
 tion to live and die a Christian, that even the head of his caste 
 and some other influential Hindus signed a paper declaring 
 that they considered him abundantly capable of formmg an 
 
8 THE AKCOT MISS10^'. 
 
 enlightened determination iu regiivd to the subject of religion. 
 Tne Magistrate decided that the lad might g<j where lie pleased, 
 and he is no\v a member of our Praeparandi Class. To God 
 alone be all the glory." 
 
 It is pleasant to complete this short liistory by adding 
 that this young convert, who had forsaken home, father, 
 mother, friends and caste for Christ's sake, proved himself to 
 be possessed of superior natm-al endowments and great a]3pli- 
 cation. 
 
 In the following year he was baptized and adixdtted to the 
 Chm-ch. After completing his course of study, he served the 
 Mission — ^first as Reader, and subsequently as Catechist. lie is 
 an exceptionally good preacher, was for many years the Head 
 Master of the Female Seminary, and is still doing excellent 
 service in the Master's cause. 
 
 TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF THE DISPENSARY. 
 
 The Government having made abundant provision for the 
 sick of the district by opening a Medical Dispensary in each 
 of the Station towns, and the missionaries feeling, that in ^'iew 
 of the fewness of then- numbers, their entke force could, at 
 least for the time being, be most effectively utilized in pm-ely 
 spiritual work, the Dispensary connected mth the Mission was 
 temporarily suspended at the close of this year. 
 
 A. D., 1855. 
 
 The year 1855 opened auspiciously on the youthfid Mis- 
 sion. The preceding twelvemonth, althougli it was as we have 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 seen a period of marked general prosperity, had not passed 
 without its trials. Ill health, and duty to a disabled father, 
 had compelled the absence of two of three Missionaries 
 during a part of the year, and the burden of the entire Mission 
 had much overweighted the shoulders of the one who remained 
 alone. l^Tow, not only had the absent members returned with 
 renewed health and vigor ; but the arrival, in March, of Rev. 
 Messrs. Ezekiel C. and Jared W. Scudder with their wdves and 
 a sister, doubled the strength of the Mission, and put it in its 
 power to preach the Gospel still more extensively among the 
 heathen. The joy occasioned by this re-union, found utterance 
 in the following words : 
 
 " Our Mission now consists of five brothers, four of whom 
 have companions to aid them in their duties, and the other is 
 helped by a sister, Miss Louisa Scudder. Thus we mmiber 
 
 TEN souls of ONE NAI^IE, ONE FAMILY, UUitcd iu ONE MISSION, and 
 
 serving one Master. Truly we have great cause to praise 
 God, who, through Jesus Christ, has called so many of our 
 family to engage in the missionary work, and has given us 
 the privilege of bemg associated in one body." 
 
 Stimulated as well as strengthened by the recently arrived 
 reinforcement, the missionaries prosecuted then- Evangelistic 
 labors with fi-eshened ardor. The Gospel was continuously 
 and diligently proclaimed in the streets of the Station towns, 
 and extended tours were made among the outlying villages in 
 the district. On these tom-s, the missionaries, after preaching 
 in the streets dm'ing the morning hom-s, usually occupied the 
 entire remainder of the day in receiving and instructing 
 the crowds of heathen who resorted to their place of encamp- 
 
10 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 inont. Ill the larger towns they were often engaged in tliis 
 work IVom nine o'clock a.m. nntil six o'clock p.m., preaching 
 to successive audiences, and distributing among them tracts 
 and portions of Scripture. So large was the demand for such 
 publications, that several editions of various works, amount- 
 ing to no less than 1,760,000 pages were printed dm-iug the 
 year. 
 
 Pastoral, educational, and other miscellaneous work within 
 the Stations was also assiduously attended to. Two services on 
 the Sabbath ; daily exposition of the Scriptm*es ; a class for the 
 instruction of communicants and cateclnmiens on Wednesday, 
 and several prayer-meetings during the week ; — these, with daily 
 street-preaching to the heathen, amply tilled the time and taxed 
 tlic industry of the Missionaries and their native assistants. 
 
 These multiform and abundant efforts were not barren of 
 results. . No large ingathering of converts was, it is true, made 
 fi-om among the heathen ; — a result, indeed, hardly to be 
 expected so soon, — jet the close of the year exhibits a notable 
 advance on its beginning. The aggregate of native Christians 
 has swelled from 150 to 350; two new schools have been 
 opened ; a Church has been organized at Arnee ; and the 
 communicants nmn"ber To against 26 in 1864. A part of this 
 increase was owing to accessions from the congregations of the 
 Gospel Propagation Society, and of Mr, Groves, wlio, on 
 witlidrawing from the district, transferred their adherents to 
 the spiritual guardianship of the Arqot Mission. 
 
 We extract from the Ileport of this year, several interest- 
 ing sketches, showing th;>t the Gosj)el leaven was doing its 
 silent but effectual work in the lump of heathenism. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 11 
 
 A HINDU DEFENDING CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 "As I was one morning speaking to a company of 
 Hindus, some one in the crowd came forward to oppose me. 
 A fine looking native in the assembly took the defence out of 
 my mouth, and very cleverly and forcibly discomfited my 
 antagonist. This man afterwards came to see me ; and I 
 found, to my astonishment, tluit lie had possessed a Tannil 
 Bible for many years ; that he knew it well, and could quote it 
 readily; that he did not worship idols; that he was in the 
 habit of daily meditating on God's Word and praying ; that 
 he everywhere openly declared Jesus to be the only Saviour ; 
 and yet, that he remained in connection with the heathen. 
 He lives in Vellore. I frequently see him. He tells me 
 frankly that an opposing wife, caste, and the shame of ihe 
 Cross, kept hiiu from being baptized. I have reason to believe 
 that a man professing to be a Cln-istian, conversed several years 
 ago with this Hindu ; and instead of enforcing upon him 
 Christ's command to come out fi-om the heathen and be bap- 
 tized, left him to infer that, in his opinion, he would get to 
 heaven in his present course. I have often clearly showed 
 this Hindu, out of the Scriptures, that he has not a saving- 
 faith, -and that he has no prospect of heaven, inasmuch as . he 
 lives in the perpetual violation of that comnrand. Will not 
 each one who reads this account lift up a prayer to the Fathei" 
 of Lights for this interesting man, who stands so near the 
 gateway of Jesus' kingdom, and yet does not enter in." 
 
 DANIEL ; A TKOPHY OF GRACE. 
 
 " Our new graveyard contains a single mound, near which 
 I must linger to drop a tear ; not through grief for him whose 
 dust is gathered there, but for my own loss in his departure. 
 My sorrow, however, is mingled with a greater joy. Although 
 
12 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 tlie thought is a moiu'iifiil one, — that I shtiil never see again 
 upon earth his intelligent, happy face, and that I shall not hear 
 again liis gentle persuasive voice setting forth to his country- 
 men tlie good tidings of salvation, — ^yet how can I do otherwise 
 than rejoice in the assm-anco that he is now in liis Father's 
 house. Surely tears must here give way to smiles, and lamenta- 
 tions be ciianged to thanksgivings. It is the grave of Daniel, 
 once a Pagan, dwelling in heathen darkness and worshipping 
 idols ; but now, a redeemed soul i:i heaven. More tlian eight 
 years ago he renounced Hinduism. He gave most satisfactory 
 evidence that he had become a new creatm'e in Christ Jesus. 
 I baptized him. Some years after his conversion, I asked Inm 
 to come to Arcot, and assist mo m preaching to the heathen. 
 This he did. He was a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus. 
 His friends cast him out ; his wife forsook hiai : but he had 
 found the pearl of great price, and nothing could induce him 
 to barter that away. He lived a holy life. He died a happy 
 death, falling sweetly asleep in Jesus. We can never forget 
 him ; we remember him as a trophy of grace ; a monument of 
 what the Lord can do for a Hindu, an earnest of what He icill 
 do in cases without number, as the Sun of Kighteousness 
 diffuses His rays through every j)art of this land." 
 
 THE POWER OF TWO OLD TKACTS. 
 
 " Some time since, a man of high caste called to sQc me. 
 He brought with hmi two old tracts, carefully folded in a 
 iiandkerchief. One was, the ' Jewel Mine of Salvation ' in 
 Telugre, It was much worn, and partly destroyed by constant 
 use. He said he had long been wishing to procure perfect 
 copies of these tracts, and, hearing in the bazaar of a 
 Missionary's presence in Chittoor, he came immediately to 
 secure the prize. He listened with eager interest to the 
 Gospel, and seemed greatly rejoiced to receive the tracts. I 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 13 
 
 have seen him several ti:i)es since. His history is very inter- 
 esting. Many yc^irs ago, us a regiment was passing, some one 
 dropped a book !)y the side of a well. It contained the 
 Gospels of Miu'k and Luke, and some of the Epistles, A 
 Reddy (a native landholder of high caste) found the bookj 
 but as he could not read Tamil, gave it to an old man, the 
 fatlier of ray visitor. The father, on looking at it, said : ' This 
 is a book for sages, not for an ignorant man like me.' His 
 wife, thinking that it might hereafter prove useful, put it 
 carefully away in an earthen pot. There it remained four or 
 five years. The old man died. The son was asked to 
 take charge of a school. He did so, and thinking that this 
 long neglected book might assist him, he took it out and read 
 it. He did not at first understand its contents. Again and 
 again he read it, and light began to da\vn upon his dark mind. 
 He soon became convinced that Hinduism was false, and that 
 this book contained the only true way of salvation. His views 
 of Sci'ipture truth, ;ind especially of the plan of salvation, were 
 surprisingly clear. When particular doctrines Avere referred 
 to, he would at once show his knowledge of them by apt 
 quotations from Scripture. He derived all his knowledge 
 from the portions of the Bil^le and Tracts he had read, never 
 having been instructed by missionaries. I believe the man is 
 sincerely desirous to become a Christian. Though of high 
 caste, he on several occasions ate food in the catechist's house, 
 thus showing that he had no regard for this feature of 
 heathenism. He seemed very near the kingdom of heaven. 
 He was repeatedly urged to take; a stand at once, to renounce 
 heathenism, and openly profess his faith in Jesus. Ho 
 acdvuowledged this to be his duty ; but, dreading the j^erso- 
 cution which would ensue, concluded to put it off for a 
 season." 
 
14 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 A WAIfDERER IX SEARCH OF TRUTH. 
 
 " The case of an old man livin<>- near Arnee is of unusual 
 interest. During his younger years ho was a lieatlicn after 
 the strictest sect. Tc quiet the cravings of the immortal soul, 
 he had travelled far and wide ; performed all manner of rites 
 and ceremonies, tortured his hody, and spent his little fortune 
 in ahnsgivhig. All this was done to ohtain forgiveness of sins 
 and hopes of heaven, but it only left his soul in greater 
 anguish. In his journeying he met a touring missionary. 
 He received fi*om him a portion of the Old Testament, in 
 which he found the Ten Commandments. He determined to 
 obey thein to the letter. He soon found this was impossible ; 
 and that, do what he could, he wns constantly breaking 
 one or another of God's commands. He sought more light, 
 and obtained a Tsew Testament. His eyes fell on the compen- 
 dium of the Decalogue. ' Ah ! ' said he, ' this is just what I 
 want ; this can be obeyed with greater ease. I can certainly 
 love God with all my heart, and my neighbor as myself?' 
 With renewed courage he set himself to the task, but was 
 soon convinced of his inability to accomplish it. He was now 
 led to study more carefully the sacred volume and the simple 
 plan of salvation. He found there that the Saviour, by His 
 obedience and death, had fulfilled the law in man's behalf. 
 He renounced idolatry, of his own free will, even before 
 coming to the missionary ; he broke caste — which was in his 
 case very higli — and began to worship the God of the 13il)le. 
 He repeated to the missionary a form of prayer, composed by 
 himself, which he was in the habit of using daily. It evinced a 
 thorough knowledge of Scripture, a simple child-like faith, 
 and an entire dependence on the merits of Christ, He is in 
 the habit of preaching the Gospel to his fellow villagers ; but 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 15 
 
 they call liim mad. His reply, in one instance, was : ' I learn 
 from the Scriptures, that he who would be wise, nmst first 
 become a fool. As I am striving for heavenly wisdom, I 
 may be, in this sense, mad as you say.' His family, in con- 
 sequence of his having broken caste, will not permit him to 
 eat with them. They cook his food and place it outside the 
 door for him. When urge*!, by the missionary to come out 
 from the world and make a public profession of Christ, he 
 replied, 'Not now; I will go home; and if I hear Jesus say 
 that it is my duty to forsake my kindred and trilje, which 1 
 must necessarily do if I join your Chui'ch, I "^nll cheerfully 
 obey. At present, I cannot make up my mind that It is 
 essential for my salvation.' We cannot l)ut liope that this old 
 man, tliough still living outside of external religious influences, 
 has been s;ivingly impressed by the Holy Spirit, and that he 
 will yet be brought into the clmrch of Christ. When he left 
 the missionary, he requested an interest in his prayers. This 
 request the writer has never heard an inquiring Hindu make 
 before." 
 
 TliG want of church edifices and of buildings for the 
 accommodation of the two Seminaries was still pressingly 
 felt, and the missionaries reiterated with m-gency, their appeal 
 of the preceding year, for funds wherewith to supply the 
 defect. In closing the Report, they express deep ol)ligation 
 to II. M. Binning, Esq., of the Madras Civil Service, for the 
 present of a complete and costly set of tents. This was a 
 most useful and welcome gift; as the missionaries, diu-ing 
 their tours, had frequently been obliged to pass the day 
 M^th no shelter from the l)urning sun but a green tree, and 
 witli no accommodation better than the bare and parched 
 ground. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 17 
 
 A. D., 1856. 
 
 A peculiar interest ever attaches to the early, formative 
 period of a great enterprise ; and we have, therefore, given, 
 at some length, the record of the first two years of the Mis- 
 sion's existence. Oxw space, however, does not provide for 
 for such continued details; and we must pass the remaining 
 portions of this Initial Period under more rapid review, touch- 
 ing only salient points of interest. 
 
 The year 1856 was marked by the following events : 
 
 The publication of '-'• Sweet Savom-s of Divine Truth,''' a 
 comprehensive Catechism in Tamil, wliieh has been of great 
 service in the native congregations; the organization of two 
 new chm'ches, one in Arcot and the other in Coonoor ; the 
 completion and dedication of a neat and commodious church 
 edifice in Yellore ; the foundation and partial erection of 
 similar buildings in Chittoor and Arnee, and the adoption of 
 Coonoor as an additional station. All of which events ai-e 
 good evidence of healthy growth and vigorous expansion. 
 
 This adoption as a Mission Station of a place situated at 
 a considerable remove from the Arcot District, though under 
 ordinary circumstances it might have seemed undesirable, was 
 clearly indicated by the leadings of Providence. The health 
 of tlie Rev. Joseph Scudder, never very robust, had become so 
 seriously impaii'ed as to forbid his laboring any longer on the 
 lieated Indian plains; and his return to America appeared 
 imperative. Just at this juncture, a native Christian congre- 
 gation, which had been gathered by the efforts of two English 
 gentlemen in Coonoor, a town situated on the heiglits of the 
 
18 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 Neilgherries, and loathed in a charmingly salubrious atmos- 
 phere, was offered to the Arcot Mission. The timel}' offer 
 was gladly accepted ; and tlie invalid missionary was appointed 
 to occupy the place, and make it the centre of his pastoral and 
 evangelical labors. 
 
 , The force of foreign missionaries in the Arcot District 
 proper, already reduced by this removal of the Rev, Joseph 
 Scudder to Coonoor, was still fm'ther weakened by the de- 
 parture of the Hev. W. W. Scudder on furlough to America. 
 Yet, by the Divine blessing, the prosperity of the Mission 
 does not appear to have suffered any abatement ; for we find 
 that the aggregate df its Christian adlierents had increased 
 during the year from 350 to 459, and of the commimicants 
 from 75 to 126. 
 
 We make room here for the case of a man whose con- 
 version, occuring at this period, proved, in the seq'itl, of much 
 moment to the interests of the Mission : 
 
 Daniel's conversion. 
 
 "About four months ago, a man called at my house, and 
 requested an interview with me. On my enquiring his errand, 
 he related the following facts about himself : For many years 
 a member of the lioman Catholic Church in this place, ( Arnee) 
 he liad been employed by that body as an itinerant proselyting 
 agent ; that is to say, his office was to travel from village to 
 village, and induce as many heathen as he could, to place 
 themselves under the dominion of Popery. Acting in this 
 capacity, lie had been the means of bringing numerous persons 
 over to that faith. The manner of his becoming a Roman 
 Catholic, was this. While he was yet a heathen, his mind 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 19 
 
 moved as we believe, by the Spirit of God, became dissatis- 
 fied with the faith of his ancestors. The rites and ceremonies 
 of Paganism brought no peace to his troubled conscience, and 
 he longed for some one to teach him a better wa,y. While in 
 this state of mind, he met a Roman priest, whose represen- 
 tations persuaded him to seek salvation in the bosom of that 
 Chm'ch. For a time, he found a species of relief by faithfully 
 observing the round of duties and penances imposed by his 
 new spiritual guide. But this state of things did not long 
 continue. The closer his acquaintance with Antichrist, the 
 more was he persuaded that the cravings of his immortal spirit 
 could never be satished with a humanly- appointed ritual. 
 Fastings, penances, and saint-worship were all faithfully tested, 
 and all alike failed of the desked end. Without were doubts, 
 within were fears. Thus tossed upon the sea of imcertainty, 
 and longing for a peaceful haven, he conceived the idea of 
 separating himself from the Roman Catholic Church, and going 
 into the far interior of the country. There, removed from 
 priestly supervision, he hoped to establish a religion less incon- 
 gruous with his views of true worship. This plan, chimerical 
 indeed, but illustrative of his deep feeling and anxiety, he was, 
 in various ways, prevented from carrying into effect. After 
 a time, coming into communication with some of our Chris- 
 tians, he learned the differences between Protestantism and 
 Popery. Light broke in upon his soul. The long desh-ed 
 knowledge was at last gained; and, like Bimyan's PilgrhTi 
 hastening towards the wicket, he entered, trembling yet rejoic- 
 ing, into the way of life. His iirst step was to renounce 
 Papacy with all its forms. This he did in the face of a most 
 bitter opposition. So threatening and watchful were his ene- 
 mies, that he was compelled to remove his family by night, and 
 take refuge on the mission premises. Even after he had cast off 
 his shackles, every possible effort was made to fasten them on 
 
20 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 lum anew. Emissaries were sent among iis to represent him 
 as unworthy of the least conlidence. We were told that his 
 sole ohjet-t iu joining us was to get money, and the like. But 
 God turned these weapons against their framers, and they 
 finally retired discomtittcd and confused. On further acquain- 
 tance, we learned that he liad never been the possessor of a 
 Bible ; and it would he difficult to portray the satisfaction which 
 beamed in his face when the Word of God was tii-st placed in 
 liis hands. Although he had, for six or eight years, been a mem- 
 ber of the Papal church, he knew almost nothing of the essen- 
 tial doctrines of Christianity. !No sooner, however, had he freed 
 liimself from that communion, than he gave all diligence to 
 the study of the Bible; and most rapidly has he derived trutli 
 from its sacred pages. May the entrance of the Word give 
 light to his soul ! Since joining us, he has manifested an 
 earnest desire for the enlightenment of his relatives and 
 friends. Beiny; a man of extensive connections, and not with- 
 out influence among them, it is hoped that through his agency, 
 accompanied by the Divine blessing, many may be induced to 
 cast off the bonds of Popery and Paganism, and seek light and 
 life at tlieir fountain head. It may be that, through his in- 
 strumentality, ' a great door and effectual will be opened unto 
 us,' as unto Paul in Ephesus." 
 
 The sequel of the story appears in the report of the suc- 
 ceeding year : — 
 
 " Some of our readers will remember the account given 
 in our last report of a man who had renounced Romanism, 
 and placed himself under instruction at this Station. The 
 hope was then expressed that not only would he and his 
 family become sincere l)elievers, but that, through their in 
 strumentality', numy otliors might bo induced to listen to the 
 truth. We rejoice to say that this hope has not been entirely 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 21 
 
 disappointed. About six months ago, the missionary had the 
 pieasore of baptizing the whole family, and of admitting the 
 parents to the communion of the Church. In December last, 
 their eldest daughter who had endeared herself to our heart* 
 bv the gentleness of her disposition, fell asleep, uttering with 
 her last breath, the name of Jesus. Daniel, for such is now 
 the father's name, has, from the first, manifested a tender 
 solicitude for the conversion of his num.erous connections, who 
 live in villages not far av;ay. Visiting them from time to 
 time, he has proclaimed the Gospel, and urged them to accept 
 it. Influenced by his representations, six families have already 
 promised to renounce heathenism, and bear the Christian 
 name ; and thus, a new door of usefulness seems to be opening 
 before us. 
 
 " To complete the history, we will add that Daniel was 
 the means a few years later of greatly stimulating and for- 
 warding the village movement, to be noticed farther on ; and 
 that after serving the mission actively for nearly twenty years, 
 he is now an old man, awaiting his transfer to a better world." 
 
 A.D., 1857. 
 
 The year 1857 was to the Mission, one of mingled clouds 
 and sunshine. Among the circumstances depressive and faith- 
 trying were the sad defections of certain church members ; 
 pnd the unexpected departure of the Rev. H. M. Scudder to 
 America, caused by the sudden and complete prostration of 
 his health. To these may be added the Sepoy Mutiny, which, 
 sweeping like a fiery tidal-wave, carried desolation and death 
 over the northern half of the continent, and threatened con- 
 tinually to ovei-flow and devastate its southern latitudes as 
 well. But God's protecting hand was about His servants in 
 
22 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 Arcot, shielding them from peril and disaster. While mis- 
 sionaries in other parts of the land fell a prey to the sword of 
 the Infidel, these here were permitted to pursue their labors, 
 not without some anxiety it is true, but still uninterrupted and 
 undisturbed. Although then- number was reduced once more 
 to only three, the Lord's hand was not shortened thereby. 
 Indeed, the events of the year, as a whole, were of a natm-e to 
 give them nnich cause for thankfulness and encoui-agement. 
 They were permitted to rejoice in a considerable augmenta- 
 tion, both of adherents and communicants. The congregation 
 at the new station of Coonoor was nearly doubled. Six heathen 
 families, all residents of a single \dllage, indicated their inten- 
 tion to forsake Faganism and bear the Christian name ; a 
 v^ery cheering fact, as being the first token manifested in the 
 district, of a movement in masses towards Christianity. After 
 long waiting and hoping, the Chm-ch edifice in Chittoor, a 
 beautiful and spacious building, occupying a prominent and 
 most eligible position on the principal street in the town, 
 reached completion ; and with services both in English and 
 Tamil was, on the 14:th of January, 1858, solemnly and exult- 
 antly dedicated to the Triune Jehovah. 
 
 And lastly, the "Reformed Church of America," con- 
 vinced that the best interests of her foreign work and of all 
 concerned in it, would be more effectually advanced by " sepa- 
 rate action," did, at the meeting of General Synod, in June 
 of this year, 1857, resolve to annul her compact with the 
 American Board, and to assume the innnediate care and con- 
 duct of her own Missions.' This was a measure peculiarly 
 o-rateful and encouraging to her missionaries in India; for 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 23 
 
24- THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 wliHe theii- rcliitioibi M-ith tlie A-encun Board had, witli a 
 t:-ingle exception, been eminently cordial and satisfactory; they, 
 nevertheless, now experlencad new tln-illings of emotion, as 
 they found th2ns3lves prasss:! diroctly to the breast of 
 their own mother, and felt tho fall, warm pulsations of lior 
 great heart rhytlimically responding to and sympathetically 
 blending with their own. And so the year went out in a 
 briglit sunset, which, while it bathed their landscape in light, 
 served also to illumiue and embellish the very clouds, whose 
 shadows had cast soaiewhat of gloom over their spu-its. 
 
 A.D., 1858. 
 We pass this year with only a brief reference. It was a 
 period, in some respects, of much trial and discouragement. 
 To supervise four widely separated Stations and meet their 
 multiform requirements, there remained now in the Ar<;ot 
 District, only the two younger members of the mission^uy 
 force : and even these were much hampered and embarrassed 
 l)y serious and continued illness in their families. Under 
 these adverse circumstances the Mission, while on the one 
 hand it does not appear to have suffered any notable deteriora- 
 tion, did, on the other, unquestionably feel the absence of that 
 expansive elasticity and cheering success which had marked 
 the preceding periods of its history. 
 
 A.D., 1859. 
 Tlie arrival in the early part of 1850 of the Rev. W. W. 
 Scudder, accompanied by a new mission-vry, the Rev. J. May- 
 ou, infused new strength and courage into overbm-deued and 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 somewhat dejected hearts. Tliis accession of force led to the 
 occupation of the new Station of Palamanair, a town of about 
 seven thousand inhabitants, situated on the borders of the 
 Telugu country, twenty-six miles west of Chittoor, and forming 
 the centre of a populous district thickly studded with villages, 
 — thus presenting an excellent field for evangelistic labors. 
 
 The native congregations in Arnee and Coonoor, who had 
 hitherto been, much to their regret, without houses of worship, 
 took possession this year with happy and thankful hearts, 
 of their completed and dedicated Church edifices. A sweet- 
 toned bell,* the gift of the " Scudder Missionary Society of 
 the Third Eeformed Church of Philadelphia," hung in the 
 tower of the Arnee building, and uttered its silvery notes of 
 invitation to the dwellers around, heathen and Christian alike. 
 The dedication services in Coonoor, attracted large audiences 
 of both Europeans and natives, the latter of whom freely 
 expressed theii" interest and joy at exchanging the straitened 
 and inadequate limits of a small school-house for their well- 
 appointed and comfortable church. 
 
 Perhaps the most important- and, to the missionaries 
 especially, deeply interesting event of the year, was the ordi- 
 nation of their first native pastor, the Rev. Andi'ew Sawyer. 
 The services were held in the Church at Chittoor, in which 
 town the candidate, an old and tried servant of the Lord, had 
 labored as catechist and lay-preacher for many years ; and 
 liad secured the respect and love of all who, through the long 
 
 * It may not be amiss to state here tLat other Churches and Sunday- 
 whools have presented bells to the Arcot Mission ; notably the Sunday- 
 si^hool of West Troy, which has, I believe, four bells ringing out there. 
 
26 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 period of liis probation, liad witnessed his blameless life, and 
 profited by bis eloquent and forceful preaching. In the large 
 audience, which crowded the building, were many heathen, 
 attracted by the novelty of a ceremonial, altogether without 
 precedent in then* idolatrous town. The newly ordained 
 minister was soon after installed pastor of the native Chm*ch 
 in Arcot. 
 
 It was in this year, also, that the " Arcot Seminary," — 
 hitherto known as the " Praeparandi Class," — sent forth its 
 fii'st graduates into the Lord's vineyard. Three young men 
 who had gone through the prescribed course of six years 
 instruction and training, were appointed to labor as readers 
 and schoolmasters in the Mission. The number of students 
 in the institution at this time was twenty. 
 
 In summing up the results of the year, the Annual 
 Report says : — 
 
 " Though we have no remarkable accessions to record, 
 we have every ground for encom'agement in our work. There 
 has been a steady increase in our numbers and strength since 
 the publication of our last report. Our Stations have never 
 been in a more flourishing condition; our churches luive 
 never been better attended ; and a pleasing spirit of more 
 earnestness and prayer pervading the body of our native 
 Christians, leads us to liope for riclier and more abundant 
 blessings." 
 
 The statistics of this year are somewhat defective; but 
 cipproximatcly, tlie congregations may be recorded as number- 
 ing in the aggregate, 579, and the communicants, 140. 
 
 The year, auspicious in its beginning, and prosperous iu 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 27 
 
 its continuaiice, did not, however, end without its trial. The 
 complete prostration of the Eev. Joseph Scudder's health, and 
 the long continued and apparently hopeless illness of Mrs. J. 
 W. Scudder, imperatively demanded a change of climate ; and 
 the working force of the mission was once more reduced to 
 three,. by the embarkation m December of two families for 
 America. Yellore and Ooonoor were left vacant by the with- 
 ch-awal of strength ; and the ship which bore the missionaries 
 away, both carried and left behind her disappointment and 
 sincere regret. The Eev. Joseph Scudder, after his arrival 
 at home, kept his relation to the mission unsevered for many 
 years, always hoping to retm'n to his work in India ; but his 
 shattered frame never recovered sufficiently to warrant the 
 step, and the remainder of his life was passed laboring for 
 the Master in the United States. His term of foreign service 
 was seven years. He died at Upper Red Hook, N. Y., Nov. 
 21st, 1876, and now sleeps in Greenwood Cemetery, beside 
 his brother Samuel, who, though consecrated to the missionary 
 work, was taken away while preparing to engage in it. 
 
 A. D. 1860. 
 
 "We must content ourselves with a bare resume of the 
 events of this year. The Eev. H. M. Scudder retm-ned, but 
 mth still imperfect health, to the mission. Two new mission- 
 aries, the Eev. J. Chamberlain, and S. D. Scudder, M. D., 
 arrived; the former in April, and the latter in December. 
 A small church was organized in Palamanair with encouraging 
 prospects of success and enlargement. Marked indications 
 of the presence of God's Spirit in both Seminaries, resulted 
 
28 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 in the conversion and admission to the Church of two lads 
 in the one, and hve girls in the other. Sev^eral, more than 
 ordinarily interesting, instances of conversion, from among the 
 Roman Catholics are found in the Report of this year. We 
 give one of tliese in the words of the young man who was 
 himself the subject of his relation : — 
 
 " When the Rev. II. M. Scudder resided in Arcot, he 
 often instructed me in the truths of the Bible'; but God did 
 not then open the eyes of my understanding fully to appre- 
 hend the truth. Still, the doctrine taught was not in vain. 
 Like an insect gnawing at my heart, it troubled me day and 
 night. When Rev. Andrew Sawyer came here, he also faith- 
 fully continued these instructions ; and God eventually opened 
 the eyes of my mind to see that the religion according to 
 which I had been walking was a false one, tlie creation of the 
 man of sin. According to the advice of the Apostle in 1 
 Thess. V : 21, 'to prove all things and hold fast that v/hich is 
 good,' I carefully examined the whole subject, and determined 
 to leave the temple of idols, and enter the temple of the Lord. 
 The world, the flesh, and the devil com1)ined to hinder me, 
 and the troubles they caused me were not few. Space will 
 not permit me to I'ecount all these troubles ; but I Avill briefly 
 refer to a few of them. My mother, incited by Satan, did all 
 in her power to prevent my attending chm'ch, and to make 
 me forsake the truth I had embraced, to deny my Saviour, 
 and to despise His salvation. She followed me to the cliurch, 
 and taking lier position at the entrance, uttered all manner of 
 abuse, blas])lieining God svud Ilis trutli. She also influenced 
 the uiiTids of my wife and cliildi^'u to act in the same M'ay. 
 r was, however, eiu-ouraged by the words of the Lord, ' If any 
 man will come after Me, let hiui deny himself and take up his 
 (jross and follow Me.' My mother, wife and friends determin- 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. ^ 29 
 
 ing to make me forsake the truth, did all in their power to 
 bind me again with that cliain of superstition from which 
 Christ had released me ; thus proving the truth of the scrip- 
 ture that ' a man's foes shall be they of his own household.' 
 Failing in these efforts, my mother went weeping to the priest, 
 and engaged his services to draw me back into error. I con- 
 sulted with my pastor, and he repeated many texts of scripture 
 to encourage and comfort me. Strengthened by these, I did 
 all in my power to bear witness to the truth in presence of 
 these enemies of my soul. Remembering also the words of 
 the Lord, ' Fear not them which kill the body, but are not 
 able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to 
 destroy both soul and body in hell,' I was encom'aged to Vv^ith- 
 stand all efforts to entice me away from the trutn. 
 
 '• These evil-minded persons appointed a day to discuss 
 the differences between us ; but when we met them, instead 
 of speaking concerning the truth, they began to abuse me in 
 every possible way, and tried to frighten me into a compliance 
 with their wishes. Finding that I withstood all these attacks, 
 the priest, at last, came in great anger and questioned me as 
 follows : ' Who is the head of your Chm-ch ? ' I answered, 
 'Christ.' 'Who forgives your sins?' I said, 'Christ only. 
 There is no one else empowered to forgive sins.' 'Do you 
 mean to make disturbances in my church ? ' I answered, ' Not 
 I, but Christ.' At this he became very angry and commenced 
 beating me. Afterwards, on three succeeding Sabbaths, he 
 cm-sed me before his whole congregation. These are some 
 of the trials I have been called to endure, but the Lord has 
 delivered me out of them all." 
 
 The mother and the family of this young man subse- 
 quently renounced Eomanism, and joined the congregation at 
 Arcot. 
 
30 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 This brings us to tlie termination of om* " Initial Period." 
 
 The annexed comparative table, exliibits the progress 
 
 made and the results attained during the seven years of its 
 
 continuance. The first column shows the statistics of the year 
 
 1854, and the second those of 1860. 
 
 ITEMS 
 
 Stations 
 
 Out-Stations. . 
 Missionaries. 
 Native Ministers. 
 Catechists. 
 Reabers. 
 
 Schoolmasters. . 
 Colporteurs. . 
 
 Churches 
 
 Communicants. 
 Baptized Children. . 
 Total of Adherents, . 
 Pupils in A root Semlnart. 
 Pupils in Female Seminary. 
 Number of Day-Schools. . 
 
 1854. 
 
 1860. 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 26 
 
 154 
 
 
 220 
 
 170 
 
 612 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 31 
 
 II. 
 
 THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT, OR RAPID DEVELOPMENT PERIOD. 
 EXTENDING FROM THE YEAR 1S61 TO THE YEAR 1875, INCLUSIVE. 
 
 We have now reached the beginning of om- second 
 Period, designated, " The' Tillage Movement, or Rapid 
 Development Period," because of the features which most 
 conspicuously marked its history. Its almost uninterrupted 
 prosperity and unbounding successes, justly entitle it to the 
 distinction of being called the palmy period of the Mission. 
 The introductory pages of the " Eighth Annual Report " so 
 well describe its auspicious commencement, that we cannot do 
 better than transcribe a part of the record : 
 
 "This Mission, which, by the culture of the great Hus- 
 bandman, is becoming a tree with boughs and flowers and 
 fruits, sprang from a slender shoot. In January 1851, a 
 missionary pitched his tabei'nacle in the Noi-th Arcot district, 
 and worked, for a season, alone in a wide and weary waste of 
 heathenism. Afterwards another laborer came. Then still 
 another arrived, and the three were constituted a Mission in 
 1853. A church of thirteen members was organized. Three 
 small congregations, previously existing in the district, were 
 given over to us. In 1855, after four years of labor, and 
 this accession, our congi-egation contained three hundi-ed and 
 fifty souls, of whom seventy-five werfe communicants; and 
 now, this day, we number nine Missionaries, one Native 
 Pastor, six Churches, six Catechists, four Readers, six Teachers 
 and seven liundred and ninety-six nominal Cliristians, of whom 
 two hundred and thirty-two are Communicants. See wliat 
 the Lord has wrought ! We gaze upon His stately steppings, 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 33 
 
 and wonder and adore. He has transcended all our expecta- 
 tions. By His grace, our work has not been Kke the duck- 
 weed that floats upon stagnant tanks. Nay, it has proved to 
 be a germ planted by Him in His own garden. He has 
 nurtm'ed it, and truly it has become a spreading tree. The 
 dew is on its roots. The glow of the sunbeam is on the 
 ripening fruit; and we, a cheerful band of brethren and 
 sisters, gather under its pleasant shade, and sing the Lord's 
 song in a strange land. Our mouth is filled with laughter, 
 and om' tongue with singing : for He hath done great things 
 for us, whereof we are glad." 
 
 Limited space forbids any fm-ther attempt at a detailed 
 tracing of the Mission History from year to year, for such a 
 record would take the dimensions of a large volume. We 
 must content ourselves, therefore, with brief and only partial 
 sketches formed from an analysis and classification of the 
 work and successes of the Period under review. Let our first 
 subject be that of the Tillage Movement throughout the 
 district. 
 
 THE VILLAGE MOVEMENT. 
 
 We have already noticed the earliest token of this move- 
 ment in the intention expressed in 1857, by six heathen 
 families, all residing in a single village, to renounce heathen- 
 ism and embrace Christianity. But much time elapsed before 
 the promise became an actuality ; for not imtil the year 1861, 
 does Sattanbady, the name of the first Christian village, 
 appear on the records of the mission. 
 
 The accession of this community was the primal ingather- 
 ing of a harvest, the antecedents of which had been — arduous 
 3 
 
34 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 labors, long waiting, and earnest continued prayer. More 
 than six Imndi-ed persons luid, indeed, previously been 
 gathered into the Christian fold; but the increase had hither- 
 to been chiefly by individual conversions : and the nussionaries 
 were longing for the larger and more comprehensive move- 
 ment of masses of people towards Christianity. The veritable 
 initiation of such a movement, therefore, became natm-ally 
 enough, the occasion to them of great joy and hearty thanks- 
 o-iviuf to God. We will let them utter their emotions for 
 themselves : — 
 
 " Where our churches exist, believers have light in their 
 dwellings ; but in tlie territory of heathenism around us, 
 there is darkness which may be felt. Year by year, entering 
 these domains of Night and Death, we have preached Him 
 who is the Light and the Life. We have prayed for the 
 day-star and the dawn. Now we begin to see some lines of light 
 <ni the distant sky. Twenty-two miles from Arnee in a vil- 
 lage called Sattanbady, fifty-three persons have formally 
 renoun(x^d Roman Catholicism, and have joined us. We have 
 i-eceived them, and placed over tlieni a catechist and a school- 
 niiister. We cannot describe our joy in welcoming this our 
 first Christian village. Long have we asked and looked for 
 such a result. Pray with us, dear friends, for those who 
 have come under our teaching and care, that they may not 
 only endure such persecution as may come upon them, but 
 that they may be strengthened and blessed thereby. Pray 
 also that in this dismal midnight region of idolatry, Christian 
 \nllages may everywhere spring up as centres of light and 
 fountains of life. Pray that the vast superstructures of 
 superstition which frown upon us in every quarter, may be- 
 come as handfuls of cotton before the prairie fire. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 35 
 
 " Still farther south of Arnee, towards Gingee, several 
 families have made known their desire to join our mission. 
 The prospect is inviting. Our eyes glance wistfully over 
 that moral desert, and we know not yet whether this promise 
 of good may turn out to be a treacherous mirage, or a real 
 lake on whose banks we may be permitted to cultivate gardens 
 for our Lord. Praying tliat it may be the latter, we grasp 
 the plough and the seed basket, and go forth." 
 
 A catechist was iminediately placed in charge of the 
 new Christian community, and a school of twenty- five scholars 
 was established in the village. The children, not one of 
 whom knew so much as a letter at its opening, were reading 
 nicely in less than a year, and recited their catechism and 
 Scripture texts with no little pride and ardor. The marvel- 
 lous improvement of these young savages, and the generally 
 satisfactory conduct of the adult villagers gave much gratific-i- 
 tion and encouragement to the superintending missionary. 
 Ere long, other families luiited with the congregation ; and 
 the advancement of the people in knowledge and good con- 
 duct was so rapid, as to warrant the organization among tlietn 
 of a Christian Church as early as 1863. 
 
 Thus was most happily inaugurated the Village Move- 
 ment which spread gradually and steadily over the greater 
 part of the mission field. The progress of this encouraging- 
 success will appear from the following Smnmary : — Adherents 
 were gained in three villages, in 1863 ; in three more, in 1864 ; 
 in eight, in 1866 ; in three, in 1867; in thirteen, in 1868 ; in 
 three, in 1869 ; in four, in 1870; in fom*, in 1871 ; in thirteen 
 in 1872 ; and in two, in 1873. In this Village Movement, 
 
36 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 which continued about twelve years, Christianity gained a 
 foot-hold in no less than fifty-seven different localities ; and 
 the number of Christian adherents increased from 612 to 
 2,725 ; giving, a net gain of 2,113, and an average annual gain 
 of 176. In a few of these localities, adverse circumstances 
 prevented the permanent establishment of the faith : but 
 notwithstanding all drawbacks, we find the agents of the 
 mission, at the close of the year 1873, ministering to Christian 
 congregations in fifty widely scattered out-stations, — as these 
 rural villages are called, — in addition to the eight Stations, 
 or principal centres, located in the largest cities and towns 
 of the district. 
 
 A brief sketch of the plan ordinarily pursued in this 
 special work, may prove interesting to the reader. Whenever 
 several heads of families in a village signify a determination 
 to become Christians, two or more native catechists of ap- 
 proved judgment and experience, are immediately sent to 
 confer with them; ascertain their motives; candidly warn 
 them of the trials and persecutions they must inevitably 
 encounter, and acquaint them with certain rules and require- 
 ments ; promised compliance with which, on their part, is an 
 indispensable condition of their reception as catechumens. 
 If, after such conference, their motives seem sincere, and their 
 resolution remains unshaken, they are probationally received 
 as Christian adlierents of the mission : they, on their part, 
 signing a solemn pledge to renounce heathenism with all its 
 distinguishing insignia, and practices ; to avoid intoxicating 
 drinks and substances ; to send theii* childi'en to school ; to 
 keep the Sabbath ; to attend divine service regularly, and to 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 37 
 
 use all diligence in gaining acquaintance with the Scriptures 
 and their requirements. This compact having been made, 
 they receive an early visit from the missionary, who has per- 
 haps hitherto, from prudential considerations, kept in the 
 background. Should his personal inspection canfirm the 
 favorable Judgment arrived at by the native agent, a catechist 
 is sent to reside in the village ; conduct divine worship on the 
 Sabbath and through the week ; and, with the assistance of 
 a schoolmaster, or of his own wife as schoolmistress, to instruct 
 the old and the young, making it his chief duty to render 
 them familiar with Christian law and doctrine. Finally, the 
 village is visited as often as possible by the missionary himself 
 to examine the school, note the moral progress of the adher- 
 ents, encourage theii' efforts to disenthrall themselves from 
 obnoxious prejudices and usages, and stimulate them to a 
 diligent cultivation of new and estimable habits of thought 
 and conduct. 
 
 It is surprising how rapidly illiterate and degraded people 
 often improve under this system, faithfully and perseveringly 
 applied. A marked and pleasing change is soon noticeable in 
 in their appearance and demeanor. Rough uncouthness grad- 
 ually wears away. Well-kept hair and clean clothing, tell of 
 a newly acquired self-respect. The features become serener, 
 and expressive of inward restraint. Quarrelling and base lan- 
 guage are, by degrees, discontinued ; and, in many cases, there 
 is satisfactory evidence of a heart-work, which can be caus- 
 atively traced to environing accidents ; but only to the inter- 
 nal operation of the Almighty Spirit, transforming, regene- 
 rating, creating anew in Christ Jesus. And thus the great 
 
38 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 end the missionary has in view, is, by God's blessing, achieved 
 in these subjects of Divine grace ; and he gathers them with 
 abounding joy about the table of the Lord. Numerous inter- 
 esting illustrations might be recounted ; we content ourselves 
 with citing a single case t}^)ieal of many : 
 
 " This Church (Kandiputtm-) has met with a great loss 
 this year, in the death of Aaron, one of its oldest members. 
 A few years ago he was a heathen, but tlu-ough God's marv^el- 
 ous grace, he was called into the kingdom and grace of His 
 Son. His growth as a Christian was marked and rapid. 
 Tln-oughout his long and trying illness, he manifested, at all 
 times, a sweet spirit of resignation to the Lord's will, and 
 often expressed his cheerful readiness to commit himself and 
 all his interests to His gracious disposal. He rested in tlie 
 assurance — an assurance of which he often spoke — that if called 
 away from the bod}^, he would ever be present with the Lord. 
 The Cathecist has furnished the following sliort biographical 
 notice of him : 
 
 " ' By the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, Aaron, a mem- 
 ber of the American Mission Cliurcli in Tvandiputtur, fell asleep 
 in the Lord, August 23d, 1SG9. AVhen he lii-st became a 
 Christian, he was exposed to many trials and persecutions on 
 the part of the inhabitants of his vilhige. Relying, however, 
 upon the aid of the Lord, he was enabled to triumph over 
 them all ; and became an efficient instrument for the extension 
 of the Christian religion in our midst. Though he was uned- 
 ucated, and unal)le to read any language, he was not idle. 
 In whatever place he might be, and wherever lie went, he 
 constantly spoke with others of Christ Jesus, the lit"e-iiiii):irtiiig 
 germ, and of His priceless redemption. At the same time, to 
 the extent of his ability, he pointed out and refuted the cn-ovn 
 of heathenism. 
 
TEJE ARGOT MISSION. 39 
 
 " ' He had a re:iiarkal;)ly firm faith iu Christ. Moreover, 
 he treasured in his mind many precious passages of Scripture ; 
 and in his great aiilictious, these constituted the supporting staff 
 upon whicli he safely leaned. Last May, when he was at- 
 tacked by disease, he attributed his sufferings to no other 
 cause than his own ill desert. Feeling that the Lord was 
 chastening him for his sins, he manifested great sorrow on 
 account of them; and sought and found comfort only in the 
 Word of God, and in earnest prayer. He requested me to 
 have daily prayers in his house, and to read the Bible to him. 
 Though weak in body, he, too, in true faith, would call upon 
 God in prayer. He told me, if the Lord would forgive his 
 sins, and restore him to health, he would devote the rest of his 
 life entirely to His service; that wishing for no recompense, 
 he would go with me from village to village, laboring to the 
 extent of his ability for Christ. He, moreover, cherished the 
 design of building a belfry to the church in which it was his 
 custom to worship. 
 
 " ' When, however, he learned that he must die, he seemed 
 to lose all interest in earthly things. He manifested no 
 anxiety about his wife and chilch-en, his lands and possessions ; 
 but, with unwavering coniidence in his Lord, he committed all 
 his cares to Him. Thus, with a true faith and assured hope, 
 in perfect comfort and peace, he fell asleep in Jesus. Tiiough 
 after the flesh we sorrow over his departure, yet we greatly 
 rejoice, because of his triumphant death. ' And I heard a 
 voice from heaven saying unto me. Write, Blessed are the 
 dead whicli die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea, saith the 
 Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and tlieir works 
 do follow them.' " 
 
 Churches have been organized in eleven of these outlying 
 villages; and the communicants generally lead consistent lives. 
 
40 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 When we remember, that only a few short years ago there was 
 not a single native Christian outside of the principal Stations, 
 how much reason is there for rejoicing over the redemption 
 from the encompassing wilderness of these charming garden - 
 spots — verdant, blooming, and redolent with the fragrance of 
 thanks-givings to Him, who, by His blessings, has made them 
 to rejoice and blossom as the rose ! 
 
 The sincerity, fortitude, and perseverance of these village 
 Christians have been, in almost every instance, put to the test 
 of persecution. Avowal of then* new convictions places 
 them, almost invariably and immediately, in a very trying 
 position; and for a long period, they suffer many annoy- 
 ances and hardships. Relatives disown and shun them, as if 
 they had the plague. Life-long friendships are severed as 
 with the blow of an axe. The village washerman and barber 
 refuse their services. They are cut off from the privileges of 
 fire and water. Neighbors, hitherto helpful, now scornfully 
 and with bitter tauntings, refuse assistance in times of mis- 
 fortune or embarrasment. Heathen masters eject them from 
 employment, reducing them often to actual want. Old, hered- 
 itary debts, long forgotten or overlooked, are raked up, and set- 
 tlement is peremptorily demanded. False suits are instituted, 
 and triumphantly carried through the courts by unblushing 
 perjury. Brahmin and other high caste oflicials stretch their 
 authority to annoy, harass and pauperize tliem. The Moni- 
 gars, or Headsmen of the communities, cut off the perquisites 
 they have been accustomed to receive as village-watchmen and 
 servants; forbid bazaarmen and moneylenders giving their 
 credit; debar tlicm from renting land to cultivate on shares, 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 41 
 
 and oppress them in many other ways. All parties, liigh and 
 low, harmonize and co-operate in heaping disabilities with 
 cm*ses and maledictions upon them. Not unfrequently, they 
 are maltreated, beaten and even threatened with death. In 
 some cases, their houses are burnt over their heads. Such are 
 among the trials they are called to endm-e. Yet, with here 
 and there an exception, they have manfully and uncompromis- 
 ingly breasted the waves of surging persecution. The vast 
 majority have passed unshaken through searching and pro- 
 tracted trial; and in most of the older villag3 5 have, with the 
 assistance of the missionaries, succseded in living down, or at 
 least greatly mitigating the malignant opposition and cruelty 
 of their heathen neighbors. But we may not dwell longer on 
 this part of om- subject. 
 
 EVANGELISTIC WORK AMONG THE HEATHEN. 
 
 Christ's last command to His church : " Preach the Gospel 
 to every creature," has ever been the motto on the banner of 
 the Arcot Mission. We have seen that among its fundamental 
 rules, is one requiring its missionaries to make the oral procla- 
 mation of the truth to the masses of the people, their primary 
 and most important work. In some missions, notably in those 
 of tlie Scotch, the " Educational Method," as it is termed, in 
 contradistinction to the " Preaching or Itinerant Method," has 
 been employed, to the total or almost total exclusion of the 
 latter; and at times, a good deal of sharp controversy has 
 arisen as to the relative merits and efficacy of the two plans. 
 Without entering into the discussion, for which there is no 
 room liere, suffice it to say that the missionaries of our Church 
 
42 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 in India, while not repudiating the Educational, have yet 
 regarded the Preaching Method as the more scriptural, apos- 
 tolic, Chi-istlike ; a method, the adoption and pursuance of 
 which lead most closely in the footsteps of the divine Master, 
 and His inspired followers. In harmony with this view, we 
 tind them giving paramount significance to this department of 
 labor, devoting to it as much time as possible, prosecuting 
 studies speciiically adapted to its requirements, and shaping all 
 their plans with an eye to its efficient performance. To 
 traverse the district in its length and breadth ; to enter every 
 town, village and hamlet, calling upon men to repent and 
 believe on the Lord Jesus ; and to place in as many hands as 
 possible, religious books and portions of Scripture co be read 
 and pondered at leisure ; these were the purposes contemplated. 
 
 The lield of operation covers an extent of country about 
 250 miles long, by 50 miles broad; containing, in addition to 
 the larger cities of 10,000 inhabitants and upwards, tliousands 
 of smaller towns and villages ; the latter grouped at convenient 
 distances around the foriuer in concentric circles, and occupied 
 chiefly by an agricultural population. 
 
 The method whicli has, in experience, proved most effec- 
 tive, may be briefly sketched as follows: One or more mis- 
 sionaries and a few native assistants make their preparations 
 to leave home and spend several consecutive weeks, or months 
 it may be, in itinerating the district. Tents, provisions, and 
 books for distribution are sent in advance. A favorable spot 
 is chosen as a centre, and the camp is established in the shade 
 — if it can be found — of some umbrageous grove. Every 
 morning, before the dawn lightens the east, the missionaries 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 43 
 
 with their native attendants, sally forth ; and, leaving the 
 nearer villages for eveumg work, go out to a distance of three 
 or four miles from the encampment. Here they separate into 
 couples, composed usually of one missionary and one catechist. 
 Each party enters a village ; and, a favorable position having 
 been secured, a passage of Scripture is read, or a lyric in the 
 vernacular is sung in a loud tone, with the view of collecting the 
 inhabitants. In general the visitors are almost immediately 
 environed by a crowd of dusky auditors, who ordinarily listen 
 with respectful attention to the message of truth. Opportunity 
 is given for asking questions, and amicable discussion is not 
 discouraged. At the close of the interview, books and tracts 
 are distributed among those who can read ; and the visitors, 
 after inviting the people to seek further instruction at their 
 tent, pass on to another street or to a neighboring village, 
 wliere the same process is repeated. Thus, fom* or five places 
 are reached l)y each party every morning; and in the evening, 
 one or two more 'svithin easier distance of the centre. When 
 the circle is completed, and every inlial)ited spot within its 
 circumference has heard the voice of the preacher, the tents 
 are moved to a new locality ; and so the work goes on, until 
 circumstances compel a return to the home Station. By this 
 plan, systematically and perseveringly followed up year after 
 year, the entire district, large as it is, has been toured over 
 repeatedly; until, it is safe to say, there is no town or village 
 in it, which has not become more or less familiar with the 
 teachings of Christianity. Three millions of people have, by 
 this agency, been brought within Gospel influences : and tlie 
 diligent sowing among tliem of the good seed has ever been 
 
4:4 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 associated with earnest prayer that, watered by heavenly dews 
 and warmed by celestial sunshine, it might germinate and 
 mature and fructify abundantly to the glory of God. 
 
 Nearly allied to this itinerant labor is the evangelistic 
 work done by the missionaries and native helpers in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of the Stations and Oat-stations. This is 
 steadily prosecuted, Sundays excepted, every day throughout 
 the year. The streets of the cities, and the outlying villages 
 within a radius of five miles from each centre, are systemati- 
 cally and as frequently as possible visited and preached in. 
 In this way, vast numbers of heathen hear the Gospel not 
 once, but repeatedly every year ; and the claims of Christianity 
 are kept before them more continuously and persistently than 
 before the inhabitants of remoter places, who can be reached 
 only at longer intervals of time. This particular species of 
 effort is therefore regarded, and justly, as being the most 
 important and effectual of any put forth by the Mission. At 
 the close of this section will be found a tabular statement 
 showing, — so far as the statistics are available to the writer — 
 the extent of the evangelistic work in both its branches. 
 
 As to the results of this vast and laborious system of 
 aggressive evangelistic effort, they are to be seen parti}'', 
 and most conspicuously, in the actual conversion of many 
 individuals, and of entire communities as well, to the Chris- 
 tian faith. The history of this success has already been given 
 in the preceding section, and need not be repeated here. It 
 is enough to say that all accessions to the mission from among 
 the heathen are db'ectly traceable to the faithful and assiduous 
 proclamation of the truth in the district. The divine blessing 
 
THE ARGOT MISS10]S". 45 
 
 has uniformly and manifestly accompanied this specific form 
 of effort ; and the largest increments of Christian adherents 
 have always been synchronous with its most energetic periods. 
 We give some extracts showing the estimation in which, after 
 extended experience, it is held by the missionaries ; and, at 
 the same time, illustrative of another phase of its success, 
 which, while it is somewhat occult and indeterminable, is 
 not on these accounts any the less real and important. We 
 refer to the general beneficial effects which the persistent 
 preaching of the Word has indubitably produced upon the 
 consciousness of the entire mass of the heathen throughout 
 the district. 
 
 Fkom Report of 1865. — " Great numbers of people have 
 repeatedly heard the Gospel through this agency. Though no 
 large results appear, we see clear evidence that the foundation 
 stones of Hinduism are receiving heavy and crumbling blows, 
 shaking the edifice throughout all its massive extension ; and 
 promising, sooner or later, to bring the vast structure to the 
 ground — a broken, shapeless, irretrievable ruin." 
 
 From Report op 1866. — After giving the statistics of 
 evangelistic labor for the year : — 
 
 " Thus do we strive to make known the truth of the 
 Gospel. We sow the seed in faith, beseeching the Lord to 
 own and bless our labors. He has blessed them ; and we feel 
 confident that He will continue to bless them more and more 
 abundantly. His Word is becoming known throughout our 
 district. The Gospel is placed in the hands of many who, we 
 are led to believe, read and ponder its truths. We could point 
 to many places where the people are considering the subject 
 
46 THE ARCOT MISSION, 
 
 of coming out on the Lord's side. "We hope to welcome many 
 
 (hiring- tlie coming year." 
 
 From Report of 1867. — " Oar experiences assure us that 
 Christianity is assuming a high position in the hind. It is 
 gradually gaining for itself a respectability and force, in testi- 
 mony of its divine origin and importance. The heathen, 
 though they still stand aloof, acknowledge its superiority 
 and power, and treat its adherents with less antipathy and 
 scorn than in times past."' 
 
