in : cc_ C CC < a: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Shelf ...>.W3 UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. xccouc c_ - 63 ^ / Copyright 1894. By C. B. WARD. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE BEGINNING. The origin of the mission. — First printed letter. — First ingathering.— My marriage. — My colleague's devotion. — Six ingatherings. — First effort to earn. — Helping others. — William Taylor's advice. — My fever. — Wil- liam Marrett's invitation. — How a guineaworm helped. — A great clean up. — My appointment. — The start. CHAPTER II. THE DOMESTIC PERIOD. A 200 mile orphan walk. — My beginning. — Our revival. — First bap- tisms. — First communion — Our position. — Conference. — Watchnight. — Mylarum work. — The first idea of East Indian orphan work — Our vil- lage and life. — Tank building. — First East Indian orphans — Miss Miller. — Investigated. — Albaka. — A pony. — William Marrett. — Ramswamy's feast. — A move. — Watchman. — Shorapore in the west. — Prayer remark- ably answered. CHAPTER III. ADVANCE STEPS. First outing. — D. O. Ernsberger. — F. J. Blewitt. — Days of faith trial — The lesson learned. — "Valley of Baca." — The magic lantern. — Miss O'Leary's sickness. — Blewitt and Co. at Pallur, — General Phayre's offer. — Bishop Foster appoints. — Money for tracts. CHAPTER IV. LARGE UNDERTAKINGS FOR GOD. Lingumpully trials. — Lanoli camp meeting. — Arnold Moore. — Miss H. Freer. — Experience learning Telugu. — Parting at Premoor. — Secun- derabad. — Holiness meeting. — Bazaar preaching. — MajorTucker — Fisrt convert. — A bazaar occurrence — Holiness tracts. — Conference. — Nursaya Naidu. — Sad days. — Two of God's noble women taken. — Nursaya's persecution — A second son. — The Nizam crowned. CHAPTER V. PIONEERING AND EARNING. Nursaya a preacher. — Contract work. — Half nights of prayer — Cane- rese werk. — A pioneer tour. — A five years report. — Trial ended. — Quar- terly Conference — My location — Misses Hillis and James — Farther con- tract work. — A plea for missions. — Smootz and I. — The cholera scourge and how it dodged us — A glance backward. CHAPTER VI. A STUPENDOUS EFFORT AND THE RESULTS. The great effort. — Apostacy. — On our feet again. — Miss Hillis. — Her work and sudden death. — Other things. — The end. CHAPTER VII. LAND AT LAST. A new start. — Land at last. — A special prayer and its answer. — An offer to the Bishop. — How I settled matters at last. — Our preachers — A pastor's report. — A mission house. — Reinforcements coming. CHAPTER VIII. HOME BUILDING AND VILLAGE RECONSTRUCTION. The mission buildings at last. — Reinforcements arrive. — The village. — Our District Conference. — The goddess Maisamma. — The liquor nuis- ance. — Rama's return from America. — His entrance upon the work in India. — Dr. A. G. Frazer's letter. — The work CHAPTER IX. OUR FORWARD MOVEMENT AND SATAN'S COUNTERPLOT, Hindoo temple illustrations. — Kois under the influence of liquor. — Preaching to our guides. — The top of Bastar mountain. — Washington's birthday. — A wedding scene. — Dantawarra and human sacrifice. — The Capital of Bastar. — Commissioner Frazer. — The order he gave. — Sir- oncha. — Satan's plot. — Our appeal as an American citizen. — The tank in danger. — Preachers for Sironcha. CHAPTER X. PREEMPTING OUR MISSION FIELD. Dr. Batstone and I on the march. — Jagdalpur. — Mission ground selected. — Dr. B. returns. — Getting workpeople. — Birthday. — My lonely camp— Northern Bastar — Rs 1000 — Opium. — Bastar's first missionaries. — Our mission field. — Six circuits. — The summary. — All about our mis- sion field — Social customs and religion. — Money matters. — Rs. 17,000 for Christmas.— M. E. hospital report.— W. F. M. S. to help us.— Third tour. — Stay in Sironcha — Miss Blackmar in Gangalur — Jagdalpur again. — Our pioneers there. — Hospital begun. — To Sukma and Mokpal — Koi language. — First Quarterly Conference in Bastar. — Our party divided .-- Home stretch — A trip to America.— The voyage. — New York.— The sixty days journey ended. — Story ends. PREFACE, The following pages do not purport to be an autobiog- raphy nor yet a work on India, her peoples or religion. It is rather in outline, the story of fifteen years of christian work in India, conducted in dependence upon God for both means and grace without any human guarantee of salary or support. The reason for its publication at this time arises from the numerous requests of friends for some account of the work we have been engaged in the past years of our residence in India. I have in the past published several partial reports of the work and our experience in it. All of these being exhausted, I have put together from sources at my command, the following pages, in the hope that Gol's blessing may make them a source of encouragement and in- spiration to other christian workers and believers. I was born March 23rd, 1853, in Kendall county, 111., the eldest of six brothers, while the* youngest in the family was an only sister. When I was about 4 years of age my parents settled in Cropsy, McLean county, 111., and here were spent my boyhood days in farm work during summer and attending the district school in winter. Our parents not being religious, dancing and novel read- ing were evils I easily unrestrained, fell deeply into. But for divine interposition I know not what these evil com- munications might have led me into. On the 15th day of November, 1869 I was converted to God in my father's corn field. The reading of Thomas Dick's Christian Phi- losopher had led on to deep conviction that I was in the io PREFACE. way utterly wrong. At about the same time a German Methodist, named John Straisser, now in heaven, began to follow me up, and, it seemed to me, he knew the state of my mind. I forsook novel reading and began to apply myself to something useful. Latterly I gave up dancing and my old companions. Brother John never let me go till he saw me soundly converted and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I began to teach school soon after this, and in the fall of 1870 I entered the Preparatory School of the Northwestern University at Evanston. Soon after my conversion a deep conviction seized me that I should become a missionary some day. This conviction came upon me while reading an appeal to christian young men and women of America, by Dr. Baldwin, at that time of the China Methodist Mission. The idea however, was apparently so preposterous, that I kept these convictions a secret for many a day. While teaching my first term, in my absence from home, my class voted me an Exhorter's license, which Rev. Matthew Evans soon after delivered me. When it came I thought it was a mistake. But ere long I was made a local preacher and the conviction that it was of God came home to me. I then began to prepare for a life of christian work. Being poor, I began in Evan- ston, sawing wood about two hours per day and all day Saturday. I was thus able to earn fully half my way for two years, after which, I taught again for six months and spliced out the rest of the year as township assessor and otherwise. During this year I preached in the school house where I taught and another a few miles away,, and conducted a Sunday School in each place. As a result a goodly number were converted or reclaimed and all from the two points united in one congregation, in Prairie Chapel, which was built at a cost of about $1,500, and ded- icated by Dr. Samuel Fallows, then President of Wesleyan University, Bloomington, 111., now a Bishop in the Re- formed Episcopalian Church. PREFACE. ii I returned to Evanston and completed the Preparatory course. Never can I forget Prof. Fisk. He left a mark on me in habits of study and reading and systematic work, worth more than much gold. Greek was my favorite study and for the post of honor I had but one successful contestant and she like myself was poor. During my last year at Evanston I found my way into Halsted St. Mission, Chicago. Here I met S. A. Kean, at that time of the banking firm of Preston, Kean & Co. Of my teachers in Evanston and faithful pastors of other places I learned much. But Brother Kean taught me how to work for the Master He w T as the first man I ever saw conducting an out-door meeting. Of him I learned how to follow boys and girls, men and women into their homes, shops, wood houses and saloons or take them on the wing, preach Jesus to them, sing with them, pray with them and lead them to the Savior. I value highly the education I received in Evanston, but the training I received in my two years in the Halsted Street Mission, has been of more value to me in India missionary work, than any other I ever had else- where. Had I my way I would see every young man and woman contemplating a life of missionary work, finish off with at least one year in city mission, or slum work. It is more like work in heathen lands than is otherwheres found in America. In the latter part of 1875 I met William Taylor, now Bishop of Africa and a third visit saw me booked for India sometime the following year. In January of 1870, when reading Dr. Baldwin's address I had gone up into my father's hay loft and promised the Lord that if ever an open door presented itself, I would enter it, in my Master's name. On my second visit to William Taylor at the M. E. Book Concern, Chicago, he made many inquiries as to my plans for the future. I told him frankly of my determina- tion to complete my education. He cut short our inter- 12 PREFACE. view by saying: ' 'Brother Ward, go home and pray over the matter three days. If the Lord wants you to go to India, I would rather send you now than after you have spent six years more of the best part of your life in getting college stuffing after which you will have to learn your A. B. C. with any other barbarian boy out in India." With this he bade me good morning. I started over to, and down Madison street; when nearing the bridge the mem- ory of my hay loft consecration came to mind. I stopped stock still on the sidewalk, and a voice seemed to say tome: "Now will you stand by your promise?" It was a battle for a few moments. My Greek prospects came up before me, I could hear the encouragements of my teachers. But, " Now will you stand by your promise? "came louder and louder. I felt it was of God and I settled the matter right there, and said, "I will." I was filled with peace. Three days later I gave William Taylor my answer, and was booked for India the following September. I went on with my work at Halsted street the rest of the year. During the sum- mer of 1876 I visited every house in the mission district c Such sights and experiences. The poor and the wicked I saw there as never elsewhere in my life. I found within a little over a square mile of territory there 30,000 persons of a dozen nationalities and more religions. I bade all my people in Illinois farewell and left for the seaboard in the end of October, 1876. I met William Tay- lor in Philadelphia, saw the Centennial and sailed from New York, November 4th, 1876, enroute for India. Never can I forget that day. A large missionary company was on board. Many wiped tears away at the last sight of Sandy Hook. I felt like throwing up my hat and shout- ing hallelujah. To me there was a land of promise ahead. Here I must detail a little of my religious experience. Not long after my conversion, I was deeply pained over the discovery of "roots of bitterness" in my heart, though I could not discover any point at which I had backslidden. PREFACE. 13 Anger sprang up betimes unbidden and then other things that gave me convincing proof that I was not ' ' cleansed from all unrighteousness " though I was sure I had received "the forgiveness of sins." A conviction . began early to grow upon me that I was in terrible danger of being be- trayed into sinful living again, unless I received cleansing from my "sin." I conversed with older christians. None seemed to be able to understand or give me help. Here and there in Adam Clarke's Commentaries and in other Methodist literature I found statements that seemed well sustained in the scriptures, to the effect that I might experience "entire sanctification " from all sin. Oh! how I sought it. How I groaned after it. How I afflicted my- self for it. But, alas, my tears, groans and prayers all fell short. I knew what it was to feel, "Oh! who shall deliver me from this dead body?" On reaching Evans- ton, I was mightily cheered to hear that Mrs. Bishop Hamline held a holiness meeting in her sick chamber weekly. I went, I listened, oh so hungry. But here satan again did me no little harm. An unworthy brother was there ever ready to witness to what most of us stu- dents knew he did not enjoy. Over him I stumbled and ceased attending those meetings. While in Halsted street work, while others said much good of my work I was con- scious that I was not "holy" and did not have abiding victory or communion in the Spirit. Oh ! how vivid is the memory of the struggle of those days. It came to me at last that it would be well for me to go to the frontier, where none knew me and make a new start for God and the Church, and I might do better. I was in this frame of mind when first I met William Taylor. When I started for India I thought of my new field as a land of promise of a better experience and more satisfactory communion with God. Thus was I buoyed up with hope till after we passed England and Gibralter. But as we neared the Suez i 4 PREFACE. Canal, the query came. u How do you know you will suc- ceed any better in India than you have hitherto done in America?" I was stunned, yes confounded by this query. But over and over it came, till in the agony of my soul, I cried out, " Lord I don't know. " Finally an awful feeling settled down upon me that as I was, the greatest failure of my life, awaited me in India. Two old missionaries, Drs. Scott and Johnson and cap- tain Oldham, daily conversed or argued on the theme of " Entire Sanctification." How I listened. But r_o help there. I read " Christian Perfection, "Love Enthroned" and other books and found no relief. Daily my bur- den grew. At last it seemed better for me to go to the bottom of the sea than to Bombay unsanctified. The dark- est hour came. December 10, 1876, just at the entrance of the Red Sea, about where old Pharaoh and his host went down, in my cabin I bowed before God determined never to leave that room till my soul was set at liberty. I began in great deliberation and detail to consecrate my- self, soul and body, and all I had or hoped for unre- servedly to God. In this holy exercise I was blessedly helped of God's Spirit and something seemed to say : ' ' This is the way." I continued thus till I could think of noth- ing more. I felt that I had done my part. As did Elijah, I lifted up my voice and began to cry for "the fire." "Send the sanctifying spirit," was my prayer. I was stopped by these words as though audibly spoken: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." I could no longer pray, I was bidden to "Receive." Was it the word of God? For the moment I could not say; I opened my bible and there it was. " Re- ceive ye the Holy Ghost." In that glad moment I lifted up my head and said: "Lord, is this all?" "Then I do receive the Holy Ghost." Oh, how shall I tell the exper- ience of that moment and the days that followed. Quick as lightning my years of bondage to a polluted moral nature was ended. Just as glorious as had been my conver- PREFACE. 15 sion, yea, more glorious, and real was the cleansing- of my heart from all sin by the blood of the everlasting covenant. India had no more terrors for me. I was more than a conqueror. Oh, how I praised God. I told my experi- ence and think other persons were sanctified, before we reached Bombay, December 24, 1876. I found myself appointed by Bishop Andrews to Bellary, about 500 miles south on the way to Madras, and in the very heart of the famine district. I went to Madras, met my Presiding Elder and many good people that had been saved through the good work inaugurated by William Tay- lor in India, and returned to my post January 2, 1877. It was the first work I had ever had independent charge of, and my trials in this new work, and a new land, were many and heavy. But my soul had wings. I was happy and many were converted. We had no church. But we built one. The congrega- tion was small, the Sunday School a good one and my help- ers were few and inexperienced. Here I met a Christian officer and family (Geo. Chooett,) whose practical friend- ship we have enjoyed all our years in India. When I met them first they were not Methodists, but later became such. For many days their house was our home. They have helped us much. Here I received my first lessons in Tel- ugu, from J. G. Firth, who though an old man to-day is the friend of every good work for God and man. My sec- ond year here, I traveled much up and down the railway line for 1,000 miles; many wicked men I met, many drunk- ards, some were saved. This was hard work but blessed. Many a time I have had to retire to some lonely wooded spot to pray for courage to go from house to house among men I knew cursed and swore, gambled, drank and ridi- culed religion. But I went, and the Lord blessed me. Three years I was in this English work in Bellary, and during my last year here, 1879, I found my way into the work my story tells of in the following pages. 16 PREFACE. My marriage to Ellen M. Welch is referred to in the first chapter of the story. I found her at work in Halsted Street Mission, Chicago. She followed me to India in a little over two years and has been my helpmeet through all the 3^ears in India. God has given us six children. Our first, Charles Edward, born February 2, 1880. God took him in a little over 4 months. Then came the twins ; Wesley Asbury and William Taylor, born in Bangalore, in the house of our friends, D. H. and Ada Lee, December 15, 1881. They were called by many Caleb and Joshua. Brother Lee bap- tised them. January 18, 1884, came George Fletcher in Secundrabad and he was baptised by the venerable Dr. A. G. Frazer. Our first daughter was born in Secundrabad, January 14, 1886 and baptised Susana Ruth by our friend, Simon Peter Jacobs. Our last is Nellie Marion, born May 19th, 1889, and baptised by our dearly beloved Bishop Thoburn. I wish it were possible to mention the many dear friends God has raised up to us in this work. A Christian engi- neer, J. J. Tomlinson, has been the friend of the most years. If I mistake not, no month has passed for 1 2 years that a contribution has not come from his hand. Railway men, military officers, civilians, missionaries, poor people and even heathen men, have freely and unsolicited, given us and many of the Lord's people have helped us with their prayers and counsel. To me it is strange that one so little known should have been so largely trusted and freely helped in God's good work. It is only explain- able on the ground that God chooses the weak things of this world for the accomplishment of his grandest purposes. In the last four years, two brethren of the Transit and Building Fund Society, (William Taylor's) have been led to help us secure property to the extent of $18,000, or in Nizam's Rupees about 7 1 , 000. But the Lord has never suf- fered our work to fall wholly upon these friends. Other PREFACE. 17 christian friends, with our own earnings have entirely sup- ported the mission, orphans, workers and missionaries. It is the purpose and faith of myself and our friends to develop a productive property in India that will, say in five years, entirely support the mission, in any locality where we start. God has blessed our efforts so far, richly. But much hard work is yet to be done, before the half mil- lion souls to whom we and our helpers are the missionaries are evangelized. When God sanctified my soul on my way to India he gave me his secret. And in the years since, that memor- able 10th of December, 1876, as I have walked 'with God, blood-washed and filled with the Spirit, I haye been blessed and my work has been successful financially and spiritually. In my experience, in no small measure I see the secret of my good health and strength to toil almost day and night in India for eighteen years without a rest, except one day a week. I have attempted little in the way of a description of India or her people. This has been well done by many abler hands. What I have written is an imperfect story of our fifteen years of christian work. The Pioneers. OUR WORK CHAPTER I. THE BEGINNING, 1879. The Telugu Mission had its origin in a prayer meeting attended by two persons, at the home of one at Gulburga, February 22, 1879. The one party was the pastor of the Methodist Church in Bellary, and the other an assistant engineer in the Nizam's Department of Public Works, then resident in the station. The pastor was C. B. Ward and the engineer A. C. Davis, Esq. The great famine of 1876 to 1878, in which five millionL of human beings perished of hunger and its consequent diseases, had closed. Copious rains had fallen, but as yet no crops had been harvested; and famine prices, famine want, famine diseases, famine poverty, and helpless famine sufferers abounded. On the understanding that "famine was over," government relief camps had all been closed except here and there one kept up simply as a hospital. The consequence was, thousands were yet left to suffer and die for want of food, medicine and care. In Gul- burga, where famine camps were still in order, a few resi- dents of the station united to open and carry on a small private charity for the benefit of orphans, and in some cases destitute children with their mothers. The Sudder Taluqdar, Mr. McFarlane, Executive Engineer, and Mr. A. C. Davis, J. J. Ottley, and C. Dun. hill, assistant Engineers of the D. P. W., J. J. Wright, 19 2o OUR WORK. Station Master, and some others, were liberal and active in this good work, as were the wives of some of the above named. The time had now come when these friends thought there was no longer any necessity for the continu- ance of their "poor house," as they styled it. There were however, a few children left in the "poor house" who had no known parents or relatives. After a few had been taken, five remained for some friend to take. The local Committee dissolved itself, and A. C. Davis took the five remaining children — four boys and one girl to rear for God. In the course of my work as a Methodist preacher, I chanced to be in Bro. Davis' house the night of February 2 1 st, 1879. In the course of the evening Bro. Davis nar- rated to me the history of the "poor house," and wound up with saying he had taken the remaining five children. I innocently asked him what he intended doing with them. He said he intended training them for the work of the Lord. If, after they were grown he found them fit for the work, he meant that they should accompany him as he moved about at his work, and that they should preach the gospel to their heathen countrymen. The idea of rearing these boys and girls for God went through my soul as a revelation from heaven. As I remember, I said little, if anything, at the time. I retired, but not to sleep for hours. There passed before my eyes the haggard, bony, starving form of hundreds of poor children I saw again and again at the various stations along a thousand miles of railway, I was accustomed to travel frequently. The possibility of saving any number of these little ones for God and his work. Was it possible? Was it not possible? I had passed over two years at Bel- lary in the height of the famine; had seen the bones of thousands at Avama's Tope and Adoni ; had seen the dead and dying in and by the road with never a thought that I could do anything till my eyes became used to sights that ordinarily would have made me sick. But in those waking OUR WORK. 21 hours God called me to cast in my lot with Bro. Davis, and endeavor to do what could be done in the line of this undertaking with the remnant from the "poor house." When I came to conference in December, 1878, I had asked an appointment to native work, but was halted by the query, "Where will you get your support? " Well, at a late hour that memorable night, sleep overtook me. In the morn- ing I broke the subject of endeavoring to do something in the same line for hundreds of poor children we knew to exist at various stations. The financial consideration was the great one, to be sure. The country had been begged to death for the relief of all sorts of needy poor. It were useless for us to begin, expecting to get money by solici- tation. We got down on the two sides of a half-camp table and counselled with God. Blessed be the name of the Lord who spoke to us from his holy place. We were both assured that the doing of something was the will of God. Bro. Davis went to, office later. I sat at the conse- crated table and penned our intentions in a letter to the "Bombay Guardian," and stated that any persons so 'moved of the Lord could of their own free will help us. On Bro. Davis' return from office I showed him the letter. Upon his concurrence in the same it was sent to Bro. Geo. Bowen, editor of the " Bombay Guardian." The follow- ing is that letter as published in the last issue of Feb- ruary, 1879 : FAMINE IS OVER. " So we hear and read. But what are these skeleton-like creatures I see all about town, going in flocks from door to door? What is that string of seven, the one leaning on the other for support as they walk? What are those crea- tures, a dozen or more, I see sitting yonder at that man's door? What are these semi-living things I see at the road side? What are these cries that greet men from the far side of the platform as the train comes up to the station? Why do the police find it difficult to drive away these 22 OUR WORK. who wait the arrival of every train? See them scramble after plantain skins, or bread, or anything thrown from the carriage window, as if they were starving! What means that cluster yonder watching the goods shed? What means so much scratching about in the dust for a few grains that just fell? 1 ' ' Famine is over, ' they say, yet such scenes as the above are to be seen all along at almost every station from Dhond to Erode. At Barsee Road, Sholapore, Raichore, Gulburga, Adoni, Cuddapah and further down there are to be seen hundreds of men, women and children almost too weak to stand, merely skin and bone. And along the line the call for charity comes just as loudly now as ever during the famine, and it may also be said that among the railway people as much is being done privately to alleviate distress at the door as twelve months ago. Yet the bur- den is greater. Government says, 'Famine is over,' and stops aid. But the people must still give, and even then see distress and death. Much has been said about the nobility of the thousands in England who sent their mites to the famine-stricken. But who shall sound the praises of those who with tripled expenses and meagre pay in times of plenty, have divided their daily portion with the poor at the door now more than two and a half years? But while the people ask no recognition of their gratitude, it is unjust to say so much