 From Report of 1868. — " The proclamation of the Gos- 
 pel to the adult population of our district, is the chief object 
 of our mission, and to it we devote our best energies. We 
 have no reason to regret the time and strength bestowed 
 upon it. A marked and cheering change has been noticed 
 by us, as to the manner in which the people listen to the 
 Gospel message. The story of Jesus' love was formerly heard 
 with indiiference, or with undissembled scorn. Now, it often 
 secures the subdued and earnest attention of those wliom we 
 address. Almost all violent opposition has passed away. A 
 spirit of serious inquiry as to the claims of Christianity seems 
 to be rapidly pervading the district ; and quite a number of 
 village commuTiities have placed tliemselves under our care 
 and instruction during the past year. These effects of the 
 simple preaching of the Gospel greatly encourage us. A 
 vast preparatory work is being done. When it pleases tlie 
 Lord to follow these labors with a copious outpouring of His 
 Spirit, a great and saving change will take place among the 
 people. Let our daily and importunate prayer ascend to Him 
 for that Spirit." 
 
 From Report of 1869. — " This mission has, from the 
 first, held the principle that preaching the Gospel to the 
 masses is the divinely appointed agency for evangelizing 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 47 
 
 the heathen; and has requirad its missionaries to regard this 
 as their pri:nary and most i nportaiit worlc. AYithout wishing 
 to b3 dog natic, or to call in qnastion the efficiency of other 
 modes of hx])or, we may be psrmitted to say, that the experi- 
 ence of fifteen years has abnndantly confirined the view we 
 have adopted. Oar conviction is established that, for this 
 district at least, there is no superior or more promising in- 
 strumentality. God has here put upon it the seal of success. 
 It is tlie simple proclamation of the' Gospel in tlie towns and 
 villages of our mission-field that has, with the divine blessing, 
 brought in more than two thousand adherents to Ciiristianity, 
 and establislied fifteen churches within our bounds. It is the 
 simple proclamation of the Gospel that has diffused a knowl- 
 edge of Christ and His religion throughout large sections of 
 North and South Arcot. To hundreds of thousands of their 
 inhabitants, Ciiristianity is no longer a thing ' new and 
 strange ; ' but a common and familiar topic of talk and dis- 
 cussion. The missionary is not met so often as formerly with 
 a stare of Idank anazement or of idle curiosity. Intelligent 
 questions about the leading doctrines of the Gospel, prove that 
 his message has been pondered and canvassed by thinldng 
 minds. Confi;lenc3 in pagan myths and hoary superstitions 
 is manifestly shalven. Open opposition has signally decreased; 
 and when offered, as it still sometimes is, takes the form more 
 of an attack upon Christianity, than of a defence of heathen- 
 ism. In many places leading men, though yet unprepared 
 to break the shackles of caste and immemorial nsage, do not 
 hesitate publicly to avow their conviction tliat the Puranas 
 arc false and tlie Bil^le true. Some even ventm'e to afiirm that 
 Jesus, must eventually, displace Vishnu and Siva. With these 
 facts before us, we are encouraged to persevere in the method 
 selected. The leaven has entered the mass of the people, and 
 we are content to watch and aid its working, confident that it 
 
48 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 will o-o on until, iu God's own time, the whole lump shall be 
 leavened. 
 
 ".We not unfrequently see or hear the remark, that the 
 ' Preaching Method,' though well adapted to the lower classes, 
 does not and cannot reach the higher, and fails altogether in 
 reaching the female population. From this, we dissent. It is 
 conceded that in large cities, the proud and wealthy may keep 
 aloof from the preaching missionary, and that the laches of the 
 Zenana are beyond the range of his direct efforts. But our 
 experience denies that he fails to reach the higher classes gen- 
 erally, whether male or female. Throughout tliis district, the 
 Yellala and the Reddi, the Chetty and the Mudaliar, listen as 
 readily as the Pariah and the Chuckler. Even the secluded 
 Brahmin is sought and preached to in his sequestered Agra- 
 haram. As for the women, they seldom fail to compose a 
 part of our audiences. Standing in the doorways and on the 
 outskirts of the crowd, they listen as attentively as the men. 
 In many Tehigu villages, the weaker sex cluster about the 
 preacher, while their less courageous husbands and brothers 
 listen at a greater distance." 
 
 " We shall not attempt to give the results of this branch 
 of our W(jrk, for many of them are not such as to be thrown 
 into statistical tables. But they are none the less real. 
 Knowledge has been increased ; interest has been excited ; tlie 
 Gospel message has been discussed in many a locality ; thou- 
 sands, though still determined not to embrace it, yet begin to 
 admit its trutli, and several more villages are expressing a wish 
 to adopt Christianity as their religion. Four men of good 
 caste have joined us during the year, and are receiving in- 
 struction as candidates for baptism. We firmly believe that 
 this work is gradually but surely dislodging heathenism, and 
 preparing the way for the general acceptance of the true faitli. 
 It may be that many years, perhaps generations, nuist pass 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 49 
 
 before our hopes, founded on the promises of the God of 
 Truth, will be realized. But this is not our concern. Sooner 
 or later, the predicted end will surely come, and we labor on 
 happy in the confidence that God will, by accomplishing his 
 purposes, vindicate the infallible certainty of His given word."' 
 
 We close this topic with a few exceptionally interesting- 
 cases of individual conversion, resulting directly from evangel- 
 istic work. 
 
 ABRAHAM REDDI. 
 
 " One of the Adults who has received baptism in the past 
 year, demands a brief notice as a case of peculiar interest. 
 He is a young man of the Reddi caste, who, some time since 
 heard the Gospel preached in the streets of Chittoor. His 
 attention was at once arrested, and he determined to examine 
 the claims of Christianity. He came to Yellore for fm-ther 
 instruction, and soon became convinced that Jesus is the only 
 Saviom- of mankind. Of his own accord he broke his caste, 
 and threw in his lot with the people of God. His friends have 
 recently been here, and did all in their power to persuade hin: 
 to return to his village. He has, however, resisted their 
 efforts, fearing lest he should fall into the snare of the devil 
 and make shipwi'eck of his faith. He has been with us about 
 nine months, and his whole conduct has manifested a stead 
 fastness and earnestness wliich lead us. to believe that he it; 
 indeed one of the Lord's chosen people." 
 
 "We add, with much gratification, that Abraham Reddi 
 has served the Master with exceptional piety and zeal ever 
 since his conversion. His remarkable sweetness and equanim- 
 ity of temper, combined with uncompromising firmness in 
 all matters of duty and devotion to his Lord, have made him 
 
50 
 
 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 a great favorite, as well as an eminently useful man, among 
 both Chiistians and heathen. The mu-aculous transformation 
 
 ABRAHAM AND FAMILY. 
 
 of a degraded pagan into a trophy of grace so lustrous and 
 symmetrical, is wortli ten times all the money expended on 
 the Ai'cot Mission, 
 
 ANOTHER BEDDI CONVERTED. 
 
 Several missionaries on a tour, visited the village of 
 Kotta Kotai, about twelve miles north of Chittoor. They 
 met in its street with a young Reddi, concerning whom one 
 of tlioin writes as follows : — 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 51 
 
 " This young man, there first heard of the new and living 
 way, and resolved to walk in it. He visited ns at the bunga- 
 low; expressed his determination, and, though faithfully 
 informed of the difficulties that awaited him, and of the trials 
 he might be called on to encounter, he shrank not ; but 
 voluntarily renounced caste ; abandoned all ; [ind for fear of 
 detection and its inevitable consequence; immediately went to 
 a catechist's house in Chittoor. There he remained for some 
 days learning more of tTie truth, and evincing most resolutely 
 his abhorrence of idolatry. Though his subsequent conduct 
 has not been, in all respects, so satisfactory as could be 
 desired, he has shown no inclination to retm'n to his former 
 practices ; and we trust that more intimate acquaintance with 
 Christian truth may develop his character, and strengthen 
 him in the faith." 
 
 A BBAHMIN CONVERTED. 
 
 "A young Brahmin joined us at Mudnapilly, at which 
 place we spent a few days while touring in that region. We 
 had preached several times in the town and sm'rounding vil- 
 lages, and had noticed this young man in his visit to our tent 
 for the purpose of procuring books ; but we had no intimation 
 of any wish on his part to embrace Christianity until the day 
 of our departure, when he came and asked permission to 
 accompany us. He left, unknown to his friends; divested 
 himself of his sacied thread and tuft of hair, two decided 
 marks of heathenism ; broke caste, by eating with our Chris- 
 tian boys ; attended us during tli3 remainder of the tour, 
 going with us into the streets to preach ; and gave 'us every 
 reason to be satisfied with his sincerity and earnestness. He 
 [las now been witli us nearly six months. About three months 
 ago he was, at his own request, baptized." 
 
52 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 A PERSECUTED CONVERT. 
 
 "On our last tour, we found a lad whom we had lost 
 sight of for nearly a year. He joined us fro.n heathenism 
 about two years ago. A short time afterwards, a desire to see 
 his friends so overcame him, that he ran away from the Sem- 
 inary into which he nad been admitted. He, however, gladly 
 returned with two native Christians whom we sent in search 
 of him. When the next vacation occurred, I gave him leave 
 to go home for two wesks. He wont, but did not return. 
 Nearly a year passed, when one of our preaching tom's 
 brought us near his native village. He made his appearance 
 at our tent, and declared that he had been prevented from 
 returning to us by his relations. It see:ns that they did every- 
 thing in their power to induce him to apostatize from the faith, 
 and relapse into heathenism. Failing in every other attempt, 
 they thought to secure him by forcing him into the marriage 
 relation. A girl was brought and place<l at his side, and the 
 nuptial ceremony was performed. As he refused to tie on 
 the tali* his friends caught his hands and forced him to do it. 
 As soon as he was released, he tore the tall fro;n the neck of 
 the girl, protested against the violent proceedings and left the 
 house. Kot only did he resist every attempt to make him 
 worship idols, but he went from place to place reading relig- 
 ious tracts to the people, and telling them of the Saviour. 
 When he heard of our arrival, he hastened to our tent, and 
 declared his determination never again to leave ns. I could 
 scarcely credit this account which the lad gave of himself, until 
 his heathen relatives came and confirmed every word of it. 
 When I asked them wUethor he hi I refused to worship idols. 
 
 * The tali is the Hindu inania<je token corivspondinf,' to our wedding 
 rin^. In the nuptial ceremony, the bridegroom ties it around the bride's" 
 neck. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 53 
 
 they answered most bitterly : ' Yes, and lie has done nothing 
 for the last eleven months but preach Christianity.' They did 
 all in their power to induce him to return home with them. 
 He, however, resisted their entreaties, and is now pursuing his 
 studies again in the Seminary." 
 
 CONVERTED FROM IDOLATRY BY AN" IDOL. 
 
 " Another lad joined us a few months since. He was 
 attending the annual festival at a celebrated temple, when 
 the huge idol-car came to a siidlsn stop, and could not be 
 moved on by the united efforts of the multitude. It remained 
 out all night, and persons were stationed about the idol to guard 
 its jewels from robbery. As the young man witnessed this 
 scene, he became convinced that an idol which cannot help 
 its own car and guard its own jewels is not a god. This con- 
 viction was strengthened by a tract which was handed to him 
 during the festival. Shortly after, he wandered up to Arcot. 
 Weary and faint, he sat down on the steps of our chm-ch. 
 Soon the wife of tlie native pastor came to the church, and 
 seeing the lad, spoke to him of the Saviour, \7ho said : ' Come 
 unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give 
 you rest.' He entered the chm-ch, listened to the sermon, 
 and afterwards held a long conversation with the native pas- 
 tor. As the result of this, he determined to become a Christ- 
 ian. He was sent to Yellore, and has been under instruction 
 ever since." 
 
 A DETERMINED BRAHMIN. 
 
 " A Brahmin came to us a few months since, and besought 
 us to receive him to the Christian religion. As we had kno^vn 
 nothing of him previously, and as his knowledge of the Bible 
 was limited, we put him off. We, however, instructed Uim, 
 and supplied him with religious reading. He is still urging 
 us most earnestly to receive him, though we have told him of 
 
54 
 
 THE AECOT MISSION. 
 
 the fearful sacrifice he must make in becoming a Christian. 
 He declares that it is the Spirit of the Lord who has brought 
 him to liis present state of mind ; that he simply throws him- 
 self at Jesus' feet, and that he is prepared to meet all the trials 
 which may follow his change of faith. We have seen nothing 
 in his conduct to cause ns to doubt liis sincerity, and shall 
 probably soon comply with his urgent request to be received." 
 
 Such instances might be cited ad libitum,^ but the above 
 will sufiice for illustrative purposes. 
 
 TABLE SHOWma EVANaELICAL WOES DTOINa TWELVE TBABS. 
 
 AimO DOMINI. 
 
 NUMBER OF 
 ADDRESSES. 
 
 NU>tBER OF 
 ACTDIENCES. 
 
 NUMBER OF 
 
 BOOKS 
 DISTRIBUTED. 
 
 1864 
 
 3,113 
 
 93,824 
 
 8,4S1 
 
 1865 
 
 2,976 
 
 82,337 
 
 5,">22 
 
 1866 
 
 3,978 
 
 79,939 
 
 5,461 
 
 1867 
 
 2,901 
 
 91,470 
 
 4,479 
 
 1868 
 
 6,679 
 
 202,283 
 
 8,949 
 
 1869 
 
 10,171 
 
 235,392 
 
 8,945 
 
 1870 
 
 13,875 
 
 337,385 
 
 11,500 
 
 1871 
 
 13,927 
 
 330,814 
 
 11,698 
 
 1872 
 
 11.819 
 
 344,397 
 
 8.379 
 
 1873 
 
 11,974 
 
 338,399 
 
 5,3:^6 
 
 1874 
 
 12,548 
 
 359,804 
 
 6,390 
 
 1875 
 
 10,513 
 
 297,132 
 
 6.254 
 
 12 YEARS 
 
 104.474 
 
 2,793,176 
 
 90,894 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 55 
 
 There is no statistical record of the evangelistic work 
 done dui'ing the first eleven years of the mission's existence. 
 It should be remarked, that in the above table, the statistics 
 of the fonr years, — 1864 to 1867, inclusive, are incomplete ; 
 retm'ns having been made by only a part of those engaged in 
 the work. From 1868, onward, the record was fully and ac- 
 curately kept, and may therefore be relied on, as giving a 
 correct view of the work done during that period. 
 
 FREE READING ROOMS. 
 
 As an additional means of instruction and evangelization, 
 Free Reading Rooms have been opened in the business streets 
 of several of the larger Stations. These rooms are supplied 
 with religious and secular magazines, periodicals and news- 
 papers for general reading. Bibles, tracts and miscellaneous 
 books are also kept for sale, and one or two catechists attend 
 several liom-s daily, to preach and to converse with visitors, 
 who often assemble in large numbers. At one of these Read- 
 ing Rooms, the Gospel was preached in a single year 268 
 times, to 12,860 heathen, and 299 religious and educational 
 works were sold. 
 
 EDUCATIONAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
 THE ARGOT SEMINARY. 
 
 The prime necessity of securing an efiicient staff of 
 Native Assistants, was, as we have before mentioned, fully 
 ap-' reciated b}^ the Mission at the earliest period of its exist- 
 
56 THE ARCOT 3IISSI0N. 
 
 ence. The difficulty of procuring and transporting foreign 
 laborers to the field — to say nothing of the comparatively large 
 expenses unavoidably connected with their maintenance there? 
 renders it sufficiently obvious, that as much as possible of the 
 work of evangelization should be devolved upon qualified 
 natives, whose S3rvic35 can be at once more easily procured 
 and far more economically continued. Add to this, the fact 
 tliat the self-sustentation of the native Christian church, inde- 
 pendently of foreign aid, — a consummation in the last degree 
 desu'able, is conditioned by an adequate supply of indigenous 
 pastors and teachers, and the further fact that only such pastors 
 and teachers can eventually meet the social and sympathetic 
 exigencies of the native churches ; and we need say no more 
 as to the eminent suitableness of making the education and 
 training of such men, one of the capital aims of thought and 
 effort. 
 
 Moreover, experience has amply proved that in India, at 
 the present stage, at least, of Christian development, each 
 mission can secure a serviceable corps of native helpers only 
 by its own prevision and effort to that end ; and that missions 
 which depend on a supply, from sources however good, exter- 
 nal to themselves, are invariably hampered and embarrassed by 
 both the paucity and incompetence of their native coadjutors. 
 
 Moved by these considerations, the Arcot Mission has 
 always desired and sought to make its Male Seminary, a first- 
 class educational establishment ; and to approximate its con- 
 stitution and scholarship, as closely as the nature of tiling.^ 
 woidd allow, to lliose of colleges and se.ninaries in more 
 favored lands. 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 57 
 
 The effort has proved, partially, a success. We say 
 partially, because adverse circumstances, which, on a retro- 
 spective view, are the more to be regretted as they seem not to 
 have been altogether unavoidable, have certainly postponed, 
 not to say prevented, the full attainment of what has con- 
 tinually been desired and aimed at. The unanimous sense of 
 the mission has always demanded that at least one missionary, 
 relieved of other duties, should devote his whole time and 
 effort to the Institution ; and that the expenditure of money 
 needed for its vigorous maintenance, ought to be limited only 
 by a judicious economy. But, in point of fact, neither of 
 these desiderata has been compassed. The first has even 
 been thwarted by the small number of missionaries, laboring 
 under too great tension ; and the second by a pecuniary con- 
 dition, always restricted and incommensm"ate to the demands 
 of the institution. The consequence is that, while moderately 
 good results have been unquestionably reached, and a fairly 
 useful body of native assistants have been trained and inducted 
 into offices suited to their acquirements and abilities, the pri- 
 mary and paramount aim of the Seminary, viz., the supplying 
 of ordained pastors to the native churches, has not been 
 accomplished. Its graduates are, in the main, excellent men, 
 well qualified to be teachers and catechists ; and many of them 
 have proved signally useful in those capacities. Yet the fact 
 remains that, owing chiefly to a partial lack in them of self- 
 reliant judgment and of original, independent energy, neither 
 the Classis nor the missionaries have ever yet deemed it best 
 to ordain any one of them as a minister of the Gospel. We 
 believe that this defect in character is traceable mainly to the 
 
58 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 privation of a constantly formative and stimulating personal 
 influence which cannot be had in India, apart from the foreign 
 agency. Had the lads, while in the Seminary, been uniformly 
 in direct disciplinary contact with a missionary devoted espe- 
 cially to its superintendence, we doubt not that the infirmity 
 alluded to, would have been, in a large measm*e, corrected if 
 not thoroughly cured ; and that a sufiicient number of the 
 graduates would have been found qualified, in this respect as 
 they already are in others, for the highest ofiice in the Church, 
 We have dwelt somewhat at length and emphatically on this 
 point, because now more than ever it is important that native 
 pastors should be pro^dded for the native churches. Yet, 
 notwithstanding that urgent appeals have been made, there 
 seems little immediate prospect that the difficulty will be 
 remedied. Unquestionably a missionary ought to be specially 
 appointed to this department, and that without delay : else 
 must much of the fruit, acquired by long years of patient toil, 
 be either lost or suffer sad deterioration. 
 
 We pass to a brief descriptive and historical sketch 
 cf the Seminary : — 
 
 The students at the Institution are all boarders, and — a 
 few weeks excepted, — ^spend the entire year within its walls. 
 Thus they are kept — as is very necessary in India — under 
 constant supervision and training. In fact, they are regarded 
 as children of the mission, and every effort possible, witli the 
 means in hand, is made to equip them physically, mentally, 
 and spiritually for tlie work to which tliey are prospectively 
 destined. Tl.c curricuhim is arranged to continue six years, 
 and is as liberal as circumstances will allow. It embraces : — 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 59 
 
 IN THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT: 
 
 Geography ; Grammar and Readings in f om* languages, 
 Tamil, Telugu, Sanscrit, and Greek ; Mathematics, including 
 Arithmetic, Algebra, and Euclid ; History, universal and par- 
 ticular ; Katm'al History ; Astronomy ; Anatomy ; Moral 
 Science, and Anthology in four languages. 
 
 IN THE THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT: 
 
 Exegesis of the Old and Kew Testaments with Commen- 
 taries and Analytical text-books; Harmony of the Gospels; 
 Shorter, and Heidelberg Catechisms, with Commentaries and 
 proof-texts. Exposition of Prophecy ; Sacred Geography ; 
 Church History; Lectures on Theology, Didactic, Polemic, 
 Pastoral, &c. ; Whateley's, and Rhenius' Evidences of Chris- 
 tianity ; Rhenius' Body of Divinity ; Test of Religions ; 
 Butler's Sermons; Beschis' Instructions to Catechists; Pil- 
 grim's Progress ; Claude's Essay, with practical sermonizing, 
 &c., &c. The pupils are also experimentally trained for evan- 
 gelistic labor by occasionally accompanying the missionaries 
 on their itinerating tours, and by weekly excursions with the 
 teachers to neighboring heathen villages; in the latter of 
 which, the boys themselves have been known to preach to more 
 than 16,000 people in a single year. 
 
 The classes are examined every week, by the missionaries 
 in charge ; and annually by a committee of the Mission, and 
 also by the Government Inspector of schools separately. We 
 would gladly quote some of the reports of the examiners, but 
 space forbids ; and we must content om'selves with the remark 
 
60 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 that those reports are, in general, eulogistic of the institution 
 and its students; and that the Government emphasizes its 
 approbation by making an annual award of several hundred 
 Rupees to meet in part the salaries of the native teachers. 
 
 Habits of cleanliness are inculcated and enforced; and 
 industry, as well as health, is promoted by requiring a mea- 
 sure of physical labor on the arable land adjoining the building. 
 The spiritual interests of the pupils are looked after with 
 prayerful diligence, and, we rejoice to add, with the happiest 
 results ; as is evinced by the pleasing fact, that almost all the 
 graduates are now leading consistent and useful lives as ser- 
 vants of Christ and agents of the Mission. The expense of 
 board, clothing, and books for each student, averages S40 per 
 annum. 
 
 There is room barely to epitomize the history of the 
 Seminary daring the period under review. In the year 1S61, 
 there were only twenty boarders. The quick development 
 of the village move.nent, which l)9gan in ISGi, surprised the 
 mission with but a s nail and, relatively to the rapidly expand- 
 ing work, an utterly insufficient staff of assistants ; and the 
 embarrassment resulting therefrom, induced a correspondingly 
 i-apid annual enlargement of the Institution until it reached 
 its highest number of fifty-two students in 1869. The supply 
 of native helpers having, in time, overtaken the demand, the 
 list of pupils has, since then, gradually narrowed down to the 
 figure of twenty-nine in 1876. 
 
 The large increase of boarders in 1865 and 1866 necessi- 
 tated what had previously been desirable, viz., the erection of 
 a building for the institution. Up to that time the students 
 
TEIE ARCOT MISSION. 61 
 
 had O33iipiod snail, ill-ventilated out-houses, situated on ground 
 so low that '• water stood six iuohes deep in the rooms wlien- 
 ever it rained heavily.'" The increase of occupants augaiented, 
 bv over-crowding, the alrealy sufficieutly obvious- nntitnoss of 
 the damp and unhealthy premises. Cases of dysentery, fever 
 and congestion of the lung5, became alarmingly frequent ; and 
 it was feared that the constitutions of several of the sufferers 
 were permanently shattered. Urgent appeals, enforced by these 
 painful arguments were made, and resulted in sociuring, in 
 the year 186T, an appropriation of $9,000. Eligible grounds, 
 on which already stood a house suitable for the residence of 
 the missionary and his family, were immediately purchased, 
 and the Seminary building soon began to rise from tlie earth. 
 It was completed in due time, and on the 23d December, 1868, 
 was occupied by the school, after its solemn dedication with 
 interesting exercises, to the service of God. It is a handsome 
 and substantial brick edifice, with ample acconnnodation for 
 eighty or more boarders. See Illustration on page 62. 
 
 The great (h-awback to the complete success of this Insti- 
 tution, has, from the first, been the want of the continued and 
 exclusive services of a competent Head. Desiralde as it was 
 that two missionaries, one of them devoted to the Seminary, 
 should reside at Vellore ; the claims of other sections of tlie 
 field upon the limited foreign force were always too pressing 
 to admit of such an arrangement. Consequently, the time 
 and efforts of the one missionary stationed at Vellore, be- 
 ing of necessity distributed among a multiplicity of cases and 
 duties, it was shnply impossible for him, witliout neglecjting 
 equally pressing interests, to give the Seminary the attention 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 63 
 
 wliicli its iinportance merited. Repeated, but always unsuc- 
 cessful attempts were made to engage a European master. 
 And so the Mission was reluctantly compelled to content itself 
 with the possibilities of the situation. All that could be done 
 with the best native teachers procurable, was done ; their 
 instructions being supplemented, so far as other engagements 
 would allow, by those of the missionaries and missionary 
 ladies residing at the Station. As already stated,^the results, 
 while tliey have l)Gen l)y no means a failure, have yet fallen 
 short of the chief aim of the school, viz: providing native 
 pastors for the native churches. 
 
 We close this sketch with one or two pertinent extracts 
 from the latest Mission Reports : 
 
 "We ciinuot leave this subject without urging upon the 
 Board the necessity of sending a man out specially for tliis 
 Institution. The indispensableness of this action is felt every 
 day. The fact that good native teacliers have been secured, 
 does not affect the question. It still needs tlie impress of a 
 western mind, western discipline, and a western code of moral- 
 ity to make the boys strong and efficient ; and not till these 
 are secured, will they go forth thoroughly armed as far as 
 human training goes." 
 
 Again : " There is, however, an indispensable condition 
 to the efficiency and success of this Institution in the futm-e, 
 and that is a proper master. Each year convinces us more and 
 more of this. K we want efficient men who, in addition to a 
 thorough educational training, shall carry with them a moral 
 force that shall make itself felt, they must come in contact 
 more intimately and more continuously with a well-trained 
 western mind. This can only be effected by a missionary giv- 
 ing his ivhole time to the interests of the school, and spending 
 
64 ' THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 the greater part of eacli day with the lads. However well- 
 trained and educated a native may be, he does not possess the 
 power and tact of successfully training other minds ; and the 
 experience of other and older Missions has led them to supply 
 their higher institutions with trained European teachers. The 
 result is that men going out of institutions so f urnislied are at a 
 premium, men capable of meeting responsibility and inspiring 
 contidence." 
 
 " This is no new question with us. We have thought and 
 talked much about it privately, and at our Mission conferences, 
 and have again and again proposed to the Board to send out 
 either a minister or layman to take charge of the Seminary 
 and devote his whole time to its interests. Financial embarrass- 
 ment and other causes, however, prevented. Still, so fully 
 were we impressed with the necessity and importance of this 
 measure that we resolved at our annual meeting in 1874 to try 
 and secure the services of a teaclier from Germany, and meet 
 his salary, for a time, from such donations as we. could obtain 
 from friends in India. This project, however, failed. Our 
 work has now reached a stage in which the services of such a 
 master have become more than ever necessary, even indis- 
 pensable to om- efficiency and success. Though men wlio go 
 out from tl^e Seminary are many of them good men with fair 
 attainments and good purposes, they yet lack some of the traits 
 of habit and thought which are essential to complete success ; 
 and which the miscellaneous character of our present efforts, 
 however useful, can never secure to them. Nothing short of 
 a well-qualified foreign master who will make it his business to 
 train these young men, will meet the case. The subject is of 
 the utmost importance; for the future of our missiou depends 
 very nnicli on the character of tlie agents we employ. A mis- 
 sionary could not devote liis powers to a better purpose, and we 
 earnestly hope the Board will give the su])ject immediaro 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 65 
 
 and serious consideration, and send us a man as early as 
 possible." 
 
 FEMALE SEMINARY AT CHITTOOE. 
 
 TJie women of India liave for ages been rigidly debarred 
 from all educational privileges. The laws of the sacred Sas- 
 tras, equally "with the hereditary and inveterate prejudices of 
 the people, are inexorably hostile to the intellectual culture of 
 the female sex. None but courtesans learn to read and wi'ite ; 
 and, if by any possibility, a respectable woman should become 
 possessed of even these elementary acquirements, the fact 
 would, unless carefully concealed, brand her with indelible 
 shame. Missionaries have from the fii'st, appreciated the 
 importance of rebuking this barbarous and abhorrent usage, 
 and of demonstrating to the Hindu by the actual education 
 and elevation of members of the sex, the possibility and feasi- 
 bility of blending moral excellence and pm-ity with intellectual 
 culture, in the tout ensemble of woman's character. Influenced 
 by these considerations, as well as by a wish to confer the price- 
 less gift of science upon the defrauded moiety of India's 
 people, and pressed, furthermore, by the conspicuous suitable- 
 ness of pro\dding intelligent and companionable wives for 
 their native assistants, the Arcot Mission gave timely attention 
 and prominence to the subject of Female Education. Gu-ls' 
 schools were opened immediately on its establishment, and so 
 early as the year 1855, we find this record: "Three orphan 
 girls have been taken into the Missionary's house as boarders, 
 who, with three other large girls, are instructed daily. These 
 will probably form the germ of a Girls' Boarding School. 
 
66 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 We would be glad to increase the number, but have not the 
 means for tlieu- support. Those already received are main- 
 tained by private charity." Two years later the number of 
 boarders was seven, and in 1860, had increased to fourteen. 
 At this period, we find tlie " Female Seminary " among the 
 permanently established institutions of the Mission : still small 
 from the lack of funds, but prosperous and full of hope for 
 the future. 
 
 MANAGEMENT AND AIMS. 
 
 The Seminary lias always been under the superintendance 
 of the missionary-lady, resident at Cliittoor, assisted by an 
 excellent matron and one or two native teachers. Its design 
 is not so mucli brilliant scholarship and striking residts, as it 
 is the qualifying its pupils to perform in a womanly and 
 efficient way, the duties of the station in life, which as the 
 wives of native helpers or teachers in primary schools, the 
 greater part of them are expected to occupy. To raise them 
 above their prospective condition, would be tantamount to 
 making them disappointed and discontented, not to say unhappy 
 women, for the greater part of tlieir lives. The aim therefore, 
 is not to anglicize, but conversely, to keep them simple-minded 
 Hindu girls ; retaining all such native customs as arc innocent, 
 and suited to their particular sphere in life. A plain Init 
 thorough education in Tamil, Telugu and Englisli, together 
 witli proficiency in needlework, cooking and general domestic 
 economy, is the result kept in view. Cleanliness and thrifty 
 diligence are prescribed and insisted on. The pupils make 
 tlieir own clothes, do the cooking and all other household 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 67 
 
 work connected with the institution, and are required to keep 
 their persons as well as the building, scrupulously neat and 
 orderly. While on the one hand no pains are spared to 
 extirpate fatuous and irrational prejudices, and to break up 
 pernicious habits, on the other, every effort is made to imbue 
 the pupils with right principles of thought and action; and, 
 above all else, to lead them to a whole-hearted consecration 
 of themselves to the Saviour. A large proportion of their 
 time every day is given to the study of the Bible, and they are 
 early made conversant with the Heidelberg and other Cate- 
 chisms. It is not saying too much to add, that consequently 
 their acquaintance with sacred history and biblical doctrine is 
 larger and more thorough than that of most girls of their ages 
 in Christian lands. 
 
 The rapid development of the Mission in the years 1863 
 and 1864, rendered necessary a corresponding enlargement of 
 the corps of native helpers, and in 1865 it was decided to 
 increase the number of scholars in each Seminary to fifty. 
 This action made the erection, of adequate quarters for the 
 teachers and pupils an urgent necessity. The missionary in 
 charge of the Female Seminary had already, in 1863, written 
 as follows : 
 
 " It is very desirable that a suitable building sliould be 
 provided for this institution. The boarders, averaging twenty- 
 five souls, are crowded into two small godowns,* adjoining the 
 Mission-house. These are open to the observation of every 
 passer-by. Tliis compels an amount of vigilance and anxiety 
 
 * Small outhouses or offices, measuring ten by twelve feet. 
 
68 THE ARGOT MISSION, 
 
 which is very trying. All acquainted witli the clangers 
 attending female boarding-schools in India, will at once 
 apprehend the needfulness of affording proper accommodation 
 and seclusion to the girls. This we cannot do, from want of 
 funds. The missionary will be glad to receive donations for 
 this purpose." 
 
 Again, in 1864, lie wi'ites : — " In the report of last year, 
 I represented the desirableness of providing a suitable build- 
 ing for the accommodation of the Seminary. I am now com- 
 pelled to speak of it as an absolute necessity. Health, clean- 
 liness, and morality, all demand that the scholars shall no 
 longer be kept in the small, crowded and uncomfortable rooms 
 which they have hitherto occupied in one of the Station out- 
 houses. The mission has long felt the need of a change, 
 and has authorized me to put up a proper building, provided 
 I can raise the needed :^nds. I am sorry to say that my ap- 
 peal last year proved almost finiitless. About 400 Rupees 
 were all the moneys donated in response, whereas 2,500 
 Kupees, at the smallest calculation, is the sum required." 
 
 Once more in 1865, after recounting the cheering pros- 
 perity of the school during the previous year, he adds : — 
 
 " I am sorry, however, that I am still forced to complain. 
 The Seminary is utterly without proj^er accommodations. 
 Nearly thirty girls are j'^et crowded into two small, low 
 godowns, contracted and without ventilation. Health, cleanli- 
 ness and morals are all at stake. For two years I have made 
 h)ud appeals for relief. But there has been no adequate re- 
 sponse. During the last twelve months about one thousand 
 Rupees were subhX'ribcd towards erecting a suitable house; 
 and, witli tlie approbation of the Mission, I began and liavc 
 carried the woi'k up to that amount of expenditure. At least 
 2000 Rupees more, are necessary to complete the edifice. 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 69 
 
 I can only call out again, hoping and praying that, by the 
 blessing of God, the call may prove loud and effective enough 
 to enter Christian hearts, and cause them to well forth 
 benevolence in furtherance of this most worthy enterprise. 
 Christian mothers, think of the comforts and privileges and 
 blessings with which a bountiful Providence sm'rounds your 
 highly favored daughters ; and in gratitude to the Giver, send 
 your gifts and offerings to release their humble sisters from 
 discomfort and danger. Every Rupee you give for this object 
 ■will, I feel assured, be retm-ned with large interest into the 
 treasury of your prosperity. ' There is that scattereth, and yet 
 increaseth ' ' The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that 
 watereth shall be watered also himself Good security, 
 surely, for all who will send contributions to this work ! " 
 
 Up to this point, the Missionary's tune is decidedly in the 
 key minor, despondent; but just here we find a sudden and 
 enlivening transition to the key major, triumphant. In 1866, 
 he writes : 
 
 " It gives me great pleasm-e to say that the building begun 
 in 1865 is now almost completed. It is a spacious and com- 
 modious edifice ; and will conduce largely to the comfort and 
 health of its inmates. Thus, a great source of anxiety and 
 vexation is dried up." 
 
 And in 1867:— 
 
 " This Institution furnishes the brightest coloring in the 
 picture of our work for the year. The removal of the pupils 
 from two small, unventilated godowns into a large and airy 
 building has proved in every way beneficial. The transfer has 
 been strikingly productive of improvement, physical, mental 
 and moral. The girls are firmer in health, immensely more 
 cheerful in disposition, brighter in intellect, and, on the whole. 
 
70 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 umcli better behaved than iu former years. The only wonder 
 is that, in their old quarters, they did not degenerate into living 
 mummies. We, as well as the inmates of the new building, 
 revel in plenty of room, plenty of ah", and plenty of resulting 
 comfort, all of which are found in our recently completed 
 seminary building. We are very thankful for it, and its con- 
 veniences." 
 
 It is but justice to state that, of the money expended in the 
 erection of this building, the greater part, $2,000, was given 
 I'y Mrs. Susan Gridley, a noble Christian lady of Utica,N. Y. 
 
 Possessed now of ample accommodation, the Seminary 
 rapidly hicreased the number of its pupils from thirty to fifty- 
 live ; this last being the highest figure ever reached. The ser- 
 vices of a competent principal were secured ; the course of 
 study was enlarged and systematized ; more effective methods 
 of teaching and discipline were introduced, and the Institution 
 was placed on altogether a better footing. The pupils, besides 
 undergoing a weekly CKamination by the lady in charge, were 
 subjected once a year to a thorough testing of their acquire- 
 ments and progress by a committee of the Mission. The re- 
 ports of the conniiittees have been uniformly favorable, and in 
 many instances highly commendatory. • We give a single ex- 
 tract : — 
 
 " The Female Seminary Committee beg leave to report 
 that they have thoroughly examined all the classes in tlie studies 
 of the year ; and are happy to say that the examination lias 
 been very creditably sustained, showing both diligent applica- 
 tion on the part of the students and persevering (h-illiug on the 
 part of the teachers. The classes showed also a very pleasing 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 71 
 
 proficiency in mnsic by singing christian lyrics in chorus both 
 in Tamil and Tekigu, which were rendered in perfect harmony 
 and rhythm, with distinct pronunciation, and in a sweet tone of 
 voice. The committee went over the spacious building lately 
 erected, and inspected the sleeping, eating, cooking, bathing, 
 and other rooms, and found them all clean and neat. They 
 furthermore partook of the mid-day meal of curry and rice 
 prepared by the girls themselves, and found their housewifery 
 unexceptional." 
 
 In addition to the examination by the Mission Committee, 
 the pupils have, of late years, been subjected to a distinct ex- 
 amination by officials of the Government. E. C. Caldwell, 
 Esq., the Government Inspector of Schools, in his report of 
 1874 to the Director of Public Instruction, says : — 
 
 "/67r.' I have the honor in forwarding the accompanying- 
 certifying memorial of the American Mission Girls' Boardhig 
 School at Chittoor, to report that the school is held in a large 
 and commodious building, built expressly for the purpose, and 
 that it is more than ordinarily well and efficiently managerl. 
 The number of pupils on the roll was iifty-four, of whom fifty 
 were present for examination. Their attendance, owing doubt- 
 less in part to the pupils being boarded in the establishment, 
 was remarkably good. Their answering too was particularly 
 good, with the exception in arithmetic of a few girls whose 
 progress in that branch was not in keeping witli then- standard 
 on other subjects. In sewing, as in the case of the schools of 
 the same mission in Yellore, the girls were generally far in ad- 
 vance of the standards required of them." 
 
 A grant to the Seminary of Rupees 688, was awarded l)y 
 Government as the "result" of this examination. The crochet 
 and other fancy work done by the girls is sold from time to 
 
T2 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 time, and has of late realized from Eupees 200 to 250 a year. 
 The proceeds of the sales added to the annual grants of Gov- 
 ernment under the "result system" materially assist in the 
 maintenance of the institution. 
 
 The religious complexion of the Seminary has been singu- 
 larly bright and cheering. From its origin almost, the blessing 
 of God in the operation of His Spirit has conspicuously attended 
 the efforts made to lead the pupils to a personal surrender to 
 Cliiist, There have been periods of exceptional interest in 
 spiritual things. The observance of the "week of prayer" in 
 January, 1860, was followed by a manifest tenderness of feel- 
 ing. Voluntary prayer meetings were held, and five out of the 
 fourteen boarders were received to the communion of the chm'ch. 
 In 1863 six girls were brought to the Saviom- ; and the religious 
 interest pervading the school had its exponent in the observ- 
 ance of three meetings for prayer spontaneously lield by the 
 pupils every day throughout the year. The report of the same 
 period contains the f ollomng noteworthy statement : — 
 
 " We record with deliglited gratitude the fact tliat all the 
 girls who f^'om the first have been graduated from this Semi- 
 nary, either went out of it j)rofessing Christians, or became 
 such shortly after their separation. The most of them are 
 partners of our own native helpers ; and, so far as we know, 
 all of tliem without exception have, up to this time, lived con- 
 sistently as disciples of Jesus. How precious and encoiu-aging 
 is this evidence that the blessing of Jehovah is upon our Female 
 Seminary." 
 
 Similar records embellish the reports of 1868, 1872, 1874 
 and 1876, in which years respectively eiglit, eighteen, seven 
 
THE AECOT MISSION. 
 
 and nine girls avowed themselves the handmaidens of the Sav- 
 iour. Tn all sixty-four pupils have been gathered into the 
 chm'ch ; and twentj-six of the forty-three girls now in the in- 
 stitution are communicants. Yerily the record is one calcu- 
 lated to stimulate the zeal and beneficence of all who have 
 been in any way conducive to such felicitous results. 
 
 The systematic benevolence of the scholars, exercised at 
 the cost of veritable self-denial, must not be omitted from our 
 pictm-e. Many of them orphans, and all from poor families, 
 they are without "spending money" and other potential som-ces 
 of school-girl charity. Yet, in recent years, we find these hum- 
 ble Hindu girls contributing to religious and charitable enter- 
 prises an annual average of ninety Rupees — a very large sum 
 relatively to their circumstances. It should interest American 
 Christians, and pique their generous impulses, to know that 
 the pupils of the Chittoor Female Seminary amass this sum by 
 voluntarily and cheerfully denying themselves a portion of 
 their allotted food every day through the year. Benevolence 
 which goes partially hungry, that it may relieve the gnawing 
 necessities of others is as indubitably genuine as it is charm- 
 ingly beautiful. 
 
 Death has seldom visited the Seminary. One little girl 
 nine years old, died in November, 1866! During the early 
 stages of her illness she spoke sweetly of her Saviom*, testify- 
 ing delightfully to her faith in His blood. Subsequently she 
 was seized vnth convulsions and remained unconscious to the 
 end. Jessie, aged fom'teen, died in April, 1869. She suffered 
 much for several months previous to her decease ; but her trials 
 were borne with meekness and submission. Her pastor saw 
 
74 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 her frequently, and was much cheered by the sph-it she mani- 
 fested. Full of confidence in her Redeemer, she repeatedly 
 and emphatically expressed the wish to be released from her 
 pains and find rest with Jesus. Her end was perfect peace. 
 Two more girls, one of whom was a communicant, were taken 
 off by typhoid fever in 1872. Continued delirium prevented 
 any intelligent manifestation of religious consciousness ; but it 
 is hoped that both are in a happier world. A fifth, concerning 
 whom no special record is found, died a year or two ago. 
 These are all the deaths which have occurred in a period of 
 more than twenty years. 
 
 The annexed table gives the statistics of the institution 
 fi'om its inception to the present time. 
 
 STATISTICS OP THE FEMALE SEUINAE7, 
 
 FEOJI 1855 TO 1876. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CO 
 r-l 
 
 CO 
 
 1—1 
 
 
 Oi 
 CO 
 
 1—1 
 
 o 
 to 
 
 CO 
 
 SO 
 CO 
 
 10 
 
 CO 
 
 •-0 
 
 
 CO 
 1—1 
 
 I— 1 
 
 00 
 
 Oi 
 •-0 
 XI 
 
 CO 
 
 r-l 
 
 1-1 
 
 CO 
 
 CO 
 
 00 
 
 1- 
 
 1—1 
 
 CO 
 
 r-l 
 
 to 
 00 
 
 T-l 
 
 Total number of 
 boarders 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 20 
 
 25 
 
 30 
 
 34 
 
 46 
 
 46 
 
 53 
 
 55 
 
 55 
 
 48 
 
 54 
 
 54 
 
 53 
 
 43 
 
 Admitted to eli'h 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 9 
 
 Married 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 Died 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 75 
 
 OTHER EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES OF THE 
 MISSION. 
 
 I. THE PR^PAKAJSTDI SCHOOL. 
 
 This is an institution founded in the year 1863 as a refuge 
 for young men and boys rendered homeless and friendless by 
 their renunciation of Hinduism and adoption of Christianity 
 Quite a number of such persons join the Mission almost every 
 year. Many of them are from the higher castes, and some are 
 members of wealthy heatlien families. These converts, are, as a 
 matter of course in every instance, renounced and left helpless 
 and destitute by their relatives and friends. In the earlier 
 periods of the Mission they were received directly into the 
 Arcot Seminary ; but this policy having proved disadvantageous 
 in some regards, a separate school was established for their 
 education and training. Into this they are admitted on pro- 
 bation ; and after passing through a preparatory course, are, it' 
 found worthy, subsequently transferred to the higher institu- 
 tion with a view to their becoming agents of the Mission. The 
 original number, six, had increased to forty-three in 1870. 
 Sixty-six oi the students have been, at various times, baptized, 
 and eighteen admitted to the Chm-ch. " Some bright lights 
 have gone forth from tliis institution, and are doing good ser- 
 vice for the Master." Were there space, cases of great interest 
 might be related here. 
 
 II. CASTE GIBLS' SCHOOLS. 
 
 Misses Martha Mandeville and Josephine Chapin joined 
 the mission in 1870. After devoting some time to the study 
 
76 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 of tlie language — ^both ladies assisting meanwliile in tbe in- 
 struction of classes in the Arcot Seminary — they, in 1872, 
 opened in Vellore, two schools designed exclusively for the 
 daughters of the liigher classes of Hindus. These schools 
 met almost immediately with a degree of success quite unex- 
 pected, in view of the hereditary national prejudices against 
 female education. A third school was established in 1873 ; 
 and an aggregate attendance of from 160 to 180 scholars was 
 secured. The Bible has been used as a text-book, and religious 
 instruction given with little or no opposition on the part of the 
 parents. The pupils were examined in 1874 and 1875 by E. 
 C. Caldwell, Esq., the Government Inspector of Schools. In 
 the former year fifty-five and in the latter fifty girls passed 
 successfully, and received the hearty conmiendation of the in- 
 spector. As a result of the examinations,- the schools are 
 awarded about $300 annually ; which sum nearly covers the 
 expense of their maintenance. 
 
 The following extracts fi'om late reports are of interest : — 
 
 " Sewing is still an important f eatm-e in these schools. 
 Many of the gii-ls in the advanced classes are able to cut and 
 make their own garments. In this, we are already reaping 
 some of the fruits of om- labors. A few months ago one of 
 the older girls in Sullivanspettah school begged to be allowed 
 to teach a small class in sewing. She proved herself so capa- 
 ble, that, for the present, "she has charge of all the sewing 
 classes in tliat school. A more dignified and womanly charac- 
 ter can scarcely be found in one of her years and stature. She 
 seems especially fitted to fill a responsible position." 
 
 "The Scriptures are taught daily, and a great change 
 is manifest both in children and parents in regard to this 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 77 
 
 branch of study. Tlie j^eople protested strongly at first against 
 the introduction of Christian instruction ; and the children 
 seemed to have imbibed the prejudices of their parents. Now, 
 they drink in Bible truths almost eagerly ; and not only carry 
 theii' Catechisms and Bible portions to their homes, but are 
 permitted to read and study them there aloud without inter- 
 ruption." 
 
 " The secular instruction is thorough and efficient, and the 
 Scripture lessons are learned with great interest by the little 
 girls, and with little or no opposition from their parents. The 
 anniversary recently held was attended by a large and inter- 
 ested audience of native gentlemen who expressed great pleas- 
 ure on witnessing the proficiency of the little gu-ls in then- 
 lessons. Their sewing was also greatly admii-ed and com- 
 mended. There seems no reason why the schools should not 
 go on increasing in numbers and influence, and gaining the 
 favor of the people, if they could only have proper superin- 
 tendence." 
 
 " These schools have been continued during the year, 1876, 
 with increased prosperity. The number of scholars has in- 
 creased, so that there are now 220 names on the roll. Both 
 schools have been examined by the Deputy Inspector and a 
 grant of nearly 800 Kupees awarded. Besides secular studies, 
 the girls are instructed in needlework and in lessons from the 
 Bible. The latter seem to be especially interesting to them, 
 and they never tire of listening to stories from the Old and 
 New Testaments. We feel confident that the seeds of divine 
 truth sown in these youthful minds will bear fruit in the fu- 
 ture." 
 
 Miss Chapin was compelled by the failm-e of her health 
 to return to America in 1874, and in the following year Miss 
 Mandeville was appointed to take temporary charge of the 
 
78 THE ARCOT MISSION, 
 
 Female Seminary in Chittoor. Mrs. E. C. Scudder, and after 
 her departure, Mrs. John Scudder, have done all they could, 
 consistently w-ith other duties, to supply the place of the young 
 ladies. But the scliools have suffered, and are still sufferino; 
 from the lack of adequate superintendence. It is extremely 
 desirable that such superintendence should be supplied with- 
 out delay. 
 
 m. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 
 
 Of these little need be said. Established in every Sta- 
 tion and Out-station of the Mission, they are conducted at 
 trifling expense; are taught by graduates of the Seminaries, 
 male and female, and serve as feeders to the higher institu- 
 tions. Their function is humble, but necessary and useful. 
 
 MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
 ARCOT DISPENSARY. 
 
 Mr. S. D. Scudder, M. D., was commissioned by the Board 
 a medical missionary in 1860, and arrived at Madras in De- 
 cember of that year. It was expected that he would as soon 
 as possible estaljlish a Mission hospital and dispensary, and 
 after having studied the language for a time, he was directed 
 to do so. A suitable building was selected and engaged in 
 Vellore, and the institution was just about to be opened, wlien 
 his plans were suddenly frustrated by the embarrassment of the 
 treasury, occasioned by the American war. Debarred tem- 
 porarily from his specialty, he was ordained by the Classis of 
 
TEIE AKCOT MISSION. 79 
 
 Areot to the gospel ministry, and in 1862, lie was placed in 
 spiritual charge of the Arcot Station. Unable, however, to 
 suppress professional instincts, and unwilling to abandon the 
 medical work, he, with the consent of the Mission, opened in 
 that place a dispensary on a very small scale. The exigen- 
 cies of the Mission caused his removal in tlie following year 
 to Falamanair. Here, again, his renewed hopes and efforts 
 were defeated by the want of an appropriation, and we 
 find him balked, yet not despairing, venting his disap- 
 pointment thus : 
 
 " I stated in my last report that I intended opening a 
 dispensary at Falamanair. Though the Lord has not yet 
 permitted me to fulfill that statement, I reiterate it, and still 
 believe that the way will be opened. Dming the past year, I 
 have been permitted to aid both medically and sm'gically, a 
 large number of persons. But how many have I, in sorrow, 
 to refuse ! I have no money, no place in which to receive 
 patients, no apothecary and no medicine. Not one Chi'istian 
 friend has, dm'ing the year, sent me pecuniary aid. I do not 
 wi'ite, however, as one despairing. The Lord will not permit 
 me to abandon this most important work. My heart is in it ; 
 my most earnest desire is to carry it on. I spent many long, 
 hard-working years, and visited many lands in pursuit of 
 medical knowledge. The knowledge obtained, shall tlu-ough no 
 lack on my part go to naught. I mean to have a dispensary, 
 and I call upon the Lord's people to aid me in carrying out 
 my intention." 
 
 This discouraging state of affairs continued until near the 
 close of the year 1865, when the Foreign Board, though still 
 carrying the debt incurred during the war, and having no 
 
80 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 fimds collected for the special purpose, determined, in view of 
 the great desirability of establishing a medical branch of this 
 work in Arcot, to sanction the immediate opening of a dispen- 
 sary and hospital, and directed the Mission to start the 
 enterprise without delay. The joy occasioned by this action, 
 found utterance in the following hopeful and glowing words : 
 
 " God has at length answered our prayers. After five 
 long years of hope deferred and earnest efforts discouraged, 
 when it appeared indeed, imperative to abandon the object, 
 the small cloud betokening the ardently longed for rain arose ; 
 our Secretary wrote that we might hope anew for the dispen- 
 sary. And we now know that it has been allowed by the 
 Executive Committee. In the joy of our hearts, most truly 
 can we exclaim : ' Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is 
 within me, bless His holy name.' We hope very soon to 
 commence operations. This action of the Committee in 
 sanctioning a dispensary, under very adverse cii'cumstances, 
 is certainly one of great faith and true Christian nobility." 
 
 The hospital was opened in the city of Arcot, March 17, 
 1866. It met with considerable opposition at the outset. 
 There was already in the place a small civil dispensary under 
 charge of an East Indian apothecary; and this man, jealous of 
 the new rival enterprise, exerted all his power to crush it in 
 its incipiency. This he did, chiefly by spreading false reports 
 to tlie effect that tlic missionary's object in establishing his 
 dispensary, was to force Christianity upon the people ; that 
 to accomplish this he would stick at nothing ; that by mixing 
 imclean water with the medicines, and b}' keeping low caste 
 servants to wait on the patients, he would destroy their caste ; 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 81 
 
 that he was an intruder, and the Government would be angry 
 with all who resorted to him for medical aid, &c., &c. These 
 reports, while they did not materially influence the respectable 
 and more intelligent natives, undoubtedly deterred the mass 
 of the people — whose timidity, born of ignorance, is ever 
 sensitive to such representations — from coming to the hospital; 
 and after several months' trial, it seemed as if the undertaking 
 must fail for lack of patients. It was at length determined to 
 address the authorities, proposing that inasmuch as one 
 efiiciently conducted infirmary would meet the wants of the 
 district, the Government should remove its dispensary with 
 the attending apothecary, and give exclusive possession to the 
 American establishment. This proposition, though adversely 
 reported on by the English Collector of the district, was not 
 only acceded to by the Government; but an order, the terms 
 of which were extremely complimentary to the Mission, was 
 immediately issued directing that the civil dispensary l)uilding 
 together with its fiu-niture and stock be turned over to Doctor 
 Scudder for his institution ; " which," the minister said, "the 
 Government would desire to see started under as favorable 
 auspices as possible." More than this, the Collector was 
 ordered to pay to Doctor Scudder " one half of the annual 
 amount hitherto devoted to the maintenance of the dispen- 
 sary ; " the Government requiring only " that he should 
 submit an annual report on the working of his Arcot Dispen- 
 sary." 
 
 Thus opportunely released, under a good Providence, 
 from embarrassment, the institution sprang, almost instan- 
 taneously, into full and successful operation. The thickly 
 
82 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 populated district, and three large cities of from thirty to fifty 
 thousand inhabitants each, all lying within two miles of the 
 hospital, began at once to pour in their crowds of sick and 
 suffering people ; and the missionary doctor soon had his 
 hands more tlian full of work. From the start, the gospel 
 was regularly preached every morning to the assembled 
 patients ; and religious tracts and books were fi-eely distribu- 
 ted among them without offence. 
 
 The native gentry and aristocracy showed themselves 
 quite as ready as did the masses, to profit by the skill of the 
 newly arrived physician. A lady-relative of the once famous 
 and powerful Nawab of the Carnatic, was medically attended 
 in her royal abode ; the foreign doctor being admitted, contrary 
 to all conventionalities, into the inner apartments of the palace. 
 Mahommedan women of rank, Avho h?-.d perhaps never before 
 emerged fi'om their residences, were brought in closely covered 
 conveyances to the hospital ; and, tightly veiled, privately 
 sought advice in the female ward. Brahmins and other high 
 caste gentlemen visited the institution daily, many of them 
 manifesting an enlightened interest in its economy and opera- 
 tion ; and it became no strange sight to see several of them at 
 a time occupying the benches on the verandah, and reading, as 
 is their custom, aloud from the Scriptures, " the Bazaar Book," 
 " Spiritual Teaching," or some other religious work. High 
 and low, all came freely to the dispensary. The records show 
 that members of no less than thirty-nine different castes con 
 tinually resort to it for medical aid. 
 
 Various means were used to make the institution 
 spiritually, as well as physically, a remedial agency. In addi- 
 
THE AECOT MISSION. 83 
 
 tioii to the daily preaching and distribution of tracts, abeadj 
 mentioned, Bibles and religions books — too large to be gratuit- 
 ously bestowed, were kept for perusal on the premises ; and 
 even the admission tickets, one of which is given to each 
 patient on his first presenting himself for treatment, were 
 pressed into the service of truth, by printing texts of Scrip- 
 ture on one of their faces. A female Bible reader was 
 employed in the woman's ward ; and prayer meetings were 
 held in the building for the in-patients, who, contrary to what 
 was expected, offered no objections and seldom refused the 
 altogether voluntary attendance solicited. The means were 
 promptly blessed of God. We cannot withhold the account 
 of the first two conversions which occurred within a few 
 months of the opening of the dispensary. 
 
 CONVERSION OF A MOODELLIAR. 
 