about ' famins over ' when starv- ing multitudes greet us wherever we go. In every village and city in all the Central India country, are thousands who can get but a starving pittance, and that by constant begging. Money for war, money for brandy, but none for the poor. None of these starving beings appeal for the heart more pitifully than the little children, three, four or five to eight years of age. Little boys and girls, many of them fatherless and motherless, boys and girls whom Jesus loves as much as any on earth, come and fall down before us, crying for food. If we pass them they follow or sit and OUR WORK. 23 weep, Boys and girls driven to desperation, compelled to steal or starve, and then lashed by the unkind, or often driven away by the dogs. Christian friends, how would you feel were your children thus? ' ' For nearly one year a few friends at Goolburga have maintained at their own expense a little poor-house, with from ten to twenty-five native children. The amount of money expended up to date is about Rs. 600. Some of the children have died in spite of care. Several have been more recently claimed by friends, several have been found homes among Christian people, and a few remain and look well. All who joined in this noble work have felt amply rewarded with the appreciative dispositions of the chil- m dren. It has been a matter of constant prayer that these children might become good children. And now the remaining ones are every Sabbath gathered for a Sabbath school. They are taught the word of God and to pray. God is honoring this work of charity. This poor-house, so called, closes soon. But one brother has determined to continue it as a matter of faith and love. It is also pro- posed to take up these poor little starving children wher- ever they may be found in such numbers as the Lord may send the means to feed and clothe. It is thought much more can be done by system in the matter, and it is the conviction of our brother that God will answer prayer in giving these little children good hearts, and thus both body and soul find salvation. It would be a great blessing if old and yottiftg could be thus fed. But it does not seem possible to do more than care for the little ones. The prayers of God's people are asked for all these poor, espec- ially for the children. ' ' ' Famine is over ' while hundreds are starving at our door and food remains at three-fold price. Whosoever has sympathy in this work, and hath ought to aid in feed- ing these little ones and endeavoring to lead them to be God's children, may forward their mites to A. C. Davis, 24 OUR WORK. Engineer, Gulburga, or P. Geering, Loco. Foreman, Raichore." We waited for something to indicate a movement. We waited one entire month for a signal to move onward. A month of ranch trial to onr faith, and of prayer. How the tempter did assail at least one of the two of us. But an answer from the Lord came in due time. March 21, 1879, I came into Raichore to Bro. Geering's and found awaiting me a letter from the Rev. T. S. Burnell, of Melur, South India, containing Rs. 10, in answer to the "B. G." letter. I praised God, took courage and gathered assuredly that this was the long-looked for signal for ad- ding to Bro. Davis' five orphans. The following day I went to Adoni, which had been for more than two years a cen- ter of extensive relief works, intending to bring away five or more children. The following letter, published a week later in the Bombay Guardian, tells what I saw and what I did. NO FAMINE. "Having observed on several occasions lately a large number of starving creatures opposite the train at the Adoni station, on the 21st, I determined to explore the question of famine here a little more freely. At an early hour on the morning of the 2 2d, I made my way to the 1 Camp, ' still maintained on ' Mansion House ' funds. At the camp I found a roll of 288 souls, old and young; 185 males, 130 females, of whom seventy-nine were children. Of course some are daily dismissed or sent away to villages, and others taken in, thus keeping the number up to nearly 300. For these, reasonably good sheds are erected, an apothecary daily inspects the inmates, and so far as I could see, they were well cared for. But outside the camp, beneath the trees and elsewhere, were a host of over 800 persons of all ages, about half males, and fully 200 were children. Than this crowd, I never saw a worse during the famine. They are largely the absolutely impoverished OUR WORK. 25 and friendless of the region around Adoni, the helpless turned away from the broken up camps. One-half of the children are children left parentless and friendless. Very many of the older ones were left alone, friends having died during the dreadful two years past, and, I presume 75 per cent, of the 800, old and young, are sick or diseased Bad feet, ulcerated legs, diseased bodies, camp-itch, eat- ing off the limbs, almost, in some cases, covering the head and body in others. On the ground there was a little ridge of about eight inches in height ; I observed a great num- ber moving over this ridge, but being unable to lift a foot so high, they would sit down on it and then swing over. A more pitiable sight I have never seen. The cries of this famishing throng were such as I care not often to hear. The condition of this mixed crowd and of the camp is so bad that I was told that five to seven die daily. While there at the early morning hour I observed five bodies rolled up in blankets and carried away. These deaths are mostly not the result of present starvation, but having been so long starved, food' will not now save them. From the Mansion House Fund, this outside company are fed one meal a day, consisting of a large 'two-fisted ball of cooked jowaree. Tears stream down the cheeks of some as they eat, so glad are they. The very greatly emaciated and very sick are from this throng taken into the camp, and as fast as a little recovered are dismissed again, 'and soon are as bad as ever. I was informed by the inspec- tor of police that large numbers of such starving creatures were all over the district he travels. He said a camp for 2,000 would not exceed the wants of Adoni. But, alas! less than 300 can be cared for. In answer to my former letter 'Famine Over,' Rs. 10 had been sent to Mr. Geering at Raichore. I felt that ten rupees was an indication of duty. I therefore decided to bring away five children. I .began to choose. Such as were dangerously diseased I did not take, Such as were in a fair condition I did not 26 OUR WORK. take. But of the very poor, aged about five to eight, I X.00V five. But my heart yielded. I took five more. I could not yet stop ; so four more I selected, making four teen orphans. How to feed so many I did not, nor do I" now know. But I thought of John 15 — 7, and led my flock to the railway station. I could, had I had the money, have brought away fifty parentless children. I was urged to take more, and I am now urged by the sheristadar to return for more. I brought these fourteen orphans with me to Gulburga., where Bro. Davis had four remaining from the old poor-house. Just now as I write a colporteur of the Madras Bible Society is telling Bro. Davis that in every villiage where he goes he sees clumps of poor peo- ple picking up single grains in the bazaar and begging from house to house, relics of the famine. The fourteen I brought are now nicely housed with the former four, and washed, and some of them make efforts to raise a smile on their withered faces. Yesterday we gathered them for a little Sunday talk. We found of our eighteen about half girls, three are Mussulmani, three Telugu, twelve Canarese. The colporteur sang them a Telugu hymn and talked to them. Bro. Davis talked to them through one of his servants. Our purpose is to endeavor to care for these little ones so as to keep them from evil influences and endeavor to teach them of Jesus, from the first. We hope to make some arrangement so that soon the children may do work. We have entered so largely into this work pursuant to our purpose expressed before in 'Famine Over,' with but little to rely on, save the promise of God. We shall keep no subscription list. But let the work be known, and whom God makes willing may send aught they will to P. Geering, Raichore, or editor Bombay Guardian, or A. C. Davis, Engineer, Goolburga. Our hearts bleed for more than fifty more parentless chil- dren at Adoni, saying nothing of many more all along the* line. We have covenanted with God if He provides us OUR WORK. 27 means, to increase our number to fifty. We would like to find some godly woman of faith who would esteem it God's work to care for and teach these little ones of Christ. This we pray for also. Many contingencies hang over our enterprise. But while waiting, the children are dying. Sc we have begun, believing that God hath said 'Thus do,' and he will lead and provide. We have plans for locating the little orph anage on a plan that we hope will be blessed of God for the eternal good of these children. We think the work should lie in close proximity to the railway and yet be far away from the many unhallowed influences of city surroundings. We commend this work to the faith of praying people, that the spiritual aspect of it may be blessed. Second to the generosity of those whom God maketh willing. Each orphan will cost about Rs. 4 per head per month. Does any one want to have one orphan in our orphanage? Fifty children borne every hour on the faith of God's people from childhood to man or womanhood would yield some missionary workers for Jesus. So is our faith. Any letters of inquiry may be sent to A. C. Davis, Goolburga, or to the Writer at Raichore." C. B. Ward. My colleague was not at all affrighted by my ingather- ing, but proceeded soon after to take in a few more at Gulburga, and we soon had a family of twenty-one boys and girls whom we intended to rear for God. On the 1st of April, 1878, an event of some importance to myself transpired at Raichore. I was married to Ellen M. Welch, who had come all the way from Chicago to ful- fill an original contract to the same effect. W. J. Glad- win and W. F. G. Curties, my brethren in the Conference, did the official necessary, and Peter Geering did the enter- taining royally. As a manifest token of the Lord's favor in the particular work we were entering upon so largely, a then unknown friend sent us Rs. 50 for the orphan work. From this time on for some months a constant stream, of 28 OUR WORK. financial aid came in, and we resolved not to keep any large balance on hand but the rather expand our work. Thus we continued to gather in other groups of destitute children till we had taken in, all told, over 180, from Bell- ary, Adoni, Raichore, Shahabad, and Gulburga. The condition of things described in the two ' ' Bombay Guar- dian" letters was about what we found at all of the towns above named during the summer months of 1878. Dur- ing the first six months of our work we did not get really to the bottom of our cash chest. The Lord knew we needed to be encouraged in this good work, and so we had our faith tenderly husbanded in these early days of its trial. I was tied more or less to my circuit, and the heav- iest part of the very laborious work, caring for the orphans, fell on Bro. Davis at his Gulburga home. It is hardly possible to depict the appearance of the successive bands of orphans brought into our gospel camp. Boys and girls, varying in age from three to twelve years, well nigh naked, unwashed for months, hair uncombed and matted and full of vermin, while their bodies were cov- ered with filth and sores, and many suffered from guinea- worm, dropsy and other diseases, that always follow in the wake of long starvation. Whenever a detachment came in they must be washed and dressed and fed, and in their suffering condition it is hard to really fully appre- ciate what this meant. Then hours each day went dress- ing sores, extracting the guinea worms, and preparing and administering diet to the sick among them. Then all this was to be done so as to cure the soul as well as the body. No man or woman could have done this Christian-like work with greater tenderness and fidelity than did this christian engineer. As his gentle touch relieved the suf- fering of the living, so his fingers closed the eyes of many in death. Angels looked down and wondered as he strove day by day to tell these little ones whose parents never worshiped aught but idols, of Jesus who even came down OUR WORK. 29 from a heavenly throne to make salvation possible for even such as they were. Yea, in those earliest days some of those little ones learned to lisp the Savior's name, and even in death gave evidence that it was not in vain that they had heard the Redeemer's name. We shall meet many of those little ones whose bodies we could not save, in the better land. Within six months I had brought seven different detach- ments, of orphans from the towns above named, and quite a number had been gathered up at Gulburga, where our orphanage work was located. Although the total brought in was over 180, yet we never had at any one time more than 122 in hand. Many died soon, it being impossible to restore them with the best of food, medicine and care. While we were yet gathering in, Rs. 2,000 had been sent in from many friends who were strangers to us, and we were not a little surprised at the bounteous way in which the Lord literally answered our prayers. We had begun to see that the Lord was leading us into a great missionary work among the heathen, and this his way of helping us to make our own helpers. How vivid is the memory of those last months at Bellary. As the orphan work grew, many a time beneath an overshadowing rock in Bellary I poured out my soul in prayer and fought many a fiery bat- tle with the great adversary of all good work. Oft was my heart uplifted, and the wonderful promises of the good book made to shine with glory. God' taught us to look upon the promises as real and literal, and when later the trials came we were not unprepared to meet them and count it all joy to have the opportunity of thus glorifying God in an unbelieving generation. As we look back at the matter now, the call to our knees by pressing wants was better for us than the bestowment of hundreds of rupees. Oh how the devil tempted and taunted us. ' • You are a fine pair of humanitarians, gathering all these children now to be turned away again because you can't feed them." 3° OUR WORK. He said: " You can't expect people to be always sending you money. How presumptuous you have been." But on opening God's word we find a host of promises concern- ing the ' ' poor and fatherless," from which we would assur- edly gather, that the rescue of these little ones was of God. "Get thee hence, Satan," set us in large place again, in every instance. When we began in March we had no well-defined idea of anything of such magnitude as the Lord gave us, nor had we well defined notions. of what we were to do with our orphans in the future. We dreamed of farms, factories, schools, etc., etc., not a little. Bro. Davis and myself might have been seen pacing over various tracts of vacant land about Gulburga. • in the vain hope of getting a permanent footing there. We even went so far as to begin buildings of too costly a kind, and afterwards the Lord, after causing the rains and a dishonest contractor to help in tumbling down some of the walling, found a purchaser for the material we had on the ground, and let us out with a very slight loss of money. But this much became clear, God had shown how my sup- port could be gleaned, and that he was leading us to the opening of a mission somewhere among the heathen. My thoughts turned towards the Canerese country, a glimpse of which I had at Shorapore in August, 1878. But no definite light came. How well we remember seasons of deep heart- searching and prayer together. How often we joined together in searching out the unsearchable promises of the bible and anchoring ourselves more firmly upon them. How God led and helped us two lame disciples. "Finney's Autobiography" did us much good, as also did Muller's "Life of Trust/' Starting as we did, without a bank or missionary treasury, or any rich friends behind us, from the very outset we were casting about for some productive footing somewhere. The first thing we struck was some road-making, which netted one hundred rupees, wholly from the earnings of the orphans. We had no idea OUR WORK. 31 of greasing our mission wheels forever with charity oil, but rather aspired to repay the Lord all he had lent us as famine relief, and in addition, send workers to the region beyond, and support them. Our example and success was an encouragement and inspiration to others. After some correspondence with Miss Jennie Frow (now Mrs. Fuller) of Akola, it was arranged that we should give her six orphan girls. On the 23d of September Rev. J. W. Sibley came to Gulburga and six of our girls volunteered to go with him for Miss Frow. And as far as we have ever heard these girls, with whom we reluctantly parted, all turned out well, and some of them at least are to this day valued workers in the mis- sion now superintended by Bro. Fuller. In the month of June, I wrote to William Taylor, telling him of our start, progress and success, and asking his help in sending us a lady missionary for the orphanage. Early in October his reply reached us, promising us a mis- sionary lady in the early part of the coming year, and rel- ative to our work in general he wrote : " Go ahead, but don't go in debt. God is able to run his enterprises with- out running his credit in the money market. Don't bor- row, but advertise, pray, work and trust God." About this time we were much shut up to prayer as the future did not seem clear. It was already pretty plain that we were not to stay in Gulburga or the Canarese country, and yet where we should go was not at all plain. During the time of our deep solicitude for the future of our pros- pective mission, I was smitten down with a virulent form 01 malarial fever. For more than a month I was confined to my bed, and was more than weak tor three months. But whenever I could think or pray my mind turned to the Gulburga camp of over one hundred souls. During my sickness I received a letter from William Marrett, an exec- utive engineer in the Nizam's D. P. W., telling us of land prospects in the Telugii country. He earnestly invited us 32 OUR WORK. to come to the Telugu country and open up mission work. This letter was like a gleam of light to our waiting, watch- ing hearts. Yet we asked for fuller light. It soon came. Bro. Davis, unsought by himself, received orders to go to Bro. Marrett's division for work. It now seemed clear that he was to go ahead and prepare the way for us all. Another providence at this time x resulted in much good to the orphans. Bro. Davis became an invalid from the appearance of a guinea worm in one of his feet. Two months' leave became a necessity, and as he was able, he spent nearly all his time with the orphans. He could not walk, but the orphans could come to him, and day by day as I lay sick in Bellary and he a cripple in Gulburga, these little ones came to him and from him heard the words of life. When I had recovered a little from my fever I ran down to see him and the flock. I could not get back owing to my weakness, and stayed there a week. On the Sun- day we were there together while we were both sick, God gave us a display of the power of grace that greatly cheered our hearts. I cannot tell the story better than by giving here the letter I wrote soon after to the editor of the Bombay Guardian: Though nearly seventy have died with us, we rejoice that they have died with us, having had christian care and heard the name of Jesus, and many of them have learned his prayer, rather than that they had died among the hea- then and without ever having heard the name of Jesus, been bundled off and dumped indifferently into a hole suf- ficiently shallow for the jackalls to uncover the first night. We are greatly rejoiced at the good influence God by the Spirit has helped us to impress on them. Months ago we wrote, these children were as impres- sible by the truth as ' street arabs ' in Chicago, with whom we had to do for one and a half years. I can only empha- size that statement now. It is true to the uttermost. See- ing this we pray much for all those who have Sunday- OUR WORK. 33 schools among heathen children in India. One hour a day- is spent teaching the children the word of God and pray- ing with them, in which they all join. A part of the chil- dren being Hindustani, one half their time is spent with the Hindustani Testament, and the other half with the Teluga, which the remainder know, and the day goes between washing, working, playing, etc. A few of the boys and girls show considerable disposition to be useful, and they are. In them all we see God's children. On a recent visit our hearts were a little sad to see the heathen trinkets many of the girls wore. Some of them had them when we gath- ered them ; others had got them somehow since being with us. We-were at a loss as to how to approach and impress them with the heathenishness of wearing such things. But God opened the way for His own work as easily as He opened the Red Sea. One Sabbath morn it was, the chil- dren were all gathered for their usual bible hour. Bro. Davis began to talk of the need of being christian out-and- out, distinguished from the heathen about us. The matter of bangles, earrings, nose jewels, etc., was barely men- tioned when one of the noblest of our Adoni trophies, a girl very useful and about twelve years old, who had on a larger share than any others came to me with all she had, and put them in my lap. The example was good ; without a word of exhortation every girl in the flock, save one, came and put her bangles, earrings, finger rings, and nose jewels in my hands ; the other did so the following morning just as freely as the rest had done. Our eyes could scarce restrain tears of joy that God should make this matter all His work. The trinkets were of no money value. But all know how the heathen, as well as some white people, almost deify such things. Bro. Davis then read and explained what God in His word says about wearing jewelry, in Timothy and elsewhere, and also what bad use natives made of God's gold, instead of feeding the poor, etc., and 34 OUR WORK-. how many Europeans and East Indians went with hands flashing with gold (or brass) and ears loaded till they were almost like donkey's ears, offtimes not paid for, and in most cases when their debts were not paid. We took this course that they might know the reason of what otherwise might seem strange. I have often been made sad to see native christian girls called poor, loaded down with jewelry. I know a small congregation of natives said to be too poor to support a pastor, in which the women wear jewelry enough to keep him two years. We bless God for having given so great success in all our efforts with our orphans. As God leads us, we hope to go into a Telugu Mission field farther east. Attempts have been made by natives of the place to excite distrust in the minds of the children, and a few did run away. The chil- dren were told that we were fattening them up to make them into carriage grease for the railway. Of course the story is stale now, but caused fright for awhile. The Lord has graciously, wonderfully supplied our wants. Over Rs. 1,800 have been sent us in answer to prayer. On several occasions we have had nothing, and a prayer meeting had to be held on the spot, but deliverance has always come. It is sometimes keen work to just i let go and trust' But it is blessed to do so. We do so long to increase our flock. I could gather ioo poor children to- morrow had I means. Cold weather is now coming on, and the condition of the multitude is deplorable in the Nizam's country. Readers, pray for our Orphanage, and also that the Father of the fatherless will care for the poor in the Deccan plain. Anything for the Orphanage to be forwarded as before. C. B. W. In many ways were we encouraged in the work of the first nine months. Of the wellbeing of many who died we could not doubt. Some left behind them a fragrant and OUR WORK. 35 precious testimony, passing away in the triumphs of chris- tian faith. Others among the living gave evidence of a work of grace begun in their hearts. Often was Bro. Davis much cheered to hear the prayers some of them lisped for themselves and him as they lay under the fly of his tent. But we were not sure any were really and brightly con- verted to God. We did not see the victory over sin that we longed to see, and though we saw much good, yet we saw much we could not doubt the devil could justly call his own. So we did not broach the subject of baptism, as we did not wish to increase the number of baptized heathen in India. I was not able to visit the orphans in December owing to my poor health, and Bro. Davis was off for his new field, preparing the way for the rest of us. We had to leave the children in the hands of a person employed for the pur- pose. In the first days of January, 1880, I attended the annual conference, which met in Allahabad. Being very weak, I was helped along most of the way by my friend and brother, W. J. Gladwin, of Secunderabad. On arrival, I placed in the hands of my P. E., W. B. Osborne, a writ- ten offer of myself to go out and open missionary work in the name of the Lord and the M. E. Church in the Telugu country, asking for no pledged support for myself or or- phans. I was told the next day after making my applica- tion that it was granted, and I was to select my own field and originate the work as the Lord should lead. Now came another battle and victory. Satan said : ' ' You mean to move the orphans and your family 200 miles or more to a country you know nothing about, where is all the money to come from for all this?" Well, the day after I asked for my appointment, I settled this matter with the Lord. I knew not how or whence. But God assured me as oft in trials before this, that all would be well. My victory was my faith, and my faith was in the " living word" of God I returned from conference and, in company with Bro. 36 OUR WORK. Richards, who was to succeed me in Bellary, stopped off a day at Goolburga. We saw the children, sang and prayed with them and went on to Bellary, where I found let- ters waiting from both Bro. Marrett and Bro. Davis, bid- ding me come on to the country named by Bro. Marrett in his first letter — and better than this a draft from America which realized exactly Rs. 240, the largest single gift ever received in money to this date, and a perfect answer to all the devil's lies. For when the tempter was lying to me in Allahabad he knew this money was on the way from Amer- ica. He hoped to unfit me for using it by getting me to fall through unbelief. Praise God, he did not succeed. William Taylor had fulfilled his promise, and Miss Mollie Miller was already in the country for our work. She was soon with us in Bellary. On the 2nd of February, leaving Sister Ward behind, I set out to find our mission field. That