 " God has blessed our dispensary. There have been 
 two cases of, we trust, trui, conversion within its walls. Both 
 cases are most interesting. We can give only a brief account 
 of each. The first is that of a high caste man, (Moodelliar 
 caste.) He applied to be received as an in-patient in May 
 last. He was a mere wi-eck ; his whole constitution was 
 shattered by one of the worst of diseases. There seemed no 
 hope of his recovery ; but as he had come from a distant place 
 he could not be refused, lest, turned out, he should die in the 
 street. For two months he lived, as it were, upon a moiety 
 of hope ; his lower limbs paralyzed, and he in appearance a 
 living skeleton. But it was not God's will that he should die. 
 Om- exertions were finally crowned with partial success. He 
 is now able to walk about a little, and is slowly improving. 
 He has renounced heathenism, broken his caste, and for some 
 
84 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 months declared most lirmly and constantly Lis determination 
 to love and serve the true God. He earnestly requests bap- 
 tism." 
 
 " The other case is that of a Pariah woman, who was 
 received as an in-patient in September last. She was exceed- 
 ingly ill for some time, but finally recovered so far as to take 
 her discharge from the hospital. "When she was taken in, she 
 was in extreme danger of death. Slie was plainly told her 
 condition, and urged to turn her attention to spiritual matters, 
 to endeavor to make that preparation for eternity which she 
 so greatly needed. One must see to appreciate the fearful 
 carelessness, callousness, and almost utter indifference with 
 which most Hindus meet death : but very much to our sur- 
 prise and gratification, this poor woman at once manifested 
 a remarkable anxiety, a sincere desire to know what she must 
 do, and begged most ardently to be instructed in the truth ; 
 declaring that she really wished to become a Christian, and 
 knew that she must believe in Jesus alone, in order to be 
 saved. She seemed to improve slowly from that time, and 
 when she was discharged, that she might return to lier work 
 and support her two daughters, she declared with much firm- 
 ness, as well as humbleness, that she would, with the help of 
 the Lord, walk as a Christian. Unfortunately, she attempted 
 too much, and by over-exerting herself had a relapse ; her old 
 disease, dysentery, attacking her with even greater malignancy 
 than before ; and very soon proving fatal, although every 
 exertion was made and every care taken of her. A short 
 time before slic died she begged to be baptized. As she was 
 failing very fast, the holy rite was administered, — the dresser 
 and two or three of our church members being present. It 
 was a solemn and impressive scene, one which tlie walls of 
 that hospital probably never before witnessed. The poor 
 woman became speechless almost innnediately ; but her satis- 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 85 
 
 faction, her overflowing joy were most manifest on her happy, 
 radiant countenance. Though suffering acutely, she died 
 with a smile of peace on her lips, her hands clasped and raised 
 toward heaven. When, just at the last, she was asked if she 
 fully, truly, trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, lirmly believed 
 Him to be her Rock and her Salvation, her only stay and com- 
 fort in the hour of death, her face lighted up with the joy of 
 her soul, and her signs of assent were given with that faith the 
 true believer alone can possess and exhibit. She was a poor 
 widow, with two daughters, one almost an infant, the other a 
 girl of perhaps thu'teen years. These orphans are thus thro^vll 
 on our hands, and we must take care of them. When their 
 mother first miderstood that she must die, she begged us most 
 earnestly to promise never to desert her little ones ; to provide 
 for and train them up in the fear of the Lord. Her mind 
 could not be at ease, until we assured her that they should be 
 cared for and religiously brought up. We cannot send them 
 out into the cold wicked world, for they are utterly untit to 
 care for themselves. They are Christian cliildren now, chiidi-en 
 of the covenant, and we must support them. Thus has our 
 mighty Grod brouglit Imck to Himself, as we truly hope, through 
 this institution, fom- of the lost, wandering sheep and lambs of 
 His precious fold. One He has sealed to all eternity ; she, is 
 »afe forever. TJie others we have the joy of spiritually caring 
 for, praying for, and endeavoring to confirm in the faith. He 
 who hath begun the good work, is able to hnish it ; to keep 
 them all unto the end, and make them bright jewels in His own 
 crown of glory." 
 
 We regret our inability to follow the history from year to 
 year of this institution ; teertainly one of the most important 
 •^mong the agencies employed for the evangelization of the 
 district. A thoroughly readable, not to say fascinating, account 
 
86 THE ARCOT MISSION, 
 
 mio-ht easily be compiled from the detailed records before us ; 
 but we have space for little more than a concise and very gen- 
 eral epitome of its operations and results. 
 
 Once fairly afloat, the institution enjoyed uninterrupted 
 prosperity and success. Its cm-ative and sanitary efticacy, too 
 obvious to escape the attention even of the most stupid and 
 prejudiced, soon became widely known through the district, 
 in the year 1867, the second of its existence, 15,507 patients 
 were treated; and in the following year, 1868, more than 
 double that number — 33,170 — received advice and medicine 
 witliin its walls. The attendance steadily increased until, in 
 1870, it reached its climax of 53,963. In each of the two suc- 
 (•eediuo- years there were about 43,000 patients, and tlience the 
 uumbci- diminished gradually to 33,945 in 1875. This falling 
 oft: must not be attributed to any declination of efficiency in 
 the hospital, or diminution of confidence on the part of the 
 people. It is sufficiently accounted for by the facts : First, 
 that medical treatment, continued through several successive 
 years, had not only cleared away accumrdations of chronic 
 disease, but had furthermore considerably ameliorated the gen- 
 eral public health ; and second, that the Government having, 
 in the meantime, opened new dispensaries and strengthened old 
 ones in various parts of tlie district, the inhabitants, naturally 
 enough, resorted to the nearer rather than the more remote 
 sources of relief. 
 
 The estimation in wdiich the hospital was held l)y the 
 Government authorities will best appear by a few extracts 
 taken from their own records : 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 87 
 
 " The Collector of Korth Arcot wrote to the Chief Secre- 
 tary of Government on the 24th of April, 1867, as follows : 
 ' I have the honor to submit the annual report on the civil dis- 
 pensary at Ranipet, now in medical charge of Dr. Scudder. 
 So far, the results of the amalgamation are, in my opinion, ex- 
 ceedingly satisfactory. Comparing the returns, I find that the 
 number of in-patients and out-patients admitted to the dis- 
 pensary during the five months it was under charge of a paid 
 apothecary was 41 and 1,233 respectively ; whereas during the 
 fom- and a half months it has been in Dr. Scudder's hands, the 
 figm-es are 96 and 1,652. These latter results, it is also to be 
 borne in mind, would have probably been much larger, had the 
 full Government allowance been at Dr. Scudder's disposal. 
 The figures should, I think, be accepted as conclusive on the 
 two principal points, viz., that Dr. Scudder has the confidence 
 of the people as a medical man, as a professional man ; and 
 that the principles on which the institution is being conducted 
 have not given offence to the religious scruples of the native 
 community.' " 
 
 On the 16th of May, tlie following order was passed : 
 
 " The Governor in Council has perused with much 
 satisfaction, the very favorable report submitted in the fore- 
 going letter on the civil dispensary at Eanipet imder the 
 management of Dr. Scudder." 
 
 Immediately after issuing this order, the Government 
 donated rupees 1,000 to the hospital, and doubled its annujd 
 allowance. 
 
 In May, 1869, the dispensary was honored with a visit 
 fi-om His Excellency, Lord Napiei-, Governor of Madras, who, 
 accompanied by his staff, carefully inspected the institution. 
 
88 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 The following »iinute was read by His Excellency in Council, 
 on the Sd of July succeeding : 
 
 " During my recent torn- in North Arcot, I had occasion 
 to visit the dispensary and hospital at Ranipet, in charge of 
 the Rer. Silas Scudder of tne American Mission. It is not 
 necessary for me to enlarge upon tlie excellence and usefulness 
 of tliis institution. It holds the position of a Govermnent 
 dispensary. By placing a Government building and a por- 
 tion of the revenues of a charitable foundation at the disposal 
 of Dr. Scudder, the Government manifested their entire con- 
 iidence in his character and his discretion, as well as in his 
 professional attainments ; for some considerations of a delicate 
 natm*e were involved in the sm*render of a State Establish- 
 ment to a foreign missionary. That contidcnce has been 
 entirely justified by experience. The number of patients, as 
 set forth in the accompanying annual reports, proves that the 
 minister does not impair the physician, and that the heathen 
 are not kept away by the temperate and conciliatory form in 
 which the truths of Christianity are j^resented to their atten- 
 tion. On tlie other hand, it is unquestionable that the great 
 experience which Dr. Scudder possesses of the country, and 
 Ids accurate knowledge of the language, render him peculiarly 
 fitted for the ofiice of a propagandist of European science in 
 an Indian community. I can bear testimony to the solicitude 
 with which the in-patients are treated, and to the general 
 etficiencjy of the material arrangements. Some defects in the 
 accommodation, furniture and distribution, are explained by 
 want of funds and by tlie character of the buildiug. Dr. 
 S<'udder has brought to my notice several particulars in which 
 the Government might still contribute to the improvement of 
 tlie establishn^ent." 
 
 After allusion to needed alterations, which he recom- 
 
THE ARCOT MISSIOI^. 
 
 mends to be made at the public expense, His Excellency 
 remai'ks : 
 
 " In conclusion, I beg to call the attention of Government 
 to the good service which the American Mission is rendering 
 to humanity and enlightenment, by the education of native 
 medical students, and by the translation of medical works into 
 the vernacular of the countrj^ 
 
 (signed) ' Kapiek.' " 
 
 On the 17th of July, a Government order was issued, 
 authorizing the improvements suggested by Lord Napier, and 
 concluding with these complimentary words : 
 
 " The Government avail themselves of this opportunity 
 of recording their appreciation of the great benefits which the 
 American Mission has rendered, and continues to render, to 
 humanity and enlightenment, by its operations in connection 
 with,the Kanipet dispensary and kindi'ed institutions." 
 
 THREATENED DESTRUCTION AVERTED. 
 
 In the year 1871, an official letter from the Board of 
 Foreign Missions communicated the startling order, that the 
 Treasury being $50,000 in debt, it had become impossible to 
 sustain the present outlay of the Mission ; and that, therefore, 
 its work must be curtailed to the amount of $5,000. The 
 Mission had no alternative but to comply, and after many days 
 of careful and anxious conference, most reluctantly adopted, 
 among other baleful but inevitable resolutions, the following : 
 
 " 1st. To abandon our medical work, close the dispensary, 
 inform the Government that we can no longer sustain it, and 
 request them to take charge of everything belonging to them." 
 
90 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 " 2d. To send the Rev. S. D. Sciidder, M. D., home, in 
 view of the fact that his special work has ceased." 
 
 The Government, on learning this decision, resolved to 
 save the institution if possible, and immediately made an 
 additional grant of Rupees 1.500 to its fimds. This sum, 
 with the usual Government allowance, being sufficient to 
 maintain the dispensary, tliough on a somewhat narrower scale 
 than before, it was, notwithstanding the departure of Dr. Silas 
 Scudder, continued under the charge of the Rev. John Scud- 
 der, M. D., who added its care to hiss other duties, imtil 
 the arrival, in 1874, of H. M. Scudder, Jr., M. D. The 
 expenses of the Establishment have, ever since 1871, been met 
 entirely by Government, the Mission contributing nothing 
 beyond the services of the physician in cliarge. 
 
 LTING-ESr HOSPITAL. 
 
 Among the almost numberless trials of India's women, 
 perhaps none is more distressing than the treatment they are 
 subjected to in childbirth, and especially in cases of difficult 
 labor. The functions of the midwife are performed always 
 by superannuated females, whose temerity and cruelty are 
 as reckless as their ignorance is dense and absolute. Their 
 system — if system it may be called — of operative midwifery is 
 marvellously barbarous ; and the fi-ightf ul tortm-es inflicted 
 upon women in complicated labor, are too revolting to be 
 described. Missionaries are not unfreqently called — often, 
 alas, too late to rescue miserable dying victims from the grim 
 consequences of the ordeal, as fruitless as it was shocking, 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 91 
 
 through which they have passed. The subject is one which con- 
 ventional decorum, very properly, forbids us to open out in this 
 place. It is sutiicient to mention the fact that cases are, from 
 time to time brought to the hospital, of poor sufferers who 
 have been enduring not only natural agonies for five, seven, 
 and even ten days; but have in addition, undergone every 
 barbarity which ignorance, stimulated by perplexed fear, could 
 suggest. We need hardly add, that, in the majority of these 
 deplorable cases, human art can do httle more than palliate 
 tortures which have only too surely effected their fatal work. 
 
 The subject was brought, by Dr. S. B. Scudder, to the 
 notice of Govern.nent, in the year 1870 ; and the authorities 
 were urged to send to every large dispensary, an educated 
 nurse or midwife, not merely to attend lying-in-women, which 
 would of com'se be her duty, but also to instruct and train 
 other females in this particular department. Such skilled 
 women, it was argued, would at once be employed by the 
 higher native families ; and the custom once established among 
 the better classes, would soon work its way among the lower and 
 more ignorant. The Government gave a favoring response to 
 this appeal, and authorized the additional expense of a lying- 
 in-ward at the Arcot dispensary ; but owing to some red tape 
 technicality, the money was not forthcoming for several years. 
 We are happy to say, that this urgently needed department is 
 now in full and successful operation. 
 
 The latest Report of the Mission says : — 
 
 " The success of the Lying-in-Hospital has exceeded our 
 most sanguine expectations. Its popularity continues to in- 
 crease, and its benefits are appreciated more and more by the 
 
92 THE ARGOT 3IIS3IOIi. 
 
 people. The nuinber of patients for the past year was eightj- 
 Hve, and the number of operations six. 
 
 " Shoald this bsneficient movement, suggested and initi- 
 ated b}'' the Arcot Mission, of establishing Lying-in-Hospitals 
 throughout the rural districts be carried out, as is probable, by 
 Government, it will prove an incalculable advantage to thou- 
 sands who are now exposed to insufferable torinsnts, resulting 
 from the want of a little enlightened skill and attention." 
 
 NATIVE MEDICAL STUDENTS. 
 
 Soon after the opening of the dispensary a class of native 
 Christian young men was, under the ruling of the Mission, 
 formed, to be instructed in medicine and surgery, with tlie 
 view of fitting them for medical missionary work in remote 
 stations and districts where the advice of physicians is not ob- 
 tainable. On this topic we must limit ourselves to the single 
 remark — that several of these young men, after completing their 
 course of study, have practiced successfully in various parts of 
 the mission field, some of them reporting from seven to eight 
 hundred patients a year ; and that their services have proved 
 very acceptable to the native con nuiiity. We give a single 
 extract, illustrative of their skill and usefulness: — 
 
 " Several months since the magistrate of Kalastri, in great 
 haste, sent word to our Head Assistant Collector, that a most 
 serious attempt had been made by a ryot of that place to ex- 
 terminate a whole family — that the victims were lying at 
 death's door, bleeding profusely, and urging that a dresser 
 might be sent at once to their aid. On application by Mr. 
 Wilkinson, I despatclied Solo:aon [one of the medical stu- 
 dents,] with the necessary medicines and surgical instruments, 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 93 
 
 promising to come myself as soon as possible. The next clay, 
 in company with Mr. Wilkinson, I visited the place. The 
 despatch of the medical assistance, had been providential in- 
 deed. The liistorj of the case was briefly as follows : A 
 well-to-do man of the Komiti caste, one of the highest in India, 
 harbc^ring an old enmity against a family related to him, deter- 
 mined to kill them all. Purchasing a large heavy scimitar he 
 engaged a pensioned native officer to instruct him thoroughly 
 in sword exercise. For eight months he thus daily drilled ; 
 when, after carefully arranging his affairs, he sold his property 
 and bestowed the proceeds upon his village temple witli the 
 exception of a small sum. This he placed in the hands of a 
 friend with the request that should any fatal accident befall 
 himself, it should be used in decently burning his body with 
 the usual funeral rites ; that, as lie intended to give himself to 
 constant meditation and prayer, he wished to dismiss all sub- 
 jects of a mundane character. Choosing his opportunity when 
 the men of the house were in the street, he attacked first one 
 and then another, cutting and slashing them in the most fright- 
 ful manner, and leaving them for dead. The old mother hear- 
 ing the cries of her sons, ran out of the house to their rescue, 
 but only to meet with the same fate. The murderer then went 
 to a well near by, into which he threw himself, and from which 
 he was taken out dead the next morning. It is scarcely possi- 
 ble to describe the character of the wounds received by his 
 victims. One man had the entire top of the scalp cut off, and 
 long gashes through the ribs, so that the air escaj)ed through 
 them from his lungs at every breath, with other dangerous 
 wounds. The old woman, seventy years of age, was cut down 
 through the collar-bone and shoulder-blade, through the head 
 of the bone of the upper arm, three-fourths of the hand of the 
 same side cut away, the thumb and forefinger alone being left, 
 and lier body fearfully gashed in various places. I found that 
 
94 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 Solomon had clone almost all that was pos^ililo under the cir- 
 cumstances. He had taken up and ligatured the severed and 
 bleeding arteries, brought together and stitched the wounds 
 neatly, administered the necessary medicines and made the 
 needed applications. I certainly felt proud of the young man. 
 He had done us gi-eat credit. As the relatives earnestly begged 
 that he might remain, I consented. He is there still, although 
 more than three months have elapsed, and without doul.tt has 
 saved the lives of tliese people. When I left them, I thought 
 their case hopeless. Through God's mercy they have been 
 spared, and are now out of danger. I relate this incident not 
 only to show what the young men of oiu medical class can do, 
 but to point out one of the many ways in which the Lord per- 
 mits us to do good among this people. During these three 
 months Solomon has been engaged not only in caring for these 
 patients, but in general medical work ; and, above all, in daily 
 preaching the Gospel in that far-off heathen village. The 
 mao-istrate has, on several occasions, sent me the best accounts 
 of his behavior, and added that hs has gained the good will of 
 the people generally." 
 
 "Another incident is worth recording. Tlie young man 
 was called on to go out to a village four miles from Kalastri to 
 see a woman who liad been in labor for nearly five days. On 
 examination he found what is commonly termed a ' cross hirth^ 
 The child, to be delivered, must be turned. This is no easy 
 operation. He had, however, been present at several sucli 
 operations at the hospital, and assisted us in them. His own 
 story is, that while he fully appreciated liis responsible position, 
 he determined, after a prayer to the Lord for help, to attempt 
 it. He succeeded in safely delivering the suffering woman. 
 She is living and doing well. Tlie joyful lad wrote me at 
 once, declaring it was only througli the Lord Jesus he had suc- 
 ceeded. AVill any one say this young mrm is not competent to 
 go out and begin the medical missionary work ?" 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 95 
 
 MISCELLANIA. 
 
 BENEVOLEN'CE OF THE NATIVE CHRISTIANS. 
 
 The Hindu classics abound in pithy and elegant aphorisms 
 eulogistic of benevolence. Witness the following, whose beautv 
 of form only, but not of sentiment, is marred in the trans- 
 lation : 
 
 " Benevolence seeks no return. What gives the world 
 back to the gushing clouds ? " 
 
 " To exercise benevolence towards the worthy, is the 
 whole design of labor and the acquisition of property." 
 
 " The wealth of a wise benevolent man is like the full 
 waters of a public tank. All may come and freely draw from 
 it." 
 
 " The wealth of the liberal man is like the ripening of a 
 fruitful tree in the centre of a town." 
 
 " If loss will result from benevolence, such loss is worth 
 procuring by the sale of one's self." 
 
 " Griping avarice is not to be reckoned among other 
 faults. It stands alone, greater than all." 
 
 Our native Christians are free to give according to their 
 ability. The most of them are extremely poor, the average 
 earnings of each one not exceeding six cents a day. Yet many 
 cheerfully and regularly contribute one-tenth of their income ; 
 an offering which cannot be made without veritable self-denial, 
 as it must be deducted not from affluence, but from pinching 
 poverty. The women, in so:ne places, daily, before cooking, 
 dip a handful out of the often scanty provision of family rice, 
 and set it apart for the Lord. Our seminary girls have, for 
 
96 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 years, vohmtarily denied themselves a fixed proportion of their 
 daily food, that they might have something to help others 
 with. The catechists and teachers, whose average income 
 may be set at eight dollars a month, have organized them- 
 selves into the " Sahodara Sangam," or Society of Brothers, 
 through whicli they every year assist their needy fellow. 
 Christians, with sums by no means inconsiderable in tl.e 
 aggregate. Calls for special contributions, meet almost invar- 
 iably with a hearty response ; in evidence of which, we quote 
 a notable and praiseworthy instance : 
 
 " The E,ev. Dr. Jared W. Scudder went to America, two 
 years ago, on account of the severe illness of his wife. Her 
 health is restored, and they are now ready to return. Our 
 committee is pecuniarily disabled, and cannot send them. 
 When our native churches learned this, they resolved upon a 
 united effort to raise money enougli for the Rev. Dr. Scudder's 
 passage to India. Their action was spontaneous, cheerful and 
 •prompt. They organized committees, di-ew uj) subscription 
 papers, and thoroughly canvassed the congregations. They 
 have pledged themselves as follows : 
 
 The Arcot Church, for 
 The Arnee Church, for 
 The Chittoor Church, for 
 The Coonoor Church, for . 
 The Palamanair Ciiurch, for . 
 The Vellore Church, for . 
 
 Total 978 5 
 
 It must be remembered that these sums are entirely in- 
 dependent of what the missionaries contribute. This result 
 
 Rs. 
 
 A. 
 
 P. 
 
 142 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 
 
 
 146 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 225 
 
 
 
 
 
 75 
 
 
 
 
 
 315 
 
 2 
 
 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 97 
 
 has amazed us. Great personal sacrifices have been made. 
 Most of om- chm-cli members are poor ; many, are very poor- 
 Yet has their deep poverty abomided unto the riches of their 
 liberality ; for to their power we bear record, yea, and 
 beyond their power they were willing of themselves. If 
 Christians in America were to exhibit a tithe of the beneficence 
 shown T)y these poor native Christians, we should be obliged 
 without delay to summon a meeting of the Mission to decide 
 as to what could be done with superfluous thousands of ru- 
 pees. As each missionary has given rupees one hundi-ed or 
 more to the same object, a sum has been sent to America suf- 
 ficient to bring back our brother and his family." 
 
 PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 The following are works, which have been prepared and 
 issued by the Mission : 
 
 "Spiritual Teaching," . ' . . . In Tamil, 
 
 do. do. . . . . . In Telugu. 
 
 do. do. ..... In English. 
 
 "Jewel Mine of Salvation," . . . In Tamil, 
 
 do. do. do . . . . In Telugu. 
 
 " Sweet Savours of Divine Truth, " . . In Tamil, 
 do. do. do. do. do. .. . In Telugu. 
 
 " Bazaar Book," In Tamil. 
 
 do. do. ..... In English. 
 
 " Heidelberg Catechism." . . .In Tamil. 
 
 " The Liturgy of the Reformed Church," In Tamil. 
 
 All these are works of considerable size, containing from 
 90 to 400 pages each. Besides them, several editions of the 
 Scriptures in Tamil and Telugn have been printed for the 
 
98 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 Mission by the Madras Bible Society. Small tracts, for dis- 
 tribution, are purchased from the Madras Tract Society. 
 
 There are very few tOAvns or villages in the Arcot Dis- 
 trict, in which to-day, portions of tlic Bible and Christian 
 publications cannot be found. The free dissemination of this 
 religious literature has undoubtedly been, next to the pfeaciiing 
 of the Gospel, the most effective means of sapping the founda- 
 tions of Hinduism, and preparing material for the building of 
 the Lord's Temple in the land. 
 
 PBESOlTiTEI, OP TEE MISSIOIT. 
 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 PERIOD 
 
 DATE OF 
 
 NAMES OF MISSIONARIES. 
 
 JOINING THE 
 
 OF 
 
 RETIRE- 
 
 
 MISSION. 
 
 LABOR. 
 
 MENT. 
 
 Rev. H. M. Scudder, D.D., M.D. 
 
 1853 
 
 11 years. 
 
 * 
 
 1864 
 
 Rev. W. W. Scadder, D.D 
 
 1853 
 
 20 " 
 
 1872 
 
 Rev. Joseph Scudder, D.D. . 
 
 1853 
 
 7 '' 
 
 1859 
 
 Rev. E. C. Scudder, M.D . . 
 
 1855 
 
 22 " 
 
 1875 
 
 Rev. J. W. Scudder, M.D 
 
 1855 
 
 22 
 
 
 Rev. J. Mayou 
 
 18.')9 
 
 10 " 
 
 1869 
 
 Rev. ,J. Charaberlaia, M.D. . • . 
 
 18(;0 
 
 17 " 
 
 
 Rev. S. D. Scudder, Jl.D 
 
 iSGl 
 
 11 •' 
 
 1872 
 
 Rev. Joha Scudder, M.D 
 
 18G1 
 
 16 '• 
 
 
 Rev, E J. Heeren 
 
 1872 
 
 5 " 
 
 
 Rev. J. H. Wyckoflf 
 
 1874 
 
 3 " 
 
 
 H. M. Scudder, Jr., M.D 
 
 1874 
 
 3 " 
 
 
 Miss Martha Maudeville 
 
 1870 
 
 7 " 
 
 
 Miss Josephine Chapin 
 
 1S70 
 
 4 " 
 
 1874 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 99 
 
 The Rev. Messrs H. M. and W. W. Scuddev labored in 
 India several years before the orgcinization of the Arcot 
 Mission. Their entire terms of missionary hibor were respec- 
 tively twenty, and twenty-five years. 
 
 CCMFASATI7S TABLS SSOWDTa THE SELATIVE STATISTICS OF THE ASCOT UISSIOi; 117 THZ 
 7EA33 1351, 1860, &e., TO 137S ■ 
 
 STATISTICS. 
 
 Stations 
 
 Out-statioQS 
 
 Male Missionaries. 
 Female Missionaries. 
 Native Ministers. 
 
 (Jatechists 
 
 Readers 
 
 School Teachers 
 
 Colporteurs 
 
 Churches 
 
 Communicants. 
 
 Baptized adults not Communicants. 
 
 Baptized Children. 
 
 Total of Christian Adherents. 
 
 Arcot Seminary Pupils. 
 
 Female Seminary Pupils. 
 
 Day Schools . . . . , 
 
 Caste Girls' Schools. : 
 
 1854. 
 
 1860. 
 
 1876. 
 
 1 3 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 ' 8 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 1 8 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 22 
 
 
 
 >j 
 
 26 
 
 5 
 
 .5 
 
 49 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ! 4 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 '26 
 
 1.54 
 
 778 
 232 
 
 
 220 
 
 938 
 
 170 
 
 612 
 
 2r)74 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 14 
 
 43 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 49 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
|lf!^ii!'')!;!';llfl!IiWilitl!!l!l|i!ni|^^ 
 
THE AllCOT MISSION. 101 
 
 THE CHITTOOR FEMALE SEMINARY. 
 
 BY 
 
 Mrs. Jared W. Scudder. 
 
 In the year 1855, tUrco orpliiin girls occupied a small 
 room in tlie lionso of llio resident missionary in the town of 
 Chittoor. This was the l)cginnin<j:; of tlie now prosperous 
 " Chittoor Femtde Seminary." For a number of years we had 
 no regular school-house, and the chiklren were crowded into 
 two small rooms in nn ont-l)uiIding of the mission house. It 
 became painfully evident that it was, injui-ious to both hcdth 
 and morals to liavo from twcnt_y-fivo to thirty pcsrsons living in 
 two apartments, and loud appeals were made for relic.'f 
 Al)Out one tliousand rupc^es were su])scribed, not even a third 
 of tlie desired sum, and tlu; Mission autliorized tjie erection of 
 a Imilding, the cost of which sliould not exceed tlie amount 
 subscribed. It was begun, and we laid its foundations with 
 the hope and belief that i'ln-ther means would be provided to 
 make tlie edifice suitable and complete. JS^or were we disap- 
 pointed, for the Lord raised up a kind and generous friend in 
 Mrs. Susan Gridley, of Utica, who gave us the greater part 
 of the necessary funds. We have now 
 
 A LARGE AND COMMODIOUS EDIFICE, 
 
 consisting of a court surrounded by verandahs, giving access to 
 ten comfortable dormitories, a large school room, apartments 
 
102 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 for tlie matron, wbo is a faithful East Indian widow, and a 
 kitchen, store-room and l)ath-room, the hist furnished with 
 three hirge tubs. Soon after taking possession of these apart- 
 ments another great want began to make itself felt, and that 
 was 
 
 A PLACE FOR THE GIRLS TO PLAY 
 
 and take exercise in. So urgent did this need become that we 
 determined to make another appeal to the ladies of America 
 and this appeal was promptly and generously responded to by 
 
 MRS. R. .T. BROWN OF NEW YORK CITY. 
 
 who sent us money for the pm*pose. A brick wall was thrown 
 around a large piece of adjoining ground. This forms a 
 spacious enclosure, which can be entered du'sctly from the 
 scliool building, and has proved of the greatest value, affo-d- 
 ing increased health, happiness and brightness to every member 
 of the institution. 
 
 THE OBJECT OF THE SCHOOL. 
 
 The course of study in the school has been from year to 
 year gi-adually enlai-ged and systematized, and the pupils make 
 very connuendable progress both in the vernaculars and in 
 English. The latter is an accomplishment which has been 
 introduced only witliin tiie past five years, and has proved a 
 great gratification to both scholars and parents. The great 
 object of tlie school is to train up a class of girls, wlio shall be 
 fitted to teach in the primary schools of our Christian villages, 
 and to become good and faithful wives to our native lielpers. 
 We tlierefore strive to teacb tlicin such things, as will, in our 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION, 103 
 
 opinion, best qualify them for the position they are expected 
 to occupy. They learn to cook, to sew, and to do all kinds of 
 houseworlv. They also become adepts at crochet and tatting. 
 For several successive years, I sold their work, for nearly one 
 hundi-ed dollars ; and was enabled in this way to give them 
 more comforts, and better clothing than I could otherwise have 
 afforded. 
 
 KOUTINE OF THE DAT. 
 
 The usual routine of the day is as follows: Rising at 
 lialf-past five o'clock, some of the girls set themselves to the 
 thorough cleansing of the building, wh.ile the others draw 
 water, for culinary and bathing purposes, from two deep wells, 
 which are situated within the courts of the edifice. After all 
 is made neat and tidy, every girl takes a Ijath, and dresses for 
 school. At eiffht o'clock the bell summons all to assemble in 
 the school-room for prayers, after which come the lessons, con- 
 sisting of History, Dictation, Geography, Grammar, Arithmetic, 
 Bible verses and catechism in the Tamil language. At twelve, 
 the session ends and they prepare for dinner. From half -past 
 one to three p. m., the time is spent in studying Telugu and 
 English ; and then follows a short recess, after which the girls 
 assemble on the verandah of the missionary house, to sew or 
 do fancy work until half-past fom', when they are at liberty to 
 go to the play-ground, or otherwise amuse themselves until 
 dark. The natives of Lidia are fond of music, and catcli' our 
 tunes very readily. These children already sing in two parts 
 quite well, and if any one would be kind enougli to pre- 
 sent them with an instrument, it would not, I think, be very 
 
104 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 loiio" before there would be creditable performers among 
 them. 
 
 MARRIAGES. 
 
 Twice, during the time we lived in Chittoor, my husband 
 had the pleasure of marrying nine of tliese young ladies to as 
 many young gentlemen of the Yelloro Seminary, making 
 eighteen persons standing up at once, to be united in matri- 
 mony. It was a pleasing and interesting sight, and I would 
 have been glad to have had it witnessed by the patrons of the 
 school here in America, for I know how much they would 
 have enjoyed the occasion. Most of these marriages turn out 
 well. 
 
 CONVERSIONS. 
 
 I am happy also to be able to state that very few of the 
 girls leave the Seminary without becoming professed followers 
 of the Lord Jesus, and very many give pleasing evidence of a 
 thorough change of heart. They are all self-denying, and like 
 to be charitable, as the following fact will show. Each of the 
 scholars is entitled to' two rice-cakes in the morning, which is 
 the only food they have until noon. And yet they all give up 
 one cake every day, and keep the money thus saved to put in 
 the collections at church. Which of our American sisters, 
 large or small, would be willing to go without half of her 
 breakfast, every day, that she might present it to the Lord 'i 
 Another thing which lias struck me is the reverential manner 
 in which they ask a blessing before they partake of tlicir food. 
 Although they have fasted long, there is no undue haste. 
 Each girl stands in her place before the heaping dish of curry 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 105 
 
 and rice, and all is silent as one of the older ones steps out into 
 the court and repeats a prayer, to which the others listen with 
 bowed heads. Many in Christian lands would do well to fol- 
 low their example. 
 
 NUMBERS. 
 
 In the last year of my stay in India, there were fifty-iive 
 boarders in the Seminary ; but some of these have since been 
 married, and gone to reside in other places, and two have died. 
 The number of pupils is, at present, forty-foiu-. We would 
 have no difficulty in adding -to the names on our school list, if 
 it were advisable. The Board, however, find it so hard to keep 
 us supplied with funds, and counsel retrenchment so strongly, 
 that the enlargement of the school must reluctantly be post- 
 poned until brighter days come. 
 
 A PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE. 
 
 This seems a fitting place for me to ask our sisters in this 
 land to aid us. Why will not some of you who love to work 
 for the Master, take this matter in hand, and provide a sup- 
 port for part, if not all of these girls, many of whom are 
 orphans ? 
 
 ANNUAL COST OF EACil CHILD. 
 
 The expense is about $30.00 a year for each child, in- 
 cluding education, clothing and board. How small a sum 
 when compared with the good it may do ! Many of the pupils 
 are not only elevated and refined by their stay in this Semi- 
 nary, but are brought into the Kingdom of God. 
 
lOG 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 THE CASTE GIRLS' SCHOOLS 
 AT VELLOPvE. 
 
 BY 
 
 Miss Josephine Chapin. 
 
 The Caste Girls' Schools, at Vellore, 
 India, were established by Misses Mande- 
 ville and Chapin in 1871. 
 
 The lirst school was opened with eighteen 
 pupils, and it now numbers nearly one 
 hundred and fifty. The second school has 
 seventy pupils on record. A third was 
 established and successfully carried on for a 
 time, but the prevalance of malarial fever 
 in the district where it was located, obliged 
 us to give it up. 
 The aim of these schools is to carry the word of God to 
 the daughters and families of the better classes of Hindus, 
 whose caste, a social and religious distinction, makes them 
 almost inaccessible to missionary effort. While we instruct 
 them in secular studies and in needle-work, the one object for 
 which the schools were founded, is made paramount to every 
 otlier. All of the children who are old cnougli to read, arc 
 studying the Bil>le daily, and learning the way of salvation 
 through Christ. The examinations which many of them pass. 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 107 
 
 show that they have a good knowledge of the gospels. A 
 large number of the pupils are now reading the Bible in their 
 homes to their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. 
 
 These schools are by means of a " Grant in Aid," 
 obtained from the British Government, in a measure self- 
 supporting. The amount now di'awn by the largest school 
 defrays its expenses. The pupils are examined annually by an 
 inspector appointed by the Government, and a fixed sum is 
 drawn for each one who reaches a prescribed standard. 
 
 FIRST STANDARD. 
 
 The first standard comprises Reading in the First Reader, 
 Dictation in the same, Arithmetic, Addition and the Multipli- 
 cation Table as far as five times five, S3wing, hemming and 
 stitching on coarse work. 
 
 SECOND STANDARD. 
 
 Twenty-five lessons in the Second Reader, Dictation in 
 the same, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, with the 
 table to twelve times twelve, and Divisipn, sewing, plain 
 hemming, felling and stitching. 
 
 THIRD STANDARD. 
 
 The Second, and a part of the Third Reader, Dictation, 
 Arithmetic through Reduction, Fractions and Proportions, and 
 some knowledge of Grammar, Geography and sowing. The 
 pupil is now required to cut and make a woman's jacket, in 
 the presence of tlie Inspector. Some of our pupils have passed 
 this standard at the aire of fourteen. Teachers for our sewinsr 
 classes have been trained in the school. 
 
108 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 PREMIUMS FOR PROFICIENCY. 
 
 After the animal examination our anniversary is held, and 
 prizes are awarded to each pupil who has successfully passed. 
 Extra prizes for good conduct, and the best examination in 
 New Testament history are also given. These meetings are 
 very popular, and om* rooms are crowded by native gentlemen, 
 who take a wonderful interest in our work. One or two of 
 those present favor us with interesting and appropriate 
 addresses. 
 
 THE COST ANNTTALLY. 
 
 The annual cost of these schools is comparatively small. 
 Fifty dollars, supplemented by a Grant from the Government, 
 will defray the expenses of a school for twenty-five or thirty 
 girls. 
 
 The illustration on page 106, represents an Indian devotee, 
 engaged in liis superstitious worship. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION, 109 
 
 VILLAGE WORK IN THE ARCOT 
 MISSION. 
 
 BY 
 
 Mks. Ezeklel Scctdder. 
 
 In the numerous villajc^es surrounding our pi-incipal sta- 
 tions are gathered, here and there, little Christian congregations 
 which form a very important and interesting department of 
 our work. The villagers are a very simple unlearned class of 
 people — mostly cultivators of the soil. They have grown up 
 as heathen, but hearing the glad tidings of salvation througli 
 Christ, preached in their streets, some of them have desired to 
 know more of these things, and have come to us for instruction. 
 They promise to abstain from certain heathenish practices, to 
 rest on the Sabbath, and to observe Christian duties, as far as 
 they understand them. 
 
 We then send a catechist or Bible reader to live among 
 and instruct them. He gathers them together daily for prayer 
 and study of the Bible, teaches them the Lord's Prayer, the 
 commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and a simple catechism. 
 All, old and young, learn these things. It is sometimes sur- 
 prising to see how much of Bible history and Bible doctrine, 
 they learn in this way, while unable to i-ead a word of it for 
 themselves ; with the simple undoubting faith of children, they 
 .receive the great essential truths of the Gospel, that Jesus 
 
110 
 
 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 Christ, the Son of God, loves them ; that He died to save them, 
 and that their sins may be forgiven for His sake. 
 
 For all this we thank God and take courage, believing 
 that this faith will in due time bring forth its appropriate 
 
 ^•*f' 
 
 »ti!f*^'^TrT*v 
 
 ?;^^^ 
 
 fer'\*S^*^'*! 
 
 AN IDOL WfllCn HAD BEEN WORSHIPPED FOK 1,00U YEARS. 
 
 fruits, — ^holiness of heart and life, and good works which others 
 may see, and learn to glorify our Heavenly Father. But at 
 present, it must be confessed, we have often to mourn the fact 
 that our Christians arc not always models of Christian pror 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. Ill 
 
 priety in their conduct. Their old habits will cling to them, 
 and the evil influences about them are very hard to resist. 
 
 One of om' best and most consistent men once said to me : 
 
 "Something of the old heathen natui'e will always cling to 
 us older people, but our cliildren will grow up better Cln-istians 
 than we are. Until I was twenty years old I never knew that 
 it was wrong to tell a lie. Now, my little child is taught to 
 speak the truth, and she will never know the temptations that 
 I have to struggle against." 
 
 We can all see that this is true, and accordingly we find 
 much of our most interesting and hopeful work among the 
 young of om* flock. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Schools are established in all these Christian villages, and 
 every 6ffort is made to bring the children of the congregation 
 together for systematic instruction. The education given, it 
 must be confessed, is very elementary ; and the methods of 
 study and of teaching, would doubtless seem very peculiar to 
 those familiar only with the costly and well-ordered school sys- 
 tem of our own favored land. But they are suited to the 
 habits and present necessities of the people, and are doing a 
 good work. 
 
 It would be difficult to convey to the uninitiated, an idea 
 of the extreme simplicity and economy of all the arrangements 
 in this village work. The school-house, which in many cases 
 serves also the purposes of a church edifice, is formed by fom* 
 low mud walls, with a thatched roof and a mud floor. Small 
 openings in the walls admit light and aii*. The fm*niture 
 
112 THE ARGOT MISSION. 
 
 consists of a plain table and chair, or bench, for the use of the 
 teacher, with perhaps a small box to contain the books and 
 slates wliich we furnish for the use of the children. In the 
 larger and more flourishing schools, a blackboard and a map of 
 the world are also allowed; and in these they take great pride 
 and delight. The children are seated cross-legged on the mud 
 floor. Of their costume it is scarcely wortli while to speak, 
 there is so very little to speak of ! A strip of cloth, often a 
 very small one, around the loins, completes the toilets of most 
 of them ; though the catechist's children, and a few others, 
 usually wear also a simple calico jacket, and the girls a little 
 petticoat. 
 
 They study in loud inbarmonious concert, each one trying 
 to make more noise than his neighbor. The din seems to us 
 intolerable, and we wonder whether anything can be learned 
 in such a bedlam. But presently the classes are called up, and 
 we are surprised to see how fluently and well they recite. 
 
 Much time is given to religious instruction. A simple 
 catechism is taught orally to the youngest scholars, a larger 
 one to the older ones, with Scripture texts and stories from 
 Bible history. They learn also the sim])le rules of arithmetic, 
 and elementary geography and grammar. A child who can 
 pass examination in tliese, witli reading and writing, may, if 
 desirous of farther education, obtain admission to the Semi- 
 naries at Vellore or at Chittoor. 
 
 Many of these village children have proved excellent 
 scholars, and some are now occupying positions of great use- 
 fulness in the Mission work. Those who remain in the villages 
 and grow up as tillers of the ground, as thcii- latliers have 
 
THE ARGOT MISSION. 113 
 
 been, are forming an intelligent, respected and influential class 
 oi Christian men and women. 
 
 TRIALS AND DISCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 We are not without some trials and discouragements in 
 this good work. Most of the people are verj' poor, and they 
 better understand the ills of Inmger than those of ignorance ; 
 and appreciate more highly the merits of a good dinner, than of 
 a good education. A child wlio is old enough to frighten away 
 the crows from a field of grain, or to lead a cow or a goat out 
 to graze, has a pecuniary value in the family; and so, too often, 
 he is taken from the school, just as he is beginning to learn, 
 and is sent to earn his living in the fields. Thus, our schools 
 have sometimes seemed in danger of degenerating into classes 
 of infante, too young to be really benefitted by them. 
 
 To meet this difiiculty, the teachers have undertaken to 
 hold 
 
 EVENING SESSIONS, 
 
 and this plan has happily proved a great success. Not only 
 
 the Christian children, but many heathen boys, and some grown 
 
 men, busy all day in the fields, come into the school at night 
 
 and study bravely, often till a late hour. Not content witli 
 
 this, in one place, thej begged the privilege of coming together 
 
 for an hour before daylight eacli morning, and tlien took- theii- 
 
 books and slates with them to the fields, that their leism-e rao- 
 
 ments diu'ing the day, might be improved in learning. Of 
 
 course, students so enthusiastic could not fail to make good 
 
 progress, and I have seldom been more gratified than I was in 
 
 meeting and examining this school, shortly before I left India. 
 8 
 
114 THE ARCOT MISSION 
 
 I was in camp with my hiisbanrl, about two miles from the 
 village, and as there v/as only a foot-path between the places, 
 I could not venture to ti-averse it in the lieat of the d;iy ; so 
 the school came; to me. For once the cliildren were i-oleased 
 from their accustomed woi-k, and the little arn)y came troop- 
 in;^ to onr t(!nt, nearly iifty of them, with such bright faces, 
 and bringing with them, their books, slates, maps and black- 
 boards. We spent several hours together most pleasantly, they 
 y)ronfl and happy, to show me liow much they had learned, and 
 I, quite; as happy to see such a sight in a place where a few 
 years hefore, ignoran(;e and superstition liad nngnod undis- 
 turbed. 
 
 NU.VfBKR OF OnrLDKEN" CTNDER INSTRUCTION. 
 
 Sixteen years ago wa rr^joiced over the small beginnings 
 of tills villfigc! work. Now, tiusre are more than forty of these 
 litthj ci.igragatio.is, whr)53 raombors are gradually growing in 
 intelligence and Christian character, and in their schools 800 
 f.hildrcn. Christian and heathen, are daily taught the blessed 
 truths of the Gospel. 
 
 We comniftid Ihis unassuming work among the poorest 
 and hiiinblest class of our people, to the sympathies and earnest 
 prayers of oui- Christian friends. 
 
 The pictun; at the beginning of this sketch, represents an 
 idol, whir.h had been worshipped for 1,000 years. It was 
 given up when the whole viUage of Nalaporapilly, India, ha- 
 came Christian in 1872. It is simply n dark, unsightly mass 
 of stone, with no beauty or comeliness, yet generations of men, 
 women and children, gave it honor and praise. Thank God 
 that they now have learned the better way of His love. 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 115 
 
 HINDU WOMEN 
 
 It must bo roinembored that so early as twenty years ago, 
 to ask a Hindu lady wlietlier she could read and write, was 
 to offer her the vil(;st possible insult. Women, fortunate 
 cnon;j;li to liave ;i,(;quir(Ml any education, were careful to hide; 
 the fact from all l)ut their iirniiediate relatives. The only 
 class amonj; females who received instruction were the 
 dancing girls of the temples, whose position waa parallel with 
 that of the ancient vestal virgins. They lived a life of open 
 shame; yet families of tlie higli(\st i-ank were willing and 
 even anxious to consecrate one daughter to this service^, thus 
 obtainiiiii:; the favor of the s>:ods. 
 
 How weary and tedious must have been the houi's spent 
 by listless unoccupied women, within the walls of the /.eniinas 1 
 Their solo employment, the j)reparation of food for their 
 husbands, and the light tasks of thc:ir housekeeping; tlieir 
 minds inactive, or filled with childish jealousies, it was small 
 wonder that some of them clung to idolatry as their only 
 refuge. In heathen, as in Christian lands, women are more 
 religious than men, and more assiduously seek the protection 
 of the being whom they regard as tlieir fi'icnul and helper. 
 To propitiate the kind gods and ward off the designs of the 
 ci'uel, are to Hindu women sa(;red duties. Very enrly in life 
 the motlier leads her little son, with garlands over his arms, 
 and hands filled with fruit and flowers, to the shrine of some 
 
lie THE AKCOT MISSION. 
 
 ticigliboring idol. If he is frightened at its horrid aspect, for 
 there is no beauty or tenderness in the forms or faces of these 
 gods whicli men have made, she coaxes him witli fond caresses, 
 or compels him by force to approach and offer his gifts. As 
 anxiously and faithfully as the Christian mother teaches her 
 precious ones to lisp the name of Jesus, and kneel to Him in 
 prayer, so the heathen instructs hers concerning Siva and 
 Brahma and Vishnu. 
 
 TREATMENT OF WIVES. 
 
 . Unwelcome at her birth, and regarded as a curse, the 
 little daughter in India, is never the cherished darling of the 
 house as she is with us. So soon as she reaches the verge of 
 womanhood, a husband is found for her, and she is married. 
 Frequently the betrothal ceremony has taken place long before, 
 so that a girl of six or eight may have been given away by her 
 parents to a man of sixty, or seventy. Should the prospective 
 husband die before his child-bride grows old enough to become 
 his wiie, she is condemned for life to the position of a widow. 
 Widowhood, is by custom, a life of enforced seclusion ; and, 
 while tlie widow may continue to reside with her own or her 
 husband's relatives, she must always wear coarse clothing, and 
 jewels and embroidery are rigidly forbidden her. 
 
 " When a father wishes to get his daughter married, he 
 sends for a f/hoUok, or go-between. This mnn generally 
 belongs to the lowest class of Brahmins, and his business is to 
 introduce the father of a young man who wishes his son to be 
 married, to the fatlior of one who wishes to find a bride-groom 
 for his daughter. If the fathers are mutually satisfied with 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 117 
 
 the connection, tlie marriage takes place, and the gliottoh 
 receiv^es a handsome present in money from both families/' — 
 From '•'■Faith and Yictory^'' by the late Mrs. Mullens, English 
 Missionary to Calcutta. 
 
 When the important day arrives, the bridegroom repairs 
 to the house of his father-in-law. The women's apartments 
 are full of visitors, engaged in merry-making. The bride is 
 covered with jewels, gold and silver ; her hair is braided and 
 adorned with flowers, and she now, for the first time, meets the 
 man wlio is for the future, to bs, in the most literal sense, her 
 lord and master. The priest, standing without the door? 
 presents offerings of rice, flowers, Ganges water and sandal- 
 wood; recites prayers and texts, and finally pronounces the 
 ceremony concluded. The bride is soon after lifted into a 
 covered palanquin, and conveyed to her husband's home. TJiis 
 is frequently the home, too, of his parents ; and, as. it is custom- 
 ary for all the sons to remain at home with their wives, the 
 wife now becomes a member of a little community, over which 
 the mother-in-1 iw exercises a very despotic control. 
 
 The Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, of the A.rcot Mission, has 
 kindly permitted us to make the following extracts from his 
 lecture on " Tlie Curious Things of India : " 
 
 " Women ai'e looked upon as a necessary article of house- 
 hold furniture, to be tolerated accordingly ; but the men treat 
 them often worse than they treat their cows and oxen. The 
 wife walks always some paces behind her husband, wlio is not 
 ashamed to ride, though he be strong and well, while she, pale 
 and delicate, di-ags herself along a journey of miles, leading 
 her little child by the hand, or carrying a burden. Slie cooks 
 
118 THE ARCOT MISSION. 
 
 his food, but must wait patiently till he has finished his repast, 
 before she can eat a morsel. Tlien she feasts on what he may 
 have left. Here is a quotation from an ancient and venerable 
 law which relates to the sex : 
 
 "'Manu. ch. v. 146-8. Hear now the laws concerning 
 women ! 
 
 " ' Nothing must be done by a girl, by a damsel or by a 
 woman, even in her own dwelling according to her mere pleas- 
 ure. In childhood must a female be dependent on her father, 
 in youth on her husband, her lord being dead, on her sons ; if 
 she have no sons, on the near kinsmen of her husband. If he 
 left no kinsmen, on those of her father. If she have no 
 paternal kinsmen, on the sovereign. A woman must never 
 seek independence^ " 
 
 For a husband to whip his wife is a common tiling. 
 When I remonstrated with a Hindu neighbor, and told him it 
 was wrong for a husband to whip his wife, he looked up in 
 unmitigated astonishment, saying : " Why how in the world 
 can we make them behave, if we don't whip them ? " 
 
 But women have one means of retaliation. The inmiov- 
 able customs of the country, do not allow a Hindu to eat in 
 any other house than his own. He cannot go to his brother's 
 or his friend's house to take a meal. There are no restaurants. 
 He is dependent on his wife's thrift and skill for neat and 
 palatable food, prepared as he likes it. If she be driven 
 to exasperation, she can cook his rice, and set it before him, 
 but just as he is about to partake, she may pour ashes over tlie 
 mass, and utterly spoil it. Or she may mix his curry, so liot, 
 that his throat and palate will be nearly scarified. If these 
 attempts fail in reducing him to submission, or in insuring her 
 
THE ARCOT MISSION. 119 
 
 bottur troatment, she lias a last resom-ce. She can run away 
 to her father's house. Once there, it is an asylum where she 
 is privileged to remain, till the husband comes in person, with 
 promises of kindness, and the present of a new dress, to solicit 
 her retmm. 
 
 If an educated man find himself left alone, and conse- 
 quently very uncomfortable, he probably shrugs his shoulders, 
 and hums over to himself the old Sanscrit proverb : 
 
 " The flowers of the fig-tree, (which has no apparent 
 blossom) a white crow, a fish's foot in the water, cne may see, 
 but not what is in a woman's mind ! " 
 
 If he be too submissive, and the wife gets the upper hand, 
 so that he becomes what we call a hen-pecked husband, his 
 neighbors will quote the Telugu proverb : 
 
 " She grinds pepper on her husband's head." 
 
 Marriage is almost obligatory. The Hindus regard bach- 
 elors with great disfavor. Again, they have a proverb to this 
 effect: , 
 
 "Get a good wife if you can; if not, get a bad one. 
 Marry you must ! " • 
 
 NATIVE CHKISTIANS. 
 
 One of the most gratifying results, of conversion among 
 the Hindus, is the very different manner in which husbands 
 treat then* wives and daughters. They sit together at the 
 table ; side by side, they walk to Church, the father carrying 
 his little girl as proudly as if he was carrying his son ; and the 
 love of a common Saviour, unites them in a home. 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 121 
 
 THE MOST SACRED OF HINDU 
 TEMPLES. 
 
 BY THE • 
 
 Rev. T. S. WynkoojP. 
 
 The great temple of Juggernaut, (more properly written 
 Juganat,) is situated on the sea-coast of tlie Bay of Bengal, in 
 tlie province of Orissa, 300 miles to the south-west of Calcutta. 
 It is one of the most celebrated places in India, and for niany 
 hundreds of years has been annually visited by millions of 
 Hindus. All the land within twenty miles of the shrine is 
 (considered holy ; but the most sacred spot is enclosed within a 
 stone wall from twenty to thirty feet high, and forms nearly a 
 square, the enclosure being six hundi'ed and seventy feet in 
 length, and six hundred and forty feet in breadth. Within 
 this area are about fifty temples, dedicated to various idols. 
 The temple, however, to which all the others are subordinate, is 
 that of Juganat, one of the forms assumed by Yishnu. 
 
 THE IDOL. 
 
 The image of Juganat is probably the coarsest in India. 
 The figure does not extend l)elow the loins, and it has no 
 hands, but two stumps in lieu of arms ; on which occasionally, 
 the priests fasten hands of gold. This deformity is accounted 
 for by a strange legendary talc. Some thousands of years «go 
 
122 HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 in the Satya Yuga or Ilindn Age of Gold, the Maharaja In- 
 dradyumna, of Oojein, in Malwa, applied to a celebrated mami- 
 factm-er of gods to make a new idol of Juganat. The request 
 was granted, on condition that the Prince shoidd Idc patient, 
 and not interrupt nor examine the work on any pretence what- 
 ever, as it never could be con pleted if any attempt were made 
 to see the process. This caution was not duly attended to. 
 The Prince, unable to restrain his curiosity, insisted, aftei- a 
 time, upon seeing what progress had been made. From that 
 moment, no further work could be done, and he was obliged to 
 be content with the imperfect image. 
 
 ANTIQUITY OF THE TEMPLE. 
 
 In the year 1131, of the Christian era, the Kesari Yansa 
 or Lion Kings of Orissa, who had occupied the tin-one for 
 nearly seven hundred years, were set aside by another dynasty 
 known as the Ganga Yansa, or Sons of the Ganges. The 
 Lion Kings were worshippers of Siva, The new dynasty were 
 devoted followers of Yishnu, and set to work at once to signal- 
 ize theii- triumph by erecting a temple to Juganat. The date 
 of its completion is given variously, as 1174 or 1198, A, D. 
 The main temple measures eighty feet across the centre, and 
 its gi-eat pyramidal dome rises to a height of one hundi-ed and 
 ninety-two feet, Du-ectly connected with it, is an ante-cham- 
 ber, and the two together are one hundred and lifty-iive 
 feet in length. Two other chambers or porches were 
 added afterward, the Dancing Hall and ILill of Feasting, 
 making the whole length of the temple about three hundred 
 feet. 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND HOI^UMENTS. 123 
 
 NUMBER OF PRIESTS EMPLOYED. 
 
 It may be easily supposed that a large establishment of 
 priests and others is attached to such a temple. A wiiter in 
 the Asiatic Journal was informed by one of the head men 
 that the number consisted then of 3,000 families, including 400 
 families of cooks to prepare the holy food. The provisions 
 furnished daily for the idol and his attendants were 220 pounds 
 of rice, 120 pounds of pulse, 188 of clariiied butter, 80 of 
 sugar, 32 of vegetables, 10 of coagulated milk, 20 of salt, with 
 lesser amounts of various spices, and 22 pounds of oil, for the 
 lamps at niglit. This holy food is presented to the idol three 
 times a day. During the thnteen festivals held each year, a 
 considerable quantity of extra food is required. In addition 
 to this is the food cooked and sold to the pilgrims, the temple 
 of Juganat being the only place in India where the rules of 
 caste are so far relaxed as to allow aU classes of Hindus to eat 
 together, without defilement in the sacred presence of the 
 Lord of the World. For days, before the great Car Festival, 
 food is cooked within the court of the temple for at least 100,- 
 000 pilgrims, and on these occasions the 400 families of cooks 
 have full employment. 
 