very day our first born came to us. He was not long with us, was a great sufferer all his days, and went to God who gave him, at the age of four months and ten days. None seemed to know his ailment, and no help was at any time more than a tem- porary relief. On arrival at Hyderabad I found that I had to go about 100 miles north to find Brothers Marret and Davis and our mission field. As soon as bullocks could be secured we were under way for our jungle home. On the 16th of the same month I found the brethren at a place about seventy^ five miles from Hyderabad, called Mylarum. Happier souls than we were in our enthusiasm for God and the salvation of the heathen seldom meet. The following day we drew up the following simple outline of a mission platform. I give it without comment as an expression of the faith that was in us that day. I. The God of all grace having drawn us by cords of love towards the destitute orphans about us, and by special leadings of His word and providence called us to this min- OUR WORK. 37 istry for His poor, the undersigned unite in fellowship of faith and labor as an Orphanage association. II. This shall be an independent association in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and shall make its reports through our papers. The chief purpose of our union shall be to pray and counsel together in behalf of the interests committed to us by the Lord. III. Trusting in Him who has taught us to pray "give us this day our daily bread," we are to have no pledged financial support from any society or fund : we shall not circulate a subscription book or make any public or private appeals to man for support, ' ' but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let (our) requests be • made known to God"; "for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." IV. No fundamental change in the association, such as the addition of a member or change of these regulations, shall be made without the consent of all the members. Any member may retire from the association upon giving notice to the others. V. This association shall be called the Christian Or- phanage. We then finding land arrangements unsettled as yet, de- termined to order the children overland by easy marches of about ten miles per day. The total distance was about 220 miles. After making arrangements to carry out our plans concerning the orphans I went on to Curreemnugger with Bro. Davis, and staid with him a month previous to my return to Bellary for my family and our goods. Finally setting out for Bellary I arrived there on the 23rd of March, my birthday. Thus our first year of work was over and we were full of faith and enthusiasm for another. We had received for the work Rs.3,280, »and had a cash balance on hand of Rs. 204. A mission was begun, a veritable "church in the wilderness" was in embryo. Our financial platform was "trust in the Lord and do good." 38 OUR WORK. CHAPTER II. THE DOMESTIC PERIOD. l88o-l88l. March 16th, the orphans left Goolbulga on their long march. April 5th, they arrived at Mylarum in fair condi- tion, two being lost on the way at Secunderabad and three dying. Bro. Davis and Bro. Marrett were both at Mylarum to welcome them. The total number reaching Mylarum was sixty-one boys and girls. The meeting of the brethren and the children is best described in Bro. Davis' own words : "They (the children) had arrived two hours before Bro. Marrett and myself, who were coming in from "Curreem- nugger. I had just cantered across a nullah, when the whole of the children surrounded my horse, and words of welcome and salams could scarce be distinguished in the shout of joy which kept rising from fresh batches of chil- dren now and then. Some of them were moved to tears, the big boys in particular, and I confess I was moved sim- ilarly. Bro. Marrett stood by in surprise, just discovering it possible for poor black faces to belong to souls endowed with like passions with ourselves. We joined in returning thanks to almighty God for His protection over these little ones. They were visited during the day by Mrs. Marrett, who, though disposed to regard the movement unfavorably, was moved to tears in their midst, and has been since fore- most among those considering what means could advance the comfort of the children." Although on our arrival at Mylarum arrangements were entered into, regarding a temporary settlement there, in my absence at Bellary, while the children were making the journey from Goolburga, Bro. Davis seems to have had serious misgivings regarding any settlement there whatever, and under date of April 15th, he wrote: "I stop further work on the shed. 'Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.' Every movement to accelerate the completion of the shed here finds a dissenting voice within." OUR WORK. 39 April 20th, I reached Mylarum and found such a state of affairs as at once decided a move to Curreemnugger. We proceeded at once to Curreemnugger, to the Government bungalow occupied by Bro. Davis, taking with us a few bandy loads of timber for hut building. Bro. Davis was ab- sent, but came home Saturday evening, the 24th of April. On the day we entered Curreemnugger we wrote in our diary as follows: — "How God compels us to walk by faith ! For six months he has hardly let us see one step ahead. Still he leads and blesses us all the way. Bro. Marrett's land project has fallen through for the present. We have not where for our orphanage save Bro. Davis' quarters here. Yet I do not believe there is any mistake in coming .into this country. I believe God means us to preach the gospel in these parts. We must wait and pray and ■ follow where he leads.' " His plan was to get a ruined village and plant us on it. I had as yet to acquire the use of the lan- guage before I could expect to do much personally. I had, however, a poor man for a helper who had some colloquial knowledge of both Hindustani and Telugu. Sc from the beginning I was able to work through an interpreter. I found I had a pretty hard lot to work on. Anger, abusive language, petty stealing and fighting were common staples in camp. I began resolutely to introduce discipline and teach the way of salvation. I secured a teacher and began to teach them all Telugu. At an early day here we began to allow some of the orphans to do some of the work that we had employed servants to do before, and soon discover- ed we had been led to find a way to show the children the Christian grace of giving at this early period of their ex- perience. Right there we introduced the tithe system, and our boys and girls have followed it ever since. Our first days in Curreemnugger were more or less days of faith trial, but we were never forsaken. God was with us, and in many ways helped us to reduce to order the ill-ordered army under our command. 4 o OUR WORK. Our hearts were heavy, however, in those last days of April and the early part of May, 1880. We saw clearly that though we had spent a year .with many of these children we had yet no proof that any one of those with us was con- verted. They were learning to pray and imitate things christian. But christian grace was utterly wanting in the heart of any one of the number we had with us. We saw ourselves educating another detachment of nominal chris- tians. Except that we baptised none for the reason that we believed them unconverted to God. Our hearts went up to God in much prayer for some work of the Holy Ghost among them resulting in the unmistakable conversion of some, at least, of them. May, 1880, was a "red letter" month in our history, the forgetting or belittling of which would be little less than a crime. We cannot do better, therefore, than copy part of what we recorded then. Ten years of observation have brought to light nothing to suggest any retraction. We had been teaching them (the children) from the beginning about Christ and salvation. But that nobody was getting converted and that Satan was having so great vic- tory over them, day by day, became a matter of great heaviness of soul to us. We prayerfully sought counsel of God. We saw the adequateness of the provisions of Christ's Gospel for their conversion ; but how may these provisions become effective? by faith, and faith cometh by 'hearing,' and ' hearing ' by the ' Word of God ' Thus God made it plain that now was his time to save souls among us. It seemed so clear that salvation would never be nearer or our orphans nearer to it than now, un- less some definite work was done now. These feelings grew stronger and stronger till the morning of the 16th of May. It was the sabbath day and I was awakened early, about 4 a.m., and felt a strong constraint to pray. I cried to God earnestly for a wave of salvation over our camp that day. I have ever felt that my praying that morning was OUR WORK. 41 in a very especial sense in the Holy Ghost. The hour for the morning service came, and Bro. Davis officiated. There was nothing extraordinary in that meeting. My faith was not discouraged, yet was not bold enough to tell Bro. Davis of my early morning experience. All day it continued to come over my soul that the Lord was about to display His glory among us. Bless the name of the Lord, at the even- ing service salvation came and twelve persons were awakened by the Holy Spirit, and we tried to lead them into the fountain at once. At a late hour we broke up with our hearts full of boundless joy in the Lord. I enter here a note of that day entered in our missionary diary by Bro. Davis, describing his estimate of that high day in our "Zion." May 1 8th. The [preceding days have witnessed a work which bids fair to last. On Sunday morning the children gathered for prayer, when I talked of what Jesus did for us. The discourse was blessed to many waiting hearts, and the meeting closed leaving an increased love on our part for these dear children about us. In the evening Bro- ther Ward gave them a very apt and simple illustration of the disease of sin. Great interest was evinced, and before closing Brother Davis suggested that seekers be called for. Twelve rose up and were shown the way as simply as could be. A meeting was appointed for the next day at 12 o'clock for seekers. At this meeting we explained the waiting of the twelve apostles, and exhorted them to wait in the way God had directed for the forgiveness of sins and the regeneration of their natures. Nearly all of them prayed earnestly and intelligently. One said, ' Take my hands and my feet and let them be for Thy service.' Another confessed he was pleading long and fervently and now more than ever for this best of blessings. A third was resolved to resign all for Christ. All prayed for pardon. Four of the twelve who rose on Sunday evening 42 OUR WORK. were girls. Among them the eldest one, who was known to be of a cross and hasty disposition, and who often spoke harshly to the other children. This day, 12 o'clock, saw us assembled, and we were led to question them very closely as to their experience. We were satisfied with the testimony of six of the children, and the rest did not say anything. ' One of the eldest and most intelligent ' showed an honesty in dealing with himself quite refreshing, and said he would consider whether he had received the new heart and let us know. The eldest girl, who was noted amongst the children for hastiness and rudeness of speech, confessed she passed a very pleasant evening the day before, and quite enjoyed the singing and felt more kindly towards the smaller children. A. C. D. Another entry a week later speaks for itself : — May 24th. One week yesterday since our hearts were gladdened by twelve of our orphans seeking Christ. We have had the noon-day meeting with the seekers daily, since Monday the 17th. Two more boys came out, and yesterday morning one more, and last night fifteen more. My heart was filled with trembling joy one week yesterday, and I have watched and prayed ever since if peradventure the work were genuine. I wrote of it on Monday to Bro. G., speaking of it only in moderate terms lest we be humbled by later developments. A week has gone and we are persuaded that God is truly working in our midst. I so conclude from the following facts: (1) There is a marked change in the life and conduct of the whole fourteen who started out one week ago. (2) There is a marked change in the whole orphanage. I think we have had but two case» of quarrelling in seven days, against the same daily before. (3) The testimony of these fourteen is very clear. (4) They all engage in prayer in the noon-day meetings and their prayers are all original. We have not put words into their mouths, but have left God to teach them to pray. OUR WORK. 43 I am constrained to believe that this is the hand of God since it is that for which we have been earnestly praying. Doth not God hear? Yesterday my heart was much drawn out in direct prayer for souls. At morning- prayers I gave a brief account of the creation, the garden, the fall and the flaming sword. All seemed deeply interested for an hour. At evening prayers I began with the promise of a Savior made to Adam and Eve, noticed the institution of sacrifices to keep alive in human minds the necessity of a vicarious attone- ment, the birth of Jesus, His boyhood, baptism, teaching and works, and then His trial, crucifixion, burial, resur- ;ection and ascension, all that we might get rid of Adam's sense of sin, i.e. to be saved, which salvation is now come to us by the preaching of Jesus. We then tried to make the acceptance of Christ simple and plain, and called for seek- ers. Glory be to God ! four girls and nine boys, one after another, rose up, and while we were examining and direct- ing these, one girl and one boy more rose, making in all fifteen new seekers. Three of those were frequent offend- ers up to this time. After prayer we told all those who had found a new heart before, to tell these new seekers their experience and pray with them. Angels must have shouted to see them following out our instructions a little later. I know all this is contrary to the usual conception of the ability of the heathen to receive Jesus and His salva- tion. These children know they are sinners, why may they not as clearly know salvation? I cannot believe it to be God's will that these young hearts should not be saved till years have been spent in learning prayers, eu. They can not read but they can understand Jesus. June 2nd. The mid-day meetings continue, together with those of the morning and the evening. The two latter are devoted to Gospel singing, exhortation and teaching ; the mid-day meetings to giving practical directions in the way 44 OUR WORK. of life. Satan has been busy attempting to destroy the work of God, and has drawn some of the little ones to stay away from meetings, and in other cases to indulge in anger. Verily these children are taught of God. We see it in their fervency in prayer, in their altered manner and the joy that beams on their faces, in every one of which we find something to love. Yesterday's communion with the children was such as I seldom have experienced in the company of the children of God. The children felt like leaping and keeping time to the hymn "That will be joyful y I cannot tell how we re- frained ourselves from doing so. There is on their part an exhibition of a very earnest mind to continue, and the fer- vor of their resolves in soul is inspiring. Some say, ' En- able us to keep this new mind as we would money;' others, 'Help us to keep it as we do our clean clothes;' another, 'We will keep in the narrow way, though Satan and our friends ask us to walk in the broader one.' 'Oh, that we may be in Thy sight as green trees are in the sight of men, pleasant to behold !' With all these encouragements I have been tempted to think there were too many meetings, and these should be confined to special seasons only, and let meetings twice a day suffice. But God has shown me by blessing me every time I meet with the children that it is His will. Do we not study our bibles daily? These meetings occupy the place of bible study with them. My heart rises in much fervency to God as I write, in supplicating for these chil- dren. Up to this time Mrs. Ward had been kept from the scene of these labors, caring for our first-born son, who, born February 2nd, 1880, after a little more than four months of almost constant suffering departed this life from the home of one of our friends in Sifabad (a suburb of Hyderabad) The little sufferer went to meet some of our orphans gone before, while we toiled with the living. Dear OUR WORK. 45 ones taken from us here are golden chains binding us to another world. After an absence of twenty-one days, returning from Hyderabad, I am rejoiced to find the Lord has been pleased to continue the blessed work of grace begun in May. Yes- terday to my surprise over fifty children came together for the Monday meeting. On inquiry I found over twenty had set out to seek God in my three weeks absence. Oh, how my heart doth praise the Lord for such goodness ! but it is just what we have been praying for month after month. There is such a wonderful change in the whole orphan- age. Our meetings are as heart-warming as any I ever attended. Some would ask what sort of christians the heathen make. I think about as good as in Paul's day, except that ours labor under the disadvantage of not being able to read, and a want of bible knowledge, and the limits of heathen impressions. But they are sinners, loved and saved by Jesus. But God helps wonderfully in meeting the demand of the experience m and character of our little flock in the three meetings a day and free intercourse with them. June 14th, Miss Cecilia O'Leary, of Hyderabad, an Eurasian christian of good repute among all the brethren, joined our mission, age twenty-four, and groaning earn- estly to be 'filled with the Spirit.'" During the months of June and July we passed through various and trying experiences. Internal harassments of the devil trying to destroy all the good done, and the out- ward assaults of the wicked who would steal or allure away the children when possible. Oft we were without money, but in wonderful ways the Lord always came to our relief just in time. During these days we wrote, "why do these trials come? Do they not weaken the workers' hands? No. By them comes a development of character suited to the work 4 6 OUR WORK. which can be reached in no other way. I bless God for our trials." I recorded also as follows, on August ist, 1880. During the last week we have been unfolding the sub- ject of baptism to the children as the sign of enrollment in Christ's army. We have reason to believe a work of grace is begun in the hearts of about forty of the orphans, yet some of these have not manifested that degree of steadfast- ness we would like to see. We do not believe in increas- ing the number of baptized heathen in India if we can help it. We have with us two orphan boys who were for two years in an orphanage maintained by one of the oldest evangelical missionary societies of India. After having learned the Lord's prayer, some portions of scripture and a few other literary items they were baptised, receiv- ing new names. Neither they nor their sister can under- stand the new name business, and so persist in the reten- tion of the old names. I sympathize with them in this matter. But these boys have yet to learn anything of the new heart experience. I am aware I am treading tender ground, but I do not believe the Lord calls us to baptise heathen orphans before they are converted. So in putting this matter before the children we have exercised great care to explain the cere- mony as the Savior's command and the believer's privilege, implying on the believer's part the "sign" of their having already entered into covenant relations with God, on His part the covenant "seal " that he will continue unto the be- liever, he being faithful, all the blessings that pertain to that covenant. Yesterday, being satisfied that a number of boys and girls should be baptized, we met them for an hour's special talk about the matter in the afternoon. Thirteen boys and nine girls came in. After going over the grounds of the obligation and privilege carefully, we sub- mitted the question, "do you desire to be baptised," to each OUR WORK. 47 one. We bade them retire, to think and pray over the sub- ject, and as many as after so doing desired baptism, we would baptise at 7 p.m. Promptly at 7 p.m all were gath- ered in the bungalow, with those desiring baptism in front. All our camp turned out that night, servants, peons, orphans, and all our staff. Meeting began by singing, after which Bro. D. and myself prayed. The subject of baptism was again briefly explained, and why these only were to be baptised; after which I baptised the thirteen boys and nine girls as they knelt in front of us. Only one name was changed. One little girl named Booboo received the name of Munny. The Lord indeed was with us in this first baptismal service in our "wilderness church." Great solemnity rested on us all. Never more earnestly did we pray for the death of all carnal affections and lusts than when baptising these twenty-two orphans ranging from the age of eight to six- teen years. May God establish them and lead them early into the experience of holiness. We have never yet bur- dened the children with the name of " Methodist." While we believe the organic form of Methodism is scriptural, and while we work on the time-honored methods of Meth- odism, yet we endeavor to impress on the minds of the children the fact, that all our teaching is drawn from God's own word. C. B. W. Soon after this we organized all those professing conver- sion into "fellowship bands." In one band we had twenty- four, in another twenty-one. We employed a teacher and pushed the work of making every boy and girl able to read the word of God. September 14th, Brother Da\is wrote, " Bro. Ward bap- tised eight boys and five girls. The usual indications we take to guide us with reference to the character of those professing conversion are fervency in prayer, uniform good 48 OUR WORK. behavior, and their intelligent confession of Christ. Yes- terday at the usual noon meeting, following the hints for discourse given by Bro. Ward on Abraham's lie, we con- cluded by asking those who desired baptism to stand. We were not quite prepared for the result. Some rose whom we did not think serious, while some deserving ones did not rise, but nothing daunted we believed that God would stay the feet of those who were yet blind. However, we told those who rose and a few more we thought truly serious to meet us at 5 p.m. for consultation and examination. A little before that time we were sorely tempted to postpone the examination and baptismal service, but the very cause which seemed unfavorable was the means of throwing light upon that which occupied our minds concerning the choice for baptism among those who were to gather for examina- tion. The little disturbance created by one of the boys at noon served to show him he had not seriously considered the nature of that for which he was asking, nor the peculiar qualifications necessary. The selection having been as carefully made as possi- ble, we questioned those chosen as to their resolves, their faith in Christ, and their present experience of forgiveness. Satisfactory responses being given, these eight boys and girls were baptised at 7 p.m. My men were present on this as on the previous occasion, when orphans were bap- tised. The names of two boys, Murgah and Hunama, were changed to Lutchmiah and Yankiah, respectively. By October all hopes of the village Bro. Marrett had ex- expected to get from the goverment for us, were utterly blasted. October 5th. We made in person an application to the Taluqdar at Curreemnugger for some land. He refused, and we memorialized His Highness' government. The Taluqdar refused on the following grounds : — 1. I was a foreigner. 2. I was not employed in any part of government service and therefore without visible means OUR WORK. 49 from which the government could recover anything if need be. 3. I was a christian missionary. To our memorial came no satisfactory reply. November 7, 1880. Sunday evening we had our first communion with the children. In the morning we devoted an hour (4: 30 to 5 : 30 a.m.) to prayer for the children, that they may clearly perceive and rightly use this ordinance. At a special meeting with the baptised children we tried to impress upon them that this ceremony was done in remem- brance of the death of Christ' for us. As we made the nature of His death plain to them, our hearts were filled with the blessed joy and consolation which the reception of that truth imparts. With the exception of one boy, all mani- fested a becoming seriousness. One boy displayed a little levity on account of some occurrence and we asked him to withdraw. We have reason to hope, in some cases at least, that they had a true and solemn conviction of. the impor- tance of the profession they were making according to their capacity. The Lord indeed was with us and blessed us all. November 20th, we defined our position as follows: (I) " We are temporarily settled in the Nizam's Domin- ions. (2) The Government does pot order us out, nor pro- hibit our staying. (3) Israel was forty years temporarily settled in the wilderness. Can we not stand it awhile? (4) If we have to go, we can cross the Godavery and still be in the Telugu field. " During the month of November we were much tried. No less than fourteen of the children were induced of the devil to run away. But in the end the devil over-did him- self and most of them came back repentant and wiser. Up to the end of November but two of our new converts had fallen back, and many more had been touched with the finger of God's love. Our " fellowship band " meetings were the scenes of much blessing, and the means in our hands of leading on and up and into the things of Christ. That a great work had been wrought among us was evi- 5o OUR WORK. dent, but we were not satisfied to stop with that any more than was Paul with the Ephesians, Colossian, Philippian, and Thessalonian heathen converts. We longed for an out- pouring of the Holy Ghost on our church. We longed to see a deeper conviction of the sinfulness of sin and a clearer faith in the all-cleansing power of Jesus' blood. We gathered from the Word of God : — (i) "That our Gentile Church should be baptised with the Holy Ghost. (2) " That Jesus' blood effected an atone- ment embracing this end when apprehended by faith. (3) "That this work is generally brought about by some agency in God's hand. (4) " That it is our duty to conse- crate ourselves to be such agency, willing to be taught the use of any means for the accomplishing of so glorious a work. 5. "That if we be not that agency, God will hear prayer for the early sending of such an agency, as may serve Him for sanctifying this church. " We were sure if we ever saw anything better than the multitudinous mongrel exhibitors of christian character found in so many "Native christians" of India, it would be by virtue of a mighty Holy Ghost power, enthroned in our church. And our daily prayer was, "Come Holy