 THRONGS OF PILGRIMS. 
 
 It would be difficult to estimate exactly the number of 
 visitors to the temple, as it varies greatly from year to year^ 
 according to the healthiness or otherwise of the season, the de- 
 gree of general prosperity throughout the country, and tlie 
 greater or less sanctity and importance of the particular year. 
 
124: HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 But prob;il)ly in no ordiuaiy year would the nuiubar fall sliort 
 of half a million, while frequently as many as two or three 
 millions of persons attend in the course of a year. 
 
 Until very recently the pilgrimage to Juganat was accom- 
 panied with a deplorable amount of distress and suffering. 
 Fifty years ago, when the East India Company was still throw- 
 ing obstacles in the way of mission work and deriving a revenue 
 fro:n the pilgrim tax, a British inilitary officer wrote the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 " The loss of life by this deplorable superstition probably 
 exceeds that of any other. The aged; the weak, the sick are 
 persuaded to attempt this pilgrimage, as a remedy for all evils. 
 The number of women and children, also, is very great. The 
 pilgrims leave thsir families and oecupatioiis, to travel an im- 
 mense distance, with the delusive hope of obtaining eternal 
 bliss. Their means of subsistence on the road are scanty ; and 
 their liglit clothing and little bodily strength are ill calculated 
 to encounter the inclemency of the weather. When tliey reach 
 the district of Cuttack, they cease to experience that liospital- 
 ity shown elsewhere to pilgrims ; it is a burden which the in- 
 habitants could not sustain, and they prefer availing themselves 
 of the increased demand for provisions to augment the price. 
 This difficulty is more severely felt as tlioy approach the tem- 
 ple, till they find scarcely enough left to pay the tax to govern- 
 ment, and to satisfy the rapacious Brahmins. The i>ilgrim, on 
 leaving Juganat, has still a long journey before him ; and his 
 means of support are often almost, if not quite, exhausted. The 
 work of death then becomes rapid, and tlie route of the pil- 
 grims may be traced by the bones left by jackals and vidtures. 
 The country near the temple seems suddenly to have been vis- 
 ited by pestilence and famine. Dead bodies are seen in every 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 125 
 
 direction. Pariah dogs, jackals and vnltuiies, are observed 
 watching the last moments of the dying pilgrim, and not nn- 
 frequently hastening his fate." 
 
 ASIATIC CHOLERA AND ITS EAVAGES. 
 
 Fearful outbreaks of cholera have sometimes occurred in 
 connection with the pilgrimage. Tlie following description 
 was wi'itten by a missionary of the Car Festival in June, of 
 the year 1825 : 
 
 "The mortality did not much appear before the lt5th ; on 
 the 19th it was exceedingly bad, for the day before the rain 
 began to fall, and more came on the 19th and 20th ; and for 
 the next three days it fell in torrents. At this time the scene 
 had reached its height, and was tnily shocjking on every hand. 
 In every street, corner and open space, in fact, — wherever you 
 turned your eyes, the dead and dying met your sight. On the 
 ev'^ening of the 19th, I counted upwards of sixty dead and dy- 
 ing, from the temple down to the bottom end of the hospital, 
 (about half a mile) leaving out the sick that had not much life ! 
 At the corner opposite the hospital, on a spot of ground twelve 
 feet square, I counted ten dead and five sick ! This was the 
 case, wliile there were several sets of men in active employ 
 burying the dead ! You will perhaps think, if the streets were 
 thus crowded, what must be the various Golgothas ? I visited 
 but one, and that was between the town and tlio principal en- 
 trance, and I saw sights I shall never forget. The small i-iver 
 there, was quite glutted with dead bodies. The wind had 
 drifted them together, and they were a complete mass of putri- 
 fying flesh ! They also lay upon the ground in heaps, and the 
 dogs and birds were al>le to do but little towards devouring 
 them." 
 
 The number of pilgrims present on that occasion was esti- 
 
126 HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 mated at 225,00.0, and the mortality among tliem could not 
 have been less than 20,000. They carried the disease with 
 them from Juganat, and whole provinces were soon ravaged 
 by it. 
 
 SmCroE OF PILGRIMS NO LONGEK PERMITTED. 
 
 In view of such wholesale destruction of life, we almost 
 forget those who have prostrated themselves under the idol 
 car. From time immemorial this mode of death has been 
 thought to be peculiarly meritorious. At other sacred places 
 in India the same thing occurs under different forms ; as at 
 AUabal^ad, where, formerly, it was not unusual for pilgrims to 
 drown themselves, according to a prescribed ritual, at the place 
 of meeting of the holy streams, and where, now that this is 
 prevented by the police, suicide is accomplished by cutting the 
 throat in the river. For many years, however, the British 
 government in India has done all that could be done to prevent 
 and alleviate tlie cruelties of Hinduism. Widows are no longer 
 burnt on tlic funeral pile, infants are no longer tlu-own into 
 the Ganges at Sangor Island ; pilgrims are not permitted to 
 cast themselves under the wheels of Juganat. At all the fes- 
 tivals, there and elsewhere, on British territory, a strong police 
 force is stationed under Em'opean supervision. Hospitals ai'e 
 established, with skilled attendants, and supplies of medicine, 
 free of charge. Tims, the worst scenes of Juganut's temple 
 are witnessed no more. 
 
 THE FALL OF THE FIRST STONE. 
 
 The most significant event of recent years, in connection 
 with the temple, remains tb be mentioned — in closing this 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 127 
 
 accomit. About a year ago, in 1876, just after tlie three gods, 
 who occupy the inner shrine (Juganat, his hrotlier, Bulbhadra, 
 and their sister, Soobhadra,) had been removed from their dais 
 or throne, to take their annual excursion, drawn in the famous 
 car, some great stones from the roof fell in, and would have 
 killed the attendants, and smashed the gods, had they not for- 
 tunately all been absent. If a star had visibly fallen from the 
 heaven, there could hardly have been greater consternation 
 throughout Orissa, where for a long time a prophecy has been 
 current among the people, tliat " when the first stone should be 
 unfastened, the temple should not stand." It must be remem- 
 bered that since the temple was completed, nearly 700 years 
 ago, not a trowel has been laid upon it by way of repair. The 
 immense blocks of stone, of which the magnificent dome is 
 compoosd, are not kept together by cement or mortar of any 
 kind, but are made fast by an elaborate process of dovetailing ; 
 the slabs being arranged in horizontal layers, narrowing towards 
 the end, which is covered by a huge headpiece, carved and 
 oruanented. One of the stones that fell, measures ten feet in 
 le.agth, by five in breadth, and four in thickness. As the dam- 
 age is iinpercsptible to tlie eye, owing to the intense darkness 
 in the interior of the edifice, it is impossible to say what is the 
 condition of the remainder of the inner roof or cornice. It is 
 thought that the repairs will take at least fourteen years, and 
 during all this time no public worship or festival can be lield. 
 It is not unlikely that the prophecy may be fulfilled, and the 
 deserted temple given over to decay. 
 
 But, however this may be, it is certain that the vast struc- 
 ture of India's idolatry, which has stood so long, and caused such 
 
128 HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 misery and woe to that fair land, is doomed. The fall of the 
 stone in Juganafs teaiple, like the handwrithig on the wall of 
 Babylon, is a symbol of the hand of God upon it, and is so re- 
 "•arded in India. That impsnding destruction may 1)3, for a 
 time, retarded, but cannot be long prevented. God spee.l tlie 
 downfall of it, and build, full soon, in living stones, the new 
 temple, to the praise of the glory of His grace, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord. 
 
 Come swiftly joj'ful day, 
 
 When Christ the Lord shall reign 
 
 His gentle royal sway 
 O'er all the world maintain ! 
 
 The darkling shadows lift, 
 
 The golden dawn appears, 
 The mists of error drift 
 
 Before the brightening years ! 
 
 The Prince of P'^ace will bring 
 
 His ransomed captives honie. 
 And men and angels loud shall sing, 
 
 The King of Life has come ! 
 
HINDU TE]\IPLES AND MONUMENTS. 129 
 
 THE TAJ MAHAL. 
 
 From Ronsselet's magnificent work on " India and Her 
 Native Princes," we extract the interesting description of this 
 splendid work of Oriental art. We have inserted the picture, 
 that those of our readers who are not familiar with the su1:>ject, 
 may gain some idea of the wealth, splendor and taste of the 
 great empire which we are trying to win for the kingdom of 
 our Lord and Master. 
 
 " The Taj was built by the Emperor Shah Johan, as a 
 mausoleum for the Empress Mnmtazi Mahal, or Taj-Bibi, who 
 died in giving birth to the Princess Johanera. Tliis woman, 
 celebrated alike for lier talents and her beauty, inspired the 
 prince with such love and admiration, that he resolved to raise 
 to her memory the most beautiful monument that had ever 
 been constructed by man. After a grand consultation of all the 
 architects in the east, the plan of Isa Mahomed was adopted. 
 The mausoleum was conmienced in the year 1630, and not 
 completed until 1647; and during those seventeen years, 2,000 
 workmen were employed. 140,000 car loads of pink sandstone 
 and of marble were used in this great .work, and each province 
 of the empire contributed precious stones for its adornment. 
 Tlie jasper came from the Punjaub, the carnelian from 
 Broach, the turquoise from Thibet, the agates from Temen, 
 the lapis-lazuli from Ceylon, the coral from Arabia, the 
 garnets from Bundlecund, the diamonds from Punnah, the 
 mountain rock-crystal from Malwa, the onyx from Persia, 
 the chalcedonies from Asia Minor, the sapphire from Colombo, 
 9 
 
THB TAJ MAHAL, AT AGKA, INDIA. 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 131 
 
 and conglomerates from Jopulmore, Gualin and Sephia. Not- 
 withstanding these contributions, and the forced labor of the 
 workmen, the total cost of tliis gigantic work was about 
 $2,000,000. 
 
 The Taj is situated on the banks of the Jumna, its golden 
 crescent rising 270 feet above the level of the river. The 
 garden in front of it is surrounded by high embattled walls 
 with a pavillion at each corner. The principal entrance is a 
 monumental pointed arch, containing seven apartments, and 
 crowned with a row of kiosks ; the exterior is of red sand- 
 stone, relieved with bands of white marble, and the tympanum 
 of the centre arch, are ornamented with mosaics of agate and 
 onyx. A caravanserai for travellers extends around the en- 
 trance court. 
 
 On entering this gate, we suddenly found ourselves in front 
 of the Taj, which appeared in all its dazzling whiteness at 
 the end of a wide paved avenue, bordered on each side with tall 
 cypress trees. The first view of the Taj is most striking. 
 Like a mountain of white marble, it rises mysteriously above 
 the sombre, and luxuriant vegetation of the garden. 
 
 The terrace of pink sandstone on which the Taj stands, is 
 960 feet in length, and 330 in width ; and one end of it is 
 bathed by the Jumna, while the other is only a few feet above 
 the level of the garden. A magnificent platform of white 
 marble is erected in the centre of this terrace, measuring fif- 
 teen feet in height, and 285 feet on every side, which forms a 
 pedestal for the mausoleum; and at each corner of the platform 
 is a marble minaret, upon wliicli rests a light cupola 150 feet 
 fi'om the ground. 
 
 The mausoleum itself is constructed like an irregular 
 octagon, the longest side of which measures 120 feet; and it 
 has a terraced roof with fom- pavillions placed at the corners, 
 and a magnificent dome in the center. 
 
132 HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 E;i;'h facjade is pierced with a high Saracenic gate, flanked 
 on either side by two rows of niches. Such are the propor- 
 tions and the plan of the Taj ; and they may be equally 
 applied, though on a smaller scale, to other Indian monuments ; 
 Ijut ev^ery line has been calculated witli such consummate art, 
 that not a flaw can be detected. The entire edifice, from the 
 base to the summit, is built of white marble, overlaid with 
 mosaics, forming inscriptions, arabesques, and other decora- 
 tions. Every part of the exterior, with the single exception 
 of the dome itself, is covered with these marvellous mosaics. 
 Bishop Heber remarked, with truth, that the Taj had been 
 designed by Titans, and finished by jewelers." 
 
 Bayard Taylor, in writing on the same theme, says : 
 
 " I ascended to the base of the building, a gleaming 
 marble platform, almost on a level with the tops of the trees 
 in the garden. Before entering the central hall, I descended 
 to the vault where the beautiful Noor-Jehan is buried. A 
 sloping passage, the walls and floor of which have been so 
 polished by the hands and feet of thousands, that you must 
 walk carefully to avoid sliding down, conducts to a spacious 
 chamber. There is no light but what enters the door, and 
 this falls directly upon the tomb of the Queen in tlie centre. 
 Shah-Jehan, whose ashes are covered by a simpler cenotaph, 
 sleeps by her side. The vault was filled with the odors of rose, 
 jasmine and sandal-wood, the precious attars of which are 
 sprinkled on the tomb. Wreatlis of beautiful flowers lay 
 upon it, or withered around its base. 
 
 These were the true tombs ; the monuments for display 
 ])eing placed in the grand hall above, wliich is a lofty rotunda, 
 lighted, both from above and below, by screens of marble 
 wrought in iilagree. It is paved with blocks of white marble 
 and jasper, and ornamented with a wainscoting of sculptured 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 133 
 
 tablets, representing dowers. The tombs are sarcophagi of 
 the pur'est marble, exquisitely inlaid with blood-stone, agate, 
 carnelian, lapis-lazuli and other precious stones; and surrounded 
 with an octagonal screen six feet high, in the open tracery of 
 whicli, lilies, roses and other flowers are interwrought witli the 
 most intricate and ornamental designs. 
 
 THE ECHO. 
 
 The Dome of the Taj contains an echo more sweet, pm'e 
 and prolonged than that in the Baptistry of Pisa, which is the 
 finest in Europe. A single musical tone uttered by the voice, 
 floats and soars overhead, in a long delicious undulation; 
 fainting away so slowly that you hear it after it is silent, as 
 you see, or seem to see, a lark you have been watching, after 
 it is swallowed up in the blue of heaven. 
 
 The concurrent testimony of travellers, concerning this 
 wonderful poem in marble is the same. It has a grave 
 serenity of atmosphere, and its size, finish, environment, and 
 occasion alike impress the beholder's mind. One Pilgrim tells 
 us that — on the tomb of the lively Empress lies, as its central 
 ornament, a tablet; and on that of her husband, a pen, indi- 
 cating the Hindu belief, that the mind of women is a page, 
 on which the man writes what he pleases. Even in this tran- 
 scendent memorial of love, the thought of man's superiority 
 was thus embalmed. Yet, if love was strong enough in 
 Heathenism, to build a fane, beautiful and glorious as this, 
 over its lost idol, what may it not do, in living stones and 
 Christian homes, when the women of Lidia, shall be brought 
 to adore at the feet of Jesus, and their husbands and children 
 with them, acknowledge Him as supreme ? 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND MONUMENTS. 1^5 
 
 THE SACRED CITY OF THE HINDUS. 
 
 The Hindus consider the city of Benares to be placed in 
 the centre of the earth, and to be tlie most sacred city in the 
 world. 
 
 There are no less than eighty thousand Brahmins or 
 " lioly caste " Hindus residing here, and the city also abounds 
 with the so-called " sacred l)ulls " and " sacred monkeys." 
 There are more than a thousand temples, and over live hun- 
 dred thousand enshrined deities. 
 
 More than one hundred thousand pilgrims visit Benares 
 annually ; twenty thousand of whom may be seen rushing at 
 one time into the river Gauges, at a given signal, that they 
 may bathe at the proper moment. The river is reached by 
 flights of broad steps, and on these the Hindus pass the busiest 
 hours of the day, bathing, dressing, and saying their prayers, 
 lounging and gossiping. 
 
 Benares is believed by some to be eighty thousand steps 
 nearer heaven than any other part of the world. Ten miles 
 around Benares is said to be such holy ground, that whoever 
 dies within this area is sure of going to heaven, however great 
 a sinner he may have been. 
 
HINDU TEMPLES AND 3I0NUMENTS. 137 
 
 THE GRAND MOSOUE OF DELHI. 
 
 Delhi is a city of venerable memories. Dimog many 
 centuries, she was to Asia, what Rome, at her period of great- 
 est splendor, was to Europe. In the early dawn of Ai-yan his- 
 tory, Indrapechtra rose on the site, which in the year 57, B. C, 
 became the beginning of Delhi. Allusions are made in the 
 old epic poem of the Maliabharata to heroes, who flourished 
 here hundreds of years before the Christian era. 
 
 The Plain of Delhi is a vast archaeological museum. 
 Successive dynasties removed the city from one place to 
 another, and the ruins wliich remain, display every period of 
 Hindu architecture, from the time they first used cut stone to 
 the present day. 
 
 The Grand Mosque, of which we have thought well to 
 insert a pictiu'e, that our readers may gain some idea of the 
 richness of Moslem art, is regarded by the followers of Mo- 
 hammed with particular reveren(;e. 
 
 It is built of red sandstone. It stands upon an immense 
 terrace, to the summit of which, three magnificent staircases 
 lead, each of which terminates in a monumental doorway. 
 TJiese open into a spacious paved com*t, ornamented with a 
 fountain. At the end of this, extends the broad faqade of the 
 Mosque. "It is composed," says a French traveller, " of a 
 long row of narrow arches, on each side of a lofty doorway, in 
 the form of a pointed arched niche ; three white marble domes 
 
138 HINDU TE3IPLES AND MONUMENTS. 
 
 crown the edifice, wliicli is flanked hy two minarets, striped 
 longitudinally with white and pink, and elevating a delicate 
 cupola (jf white marble, in the air, to a great height. 
 
 . The effect of the vivid, though severe, colors, which clothe 
 every part of the building, is, when touched by the glorious sun 
 of India, incompara])le. Tlie dark red of the galleries, the 
 black and white marble of the facade, the white domes, the 
 golden pinnacles, and the rose-colored minarets, stand out 
 against the blue background of the sky, not crudely, but with 
 a severe harmony." 
 
 The interior, long jealously closed against Em'opeans, is 
 now open to all. It is luxurious and beautiful. 
 
 In contrast with these massive monuments of Hindu, or 
 of Musselman art, what are we showing to India ? Tlie plain 
 little house of prayer, the sanctuary with its bell in the spire, 
 to summon the worshipper. This is a fitter exponent of His 
 life, who, though Lord of the Universe, was here a meek and 
 lowly man. His praise is best set forth in the living epistles, 
 which everywhere His true disciples are. 
 
A FREE READING-ROOM. 139 
 
 THE MISSION FREE READING ROOM 
 AT MUDNAPILLT. 
 
 Reference was made iu Dr. Scudder's article to the estab- 
 Hsliment of Free Reading; Rooms. The one here shown, was 
 erected by the efforts of the Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M. D., 
 of the Arcot Mission, early in 1870. One principal object in 
 building it, was to get a hold upon the educated natives ; those 
 who had received some English education, and who held them- 
 selves aloof from the throng who assembled to listen to street 
 preaching. 
 
 We copy Dr. Chamberlain's account of its openmg, from 
 the Church Missionary Intelligencer^ of London : 
 
 DR. CHAMBERLAIN S NARRATIVE. 
 
 " It had seemed to me that the establishment of a Free 
 Reading Room where English and other secular newspapers 
 and periodicals, and books of history, travels and poetry, could 
 be made use of to draw in the educated classes, and get them 
 under Gospel influence, would be one of the best agencies that 
 could be used in a place like this; and I determined, several 
 years ago, to establish such a reading room, but I could get no 
 place in the town to open it in. I could neither buy nor rent 
 a suitable place. 
 
 Early this year, I learned that an unoccupied bit of land 
 at the corner of two streets, and just opposite the post-office, a 
 site which I had long coveted, but which had been involved iu 
 
A FREE READING-ROOM. 141 
 
 a law suit of several years' standing, had now, by decree of the 
 coui't, been ordered to be sold. It was a chance net to be lost, 
 but I had no money to purchase it." 
 
 GOING ON IN FAITH. 
 
 " Our Mission in its crippled state for funds, could not 
 furnish me any, and I was just completing the building of our 
 Telugu church and school-house, for which I had to raise all 
 the money here. This was but just paid for, and I had not a 
 rupee to use in buying a site, or when obtained, erecting on it 
 a suitable building ; but, after tliinking and dreaming and pray- 
 ing over it a few days, I decided to go on at once, and trust in 
 the Lord, whose work it was, to bring me through. 
 
 " Several times, since coming liere, I ha\^e been in great 
 straits for funds, for the completion of some project which I 
 had undertaken ; and each time the Lord has rebuked my lack 
 of faith, by sending contibutions, unexpected and unsolicited, 
 so that I have, in each case, come triumphantly through. So, 
 without a rupee in hand, I determined to secure the land, and 
 build upon it at once. 
 
 " The day after the completion of the purchase, I had 
 workmen digging for the foundation, and in three months, it 
 was completed and opened to the public. 
 
 THE BUILDING. 
 
 " It is a neat building with a terraced roof, built so that, 
 though the town were to burn down round it, it could suffer no 
 material harm. The room is nearly square, and in the side 
 fronting towards the post-office, is a wide double door, and on 
 the side opening on the other street, two wide windows. There 
 is a broad verandah on each of these sides, and on lecture even- 
 ings, I have the door and windows thrown wide open, and seats 
 
 / 
 
142 A FREE READING-ROOM. 
 
 arranged in the verandahs as well, so that the speaker can he 
 heard by all, and seen by nearly all who are seated there. 
 
 THE ROOM. 
 
 " The room is matted with grass mats, and in the centre 
 is a writing table, with ink, pens, and materials always ready. 
 Ari-ange 1 along one side are nari'ow tables with the ncnvspapers, 
 gazettes and magazines on them, together with a copy of the 
 Bible, in each of the seven languages, more or less read here. 
 At the farther end are two glass-door book-cases, the one filled 
 with books for reading, including works on history, travels, 
 researcJies, poei ry, morals, etc., most of them being in English ; 
 but including all I could find of an improving nature, in Telu- 
 gu, Tamil, and Canarese, witli a few in Hindustani, Mahratti, 
 and Sanscrit. They are free to all to take and read wdien 
 they please. 
 
 " The other book-case is filled with the Scriptures, tracts, 
 school-books and Christian literature, in the various languages, 
 for sale. Also, a supply of stationery and requisites for 
 schools. 
 
 " The Reading Room is opened daily, excepting Simdays, 
 at 2 P. M., and kept open till 9 P. M. On Wednesday 
 evening of each week, a Bible lecture is given in Telugu. It 
 is but a half -hour in length. Five minutes before the tune 
 appointed for the lecture, our native lielpers go there, and sing 
 some of their beautiful Christian songs, to native melodies." 
 
 " I always find the building and verandah both filled 
 when I get there. 
 
 " I read selected passages from the Telugu Bible, and 
 lecture from it, closing with a short prayer for the divine 
 blessing. 
 
 "At tlie opening of the Room, the principal gentlemen 
 of the neighborhood were invited to be present, and they 
 
A FREE EEADING-ROOM. 143 
 
 attended, with many English gentlemen, who had given liberal 
 peciiniaiy aid dui'ing its erection. Addresses were made in 
 English and Telngu. I nrged the people to come to the feet 
 of Him who is the Author and Giver of spiritual life ; even 
 Him who is revealed in the Christian Scriptm'es. 
 
 " Not less than ninety a day avail themselves of the 
 privileges of the reading room. Some come to look at the 
 Madras daily papers, others to read historical works, others to 
 consult dictionaries, atlases, and books of reference ; and many 
 after finishing the work for which they come, quietly take up 
 and read a copy of the Bible, and often purchase Scripture or 
 portions of Scriptiu-e, in then* own language or in English, to 
 take home and examine at their leisure. 
 
 " Scarcely a day passes without tracts or Scripture being 
 sold. 
 
 " At one of my "Wednesday evening lectures, a Brahmin, 
 one of the best educated in the place, arose and politely 
 asked permission to speak. I assented, not knowing what he 
 wished to say, and he gave this welcome and unexpected 
 testimony : 
 
 A BRAHMIN OK THE BIBLE. 
 
 " ' Behold that mango tree on yonder roadside ! Its fruit 
 is approaching to ripeness. Bears it that fruit for itself or 
 for its own profit ? From the moment the first ripe fruits 
 turn their yellow sides towards the morning sun until the last 
 mango is pelted off, it is assailed with showers of sticks and 
 stones from boys and men, and every passer by, until it stands 
 bereft of leaves, with branches knocked off, bleeding from 
 many a broken twig ; and piles of stone underneath, and clubs 
 and sticks lodged in its boughs, are the only trophies of its 
 joyous crop of fruit. Is it discouraged ? Does it cease to bear 
 
144 A FREE READING-ROOM. 
 
 fruit ? Does it say, ' If I am barren, no one will pelt me, and 
 I shall live in peace ? ' Not at all. The next season the bud- 
 ding leaves, the beauteous flowers, the tender fruit again 
 appear. Again it is pelted, and broken and wounded, but goes 
 on bearing, and children's children pelt its branches and enjoy 
 its fruit. 
 
 "That is a type of these missionaries. I have watched 
 them well, and have seen what they are. What do they come 
 to this country for ? What tempts them to leave their parents, 
 friends and country, and come to this, to them unhealthy, 
 climate ? Is it for gain or for profit that they come ? Some 
 of us country clerks, in government ofiices, receive more 
 salary than they. Is it for the sake of an easy life ? See how 
 they work, and then tell me. No : they seek, like the mango 
 tree, to bear fruit for the benefit of others, and this too, though 
 treated with contumely and abuse from those they are bene- 
 fitting. 
 
 " Now' what is it makes them do all this for us ? It 
 is their Bihle. I have looked into it a good deal, at one 
 time and another, in the different languages I chance to 
 know. It is just the same in all languages. The Bihle — 
 there is nothing to compare with it in all our sacred books for 
 goodness, and purity, and holiness, and love, and for motives 
 of action. 
 
 " Where did the English speaking people get all their 
 intelligence, and energy, and cleverness, and power ? It is 
 their Bible that gives it to them. And now they bring it to 
 us and say: 'This is what raised us ; take it and raise your- 
 selves ! ' They do not force it upon us, as the Mohannncdans 
 did with their Koran; but they bring it in love, and translate it 
 into our languages, and lay it before us and say : ' Look at it ; 
 read it ; examine it, and see if it is not good.' Of one thing 
 I am convinced : do what we will, oppose it as we may, it it: 
 
A FREE READING-PlOOM. 145 
 
 the Christinii's Bible that will, sooner or later, work the regen- 
 eration of this land." 
 
 A TELUGU HYlCSr. 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Ni (tharanamule Nammiti.Nammiti, 
 Ni padamule battiti, battiti. 
 
 I. 
 
 Dikkilsa nive tsalika?]^a rave, 
 Mikkili mrokkudu, mrokkudu. 
 
 Aihika snkamu, narisiti nitya. 
 Jl.ihaha droliini, drohini. 
 
 Translation into the same meter in English 
 
 REFRAIN. 
 
 Thy rcfirre would I seek, blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus j 
 Th.y racri'j'-givini^ feet would I clasp, bless d Jesus. 
 
 I. 
 
 My only lielp art Thou, "Wilt Thou not hear me ? 
 For on Thee, Thee alone, Thee alone do I call. 
 Refrain- Thv refuse, etc. 
 
 The ficelin.r^c y'^ys of earth have not I tasted ? 
 Traitor 1 wandered far, wandei'ed far, far from Thee. 
 Refrain— Thy refuge etc. 
 
 III. 
 
 liy own w rks, all so vile, filled with pollution, 
 1 abhor, 1 rt'uounce, Saviour, turn rae not away. 
 
 Refrain— Thy refuge, etc. 
 10 
 
l-i6 THE FREE READING-EOOxM. 
 
 My hard and vsinful will, my baser passions, 
 Pluek them out, drive thera hence ; free me Lord, deliver rae. 
 Refrain — Thy refuge, etc. 
 
 My nature so corrupt, cans't thou not change it ? 
 Ease ray pain, oh my God ! save me Lord, save me now. 
 Refrain— Thy refuge, etc. 
 
 The picture of the Reading Room shows the thatched roof 
 and verandah, with the group of people gathered there, and 
 even the children looking at it will sec how different this 
 Oriental scene is, fi'om any idea they may have of a similar 
 place in our own land. And now, that they and their parents 
 niay know in what sort of houses our missionaries in India 
 live, we insert a picture of Dr. Chamberlain's residence while 
 at Mudnapilly. It is a long, low building, its rooms very 
 small. The cohimns supporting its roof, like those of the 
 Free Reading Room, are of stone untouched by tools, and 
 split into shape by means of fire. The trees which appear, arc^ 
 cocoanut and mango. Over the doorway of the house, you 
 observe the luxuriant Rangoon creeper, wiiose blossoms, white 
 when they first open, hec^omc pink, then crimson and finally 
 pm-ple before they fade and fall. 
 
> \ W \n\ 
 
BORNEO. 
 

 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 BY 
 
 Kev. Wm. H. Steele, 1). D. 
 
 At the arrival of Kev. Wm. H. Steele 
 Sept. 16, 1842, in the roadstead of Java's 
 chief city, Batavia, the history of those who 
 had preceded him was this. 
 
 Of those sent out in 1836, Revs. Elihu 
 Doty and William Youngblood were on the 
 west coast of Borneo, and Revs. Jacob Ennis 
 and Elbert Nevius had returned to this conn" 
 try in 1840 and 1842, respectively. 
 
 Of the party sent out in 1838, both 
 members. Revs. Frederick B. Thomson and 
 Wm. J. Pohlman were in Borneo. 
 
 Of the two who sailed fi-om Boston, in November, 1840, 
 Rev. Wm. T. Van Doren had retm-ned to America, and Rev. 
 Isaac P. Stryker had died on board an America vessel, en 
 route from Batavia to Singapore, only a iew days after embark- 
 ing in health and gladness. The l>eloved Isaac was buried in 
 the beautiful cemetery on the Morning Side of Goverment 
 Ilill, and the American visitor will find, at the spot whei-e he 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 151 
 
 lies, with his feet to the foe, a becoming obelisk of white mar- 
 ble, sent from the land of his birth, and su.tably inscribed by a 
 few of the Rutgers " Class of '37," who had known him but to 
 love him. 
 
 All, except Strjker and the writer of this sketch, of the 
 brethren aforenamed, were married, when commissioned b}^ 
 the American Board, at the nomination of om* own Foreign 
 Mission Board, as the custom tlien was. Om- separate organiza- 
 tion dates from the Synod of 1857. 
 
 Thus, in the seventh year of onr attempt at Gospel work 
 for Netherlands India, five ordained laborers were upon the 
 soil of that dominion, at various points. The records are 
 copious, during the lustrum from 1836 to 1841, toucliing the 
 endeavors, the appeals, the Governmental tliwartings or eva- 
 sions, the journeyings, the hopings against hope. Did our 
 missionaries ask permission to begin in Sumatra, the shades 
 of Lyman and Munson were invoked to deter them from 
 even prospecting the territory of that island. There were 
 difficulties about Bali too, and American missionaries in Java 
 could not be thought of. There wei'e akeady a few Zendelino-s 
 from Holland, in country places, for whom the state-paid city 
 pastors cherished a courteously lofty scorn. Qui* Church had 
 selected this heathen field, beneath the colonial sway of Hol- 
 land, in trust that our name as the Reformed Protestant 
 " Dutch," would meet with an exceptional favor. But the 
 truth was' obvious, and came out early, that this nominally 
 Christian Government had no exceptions to make. It shrank 
 from a pure and aggressive Gospel- work in any of its territory, 
 remembering the beginnings in British India, and feai-ing 
 
152 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 trouble from its many Mohammedan stipendiaries and richly- 
 pensioned Rajahs. They trembled tliat the truths of history 
 and a sound political economy always, and necessarily, follow 
 the enjoyment of the established Word and ordinances of the 
 only true God, and Jesus Christ, His Divine Son. 
 
 Much had been learned, in a disheartening experience, by 
 the fourth year, but om- Church had put her hand to the plough. 
 And when, finally, cm* brethren were accorded a permission to 
 settle thomselves in Borneo, the continental liome of untold 
 mineral and vegetable wealth, they accepted tlie ungracious 
 boon. Traditions of cannibalism were rife, and procured ready 
 credence in a population sparse and given to tribal feuds of 
 blood. With the corn-age of all the despair that faith can 
 know, they went. 
 
 Omitting diffuse details, we now have the position in 
 September, 1842, in this form. Fom-, of the five, ordained 
 missionaries are on the island of their compulsory selection; 
 and the last comer is required, by Government regulations, to 
 spend a year on Java, under vigilant, but unmeddlesome, sm-- 
 veillance. 
 
 To this unmarried man, in the early months of his stay, 
 and when he liad just fought himself free from summons to 
 military duty, with low-flung Dutch, degenerate through vice, 
 with barefooted natives of various races, and a few Africans, 
 esteemed very choice for their endurance of the ton-id clime, 
 came a letter of importunate advice. David Abeel was on the 
 China coast, the empire was about to open, he knew the ham- 
 per of the Borneo case, and was entluisiastic for the land of 
 Sinim. His counsel was a torrent of affectionate urgeiicy, for 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 153 
 
 reasons personal and ministerial, tliat I should instantly aban 
 don thought or plan for "that hopeless field on Borneo," take the 
 first vessel towards China, write to the Board that I liad done 
 sOi and they would, beyond all question, thank me for having 
 done what the greatly changed phases warranted. The senior 
 bachelor was clearly in earnest ! 
 
 The reply to this ardent challenge was prompt, and re- 
 quired no study. The tempting had its allm-ements, but it was 
 not an open question. The junior had volunteered on this for- 
 lorn liope intelligently ; knew its past sore trials to the brethren 
 who awaited his coming ; its sure suiferiiig of body, soul and 
 spirit for his own future ; hut he should feel himself clothed 
 with dishonor, as with a garment, could he even give the pro- 
 posal an hour of dalliance. So spoke a young heart's faith in 
 God and a co-operative church, in fullest unison with the dues 
 of personal honor and covenant. He believed then, as now, 
 tliat when we vow at communion seasons, that all we are and 
 have is Christ's, the household of faith should illustrate in its 
 life that it meant its words, and would never eat them. 
 
 Of the fom* members of the Mission on Borneo, Doty and 
 Pohlman had given chief attention to the Chinese language, 
 while Thomson and Youngblood aimed exclusively at work 
 among the Malayan population. Tlie former two were sur- 
 rounded, at the seaboard station Pontianak, by many thousands 
 of Chinese colonists, while the chief service at the interior post 
 must be sought by itineracy among the Dyak villages. Those 
 at Karangan were at a distance, against the current of the 
 Landak E.iver, of four to five days from their bretln-en below, 
 and were largely dependent upon Pontianak, for supplies and 
 
15-4 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 tor any connection of their "Forest Home" with the outer 
 world. 
 
 Of course, the cry of "China Open" was not heard with 
 listless ear by two of these Borneo four, as 1843 was gathering 
 its scroll-record to the sky. In their views as a Mission, there 
 was a divergence of opinion as to field of labor by a tie, and 
 the young brother on Java would bring a casting vote. At 
 his arrival, late in 1843, a Mission council was held at the up- 
 per station. The two who wished to go at once to China were 
 of the same county, and one of thciu a townsman, with the 
 Albany recruit, and all his personal sentiments would have 
 gladly obliged them. Earnest and kind discussion issued in a 
 vote of three to two, in December, 1843, that one should go 
 immediately to China, and tlie other remain for labor among 
 our myriad Chinese, for a period not to exceed one year. 
 Meantime, we would send, and did send, most clamant en- 
 treaty for relief by other new men. With glad devoutness we 
 regarded the issue settled, regretting nmch that one should go. 
 March brought a re-opening, on personal wish alone. And 
 the candor of history requires it said that the member of the 
 Mission who had given most intensity of feeling and written 
 thought, to opposing the departure of both ; who deprecated 
 the policy of either brother's letiving the large held among our 
 Cliinese colonists, but liad reluctantly yielded, in part, to not 
 unnatural longings of old ;issociates ; and the order of signa- 
 tures to our appeal should show that untiring Thomson was he 
 — now riiversed his vote. Both were to go, at option. Both 
 went, in April. And the lethal blow was dealt. Now was 
 fultiUed the saying of the Mohaimuedan that we wealthy zea- 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 155 
 
 lots had come to encounter a "pro te:n," privation and labor, 
 \vlierel)y to lay up a store of merit for good works, and then 
 withdraw; seemingly fulfilled, and tlity could caution the 
 Dyak not to put stigma upon the religion of Inn Mohammedan 
 rulers by sending his children to boarding-school with us, who 
 would, ere long, go thence, and leave them, unsupported, to the 
 rancor of the dignitaries. " While the white man is here, it is 
 well ; but he surely will not remain in this wildwood of poverty 
 and barbarism ; and when he shall finally depart, Dyak neigh- 
 bor, preiiez garde P'' 
 
 Was it not easy for human nature to be impressed by this ? 
 And was it not fatal, hu nanly speaking, to furnish scope and 
 point for such neighboi'ly warning ? 
 
 In the providence of God, within a few days of eacli 
 other, not many weeks after setting foot in China, the wives of 
 the brethren of the Pontianak post, so recently given up, were 
 called away by death ; and Brother Doty, who had long been 
 an invalid from asthma, took all the motherless children to 
 America. 
 
 Crippled as the Mission now was, much earnest endeavor 
 tiignalized the following years, and its record is on high. No 
 opposition was ever offered ; we were respected, in person and 
 work, and received honor, though little of formal thanks, for 
 frequent medical aid. The Sabbath received external lienor 
 on our premises, for our sakes ; and every wayfarer, knowing 
 the Lord's day by the absence of all garden-labor, was ready 
 to be catechumen or hearer, by the horn-. And then, that the 
 narrator may be entirely honest, the Dyak would, perhaps, re- 
 sume his pole or net, and "go a fishing." Nevertheless, the 
 
156 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 niissionaiy must uot see him doing it. A Dynk was ashamed 
 of detectiou in a lie, because he desired our good opinion 
 and avoided tlieft because he believed we would intuitively 
 knoAV the guilty one by some medicine-man process. It would 
 have been difficult, too, to utilize a white man's articles, in a 
 region so nude of anything extra. Whatever the why or 
 wherefore, we were never robbed of clothing, money nor uten- 
 sils. At their villages, or by the wayside, we were Avell re- 
 ceived and listened to. One fraud I do remember, and must 
 not conceal. The usual wrapping of a corpse, was the bai'k of 
 large forest trees ; but hi the march of civilization, joy came, 
 one day, to the Swiss lady-member of our band. A Dyak 
 woman came to announce the decease of her mother, and would 
 be gratilied, could she wrap her parent's remains in '"Lowell 
 Drill," wliicli she knew us to possesss. Yerdure seemed to be 
 springing upon our spiritual field, and verdancy on om* side 
 hailed it. The cloth was given, in liberal measure ; and a 
 brother who " wanted to know, you know," found, on the mor- 
 row, there had been no death ! Could we have had tlic itine- 
 racy of our first five men, or other tit five, no one can say that 
 we might not Juive been privileged to report success. We 
 were bound, as a condition precedent, to furnish indications of 
 per .imence, and these w^ere never presented. 
 
 ii" from the three buildings at " Forest Home," which, 
 Li r.ig.i spacious, cost but little money to build or maintain, we 
 co.ii.l have been sending, in effectiv^e and alternating succession, 
 tv.j <.).• three clever, devoted and sagacious men, "wise as 
 Hcr^.fnts and harmless as doves," hope would have had her 
 fair pla(;e to L.and. Our (>hurch n>ight have escaped the 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 157 
 
 shame and crime of saying, nnder a Borneo sky, "tliere is none 
 other name under Heaven, given among men, wliereby we 
 must be saved," and then ceasing to proclaim it. We were not 
 di'iven out ; we neither decayed, nor died out fully. The call 
 for reinforcement was made hj burning words, and at length 
 by personal appeal of survivor ready to resume ; but Missions 
 that could show success were appealing in vain for new men, 
 and our beloved Kalamantan was given over to the indolent 
 Malay and the Dyak Avho was idle, because of no outlet for 
 his industry. Tliere were adverse political influences, such as 
 irregular and arbitrary taxation, and the like, and a broad 
 margin for improvement, in every respect. But God's word 
 and messenger go to heathendom, expecting to find many 
 obstacles to social and civic development, and to see tliem 
 vanish with a widening acceptance of the only Saviour's truth. 
 
 To complete the history, Mrs. Thomson's death was fol- 
 lowed by her husband's departure for America, by way of Eu- 
 rope, where he proposed to leave his youngest daugiiter with 
 her grandparents in Switzerland, and tlience to go to New 
 Jersey with his first-born daughter, a native of Dutchess Couuty, 
 IST. Y. His daugiiter, "Eliza DoWitt," lies buried at Karan- 
 gan ; his own grave is in the shadow of tlie Alps ; the eldest 
 child is the estimable wife of a v^dued dominie among us. 
 
 The Young]jlood family, having buried cliihh-en at Pon- 
 tianak, left Borneo on the errand of health-seeking for the 
 head, and after a year of little gaiil, returned, to take early de- 
 parture for America at the opening of 1849. 
 
 With them, left our mission, for immediate marriage at 
 Singapore, with view to the charge of a large Mission-school 
 
15S THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 at Ponans;, a yonni; lady fro.n Enpi;lantl, wlio liad, at Mrs. 
 Thomson's request, been sent to reside in her family by the 
 8a:ne AValthamstowe association, which had originally sent 
 herself to Batavia as a teacher. This energetic and cheerful 
 girl came to us in ^lay, l.'^4-lr, began teaching next morning, 
 through a vocal>alary of ])hrases; and made her mark at Pen- 
 ang, and subsequently in upper China, as Mrs. Bausum, as I 
 ain informed, and verily believe. 
 
 [ will not further enlarge. In the American Missionary 
 Memorial, (Harper & P>rothers, 1853,) is a very fair wood-cut 
 from a drawing made hy the gifted wife of a pastor at Upper 
 Rod Hook, in 1851, whicli feebly depicts the beautiful site of 
 our long-abandoned Mission. To me it arouses full sympathy 
 witli every honest toiler, in whose throat swells the gulp of the 
 wronged. We had acres upon acres of tropical plant and 
 fruit, laid out by c'leap laboi-, under white men's taste. JSio 
 title in fee simple, but ground cleared and cultivated adlihitum. 
 As we improved the site, the ruler smiled and the ruled were 
 j)leased. 
 
 The latter received liis ten cents per diem, while the foi-nier 
 scented ins own reversionary advantage, wlien tlie lethal wound 
 of March, 18-14:, should have done its work. All our outhiy in 
 embellishment could by neutralized by the quiet Malayan ob- 
 servation : " They want it in pleasing style, so long as thej' re- 
 main." 
 
 Tlie mode of our itiiic'rating, and the services in three 
 latiguiiges at our home, tfec, tfec, are they not all of record, in 
 journals written or printed in the long ago? The series, in 
 :n;iuy numlvirs of the Christ'iaii L}teUigencer, of 1850, "by an 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 159 
 
 Antipode," is full of information ; and No. 7 grajoliically de- 
 scribes the Mission premises, without at all approaching justice 
 to the facts. 
 
 At the end of IS^ovember, 1849, the last wlio went and 
 the latest to return, came home, to struggle and to stay. Then 
 there was money, but men were wanting. Now, men can be 
 refused, because commissariat and transportation are defective. 
 The remedy is simple, but frame and heart are breaking in 
 Asia, meanwhile. The Woman's Board will be glad to have 
 warrant for believing that there are, to-day, women in the An- 
 tipodal Island, wlio are singing, to child or grandchild, the 
 hymnal melodies we taught them, and that the burden of their 
 song is the remembered language of the truth those hymns con- 
 tained. How much of the then perfectly committed little cate- 
 chism of Brown may be retained, is matter for prayerful doubt. 
 
 Tlie valuable commercial products of Borneo must give it 
 a liistoric future. Gutta percha, dye woods, choicest timber 
 for the tropics, coal, tin, antimony, diamonds and gold were 
 already known in our Mission's brief era. Ambition of Gov- 
 ernments, the greed of wealth, or other instrumentality of 
 Providence will drive the pirate from her coasts, and tame 
 tlie wild hordes of her salubrious hill country, at no far-away 
 day. -With the introduction of industry, imder fair and stable 
 rule for all classes and conditions, the time must come for God's 
 word to enter and remain and conquer. And I devoutly beKeve 
 that our Woman's Board will actively live to see that end. 
 
 MISCELLANEA. 
 
 The articles of food were venison, fresh fish, the eggs and 
 
K50 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 flesh of our own numerous poultry, wood-pigeons and the ex^ 
 ccUent meat of the game wild hog. Salted provisions could 
 be imported, with our flour, from America; and canned salmon 
 or meats from Britain, were known to be procm'able, should 
 the spirit of luxury ever arise. 
 
 Of vegetables, we had the sweet potato, yams, cucum- 
 bers, Indian corn, and the omnipresent rice. Fruits were in 
 luscious variety at our own premises, and thousands of pine- 
 apples came from the plants tliat lined om* spacious garden- ' 
 paths. The Dyaks could have lived amid plantain-groves and 
 sugar-cane, but would not have their hearts made hot by the 
 effrontery of Malay traders or footpads who helped themselves 
 to the lirst fruits of any such case. 
 
 Still fiercer were the ravages of some kingling's retinue 
 from Landak, the royal seat of enthroned pauperism and beg- 
 garly gaud. If they brought a symbol only, it warranted 
 plunder as their master's own presence would. 
 
 We had no animals of burden, or of prey. A bear that 
 was liarmless, and the orang utan, (tlie " ouratig outang" of 
 boyhood's geography,) .that anger might make r(.)r!:ii!;lal)le, were 
 the sights, beyond the myriad of monkeys. Serpents, neither 
 few nor small, and some of tliem dealing swift deatli, there 
 were; though seldom seen, and no injury was ever suffered 
 from them, in treading the forest paths. Tliei-e were no roads, 
 no horses; and the cow would yield, on abundant grass,- but few 
 pints of milk. Our milk we obtained from goats wo kej^t. 
 
 Journeying between our Mission posts ^\•as on a water- 
 route, with Dyak oarsmen, who liad been Ijrought up to small 
 boats and large-bladed, lazy paddle. Choosing once, a season 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 161 
 
 Avlien tlie river channel was flush, and the inoon "vvas full, I 
 swept down the crooked Landak river with three such rowers, 
 one hundred and twenty miles in sixteen hours. Here we met 
 the partial power of flood-tide from the sea, and my tu'e(l men 
 "were suffered to go three or four miles an hour. Free lunch 
 ■C'f rice and curry, biscuit, coffee and cucumbers, with approving 
 smile at their exertions, achieved a peerless result, beyond any 
 that reproof from a frequently halting smoker could have 
 Avrought. A Dyak, like other men, works tlie better, for seeing 
 tliat his employer is pleased, and is willing to say so. 
 
 Here, I may say, that two of the Mission had titles, de- 
 rived from their stature and youth ; the third being sufficiently 
 distinguished, in that he was not either of those. Surnames 
 are little used among tliemselves, and a parent is known as the 
 father or mother of the flrst boy, if tliere be one, if not, then 
 of the first daughter. Old heads of families may employ a 
 single personal name. The word for father is Ma ; for inother, 
 ]^o. The two titled teachers were Tuan Tiuggi and Tuan 
 Augut. 
 
 The rate of interest among the natives was illustrative of 
 lack of capital and want of confidence, and was five per cent, a 
 month. Unwritten exaction of labor from the debtors was 
 • unspeakably worse, as we knew in detail. That money was 
 borrowed in the Christian west, at five per cent, for a twelve- 
 month, found credence ; only because we, tlie perfect standards 
 of veracity, had said such was the fact. 
 
 One relieving fact should, in justice to the Governor Gen- 
 eral of Netherlands, India, be added : Emboldened by his affa- 
 bility to Dr. Medhurst and himself, during a call they made 
 11 
 
162 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 upon liim at Batavia, Mr. Steele went to his country-palace at 
 Biiitenzorg, forty miles out among the hills, and asked a waiv- 
 ing of tlie rule requiring a year's stay on Java. TJie Governor 
 " fought off,"' in very good English, to draw out the nudacious- 
 applicant; but, on being reminded tliat supreme discretion was 
 his, to order or refuse permission, he withdi"ew his playful re- 
 mark, that "lie would see what he could do." He asked that 
 tlie plea should 1^0 sent up to liim in Dutch; the paper was 
 prepared and translated and mailed ; and the marvel occurred 
 of rapidity as well as graeiousness, that fom* days brought the 
 option of dej)arture at first convenience ; seven months of the 
 year had elapsed. 
 
 Subsequently, tlie official who had harassed our brethren 
 in Borneo, was transformed into a gentlemanly friend, who 
 would seelc to do a favor. There had l)een misunderstand- 
 ings in nuitters of etiquette, at the Ile&ideut's office; and 
 from small l)eginnings, ominous restrictions grew. The 
 visit of Dr. Isaac Ferris to the Hague, in IS-ti, was 
 probably productive of advices from the Home authorities, 
 to tlie advantage of the Mission. Arbitrary restrictions and 
 withdrawal of the usual franking privilege for correspondence 
 were abandoned, and large expense and annoyance thus 
 avoided. The Dyack sav/ the Dutc]i magnate's silver-laced, 
 cap handsomely lifted, when iie and the'"Ulu" missionary 
 met, and he treasui-ed the incident lor mention among the 
 villages near home. 
 
 Mention should be made of the death of the tirst Mrs.. 
 Thomson, at Batavia, in 1S39, to complete the necrology of 
 tlie Mission. Thus we have onj- dead at lvai'am;an and Pon- 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 103 
 
 tianak, infants; the second Mrs. Thompson, at Pontianak; his 
 Urst wife at Batavia, and Strjker at Singapore. 
 
 It may lUustrate the rapacity of heathenism, to state what 
 occurred at my sending for a Chinese Master-Mason, to 
 arrange for phicing in a Cemetery at Batavia, tlie m<>nuiuent 
 sent out in my care l)y Xichohis Wyckoff, Esq., for the grave 
 of liis daughter. It was in complete readiness for erection, in 
 three sections of marl)le; and was to be conveyed three miles, 
 from the Custom House to the burial-place, and jointed upon 
 a platform prepared for it long previously. His Urst demand, 
 one hundred and twenty rupees, was instantly declined. Ou 
 the morrow, with the same facts, he proposed seventy-live ; 1 n\t 
 the confounding of " sacredness " (suggested by Dr. Medhurst 
 as a palliation) with ^^ cvirl-sacra fames'^'' was too offensive for 
 a new-comer. He was utterly rejected, and an equally com- 
 petent builder, also a Chinaman, did the work most acceptably 
 for twenty rupees. '•''Expede Ilerculmir 
 
 The liarvest-dance of the Dyacks had quite as mu(;h of hor- 
 rid suggestiveness as of l)odily grace, and followed liard after 
 the threshing. And, as perhaps but few of my readers liave- 
 been present at this scene, I may say that the tlu-esliing of the- 
 padl (rice in tlic Imsk) is done by tlie twirled feet of men and 
 women, who grasp a rattan line suspended parallel with the 
 floor-matting, and six feet above it. Arrack is occasionally 
 imbibed, by the threshing wrigglers. Tlie dantie proper is at 
 evening, by the liglit of cocoanut oil, froin vessels that are the 
 Dyack's own; and only the extremes of life, 1st and Tth of 
 Shakespeare's " stages,'' fail to take part. 
 
 It is not unknown that this race scalps l)el<:)M' tlie cliin, and 
 
164 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 tli-at a Dyack goes for little at his majority, who cannot show 
 ahead that is anatomically, other than his own. These heads 
 •are preserved, in two senses; and on these festive occasions, 
 the male dancer carries his victun's mummied summit, as one 
 of oui- belles doth her kerchief. At my iirst on-looking, (yea, 
 verily, and the last) a careful note was made of my l^earing 
 and expression, by some whom I had taught and preached to. 
 Politeness forbade an entirely stolid presence, and I addressed 
 some remark to an adjacent native, which elicted the loud 
 inquiry from a boozy niiddlc-;iged dancer: " Wh:it does he 
 say ? " For a few seconds the conceded rudeness made silence 
 audible ; the <pi<^stioned one was still, but, in another moment, 
 the false and brutish courage of another Arrakian, in and on 
 the line, laughingly brazened out the invented reply; '" Dosa^ 
 •xijar-a,'' i.e., "'It is sin, ho says." Awkward tlush and silence 
 and shifting of tho feet ensued, then respectful questionings 
 and approach l)y smiling and panting men; and, as it was no 
 place to preach, and not wholly the ))lace to stay, I left and 
 'Carried awny good wishes. A very little of that, is enough. 
 When relatives are seriously ill, Dyacks make vows to the 
 great spirit Jubat'i. payable on recovery. The big vow of all, 
 is the largc^r procurable of swine for a village feast. As the 
 «r^nly acceptable offering t<j the occult Power is the odor, and 
 tlic tiesh goes into prompt and neighborly consumption, great 
 interest is felt in the recovery of the sick, it' tliei'c lias I>een 
 devoutness enough to make a vow. A Dyack pays his vows, 
 iuid the neighi)ors as "deeply lament"' the loss ot' his mother- 
 in-law, as would a London 'Times '"obituary," i'or an extra 
 ><'rown. Our dwellings were floored with planks, l)ut tlic outer 
 
THE BORNEO MISSION. 1^5' 
 
 \\'idh and p:u-titi<:>ns were of the l)ark of the hirge forest-trees- 
 about us. Oblong shibs were flattened by steaming, and 
 when carpentered in a neat, linn style, and made brilliant with 
 lime, their appearance against a l)ackground of verdure, was 
 to oiu- eyes pleasant. From the edges of the surr<.uu(ling 
 verandah, each house was perhaps 70 l)y 50 feet, and exon^iso 
 eould easily be had on that long circuit, when heat or storm 
 was against outgoing. The central reception hall was wider 
 tlian either room abreast of it, and its modest furnishing was 
 calmly pleasant by the light of the astral evening lamp. Here, 
 as we read or talked, was not seldom heard the whistle of a 
 deer, startled by suddenly seeing the light from the glazed 
 window that was new to him. Many, however, of our win- 
 dows liad lattice-work and no glass, fcr saving's sake. Mat- 
 ting covered the room-floors, and the ceilings of bamboo stems 
 looked best on the upper side in tlie unused attic, which Avas 
 bounded, far above, by the sloping steeps of thatch. Mattii'^g 
 was laid upon these ceiling canes, l3ut a lizard, or scorpion, or 
 centipede could and did slip through. No fire was ever needed 
 for comfort, and the culinary department had its own large 
 building, rods in the rear. 
 
 Our station-services of the Lord's day, were three iri 
 number. Those in Dyack and Malay were held at nine and 
 three P. M., in the rear building seen at the apex of the 
 triangle ; and our own service, in English, at the Mission-home> 
 alternately, at eleven o'clock. Our monthly concert was 
 usefully held on " the first Monday," invariably, according to 
 oi-iginal covenant, and the Hymn Books almost opened of theiv 
 own motion, at the fittest choice. 
 
I(i0 THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 Scripture translations were made and printed, and a small 
 IIyuiu Book; but the readers, were nearly all in the future. 
 Offers there were of discipleship, l)ut time mi<;ht have proven 
 tliem of "rice and curry" type. They were chiefly of the 
 t-rijjple family. 
 
 When the outbreak of war in l>ali, broke u]) the plan <»f 
 The (rovernor Cleneral, to visit and examine somewliat, our 
 inbind rc^'ion, — bright hopes were daslied. lie was intendino- 
 to go up the Sangau river by steamer, and would have passed 
 M'itiiin thirty miles soutli of Karangan. To intercept and join 
 him, for interviews with Malayan Rajah and Dyack Chiefs, 
 would have been usefnl, and by G-od's favor, acceptal)le. 
 Schemes and scliedules of ta.Kation, lixing a scale with impassa- 
 ble maximum, would have been an untold l)lessing and incite- 
 ment to labor. Chinese gold-digging nee<le(l only protection 
 from the too frequent robbery or murder of the successful ad- 
 venturer. And the first personal coming of Holland's supreme 
 colonial Chief, would have been an electric boon to every 
 worthy interest. But the outbreak in Bali called for all Dutch 
 vessels, forbade the absence of the Governor-General, and added 
 to the darkness of thech:)uds, by contrast with the rifts tiiat liad 
 been opening. Humanly speaking, the end had come; for tlie 
 "West had no lieartening hope to write — no re-enforcing men to 
 send. 
 
 Usually the intervals in receiving correspondence were 
 one liundred (hiys — once or oftener, eight months — ;md the 
 crowning achievement was fourteen months, l»y the liighly 
 successful neglect of oui- Britisli bankers and agents at 
 Singa])ore. "Man ])roposes, and G(»d (bsposes." 'J'he Lord 
 
THE LAND OF THE Ill«INa SUN. 
 
 reigneth, tlie God and Fattier of our Lord Jesns Clirist. 
 For a Dyak burial, a grave of six feet by two was dug, to 
 tlie depth of six feet; and from the bottom a lateral excavation 
 Avas run so far under the bank, that the earth, in refilling, should 
 not fall upon the bark-wraj3ped body. When it could be 
 av(jided, a corpse was not kept over night; and I have seen an 
 .infant borne to God's acre, within two hours from its deatli. 
 Superstition was dense and universal, and in only one case did 
 :I ever receive invitation or permission to be present, for prayer 
 or remark. In that instance, the usual uluhitions, at the close, 
 from all present, were subdued and brief. 
 
 The incantati(jns ovei* those in peril l)y disease or casualty 
 Avere a sad side-light upon what man may come to, — " Jiaving no 
 liope, and without God in the woi'ld.'' A wound would V)e 
 overlaid with leaves, until it l^ecame certain tlie l^lood voxhJ 
 flow, and then they would report to us au almost exanimate 
 sul)ject. Providentially, we had uniform success; and this was 
 necessary to our reyjutation, even wlien their own priestly phy 
 sician had, avowedly, abandoned hope. Alarm was, always, 
 signally marked, when the white man ordered a wound uncov- 
 ered of every leaf, to the lowest, l^efore he could begin to 
 heal. 
 
 The climate of Borneo was never oppressive in-do6rs, 
 though we were on the equator. Eighty-eight degrees was 
 about our highest record in the house; while the same ther- 
 mometer might register one hundred and forty degrees in the 
 •garden, between us and the crystal stream at the foot of the 
 knoll. A coverlid and blanket were the demand of every night. 
 A walk of twenty miles, mainly through the towering forest, 
 
lOS THE BORNEO MISSION. 
 
 need not exhaust 3'ou; and a long- evening-servif-e was rendered' 
 after it, when the batli, and the eolitary meal had been attended 
 to, between. In allusion to these scenes of the past, how joy 
 and sadness blend in the nietnory of one who had sturdy Dyalc 
 friends ! Names, faces, voices come ap in their personal dic- 
 tinctiveness. God bless the survivors! 
 
 ^ g. 
 
 3-* -£ 
 
CHINA 
 
rOUC'EI.AIN TOWFTR. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Hev. Wm. Rajstkiis^ Duryea, D.D. 
 
 The land of China lias excited, 
 for centuries, the highest interest 
 among Christian nations. Its sit- 
 uation, its immense [>opulation, the 
 organization of its government, and 
 its long preservation, arrest the 
 tlionght of every student. Its 
 knowledge of tlie different branches 
 of science, and its development 
 in the useful arts, humble our Western pride. The use of the 
 mariner's compass, of gunpowder, of the thread of the silk- 
 worm, was (iounnon in Cliina long before Christian nations had 
 learned tlieir v;due. Travellers througli " Cathay," in the 
 Middle Ages, brought back reports which were deemed almost 
 fabulous, of the wealth, intelligence and order which prevailed. 
 There \\^as the great wall on the ISTorthern border, thirteen 
 bimdred miles in length, and thirty feet in height, on whose 
 to]) six horsemen could ride abreast. There were the numl)er- 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 173 
 
 less " pagodas,'" or heathen temples, the most famous being 
 that of Nanking, which was faced with porcehiin of various 
 tints, and rose to a height of two hundred and sixty-one feet, 
 and C(jnsisted of nine stories. Each story was ornamented 
 according to Cliinese taste, with hmterns, pictures, images and 
 j)ithy proverbs. Each story had a binding phxce, where was a 
 window fro.n which an agreeable and extensive view could be 
 taken of the city, the - river and the distant country. The 
 numerous bells jingled in every passing breeze, and on festival 
 nights, all the lanterns were lighted. 
 
 Tiiis pagoda, after standing sixteen centuries, was de- 
 stroyed by the rebels in 1858. It was built in the middle 
 •of the third century, by the reigning Emperor, as a monument 
 to his mother's memory ; but it was also a temple of idolatry, 
 tilled from base to top with idol gods. 
 
 There was the majestic river, the Yang-tse-kiang — ^flowing 
 for three thousand miles, and crowded with the traffic of 
 scores and hundreds of cities. Within these swarming marts 
 of business, rose costly ho.nes amid the lower buildings and 
 bazaars, while stately palaces were hlled with princely officials, 
 Avhose pride manifested itself in pretensions far above those of 
 the haughtiest courts of Europe. Modern travel has confirmed 
 the truth of many of the narratives which were once received 
 as fanciful. Ciuna is, indeed, a land filled with a wonderful 
 civilization ; Ijut a civilization which seemes to have reached 
 its limit centuries ago, and from that date to be unprogressive. 
 Thus fossilized, it strikes the mind with astonishment. We 
 look forward, for instance, to intelligence in all our rulers, as 
 greatly to be desired ; for centmies literary eminence has been 
 
174: THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 ill China the only path to official position. Below the princely 
 order, every ruler of the land must pass an examination of his 
 attainments in knowledge, the " iive classics," the " four sacred 
 books," and Chinese history, giving tlie sul)jects. Great halls in 
 Peking, the ]S"orthern capital, receivethe students from univer- 
 sities and schools, who submit themselves to these tests year by 
 year. This intelligence has undoubtedly made the Government 
 strong and enduring, Ijnt it lias not saved it from becoming cor- 
 rupt and cruel almost beyond expression. The accompanying 
 picture gives an accurate representation of the interior of a 
 Confucian temple in Peking. In the matter of religion, 
 China is in the deepest darkness. Its teachers have never 
 developed the people in love to God and fellow men. In- 
 difference to all that is spiritual, seems a national chara(;teristic. 
 Long before Jesus came to earth, Confucius and Lao-tse left 
 systems of morality, which have l>een studied by millions of 
 the higher classes. Tlieir doctrines, after the lapse of twenty- 
 five hundred years, are seen as producing nothing in the life 
 of their followers which is really noble and pure. The 
 Buddhist religion is followed by the masses of the Empire ; 
 a religion which is a round of forms, anil which holds out the 
 promise of annihilation as its last reward. 
 
 WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS. 
 
 The one tiling to which all are devoted, is the worship of 
 ancestors. In every home are found tablets in which the 
 spirit of the dead is supposed to linger. Before these there is 
 a constant adorati<ni. Ciiinese people, whether Buddhists,. 
 Tauists, or folhnvers of Confucius, are united, in this super- 
 

 
176 THE AMOY MlaSIOX. 
 
 stitiou. Offerings of money, food and clothing are continually 
 renewed before the votive shrine of their dead. Tlie poor 
 content themselves with small tablets, placed in some recess 
 of the house, and bearing the names of the dead ; but the 
 wealthy pride themselves, on such an ornate and graceful 
 Ancestral Hall, as we see in the illustration. 
 
 " The general belief is, that the unseen world is very 
 much like this, only that things are spiritualized. The 
 departed spirits are supposed to need food and clothing and 
 money, just as when they resided in earthly bodies, and pious 
 living friends, consider it a sacred duty to provide for their 
 wants. Real food is placed for a time before the tablets, and 
 when the spirits are thought to have consumed the spii'itual 
 part, the material part is eaten by the household. Clothing 
 and money are symbolized by paper, Avhich is devoutly burnt, 
 the lire conveying it to those for whom it is intended. The 
 Chinese think that if they forget or neglect these rites, 
 their departed relatives will be very angry, and bi-ing dire 
 calamities upon them ; and their belief in this is ingrained and 
 inwoven with the whole fabric of their lives." 
 
 These tablets are tlie last things which the heathenism of 
 China will yield. The people will turn from Confucius, will 
 leave their temples, will sometimes profess Christianity, — but 
 the real test of the convert's truthfulness, usually comes Avheu 
 the " ancestral tablet " is doomed to destruction. 
 
 INTRODUCTION OF PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 In the sixth and seventh centuries, Nestorian missionaries 
 are said to liave penetrated the bounds of the empire. In the 
 sixtoentli century, devoted Jesuits secured a foothold for a 
 
THE AMOY MISSIOX. 
 
 time ; but the Romisli mixture of political, religious and 
 priestly pretensions, could gain no permanent hold. At last 
 the Empire seemed sealed against all Christianity, and eren 
 foreign trade was prohibited. In 1836, the Reformed Dutch 
 Church in America established a mission in Borneo. Some of 
 our missionaries employed much of their time in preaching to 
 the Chinese, who were found thronging all the ports of the 
 great islands adjacent to their populous native land. In 1840, 
 a war broke forth between Great Britain and China, which 
 changed the whole aspect of affairs. The war originated in 
 the selfishness and sinfulness of Englisli traders endeavoring 
 to force a baneful traffic in opium, upon the unwilling Chinese. 
 But wicked as was the war, Grod turned it to His praise. 
 When it ceased, treaties were made, by which five ports were 
 opened for the free entiy of Christian nations. The disciples 
 of Christ hailed the flinging back of the long barred gates, 
 and instantly made preparations for an advance. Among 
 those ports of ingress stood the city of Amoy. 
 
 SITUATION OF AMOT. 
 
 He who studies the map of China is usually led to mark 
 the great island of Formosa, which lies along the Cliinese coast, 
 somewhat like Madagascar, near south-eastern Africa. For- 
 mosa is separated from the mainland, by straits, wliich average 
 seventy-five miles in width, and across those straits lies the city 
 of Amoy. As a trading port and harbor, it had been often 
 coveted by Europeans, and near it one of the foreign " facto- 
 ries " had been established from early in the eighteenth century. 
 12 
 
ITS THK A310Y MISSION. 
 
 The city is built on a hilly island, at the mouth of a river, and 
 the ground it occupies is closely filled by a population of two 
 linndred thousand souls. 
 
 Near it are other islands, on the nearest of wliicli, called 
 Kolong300, much more favorable places for foreign residences 
 are found than in Amoy. About tliirty-five miles up the river, 
 lies the city of C^)iang-chin, and just north of Amoy is found 
 Tung-an, the capital of a Chinese district. Between Chiang- 
 (rliin and Amoy, Chioh-bey lies, a city with sixty thousand peo- 
 ple. In fact, the district of forty-five miles around Amoy is 
 (jomputed to contain nearly three millions of inhabitants, tlius 
 supporting a population, perliaps, equal to that of the State of 
 New York, fronri Lake Ontario to the Hudson. 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE MISSION^. 
 
 Our Mission originated in the wisdom and counsel of one 
 man, whose name will long be tenderly preserved in the hearts 
 of tlioso who love Christ's kingdom, and wlio is eral>almed in 
 the records of the Reformed Church, as one of her best beloved 
 cliildren. 
 
 Tlie following extract from a letter of tlie late Mrs. T. C. 
 D(jremus, discloses the interest felt at the time in tlie mission 
 of Dr. Abeel, to Amoy: — 
 
 New York, November 2'y, 1S7U. 
 Dear Friend: — I am very much obliged to the ladies, and yon, for 
 sending me the certificate of life membership to the Board of Missions. 
 Will yon thank them? Dr. David Abeel was the firr^t missionar}' to Ciiina, 
 18211, invited by the generosity of Mr. Olyphant, of the firm of Talbot, 
 Olyphant & Co., a passage out in one of their ships, and support for a 
 year. Dr. Bridgeman accompanied him. I was on board of the ship to 
 bid them good-bye. At the end of the year, the Dutch Board assumed 
 
AMOY &YICINITY 
 
 jy[Ls^xm. /St<xJOl<yn^ . of Jie^orTtte^l CA,rf,r'ch^ lYLairkect fhtzs- +, 
 
 ^pprox. tSoaZe c/^ J^'rt^.V7t.i/-e. 
 
 '" 1 I , Y X4-Jf. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 171) 
 
 tht^ charge of Dr. Abeel ; tlie American Board of Dr. Bridgeman. At, 
 that time, when the Chinese teacher was instructing them, he kept the. 
 door locked, when the officers came to see what the foreigners were 
 doing. The teacher put the books in a box, and material for making 
 shoes on its top, before unlocking the door, as he feared he might loose 
 his head, if lie taught foreigners Chinese. In 1834, Dr. Abeel was in 
 delicate health ; the physicians recommended a voyage to his native 
 land. There were no American sliips in port ; a kind English captain 
 invited him to go in his ship to London ; while there he was the guest 
 ofMr-Suter. Dr. Abeel founded the "Society for Promoting the 
 Female Education of the East," to send ladies to teach the women of 
 India and China. He brought me the programme, and a meeting was 
 called in the parlors of Dr. Matthews, in the South Dutch Church, then 
 Garden, now Exchange, street. The meeting for final arrangement, was 
 at the house of Mrs. Bethune, Dr. Bethune's mother. Dr. Abeel opened 
 the meetingrand then remarked that he had a message for them ; at 
 that time, the Dutch was auxiliary to the American Board. "The 
 secretary, Dr. Ruf us Anderson, wished the ladies to defer." *' What ! '" 
 said Mrs. Bethune, "are the American Board afraid the ladies will get 
 ahead of them ' " Some were for going on : others, out of respect to 
 Dr. Anderson, were willing to wait ; and Dr. Abeel, with tears rolling 
 down his face, exclaimed : " What is to become of the souls of those who 
 are ignorant of the offers of merey and the Bible ? " That English sordety 
 invited us to Calcutta, the Woman's Union Missionary Society. In twelve 
 years, 10,000 of the high caste have been taught in Calcutta, besides the 
 lower caste. 
 
 Mrs. T. C. Dokemus. 
 
 To Secretary of Woman's Board. 
 
 Bm-ning 'witli missionary zeal, David Abeel went out to 
 China in 1829, intending to labor as a chaplain among seamen. 
 Soon after his arrival at his post, he was transferred to the 
 American Board of Foreign Missions, and nnder directions 
 from home, he made a survey of tlie field for missionary efforts 
 in eastern Asia. After a visit to Em-ope and the United States, 
 he returned to the east, and was lalioring in Borneo wlien the 
 British treaty opened the gates of the Celestial Empire. lie 
 sailed in 1841, from Borneo for China, and with Bishop Boone, 
 
180 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 of the American Episcopal Church, he located himself on Ko- 
 longsoo in 1842. Tnstantl}'^, he began to press the claims of 
 Amoy upon the denomination to which he was most closely 
 attached. His appeals were so earnest, that at last our Gen- 
 eral Synod approved of the transfer of two more missionaries 
 from Borneo, the Rev. Elihu Doty and the Rev. William J. 
 Pohhnan. These brethren joined the pioneer in 1844. Six 
 months after their arrival, David Abeel retm-ned, in failing 
 health, to America, and died at Albany in 1846, at the age of 
 forty-two years. Had he no other monument, the living stones 
 whicli have been built into the temple of Christ in Amoy, 
 would perpetuate his memory more grandly than St. Paul's of 
 London tells the value of the great architect whose dust lies 
 mouldering beneath its dome. 
 
 PROGRESS OF THE MISSION. 
 
 In 1847, the Eev. John Y. N". Talmage joined the little 
 band, and in 1848 a church, for the converts, was built — the 
 first church for native Christians which was erected in China 
 after Protestant missions were there established. In 1850, 
 Dr. James Young, a physician, under the direction of the Eng- 
 lish Presbyterian Cluirch, came to Amoy, and was closely as- 
 sociated with our own missionaries. Tlie devoted William 
 C. Burns joined Dr. Young in 1851. He came from his 
 native Scotland, filled with the s;ime zeal which the Holy 
 Spirit had so wonderfully blessed by revival after revival in 
 the cliurches to which Mr. Burns- had ministered. Soon after 
 his arrival, a remarkal)l(! outpouring of God'S grace occurred 
 in Amoy and the neighborhood. Churches were organized, in 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 181 
 
 wliicli, a spirit of consecration prevailed, and new points were 
 taken for greater effort. From that day to this, the mission- 
 aries of the two churches have worked in loving harmony, and 
 the grand result is seen in a Chinese Classis or Presbytery 
 wliich is managed by the representatives of the native churches. 
 So remarkable was the early progress of the Christian work in 
 Amoy, that, in 1853, the Missionary Herald referred to it as 
 " far more successful than any mission in China." It lias never 
 lost its ground. In 1854, there was an accession of over fifty 
 members ; and, on the year following, seventy-five persons were 
 received into the native church. A school for gu'ls was 
 started at an early day, though under heavy discouragements ; 
 and two prayer meetings, for women, were sustained by the 
 converts, under the guidance of the faithful wives of om' mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 In January, 1849, the second of the " first three," the 
 Rev. William J. Pohlman, perished by shipwreck as he was 
 returning from Hong-Kong. The Rev. EHhu Doty was spared 
 to labor fifteen years in his chosen field, dying on ship-board 
 in 1864, when only a day or two separated him from the 
 native land to which he was hastening. The Rev. Dr. 
 Talmage has already passed thirty years of constant service 
 among the Cliinese. May God long spare his useful and 
 consecrated life, and permit His servant to behold yet larger 
 blessings, before the final summons from toil to rest is given. 
 
 We need not give the whole list of those who, since 1847, 
 have sought to labor for the Master in distant Amoy. 
 Twenty-five godly men and women have, at various times, 
 been sent forth by om* Board of Foreign Missions, including 
 
182 THE AxMOY MISSION. 
 
 in this number, the names of David Abeel and his associates.* 
 Nine of these have been compelled to give up the work on 
 account of their health, and liave returned, to remain in their 
 native land. Eleven, out of the twenty-five, have died wliile in 
 the harness ; sometimes, at the very beginning of their career, 
 stricken mysteriously down. Especially do we recall the Kev. 
 John E. Watkins and liis wife, wlio, sailmg from New York 
 in 1861, were never heard fi-om after the vessel had gained 
 the open sea. The treasure-house of God is wide, and in 
 earth or sea, we know He guards His saints, and watches over 
 their precious dust. But thougJi the workmen in the field we 
 consider have thus been subject to change, and have often 
 been called away, God has carried on the work to a higher 
 and higher plane. 
 
 PKESENT STATE OF THE MISSION. 1877. 
 
 Of our own missionaries, there are found on the ground 
 to-day, the Rev. Dr. Talmage and his wife, their daughter, 
 Miss Mary E. Talmage, and the Eev. Leonard W. Kip 
 and his wife. The Rev. Daniel W. Rapelje, who began his 
 labors in 1859, is now in this country regaining his strength 
 after years of service. Miss Helen M. Van Doren is also at 
 home, but hoping soon with renewed health to return. This 
 little band, blessed abundantly in the past, is appealing earnestly 
 for re-enforcement. Dr. Talmage began his labors in 1847, 
 Rapelje in 1859, and Kip in 1860. Surely such toilers have a 
 i-i-'ht to be heard, as they ask for new associates from home. 
 
 * The figures are as nearly exact as I can make them, but there may 
 be slight mistakes.— W. R. D. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 183 
 
 NATIVE CHURCHES. 
 
 The " Tai-lioe " or Classis of Amoy, lias now fifteen 
 native Churches connected with it. In these are found twelve 
 hundred and fifty communicants. To be a Christian in 
 China, involves trials and difiiculties we can scarcely imagine. 
 For instance, we may refer to the well-known diniiiiutive 
 
 FEET OF CHINESE LADIES. 
 
 "Parents in Christian lands are made happy in watching 
 the natural growth and development of their children. 
 
 Parents in China, on tlie other hand, would be greatly 
 mortified and distressed should the feet of their daughters 
 
184 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 grow to their iicatnral size. A Cliristian motlier supplies lier 
 child Avith shoes that will fit the feet. A Chinese mother 
 binds and bandages the foot of her child that it may fit the 
 shoe. 
 
 The shoe pattern, in the picture given, is supposed to be 
 made of red silk, and to be handsomely embroidered. 
 
 The Chinese, especially the richer classes, have for many 
 centuries been in the habit of compressing the feet of their 
 females by the use of tight bandages. The shape of the foot 
 thus becomes very much as seen in the picture. All the toes, 
 except the great one, are bent under the sole, and the bandages 
 never being permanently removed, the foot remains very 
 nearly the size it was when they were first applied. The 
 upper part of the foot grows out of shape and proportion, 
 and, except to the Chinese themselves, becomes very unsightly. 
 Of course such a distorted foot makes the gait of a Chinese 
 lady very awkward. She sways her arms to and fro, as if 
 walking on her heels, and is usually aided by the shoulder of 
 an attendant, or an umbrella carried as a walking-stick. But 
 the Chinese ladies do very little walking. It is supposed by 
 some that the practice of binding the feet was originally 
 imposed by the men to keep the women at home. Whether 
 this be so or not, Chinese ladies are very seldom seen in the 
 streets, or even in their own houses ; when a gentleman enters, 
 custom obliges them to retire to an inner apartment. They 
 enjoy few blessings of social life, and the sphere of woman in 
 China, as in all heathen countries, is a very inferior and 
 degraded one." 
 
 This barbarous usage is given up by our converts, who 
 allow the little feet of the infant daughter to grow naturall}'. 
 Shocking as it seems to us, the Chinese mother has been taught 
 that tlie coinpressed feet will add to hor cliild's rank in the 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 185 
 
 co:nviuuitj, and secara to lior i.ainuuity fro.n degrading labors. 
 So many Chiness shoes h;ive been broiiglit to this country, 
 that we only need refer to the custom as one o£ the practical 
 things with which Christianity has to deal. In our churches 
 at Amcy, a society pledged to oppose the custom has already 
 been formed. 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 T j^o of the churches support their own pastors entirely, 
 find. J.iie benevolent contributions of the native Christians 
 amount to sixteen hundred and sixty-four dollars. Our mis- 
 sionaries exercise only a general superintendence over the 
 chm'ches, and have all the work they can do in providing for 
 vacant chm'ches, instructing native students for the ministry, 
 and pushing out preaching stations. To these last places, 
 being the outposts of the held, they have to travel constantly ; 
 and for this purpose they employ their " Gospel Boat," as 
 comnninlcation is mainly by the rivers flowing toward the 
 harbor of Amoy. The residences of the missionaries are on 
 Kolongsoo. The girls' school and churches are in the city of 
 Amoy. It is mucii to be desired that the school, now having 
 thirty-seven scholars, should be located on Kolongsoo, as being 
 a far healthier position, and exposing the wives and daughters 
 of our missionaries to less danger — since the ferriage between 
 the island and Amoy is of primitive description. A good 
 building, like that built for the education of girls in India, or 
 the one recently raised in Japan, is becoming a necessity in 
 our Chinese field. 
 
 Such, in a brief space, is the history of the Amoy Mission. 
 But its real history what pen of earth can write ? The secret 
 
186 
 
 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 sacrifices, the mental struggles, the persecutions, the tempta- 
 tions, the peace given to the soul, the glory granted to those 
 who have triumphed over death, none but God knows these 
 things. But wliat we can see, and can mark of progress, 
 should give us the highest satisfaction. It should do more. 
 It should prompt every Cln-istian to prayer that God would 
 send forth laborers to these fields " already white to the 
 harvest," and to a consecration which leads to larger gifts for 
 the prosecution of this blessed work. The " land of Sinim '■ 
 belongs to Jesus Christ. To hasten the day when the Sa^■iour 
 we love shall be owned through all its broad extent, is a work 
 to which God calls every Christian in om- own favored country. 
 God grant that every one who reads this sketch of faithful 
 mission labor, may be stimulated to a deeper interest in the 
 progress of the Redeemer's Kingdom on those distant heathen 
 shores. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 187 
 
 WOMAN IN CHINA. 
 
 BY 
 
 Miss Helen M. Yan Doken. 
 
 "Woman in China has been persistently degraded and op- 
 pressed. As a child, she is, and has always been, regarded as 
 an unwelcome incumbrance. During her early girlhood she 
 has been inunm-ed as a prisoner. Li her married life, slie has 
 been a victim and a slave. It is only in her old age tbat she 
 has been regarded ^vitll honor and esteem. Could women in 
 Christian lands understand the absolute vacuity of existence, 
 Avhich life means to even the most favored of then- sisters in the 
 flowery land, they would not shirk the responsibility of send- 
 ing them something better. That labor among these women 
 is abundantly repaid in success, is evidenced by the testimony 
 of oiu' missionaries. They have been face to face with the 
 souls who sit in the house of bondage. They have seen those 
 but lately redeemed from heathenism, willing to endure perse- 
 cution, rather than abandon their faith. They have witnessed 
 the awakening of intellect, the quickening of affections, and 
 the growth of gentle graces, the fruits of the spu'it, so that be- 
 fore their eyes, the desert has blossomed as the rose. 
 
 THE WORK IN AMOY. 
 
 Let us look at the work begun at Amoy, one of the ports 
 of China, in which, some of us have been permitted to labor. 
 
188 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 The more direct work there, was commenced about ten 
 years ago, by the ladies of the Mission,* meeting with the Chi- 
 nese women from week to week; forming them into chisses for 
 Bible instruction, praying with them, teaching them to read, 
 and encouraging them in the Christiaa life ; and sometimes, per- 
 haps, being able to suggest to tlieni in what way they might 
 govern their children — in wliich esbcntial, they are quite as de- 
 licient as in the knowledge of books. 
 
 This work, though carried on amid many discom*agements, 
 has proved successful. Many having learned to read the New 
 Testament, and some colloquial books, are much more attentive 
 to the preaching of the Word, and better able to understand 
 and retain the truth. What they have thus gained, has not 
 been for each one alone. The doctrine is often made known 
 tiu'ougli them to others, to one of their own family, or it may 
 be to a friend or noighl)or ; in this way, some, we trust, have 
 been led to a knowledge of the true God. 
 
 This much has been accomplished, in the city clim'ches. 
 But what sliall we say of the women, at the country stations ? 
 Living, as many of them do, a long distance from tlie chapel, 
 they tind it very ditiicult, with their small bound feet, to walk 
 to and from the service ; besides, one or more young childi'en 
 must always accompany the mothers, so that they can seldom 
 give tlieir undivided attention to the preaching, even should 
 they desire to do so. 
 
 Tlien, again, although the preacher may strive to present 
 the truth very clearly and simply, probably they will not for 
 any longtti of time, remember what tliey hear. I have heard 
 
 * Mrs. Talinage and Mrs. Kip. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 189 
 
 the preacher, in the early part of the service, ask these women 
 questions on Scripture truths ; and when asked again, during 
 the same service, not one in ten could answer a single ques- 
 tion, though the answers had been many times repeated to 
 them. They have never been taught to think on any subject. 
 Does it seem strange, then, that on hearing any new doctrine, 
 for the iirst time during their lives, they fail to remember just 
 from having it told them ? Ah ! if they could read, how dif- 
 ferent it would be. Then, instead of hearing the Gospel only 
 on the Sabbath, they could daily search the Scriptures for 
 themselves. Not until they are able to do this, can we look 
 for progress on the part of these neglected and ignorant women. 
 
 THE YOUNG LADIEs' EFFORT. 
 
 A work on their behalf was begun two years ago, by the 
 voung ladies of the Mission,* who went out to spend a few 
 days, or a week, at a time, at the different out-stations, hoping 
 to teach many of these women to read. Of course, they met 
 discouragements — these were expected ; still, the beginning of a 
 good work was then made. It was the more hopeful, as many 
 of the cliildren entered heartily into the plan and became dili- 
 gent pupils. 
 
 The great hope of the Church, is in the education and con- 
 version of the children. Although the Chinese think their 
 daughters are not worth educating, we are of a quite different 
 opinion. 
 
 * Miss Helen M. Van Doren, Miss Kittie M. Talmage and Miss Mary 
 E. Talmag'e. 
 
190 THE AMOr MISSION. 
 
 GIRLS SCHOOL IN AMOY. 
 
 We are fully aware how imich depends on their beinij:; 
 educated, and taught the Christian religion. For this purpose 
 a school for girls, was opened in Amoy, seven years ago. 
 Here, have been educated many of the wives of our lielpers and 
 teachers. The Bible has been made the great text book of 
 the school. In addition to this, however, a number of other 
 studies liave been successfully introduced. They have l>een 
 taught geography, arithmetic, reading, writing and composi- 
 tion, and have made good progress in each l)ranch. Besides 
 this, instruction has been given in sewing and in domestic work. 
 It has been our earnest desire, that all the girls who come un- 
 der our care, shall be tlioroughly fitted for all household duties, 
 and shall obtain the knowledge they will so greatly need in 
 homes of their own. Yery few have left this scihool, without 
 having professed their faith in Christ. Tims we have groat 
 reason for gratitude to onr Heavenly Father, and foi* encour- 
 agement in our work. 
 
 Here, in Amoy, we feel that a work is begun and going 
 forward, whicli will be of untold benefit, for years to come, in 
 the churches, and indeed, in all that region ; a work well 
 worthy of faithful effort. Sh;dl not the workers in this field 
 have the kind counsel and earnest prayers of all who remain 
 at home ? The work is great, but let ns have faith that it iri// 
 be accomplished ; when many shall thirst for the heai-ing of 
 the words of the Lord, and when this great kingdom, now un- 
 der the dominion of sin, shall be given to Christ, for His in- 
 heritance. Can we liesitate to go forward, when we have the 
 
THE AMOY MISSION, 191 
 
 arm of God to strengthen us ? Is there anything too hard for 
 the Lord ? Let us cease not, then, to' pray that the hxbors of 
 these sent to teach may be blessed, and that those who are 
 tauglit, may themselves be made meet for the Master's use. 
 
 AN EXAMINATION AT AMOY. 
 
 We appropriately follow Miss Yan Doren's statement, by 
 a detailed account of one of the annual examinations, dated 
 June 19, 1876 :— 
 
 "Another year of the girls' school was completed yester- 
 day. The closing exercises were very interesting. The pupils 
 with some of the parents, and a few visitors, assembled at half- 
 past nine, in the recitation room of the school. The pastor of 
 the First Church took charge on the occasion. Tlie older girls, 
 after an exercise in reading, repeated the Psalms, which they 
 had committed to memory during the year. They had finished 
 and reviewed tlie first thirty. Tliese were selected from the 
 many Bible lessons of the year, as giving a fair idea of what 
 they had done. Then followed the examination in geography ; 
 the recitations from the text-books were well given, after which, 
 oceans, seas, rivers, towns, etc., were pointed out, from the out- 
 line maps, with great accuracy. Many of the lessons were re. 
 peated, first by one pupil alone, then by the class in concert. 
 
 " The examination in aritlimetic was the last one in collo- 
 quial ; the answers given, the i-epetitLon of the table of weights 
 and measures, and the work of the older girls at the black- 
 board, were all most satisfactory. As this study lias been hj 
 far the most diflicult to teach, it was a real pleasure to liear the 
 ready explanations, and the application of tlie rules in each 
 division of the study ; and more than all, it clearly proves that 
 Chinese girls can be taught to think for themselves, if sufficient 
 care and ti'aining" is given them. 
 
192 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 "The pastor, Clioa, tlieii took charge of tlie remaining ex 
 aminations, wliich inchided all the lessons prepared in the char- 
 acter during the year. A class of young ladies have just fin- 
 ished Genesis ; this being their first attempt in reading tlie Old 
 Testament Scriptures; as they are more difficult, their atten- 
 tion before this, has been given entirely to the New Testa- 
 ment. After this, came the recitation of other classes, and 
 finally all, down to tlie youngest children, had passed tlie ordeal 
 of a public examination. 
 
 A PUPIL TEACHER. 
 
 " The oldest pupil has now so far advanced in the study of 
 the character, that she has been promoted ; and will, herself, 
 have charge of this department, during the coming year. We 
 are thus able to dismiss the teacher we had previously employed, 
 and are much pleased to see this young lady in a position of so 
 much usefulness. It is, indeed, a step forward. 
 
 CONVERSION OF SCHOLARS MARRIAGE OF SAME. 
 
 " We had, last year, thirty pupils ; and have this year, had 
 but twenty-two. During the six years' existence of the school, 
 fifty-seven pupils have, at different times, been in attendance. 
 Sixteen of this number have been received into the Chiu'ch. 
 These all have an opportunity of imparting the knowledge 
 they have gained, to the many ignorant around them. Eight 
 of the pupils have been married since the school began, and 
 six of these Avere church members. All have married Christ- 
 ians. This is very important, for each Christian household 
 thus begun, is a light shining in a dark place. 
 
 " Some parents seem happy, and arc gi-ateful in sending 
 their daughters; but many, still cling to the old idea, that girls 
 are not worth educating. Only slowly, can the notions of ages 
 of superstition be swept aside. But every educated woman 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 193 
 
 will 1)0 ix fact, preaching more loudly than many sermons, for 
 the elevation of her sex. We try to carry forward instruction 
 in domestic matters, side by side with tuition in books. I'he 
 girls take turns in cot:»king, and in the performance of all house- 
 hold duties. This ai-rangement enables us to do without ser- 
 vants, and what is far more important, gives the pupils the 
 knowledge they will need in their own homes. 
 
 INQUIRY MEETING. 
 
 " An inquiry meeting is held every week, in the Church, 
 near the school. The girls attend regularly, and we have 
 reason to feel that it has been the means of great good. 
 
 BOARDERS AND DAY PUPILS. 
 
 " It is not considered proper, for a Chinese girl to walk 
 about in public, after she has attained the age of twelve. All 
 our larger girls, who come from the four churches in Amoy, 
 as well 'as from the adjoining country, board with us. The 
 little ones are allowed to go back and forth through the streets. 
 It should not be forgotten that this is 
 
 THE ONLY SCHOOL 
 
 for girls in a large region, inhabited by not less than ten 
 millions of souls. 
 
 THE MATRON. 
 
 " The matron is the widow of pastor Zo, whose name is 
 here given. She superintends the household affairs, and assists 
 in teaching the younger children. 
 
 THE INSTRUCTION IN CHINESE. 
 
 " My teacher, Liong-to, spent for some time f om- afternoons 
 in the week irwtructing the girls in reading, and writing the 
 Chinese character, 
 
 13 
 
194 
 
 THE AMOY 3IISSI0N. 
 
 BIBLE STUDY. 
 
 " Though they have desired to read Christian books, it has 
 been tliought best to make the Bible the important study of 
 the school. Besides tlie study of the character, instruction is 
 given in tlie Romanized colloquial. In this they prepare 
 
 PASTOR l6, CfF FIRST CHCBCH, AMOT. 
 
 Bible lessons also, and are taught geography, arithmetic, read- 
 iim- and writing. The larger girls are reading ' Pilgi-inrs 
 Progress,' and enjoy it very much. They have committed to 
 memory all the parables of our Saviour, and when school 
 closed, they were learning the miracles. They also ^\Tite an 
 analysis of one sermon on Sunday. A class of eight little 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. lOu 
 
 girls are learning the ' Sermon on the Mount.'' The pupils 
 commit to memory very readily, and it is a pleasure to hear 
 them recite. 
 
 DIFFICULTY OF TEACHING CHINESE GIRLS TO THINK. 
 
 "We find it very difficult to teach Chinese girls to think. 
 As this is something quite new to them, great patience is 
 required in teaching arithmetic, especially to beginners. For 
 thousands of years, the mind of woman in China has been a 
 blank page ; her conversation has consisted of the most 
 frivolous gossip. It is not wonderful that intellectual discipline 
 is not easy, all at once. 
 
 INSTRUCTION IN SEWING. 
 
 '' The matron, on each Wednesday afternoon, instructs the 
 girls in cutting and makhig their dresses. Many Chinese 
 women are quite incapable of making their own clothes. We 
 particularly desire that all who attend school shall be thorough- 
 ly taught in this department. On Saturday, the morning is 
 spent in putting the house in order and recreation, and the 
 afternoon is devoted to sewing." 
 
 THE TESTIMONY OF THE PERSECUTED. 
 
 Possibly there are many in tins Christian land who never 
 remember what it costs a heathen to give up the religion of 
 his childhood, and embrace Christ. The amount of sufferingj 
 both physical and mental, which some of our Chinese converts 
 have been forced to endure, reminds us of passages which we 
 have read in the history of the church of God, in all periods 
 when its members have had to combat error and superstition, 
 even to the death. But we have nothing in our own experience 
 with which to compare it. 
 
196 ^ THE AMOY MISSIOX. 
 
 Dr. Taliiiage, in 1874, wrote an acconnt of the persecu- 
 tion of a woman, who had dared to become a believer. She 
 was seized and placed in a sort of stocks, a punishment de- 
 scribed by the Cliinese, as " sleeping in two rooms." The body 
 is placed in one apartment, and the feet are passed through a 
 hole near tlic bottom of the wall, into the next room, Avhere 
 they are secured. Sometimes, to make the position more un- 
 comfortable, one foot only is put through the aperture, and 
 this was the case in tlie present instance. The eiforts of na- 
 tive Cliristians, tlirougli tlie judicial courts, effected her release 
 from this torture, l)ut not until they had baffled severe diffi- 
 culties. 
 
 Two years later, Mrs. Talmage, in a letter from Amoy, 
 related the story of another Chi'istian Chinese woman. A lit- 
 tle girl of nine, sh(^. had been given away for marriage, as is 
 common among the Chinese, her mother knowing nothing of 
 the Christian religion. Later, the mother learned the truth; 
 and yearned witli maternal affection to have her daughter for- 
 sake idolatry, and come with her to the cross. Whenever she 
 found an opportunity, she taught her and urged her to ac(iept 
 salvation through the Saviour. She at first, manifested stiong 
 opposition, l)ut iiually understood — yielded, and was baptized, 
 wIk'u in her nineteontli year. 
 
 Tiio family of her husband were bitterly resentful, at this 
 change in her convictions; and her own friends, therefore en- 
 deavored to redeem her, before the marriage was consuunnatcMl, 
 l)y the payment <»f a sum of money, but this was refused. Her 
 luisband and his relatives treated her with great severity. The 
 former whipped her every day. Her bridal attire was laken 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 197 
 
 from her, and she was not allowed a room she could call her 
 own, and was obliged to sleep wherever she could find a place. 
 This persecution, continued iu the determination to make her 
 renoimce Clmst, she endured until she was tweut^'^-three years 
 old, Avhen her brother took her away by stealth. 
 
 For some years, she remained with her mother, attending 
 clnu'ch regularly, and learning more fully the doctrines of the 
 Gospel. Then, she yielded to the persuasions of her husband, 
 and trusting to his promises that she should enjoy her faith un- 
 molested, returned to his home. The promises were soon 
 broken ; her life was far from comfortable ; she \vas not per- 
 mitted to pray or read, and necessary articles of clothing were 
 denied her. Her son, in his tifteenth 3'ear, was threatened 
 with severe chastisement, if he followed in his mother's way. 
 The mother is now in her forty-third year. 
 
 Not long since, she attended one of the woman's prayer- 
 meetings. She spoke of her trials, and seemed almost in de- 
 spair. " How is it ?" she said, " I have been praying and pray- 
 ing all these years, and yet there iti no answer." Mrs. Talmage 
 encouraged her still to pray, and to trust, telling her that iu 
 God's time, her prayers would be heard. Surely those who read 
 these pages, will add their petitions, that this poor, loyal heart, 
 on the far away shore of Amoy, may bt3 comforted at last; and 
 that the grace of the Holy Spirit may reach the husband, and 
 all his family, and lift them from then* darkness, and bring 
 them to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ. 
 
 A MISSIONARY JOURNEY. 
 
 Pastor Jap, of the Second Church, in Amoy, whose pio- 
 
198 
 
 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 ture is here given, made, in June, 1876, a trip into the country 
 north of Tong-an, for the purpose of obtaining a phice for a 
 chapel, at Poa-tan-chi, i. e., the niarket-vilhige of Poa-tan. 
 The place has been secured, and the chapel opened. A preacher 
 
 
 1^~T 
 
 ^ <i -^ ^ 
 
 PASTOR JAP, OF SECOND CHURCH. AMOY. 
 
 is now stationed there, with one of the members of the Tong-an 
 Church, as cliapel-keeper, and assistant teacher. Dr. Talmage 
 afterward visited the region, and thus described his journey : 
 
 POA-TAN. 
 
 " Poa-tan is in the district of Aukoe, the next district north 
 of Tong-an, about twenty-tive miles from the city of Tong-an. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 199 
 
 The road from Tong-an city, for some miles, passes through 
 a fertile valley, along the banks of a beautiful stream. Wc 
 left Amoy, in our b)at, on Friday, at 11 a. m., landed at Tesoa, 
 and thence procee.ded by road over the hills to our chapel at 
 Tong-an, where we spent the night. 
 
 "On Saturday morning, at seven, we left the chapel, and 
 two liours after, began to ascend the first mountain, ari'iving at 
 the highest point of the pass, about 2,000 feet above the level 
 of the sea, a little after noon. Here, we rested. DesL-ending, 
 we passed through another beautiful valley, and climljed 
 another mountain, arriving at its top at three in the afternoon. 
 From this point the descent is continual, first very steep, then 
 gradual, along the banks of a beautiful stream, until Poa-tau 
 and far beyond. We arrived at Poa-tan chapel at six, having 
 spent eleven hours on the jom'ney, sitting in uncomfortable 
 chairg, where the ground was not too rough, and walking over 
 the steeper ascents and descents. 
 
 SCENERY. 
 
 The scenery along the route was sometimes exquisite for 
 beauty, and sometimes impressive for wildness and grandeur. 
 Perhaps the wildness and grandeur predominated. But the 
 loveliness of some of the gorges, both sides lined with terraces 
 far up the mountain steeps, sometimes to the very top of the 
 gorge, covered with growing crops, and with the exquisite 
 green of the rice, must be seen to be appreciated. 
 
 ROUGHNESS OF THE ROAD. 
 
 " This road, like most of the roads in China, even on the 
 level ground, is seldom wide enough, and never, for any great 
 distance, smooth enough for carts or wagons ; and the steeper 
 parts are always ascended and descended by steps. It is a 
 great thoroughfare. We met sedan-chairs, with their passen- 
 
200 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 gers, many pack-mules, wliich are never seen at Amoj, and 
 many coolies with their heavy burdens. The goods (coming 
 down to the sea-board market — wJro chiefly iron, coarse porce- 
 lain, paper and cliarcoal. 
 
 THE MISSIONARY STATION. 
 
 " Poa-tan is an important village, or rather cluster of vil- 
 lages, on the banks of a small river, in the midst of an exten- 
 sive, fertile and populous valley. This makes it an eligible 
 missionary statiou, wh'jro the Gospel may ba preached to great 
 multitudes. At the chapel on Sunday, the audiences, wholly 
 composed of men, were large — morning, afternooii, and even- 
 ing. Between services, I went out, and in various places, ad- 
 dressed women as well as men. The people everywhere seemed 
 friendly. Tlieir interest was doubtless pro;n])ted by curiosity, 
 for, as yet, we had no c^onverts here. Muv*h of our preacJiing 
 is like sowing seed l)y the wayside, or among thorns, and yet 
 we trust that some will "be found to take root, spring up, and 
 bring forth fruit. 
 
 WHAT WE NEED. 
 
 " We need for this, your funds, to furnish the people with 
 the Word of God ; and your prayers, that the Word may be 
 accompanied by the Spirit's power. 
 
 HOT S TBINOS TEA-FIELDS. 
 
 " Near our chnix'l, ai-e hot s})rings, impregnated witli sul- 
 phur. There are also tea-fields in the neighborhood. All 
 along the way are, here and there, places where preaching-sta- 
 tions might profitably be established, had we the men and 
 means. Oh, how many such places there are in this land of 
 China! Who will come to take possession of them in the 
 naine of the Lord ? 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 201 
 
 " Wo journeyed back, on Tuesday, met our ' Gospel-boat ' 
 just before dark, at Cliioli-jine, a few miles below Tonyan City, 
 and liaving a strong south-east wind, two hours and a half 
 )nore, brought us hoiiie — tired and thankful, and deeply filled 
 with the importance of great enlargement in our operations if 
 we would evangelize China." 
 
 A TOLL BRIDGE. 
 
 Accustomed, as we are, to swift modern modes of travel, 
 and to the triumphs of engineering skill, it is not easy for us 
 to understand how rude and primitive are some of the features 
 of life, in oriental coimtries. Perhaps we have never thought 
 very much about it, and we do not, therefore, consider, as we 
 ought, the privations to which our missionaries willingly sul^mit, 
 nor do we remember that because of some of these difficulties, 
 the work of their hands progresses slowly. Dr. Talmage tells 
 about the first toll-bridge he crossed in China, in these words : 
 
 " A narrow causeway was raised for a few feet into the 
 edge of the river, then a single long plank was stretched from 
 this to some natural rocks farther in tlie stream ; another plank 
 reached from this to a few large stones which had been placed 
 there as a kind of abutment, and therefrom still another ex- 
 tended to the opposite shore. This is not a very costly or ele- 
 gant structm'e, but the .fare corresponds ; being only two cash 
 for one person, so that the bridge may be crossed five times for 
 one cent." 
 
 CHEAPNESS OF LABOR. 
 
 To illustrate the cheapness of lal)or in Ciiina, and the 
 consequent toil required of the masses, to obtain a mere living, 
 it is stated that iron is carried from the mines, mostly on mens' 
 
2;V2 THE A5I0Y MISSION. 
 
 shouldari, though pack-auiles are used to some extent, many 
 miles overland to Ton^-an, and then is brought by boat to 
 jAmoy ; yet it is there sold for about the price which pig-iron 
 commands in New York. 
 
 A FLBST-CLASS HOTEL. 
 
 Dr. Talmage, writing from Amoy, in tlie fall of 1876, 
 gave a graphic description of the resting-place, at which ho 
 stopped on tho journey to Poa-tan. He said : 
 
 " I can only giiejs at its di'.nansion.s. Its sids walls being 
 joint walls of the adjoining houses, can have no windows, and 
 probably would liave none, if they were not joint walls. Its 
 floor is a few inches higher than the street, close on n'-liich it 
 stands. Its height on the eaves, on the street, is seven or eight 
 feet. The front room, some fifteen or twenty feet, occupies 
 the whole width of the house, is a little deeper than it is wide ; 
 and serves for office, parlor, dining-room, kitchen and bedroom. 
 A dozen of us slept in it, the uight we staid there. Having 
 the ground 'for its floor, no whitened walls, and no ceiling ; it 
 needs neither washing nor scrubbing. Immediately behind 
 this room are a few feet of open court, or part of the house, 
 without a roof ; and two other bedrooms of the same character 
 as the front room, only, both together, much less than half its 
 size, and more dirty. For the accommodation of the entire 
 party, the wliole charge was twenty-seven cents, enough to pay 
 the rent of the establishment for some weeks. This house was 
 a fair sample of all the houses of the village. We selected it 
 t;) i^iss the night in, because it was reported to be the best and 
 cleanest inn on the route." 
 
 BKAUTY OF CHINESE VILLAGES. 
 
 Many of tliese villages are enchanting in the distance. 
 
204 THK AMOY MISSION. 
 
 The lovely grassy knolls, dalightso.ne brool^s, magnificent shade 
 trees, and fruitful fields, with mountains rising gloriously in 
 the background, combine to make them most attractive. But 
 once look into the houses, and scan their iaimediate sm'round- 
 ings, and the poetry vanishes. Usually it vanishes even before 
 that, for the sights and smells which gi*ect you at the entrance 
 of the village, take it all away. You can often smell a village, 
 some time before you get to it. Yet the people wno reside 
 amid such filth, regard themselves complacently, as the only 
 civilized race on the globe; and think of Europeans and Ameri- 
 cans, as barbarians. I was gravely asked, by an old woman, 
 at the inn : " Do you, in yom- country, have the family arrange- 
 ment? Do men have their own wives ? Do you acknowledge 
 such relations as parents and grand-parents ? " I answered, 
 " Yes." With pleased surprise she turned to the bystanders, 
 and said : " Why, they do .^" 
 
 A WALK IN A CHINESE CITY. 
 
 A Chmese. city is not in the least like London or Paris, 
 or New York or Philadelphia. Some years ago, foreigners 
 were rigidly excluded from all the populous towns of the 
 Flowery Land ; but now many of tlie seaports are open, and 
 travellers walk through them without molestation. 
 
 Walls are built round the towns, and we enter by gates ; 
 but even outside the gates are streets of closely-packed houses 
 and shops. 
 
 NO HIGH HOUSES IN CHINA. 
 
 You find in China no high houses, no broad streets, no 
 liorses. You see indeed some high roofs and tall towers, but 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 205 
 
 these belong to pagodas or temples, and the people are foi- 
 bidden to raise their houses very high, lest they should over 
 sliadow the idol temples. ' Few houses have more than one 
 story. They look like big toys, for they have often fancifully 
 carved roofs with curved corners. Some of the roofs are 
 painted in bright colors, bells are sometimes hung from the 
 corners ; and at times, the figure of a dragon is seen, who the 
 inliabitants think will protect them from evil spirits and bad 
 influences. You will find no glass in the windows, but instead, 
 very thin paper, or small panes made of thin oyster-shell. 
 
 HOW BURDENS AEE CARRIED. 
 
 " How are burdens carried, when there are no horses and 
 few broad streets ? " 
 
 Well, you see a river runs by the town, and canals have 
 been made in different dh-ections. The rivers are as busy and 
 crowded as roads. Thousands of people live on river-boats, 
 and vessels of different sizes, row up and down the water, 
 laden wdth passengers and cargo. If you do not wish to travel 
 by tlie river, and prefer not to walk, you can get into a sedan, 
 chair or palanquin. There mil be no difficulty in finding some 
 one to carry you. 
 
 Hundreds of coolies do the work of horses in every town, 
 They carry not only passengers, but chests of tea, bales of silk, 
 and all sorts of cargo, making (pite as much noise as cart and 
 carriage wheels, while they rush al)0ut with their l)urdens. 
 crying, " Ah ho ! Ah ho ! " from morning till night. The cry 
 seems to help tliom, as sailors say tlieir call, " Pull ahoy, '' 
 
206 THE AMOY MISSION. 
 
 does half their work. The coolie's work is very hard, and lie 
 is worn out after a few 3^ears of labor. 
 
 HOW THE PEOPLE DKESS. 
 
 The coolies, and most of tlie men you meet, are dressed 
 in dark blue cotton, the color universally worn by the poorer 
 classes. Their dress, their hair, their eyes, their faces, seem all 
 precisely alike. In tOAvn or country, you seldom. see a China- 
 man who has not coarse black hair, and small black eyes. 
 The riclier and higher ranks of people, wear costly and bright 
 colored clothing of embroidered "silk, satin and furs. The 
 long tail of hair is an indispensable ornament for the me] ; ; 
 only the coolies, who find it in the way, twist it into a knot at 
 the back of their heads. Very few women, and those only of 
 the poorest, walk in the streets. 
 
 CARRYING FANS, AND FLYING KITES. 
 
 Everybody is provided with a fan. A Chinese soldier 
 would stop fighting to fan himself, and a laborer, taking a I'est. 
 uses his as gracefully as the lady of leisure. It does duty also, 
 in place of a hat; and is hold over tlie liead, to protect it from 
 the sun. Grown up people, and grave, elderly gentlemen, too, 
 are often seen amusing themselves with kites, wliic^li fiutter in 
 the air like birds. 
 
 BRIGHT-COLOEED SIGNS. 
 
 By the sides of the shops liang gaily colored boards, beai'- 
 ing mottoes, advertisements and fanciful names. Sometimes 
 a wliolc street is devoted to one article ; as combs or copper- 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 207 
 
 kettles. Tinkers, barbers, cobblers, smiths, carvers, portrait 
 painters and tailors, are selling and making their wares, and 
 crying out their praises to every passer-by. 
 
 HOW CHINESE LADIES LIVE. 
 
 The married lady is expected to rise early, and see that 
 tea is prepared for her husband ; and that hot water is awaiting 
 his convenience, when he desires to take his morning bath. 
 She must also pay equal attention to her mother-in-law ; for 
 China is the Paradise of old women, — and while her husband's 
 mother lives, his wife is a very secondary personage indeed. 
 The ladies go about e)i dishabille in the early portion of the 
 day, shouting o«t vehement orders to their servants, and 
 confusion reigns. 
 
 The elaborate toilet of the lady of rank, is the great 
 business of the day. In this, is there not something in 
 common with too many votaries of fashion in better instructed 
 conditions ? Aimless and frivolous, wherever she be, who 
 Hves mainly to adorn her person and display her dress, she is 
 not greatly elevated above her Chinese sister. Each fashion- 
 able woman in China lias one or two maids, and a slave-girl 
 to wait on them. The latter makes it her first care to trim 
 and light tlie pipe of lier mistress. 
 
 ADJUNCTS OF THE TOILET 
 
 The dressing of the lady's hair occupies from one to two 
 hours. A white paste is next applied to her neck and face, a 
 rose powder to eyelids and cheeks, and a red dye to the finger 
 nails, and she is then attired /or the day. 
 
A OHINBBB BOUDOUIH. 
 
THE AMOY MISSION. 209 
 
 OCCUPATIONS OF CHINESE WOMEN. 
 
 Many ladies devote much time to gossiping, smoking and 
 gambling ; in which latter vice, thej follow the example set 
 them by the men. They always play for luoney, and when 
 they have no visitors of their own rank to play with, they do 
 not hesitate to engage in games with the servants. Numbers 
 of ladies, however, are skilled in embroidery ; and shoes, pm-ses, 
 handkerchiefs and robes pass through their cunning fingers. 
 Before marriage, they occupy their time in preparations for 
 the wedding — a sad wedding, one would imagine, when often 
 the bridegroom is a stranger, whom they have never seen, and 
 for whom they cannot care. Here and there, a woman is 
 found, who has learned to read, and her accomplishment is in 
 real demand. She can while away the tedious hours, by read- 
 ing tales and plays, to her less fortunate friends, who are will- 
 ing, often, to pay for the pleasm-e she bestows. 
 
 God speed the time when the blessed change, which the 
 coming of His kingdom ever brings, shall dawn, not only, but 
 go on to the grandem* of noon, in the land of Sinim. 
 
 14 
 
JAPAN. 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 Rev. William E. Gbiffis, 
 
 (Late Professor in the Imperial College of Tdkio, Japan, author of "The Mikado's 
 
 Empire." 
 
 Fifteen days by steam westward from our California 
 borders in the Pacific Ocean, lies the archipelago of Japan. 
 This Empire embraces a clustei- of four large and eight small 
 islands, surrounded by nearly four thousand islets, equal in 
 area 1o tlie six JSTew England states, \vitli New York and 
 Pennsylvania added on ; or, roundly, 150,000 square miles of 
 texTitory. In these islands dwell nearly 35,000,000 people. 
 
 Of the many beautiful and poetic names* of the country, 
 two, Nipi^on and Japan, are most common. Nihon or Nippon, 
 (meaning sun, root of light, day-spring or rising sun) is that 
 used by the natives, 'Often they prefix the term Dai, meaning 
 great. Thus, Dai Nippon means Great Japan. " Japan " is the 
 European (jorruption of the Chinese name Jipun, or Zipan, 
 
 * In pronouncing Japanese names, the Enropean sounds are used ; 
 thus : a is sounded as a in father ; e is sounded as e in prey ; 1 is sounded 
 as i in pique ; o is sounded as o in bore ; u is sounded as u in tune ; ai is 
 sounded as i in bits ; ei is sounded as ei in feign ; g is always hard, and s 
 always sharp. Long vowels are marked with a bar, as o in To-kio ; short 
 vowels with a circumflex accent as u in roku (six). 
 
212 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 wliicli Mai-co Polo first heard when in China, and introduced 
 into Europe, whence our word Japan. 
 