Ghost with all thy quickening power. " Almost from the beginning we taught the duty of tith- ing in our church, and of the little petty earnings of the children in seven months ending November 30th, 1880, Rs. 13-3-0 were given of which Rs. 7-3-0 was devoted to the "Transit Fund. " December 14, 1880, I set out for conference to be held in Bombay walking 40 miles and carting 56 in 70 hours to Hyderabad, where I took the train. Conference re- ceived our report with gladness and much encouragement did we receive, but no more workers ; English work ab- sorbed all forces nearly. While I was away the ladies in charge had enjoyed God's favor, help and protection, and OUR WORK. 51 December 31st held the first Watch-night service ever held in Curreemnugger or in the "Telugu Church." February 6, 1881, we baptised five more precious souls making a total number baptised of fifty, of whom only three had fallen away. Just before the end of this, our two years of work, we had a blessed day of prayer and ended with "the Lord's Supper." Forty-seven knelt and par- took to their "edification, " /. e., building up. March 12th found us moved back from Curreemnugger to Mylarum to execute tank repairs, and all the able-bod- ied boys and girls were at work. This year had been one of much spiritual and temporal mercy. Owing to very low grain, rates of living had been cheap. Indian corn was 40 ' seers per rupee — gram, 25 seers — dhall, 20 seers — jowarrie, 28 seers, (the seer weight is 2 lb; the rupee equals 40 cents.) Our receipts for the year were a little under Rs. 4,000, the number of orphans stood sixty-four. Workers, Miss M. M. Miller, Miss C. O'Leary, myself, and wife. March 1st we wrote in our diary, "Our hearts are much drawn out for East Indian orphans. Shall we open a new department of our faith work under the head of ' The Chil- dren's Home?' I am seeking the mind of the Lord on the matter." W. B. Osborn had gone to Australia leaving us two East Indian orphans. About the same time Brother Davis wrote to us from Kundy: "What do you think of taking in poor East Indian children? Five here at Kundy; we wish to know what you think of it. " Thus, with the favor of God, we, over fourscore souls, lived well on about Rs. 300 per month. God led out our hearts to do more for Him without anxiety over money matters. Among "Mission Regulations" drawn up toward the end of this second year, we find the following : — ■ II. The Telugu Mission shall be known as " the first Telugu Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India. " 52 OUR WORK. It may be well here to make a note as to the style of life in which we maintained our orphans. All without ex- ception, had come from the poorest classes of Hindoo and Mahommedan Society. A house to them meant a small thatch hut, perhaps with mud walls, barely high enough to stand upright in, and costing but little, being such as the occupants could readily construct themselves. One thing we were strongly determined to do, namely, not to initiate our orphans into a style of life and dress they would not as natives be able to maintain by their own means in after life. Thus their food was plain native food ; their houses small huts of their own building with our help — about eight feet by ten feet on the ground, thatch roof, costing if paid for, about Rs. 3, or $1 each. During the first year at Goolburga they occupied, with government consent, old Mahommedan tombs — large buildings under government protection. Our second year at Mylarum, and Curreemnugger, and back again at Myl- arum, the small huts sheltered them, and we occupied a larger one. Our style of life we framed on a very hum- ble and economical line, not far away from the native style, lest we be a source of evil to the orphans and other natives about us whose covetousness needs no exciting. Indian diet for India life became a motto with us. We were thus enabled to do much good, and we found it after all the line of Jiealth. Our third year was very largely spent in the routine of acquiring the language ourselves, teaching, training and caring for our orphans. We set out upon this year owing no man anything but love. Yet we felt the prime impor- tance of getting our coming men and women to work in some way. When the year began, forty-two of our orphans were found engaged upon the construction of an oriental tank. Their weapons were picks, powrahs and baskets. With these earth was dug up, filled into baskets, and these borne upon the heads of the females for the most part to OUR WORK. 53 the bund or dam under construction. Not used to such hard work for many a day it came a little hard upon them and so to encourage them I would take my place among them for several hours per day. In the latter part of February, 1880, Rev. W. B. Os- born left India for Australia, leaving Harry and Ellen Hall, two Euraian orphans for us to take care of. My mind had been led to contemplate for some time a branch of our work for this class of needy children in India and Brother Osborne's benefaction of two precipitated the matter and I accepted this as a divine indication that we should begin. Forthwith I wrote letters to the "Bombay Guardian " and the "India Watchman " stating that a com- .mencement had been made and this work would be carried on under the name of the "Christian Home. " With ref- erence to the work we were doing we found correspond- ence with other workers laboring upon the same platform a very great means of grace to us. Letters from Mrs. Mumford of Bulgaria, Miss Anstey of Colar and Miss Frow of Ellichqur were an encouragement to us in many ways. Early in April Miss Mollie Miller severed her connec- tion with us and was soon in another mission. Her health had not been the best while with us and our work was not the kind that her talents best fitted her for. . She is to this day I understand a useful missionary wife in the Bap- tist Mission in Bengal. Miss O'Leary was however of great value as a worker and the Lord blessed her labors very signally in converting our cook Ramswamy and his wife, through her agency. In the month of May we had some experiences that tried our faith a little with refer- ence to money. On the 16th of May we received notice of the largest offering that had ever come to us from one per- son, Rs. 350, some unknown friend signing himself or her- self "M. P. " Two days after the news of this large item came, we were out of all supplies. All were happy with our eyes toward the hill from which cometh our help. 54 OUR WORK. The trial was peculiar, in that we knew we had plenty of money in Hyderabad, though none in hand. On the 26th we had but one meal of grain, a little salt a few onions. Not a boy or girl uttered a word of complaint and for this reason I felt like weeping. The next day money came. We had no breakfast but a good dinn(r. While this trial was upon us, we had over Rs. 600 to our credit in Hyderabad and Bombay. We now ordered our Second Report published at once. May 29th, Burdur Kissim went to heaven. Poor boy he suffered much and long, never recovering from the debilitating effect of the famine. He was buried near where Raichore Naga was buried thirteen months before. He was a good boy and loved Jesus. He was never baptised but we believe he is with Jesus. With our huts as yet unfinished, on the morning of June 1st the monsoon broke upon us and soon flooded all our houses. June 6th. We baptised one boy, two girls, our cook Ramsamy and his wife. June 17th. Six girls with sister O'Leary and ten boys with me began the reading of the Gospel of John in Telugu. Oh, how we have longed for the day when these children could read God's word in their own tongue ! Now we praise his name. During this month an officer, deputized by the Nizam's government, came to investigate a charge that had been made against us that by a process of starvation we were compelling Mahommedan children to become Christians. After thorough investigation this honorable representa- tive of government reported the charge false and com- mended our work in his report to government. At an early day it was evident that the Lord was with us in the effort to save Eurasian orphans as well as native. At first Bro. Davis thought the move premature, but in a little time he was as enthusiastic with reference to this branch of the work as myself. Special offerings came in from various parties, and Rev. Mr. Gates of the American Board at Sholapore, wrote us of four orphans who later OUR WORK. 55 came to us. The pitiful condition of these last four, can scarce be told. Let it suffice to say both parents had died from drink, and these children were homeless and friendless. Within four months from our start we had received Rs. 251 in special offerings for this special work, and had six orphans. Sister ward had the special charge of the Eurasian orphans, and Sister O'Leary of the native girls, while I looked after the boys. Bros. Davis and Marrett sent us two boys for this last branch of our work, bringing up the number to eight. In July we had another sharp trial of our faith by reason of the non-remission of our money from Hyderabad. Dur- ing the first seventeen days of July we lived on about one- half the usual diet, and received a very kind favor from "Mr. James Campbell of Curreemnugger, in that time. On the 1 8th a hoondee for Rs. 270 which had been lying by in Hyderabad for some time, came to hand. The heav- ens rang with our praise that night. In the end of July, I went across the Godavery — 160 miles — to see a proposed village site there. I passed through a beautiful country and enjoyed the forest scenes, more like home forests than anything I had yet seen in India. I mounted a village hill 2,500 feet above the sea, and found there in the first days of August at Chilmela a chilly, shivery atmosphere. I could walk in safety bare- headed at midday, while in the plain below I would have been sunstruck in ten minutes. After thorough examina- tion of the village of Albaka and surrounding country, I concluded that "in the event of our being utterly unable to gain any landed footing in the dominions of If. H. the Nizam," Albaka would make us a good home, though the place was unsuitable for a mission center for Yelgundel district. As I came back, Mr. Neilson, an engineer at Hanama- condah, gave me a pony worth about Rs. 50. We remem- ber an impression that came very forcibly upon us as we made this journey that the poor people of India were 56 OUR WORK. smoking- up enough to support the gospel well,, to say nothing of thousands and thousands who gulp down toddy and distilled liquor. 'Heathenism is expensive. Chris- tianity would be a vast economy to this people well, and orientally settled. My old friend, W. J. Gladwin, editor of the India Watchman, had been a staunch friend of our work from the beginning and through the India Watchman, letters were regularly sent out, by which means many were kept informed of our progress and experience. I doubt not that a large part of the money sent us was by the inter- ested readers of the India Watchman. Besides individuals this year we received offerings aggregating Rs. ioo from four different Sunday schools. From Rangoon, Bombay, Calcutta and Khundwa, respectively. An entry made in the mission diary by Bro. Marrett July 31st of this year gives some idea of the routine work we were doing. So we give it here, ''Camp, Ullepur, July 31, 1882. ' ' I thank God for the privilege and gratification of vis- iting this branch of His work. It is now two years since I last saw the orphans, and what a change ! In this short space of time the work has prospered beyond conception. Then there were a number of ill-conditioned, ill-clad, ill- behaved beings ; now as fine a lot of boys and girls as one would wish to see, well clad, well cared for and remark- ably well behaved. Then none acquainted with God; now upwards of half the number, sons and daughters of the most High, realizing practically the joys of salvation. Then none had seen a book as their own ; now a goodly number are able to read the New Testament, everything indicating faithful labor on the part of those entrusted with them. My stay at Premoor was limited, arriving on Thursday night and leaving again on Monday. After a ride of three and a half hours through thick jungle, Bro. Davis and myself alighted at Premoor. While approach- OUR WORK. 57 ing, there came, borne on the light breezes of the night, the happy sound of song. Presently we see fires, and a moment later we are in a square, three sides of which are bounded by huts, and on the other side stands the tent. One little fellow keeping watch over the farm stock, spies us and raises the alarm, shout answers shout from all quar- ters, and we are quickly surrounded by happy faces and glowing hearts. Hardly off our horses, when they all scramble to shake hands with us. After a good deal of hearty hand-shaking we are welcomed to the ' Church in the Wilderness.' We are told that brother Ward and sis- ter O'Leary are at band meetings, a few minutes later and we greet them. As invited, we soon fare on cold venison and sundry other nice things provided by sister O'Leary. Although we had come twenty-two miles that day, we did not tire of hearing of the good things the Lord had been doing for this flock in the wilderness. It was midnight before we retired. Early next morning we were sum- moned to morning prayers. Towards the center of the square we found the inmates of the Christian orphanage and home, collected in orderly squads singing a couple of Telugu hymns. Nursa led in prayer — in prayer not taught of man but of God — most intelligently, and vSaboona led in the repetition of the Lord's prayer. An- other hymn and all disperse to their several occupations, some to study under the puntulu, some under sister O'Leary, some off with the cart for timber for brother Ward's house, some away to the huts about the daily housework, and brother Ward off to his tent to his work. In the evening all collected for prayer again, after which each squad walked off to their huts, from each of which there soon arose simultaneously the praise of God in song and prayer. This I was informed was their family prayer. Each one, however, retires for private prayer before sleeping. Gracious Savior, thus art thou glorified here. Who would not wish to live in this blessed atmosphere? 