 The name " Eising Sun, " may have been given to the 
 country over which the Chinese saw the sun rise from out the 
 Eastern ocean ; or, as is most probable, by the natives of the 
 western provinces of Japan. Japan, thus coming to our ideas 
 through Chinese and Em-opean literature, was, within the 
 ]ucmory of most of us, in standard geographies and old 
 methods of travel, called an oriental country — the Far East. 
 Americans, however, are not bound to so call or wrongly 
 consider it. The extension of our nationtd boundaries to the 
 Pacific shoi-es, have made the Japanese our nearest neighbors, 
 and Japan lies due West of us. Five thousand miles toward 
 the setting sun, as the steamei- plows, out of the blue waves of 
 the Tai-hei-kai, (Pacific ocean, or Sea of Great Peace) rise the 
 perennially green bluffs and snow<;rowned mountains of the 
 Mikado's Empire. 
 
 God might have made a more beautiful land, but the 
 writer feels sure that He never did. Nature throughout the 
 J apanese chain, from the Arctic Kuriles to the tropical Liu 
 Kin, has with unstinted luxuriance, bearded the hills with 
 timber, i-()l)cd the valleys and plains with verdure ami fertile 
 soil, stored the bowels of the earth witli mineral wealth, a.id so 
 jidapted air, moisture, temperature, mountain, sky and sea, as 
 to yield the maximum of beauty. Nor is ithe a niggard in 
 |)roviding for the needs of man. The surface of the land is 
 one constant sucession of mountains and valleys, with only 
 occasionally few phdii-. 'J'lic general type <>f the l:.ndsc:ii)e is 
 tl);it of varied picturesqeness, rar(>ly ol' sublimity and gran<l- 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 213 
 
 cur. The climate is exc^ellent, and with only local exceptions, 
 conducive to general health, and manual and mental labor 
 through as many months as are given us in our o\\ai clime.* 
 
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JAPANESE AND THE CHINESE. 
 
 The inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago are quite a 
 different people from the Chinese, with whom persons of 
 defective reading and powers of observation often hopelessly 
 confound them. The two languages are almost entirely different. 
 No Japanese can understand a Chinaman when he talks, and 
 the two tongues are as distinct as English and Italian, or Rus- 
 sian and French. The Japanese do not wear " pigtails," they do 
 not smoke opium, they do not bind the feet of their women, 
 they do not go abroad to other countries as coolies, washmen, 
 &c. Their dress and manners, temperament, character, dis- 
 position, government, history and many other things, are 
 peculiar, and in many points different from their neighbors. 
 In the use of written Chinese characters, in superstition, 
 idolatry, polygamy, debased morals, architecture, medicine, 
 human nature and Asiatic ideas generally, Chinese and Japan- 
 ese are gi-eatly alike. 
 
 In temperament, the .Japanese are more quick, lively, 
 mercurial than the Chinese. They are less stolid, perhaps less 
 solid ; less conservative, perhaps more tickle tlian the Chinese. 
 Personally, and as friends, companions and neighbors, they 
 are far more agreeable. They answer more closely to our 
 
 * For detailed information and statistics regarding the soil, climate 
 population, productions, finance, national resources, &c., &c., of Japan 
 see appendix to " The Mikado's Empire," New York, Harjier & Brothers. 
 
214 Ttlli: LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 ideas of human nature. Tliej are more like oiu-selves. They 
 are much more imitative tlian the Chinese. They copy after 
 us easily, and as imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and 
 as our vanity is greatly flattered by the Japanese changing 
 their ways for ours, we are apt to think them far better people 
 than the Chinese. Their general docility, politeness, amiabil- 
 ity and sunny disposition are apt to fascinate the new-comer ; 
 and not only to disarm all prejudices, but al&o to lead some 
 good souls to think that the '' trail of the serpent " is less 
 marked in Japan than in other lands. A residence of a few 
 years makes the glamor fall from the eyes, and most old resi- 
 dents are pretty decided in their opinions that human nature 
 in Japan is, as everywhere else, tough and obdm*ate. The 
 imderlying moral corruption, like the noisome culverts and 
 sewers that gurgle and fester under the stately city edifices, is 
 as foul, as horrible ; and as needy of moral cleansing by Divine 
 power, as in India or China, or the heathen shuns of New 
 York. 
 
 ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 
 
 The origin and history of the Japanese people are sub- 
 jects of profound interest and fascinating inquiry. I can but 
 sketch tliem here. The popular i'dea of the natives, is that 
 their history begins at 660 B. C, when Jimmu, the first 
 emperor or mikado began to reign; but his chums to be con- 
 ftidered a historic personage, cannot stand the test of critical 
 investigation. Tlie Japanese liad, most prol)ably, no writing 
 or literature prior to the sixth century after Christ, from 
 vvhi(;h time they began to record their history. Before that 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 215 
 
 epoch there is a large mass of tradition, myth and fable, in 
 which are doubtless embedded, many facts. Wlietlier the 
 analysis and scrutiny of scholars shall ever be able to construct 
 a clear and certain history of the few centuries before the 
 fifth or sixth of our era, remains an open question. My own 
 opinion of the origin of the present mixed Japanese people, 
 is as follows : First, that in ancient times, many centuries 
 before Christ, the Japanese archipelago was uninhabited, or, if 
 so, but sparsely. Second, tliat later, shipwrecked men, the 
 waifs and strays from the Malay archipelago, the Liu-Kiu 
 islands, Formosa, Southern China, etc., began to settle and 
 increase in the South, in Kiushiu. From the North, originally 
 from Tartary and Siberia, decending soutliward, came the 
 Ainos, or black-haired savages, who still inhabit Yezo and the 
 Km'iles. So that up to and even after the Christian era, the 
 archipelago was thinly peopled by these races of fishermen 
 and hunters. Third, at various times and places, a race of 
 superior people and conquerors landed in Japan, and began to 
 occupy and subdue the land for themselves, beginning from 
 the South and West, and gradually conquering eastward and 
 northward. Early in the sixth centuiy, when the written and 
 certain history begins, we find one tribe paramount in the 
 central pi'ovinces — Yamato, not far from Kioto. This city 
 since the ninth century has been the residence of tlie Japanese 
 mikados. 
 
 Who these conquerors Avere, and whence they came, is 
 now tolerably cei'tain. The proofs of language — that ))otent 
 solvent of so many ethnologic problems, nearly demonstrate 
 that they came over from the plains of Mnnchuria, and down 
 
216 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 through Corea, crossing the Sea of Japan and Gulf of Tartary, 
 and so reached Japan. Thus, the progenitors of the Japanese 
 M'ere not Chinese, but Tartars — an allied branch, or wandering 
 tribe from that great Scythian stock of people so often re- 
 ferred to in Scripture, to wliom even the apostle Paul confessed 
 himself a debtor. These hardy horsemen and warriors, it will 
 he rememl)ercd, from tlie highland plains of tlie far Oi'ient, 
 thrice burst into Europe in conquering hordes, once in the 
 fourth century under Attila the Hun, before Rome ; once in 
 the thirteenth century under Genghis Khan, whose Empire 
 stretched unbroken from Corea to Poland, (some say he was a 
 Japanese) and again in the early part of the seventeenth 
 century, when they decended South, conquered China, com- 
 pelled the Chinese to shave their fore-scalps, an'l adopt the 
 hated Tartar " pigtail " — braid of liair, of which the Chinese 
 are now so proud. Thus, has a badge of servitude become a 
 sj'mbol of obstinate pride ! 
 
 RELIGION. 
 
 In tlicse early times in Japan, originated and was devel- 
 oped the indigenous religion or cultus of Japan, called Shinto, 
 (or " Sintooism,") which is still the official, or " state," Church 
 of Japan. Shinto is a Chinese word, meaning, " Way or doc- 
 trine of the ^ods," (Shin, god ; and to, way or doctrine ; liter- 
 ally theology.) Its pure Japanese, and most ancient name, is 
 Kanii-no-michi, or the religion of tlie Kami gods. Up to the 
 seventh century of our era, this was the dominant and only 
 religion. 
 
 After Buddhism entered from India, \ ia : China and 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 217 
 
 Corea, Shinto was coiTupted or overlaid, and preserved pure 
 only in a few places, and by a few scholars, especially at the 
 Mikado's conrt in Kioto. For SliintO is 
 essentially secular, patriotic and politi- 
 cal. Its "priests" are ratlier otficials. 
 They often wear the two swords, the 
 high cap, denoting rank, and wear their 
 hair cut short. In the little cut, is a 
 representation of a S]iint(3 ofhcial col- 
 
 SHINTO OFFICIAL COLLECTING . rr ' 
 
 OFFERINGS. Iccting oiterings. 
 
 About a century ago, the study of its sacred books was 
 revived, and in 1868, on tlie restoration of the Mikado to full 
 power, and the overthrow of the " Tycoon," Shinto took a new 
 lease of life, and an attempt was made to Shintoize allJapan — 
 an attempt which ended in a vast failure. In some parts, how- 
 ever, the Shinto propaganda has been successful. One strong 
 hold upon the people's mind, is its patriotic character, even to 
 its theories of creation. According to Shinto — which is an 
 ancient form of the modern evolution istic theories — "anciently 
 the heavens and earth were not separated. All the elements 
 floated together in chaos, like an addled egg. After motion in 
 the mass began, the gross and heavy cohered and became like 
 a yolk, the lighter parts sublimed and formed the serial heavens. 
 The earth was not yet. Finally, a thing like a rusli sprouted 
 from the warm mud, rose, grew and became a self-ani- 
 mate being, called the "Honorable Aiigust First-appearing 
 Being." 
 
 Three other gods sprouted up in like manner, and after a 
 succession of sexless beings, the first " gods," male and female, 
 
218 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 appeared. Then began the creation of Japan, with its niolm- 
 
 tains, rivers, seas, and the inhabitants, 
 arts, sciences, etc., etc. One of the 
 most popular of these deities is Tos- 
 hitokil, the patron of longevity ; to 
 whom all Japanese, wlio desire length 
 of days, pray. He courses through 
 the air on a stork, which is also the 
 
 rOSHITOKU, THE GOD OF LONG LIFE. SymDOl OX lOUg lllC. 
 
 From these gods, in unbroken line, have descended the 
 Mikados of Japan, and his nobles. The people also, are the chil- 
 Lh-en of the gods; and many a Japanese loves to call his beautiful 
 country, " The Land of the Gcds," or " The Divine Country." 
 The Mikado often addresses his subjects, as the representative 
 vice-gerent of the gods that made Heaven and earth. To a 
 radical Shinto devotee, no other country or people can be com- 
 pared for a moment to Japan; for other countries were made 
 by the luirdening of the foam and mud of the sea, and their 
 people are the first imperfect works of the gods, on whom they 
 tried their unskilled hands, and cast away as inferior. The 
 Japanese are their perfect work. Ordinary Japanese, how- 
 ever, never think in this fashion. Tlie Shinto Bible is called 
 the Kojiki, (Book of Ancient Traditions,) with a sort of supple- 
 ment and commentary ; though a distinct work, called the Ni- 
 hongi, (Annals of Japan.) To summarize, Sliinto seems to be 
 the same as the ancient Chinese and Tartar religion, before 
 Confucius forninlated it. Its essence is the worship of deified 
 heroes and ancestors, and tlie fear and reverence for the spirits? 
 of the dead. It has no moral code, no formulated doctrines, 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 219- 
 
 no dogmas, except those wliicli are rooted in the ideas of gov- 
 ernment and patriotism. Yet it acknowledges a sense of sin, 
 and the need of pardon and propitiation. 
 
 In the accompanying cut is a fair representation of a popu- 
 lar Shinto-festival, or matsuri. On a headland by the sea- 
 shore, are gathered, before sunrise, a party of people of all 
 ages and sexes, to greet the rising aun ; which, in Shinto mytho- 
 logy, is Amaterasii, the Heaven-Illuminating Diety. Between 
 two tall poles of bamboo, which retain their feathery fronds, 
 is stretched a straw rope, with pendant strips of white paper. 
 Similar festoons hang round the tables of offering, and stuck 
 on splints, mark off a square place ; inside which sit, on mats of 
 rice straw, the three Shinto priests, in flowing white robes and 
 long folded trails, with hair cut (not with top-knots) as in our 
 style, and with l)lack lacquered caps. The tables are made of 
 pure hinoki (sun-wood tree — sacred to the sun-goddess.) Wands 
 of the same timber, with pendant strips of paper are seen, lean- 
 ing against the first table ; these are called the gohei. On 
 these strips (called the spirit-substitute,) the invisible presence 
 of the gods and goddesses is supposed to dwell. All around 
 hang lanterns of pure wliite translucent paper, or gaily inscribed 
 with characters — texts of the Kojiki, etc. The people sit, some 
 sqat, on the ground, some on settees or on tables. Tlie men 
 may be known by their sliorn pates and top-knots ; the women 
 by their luxuriant coiffures. Leading down froin the front, is 
 a stone staircase to the sea-shore. On tlie right, is a massive 
 permanent stone hmtern, now lighted. Tie worsliip will' con- 
 sist of offerings of fruits, fish and various (jooked foods to the 
 gods, prayers from tlic Kojiki, with superstitious rites, symbol- 
 
220 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 ical fiances, and perhaps the scene will wind np by all hands 
 becoming the worse for sake (or rice-beer.) The Japanese mix 
 religion and jollity strangely together. On tlie right is a booth 
 or temporary restaurant, and people are chatting, smoking and 
 ch-inking, while the waiters are busily engaged in bustling about 
 to supply more refreshments. Three lialf -naked boys are press- 
 ing near, and a merchant's errand-boy, with his bundle tied 
 round his shoulder, according to Japanese custom, is looking on. 
 
 SHESTTO SHRINES. 
 
 All over the country are scattered the Shinto miyas 
 (shrines). These are smaller than the Buddhist temples and 
 nuicli plainer, even to austerity. They are built of hinoki 
 wood, usually two in number, an inner and an outer shrine, 
 and are (at least ought to be) thatched with straw, as in tlie 
 one on the left in the cut. The end rafters usually project 
 and cross, like a saw-buck. Underneath the eaves, and also 
 under the gateway, hang the twisted rope of rice-straw or 
 wliite paper strips. ^tsTotice also the upright gohei wand and 
 notched strips. At the base of the steps is seen one of tlie 
 '^Pleavenly dogs," of which stone sculpture there is usually 
 a pair at each temple. Of tlie gateways or torii, there are often 
 a series of from two to twenty or a hundred. They are made 
 of wood, often of whole tree-trunks; and ouglit not to be 
 painted, gilded or metal-covered, though they are sometimes so 
 adorned. In some instances they are massive monoliths. The 
 path to the shrines is of flat stones. Inside there ai-e properly 
 no idols, though often there are images of lieroes and gods. 
 The mirror and gohei are proper symbols. In tlic picture, on 
 
222 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 the right, is a two-sworded gentleman, a lady and daugliter; 
 In the left foreground are two women listening to a pilgrim 
 dcv'otee called a " Rokubu," who travels over the country visit- , 
 ing famous shrines. He rings a bell held in his hand as he 
 goes along, and begs his way by exhibiting an idol and shrine 
 which he carries on his back in the long box strapped over his 
 shoulder. In both Shinto and Buddhism, the temples are 
 usually surrounded by tall trees of venerable girth and dense 
 foliage. The object is for shade, to inspire reverential awe, 
 and for catcliing or warding off the sparks of impending con- 
 flagrations, — which in this country of wooden dwellings are 
 especially fi'equent, devastating and dangerous. In TOkio 
 fires occur every day. In 1872 and in 1877, over five thousand 
 houses were bm*ned down at a single tire. The writer has 
 seen twenty thousand people made temporarily homeless in 
 the space of five hours. In the case of secluded villages 
 suddenly annihilated and distant from help, the case is often 
 one of grievous suffering. ■ # 
 
 INTERNAL STRIFES. 
 
 To return to history. In the seventh century, tlie tribe 
 of Yamato with the mikado at its head, began the conquest of 
 the lands north, south and east. With its career of victory, 
 and under the stimulating effect of Chinese letters, arts and 
 literature, were formed in Kioto grades of nobles and noble 
 families, especially the Fujiwara, Taira and Minamoto — names 
 still renowned in Japan. The Fujiwara became the civil 
 officials. The political system was founded on the centraliza- 
 tion system of China. The distant tri])cs were grndually 
 
gQINTO UIYA, OK SHiilNE. 
 
224 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 l)rouglit under obedience to the administration of the mikado 
 from the capitol. The Minamoto family produced in succession 
 • many great generals, whose victories secm-ed all eastern and 
 northern Japan, and made the mikado's brocade banner gleam 
 even to Yezo among ilie Aiuos. The Taira family were 
 victorious in the South and West, and gradually in time of 
 peace became paramount in authority at Kioto. Kiyomori, 
 the famous Taira leader was made Prime Minister, his daugli- 
 ter by mai-rying the mikado became empress, while most of 
 the high offices of government were filled by men of the Taira 
 name. Pride and jealousy of the rival noble families gradually 
 led to deadly feud ; and Kiyomori being victorious and supreme 
 plotted to exterminate the Minamo family, root and branch. 
 Murder, assassination and exile became for years the order of 
 the time. Yoritomo, assisted by a son of the mikado from liis 
 place of exile, called out the old adherents of the white flag of 
 the Miiiamotos and made Kamakura, twelve miles from Yoko 
 hama his capitol, and the Japanese War of the Roses began. 
 He marched up to and around Yedo, then a village. A severe 
 campaign followed ; many battles were fought, a very heavy 
 one being near Hiogo (Kobe). Kioto was captm-ed, and the 
 Taira fled to the town of Shimonoseki (of "indemnity" fame). 
 Nobles and servitors, palace ladies, children and all, fled from 
 the avenging Minamoto's. Among the f ugtitives was the infant 
 mikado, only eight years old, in tlie anus of his liiother. 
 Driven from castle to castle, and finally to their boats, a great 
 naval conflict took place A. D., 1184, in which, after Jiours of 
 bloody slaugliter, tlie Taira were nearly annihilated. It is 
 said that 1200 jmiks were engaged in the battle. Only a vejn- 
 
TBE LAND OP THE RISING SUN. 225 
 
 nant escaped to the far mountains, living alone in poverty and 
 exile. Their hiding-place and the descendants of the refugees 
 were not discovered until 1872 — while the writer was in 
 Japan, It was like finding the " Ten Lost Tribes." 
 
 Henceforth, from 1194, the history of Japan flows on in 
 two streams. The Mikado and his com-t dwell in Kioto, but 
 most of tlie real governing power of the country is in the 
 hands of the Shogun (general) who long after \vi:rds, in 1853, 
 was called " Tycoon." The Shogun had his capital at Kama- 
 kura, where a large city sprang up, and to which wealth, power 
 and gayety flowed. Here Yoritomo, the head of the IJinamoto 
 family, enlarged the temple of Hachiman, (or Ojiii, the god of 
 war,) whicli his ancestors had erected in 1063. In 1105, Yori- 
 tomo having visited the colossal image and temple of Great 
 Buddha at Nara, (near Kioto,) "conceived the idea of erecting 
 an image of the Eternal Buddha in Eastern Japan." 
 
 THE DEVOTION OF ITANO. 
 
 It was chiefly, however, by the efforts and begging of his 
 serving maid, Itano, that a great gilded wooden image was 
 erected near Kamakura. Through many years, from youth to 
 wi'inkled age, this woman toiled, rearing cotton, and selling 
 herbs, and begging subscriptions, until at last her heart's de- 
 sii'e was realized. In her old age, the elements having ruined 
 tne wooden image, the same Itano, by her zeal and labors, 
 and a public subspription under the patronage of the Shogun, 
 secured the erection, about the year 1258, of the colos- 
 sal bronze image of Gj-eat Buddha, near Kamakura, which 
 still remains, thougli the surrounding shrines and temples were 
 
226 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 swept away by a tidal wave, in the year 1495. This image, 
 the largest, finest and costliest in Japan, is visited by almost all 
 tourists stopping at Yokohama. A lithographic picture of it 
 is printed on the certificates of life-membership to the Mission- 
 ary Societies of the Reformed Church. It is a mighty monu- 
 ment of the energy of a woman in heathenism. Perhaps 
 thinking Christian women may see in it, a mute, but eloquent, 
 appeal to equal energy and zeal in Christian missionary labor. 
 
 BUDDHISM AND A NOTED BUDDHIST TEMPLE. 
 
 The thu'tceuth and fom-teenth centuries were marked by 
 the erection of colossal Buddlias, pagodas, temples, lanterns and 
 other objects of Buddhist art, and for the zeal and activity of 
 the propagation of Buddhism. 
 
 Buddhism started as a simple atheistic humanitarian doc- 
 trine in India, five centuries before Christ. Its course of pro- 
 pagation divided into two streams, the northern and southern. 
 The latter rolled through Ceylon, Siam, Burmah, Cochin, 
 China, Cambodia, and into some parts of the Malay, xVrchi- 
 pelago. The Northern flowed into Nortli India, China, Thi- 
 bet, Tartary, Corea, Manchuria and Japan. Buddliism is uuich 
 richer in doctrine, cultus, worsliip, discipline and all the char- 
 acteristics of a religion, properly so called, than Shinto. To 
 compare them is to think of a Japanese rice-sack, and a 
 gorgeously embroidered daimios' robe. The worship is in- 
 tensely ritualistic. Tlie (;ut repi-esents a scene in the old tem- 
 ple in the eastern sul)urbs of Tokio, called " Go Iliyaku llakan," 
 or the "Temple of the Five Hundred Disciples" of Biiddhii, 
 who propagated his doctrines. Tlie structure is now old and 
 
THE LAND OP THE RISINa SUN. 22T 
 
 tumbling to ruin, but it was on(;e a place resorted to from all 
 over the empire. 
 
 The high ceiled room is hung with huge, long cjdindrical 
 paper lanterns, incribed with texts from the Buddhist classics. 
 The square pillars are likewise engraved. The grand high altar 
 is encased with a "svire screen, lest by accident, the gilded images 
 of Buddha or his saints should be injured by the offerings of 
 cash, thrown forward continually by the people, and from the 
 crowd in the rear, who cannot get up close to tlie railing. The 
 handfuls of tlie round " cash " of lead or copper coins, perfor- 
 ated with central square holes ; are wrapped in twisted paper 
 and tljrown forward under the incense stand, scattering on the 
 floor. On the altar are standing lanterns on four legs, wliile on 
 either side, stuck on their spikes, are dozens of the vegetable 
 wax paper-wicked candles, peculiar to the country, blazing and 
 smoking. With the clouds of incense and carbonous smoke 
 of the candles, the air is heavy. The chief priest, a great 
 portly bonze, is shaven-headed, like all his fello^v-bonzes, and 
 is robed in crape and brocade canonical robes of gorgeous 
 colors. He will pray and make genuflections, while the two 
 accompanying bonzes chant or read the service. The second 
 person in the procession, a boy, and evidently the son of 
 some noble family, is to enter the priesthood by-and-by. At 
 present lie is under age. Therefore, he can eat whatever food 
 he wishes, and is not confined to the rigid rice and vege'table diet 
 of the full-1)lown bonzes. He also retains his di'css, with its wide 
 trowsers, girdle, long sleeves, and " butterfly " style of hair. He 
 is assigned a place of honor, and holds the censer. Wlien of age 
 he will shave his head, don priestly robes and be a bonze. 
 
fVOBSnir AND OFFERINGS AT TUB BUPPUIST TEMPLE OF TUB FIVE UlNDKEH 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISIN(i SUx\. 229 
 
 Note that on tlie riglit, behind the cobimns, sits a man 
 who is vigorously beating the great drum. His stick is half 
 raised in air. See his mate behind the fire and smoke of the 
 eandles, also b9la!)oring Ids drum. It is to be hoped they keep 
 good time, which is more tiian can be said of some musicians 
 at the temple festivals, where the din and noise are almost 
 deafening. 
 
 Let us glance at the people. Notice that even while the 
 woi'ship is going on, there is the priest's servant peddling can- 
 dles ; chaffering and pressing the sale, even while the service 
 proceeds. He holds three in his hand, and has more to sell in 
 a box. He is dressed in wide-shouldered rol)es of cere:noay, 
 called ka?ni-sMmo. Perhaps he is telling that man tliat ho 
 must buy more candles to bmm in behalf of his child or parent, 
 wlio is suffering in purgatory, for a purgatory breeds clerical 
 peddling as surely as deca_y breeds worms. In many a Budd- 
 hist temple there hangs an alms-box, inscribed " For the bene- 
 fit of the hungry devils," L e. for the souls suffering in Budd- 
 hist's purgatory. 
 
 The first man on the left is a laborer, who has his hand- 
 kerchief or "hand-wiper" knotted over his head. The second 
 is probably a merchant, well-to-do. His hands are held palm 
 to palm in prayer, and thus the candle-peddler has approached 
 hira. The next is a mother with her child strapped on her 
 back, with his cluil)by pink feet dangling out. See her hands 
 palm to palm — for the Japanese never clasp the hands to- 
 gether — with her rosary of beads in them. The rosary is 
 Buddhist, and was so before it was Romanist. Next come two 
 men, then a well-dressed young lady also praying; next a 
 
230 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 small l>oy anxious to climb up and get a good look over the 
 railing, helped by his sister. 
 
 Let us have another look at the picture. On the left, 
 below the big lantern, are the memorial or ancestral tablets, 
 with fresh flowers and offerings of sake, rice, &c. The Japanese 
 do not worship ancestors to anything like the extent of the 
 Chinese. They practice ancestral sacrifices, however, and here 
 we have specimens. Perhaps those in the picture are in mem- 
 ory of deceased priests of special reputation for sanctity. 
 
 A word about the Buddhist missionary conquest of Japan. 
 It was not made in a day. It took nearly a millenium to Bud- 
 dhaise all Japan. It was not until the sixteenth century that 
 the whole work was completed. It is also equally certain that 
 foi- one hundred years Buddliaism has been waning in Japan, 
 and is now in its last slow but sure stage of decay. The 
 heart and mind of Japan are casting off its tenets and super- 
 sitions, and waiting for something better. Of the innumerable 
 superstitions born of corrupt Buddhism, I have not space or 
 time to speak. Many of them are revolting and abominable. 
 Many of the so-called holy places in the country parts, arc 
 notorious as being the pest spots of gambling and prostitution. 
 The sin of gambling, though rare in fome provinces is rife in 
 others; and I have seen poor wretches who had gambled away 
 their last rag, sit shivering in winter, while ice and snow 
 covered the ground. 
 
 CHAKACTER OF THE BUDDHIST PRIESTS. 
 
 The Buddhist priests are in many cases, noble and honor- 
 able men according to their lights. They are, as a class, the 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 231 
 
 bitter enemies of progi^ess, education, civilization and reform 
 A shockingly large per centage of them are ignorant, stupid 
 and lazy. Their moral status is that painted in the troubadours' 
 songs in Eurc^e, of the thkteeiith centm-y Though Buddha- 
 ism is not to be held directly responsible for the vices against 
 law and society, it does not undertake to purify society and ele- 
 vate the public morals above a Chinese standard. 
 
 Japan delights to call herself the " Land of Great Peace ;" 
 but the very joy in the name is a token and proof of the 
 fierce unrest, the awful slaughter and the woes unnumbered of 
 centuries of civil war, anarchy and blood. In other lands, 
 men's ambitions, lusts and passions find vent in conquest, 
 foreign or border war; those of the Japanese, as in Mexico, by 
 fighting each other. Between the usurping " Tycoon's " 
 following and the lawful but effeminate mikado, war raged for 
 centuries. Between Kioto and Kamakura vibrated the pendu- 
 lum of slaughter. From the twelfth to the seventeenth cen- 
 turies, with an occasional lull, Japan was a land of blood and 
 intestine feud. 
 
 INVASION OF THE MONGOLS AND THEIR DESTINATION. 
 
 The Minamoto family became extinct hy assassination in 
 1217, when a line of pretended guardians of the various baby 
 Shoguns, ruled one hundred and thirty-three years at Kamakura; 
 their keepers being of the Hojo fa:nily, some of whom were 
 good men, others wicked and insolently oppressive. During 
 their rule at Kamakm*a, the Mongol Tartars under Kublai 
 Khan, in 1281 sent a vast Armada to invade Japan. The 
 t;^::;pest and typhoon (which all readers of missionary reports 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 fro:n Japan read of, as causing damage to doors, shutters, 
 roofs, &c., with much vexatious expense) in the air and from 
 tlie sky, with Japanese skill and valor, \vrought the deliverance 
 of the Japanese and the complete destruction of the Mongols. 
 Japan has never since been invaded by a foreign army. 
 
 VISIT OF MARCO POLO. 
 
 It was durino; the reijirn of Kublai Khan in China, that 
 Marco Polo, a Yenctian, and an officer under the great Khan's 
 government, lived in China as governor of one of the provinces. 
 Polo, on his retmm to Europe, wrote his celebrated l)Ook, in 
 which he describes Japan, (Zipangu) and thus Europeans for 
 the iirst time heard of this far off empire. 
 
 JAPAXESE PIRATES. 
 
 After the Ho jo family were overthrown by the gieat 
 captain Nitta, (whose tomb stands near Fukui) the Ashikaga 
 family governed the country in the name of the Mikado, partly 
 at Kamakura, partly at Kioto. The period of their rule is one 
 marked by great turbulence, clan lights, and battles on land ; 
 while Japanese pirates ravaged the coasts of China and Corca. 
 So great was the terror they inspired that (as missionaries in 
 China liave informed me,) Chinese mothers still frighten their 
 children by the question, " Hush ! Do you think the Japanese 
 are coming ? " I have even heard of Chinese peasants in anger 
 calling another, opprobriously, " you're a Japanese." 
 
 THE FEUDAL 8Y8TEM. 
 
 Under tlie misrule of Ashikaga, the unity of the empire 
 was greatly broken, and the country split up into petty princi- 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 233 
 
 palities, and Japan became feudalized as in mediaeval Europe, 
 The poor people placed themselves under the care and protec- 
 tion of the castle lords (dukes or daimios) while the soldiers held 
 their land, paying rent in military service. The social condi- 
 tion of the people was low and wretched in the extreme. The 
 pagan religions had sunk to their lowest ebb. Shinto, the 
 .^^•,rfi?h!i;| native religion, had degenerated into myths and 
 
 fA!?t'r-^'^^^ shadows, or was overlaid by Buddhism, which 
 -'■"^j^^-^iiii^ — -X c^i w^^Q time was externally a gorgeous ritual 
 system, with but little power to regulate the moral life. 
 
 At this time Vasco da Gama was circumnavigating the 
 globe, and finding a water-path to the eastern lands. Mexico 
 and Peru were being conquered, and soon Europeans were to 
 laud upon the soil of Japan. Japanese boats and junks are 
 unpuinted. The sight of a " black ship," i. e. a painted ship, 
 was soon to become familiar to the sea-coast dwellers of Japan. 
 A native book called the " Chronicles of Nagasaki" states 
 that in 1530 a " black ship " touched at Funai, off Bungo, (see 
 map,) and the crew landed. The master presented to Mune- 
 akira, the duke or dairaio of the principality, two "fire-arms 
 and other gifts. In 1543, 1544, 1549, are noted other arrivals 
 of the white strangers in black ships, who were called " Nam 
 ban," ("men from the south,") referring to the quarter whence 
 they came. All were Portuguese, for at this time Portugal 
 ruled the eastern seas. 
 
 ENTRANCE OE CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 Into one of these ships a Satsuraa man named Anjiro, 
 who had killed a man in a brawl, took refuge and sailed away 
 
23i THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 to the Malay islands. He was to come hack again as the first 
 native Christian. 
 
 Christianity came first to Japan in Romish garb. Em-ope 
 was then quaking with the throes of the Reformation. Luther 
 had ah-eady nailed his theses on the church door at Wittem- 
 berg. Loyola, struck down by a cannon ball, and made a crip- 
 ple for life, had planned out, on his convalescent bed, the 
 Jesuit order, which sent out its mightiest apostle, Xavier, who 
 in noble labor and indomitable zeal, labored as a missionary in 
 India. Tlience he went to Malacca, where he met Anjiro, 
 whom he took, with two other natives of Japan, to India, and 
 haa them instructed in the Jesuit Seminary at Goa. 
 
 In 1549, Xavier, with liis Japanese pupils, and two fellow- 
 priests, landed at Kagoshima in Satsuma. The story of Roman 
 Christianity in Japan lias been often told.* At first prodigious 
 success rewarded the lal)orers, but wicked means were used to 
 secure good ends ; and disaster, ruin, blood and persecution 
 marked the end of Romanism in these islands. The means 
 taken to spread the ti-uths of Christianity, were not by translat- 
 ing the Scriptures, but l)y a plentiful use of procession and 
 I'itiial crosses, pictures and symbols. Specimens of the native 
 made crucifix and " Man of Sorrows," copied from those actual- 
 ly used two centuries ago, are given on the following page. 
 
 Commerce flourished while the missionaries labored, and 
 in 1568, the daimio of the province of Omura, granted a con- 
 cession of land to certain Portuguese merchants to settle, at a 
 little fishing village called Nagasaki (Long Cape.) In 1508 he 
 
 See "The Mikado'H Empire," page 247-26:^, and Dixon's "Japan." 
 
THE TjAND of the RISING SUN. 
 
 235 
 
 built a churoa for them, and gradually a flourishing city arose. 
 This port is the nearest to China, India and Europe. 
 
 Thus far the Spaniards and Portuguese enjoyed a mono- 
 poly of trade in the east, by which Lisbon became one of the 
 
 richest cities in Europe. In 1598 the germ of the Dutch East 
 India Company was formed. After a long voyage, full of disas- 
 ters, four or live Dutch sailors — the survivors of a large fleet — 
 with their English pilot, Will Adams, arrived in Japan. Others 
 followed, and the island of Hirado was set apart for trading 
 with Dutchmen. 
 
 RELATIONS OF HOLLANDERS TO JAPAN. 
 
 After the expulsion of all other foreigners from Japan, 
 the Hollanders, and they only, were allowed to reside on tlie 
 little fan-shaped artificial island of Deshima, fronting the city 
 of Nagasaki. Here, from 1535 to 1860, a company of a dozen 
 Holland traders, lived under galling restrictions. Once a year 
 
23{> 
 
 THE LAXD OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 a sliip -was allowed to come to Nagasaki, to exchange Japanese 
 productions for the commodities of Europe, which latter were 
 disposed of at public auction. The incoming ship was alwa}^s 
 compelled t(/ stop at a certain island outside the cit}', and the 
 Hollanders busied themselves in burying all eviden(!e that tliey 
 were Christians. " All the Bil)les and prayer-books,*' WTites 
 Dr. Thunberg, an eye-witness aboard, " belonging to the sailors, 
 
 " THE TARPKIAN KOCK OF JIPAN :" THE ISLAND OF PAFPENBERO, IN NAGASAKI HARBOR. 
 {HOW CeED AS A PIC-NIC RESORT.) 
 
 were collected and put into a (jliest, which was nailed down. 
 This chest was afterwards left under the care of the Japanese, 
 till the time of our departure, wlien every one received his 
 book again." 
 
 The cut illustrates the place of anchorage. The precipi- 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 237 
 
 tous sides of the island rise boldly from the water, and until 
 recentl)', bristled with cannon to repel all foreign vessels. 
 Firs crown the suininit, under whose shade roystering pic-nic; 
 parties now hilariously enjoy themselves. On the left is seen 
 a junlc with its fluted sails made of strips of matting or canvas 
 laced together. Fisliermen's huts line the base of the rocks, 
 down which the native Christian were once hurled. On the 
 
 
 A HOLLANDER, ON DESHIilA, LOOKING FOE THE AKRIVAL OF A SHIP. 
 
 right the tasseled prow of an officials' " cabin-boat • ' is seen 
 with tlie rowers, and pennants, stamped with the crest and 
 blazon of the dairaio, whose retainers man the boat. The 
 Dutch gave the rocky isle the name by which it is generally 
 known, " Pappenl)erg " or the " Papists' Island." It is in fnll 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 viow of the city of Ka<j^as;ikL In tlio next cut it appears in the 
 (liatanco between the circling hills which make Nagasaki one 
 of the most safely land-locked harbors ou the globe. 
 
 The next cut h reduced from a picture by the noted Eng- 
 lish artist, Mr. Wirgman, still resident in Japan. Mr. Wirg- 
 nian represents u merchant prisoner — a fat Dutchman, long 
 pipe in hand and mouth, longingly awaiting the arrival of the 
 ship fi'om Batavia and Europe. He paces the garden, laid out 
 in Japanese style by native florists, with its pond of triple- 
 tailed gold-tish, mimi(; mounds, rockery and dwarf trees. 
 
 On this historic i;jle of Deshinia, now, 1877, stands a 
 Protestant Christian chm-ch. The editice erected by our Re- 
 formed Church stands in the city proper, while the mission 
 liouse and residence l)uilt of stone, occupy a coimnanding site 
 on tlie liill-sides overlooking the city, the population of which 
 is about 30,000 souls. 
 
 Profound peace reigned in Japan from 1G37 until 1S02, 
 during which time the only nations having intercoui-se witli 
 the Japanese were the Chinese and Dutcli. Deshima was tlie 
 loop-hole through wliich tliis liermit nation might look out on 
 the world. So profound was the isolation, so deep the national 
 sleep, that we might (tall Japan the Thorm-ose among nations. 
 In our day, in the little town of Sontli Kingston, in llhode Is- 
 land, was born the chivalrous princc>, who was to scale the 
 walls of the castle, and, with a kiss, v.-::ko the maiden to life and 
 beauty. That prince was Matthew Calbraitli Perry, brother of 
 our Lake Eric Oliver. 
 
 TKKATY OF 1854. 
 
 On the 7th of May, 1853, Perry steatucd up the Pay of 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 239 
 
 Y-edo, with his fleet of American steamers, and delivering a 
 letter to properly accredited-oflicials, sailed away, to retnrn the 
 following spring. Witli consummate tact, patience, flrnniess 
 and perseverance, he succeeded in making a treaty of friend- 
 ship in 1854. The imposing ceremonies attendant upon the 
 exchange of documents and presents took place at Yokohama, 
 on the 8th of March, 1854. On this very spot, forever his- 
 toric as the scene of the triumph of American genius, diplomatic 
 skill and bloodless victory, now stands the first native Chi'istian 
 (Protestant) Cliurch in Japan — a stately edifice erected by the 
 Keformed Chm'ch in America. 
 
 THE FIRST AMERICAN" MISSIONARIES. 
 
 The Perry treaty, however, was cne only of friendship. 
 In 1858, a new treaty was made, in which trade and residence 
 were secured to Americans. Under tliis last treaty — not un- 
 der the fh'st — were missionaries permitted to settle in Japan. 
 The credit of this fresh triumph of peace and skill belongs to 
 our countryman, Hon. Townsend Harris. 
 
 Among the first missionaries appointed and sent out by 
 the Reformed Church, were the Rev. S. R. Brown, D. D., and 
 the Rev. G. F. Yerbeck, the former to Yokohama, tlie latter 
 to Nagasaki. 
 
 Tlie date of arrival of all our missionaries is as follows : 
 Rev. S. R. Brown, D. D., at Yokohama, Nov. 1, 1859 ; Rev. 
 G. F. Verbeck, D. D., at Nagasaki, Nov. 7, 1859 ; Rev. Jas. 
 PI. Ballagh and wife, Yokohama, fall of 1861 ; Rev. Henry 
 Stout nnd wife, Nagasaki, Marcli, 18G9 ; Miss Mary E. ladder, 
 now Mrs. Miller, Yokohama, Sept. 1809 ; Miss Mary E. Wit- 
 
240 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 beck, Yokohama, Nov. 18Y4 ; Rev. James L. Amerman and 
 wife, Yokohama, July, 1876. 
 
 Yokohama soon became a thrivinix centre of trade, and 
 from a fishing viUage of a few hundred souls, in a marsh, 
 bloomed into a city. At the present time, it has a population 
 of about fifteen hundi-ed foreigners, an equal number of Chi- 
 nese, and about sixty thousand Japanese, including the sur- 
 rounding villages. Li the cut, reduced from a photograph, the 
 view is from " the bluff," or range of hills which girdle the 
 port, and on one of the most commanding of which, the Ferris 
 Seminary for girls, is erected. The houses of natives and 
 foreign residents are heavily roofed with tiles, and constructed 
 of a frame of timber plastered on the outside. The banks and 
 larger "hongs" (business houses,) are of stone. The canal, 
 crossed by a wooden and an iron bridge, divides the native 
 town of Homoko, on the side towards the bluff, from the for- 
 eign settlement. The bay is full of ships, junks and steamers 
 of the American, French, English and Japanese lines. War 
 ships of many nationalities, float their flags and drop their an- 
 chors. Across the bay, rise and swell the blue mountains of 
 Kadzusa; and on the left, across the arm of the bay, is the town 
 of Kanagawa and the Tokaido, or great high road of the em- 
 pire, from Kioto to TokiO. Note at the bottom of the cut, the 
 top of a torii or gateway, leading to a Shinto shrine at the top 
 of the bluff. Many of the roofs are quadrangular, but the 
 large two-sided roof, on the right, is that of the English church. 
 The native Christian church (Refonued) is near the water at 
 the foot of the street leading from the bridge on the left. 
 Yokoliama is the chief focus of the missionary operations of 
 
2-i-J THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 tlie Reformed Church. Here are located the Rev. Messrs. 
 Brown, Ballagh, Miller and Amerinau, with their mves and 
 families. Here also is the church, the Tlieological Class of 
 young men, and the Ferris Seminary for girls. Rev. G. Y. 
 and Mrs. Verbeck are in TokiO, the capital, which is twenty 
 miles from Yokohama. Uyeda is a city about sixty miles 
 north-west of Tokio, in which is also a Christian chm'ch^ 
 gathered mainly through the efforts of Rev. E. R. Miller. In 
 the extreme nortli of the main island, in the city of Hirosaki, 
 is also a Clu'istian church, organized by the Rev. Mr. Wolff, 
 formerly of the Reformed Church Mission. Nagasaki is in 
 the extreme south of the island of Kiushiu. Yokohama has 
 often been called the "New York of Japan," and is the centre 
 of the new life of the nation. 
 
 NAGASAKI. 
 
 Nagasaki is also a focus of interest, the port nearest to 
 China and India, and commercially the centre of the great is- 
 land of Kiushiu, whose nine provinces contain a population of 
 nearly fiv^e millions. The city is surrounded by green hills on 
 every side, and is noted for its beautiful scenery. The dwell- 
 ings composing the town, nestle among the glades and valleys 
 ill very picturesque style. In the engraving, on the " bund" or 
 river front, arc the gov^ernment buildings and consulates. On the 
 left, and in the rear, on the liill-slopcs, are the native houses, and 
 the mission buildings of the Reformed Churcli. The latter pai-tly 
 concealed by tlio trees and foliage. It is, however, on a \erv 
 beautiful, commanding and convenient site for Avork and 
 comfort. 
 
•244: THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 On first reaching the country, the missionaries l^egan the 
 study of the language. They found the people friendly, but 
 bitterly opposed to Christiamty. Even now, in 1877, foreign- 
 ers are not yet allowed to travel farther than twenty-five miles 
 from the treaty-ports, nor to live outside the foreign settlement 
 or "concession." In special cases, however, by obtaining a 
 passport, travel is allowed in tlic interior. In all their walks 
 they could see the blasphemous anti-Christian edicts of the 
 Government, hung up alongside those which forbade murder 
 theft, treason, adultery, etc. The accompanying cut represents 
 the great kosatsia (edict-boards) at ISTihon-Bashi (Bridge of 
 Japan,) which, since 1624 and until 1873, stood before the 
 daily sight of the millions that visited or lived in the bustling 
 capital. 
 
 From a heavy base of masonry rises a massive fi*ame of 
 timber, roofed with tiles and carved gables; under tliese, in- 
 scribed wooden tablets hang. On the right is the copper" 
 topped end post of tlie !N^ihon bridge, whence distances were 
 reckoned to all parts of the empire. Beneath are the boats 
 jvnd canal, houses and fire-proof storehouses. In the distance 
 fire tlie castle walls and towers, the groves of " Maple Moun- 
 tain" (Momiji Yama,) in the centre, the range of the Hakone 
 3:iountains, and the glorious wliite throne of Fuji yama — the 
 crown of Japan's natural glories. On the same board with the 
 edicts against uuu'der, arson and rol)bc]'y is tliat against the re- 
 ligion of Jesus Christ, or rnthor that of Rome. 
 
 No. 1 against Christianity, reads as follows : 
 
 ^' The Evil sect called Christian {Ki-)'l-s/ii-ian) is strictly 
 
246 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 prohibited. Suspicious porsons slioiiLl Ijc reported to the 
 proper officers, and rewards will be given. 
 By order of 
 
 The Gre.vt Couxgil of tiik Goyebxmext." * 
 
 The writer, wlio went out to Japan, under appointment of 
 the dainiiO of Echizen, to organize schools upon the American 
 principle, and to teach, landed in Japan, December 29th, 1870. 
 There were then not ton Protestant Christians known to be in 
 Japan, nor was there a vestige of an organized native church. 
 Earnest missionary labor was, however, being performed in the 
 way of teacliing, Bible study and translation of the Scriptm*es. 
 
 Gradually the i-igidity of the native laws against Chris- 
 tianity relaxed, and after numerous seizui-es and banishment of 
 native "Christians" (Romanists), and a few native Protestant 
 Christians, the organizations were not disturbed, and the 
 missionaries were left to preach and teach freely in their own 
 houses and churches. Tlie first Christian churcli (Protestant) 
 in Japan was organized with eleven members by the Rev. 
 James Ballagh in Yokohama, March 10th, 1872. This 
 church has steadily grown in membership, until it now numbers 
 one hundred and forty-live communicants. The edifice in 
 which the native Christians worship was erected by the 
 Reformed churcli, at an expense of 86,000, and seats about 
 four lunnlred and fifty persons. Tlie accompanying cut 
 
 * Six years ago, when our missionaries, Mrs Prnyn, Miss Crosby, and 
 Mrs. Pierson went to Yokohama, it wa.s placarded in the streets, "Who- 
 ever reads the Bible their heads shall rome off." I saw one of those 
 boards at Dr. Clark's house in Albany. The Committee of the Dutch 
 Board met and passed a resolution that rhe church should be called 
 "The Christian (jhurch," not to mxke it objectiomble to any. — Extract 
 from letter of Mr.i. 7\ O. Duremus, Nov. 25, 1876.— Compiler. 
 
248 THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 
 
 represents the interior of the building. The stained glass 
 windows are a contributiOii made some years ago by the Chris- 
 tianized natives of the Sandwich Islands. The cormnimion 
 service is the gift of Miss Yan Schaick, of Albany ; and the 
 bell, wliich rings out an invitation to God's house each Sab- 
 bath, was presented by Garret Kowenhoven, NewtowTi, L. I, 
 
 BENEFICENT RESULTS. 
 
 To tlie careful observer there is no surer evidence of the 
 victories of our Master's religion in Japan than in the salutary 
 leavening influence in home and social life. How many an 
 idol shelf has been takeu down, and the idols 
 nsed to heat the bath fire, or split into kindling 
 wood ! How many a Japanese Demetrius has 
 ^^^ lost his occupation and exchanged it for a 
 better ! How many a house purged of concu- 
 iDOL CARVER, biuagc aud bigamy made into a Christian liome, 
 ordered by one wife ! How many a mouth and life purged 
 of gross uncleanness ! The two great ceremonies of life, 
 marriage and burial, have been sanctified and purified. 
 Christian Japanese now lead their brides to Christian altars ; 
 and the last low whispers of the dying are burdened with the 
 name of Christ. Tlie Christian dead are lai<l in Christian 
 graves, in the name of Him who has plucked the sting from, 
 death and robbed the grave of victory. 
 
 A JAPANESE WEDDING. 
 
 The cut represents a Japanese wedding, an interesting 
 ceremony, but thorougldy pagan and godlos>. On the walls 
 are hung the characteristic pictures of Hotel, the jolly god 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 24& 
 
 of fan and childi-en ; Toshitoku, the fat and long-headed god 
 of wisdom ; and Ebisn, the god of daily food, having his fish, 
 line, jar and cap. Handsome screens adorn and divide the 
 room. On the left are the shelves and cnddy-holes for hold- 
 ing bric-a-brac. The recess in which the pictnres hang is 
 found in every Japanese house. It here contains a stand with 
 a perfumed stick set upright, smoldering its tiny wreath of 
 sweet odor. In the centre is another stand with rock and 
 storks, symbolizing endurance and longevity. In front of tlie 
 tokonoma (recess), on the clean, matting-covered floor, sits the 
 husband in ceremonial dress (kami-shimo) of hempen cloth or 
 brocade. The bride kneels, six feet distant, arrayed in a hand- 
 some silk dress, with long sleeves trailing to the ground, white 
 cap of floss silk, etc. Between them, on a stand of liinoki 
 wood, is the ever-endm-ing pine tree, under which may be seen 
 the old couple of Takasago — a fabled terj-estial paradise. The 
 old man holds a rake, and the old woman a broom, to rake 
 together and sweep up happiness and connubial joys — even to 
 the humble ones that might be gleaned along the wayside of 
 life. A tortoise at the foot of the tree is another emblem of 
 long life. On a smaller table, at the side, are two wagtails. 
 The twittering birds are commemorative of the first gods, 
 having the Izv^nami and Izanagi; who, on first seeing the 
 dalliance of the two birds, invented the art of love. The two 
 young ladies who are the bridesmaids, or, in Japanese, " butter- 
 flies," coming forward, bear two decanters of sake, which ^vill 
 be united with a white ril)bon or cord of paper. Each will 
 be decorated with a butterfly made of paper, one male and 
 the other female. No priest or magistrate is present, but only 
 
THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 251 
 
 • 
 the relatives of the couple to be united. No "yes" or "no" 
 
 is uttered; no question of mutual love, honor or obedience 
 is asked. On a tray overlaid in tiers are three shallow, red- 
 lacquered wine-cups. Of these each drinks alternately three 
 times, and the ceremony is completed. Feasting and mirth 
 end the festivities. Such things as marriage tours are not yet 
 known in Japan. 
 
 Undoubtedly there is much love and some honor in 
 Japanese mai'riage relations, especially on the wife's part — 
 the husband having a decidedly free foot. Yet, after al], 
 marriage to a Japanese woman is but the transference of a 
 passive member or chattel of one household into another; 
 while concubinage, polygamy, and the undisputed right of a 
 husband to be a rake and a libertine exists unchallenged. 
 Home life in Japan can never be pm-e, worthy of the name, 
 or superior, if indeed equal to the Mormon standard, while 
 polygamy and concul^inage prevail. 
 
 BURIAJL USAGES. 
 
 The question of burial has been a troublesome one to the 
 rising Christian churcli in Japan. The guardianship of the 
 graves and temple yards is the last strong] lold of pagan 
 liierarcliy. Almost all burial places- are attaclied to temples 
 and owned by the priests as consecrated ground. It is difficult 
 at present to bury a Clu'istian, except with Shinto or Buddliist 
 rites. The illustration here given is representative of the 
 liome of departed dust in Japan. On the right are seen the 
 temple-porch and columns, and in the background the corridor 
 loadino; to the bonzerie. 
 

THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN. 25^ 
 
 Both inhuination and cremation are practiced, the latter 
 beino- the most common. In burial a round or square cask or 
 lar"-e earthen iar is used, the bod}^ occupying a bent position, 
 tlie chin on the knees ; the pre-natal position being purposely 
 chosen for symbolical intent. In cremation, only a few of tlie 
 calcined bones or ashes, left after the fire, are placed in a 
 hollow of the tomb. Friends and relatives visit the ceme- 
 teries, at stated intervals, to pray at the tombs, and sometimes 
 to the spirit of the departed, but usually for their welfare in 
 the other world. Fresh flowers are placed in the bamboo 
 tubes or sockets cut into the stone. IMie rosary or string of 
 prayer-beads is much used. When the hands are otherwise 
 occupied, the strings of beads are hung over the ear. Buckets 
 of Avater are at hand to scrub out the tombs and keep the 
 inscriptions legible. The actual living name of the deceased 
 is rarely placed upon the tomb, but instead the " homio " or 
 "spirit," or posthumous name. Every defunct Japanese, 
 from mikado to beggar, is known after death by another title 
 than his living name. 
 
 OUR OPPORTUNITY. 
 
 Into, and forward with, the work of Christ in Japan, the 
 Eeformed Church may go with heartiness and cheer. Our 
 hopes are bright ; the prospects are inviting. A nation waking 
 from the blindness of ignorance and superstition, asks for 
 light; for a true religion ; for pure homes; for a regenerated 
 society. Nor is their desire less real and deep, though they 
 seek to use wrong means, and attempt to quench their thirst 
 with waters that cannot satisfy. Besides a gospel preaclied to 
 
•-■'^i THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN 
 
 the men and the masses in general, special means must be put 
 forth to elevate and instruct the women and girls, that they 
 be not pagan, but Christian mothers; not stolid upholders of 
 an effete system of idol-worship and superstition, but intelli- 
 gent helpers in the faith of Christ and in the ordering of 
 Christian households. To preach the gospel is to graft om* 
 Master's religion in Japan, to convert the women; to sane : If j 
 the liome is to jylant it. To this noble work — a tree of God's 
 own planting— let the Clii-istian women of our Church go 
 forward and through with it to the victorious end. 
 
 The m-iter woukf conclude this most imperfect sketch 
 with the statement of two contrasted facts, which speak with 
 an eloquence wholly their own : — 
 
 I landed on the soil of Japan December 29, 1870. Tliere 
 were then not ten Protestant Christians in all Japan, nor a 
 native Christian church. There are now, in January, 1878, 
 fifteen Christian cluu-ches, witJi a membership of over thirteen 
 hundred souls. 
 
 What hath God Avi-ought ? 
 
 SCHE2JECTADY, N. Y. 1878. 
 
AN EXPLANATION 
 REGARDING THE CHURCH AT YOKOHAMA. 
 
 A mis-statement with regard to the erection of the Re- 
 formed Chm-ch at Yokohama, has been widely circulated. It 
 is unfortunate that there are always some persons residing near 
 missions, who are not in sympathy with them, and who take 
 pains to sneer and cavil at what God's servants are doing. As 
 the error in question, reflects unjustly on one of our most de- 
 voted missionaries, the Rev. J. H. Ballagh, the Executive Com- 
 mittee of the Woman's Board, have determined to put its cor- 
 rection on record, in the permanent form for which this volume 
 gives opportunity. 
 
 DONATION OF A PLOT OF GROUND. 
 
 In an early period in the history of the Mission to Japan, 
 the Japanese Government gave to the Reformed Church, a 
 valuable plot of ground, centrally located, in the city of Yoko- 
 hama. For this, as is customary in such cases, the Mission, 
 had to pay a large annual ground-rent. 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD A ^BUILDING FUND. 
 
 A native Church in Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, sent to 
 the missionaries, §1,000, toward the building of a church on 
 this spot. The Hon. Townsend Harris contributed another 
 $1,000 ; and the Hon. Robert H. Pruyn added $500. T. C. 
 Doremus, Esq., of New York, sent the stained glass windows, 
 now in tlie building, and other valuable gifts. Small donations 
 were received from other friends in Yokohama. 
 
250 AN EXPLANATION, 
 
 ERECTION OF A SCHOOL-HOUSE. 
 
 The sum now in hand, was still not enough to build such 
 a sanctuary as it was desirable to place on this ground. Mr. 
 Ballagh resolved, therefore, to erect, on the rear of the lot, a 
 small edifice, to be used as a school, but which eventually 
 might form a wing of the future Church. A portion of the 
 money was taken for this purpose, and the remainder invested, 
 at a fair rate of interest. 
 
 MR. BAI,LAGh's visit TO AMERICA. 
 
 In 1808, Mr. Ballagh came to the United States, and 
 made appeals to tlie churches, in behalf of the building-fund. 
 He raised the sum of $2,373.83. The Synod's Board was, at 
 that juncture, greatly embarrassed. It could not afford him 
 the means to return to his work. It, therefore, authorized him 
 to use a portion of this newly collected money to pay his ex- 
 penses back, agreeing to refund it. 
 
 THE DWELLING-HOUSE. 
 
 While Mr. Ballagh was in America, the Mission in Yoko- 
 hama, received, from two wealthy merchants there, a proposi- 
 tion, wliich was regarded favorably. These gentlemen wished 
 to l)uild a dwelling-house for their own occupation. They 
 needed it only for a term of years. They asked permission 
 to erect it on the lot, where the school-house already stood, as- 
 suming the entire ground-rent, and binding themselves, at the 
 proper time, to give the house to the Mission. This proposal 
 seemed fair, and after due formalities, the merchants built a 
 spacious and elegant mansion, and proceeded to reside in it 
 with their families. 
 
 But a series of calamities fell upon them. One einbarked 
 
AN EXPLANATION. 257 
 
 on a voyage of importance, and as liis .ship was never heard 
 from, it was supposed that it had gone down in a tempest. 
 The other suddenly died. The property reverted to the Mis 
 sion much sooner than had been expected, and the beautiful 
 house stood vacant at its disposal. 
 
 ITS OCCUPANCY BY MR. BALLAGH. 
 
 Mr. Ballagh received a yearly sum from the Board, to be 
 used in hiring a dwelling for himself. He resolved to avail 
 liimself of the vacant house, and pay the amount of the rent 
 into the building-fund. During thi-ee months of the year, he 
 found an opportunity to rent it to the silk-worin merchants, 
 who came to Yokohama to collect coco'ms, and the large amount 
 they were willing to pay, went also to the treasurj^, while he 
 and his family found quarters, temporarily, wherever they 
 could. During three months he taught in a Grovernment school, 
 and gave the salary he received, §559, to the same purpose. 
 
 CONCLUSIOK. 
 
 The Board made up the sum taken from the $3,000 
 mentioned, and the beautiful church, which forms the frontis- 
 piece of this volume was erected. The slander that a mission- 
 ary was residing in a magnificent habitation from the sm-plus 
 bricks of which he had built an insignificant church, is tlms 
 refuted. It never had any foundation. 
 
 For the facts in this explanation, we are indebted to Mrs. 
 Mary Pruyn, who was on the ground, an eye-witness to the 
 occurrences, aiid who cheerfully gives us her testimony. 
 
 17 
 
258 
 
 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 THE DAUGHTERS OF 
 THE ISLES. 
 
 HE story of what has been accom- 
 plished in the way of establishing 
 schools for women in Japan, fol- 
 lows uatui-ally after Mr. Griffis' 
 account of the political and relig- 
 ious condition of tho land. "When 
 the mves and ni others of this fair 
 Eastern empii'e, shall have learned to sit 
 like Mary, at tho feet of Jesus, a cL\ :"er 
 and brighter day will dawn upon its liills 
 and vales. Our faithful missionaries M'ho 
 have toiled on hopefully, amid manifold dis- 
 com-agements, who have prayerfully done 
 what they could, and who are now joyously 
 gathering tha iii-st fruits of the harvest, 
 will tlieraselves tell the history of tlicir 
 years of labor. Though thoy sa}'- nothing 
 concerning their own patience, gentleness 
 and steadfast courage, these qualities are 
 revealed as clearly as light tln*ough a trans- 
 parency, in their modest nai-ratives. First, properly comes 
 
THE DAUGHTEES OF THE ISLES. 
 
 259 
 
 THE BEGINNING OF EEKKIS SE:\IINARY. BY MRS. MAEY R. MILLER. 
 
 In the autumn of 18G9, I began my work in Japan, hav- 
 ing been led here, as I liope, by a gracious heavenly Father. 
 
 My first home in this country, was with tlie faujily of Doctoi 
 S. R. Brown, who was in tlie employ of the Japanese Govcrn- 
 jiient, at the city of Nugata, on the western coast. Here we 
 
200 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 rctnaiiiCMl until July, 1870. Wiiile hero, my time was wholly 
 i^iv'en to tlio acquisition of the Linu:uago. I had one pupil who 
 learned a little from me, while I gained very inu(;h from her. 
 We were entirely among the Japanese, there being no other 
 foreign ladies in Nugata, and this greatly facilitated my oppor- 
 tunities for study. Our house was constantly thronged by 
 curious natives, so that I always felt as if I wore a show. After 
 remaining hero about eight months, the Government recalled 
 Dr. Brown to Yokohama ; but we were not settled in our own 
 house until Septeaiber, when I i-esumed my study, and also 
 began to tea(;li three hours each day. 
 
 FIRST PUPILS. 
 
 I had, at first, three pupils, two girls and one boy, all of 
 wh(»m, had already learned their A,B, C, with one of the other 
 missionaries. She asked me to relieve her from their instruc- 
 tion. After much urging, a former pupil of the same lady 
 returned fiom the interior, where her father had sent her, witli 
 the excuse " that she was a fool, who would learn nothing."' 
 Tliis man was my teacher for two years, ami whon I came to 
 know him better, I discovered that he, rather than his daughtei-, 
 ,was the fool, since he spent the money whicli he earned in 
 drinking sake. The girl, who has been M'ith us ever since, is 
 now our assistant teacher. Her name is 
 
 RIO HAUAUA. 
 
 She is a consistent and devoted follower of our dear Lord. 
 For a Japanese, she was an unusually self-willed and inde- 
 pendent girl; and till she came into the boarding scliool, she 
 purposely learned as little as she could, about the Clu'istian re- 
 ligion, saying she thought it would bo the wor.^o for her, if she 
 understood and did not b.'lievo. She was one of those of whom 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 2f)l 
 
 our Lord said : " Their eyes they have closed, lest at any time, 
 they should see with their eyes, and be converted." 
 
 Another of my first three pupils, waited and longed for 
 the boai"^ing school, but was finally married, and went to 
 Tokio to live, about a year before the house was built. She 
 was a dear girl, and seemed very near the kingdom of heaven. 
 I cannot but hope that she may yet enter the open door, thougli 
 both her father's and father-indaw's families are very bigoted 
 heathen. I do not intend to lose sight of her, nor has she for- 
 gotten her warm affection for me. 
 
 The third passed from earth a year and a half ago. She 
 liad not for a long time been my pupil, nor did I know of her 
 illness till she was gone. Her relatives, who manifest some in- 
 terest in the Christian religion, say that she died a Christian. 
 She knew the way of life, and I hope to meet her at last. 
 
 REMOVAL TO ISE TAMA. 
 
 At the close of the first year of my teacliing, I had six 
 girls in my class, so I resigned the boys to a missionary lady 
 who had just come to Japan, while I devoted myself wholly to 
 the girls Puring the second year my pupils increased to 
 twenty-two, and in July my class was removed from the room 
 which had been kindly lent me by the Presbyterian Mission, to 
 a house in the native official part of the town, known as Ise 
 Yama. This place was procured through the 
 
 KINDNESS OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNOE, 
 
 Mr. Oye, who assisted me in various ways, so that for some 
 time the school was no expense to the Mission. Among other 
 things, lie presented me with a very pretty closed carriage, to 
 be drawn by coolies, remarking, " that the distance was too 
 great to walk, and he would do himself the pleasm-e of giving 
 me a convevance." 
 
2G2 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 FIRST CONVEKTS. 
 
 With one exception, none of my pnpils had yet shown any 
 love for Christ or His word, althongli they had heardHhe Bil)h> 
 every day, dnring the two years in wliich I liad been teaching. 
 They sang tlie Snnday-s('hool hymns and enjoyed them, l)o- 
 cause they were new, but they seemed not to have the Spirit in 
 their hearts. In the antunm of 1872, 
 
 HIZA OKUNO, 
 
 the daughter of Olcuno, our good elder, asked for ljaj3tism; nnd 
 she, with her mother and little l)rother, were baptized. Slie 
 was qnite an accomplished girl in the Japanese way, writing a 
 l)eautiful hand, drawing and painting from natural objects, and 
 playing the native guitar. She is now a fine scholar in Eng- 
 lish, and is still witli us, a valuable assistant, as well rts pupil, 
 in the school. In her Christian life, she is modest, consistent 
 and earnest, and her example is always such as becomes a fol- 
 lower of our Saviour. 
 
 TRIALS. 
 
 During the winter of 1872 and 1873, our school numl)ered 
 more pupils than at any time before or since ; but many of 
 them came, expecting to learn English in a few months, and, 
 of course, th(!y were soon discouraged. In the spring several 
 k'ft, because they had lost faith in my promises that we should 
 liave a l)oarding school. This last was very liard to bear. 
 Another trial was the failing health of the etHcient helj)er, 
 whom the Board had sent out in the previous November," mak- 
 ing it impossible for her to teach in tlie autumn of 1873. Of 
 course, many of the lessons which our pupils pursued, when 
 there were two teachers, had to be given up for lack of time, 
 when there was but one. This cliange was very (Hscf)uragiug 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 263 
 
 to our ambitious pupils, and with the prospect of the promiserl 
 boarding school still distant, was a severe l)low to our interests. 
 
 Interrupting Mrs. Miller's narrative here, it may be well 
 to explain why teacher and scholars were so anxious to have a 
 boarding-school. There may be some, who will inquire, 
 " Could not the pupils attend their classes daily, and eat and 
 sleep at home ? " In reply, we must remember that distances 
 are gre:it in Japan, and many of the towns and villages are 
 scattered and straggling. People emplo^'ed officially in the 
 Grovernment towns, would have kindred and friends in, per- 
 haps, remote places, to whom they would send the tidings of 
 the new opportunities for female instruction. Yet young girls 
 who wished to avail themselves of these advantages, could not 
 do so, for lack of a home while pursuing their studies. Again, 
 one great desire and aim of om* missionaries was to give their 
 pupils the idea of the Christian home, as we have it in Pi'o- 
 testaut civilized lands. They wanted to impart it, in a daily 
 object lesson; throwing around these girls, in their tender child- 
 hood, oi' as they stood on the threshold of womanly maturity, 
 the benign atmosphere of the home, which always acknowl- 
 edges the care of the Father who is in heaven. Resuming 
 Mi's. Miller's account, we hear of 
 
 THE PKESEXCE OF THE HOLT SPIRIT. 
 
 In the spring of 1874, the light of the Holy Spirit again 
 pierced the darkness, ;md Ko Ok ad a asked for baptism. Like 
 Iliza, she showed su(;h earnest love and faith, with so clear an 
 understanding of the step she was about to take, that she was 
 joyfully received into the Church. Of the trial of her faith 
 and victory through the Spirit, I must tell you. Itememl)ei"- 
 
264: THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 ini^ in wliat subservience to man, the women of Japan have 
 been educated, and considering how youthful and inexperienced 
 was this sweet Christian girl, her patience and fortitude were 
 wonderful. Serenely and undauntedly she braved persecution, 
 joyfully bearing all suffering which came to her because she 
 held fast to the faith. 
 
 KO's CONFLICT. 
 
 In the August following her baptism, Ko came to me say- 
 ing she wished for advice. Her father who was of the mili- 
 tary class in feudal days, had become poor. Her brother, who 
 took care of tlie family, was a civil engineer in the employ of 
 the Government, which does not insure large pay, as it might 
 in some other country ; so that her old father and mother, 
 younger sister, brother's wife and two children, all being 
 dependent upon this one brother, were, as you may imagine, 
 in very straightened circumstances. Ko worked for her 
 board in a kind foreigner's family, and came regularly to 
 school. One day, shortly before she came to ask my coun- 
 sel, a wealthy Japanese lady, who knew Ko well, invited her 
 father and herself to visit her. They went wondering why 
 she wished to see them, but they soon discovered the reason. 
 TJie lady said that a Japanese gentleman, who had been heir 
 to a large daimiate in feudal times, and who was now an officer 
 of high position in the Government, wished Ko for his wife ; 
 he had met her at this lady's house, although Ko did not 
 remember him. Of com'se, the father heard this offer with 
 pride, but in silence ; and finally he replied, with many tlianks, 
 that, although so desirable, it was impossible to acicept it, as 
 he was too poor to give Ko an outfit suitable for such a 
 position. The lady replied, that she would attend to that. As 
 everything seemed to be arranged, they turned to Ko, expect- 
 iug to see her overwholuied with delight, the lady saying: 
 •' lint there is one thing, Ko ; you must give up this Christian 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 265 
 
 religion, and let us hear no more about it." Ko did not seem 
 so pleased as they expected at the opportunity of changing 
 her poverty for wealth, luxury and high position, and aston- 
 ished them by quietly and modestly saying that she did not 
 wish to be married. They could hardly believe their ears ; 
 and, j)artly in indignation, and partly in astonishment, said that 
 they would give her a week to think about it. 
 
 "When the father reached his home the assembled family 
 heard of the offered fortune, and wondered more and more 
 why Ko did not eagerly accept. Her father and brother said : 
 " ISTow, tell us the true reason, and if it is a good one we will 
 respect your wishes." 
 
 Ko said : " Because I cannot give up my religion." 
 "But," they replied, "you can say you will give it up, and 
 secretly cherish it." So wide is the difference between lying 
 heathenism and our true Christian religion ! 
 
 Next they appealed to her love for her parents and family, 
 saying how much she could do for them with her wealth. When 
 they saw it was in vain, they told her she did not care for her 
 parents; and next, that she was crazy and they would build a 
 prison and jDut her into it, take all her books away and bm-n 
 them, and would disown her as a member of the family. So 
 they persecuted her.' She came to ask us what she ought to 
 do. She said though tiie intended husband were to promise 
 that she might keep her religion, she could not trust him ; he 
 would break his word as soon as they were married. 
 
 Her yomiger sister was taken from our school immedi- 
 ately, and the family continued to persecute Ko, although her 
 mother partially relented, so that she often visited her home 
 when her father and brother were absent. 
 
 About the middle of the following winter she asked me 
 to go with her to visit her younger sister, who was very ill, 
 and wliom she was afraid would die. I liad not met the sister 
 
266 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 since she left school, but upon Ko's assuring ms that the family 
 would bo willing to soo me, I accompaniol her to her home. 
 "Wo wore kindly received, and they accepted my offer to send 
 a foreign physician. She was very ill with fever, and the 
 doctor thought her recovery impossible. The family were so 
 su])dued by their affliction that they were quite willing to 
 listen to prayer and religious teaching every day. The sister 
 soon began slowly to recover, I believe, wholly in answer to 
 earnest prayer ; for every other circumstance was adverse to 
 her restoration. The family frankly confess that they think 
 so too; and although none of them have professed their love 
 for Christ, they have since that time been more or less inter- 
 ested, and have never said anything more al)ont Ko's marrying 
 a heathen. 
 
 Ko is still with us, loved and admired by every one, for 
 her sweet and earnest piety as well as for her energy of 
 character. I sometimes call her " my right hand." 
 
 THE SUNDAY-SCnOOL. 
 
 When I came to Japan, in 1869, there was a Sunday- 
 school, under the superintendence of the Presbyterian Mission, 
 numbering some thirty or forty children, mostly foreigners, 
 and belonging to the families of the Tenth English Regiment, 
 stationed here. I found in the Sunday-school the work which 
 I loved, and assisted the superintendent till she gave the care 
 into my hands and went to China for rest. When she returned 
 she did not care to resume it, so it fell into my bands, although 
 several others assisted in teaching singing, and playing the 
 organ, which we afterwards received. 
 
 The number of children in the town increased so that, 
 althougli the Tenth Rogiincnt soon loft, taking away many 
 children, the school still flourished, numb3ring about Christmas 
 time every year upwards of eighty. 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 2G7 
 
 The greater part of my Japanese pupils attended, and a 
 few other Japanese ca:ne in, making a class of al)oat twenty, 
 whom I taught myself after the opening exercises. Through 
 the kindness of friends here and at home, we were enabled to 
 get a very well-selected library, of nearly a hundred volumes, 
 of the best Sunday-school books to be found in N"ew York. 
 With these, the children were greatly delighted. 
 
 Our sehool was conducted like most of the schools at 
 home. We sang children's Sundiy-school hymns for a half 
 hour at the beginning, then had reading of Scripture and 
 prayer, after wliich we separated into classes, I teaching tlie 
 Japanese. 
 
 OTTR HOME SUNDAY-SCHOOL. 
 
 In September of 1874 I concluded to withdraw my 
 Japanese pupils from the foreign Sunday-school, and with my 
 husband opened a school at Ise Yama, in tlie house wliere I 
 taught during the week, hoping thereby to draw in others 
 beside my own pupils. This Japanese Sunday-school has 
 continued without interruption to the present time. The for- 
 eign school lias always been flomishing, and is still continued. 
 I have been thus explicit in speaking of the Sunday-school 
 work here, because it has been reported, upon seemingly good 
 authority, at home, that there was no Sunday-school in Japan 
 
 till isn. 
 
 A LEASE OBTAINED AND BUILDING BEGUN. 
 
 The summer and autumn of 1874 were very trying in 
 regard to the school. Our Mission Board were unable to fur- 
 nish sufficient funds to purchase* a desirable lot of ground and 
 put up a suitable building for a boarding-school, and I had 
 nsed every exertion to proe:ire a gift or lease of land fro:n the 
 Grovernment of this country, in order to relieve the Board from 
 all expense except the l^uilding. 
 
268 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 Although the Govevnor of this place difl wliat he (^onld 
 to help nie, and also onr Consnl-General, yet as everythini^ 
 must be referred to the general Governtnent at Tokio, we were 
 a long time in obtaining the lease; and many times I was 
 ready to give up ray school in despair. A successful day- 
 school seemed impossible ; pupils coming and going among 
 this moving people, as their parents went liitlier and thither, 
 was not the kind of school I desired ; and I came to the con- 
 clusion that I had l)otter give up tlie school and unite with the 
 Presbyterian Board, with which my husband was still con- 
 nected ; l)ut, owing to circumstancbs which I need not recite 
 here, my husband concluded to sever his connection with that 
 Mission, and lie sent his resignation home in October. In 
 November, we obtained the lease of the land so long sought, 
 and also the money from home to begin building. 
 
 ivnss witbeck's arrival. 
 
 Miss Witbeck also arrived the same month, to be with me 
 in the school, and the whole horizon began to brighten. Dur- 
 ing our long waiting wo had matured the plan for the building, 
 so that before the new year the ground was prepared and tlie 
 timber was on tlie lot, with a contract signed for tlie com- 
 pletion of the building in May, 1875. 
 
 BAPTISM OF KUNI TAMAND". 
 
 In March Kuni Taraanu, one of our very bright, energetic- 
 and exceedingly intelligent pupils, asked for baptism, and was 
 received into the church. She had come from a place about 
 one hundred miles north of Tokio, and was living with us, 
 as we were housekeeping and waiting for the boarding-school. 
 
 She had for about a year given evidence of a change of 
 heart, but was rather younger than the others wdio had been 
 baptized ; so we had thought it well for her to wait. Her 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 269 
 
 exaniination was very satisfactory, and licr knowledge of the 
 doctrines quite equal to that of well-trained gills at home, 
 as she has a very retentive memory. 
 
 OPENING OF THE BOARDING-SCHOOL. 
 
 Our boarding-school was opened the 1st of June, 1875, 
 by a dedicatory Japanese service. The day-school had been 
 continued up to that time in order, if possible, to keep our 
 few remaining pupils together. Although July was very hot, 
 we thought it best to have two months of school before vaca- 
 tion. In June we had fourteen pupils, and we closed in July 
 witli nineteen. AYheu we resumed, in September, some of 
 our pu])ils did not return ; but others came in, so that we 
 closed the year, in December, with nineteen pupils — the same 
 as in summer. 
 
 But during the next year, IS 76, our numbers steadily 
 increased, so that we closed with thirty-four pupils, thirty of 
 whom wei'e boarders ; and it seems now as if our school were 
 established ou a firm foundation. The blessing of our dear 
 Father in Heaven seemed abiding in our household all 
 through the year. 
 
 BAPTISM OF EIO, TENYA AND SAYA. 
 
 In May, 1876, three more of our dear girls asked for 
 baptism, and were received into the Church. One was Rio 
 Harada. 
 
 Another was Tenya Fugiyama, who is betrothed to Mr. 
 Segawa, a native Christian helper in Nagasaki. She was sent 
 to us in the October previous, in order to bring her directly 
 under Christian influences, also that she might be better fitted 
 to be a helpmate to Mr. Segawa iu his work. Almost fi'om 
 her coming here she seemed interested in religion, and appears 
 now to have but one dcsu-e, and that, the salvation of her 
 
270 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 country me?i. She spciuls much time in prayer, and is always 
 at the feet of Jesus. A few months since, she heard that her 
 parents, who are in Nagasaki, were both interested in religion, 
 so she came to my room to tell uie that her prayers were an- 
 swered. As she was leaving the room she looked back, as if 
 she had something more upon her mind; and to my question as 
 to what it was, she said, her kindred, except her parents, were 
 far from Nagasaki, and there was no one to teach them tlie 
 li)vc of Christ. This, she longs to do herself. I am sure that 
 every day she prays many times for tliem; she lias already 
 learned the miglity power of prayer. There will be many stars 
 in tlie crown awaiting her. 
 
 Saya Muyeda was the third who recjeived baptism last 
 May. She was :i (h\y pupil for some time, at Ise Yama, when 
 her parents lived in Yokohama ; but left about three years ago, 
 because her father was appointed to a place in tlie Treasury 
 Department at TOkio. She retut*ncd to us last March, iuid in 
 May asked for baptism, liavmg had the full consant of lier 
 parents, who, she said, believed th;it the Christian roligion 
 was true. She was gladly received. 
 
 She is a superior Chinese scholar, and of a gentle and affec- 
 tionate disposition naturally. She began her Christian work 
 by going to her home and bringing I)ack her little sister who, 
 she said, was obstinate and spoiled, and learning nothing. We 
 found her report quite true, and liad mucli troul)lo witli little 
 Ikku at tii-st, because sliewas home-sick, and determined to go 
 home. IMow she is im])roving, and very happy, and docs not 
 wish to stay at home, altliough she has been there twice on 
 holiday visits. 
 
 THK AVEEKLY PK AYER-MEETING . 
 
 For about three years, our pupils luive lield a weeldy 
 prayer-meeting, and since September liavc met with the pupils 
 of "Tlie Mission Home," alternately here and there on Friday 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 271 
 
 afternoons for prayer. Although some of the teachers are 
 always present, the girls tukc part with great freedom, read- 
 ing a few texts of Scriptm-e and commenting upon them, or 
 leading in prayer. These meetings are botli interesting and 
 edifying. 
 
 INSTKUCTION IN THE CATECHISM. 
 
 We teach the catechism very thoroughly. Last April, I 
 promised my class of thirteen little girls, about ten years old, 
 a present to the one who could say the most of the catechism 
 in Japanese, at the end of June. We examined them on the 
 eighty questions wliich they had learned, and hut two missed 
 or hesitated ; so that, instead of giving the two pretty books 
 which I had selected for the two best, I was oljliged to hud 
 something for eleven, so I gave tliom each a small copy of one 
 of the Gospels. Last month tlie same class were examined, in 
 the presence of most of our Mission, in the entire catechism, 
 which they completed just before the new year, and not one 
 missed a \^ord. 
 
 BIBLE KNOWLEDGE. 
 
 Our pupils are very familiar with the Gospels and the 
 Acts of the Apostles, and are somewhat acquainted with all the 
 historical parts of the Bible. We are now studying the Old 
 Testament in the mornino-, and the New Testament in the 
 evening, and on Sunday evenings I spend a "delightful hour," 
 (a name given by the cliildren themselves,) with all the dear 
 little girls gathered closely about me, telling them Old Testa- 
 ment stories. 
 
 OTHER BRANCHES TAUGHT. 
 
 As you know, Ijeside the religious teaching, our pupils are 
 instructed in simple sciences, in English, also in reading and 
 writing their own language and Cliinese. So that they are 
 obliged to study very hard. On Satiu'day mornings they are 
 
272 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 taught to ineiid their clothing, after which, they do fancy 
 work, having only a half holiday. 
 
 EXPENSE TO THE PUPILS. 
 
 From our experience of the willingness of the Japanese 
 to receive whatever is given to them, although able to pay for 
 it, we concluded, from the beginning, not to make ours quite a 
 free school, but to fix a moderate price, and require its pay- 
 ment. "We settled upon three dollars for boarders, and one 
 dollar p3r mmtli, for day scholars, in order to encourage 
 boarders. Our pupils furnish their clothing, bedding, books 
 and stationery, — while we give them rooms, fuel, lights, 
 food, teaching, washing, and care for their health. The scliool 
 part of oui* house is somewhat modified to suit the habits of 
 the Japanese. 
 
 FUENITTJRE AND BEDDING. 
 
 Although the pupils use desks and chairs, like foreign 
 children, we have the floors covered with tlie wadded straw 
 mats, so that they need only wear tlieir neat socks as in their 
 own houses. They sit at table and use napkins and knives and 
 forks, but eat Japanese food, such as fish, rice, eggs, etc., with 
 the exception of l)oef once a week, whicli we consider better 
 for their health, and milk, which Ave give to those who are not 
 very strong. Their sleeping rooms also have the wadded straw 
 mats, so that they require only the thick quilts which they use 
 in their own homes in place of a mattress, and these are taken 
 up, folded and laid away in a large closet in the daytime, leav- 
 ing tlieir rooms clean and neat. 
 
 DIVISION OF LABOR. 
 
 During the first year of our boarding-school, closing July, 
 1876, I took the care of the school as well as the housekeep- 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 27;} 
 
 , ing ; Miss AVitbeck sharing with me the teaching, and devot- 
 ing herself to the study of the hmgnage. I found, however, 
 that so much care was too great a strain upon my brain, and 
 something must be done to relieve me, so we decided to put 
 much more teaching upon the older girls, wlio were assisting 
 
 ^ us. Miss Witbeck, who since September, has had the entire 
 care of the school room, finds them very efficient, so tliat I am 
 scarcely missed, although relieved from all teacliing during the 
 week, except the morning Bible lesson and superintending the 
 sewing on Saturdays. I still do tlie housekeeping, and look 
 after tlio liealtli of our flock, which is quite a work among so 
 many. By the blessing of Providence we have been preserved 
 from all severe illness, and for tlie past six montlis have not 
 been obliged to call a pliysician. 
 
 " The past is not so dark as oace it seemed, 
 
 For there Thy footprints now distinct I see ; 
 And seed in weakness sown, from death redeemed, 
 
 Is springing np, and ))earing fruit in Thee, 
 Not all that hath been, Lord, lienceforth shall be : 
 
 A low, sweet, eheerinj strain i.'i i.i mine ear, 
 Thanksgiving, and the V()ice of melody, 
 
 Are ushering in from Heaven a blest New Year." 
 
 THE WORK RP:VIEWED, KXAMINATIOiSrS, ETC. 
 
 Tlie missionaries have steadily kept in view tlie idea that 
 they were educating tlu girls, to bocoaio good wives and 
 inothcrs in Japan. To so teach them, that they would be dis- 
 satisfied witli, and discontented in their own homos, would be 
 no kindness. So they have boon encouragod to retain their 
 own pretty native costume, and some of their distinctive daily 
 (mstoms, while also they have learned so no of our refinements 
 of behavior. 
 
 The following particulars are taken from a review of the 
 18 
 
274 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 first joai-'s work, received from the teachers of the Girls' School 
 at YokoliauKi. 
 
 COST OF BOILDING. 
 
 Tu regard to the school, tlie original proposition was to ex- 
 j)e]id 8-">,000 on tliis l>uilding, hut when the plans were drawn, 
 it was found, that by adding §500 to the outlay, a much more 
 satisfactory hous > cixdd l)e obtained, and the addition was 
 autliorizC'(L Th ^ buibHug is about seventy-live feet front, and 
 neai^y forty feet deep, and will aiford fine accommodation 
 for the boarding-school and teachers. It is situated in a com- 
 manding position on the bluff, l)ehind the city, overlooking the 
 town and harbor. (See picture on page 241.) 
 
 OPENING 07 THK SCHOOL. 
 
 When the school wis open^.l, on the 1st of June, 1875, 
 there were present fourteen scliolars, all of whom had l)een 
 day pupils with Airs. Miller o;i Noge Hill. Two little girls 
 fi-o.a Oz.iki came as b;>arders in July, and two from Yoko- 
 h;i:na as d ly scholars, so that at the close of the session in Tnly, 
 tliere were eighteen ])upils. The ladies would have preferred, 
 for some r.MSons, to wait until the l>eginning of September, 
 for the opeaiug of the school, but knowing the peculiarities of 
 Japanese (character, they feared tliat by the end of three 
 months, the scholars would bo scattered, so they determined to 
 keep the girls with them for two months, and then dismiss them 
 for a vacation (^f six weeks. 
 
 Vacation over, tlie school was resumed on Septcm1)er Lath. 
 Five pupils liad left in thi^ interim, one, a girl of fifteen only, 
 to be married. Three, theii' friends promised, should return 
 wlien tlicy wei'c older. At the vm] of the month, we num- 
 bered fifteen, and a few weeks later two others of our absentees 
 returned. One of these was Rio, the dear girl who had been 
 longest with us. She had been visiting at Yeddo, and wliile 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 27. 
 
 there liad been sent to the Government Girls' School, which is 
 under the patronage of the Empress. Slie was very glad tf> 
 he back witli ns. 
 
 A BEMARKABI.E W0MA.N. 
 
 Returning from our vacation trip into the interior, we 
 dismissed tlie former Japanese teacher of the girls, and secured 
 the services of another, a woman wlio had been a sort of 
 Shinto priestess, and whom Okuuo had known twenty years 
 ago. She is very learned, and nnder her instruction the girls 
 make great progress in Chinese and Japanese. 
 
 The growth of the school has been steady. Four of the 
 older girls are employed as assis.ants in the care of the littler 
 ones, and in teaching them how to learn tlieir lessons. These 
 are paid, on the terms wliich liave been mentioned before, 
 $5.00 eacli a month, and of this §3.00 goes to tlieir board. 
 
 Looking back over a year's work, we are filled with thank- 
 fulness, one. source of which is, that our school was not very 
 large at first. We needed experience, and even a family of 
 fr>urteen may tax the powers of a novice. 
 
 OUR COOK. 
 
 Our Japanese cook has been a treasure. Upon him rests 
 the burden of providing for the girls' talde, our province being 
 merely to give directions. We have a gardener, tuid five house- 
 servants. Two and a half of the latter, if we may use the ex- 
 pression, we regard as l)3longing to the school. They have 
 been with us from the l^eginning antl are very faitliful and 
 diligent. 
 
 WHERE THE SCHOLARS COME FROM. 
 
 Most of our girls come from Yeddo, and Yokohama, and 
 are the daughters of Government officials, yet we have pupilt^ 
 
276 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 fVoiii different parts of the Empire, from Nagasaki, in the ex- 
 treme soutli-west, from near Ozato and Kioto, the Westc;-! 
 Capital, l)otli of wliich are a1)out the centre of the main island; 
 from Kinchin, at the entrance of the Inland Sea, and froai 
 Shinto Fenki, about one hundred miles north of Yeddo. 
 
 JAPANESE FOOD. 
 
 Tlie best Japanese food, and that to which the girls are 
 accustomed at home, is prepared for them at school. It con- 
 sists of fish, rice, eggs, and all kinds of vegetal)les, but neith-^r 
 meat, bread nor milk. 
 
 BEDS AND BEDDING. 
 
 A Japanese bed consists of two heavy quilts, on one of 
 which the person lies, while the other forms a covering. The 
 upper one resembles their own lower garments, but is very 
 heavy. Their pillows are little stool-like cushions, about as 
 comfortable as an octavo book set on edge, and looking as if 
 intended to cut the neck rather than to rest it ; but then, these 
 high neck-rests possess one advantage. They allow the young 
 ladies to preserve their elaborate coiffures several days undis- 
 turbed. Some of the little ones have their hair more simply 
 arranged, and they sleep more comfortably on flatter pillows, 
 stuffed with rice-bran. They dress in the native costume, l)ut 
 we require them to wear a white undergarment, which can be 
 changed when soiled. These, with their heavy white socks, wo 
 have washed in the house. It is to be hoped that among other 
 improvements, they may be induced to wear their hair in some 
 more sensible way, and yet the crimps and puffs of Christian 
 young women in America, are hardly more tasteful than the 
 fashion of the Japanese. 
 
 SCHOOL HOURS. 
 
 Our school-hours are from nine to half-past twelve in the 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 277 
 
 morning for English, opening with a singing exercise and prayer, 
 reading the Bible in English, and explaining it in Japanese. 
 
 "W"e have some half dozen classes, which, however, are not 
 all entirely distinct, the girls who are together in one class, 
 being sometimes separated in another. Our English branches 
 at present are, first lessons in philosophy, physiology, history, 
 botany, Quackenbos' composition, reading, spelling, writing, 
 arithmetic, geography and conversation, all of which the girls 
 are required to translate from the English text-books, giving 
 double work to them as well as to their teachers. 
 
 Some of the older girls are learning to play upon the me- 
 lodeon; and we hope, before very long, that they will be able 
 to play at the Japanese church-service. 
 
 The morning study-hours are from after breakfast, which 
 is at 7 A. M. in winter, and 6 a. m. in summer, till 8:40. To 
 this study all the day-scholars come, some of them a mile and 
 a half, in all weathers. Think of little girls at home, only five 
 or six years old, coming at half-past seven of a winter's morn- 
 ing, in order to have time to study before school. 
 
 The evening study-hours are from tea-time, 5 p. m., till 
 evening prayers at 6:30. After prayers, the little ones are put 
 to bed, and the older girls stay up till 9 and 9:45. Even then, 
 it is hard to get them to go to bed, and at play-time, they gen- 
 erally have to be literally driven out of doors. 
 
 Evening prayers are conducted in Japanese, and all the 
 servants attend. 
 
 ^ 33 ' 33 -3}-' 
 
278 
 
 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AT THE FER- 
 RIS SEMINARY, 1876. 
 
 HE parents of tlie pupils are not, as a rule, 
 interested in religious tilings; althougli 
 a few of tlieni ar6 church meml)ers, and 
 a few othars attend some of the i-eligious 
 services. Over and ovei* have they de- 
 clined invitations to come and hear the 
 teaching, but in vain ; so at this time, 
 the ladies thought to catcli them with a little parade. The 
 week l^efore Christ na?, i:ivItatio:is were sent to all of them to 
 come Oil the following Sunday, as that is now their leisure day, 
 to a " Matsun ; " or, religious festival. At the same time, Mr. 
 Okuuo, an elder inthe cluirch, and the nu)st eloquent speaker 
 among the native Chri stians, was asked to prepare an address, 
 and also to make it appropriate to Christmas. He was glad to 
 do so. His heart is always alive to the salvation of his people. 
 
 EVERGEEENS AND BRIGHT BERRIES. 
 
 On Satm-day the 23d, tlie ladies decorated the school- 
 room with heautiful wreaths of green, and l)right l)erries, with 
 which at this season, the country al)0unds. Sunday, the 2-ith, 
 at 3 P.M., there was assembled the school of tliirty-four pupils, 
 and al)Out forty of the parents and friends. 
 
 The services began l)y singing Antiocli, translated into 
 Japanese; after which Mr. Oivuno, led in prayar ; then Rio, 
 wlio is learning to play on the organ, played, while all sang 
 from the hvmns of tlie church, " Gjo.I Njws," and " Ilark, 
 the Herald Anfjels sing ! " Tiiis was in Eujrlish. 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 279 
 
 Then Okuno preached from " Glory to God in the 
 Highest," telling the people who this God is, in a way so uni- 
 niated, as to fix their attention for the whole sermon. After 
 
 ^;v>'i 
 
 OKUNO. OSAWA. 
 
 ELDEKS OF Tnii CHOUCa AT TOKOnAMA. 
 
 the sermo!!, we sang a pretty little original hymn by Okuno, 
 relating the story of our Redeemer's birth. 
 
 BEFKESHMENTS. 
 
 At the close of tlie exercises, the ladies had Japanese 
 sponge-cake and tea passed to all the guests and pnpils. It is 
 supposed that the Japanese learned how to make sponge-cake 
 from the Jesuits, several centuries ago. 
 
 CHEISTMAS GIFTS. 
 
 We had some little presents of books, pictures, fancy-work 
 and d(;lls, which had the previous year lieen sent to Mrs. 
 
280 THE DAITGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 Miller, bat the box arriving too lute for CJiristmas, its contents 
 were reserved. On Satiu-daj night, Mrs. Miller and Miss 
 Witbock prepared thirty-four stockings, tilling the feet witli 
 oranges and candies, and putting the presents on, or in them 
 they laid them aside until Sunday niglit, when the children 
 were ail in bed. The clothes-line was put up in the school- 
 room, and we pinned on the thirty-four sto(.kings, with thirty 
 four names attached. In tlie morning, they enjoyed the 
 surprise and their presents exceedingly, and had a merry time 
 getting to the bottom of their long stockings. 
 
 ^ This was Christmas morning, of course. About ten 
 o clock, the pupils went to the J apanese church, after which 
 we hnd a pleasant time with the native cdnircli-members, at the 
 Mission House next door to the church, into which Mr and 
 Mrs. Amerman had just moved. In a large vacant room, tlie 
 members of om- Mission prepared a table, nround which we 
 sang and talked, and the Japanese ate. Thus, even in Japan 
 were enjoyed and remembered the blessings which came to 
 all the world, through om- loving Saviour. 
 
 The account of the school and its pi-ogress has so far been 
 given by Mrs. Miller. Her husband now takes up the pen 
 in an informal letter, from which we make some quotations. 
 
 3-3^3-&*^ — 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 281 
 
 SUMMER EXAMINATION OF THE GIRLS' 
 SCHOOL AT YOKOHAMA. 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. E. R. Miller. 
 
 write by this mail, since our school will be closed 
 at the end of next week, to remain so during the 
 hot weather. We have kept on till this late day, 
 because the heat has been so slow in coming. We 
 shall be scattered soon ; Mrs. Miller and I will go 
 to Uyedo, where there has been a good deal of interest 
 excited, and where they are very anxious to have some 
 one come to teach them. Heretofore, they have had very little 
 instruction of any kind. Two of them have been down here — 
 one was baptized in Yeddo, and one here ; and when Mr. Oshi- 
 kawa passed through Uyeda, on his way to Nugata, he was per- 
 suaded to remain for a few days and instruct them. Proba- 
 bly Mr. Maki, one of the elders, will go with us, both on ac- 
 count of his health, and to assist in teaching. He is one of the 
 young men who are studying for tJie ministr}'' ; we know and 
 like him very much. 
 
 THE JAPANESE TEACHER. 
 
 A week or so ago, we had our first examination by the 
 Japanese teaclier. The English examination was held just be- 
 fore Christmas. Onr teacher, of whom you have doubtless 
 heard before, conducted it all in her own way, and I wish you 
 could have seen it. Many were very much interested, who 
 could not understand one word. 
 
282 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 All the desks were cleared away for the visitors. Tlie 
 scholars were ranged on their chairs on the sidea of the smaller 
 scliool-room, which was thrown open into the large one, where 
 sat the spectators. In front of the scholars, and facing the 
 undicnoe was a single small table and chair, at which sat each 
 girl as she came np to read in her turn. Tlie teacher sat with 
 her side to the audience on a large cane arin-chair ; her feet, in 
 immense carpet slippers, resting on a foot-?:tool. Her dress 
 was new for the occasion ; slie wore the offici;d wide panta- 
 loons, wliich in lier case were made of stiff figured yellow 
 gauze. She sat in grand state, not condescjending to do any- 
 thing but preserve her dignity, and fan herself. One of the 
 oldest girls, an excellent Chinese scholar, wlio acted as her as- 
 sistant, sat beside her, and emailed {he names of the different 
 scholars in order; and as thoy went up to recite gave tliem their 
 l^ooks, and told them where to read. The younger girls road 
 only, while the older ones, both read and explained. The text- 
 books were generally histories in Japanese and Chinese. 
 
 SPECIMENS OF THEIR WRITINO. 
 
 Tlie walls were hung with specimens of their writing, in 
 different s':yles; some the free running hand, others the square 
 Chinese liand, and others partly a combination. Tlie elder 
 girls' specimens were original odes or sonnets. 
 
 Miss witbeck's letter. 
 
 Miss Witbeck thus sums up the results of the first year's 
 Avork : 
 
 " Yesterday school closed witli twenty-nine scholars, and 
 now all but two are gone, leaving us somewhat lonely, and de- 
 cidedly (piiet. Our Jiipaneso examination occurred on the 23d 
 of last month, and the girls acquitted themselves in a manner 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 283 
 
 which greatly delighted their friends ; but of this I presume you 
 have already heard from Mrs. Miller. Perhaps you will ask, 
 ' What are the results of your year's work in the Ferris Seminary V 
 To which I would reply, tliat so far as I was able to judge from 
 the two standpoints, — that of the Japanese, and that of the mis- 
 sionary, — the results have beenbejondmy expectations. Among 
 the Japanese, the school has gained a reputation, or as they ex- 
 press it, has became famous ; and that means much in a country 
 wlicre the people are so devoted to things which are popular. 
 Already we have a number of pupils from distant provinces. 
 Lookiug at our labor as work in the Master's service, we feel 
 that He has truly been with us, blessing our weak endeavors, 
 and answeriug many prayers. Three of the girls have con- 
 fessed their faitli, and are now members of Mr. Ballagh's 
 church, and otliers have expressed the wish to be baptized ; be- 
 sides this, there has been a silent influence pervading the school, 
 which has been greatly blessed to many of our girls. 
 
 i^Tow that they have gone to their friends, they must tell 
 some of the truths of Cliristianitj, and thus we hope that more 
 may be brought to Christ. One of our Christian scholars will 
 return to her home at Nikko, for the purpose of teaching the 
 Bible to her country-women, and I am expecting to accom- 
 pany her. AVe start on Tuesday, and I shall probably return 
 in a month, leaving her in Nikko." 
 
 COMPOSITIONS AND LETTEKS OF THE JAPAI^ESE GLBLS. 
 
 Nothing in our own seminaries, proves the advancement 
 of pupils, and sets forth the degree of their (culture, so mani- 
 festly as an original composition. Their progress in gram- 
 mar, in spelling, and in writing, are all shown in this way; and 
 even more clearly is displayed, their ability to express them- 
 selves with intelligence, and to make use of what tliey have 
 acquired. The Japanese girls appear to have a natural gift 
 
2 '34 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 for letter- writing", uiid the teachers luive found it easy to induce 
 them to exercise it. Some of the Bands have corresponded 
 with their beneficiaries, and have received very gratifying 
 epistles, iu return for their own. 
 
 KIO'S LETTER. 
 
 Addressed to the Mission Board at Bronxville : 
 
 Ferris Seminary, Yokohama. 
 My Dea.r Friends: 
 
 I liave not yet seen yon, but I have heard of yon from our 
 dear teacher,?. I tlianlv you, that pitying us, so far away, you 
 have sent mu<;h money for our education in this school. Fro:u 
 ancient times iu Japan, there were n(j special schools for wo- 
 men, and they did not know anything, but during their whole 
 lives they were slaves to the men, and did not know another 
 right religion, and a happy way ; therefore their minds being 
 darkened, and believing in many bewildering doctrines, they 
 served false gods, and worshipped idols. But now we are 
 thankful that, being led by the mercy of God, wo have come 
 to this school, and thi'ough the kindness and love of these 
 teachei's, here first heard of the true and living God, who m;«(le 
 heaven and earth and all things, and dwells in heaven. He 
 beheld and pitied the suffering condition of mankind hi sin, 
 and sent His Son Jesus Christ, who descended to a low estate, 
 in His deep love and pity, for which I am truly thankful, and 
 also that Jesus Christ put His back on the cross, and His l)ody 
 was broken, and His blood flowed, and He suffered and was 
 wounded to save us from suffering and sin. We are glad to 
 believe the Gospel, and, repenting of our forme)" sins, have 
 been baptized, and received Jesus the Saviour, and trusting 
 everything to Plim, and with love following Him, we hope to 
 have eternal life, and eternal glory in Heaven. 
 
 Now we are thankful to be in this Christian home, with 
 dear teai'hcrs, friends and sisters, through the grace of God, 
 being always blessed and happy. 
 
 And it is always our hope, with strong faith, to love each 
 other, aiTd tlie Lord Jesus, and to walk in the straight and holy 
 way, and never to go in wondering paths. So, with peaceful 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 285 
 
 and liumble hearts, we hope to leave this world without fear, 
 and to go to heaven, and meet by the side of tlie " pure river." 
 Please always remember us in your prayers, and we will 
 remember you. Rio. 
 
 Ko Okada, whose story has already been told, has pleased 
 her instructors, not less by her amiability of disposition, and 
 her constancy of principle, than by the steady growth of her 
 mind, under the influence of the school. The composition here 
 given, was read by her, at the examination, which Mr. Miller 
 and Miss Witbeck have described. 
 
 A JAPANESE GIKl's COMPOSITION. 
 A TRIP TO SHANGHAI, BY KO OKADA. 
 
 " We left Yokohama, Saturday, September 11th, by the 
 Tokiomaru, for Shanghai. The first day was calm, but at 
 night the sea was rougli, and I was very sick until we arrived 
 at Kobe, where we stayed one day. Kobe is a very fine place, 
 situated at the foot of a range of hills, and has a pretty water- 
 fall, so I like it very much. The next place at which we 
 stopped was iN'agasaki, on a lovely bay of the same name. 
 After leaving Il^agasaki, we sailed through the Mud Sea, so 
 called because of the color of the water, and on Saturday we 
 entered the Tangtsekiang River, arriving at Shanghai about 
 noon. The Tokiomaru sailed up to her dock, so we did not 
 need little l)oats, because we could go directly from the steamer 
 to land. The harbor was beautiful, and many sln'ps were in 
 port. The country is level. The roads are narrow and dirty, 
 with rows of trees, of which the great part are willow, planted 
 on both sides. The Public Gardens are more beautiful than 
 those of Yokohama. Every evening, tlie foreign gentlemen 
 and ladies, with their cliildren, visit the garden. There are no 
 wells, and all the people drink the water of the river. While 
 
^SB THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 I was at the hotel, some Chinese ladies came to us. Their feet 
 were as small as a child's, AVhenever I went out, children fol- 
 l')wed after me, and gatliered around in crowds, when I stopped 
 at the shops, so that I did not like to walk out in the day-tiiae. 
 Excepting that the Chinese dress their liair in a way peculiar 
 t«^ themselves, their customs are much like those of the 
 Japanese." 
 
 It is doul)tful whether there are many American girls who 
 cjuld write a more grapliic description than this of a trip ro 
 Piiiladelphia or Boston, and if it were required of them, to 
 write in a foreign tongue, French, or German, or Japanese, tlie 
 t:i<k would be indeed difficjult. Beside the composition, Mrs. 
 J. P. Cumming, of Yonkers, Home Corresponding Secretaiw 
 of the Wo'.nan's Board, has kindly sent to this v^olume, a sto/y. 
 and three letters, written at different periods by Ko. The let- 
 ters were addressed to the Yonkei-s Auxiliary, which has under- 
 taken Ko's support. Of the little story Mrs. Miller wrote • 
 
 '' I found this in my drawer, and rememl)er it, as a story 
 which Ko AVi'otc and brought to me some time ago, for cor- 
 rection. I mislaid it, and it was forgotten, and I now send it 
 without any correction." 
 
 THE STOHV OF THE JELLY-FISH. 
 
 " I will tell you a little story wliicli I heard from my friend. 
 In ancient times, there was anotlier world at tlie liottom of the 
 ocean ; no one could go there, for it was a secret place. A 
 l)eautiful woman governed the nation, and all her attendants 
 were fishes and beasts of the sea. At length slic fell sick, and 
 cr)min<'' worse, day after day. All the sul)jects were very 
 anxious, and talked with each other about it. Some of them 
 said that the liver of an ape was very good medicine for that 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. L*87 
 
 disease, therefore, they sent a tortoise to catch it; so he went to 
 a niountai'.i. and l)rought an ape on his l)ack, which lie presented 
 him to the qnec:n ; slie was i^dad to receive a remedy for lier 
 disease, bnt slie was sorry that he had to be killed. She told 
 her servants to feed it with nice food, and kt hiu) play in the 
 garden. AVhile he was standing alone by a pond, a jelly-tish 
 (^ame to him and said, ' I am very sorry for yon, because yon 
 will be killed;' then ape said 'Why? I have not done any- 
 thing wrong,' and the jelly-tish replied ' The qneen wants your 
 liver foi" her medicine.' Then the ape was very afraid, and 
 began to contrive how he might save his life. After awhile as 
 the rain was falling, he returned to the palace, and stood cry- 
 ing in the hall. At that time the tortoise came, and asked: 
 ' Why do you cry,' and tlie ape answered, ' because I forgotten 
 to bring my liver, and it is raining now, so my liver will decay; 
 and when the sul)jects heard this, they were troul)led, and said, 
 ' he is good for nothing if he has no liver, and we must send 
 him to bring it,' so that they sent him to bring it ; but when 
 he reached a mountain, the ape ran away, and the tortoise 
 waited until evening, but it was unnecessary. The tortoise re- 
 turned, and told the queen about it, and she said, ' it must have 
 known our projec-t, and some of my servants must have told it,' 
 so she gathered together all hei' attendants and said ' All of 
 you come here and worship the god, but whosoever did w^rong, 
 the god will punish him,' l)ut jelly-hsh would not go there, 
 knowing his fault. So she knew who did it, and said to the 
 jellj^-tish, 'you will not remain any longer among iisli.' She 
 took off his shell. Since that time jelly-tish have no shells." 
 
 Ko's LETTERS. 
 
 The first l)ears date December 9th, 1S75 : 
 
 Yokohama, Japan, Ferris Seminary. 
 My Dear Fkiend : 
 
 I hope you are well, and I thank for your kindness. I am 
 
288 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 
 
 staying at the school, many boarding-scholars are here. ^Ye 
 liavc study in English from nine till half-])ast twelve ; we are 
 divided into six (Masses; I am studying History, Geography, 
 Arithmetic, PJiilosophy, Botany and Composition. Every 
 morning we read in Acts, and teacher explains to us. In tin- 
 afternoon we have Japanese reading, and writing lesson^. 
 Evei-y Saturday we have sewing half of day. On Sunday we 
 go to church, which is settled in Japan by the grace of God. 
 The building is very splendid. The sevice begain at nine, 
 When we come back to liome, we all go to s(;hool, some one 
 of the Christian young man preach to us. In the afternoon we 
 have the Sunday school, there are three classe, in which I am. 
 One is reading Genesis in English. Many of our ])i-ethren 
 have learned about Bible, and they go about the teaching the 
 people earnestly, so that the Capital city, seaport, and several 
 villages are prevailing the religion. Therefoi-e many of our 
 countrymen know about Jesus Christ. Four of our brethren 
 have l)een elected the elders of the church, and we are about 
 to c] loose a pastor. 
 
 Please pray for us, and our teac^hers, friends, and every 
 school in Japan. I am thank God for your kindness. Fare- 
 well, Yours Affectionately, 
 
 Ko Ok AD A. 
 
 The second, written July 19tli, 1876, shows progress: 
 
 My Dear FRIE^^Ds: 
 
 I hope you are always in good healtli through the grace 
 of our Heavenly Fathei-. I have not written to you foi- a long 
 time, but I have not forgotten your kindness all the time. Our 
 school closed the loth of this month, so I have retired with on(> 
 of my school-mates to spend the vacation, and our teachers will 
 go to some place in the hills, to escape from the heat of the 
 summer. Our country is progressing in civilization, for we 
 have many curious things, that have never been used here ])e- 
 fore, such as steamboats, railroads, gas and many other things. 
 The house where 1 am living now is that of tiie famous ri(;li 
 merchant in Yokohama. lie seems the most civilized one of 
 them all, for he has lighted all the house with gas, and he, 
 wishing to educate the people well, founded a s(;hool, and on 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 289 
 
 Sandays he makes the men-servants, and maid-servants rest ; 
 yet it is not true civilization, for although it is lightened with 
 gas, and all around it is spi-ead great darkness, and although 
 this rich man and his family know the name of the iSaviour, 
 they d'o not care at all. Whenever you kneel down to pray, 
 please remember them. 
 
 One of the Japanese Christians went to a village called 
 Totsuka to preach the Gospel, and the people are very glad to 
 hear it, so that one of the old Chiistian men goes there every 
 Saturday to preach. At first a few people came, Init gradually 
 the number has increased, and now almost a hundred people 
 go there, with the women and their children. My father is 
 living there ; he goes to hear the preaching too ; and he wishes 
 me to go there, and teac^h the people how to sing, and I intend 
 to go there sometimes during my vacaticn. I ho|)c that my 
 father will become a true Christian. Flease pray to God for 
 these people, and that other heathen persons nuxy turn to the 
 true religion. Good-by, I hope you will have a pleasant time 
 in this vacation. Yours Affectionately, 
 
 Ko Okada. 
 
 ^ZR. ballagh's testimony. 
 
 Mr. Ballagh's letter, dated Yohohama, July 24, 1876, 
 contains these sentences: "There is much of interest in 
 Japanese affairs, and in mission work, and all of an en- 
 couraging nature. The scjhool examinations are being held, 
 and very creditable they all have I)een, Tlie Ferris Seaiinary 
 examination in Japanese and Chinese studies, under their 
 native teachers took place yesterday, and was largely tittended 
 by Japanese gentlemen and ladies, and parents of the ])upils. 
 The proficiency of the scholars in reading and translating 
 Chinese, was something wonderful to us Europeans. Tlieir 
 w;'iting, specimens of whi(4i adorned the walls, were xcvy 
 creditable. The performer at the organ was one of the girls, 
 and the whole was a decided success. The English examina- 
 tion was held in mid-winter. The American Womans' Mission 
 School Examination in English, was entirely satisfactory. 
 19 
 
200 THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES 
 
 Interest in the Gospel increases in all directions. Two of our 
 elders are engaged constantly in preaching, one in Yeddo, and 
 tlio other at a village six or eight miles from here. Calls 
 coiiie f ro:n all parts of the country to visit them in the summer 
 \';!(',ation. \ 
 
 MUSIC AS A STUDY. 
 
 " Several of the older girls are learning to play the organ, 
 i.nong them Rio, Ko, and Hiza. Their progress is rapid, and 
 rhey are highly co:npliinented by their teacher, Miss Witbeck. 
 This accomplishment will cnal^le them greatly to assist, in the 
 musical part of their churcli services." 
 
 IMPRESSIONS OF MR. KIP. 
 
 Rev. Leonard W. Kip, of the Amoy Mission, while 
 travelling in Japan for his health, in September, 1875, wrote 
 concerning 
 
 NATIVE ASSEMBLIES. 
 
 " We Avere happy in being present at the dedication of 
 tlie new Union Church at Yokohama. Services are held in 
 in this building, both in Japanese and in English, so there is 
 union in more senses than one. The building is more nearly 
 like our churches at home, than those we commonly find here. 
 The (iongregation by no means tills it, so there is room for 
 growth. Several things connected with this work, are striking 
 to one who has lived in Cliina. 
 
 SITTING TOGETHER OF MEN AND WOMEN. 
 
 " One is, that in tlic native assemblies, men and women sit 
 together, as in our churches at home. It will be a long time 
 time before we see men and women in China sitting together 
 in church. In these noigliboring Enipii-es, we see two ex- 
 tremes, the reserve of CJiina, contrasting strongly with tlie free 
 social intercourse of Japan. 
 
 " At Nagasaki too, the pretty church building is often weU 
 
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE ISLES. 291 
 
 filled with liearei'ri. All that 1ms been told of the lovely scenery 
 of this part of the world is true, for evQry prospect pleases, 
 and alas ! only man is vile. Yet our missionaries are not with- 
 out encouragement here. Few have heen baptized, but many 
 seem interested." 
 
 A BELL TO YOKOHAMA. 
 
 There is no sweeter sound in Christian lands, than the 
 voice of the Sabbath bell, as it summons the worshippers to 
 the house of prayer. When the silver tones are borne over 
 the quiet hillsides and flowery vales of our own dear country, 
 they seem in tliemselves to carry an earnest and a pledge of 
 the protection which belongs to all who are gathered under t\w 
 banner of the cross ; so it is no wonder that loyal hearts have 
 delighted to send far over the blue-rounding billows, to dis- 
 tant tropic shores, bells which shall summon to the sanctuary, 
 those who were lately wending their ways to temples of idoh'.- 
 try. On December 16, 18T5, our Board shipped a line bell, 
 with the frame- work necessary to mount it, to Dr. James H. 
 Ballagh, for the native church at Yokohama. Its weight was 
 six hundred and six pounds. It was the gift, mainly, of 
 Garret Kouvenhoven, Esq., of Kewtown, L. I. Messrs 
 Meneely & Co., of West Troy, also dealt very generously 
 with us, and made a handsome donation. This gift followed 
 promptly upon the need, for in July, 1875, the building had 
 been solemnly dedicated to the worship of God ; the first 
 Christian church ever erected in Japan.* 
 
 * " The Foreign Board of the Rrtforraed Church sent seven missiona- 
 ries to Japan, when it was jast opened,— Dr. S. R. Brown, Mrs. Brown and 
 daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Verbee. Dr. and Mrs. Simmons. The building for 
 the church was delayed by the Grovernmeufc, and only consecrated a year 
 ago last July ; the stained windows were there thirteen years before they 
 would allow the church to be built. April 1, 1870, the bell, sent by a 
 gentlemen of the Dutch Church, on Long Lsland, was rung, and the 
 Japanese Government proclaimed ' Religious Liberty." — Extract from a 
 letter of Mrs. T. O. Doremus to the Secretary of the Woman's Board. 
 
292 A VISIT TO UYEDA. 
 
 A VISIT TO UYEDA. 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. E. R. Miller. 
 
 [S^I'pYEDA is in the country of Sliinsee, tlie highest part 
 
 <U'Mi of Japan. It lies a little to the north or west from 
 
 ^S*||p Yeddo, from which it is distant some 115 miles. 
 
 C'^'^'j^ or al)ont three days travel. Situated some fifteen 
 
 " ^ s miles from the foot of Asama Yama, tlie g-reat 
 
 smoking volcano of Japan ; it is in a basin formed by the 
 
 surrounding hills, and although very cold in winter, is so f^hut 
 
 in from wind and rain, that tlie heat in summer is oppressive, 
 
 not\\athstanding tlie elevation. 
 
 " Uyeda is one of the old castle towns of Japan, but like 
 so many others, the oastle has been suffered to go to ruin, till 
 there is nothing left but a partially filled moat and the heavy 
 gate-walls. It is a large town, but like most inland Japanese 
 towns, is straggling; and as it is near the silk distri(^t, its 
 principal products are raw silk, cocoons, and coarse silk woven 
 goods. 
 
 " That however, which attracts the attention of Christians 
 to Uyeda, is the interest in Christianity which has sprung np 
 there, within the last year. The first interest was awakened 
 by Mr. Suzuki, one of the chm-cli members of Yokohama. 
 Ho went to Uyeda, in the summer of 1875, to visit his 
 relations, and reinained there for several weeks. He spoke to 
 iiis friends and relations of the truths of the IJible, and finding 
 among his acquaintances those who had already heard of 
 Christianity, he explained it to them more fully. Among 
 these friends was a 
 
A VISIT TO UYEDA. 293 
 
 MR. INAGAKI, 
 
 who, by his teacliing, was persuaded to embrace Christianity. 
 As this man became a sort of leader of the little band of Chris- 
 tians, a few lines aiay be devoted to his history. Some years 
 ago, while Matsudaira was in Yeddo, Mr. Inagaki went up to 
 the ciiital, and eiitsrod the school of Mr. Fukusawa, and while 
 there attende;! Mr. Tho npson's prea(;hing. Afterwards he was 
 undar Mr. Jolm. B;illagh's teaching, and also for about a year 
 vv^•!s ;it Nagasaki, where he lieard Mr. Stout preach. He was 
 not, however, hrouglit to a conviction of the truth, till he 
 (leiu'd Mr. Suzuki, \Yhen the latter had to leave for Yoko- 
 lii ua, he requested Mr. Inagaki, to take his place, in teaching 
 his sister ; this charge was undertaken, and faithfully carried 
 out. Though he is not rich, he has enough to live on, and 
 support quite a large lamil}'-, and as he has no other employ- 
 inent, gives his whole time and strength to preaching and teacli. 
 ing, as best he is able. He came down last January to be 
 baptized, and so was examined and united with the church 
 here. 
 
 A JAPANESE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 
 
 While Mr, Suzuki was in Uyeda, he t<.)ld his friends of a 
 Japanese Temperance Society, which had been started in Yo- 
 kohama, and explained its objects. This so struck the minds 
 of some, that they determined to begin one at Uyeda, and a(;- 
 cordingly some montlis after Mr. Suzuki left, they founded a 
 society with some seven members. These assembled with Mr. 
 Inagaki three times a month, and at these meetings he ex- 
 plained the Bil)le. Some of these members had lieard of 
 Christianity through Cliinese Bil)les, and other books, and they 
 all soon became intensely interested in studying its truths, and 
 iissembled every Sunday, and at other times also, for study and 
 ])rayer. 
 
294 A VISIT TO UYEDA. 
 
 WAITING FOR THE WORD. 
 
 Hoping that before loDg some of tlie missionaries would 
 pass through tlie place, some of the believers resolved to meet 
 togetlier, and go carefully over one of the Gospels, wliich had 
 Ijeen translated, marking those passages which especially need- 
 ed explanation, knowing that in this way, they could gain satis- 
 factory knowledge in a short time, from one who raiglit even 
 l)e hurriedly passing tln-ougli. One of the ^vomen who had 
 lioard of these meetings, insisted upon joining them, as she 
 said the study of the Gospels, was something which concerned 
 lier, as nmch as any one. This woman, Mrs. Kojuna, who is 
 a family connection of Mr. Suzuki's sister, has given such re- 
 markal)le proofs of her faith, that I may be pardoned for men- 
 tioning them in this connection. 
 
 MRS. KOJIJNA. 
 
 After Mr. Suzuki left for Yokohama, Mr. Inagaki took 
 his place, and continued to teach his sister, who finally liad her 
 eyes, opened by the Spirit, to see tlie truth. When she became 
 interested she spoke to her sister-in-law, who is a widow, and 
 she in turn, spoke to her own sister, Mrs. K<)jima. Mrs. Ko- 
 juna, is the mother of a large family, and has had trouble. 
 On some occasions, she would drink to drown her sorrows, not 
 out of the little thimble-like cups of the Japanese, but from 
 one large enough to produce an immediate effect, and cause 
 lier not oidy to forget present trials, but truth itself. Once 
 when slie went to liear Mr. Inagaki preach, she was so struck 
 with what slie considered a description of her own sin, th'atslic 
 wondered what kind friend had given so a vivid an account of 
 her hal)its and failings to the preacher. This made her think 
 upon lier conduct, and long after, when speaking to Mr. Ina- 
 gaki, of the possibility of such a person as liersell" jouiiiig the 
 
A VISIT TO UYEDA. 295 
 
 temperance society, be said it would certainly bo right to do so, 
 and put ber name down on tlie spot. 
 
 JAPANESE POLITENESS. 
 
 This took ber completely by surprise, as she had no inten- 
 tion of joining, yet with true Japanese ideas of politeness, she 
 did not dare to say anytbinij; against it, but went home, feeling 
 that death would be preferable to resigning ber sake, since she 
 tbought that as her name was pledged it would be impossible 
 to Ijreak her word. Before this, she had been accustomed to 
 drink every night, and she said afterwards, that the desire to 
 drink, came upon her very strongly for several nights, but it 
 soon passed away, and she has never broken her pledge. 
 
 PEACTICLNa SELF-DENIAL. 
 
 Soon after becoming a believer, she came to Mr. luagaki, 
 and told him that since she had heard liim speak on the text, 
 " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even 
 so to them," she had been thinking of herself, and wanted his 
 advice. She was extravagantly fond of lish, which in Uyeda 
 was something of a rarity, and whenever she had aii}'^, she ate 
 it by herself, not even dividing it with her children, and if any 
 was left over from one meal, it was carefully put away for the 
 next. She wished to know if this was right, for if the words 
 of Christ meant that she nmst give up her lisJi to others, she 
 did not think she could obey them. Mr. luagaki told her that 
 the meaning of the words was plain enough, l)ut that she might 
 understand them better, if she pictured to lierself what her 
 thoughts would be, if any one should treat her as she treated 
 her family. She saw at once the force of his reasoning, and 
 promised to try to practice the self-denial which seemed so hard 
 to her. In a day or two she came back, lier whole face beam- 
 ing with satisfaction, and declared that never in her life., bad 
 
296 A VISIT TO TJYEDA. 
 
 she enjojx'd lier iisli so luuch, as when she had (li\ided it with 
 others; since that time, when slie has had it, she lias shared 
 it with the whole funiily. Mrs. Kojuna has since visited Yoko- 
 hama, her object being to bring her sons under the influence 
 of the GospeL She willingly undertook the journey, fearing 
 that her letters would not induce them to attend the preaching 
 services. 
 
 Others beside this woman have given strong proof of their 
 faith and love to our Saviour. Their jieighbors bear witness, 
 that there must be something in a religion which can change 
 men and women who have led profligate lives, into steady in- 
 dustrious and lo\nng members of the conunnnity. 
 
 Soine have had persecution to bear, not from the Govern- 
 ment, l)ut from their own families. Such a people, as it might 
 lie supposed would be eager to hear the Gospel preached, and 
 anxiously would thej look for the time when some Missionary 
 would come to them, so that they might receive baptism. One 
 young girl was especially troubled when our visit was delayed 
 beyond the time they had expected us. She was dying and 
 \Aas longing to lie baptized. Mr. Inagaki read to her the atory 
 (•f tlie thief on the cross — the one who was to be with Christ, 
 altliough unliaptized; and shovx'd her that faith was all that 
 on her part, was needed. She was comforted, and in a few 
 days fell asleep, trusting in her Kedeemer. 
 
 VISIT OF THE MISSIONARIES. 
 
 AVe had sent word that we would probably be in ITyeda 
 on the 4th or 5th of August, and knew that Mr. Inagaki would 
 have everything in readiness for us. But how great was our 
 -iiri.i'iM' ;!ii(l (Ifliglit to meet a deputation, at a little town Ave 
 miles froai there, consisting of Mr. Inagaki and four young 
 men, who had come to receive us, and who had been waiting 
 ever-6in(;e morniiifj. 
 
A VISIT TO UYEDA. 297 
 
 AVe felt at case inimediatclj, and were escorted to the 
 pleasant qniet house which had l)cen engaged for us. There 
 M'c spent ten very dcliglitful days, our comfort marred only by 
 the intense lieat. As soon as we arrived, the Christians has- 
 tened to welcome us. Mr. Maki, one of the young men wlio 
 are studying for the ministry, went up with us, to hel]:) in teacli- 
 ing, and especially in examining candidates for baptism. This 
 aid was invaluable. 
 
 Our preaching sermons began Sunday morning, when all 
 the believers assembled for worship. We then arranged for 
 daily services in the morning and afternoon. It was a very 
 ]>usy time of the year, being tlie silk season, l>ut all were will- 
 ing to make an extra eifort to come. Mr. Maki had the morn- 
 ing servdce at about lialf-past seven o'clock, to which, however, 
 only believers, and tliose who were very Uiuch interested, came. 
 He had an avei'age attendance of twenty persons. I took tlie 
 afternoon service at live o'clock, to wliich, from seventy-iivc to 
 one hundred people came, consisting of believers, and as Avell 
 of children, and of grown people, cm-ious to see what was going 
 on, and to hear the foreigners preach. The interest in the 
 meetings continued to increase all the time we were there, and 
 some of the faces grew quite familiar from their constant at- 
 tendance. On examining the candidates for baptism, I asked 
 them what first led them to think of Christianity. Most of 
 them ]-eplied tliat it was the preaching of Mr. Suzuki, or of Mr. 
 Inagaki, while a few had been led to study it from reading tlie 
 Chinese Bibles, or other books. One man, of middle age, 
 wliose son was also baptized, said that a clause in the treaty 
 between America and Japan, executed some eleven years ago, 
 hud first called his attention to religion. Whatever may 
 liuve been the clause, it served, in one instance at least, a higher 
 purpose, than had probably entered into the minds of its 
 makers. 
 
298 A VISIT TO UYEDA. 
 
 IDEAS OF THE CONVERTS WITH KEGAKD TO PRIVATE 
 PRAYER. 
 
 In teaching theni I found that one important subject for 
 some strange reason seemed to have been dropped from their 
 instructions, namely, the uses and duty of private prayer. 
 This was the more singular, as some of them had given very 
 decided proofs of their faith. Some of them, like too manj" 
 Christians at hoine, thought that meeting on Smiday, and 
 joining in the prayers of the leaders, was all that was re- 
 quired of them. They joyfully received teachings, however, 
 and promised to follow it. Mrs. Miller had several meetings 
 with -the women to teach them hymn-tunes; she also began a 
 prayer-meeting among them, which the}' have ever since sus- 
 tained. 
 
 A SUNDAY AT UYEDA.. 
 
 The last Sunday we spent at Uyeda, will not soon be for- 
 gotten. I had before spoken on the subject of baptism. So 
 Mr. Maid read the form for the admission of members to the 
 Churcjh, which is used at Yokohama. I tlieu baptized the fif- 
 teen who had been previously examined. Most of them were 
 members of the temperance society. Of this number, four 
 were widows past middle age, one a young girl, Mr. Inagaki's 
 sister, and ten were men, two in middle life, and the rest 
 young. Three of the latter were teachers in the Government 
 prinuuy schools in the neighboring .villages. One little babe, 
 the daughter of Mr. Inagaki, was baptized, and her name 
 was Love. 
 
 THE lord's SUPPER. 
 
 After speaking a few words in explanation of the ordi- 
 nance of the Lord's supper, I administered it in that far away 
 town, sm-rounded by those who were hostile or hidifferent to 
 
A VISIT TO UYEDA. 299 
 
 tluit blessed religion we had come to teach. Most of those 
 who had been baptized, had been waiting long to receive that 
 sacrament, and profess before men the faith in their hearts ; 
 and they now sat with teai'ful eyes to receive their first com- 
 munion fi-om the hands of one whom they had known but a 
 week, and yet whom they loved as in the service with them of 
 a common Lord. Others there were wh^ would have been 
 glad to join us, but had not come forward for examination. 
 
 THE FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL EST UYEDA. 
 
 In the afternoon, the little church commemorated its first 
 commumion by opening a Sunday-School with six or seven 
 pupils. On the next Sunday, the number was doul)led ; and 
 it .has now increased to twenty-five. The scholars are in- 
 terested, and have committed to memory a great part of the 
 Child's Catechism. 
 
 FAREWELL MEETING. 
 
 I thought to bid them good-bye that night, as we expected to 
 start on the next morning before daylight. But they said they 
 would come to see us once more, no matter how early it was. 
 We hardly expected many to be there ; but at tln-ee o'clock, 
 we were awakened by the clatterings of their wooden clogs 
 upon the stones. They waited until we had dressed and had 
 breakfast, after which we spent a few minutes in prayer M'ith 
 them, and then left ; some of them were moved to tears. It 
 was like departing fi'om home. Not many congregations are 
 there, who would leave tlieir beds before daylight, to say fare- 
 well to a pastor whom they had known but ten days. The 
 thirty who had come, included some who were not tlien be- 
 lievers ; but who have since avowed their love to the Saviom-, 
 though they have not as yet been baptized. We were conj. 
 forted in our goiniv, that ^vc were able to leave as an efficient 
 
300 A VISIT TO UYEDA. 
 
 substitute Hs Mv. Maki. lie remained at the urgent request of 
 the people until t]ie end of September. 
 
 Ml-. Maki and Mr. Inanjaki have visited several villas-es 
 in the vicinity, at which regular meetings are held, and well 
 attended. 
 
 TUE WORK KVIDENTLY THAT OF THE SPIRFP. 
 
 I would not have you think that this woi-k in Uyeda is 
 something unprecedented. It is only an exaiiiple of what is 
 taking place in different parts of tlie country. It has come 
 under our own ol)servation, and it is a wonderful illustration of 
 what the Holy Spirit often does in teaching men without the 
 ordinary means of preaching. I am coniident that none of 
 those wlioai I baptized had ever heard a foreigner preach ])efore 
 I went there. There were in Uyeda, but three baptized per- 
 sons, Inagaki, whom Mr. Ballagh had received in Yokohama ; 
 Sakamaki, who had gone to Yeddo in the spring, and who 
 luid been baptized by Mr. Thompson ; and a l)lind man, 
 baptized by Dj". Palm at Nugata. 
 
 May all those who read of tljese Japanese believers, have 
 their pure minds sthred up to faith and good works, in the 
 name of Jesus Christ, theii* Lord and ours. 
 
THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 301 
 
 THE FIRST BAPTISM OF CONVERTS IN 
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 BY 
 
 The Eev. G. F. Yerbeck, D. D. 
 
 HE history of the first baptism in Japan 
 has never before been published. At the 
 time, when the two men to whom it refers 
 were liaptized, any public mention or dis- 
 closure of their action would have imper- 
 illed their own lives, and the lives of their 
 families and friends, and rendered their property liable to 
 confiscation. While for themselves, they would liave been 
 williniz: to undergo death, if such witness-bearing were a neces- 
 sity, they felt that they had no right to involve their kindred 
 in a like danger. The letter, telling of their belief and their 
 union with the church, has been lying all these years in the 
 Mission Rooms of our church, in Xew York, — read l>y only a 
 few. 
 
 Dr. Yerbeck's narrative begins, 
 
 SOWING THE SEED. 
 
 " In several of my former letters and reports, mention 
 was made of a coinpany of five men being engaged in searcii- 
 
 ing tlie Scriptures. These nieu lived in the capital S of 
 
 the i>rincipality of H , one of the most powerful as well as 
 
 the most civilized of the Japanese countries, two days' journey 
 
302 THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 from YokoliiLiiii. They wore long since supplied by me witli 
 Bibles, books and tracts from the Cliinese mission presses, prin- 
 cipally the Presbyterian. As early as 1860, 1 sent some books 
 
 to S in Marcli; again, in May, 1861, several copies of tlie 
 
 New Testament, snd Evidences of Christianity. In the Au- 
 tumn of 1862, one of these men, Ayabe, came to this place, 
 and became a regular inquirer and diligent Bible-reader with 
 rae, and at the time I was struck with his honesty and simplic- 
 ity of heart. It was the same man, who, in the troubles of the 
 Spring of '63, came to me at night, and warned me of the 
 danger to which I and my family were exposed, in our then 
 distant and isolated dwelling. On the 13th of May of that 
 year, and on account of the same disturbances, it Avill l)e re- 
 membered, we sailed for Shanghai, where we remained during 
 the summer. A few (lays before our departure, however, I 
 had the pleasure of recei\ang a large supply of books from the 
 Presbyterian Mission Press at Shanghni, rao)-e tlian one hun- 
 dred volumes of which, many of them being tracts, I forward- 
 ed to my friends at S^ — . On our return hither from Shang- 
 liai, October, '63, I found that my faithful pupil Ayabe, had 
 been recalled to his home, where he had been promoted in 
 office, and that lie would not be likely soon, if e^■er, to return 
 to our town. It seems that in this strange country, tlie higher 
 a man rises in offi(;e, the more are his movements circumscribed, 
 until we reach the Emperor, who is supposed hardly ever to 
 leave his palace grounds. So it appeared as though in the 
 providence of God, I was to be effectually separated from the 
 men in whom so much pains had been bestowed, and on whose 
 behalf we had pleaded so often at the Throne of Grace. 
 
 TUKIR MESSENGER A BIBLE CLASS HELD BY PROXY. 
 
 But not long afterward they sent a messenger, Motono, 
 a young officer, and vassal servant of one of the company, him- 
 
THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 303 
 
 self au intelligent man, and quite an Englisli scholar. Mo- 
 tono's instructions were to read with me such parts of the New 
 Testament, as they found most ditiiciilt fully to understand by 
 themselves, to obtain such new books or tracts as I might frou) 
 time to time receive, and sometimes to make inquiry on special 
 points of doctrine. This was rather a roundabout way of hold- 
 ing a Bible-class, but the messenger was faithful to his trust. 
 The resnlt has shown that there is no restraint to the Lord, to 
 save by many or by few," and that he can make small and 
 apparently imperfect means do His will, and perform great 
 things. 
 
 Matters went on thus for two years and more, my messen- 
 ger disappearing and reappearing from time to time, carrying 
 good news both ways, yet not perceptibly bringing things to 
 the much desired isssue. But my want of hopefulness was to 
 be strikingly reproved, for on the lith of May of this year, a 
 messenger came to my house to say, that some high officers of 
 
 the principality H , had just arrived in town, and desired 
 
 me to state day and hour for an interview. These men, to my 
 indescribable joy and surprise, proved to be three of the inter- 
 esting company of live inquirers, mentioned above. They were 
 to visit me in two parties, so I fixed the next day at 2 p. m., for 
 the first, and the same hour two days later, for the second in- 
 terview. 
 
 THE INTERVIEW WITH THE NOBLEMEN. 
 
 Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 15th of May, my 
 visitor presented himself with a retinne of about thirty men, 
 consisting of a number of attendant oificers, who quite filled 
 my parlor, and of a greater number of (jommon retainers, all 
 two-sworded, who had to content themselves witli an outside 
 view of our premises. Among these followers were several men 
 whom I had met and known formerly. My principal visitor 
 proved to be no less a personage than a relative of tlie Prince 
 
304 THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 of H . He was a tall man, of commanding appearance, a 
 
 little lame of one foot, or rather liip. He had an intelligent, 
 but somewhat stern cast of features, like a man accustomed to 
 deep serious thought, yet he conversed quite pleasantly. After 
 the usual introductory compliments, the absorbing topic; of the 
 " doctrine "' was entered upon, with a good deal of interest. I 
 may say that I reasoned with him of "righteousness, temper- 
 ance and judgment to come,"*' but I could liardly i»ring him 
 and his attendants to dwell on the higher t(>pi<;s of faitli, liope 
 and love; for my august visitor insisted on reasoning.concern- 
 ing the unprofitable subjects of the origin of evil in the world, 
 the mysterious permission of the continuance of evil, the jus- 
 tice of God, or the apparent want of it, under various aspects, 
 and more of the like. I was prepared for his arguments, as I 
 have found that, on heathen ground, we are often ol)ligod to 
 rehandle tlie bones of contention of tlie churcli of old, but m^^ 
 principal endeavor was to got him to see and feel, the wicked- 
 ness and danger of all evil ; that it is infinitely more important 
 to know how to be now and forever saved from it, than to know 
 }dl al)out its origin, and yet be left helpless; that it is vastly 
 more worthy of our thought, to know how we are to escape 
 bell and gain heaven, than to find out the exact locality of 
 either, if such a thing w^ere possible. Yet my efforts to lead 
 him to higher views, at the time were vain, as he constantly 
 returned to his favorite topi(ts, and the afternoon i)assed away 
 without any innnediate result for good, which tlie eye of man 
 could see. AVc also had a satisfactory conversation on tlie 
 most apju-oved methods of education of the young, upon wliidi 
 lie had evidently bestowed much thought, and on the wbole 
 1 l)i-()ught him so far, as to agree to the truth and justice of 
 my positions, while the only way left him to express his deter- 
 mined dissent on the question of evil was a doubting shake of 
 rhe head. He had made up his mind, I think, l>eforehand. 
 
THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 305 
 
 that for him the convenient season had not yet come. But wo 
 parted as good friends. I have strong hopes that the Spirit 
 may yet bring savingly home to liis heart, the truth which so 
 far had impressed only his intellect. 
 
 THE SECOND LNTERVIEW. 
 
 The interview of the other parties was arranged to take 
 place on the 17th of May. My visitors on this occasion were 
 
 WAKASKI. THE FIKST BAPTIZED BELIEVER IN JAPAN. 
 
 Wakasa, one of the ministers of state, or governors of the 
 
 principality H , and his younger brother, Ayabe. Wakasa 
 
 was a tall man, al^oiit forty-five years of age, and looking older. 
 His is one of those faces that make sunshine in a shady place, 
 most pleasing and amiable in expression, with a very dignified 
 bearing. His eyes beamed love and pleasure as I met liim. 
 20 
 
a06 THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 lie said he had long known nie in his mind, had long desired 
 to see and converse with me, and that he was very happy that 
 now, in God's Providence, lie was permitted to do so. His 
 x'isit, and that of his brother, were in a manner accidental, as 
 he had unexpectedly obtained leave from tne Prince to visit a 
 relative near this town. 
 
 At this ti:ne there were admitted to our parlor, Wakasa, 
 Ayabe, Wakasa's two sons, young men of twenty and twenty- 
 two, respectively, and the servant, Motono, who had acted the 
 part of messenger between us for four years. How different 
 was this meeting, from that of two days before. These men, 
 like those of Berea, in the xVpostles' time, had received the 
 Word, wnth all readiness of mind, and did not come to puzzle 
 themselves or me, with unprotitable cjontrov^ersies, but asked 
 several quite natural and sensible questions, to gain additional 
 light on some points in reference, principally, to Christian char- 
 acters and customs. They had been taught of the Spirit. 
 
 They showed great faaiiliarity with their Bibles, made 
 several, pertinent quotations, and when, during the conversa- 
 tion, I referred them to sacred passages, they readily identified 
 them, -and always accepted them as conclusive proofs. They 
 were prepared to believe all that Jesus said, and to do all that 
 He required. 
 
 It must be remembered that these men had been studying 
 the Scriptures, and reading a great variety of religious books, 
 with great diligence, for at least four years, having begun to 
 do so with a favorable disposition of mind. Like perhaps most 
 of the higher classes in this country, they had no faith in Budd- 
 his.ii, the religion of the common people, while at tho s;uue 
 lime, they w^ere graciously withheld from falling into the op- 
 [)ositc of a total atheism. Their minds were in a state of ex. 
 pectant transition, when, just in time, they were led to search 
 for, and lind salvation through faith in Christ. 
 
THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 307 
 
 THEIR EXPEBIEJSrCE. 
 
 Their experience had been thorough. They felt their sins 
 to be grievous, and realized tlie need of a Saviou/ from sin, 
 and the curse of sin. They were convinced of the inefficiency 
 of all other systems, which thus far had come to their knowl- 
 edge, and they joj'f ully received Christ as all sufficient for time 
 and eternity. 
 
 THEY ASK FOE BAPTISM. 
 
 We spent a delightful afternoon, in conversing on the sav- 
 ing power and love of Christ, and just as I thought my friends 
 were about to leave me, Wakasa took me by surprise, by in- 
 ' quu'ing, if I would object to baptize him and his brother Ayabe, 
 before they left town. I was sm'prised, because so many Jap- 
 anese had, at different times, talked to me of the great peril of 
 becoming Christians in the full sense of the word. I had ex- 
 pected from these men to hear something as follows : " We 
 believe, and would like to be baptized; but we cannot, think of 
 realizing our wisli, in tliis one particular, so long as the law of 
 the land, hangs the inevitable sword over the heads of all who 
 dare to change their religion ; for the present, we must remain 
 as we are, but when this cruel edict is repealed, we will come 
 forward for baptism." 
 
 I had been thoughtless that afternoon, too, in that, while 
 we had spoken of baj^tism, I had not urged them, as I. should 
 have done. So that I felt, as one who, having prayed only for 
 a part, suddenly should receive the whole, of liis ardent wishes. 
 I warned my visitors not to think lightly of tlie act, and 
 not to entertain superstitious notions concerning its efficacy. I 
 urged the solemn importance of the sacrament, and the gi-eat 
 obligations which devolve on those to whom it is administered ; 
 I repeated to them the cpiestions which, according to our form, 
 they would have to answer with a hearty affirmative ; and final- 
 
tiOS THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 
 
 ly, told tliein to decide, as if in the presence of God, who 
 searches tlie heart. , 
 
 They listened attentively, and repeated their desire to he 
 baptized, reqnestiuj^ only that it should be done and kept in 
 secrecy. A.l)out this they were anxious, even asking that it 
 should net be reported even in America, lest the news should 
 return to Japan, and endanger their own, and their families, 
 lives. I agreed to this, and we fixed the day for the solemn 
 rite. 
 
 THE DAY OF PENTECOST. 
 
 The following Lord's Day, the Day of Pentecost, was 
 chosen, the liour selected being 7 o'clock, p. m. Wakasa, whose 
 position did not permit him to move about the streets, without 
 a lialf-dozen followers, and wlio could not visit mc, without 
 making himself (touspicuons. I did not see him again until 
 the appointed hour on Sunday night. But Ayabe came to me 
 twice, during the intervening days, and I gave him such in- 
 Btru(;tions for himself and his brotlier, as I thought might be 
 useful to them. 
 
 THE BAPTISMAL CEREMONY. 
 
 At last, when the Sabbath evening came, the two candi- 
 dates presented themselves, attended into the room by none 
 but MoTONO. The retinue, consisting of eight followers, was 
 dismissed at our door, with orders to return in an hour. I had 
 arranged everything beforehand, to avoid unnecessary deten- 
 tion. The shutters wore closed, tlie lamps lit, a white cloth 
 spread on the centre-table, a largo, cut-glass fruit dish, for want 
 of anything better, prepared to serve as a font. Besides Mo- 
 TONO, my wife was the only witness present, so that there were 
 but five persons in the room. I began by reading Mattliew 
 28th, then dwelt on the concluding verses, spoke of the pur- 
 pose of missionary societies, and referred to the bearing of the 
 
THE FIRST BAPTISM IN JAPAN. 300 
 
 words of Jesus, vipon our present meeting. I exhorted tlieni 
 not to be discouraged in tlieir peculiarly difficult situation, but 
 rather by a life of faith, of love, and of holiness, to disarm all 
 the criticisms of their neighbors, and even persecution itself. 
 We then united in prayer, both in English and Japanese, pro- 
 ceeded with our liturgy, translating extempore, the form for 
 l)aptism, and after the administration of the sacrament, con- 
 cluded with prayer and thanksgiving. It Avas indeed a sacred 
 hour. I deeply felt the great privilege the Lord had vouch- 
 safed in allowing me, a weak, unworthy servant, to he instru- 
 mental in leading these dear brethren to the Saviour ; and in 
 introducing them to the church of God. After the conclusion 
 of our happy meeting, Wakasa said, with cheerful calmness, 
 " Kow I have that which since long I have heartily wished 
 for." 
 
 BREAD UPON THE WATERS. 
 
 Then he told us, liow twelve years before, a little book, in 
 English, had been found by some natives, floating in the bay 
 of Nagasaki, probably lost overboard, from one of the earliest 
 American or English ships that visited Japan, about 1854. 
 This book fell into his hands, and he was anxious to find out 
 what it contained, but all he could then learn about it was, that 
 it was different from any other l)ook, that had hitherto l)een 
 brought to Japan, and that it treated of God and Jesus Christ. 
 In fact, it was a New Testament. He did not rest, till at last 
 he found a Chinese translation of it, five or six years ago. 
 
 Then he began diligently to read the AVord, and induced 
 four othei-s to do the same, among them Ayabe, Motono, and 
 the nobleman who came to me first. Then followed the visits 
 of Ayabe and Motono, to tliis place, their attendance, and in- 
 struction, and the final sequel. 
 
 Tills took place May 20th, 1866. 
 
;31() NAGASAKI AND THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 
 
 NAGASAKI AND THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 
 
 AGASAKI, on the island of Kiushin, is said to pos- 
 \ sess one of the finest harhors in tlie world. Sir Ruth- 
 P' erford Alcock, in liis interesting work, The Capital 
 )fj^^ of the Tycoon, speaks with enthusiasm of its beauti- 
 ful land-locked bay, where, however wild the gale 
 outside, the breeze but ruffles the water gently, and touches 
 the waves with a white feather-edge of foam. The first aspect 
 of the bay, recalled to his mind, the picturesque fiords of Nor- 
 way, and also the loveliness of some of the Swiss lakes. The 
 hills rise boldly from the water's verge, clothed with pine. 
 But all along the paths as one walks for the first time, the eye 
 is captivated by the palm and bamboo, the pomegranate and 
 persimmon. '• The gardinia and camellia flom-ish too, and 
 everywhere our common ferns may be seen, and ivy covering 
 the walls, while by the roadside the thistle is not wanting, to 
 confound all geographical divisions into floral zones." 
 
 Rev. Henry Stout, writing of it to one of om* secretaries, 
 says : 
 
 " It seems almost as if designed by nature, as a place 
 to which men might retire, and dream away a life of easy con- 
 tent. The placid harbor, except in typhoons, is scarcely' stirred 
 by a ripple. The city occupies the only spot on the shores, 
 available for a city, and having just filled the level space seems 
 not impatient to extend its bounds. The people have settled 
 
NAGASAKI AND THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. 311 
 
 down into quiet goin*:; ways, and ^business is curried on ha 
 thoui2;li time and tide would be pleased to wait/' 
 
 The town of ]!Tagasaki has a population of thirty-three 
 thousand, and the island on which it is built, contains several 
 millions. There are three mission-stations, and three mission- 
 ary families are resident there. The fact that it was once over- 
 swept })y the Romanists, has added to the difficulty of winning 
 attention to the truth. Woman's work, has, owing to peculiar 
 circumstances, never been fairly entered upon. Mrs. Stout, at 
 one time, o;atliered a number of g-irls and tauo-ht them Eno-lish 
 and sewing, but so soon as it was found that she was teaching 
 them also the religion of Jesus, her pupils Avere taken away. 
 The desire of the Woman's Board, and the urgent wishes of 
 those on the ground, alike point now to the establishment, in 
 Nagasaki, of a School for Girls, similar to the Ferris Seminary 
 at Yokohama. Thus, opposite each other, at a distance of 
 eight hundred miles, would stand these two beacons, diffusing 
 the light of truth. From their friendly flame, how many 
 household lamps would be lighted in the Island Empire. 
 
 During our Centennial year, we sought to laise the sum 
 of $5,000, for this object, and though we have not yet obtained 
 the wdiole amount, we confidently expect to raise it soon. This 
 sum would cover the expense of a building, and the cost of 
 sending out and supporting two teachers for one year. The 
 money sent to our Treasurer, for this special object, has l)een 
 kept in a separate fund, and at the issuing of our Third Annual 
 Eeport, April 30, 1877, it amounted to $2,578.00. 
 
 We are now endeavoring to secm-e teachers, who will go 
 with glad hearts, to engage in this labor of love. We are ad- 
 
312 NAGASAKI AND THE GIRLS' SCHOOL, 
 
 « 
 
 vised to defer the beginning of our Imilding, until the 'proper 
 persons shall be found to enter on the work of instruction. 
 Several responses are now under consideration, and ere long 
 the desired result may be obtained. 
 
 Remembering the associations of Nagasaki with Holland, 
 tlie long years during which Dutch merchants, with patient 
 tenacity, endured exile there, for tlie sake of commercial inter- 
 ests, is it too nnich now, to expect that the children of the 
 Reformed church in America, shall aid the present plan ? The 
 stubborn hostility of the people to our faith seems to be yield- 
 ing. The door is open. The Rev, Henry Stout pleads ear- 
 nestly the necessity of at once doing soraetliing in the cause of 
 female education. Without abating our zeal or our liberality 
 in other directions, let us bend our energies, toward beginning 
 tlie needed Girls' School and Home here. 
 
 ■^»€e^S ^3g)3; > » »' 
 
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY TO AMERICA. 313 
 
 THE JAPANESE EMBASSY TO AMERICA 
 
 ^^^^0 N the establishment of diplomatic relations between 
 fM'i'! A J'^P^^i ^'^i^tl the United States, Mr. Arinori Mori 
 was sent to represent his government at Washing" 
 ?^'|| ton. He applied himself wdth great diligence and 
 with a statesman's sagacity, to the btndy of our form of 
 government, to the working of our institutions ; the nature 
 of our educational system ; and in short, all the constituents of 
 our national life and prosperity. The farther his observations 
 were extended, the deeper grew his desire to have an Embassy 
 Extraordinary sent from Japan to this country, to examine 
 everything liere worthy of their attention*, and to make a report 
 which might exert its due influence over all the factions and 
 parties then existing in his native land. Due arrangements and 
 preparations having been made, and a complete understanding 
 established, the Embassy at length arrived by way of San Fran- 
 cisco, early in the year 1872. It is quite beside our purpose to 
 WTite its history. It had in view three grand objects : To 
 examine our Christian civilization in all its combining ele- 
 ments, to scrutinize industrial arts, to make note of the 
 processes of education, and in general, learn what they laiglit 
 commend to the attention of the Imperial Government at home. 
 Circumstances brought' this Embassy into close relations 
 with many prominent and philanthropic members of the 
 
314 THE JAPANESE EMBASSr TO AMERICA. 
 
 Reformed Church. Its missionaries, Messrs Brown, Verbeck 
 and Simmons, liad been the lirst to enter Japan. 
 
 After the treaty secured by Mr. Townsend Harris, tlie 
 Hon. Robert H. Pruyn of Albany, liad been despatched as 
 the first American Minister Plenipotentiary to Yeddo, (now 
 styled T<3ki6), to carry its provisions into effect. Many of the 
 young men of Japan had also been sent to this country, to be 
 educated under the supervision of the authorities of this church. 
 Among these were two sons of Tomorni Iwakura, tlie head of 
 the Embassy Extraordinary, who were in Rutger's College, 
 N. J., at the time when their distinguished father arrived. 
 
 Another circumstance had contributed to beget the special 
 confidence of this embassy, not only in our Foreign Board, 
 but in some of its most liberal supporters. During the 
 progress of the Revolutioti wliich had raged in Japan, between 
 the Mikado and certain powerful Daimios, it had been impos- 
 sible to send funds to this country, for tlie expenses of the 
 Japanese youth, who were receiving their education in various 
 schools. The amount necessary to defray these expenses liad 
 been clieerfully and liberally advanced by certain members of 
 the Reformed Cliurch, and this generous conduct on their 
 part called forth the gratitude of the Embassy, and awakened 
 a desire to see some of the benefactors of their young coun- 
 trymen. The sums advanced were repaid, but the kindness 
 was not forgotten. 
 
 During tlie stay of the Embassy in New Fork City, every 
 attention pi'oper was shown it, not only by the civic authorities, 
 but also by persons in private station. Among those who had 
 aided the young Japanese was the late Mr. Jonathan Sturgcs, 
 
THE JAPANESE EMBASSY TO AMERICA. 315 
 
 a Cliristiau merchant, who rejoiced in unostentatious benevo- 
 lence. His large and long acquaintance witli all the institu- 
 tions of the city, and his liberal courtesy enal)led him to rendei* 
 particular servdce to om* Japanese visitors. He conducted 
 them to many places of interest, explained to their quick com- 
 prehension, the character of our schools of learning, art and 
 science, and showed them our factories and bazaars. They 
 were very specially interested in noticing the many industrial 
 spheres open to women in our land, and expressed both amaze- 
 ment and pleasure, as they observed their various employments. 
 
 Mrs. Thomas C. Doremus was also unwearied in her atten- 
 tions, and devoted herself with her wonted zeal and energy, to 
 an exposition positive and practical, of the importance of fe- 
 male education. She accompanied Mr. Tanaki, the Japanese 
 envoy on education, with otliers, to the !N"ew York Normal Col- 
 lege, where they saw fourteen hundred young ladies preparing to 
 become teachers to the Deaf and Dumb, and Blind Ayslums, 
 and the Bible House. They manifested acute intelligence, were 
 interested in everything, and the fruits of their new ideas were 
 seen when they returned home. It is impossible to tell how 
 much the influence of this noble woman may, through this Em- 
 bassy, have contributed toward the elevation and higher edu- 
 cation of our sex in Japan. 
 
 The events to which this allusion has been made had tlieir 
 direct Providential bearings, on the work of Evangelization in 
 the Empire of the Rising Sun. As year after year shall aug- 
 ment the power of the Gospel there, the services of those who 
 gave a Christian greeting of the Embassy of 1872, during its 
 visit to om- continent, will continue to be vital and imperishable. 
 
WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. Elbert S. Porter, D. D. 
 
 ^^^i^HAT Christianity is divine in origin, method and pur- 
 /^} pose is proved by its fruits. To the vast systenic of 
 superstitions, Avhich liave fastened themselves, through 
 ages of ever increasing darkness upon many millions, 
 <^ it opposes tlie purity of truth, the wisdom of God, and 
 the sufficiency of Almighty love. Beginning at Jerusalem in 
 apparent obscurity and weakness, it rapidly overran the Koman 
 Empire, and planted the cross on the ruins of ancient idolatry. 
 For its extension it was indebted neither to the power of arms, 
 nor to the patronage of the great. At lirst, its cliief advocates 
 were the poor and the unlearned. " God chose the weak 
 things of the world, to confound the mighty." The wise, the 
 prudent and the proud (contemned, but the weakness of divine 
 grace prevailed. The distinctive force of the Christian move- 
 ment displayed itself from the start, in developing the characters 
 of individuals, througli the operation of a new life from abo\e ; 
 and next in reconstructing the domestic and social order. Wo- 
 man, found in Christ her restorer. The mighty miracle of tlie 
 incarnation, placed upon her head a glory, which no earthly 
 diadem could confer. Saluted by angels, and remembered l)y 
 
WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES; 317 
 
 tender affection upon the cross, Mary, the mother of our Lord, 
 l^ecaine the type of that loni^ and iUustrious line of saintly 
 women, which, in unbroken succession, has contributed to till 
 earth with praise, and Heaven with rejoicing. 
 
 The Miriams and Hannahs, the Deborahs and the Ruths, 
 of the elder dispensation, — with all their unnamed sisters, in the 
 theocratic church, — had indeed set forth, in clear demonstra- 
 tion, that tlie religion which came from God, was the especial 
 protector and helper of wouian, as the co-partner of man, in 
 evolving the deep and mysterious problems of human life. 
 The expectation, that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, 
 gave to the daughters of Israel, an assurance, that in some way 
 the glory of womanhood would be attained, through the strong 
 and divine Deliverer. While, indeed,. our Lord did not call 
 Avomen into the apostolic college, nevertheless He welcomed, 
 and by His divine benignity and grace, consecrated, the ser- 
 vices of their faith. Nor do we find in the early clmrch, as 
 vivified by the Holy Ghost, any disposition to exclude women 
 from its sacred privileges. There was neither male nor female 
 in Christ, who came to bless and save all jjelieving in His 
 name. It was a woman who broke the alabaster box, and 
 anointed the body of our Lord, with grateful anticipative faith, 
 for its burial. The memorial of her devotion has been made a 
 perpetual example. Devout women, proof against despair, and 
 confident that He, in whom they had trusted, would verily His 
 promise, took the light of the earliest dawn, to find their way 
 to the sepulchre, and it was to one of these that Christ first 
 announced His resurrection. Afterward, in the early strug- 
 gles and conflicts of the rising church, women were closely as- 
 
318 tVOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 
 
 sociated with the apostles, in works of faith and love. Many 
 of theii- names, fragrant and precious, are immortalized for all 
 tnne in the inspired epistles. 
 
 Among tlie inscriptions of the catacombs, are seen, in 
 great numbers, the records of woman's faith, patience and self- 
 sacrifice. She shared in all the horrors of successive fiery per- 
 secutions, and often attained the ecstacy and the glory of mar- 
 tyrdom. Of such women the world was not worthy. They 
 ministered to the saints ; they kept unbroken vows ; they taught 
 Their children to be loyal to Christ; they encouraged the timid 
 and the temporizing, and if theii* names do not appear in classic 
 annals, nevertheless they are recorded in the Lamb's Book of 
 Life. Their quiet deeds have entered into the processes of the 
 world's uplifting, from beneath its sorrows and its burdens. 
 
 The history of the conversion of the Gentiles is closely 
 inwrought with the lives of pious women. It could not have 
 been otherwise. The condition of woman at all times, in all 
 places, and under all skies, is the index and measure of tlie 
 actual civilization or degradation of mankind. No substantial 
 progress is possible, where she is degraded, despised, or left, to 
 wander in uncertain gloom. She is the educator of the race ; 
 the fountain of power or of weakness. Mohannnedanism, 
 Brahminism, Buddhism, Shintoism, no less than tlie classic 
 Heathenism, of ancient Greece and Rome, deny to woman lier 
 proper rank and place. They divest her of natural, social, 
 domestic and personal rights. They enslave her, and i-ea]> in 
 return, the bitter fruits of her cruel servitude. The depression 
 of women, the wide world round, is accompanied by the for- 
 feiture of the sweetest affections, the most sacred jo3's. and the 
 
"WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 319 
 
 purest aims. Natural strength, wliicli grows out of well-or- 
 dered liomes, is but a varnished delusion, wliere woman's right 
 to be the equal of man, is rudely, ignorantly or barbarously, 
 withheld. 
 
 It is well to remember all this, when, considering the 
 character and claims of missionary work. It would be pleas- 
 ant, and perhaps profitable, did space allow, to trace here, in 
 ]-apid outline, some of the ever illustrious services, rendered by 
 Christian women, to the early and the later progress of the 
 church. Their missionary zeal is eminently worthy of our imi- 
 tation. Their names compose a galaxy, shining above the stars 
 in splendor, over the long succession of Christian centuries. 
 The Helenas, the Agneses, the Berthas of Greek, Gothic and 
 English story, illuminated the sombre firmaments in which they 
 shone. France had her Margaret of Navarre, and England 
 her Countess of Huntingdon, in days of spiritual declension. 
 When the pure and saintly Fenelon aimed to purifj^ the relig- 
 ion of his countrymen, he found in the high and rapt devotion 
 of Madam Guyon, an instructor and counselor. These, how- 
 ever, are but hurried glintings, drawn from a large horizon, 
 tilled with luminaries, and reveal with grand and eloquent testi- 
 mony, the place and power of woman, in the diffusive system 
 of Evangelical grace. 
 
 The modern missionary work of the Church at large, in 
 all its branches, Papal and Protestant, has been carried for- 
 ward by the immense, unwearied, and manifold exertions of 
 jnous and devout women. The history of Protestant missions 
 bus no brighter pages than those which record the daring 
 ildventures and hopeful undertakings of a multitude of women, 
 
320 "WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 
 
 who, as wives or helpers, or teachers or readers, have gone to 
 the uttermost parts of the earth to instruct their heatlien 
 sisters. With the memoirs of some of these nobhj women, tlie 
 literatm*e of the age has been enriched, and their examples 
 liave shed a benign light, in which a multitude are walking 
 with lieroic faith. Sucli women as the Jadsons, Ann H. and 
 Sarah, Mrs. Catherine H. Scudder, Mrs. Winslow, Mrs. Corn- 
 stock, Mrs. White, Mrs. Simpson, who perilled their lives, 
 and lost to gain them in the high places of the field, are not 
 dead, but yet speak to their Christian sisters in America . 
 
 Then* work done in India, Africa, Asia Minor, Bm'mah, 
 has been like the handful of corn on the top of tlio mountains, 
 which in our day is seen to wJive with the stately majesty of 
 the cedars of Lebanon. There is, however, a goodly number of 
 consecrated women, sustaining by their presence, their prayers, 
 their labors and their sympathies, many foreign missions now 
 existing on the face of the globe, and whose toils and sacrifices 
 are like, or similar to those endured by those who luivu already 
 gone up on high, to behold the gathering of the sheaves from 
 the iields wherein they had sown with tears, the incorruptible 
 seed of the kingdom. 
 
 It would, however, be singularly unjust in tliis survey of 
 woman's work, to confine our attention exclusively to tlio 
 foreign field. For over the entire domaiji of this imperial 
 Republic of the West, where tlie interests of the future church, 
 are, to a great degree, concentered, we may see the toils and the 
 spoils of female faith. Not only have the advancing herders 
 of new settlements enlisted the zeal of Christian women for 
 the enlargement of the kingdom, but in all the more estab*- 
 
WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 321 
 
 lislied portions of the A-.nericaii cliurdi, there have been, 
 ail along, honorable women not a few, who iiave kept alive in 
 their respective places, the flame of the missionary spirit. 
 They have organized assisting societies, raised money, diffused 
 information, prepared garments and done what they could to 
 support, encourage and sustain missionaries, at home and 
 abroad. 
 
 To a great extent, the educational force in our country has 
 been left to the peculiar genius and aptitudes of women. In 
 literature, in schools and academies, in several of the arts and 
 professions, they have been called to high, noble and arduous 
 services. And to this we are sure is owing the special type of 
 Christian cultm-e which has taken possession of our entire 
 scheme of republican civilization. Here woman has an almost 
 unbounded field for the exertion of her best powers, and tlie 
 putting forth of most salutary influence. Tlie songs of the 
 troubadours, the legends of knight errantry, the wild roman- 
 ces of feudal days, the tragic stories of dynastic intrigues have 
 passed, and we have in their stead the heroic examples of 
 Caroline Fry, Florence Nightingale, Miss Coutts in England 
 and the biographies of American, women, like Mrs. Isabella 
 Graham and Mrs. Thomas C. Doremus and others who have 
 converted the forms of Cliristian charity into sublime epics, 
 wherein may be found the regnant charms of every Christian 
 grace. The very ideas which once exalted woman as tlie 
 object of sentimental idolatry, are buried beneath the floods of 
 admiration which are now rising and gathering from every 
 land in praise of her deeds done in charity for Christ's sake. 
 
 In that glorious chm-ch of the future which is yet to- 
 21 
 
WOMEN AS MISSION ARIES. 
 
 s;)iMii!i; and rise into transcendent power and spiritual beauty, 
 wor.ieu will share especial honors as aids and lielpers in every 
 good work. This is evident from wliat they are now doing, 
 in and through the many beneficent organizations which they 
 are conducting without weariness, for the benefit of our fallen 
 race. There are but few active charities in our day that are 
 not more or less dependent upon female sympathy and support. 
 We do not find in this condition of affairs any evidence that 
 Christianity i^^ lacking in robust vigor. It challenges our ad- 
 mii'ation and confidence the rather, because it has a place for 
 woman as the helpmeet of man in all the supreme concerns 
 of human life as they are affected by the redemption that is 
 in Christ. 
 
 There is in woman's nature that quick sympathy with 
 suffering, that instinctive hatred of wrong, that intuitive sense 
 of benevolence, wliich, when sanctified and brought under the 
 control of the truth as it is in Jesus, qualify her for a species 
 of service in the church which man is unable to render. Slie 
 needs his aggi*essive energy ; he needs her acute, but gentler 
 and more patient spirit. Together, they form that co-partner- 
 ship of labor, by which, through assisting grace, the wliole 
 world shall yet be made to rejoice in the advent of the long 
 desired day. 
 
 Among recent organizations, tlie Woman's Board of Mis- 
 sions of tlie Reformed Church, has already justified its right to 
 be, and has given proof of intentions to render effective aid in the 
 great work of publishing the gospel in foreign parts. Of its par- 
 ticular aims or operations thus far, it is not needful that anything 
 should be said here, inasmuch as they are stated and elucidated 
 
WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 323 
 
 in otHLual (lociiiuents, easy of access. Still I cannot Mntliliold 
 the expression of my belief that tills association of Christian 
 women in oar Reformed Church is sure to awaken a new 
 spirit of missionary zeal amoni^ us. When auxiliaries shall 
 have been formed, in each particular congregation, the result 
 will be a cohesiveness of purpose wJiich first of all is nuich to 
 be desired, and in the next place a combination of effort wliich 
 cannot possibly fail to increase resources for the prosecution 
 of the work in hand. Method is power. It utilizes atoms 
 and co-ordinates them into solid force, and impressive momen- 
 tum. Auxiliary bands in our several churches, acting under 
 and \vith a central Board may bring all the tithes into the 
 store house, and prepare the way for copious blessings of 
 spiritual favor. 
 
 When it is remembered that modern missions, are yet in 
 their infancy, and that the world at large, within the present 
 (;entury, has been fairly opened to the light of the Gospel, it is 
 impossible to conjecture how rapidly that light may he made 
 to spread, when once the whole church, in all its parts, has 
 been aroused to discern its opportunity and its duty. The old 
 is ready to vanish away. Distant nations show a growino' dis- 
 content with their incapable gods. They arc looking to the 
 Christian powers, for instruction and sympathy. Ethiopia is 
 stretching forth its liands in supplication. Sinim gropes blind- 
 ly toward tlie dawn ; Hindooism wanes ; Japan is waiting for 
 the eyelids of the morning to be uplifted upon her, and all 
 along the seats of ancient Mediterranean Empire, change and 
 revolution, tui'nings and overturnings, are preparing a highway 
 for the Lord. When the field is thus white, the reapers may 
 
^OJ. 
 
 WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 
 
 enter with glad ala'^jrlty. Tho fullness of the time has come 
 for lar^e increasing, goner(jus endeavors, to plant the standard 
 ot" the CrooS, on every continent and on every island. The 
 angel flying in the midst oi Heaven, with the everlasting Gos- 
 pel, is sounding the cliarge of battle and of victory. 
 
 There is then every inducement held out before the Chris- 
 tian women of our connection, to join hearts and hands, pray- 
 ers and labors, for tlie furtherance of the Gospel "in regions 
 beyond." Enlargement will come t«) their own souls, thereby. 
 They will read and speak and write of the glory of the king- 
 dom, and to tins end will gather information from all sources, 
 concerning the mighty operations of t!ie sceptred Messiah. 
 
 Intrinsically it is the most worthy and comprehenslv,' 
 work to which woman's love and woman's faith can be devol(v,l. 
 It has in viev^ a supreme object. It is glorified by the most 
 illustrious characjters that shine along the troubled ways of his- 
 tory. It has, for its leader and director, one, who though He 
 was rich, became poor, to pour through the channels of His 
 sorrows, an unspeakable wealth of joy, upon a long groaning 
 creation. It has for its propulsion, the noblest love that can 
 swell a human heart — the constraining love of Christ. For 
 the earnest prosecution of this work, the most piteous appeals 
 come up from tlie Zenanas, the Harems, the slave herds of 
 heathendom, from women, who can find deliverance only 
 through the intervention of Christian helpers. TVell may the 
 happy and honored mothers, tliQ cultivated and queenly girls 
 of our land, with all i)rivileges to exalt them, and all favors to 
 crown them, l)etliink themselves of the claims of their wret(;l)e.l 
 sisters, in lands where superstitions dire, yet lift their horrid 
 
WOMEN AS MISSIONARIES. 325 
 
 and inoiibtrous forms. If the giving of a cup of cold water, in 
 the name of the Master, to one of the least of his suffering crea- 
 tu]-es, shall not fail of its reward, how much more shall they 
 do, who, hy their prayers, and alms, and sympathies, may aid 
 in restoring lost nations to the knowledge of God ? Oh, 
 mothers and daughters of Zion ! get ye up into the high momi- 
 tain and behold, how tlie uttermost parts of the earth, are wait- 
 ing for the light, which is to rise upon them in golden splendor, 
 when the ransomed churcli is ready to make known to them, 
 the unsearchable riches of the Gospel! 
 
 -«-€fr€g^ 3S'gH" 
 
326 ARIZONA. 
 
 ARIZONA 
 
 tUEING the winter of 1870-77, an appeal was made 
 through Mr.s. E. T. Martin, of Auburn, from tlie 
 * ^'^n- ao-ent in Arizona, for aid for the tribes of Indians in 
 i^Y^ that country, who liad been phieed under the care of 
 the Reformed Church, by our Government. 
 The appeal was promptly and libei-ally responded to, by 
 neai'ly all of the auxiliary societies connected witJi the Wo- 
 man's Board, and a large box of much needed goods, was for- 
 warded to these tribes. The money given amounted to 8210. 
 The gifts consisted of woolen shawls, flannels, unbleached mus- 
 lin, calico, thread, needles, illustrated Scripture cards, etc. The 
 Pimas, Maricopas, and Papagoes, to wliom the donations were 
 sent, arc peaceful and civilized, desiring schools and teachers 
 for their children, and anxious to learn the arts of civilized 
 life. They are calling upon us for instruction, and petition 
 that men and women be sent to teach and direct them. The 
 Synod's Board, for two or three years, paid $600 to Mrs. 
 Stout, the wife of the agent, on condition that she should teach 
 when she could. 
 
 The field is open, and we could do a great deal, liad we 
 a Mission there, and money to pay men and woinen to work. 
 Till we Christianize the Indians, they must always be a trouble 
 and a terror, but experience has demonstrated that they can 
 become law-abiding citizens, if only they are brought to Christ. 
 
ro 
 
PniKHon T ,,,| 5,„,„ 
 
 1 1012 01112 3215 
 
 Date Due 
 
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