58 OUR WORK. Certainly those who love the Lord Jesus, would, Satur- day was a holiday. After prayer all make off to play or housework. No noise or disorder, but well behaved groups of strollers, with arms affectionately entwined around each other's shoulders, moving about here and there. Some swing, others gather wild berries or flowers. Boys in the Christian Home are at their tops, Brother Davis' present ; Alice puts a lining in her work basket^ from the same donor. How happy all looked ! My heart wells up to God in thankfulness as I look on this scene. Can it be that these are the miserable, dying, famine- stricken orphans succored three years ago? Yea, verily, and what has change! the scene? The gospel; gracious Savior, glory be to Thee ! In the evening two bands met, I joined one with sister O'Leary. The band consisted of nine wee ones. Praise the Lord for what I heard! Little lips testifying to Jesus' power to save from temper; contrition for want of vigi- lance, and unfaithfulness in prayer; Jesus filling with joy. Each testimony was followed by some appropriate exhor- tation by sister O'Leary, or the singing of a verse. Later each member prayed. Blessed Lord, truly ' out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' The pleading of the promises show how their instruction has written them on their hearts. I was told one of these little ones was a prayer leader. I retired that night much burdened. I have been an unprofitable servant. I rose Sabbath morn much refreshed, joys of salvation welling up. Was present at morning prayer, and spoke on John iii : 3 for awhile. The children were attentive and inter- ested, answering readily several questions on the subject. Later an English service for ourselves. The Lord with us. In the afternoon a service for the servants. Bro. Ward read and explained the * marriage f east } ' and I added something on the guest without the wedding garment. The Lord gave me much freedom. Later came the bible OUR WORK. 59 meetings with the children. I joined Nursa with the larger girls. He is a little preacher already, taught of God. He is zealous for the Lord, and became a little stern with those who did not readily memorise the verse required. In the evening there was a short preaching service in Telugu, all being present, conducted by Bro. Ward. The lesson for the day, Matt. vii. : 1-14, afforded the theme, dwelling chiefly on the 7th and 8th verses. I added a few words on the 14th and 15 th verses. I have never seen a more eager and attentive audience. Thus ended a Sab- bath at Premoor, a day of much rest and refreshment to my soul. The Lord bless Premoor for one of the happiest days I ever spent. Sister O'Leary, though suffering from fever, is faithful to her charge ; Sister Ward is in Banga- lore; Bro. Ward is hearty and well, full of love for the children, and abounding in good works. In less than two years he has mastered Telugu, and now speaks it fluently. I would gladly join this happy band did circumstances per- mit. I find from my reading of the mission diary that peculiar trials have followed these faithful workers. Yet all has not been trial by any means. I lie down this last night of my stay at Premoor, feeling that the Lord is working mightily, preparing himself a glorious church out here. ' The Lord God is a sun and a shield. He will give grace and glory.' — Psalm lxxxiv. 11." Satan was not content to let us go on in this good work without some master strokes at discomfiting us. I give here an extract of the day as to one of his efforts to annoy us and destroy souls . The wife of Ramsamy the cook had in the earlier days of October swerved from the Lord and yielding to the jeers of some of the villagers she put on toe-rings, ban- gles, rings, etc., again. Thus her soul was covered with a cloud of darkness. But on the 9th inst. she yielded her- self fully to God again, confessed how she shrank from the shame of the cross, lost her peace, and the consequent 6o OUR WORK. soul darkness. Then she again received Jesus and was joyfully restored to divine favor. Our whole camp was made glad by her testimony that night. Her toe-rings, bangles, rings, etc., etc., were all smashed up with envi- able zeal. We had calmly considered our line of procedure, and believing it to be the bible platform, we decided to go on the clean platform without tobacco, liquor, jewelry, betel nut, bang, opium. We saw no way of drawing the line between the moderate use of jewelry and the outrageous profligacy of the heathen, except to proscribe, as the bible does, (i John, 2, 15) all ornaments, whether of glass, brass, copper, lead, iron, pewter, silver or gold, worn on any part of the body. We cannot baptise a repentant heathen who has not repented of and forsaken " the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," embodied in these marks of heathenism and sin. It is easier to keep evil out than to get it out when once in. We pushed on the work of this period and with little out of the ordinary from month to month. In November I at- tended the conference session which was held this year in Bangalore, about 800 miles away. Sister O'Leary had been away for a little rest before this and had on a visit to Poona experienced the blessing of a pure heart. She had come back thus doubly refreshed for the work. When I went to conference Sister Ward went along and remained there with Brother and Sister Lee for a time. I was much encouraged at the spirit of the Bangalore con- ference it being much more sympathetic toward work among the heathen than some previous ones had been. It is hardly fair to say there was ever any antipathy to native work in the conference but there was certainly a dis- position for some years, to go on developing the English work and to leave the native work till a more convenient time. I found this conference an improvement in this respect. On my return from conference the first work OUR WORK. 61 before me was to erect new quarters in a new place for our whole colony. A heathen man gave us permission to occupy a small piece of land on conditions we regarded as more comfortable than those a reputed Christian had been willing to grant us We put up 1 6 small huts and dug two wells and spent Rs. 26-13-0 on the job. We were truly happy in our new and quiet home. We called the place Premoor, i. Males Females Total Ma'es Females Tot al H ^ ' Q h - £ S? no »o ©■1 -v ,_ c CO CO CO CO a • OD 1-1 CO CO -f ■<* • ^ CO CO a ; . K C 03 O T3 T3 03 G §£ « ^ K/5.EZ> MONTHL Y ST A TEMENT OUT- DO OR DEPT. 1893 1 1894 June July August September October. . . November. December January . . . MONTH Total Grand Total. New Cases 39 100 120 192 252 102 104 138 1,173 Calls 23 147 151 295 328 230 207 175 1,502 2,735 8 days in June only. Dispensary opened 22nd June. 260 OUR WORK. During the year 1893 I did all I could to get the W. F. M. S. to enter Bastar with us. For a long time there seemed no token of encouragement in this direction. At last however, Bishop Thoburn took up the matter and Mrs. Keen of Philadelphia, then visiting India, became inter- ested, and authorized Miss Blackmar to draw on her for the expenses of the tour to explore, and the Bishop then commissioned her to go with me and the Presiding Elder, Bro. G. K. Gilder, and settle the question of the ladies going in with us for the conquest of Bastar. The day before we started from Yellandu a telegram in- formed us our mission house at Jagdalpur was burned down March 1st. On the 8th of March, 1893, I set out from home at Yel- landu on my third tour. Brother G. K. Gilder, my Pre- siding Elder, and Miss L. E. Blackmar of Hyderabad, accompanied me. Brother Gilder to look up all I have re- ported, and look at the possibilities of greater extensions, and Miss Blackmar to arrange to plant W. F. M. S. work all over the field. It is with deep thankfulness I record that the Lord has very largely answered my prayers for the awakening of practical missionary interest in this great and long neglected field. Owing to many unavoidable circumstances, we were de- layed from starting till the hot weather was well on us, and we expected some warm traveling. We made only a bout 200 miles in a month, but we did not find the weather un- bearable nor the tour fruitless. Much of the marching was by night and that over roadless jungles. That is, we have had only the commonest cart tracks often through thickets and rocky hills. Wesley / sbury, thirteen years of age nearly, rode the fourth horse in our cavalry brigade. We had, as far as Sironcha, a large stock of medicines for the Jagdalpur hospital besides a lot. of iron and iron ware for the bungalow and hospital in Jagdalpur. Thence this equipage preceded us. We had three small tents and OUR WORK. 261 these were not always pitched if we found shade without. Together we scanned the line from Sironcha to Yellandu over which we have been scattering gospel seed for the last two years and do still. My companions were im- pressed with the excellence of Goondala as a place for the location of two good preachers. At Sironcha we were detained a whole week and much good was done. Brother The First Bastar Convert. Gilder was impressed that my nine acre lot was by no means enough for the work that ought to be inaugurated here, and made forthwith an application for a fifty acre lot more. Miss Blackmar found what seemed to be just the thing for the W. F. M. S. and set negotiations on foot to get it and commence the work of her society soon. I was able to get fuller information about some property that we occupy already and want to purchase. We were a little impatient of the delay, but good work was done and time 262 OUR WORK. will probably show that we were providentially hindered. My companions were deeply impressed with the value of this point as a centre for work up and down the Godavery valley for 300 miles, taking in all the Telugu field of the Nizam's country east and north of that already taken up. To me, Sironcha had seemed an important point in the Yellandu Bastar work, being within the land of the Kois. Our preachers have done good work here for the year past and already the results begin to appear. Brother Gilder, at our Sunday service, baptised Somnath whom I picked up in Bastar last year. The young man has been a seeker for a long time, has come out very brightly at last and was baptised in Sironcha — the first fruits of Bastar. We went to see a very deeply interested family two miles out who ask for baptism, and we were much struck with their simple story of the way they were led to turn away from idols to seek the Lord. We were almost persuaded to baptise them, but at last consulting with Nursaya, we decided to wait till our return this way, meanwhile have them more fully instructed in the things of God. Surely a great harvest awaits us in this valley if we be faithful, In Sironcha district are over 10,000 most accessible people. The encouragement our preachers meet with is very great. From this place we deployed along the east bank of the Godavery for twenty miles, noting the many large villages, and taking note of the classes of people who live in them. We then turned north-eastward up the west bank of the Indravatti, Bastar' s great river, and then crossed over into Bastar. At Bhopalpatnam we camped for several days; Brother Gilder was summoned home by wire. This was a great disappointment to us all but the needs of a sick wife, called a dutiful husband home. I returned to the Nizam's side of the Godavery with our brother and returned to join camp and resume the march on Monday, the 2nd of April. While waiting here, Miss Blackmar and the preachers did some little missionary work in the bazaar, Miss Blackmar OUR WORK. 263 called to see the Rani and had some talk with her and saw the palace and its surroundings. The time was not lost. Monday the 2nd of April we moved on toward Bastar by easy marches. On the morning of the 4th we made the first ascent to the lower plateau. No sooner were we up, than we noted the difference in the atmosphere, though the altitude was but little above that of Yellandu. But it was a real difference to us to be only 700 feet higher than we had been for two weeks in the Godavery valley. All day at Vijyapur we saw no more than ninety-four degrees in the hottest of the day. This is at present the head-quar- ters of the tahsit, but will not be so long. It was once somewhat of a place but it is little better than a waste now. From this on to Gangalur we passed the following day, and the way had been made very pleasant for us by a small shower of rain in the night, and the many beautiful mango trees on this sixteen mile march was a most cheery sight. I have before this noted that as we find tamarind all over the Nizam's Dominions, so in Bastar we find the mango. The new leaves make this magnificent tree of India a thing of beauty at this time of the year. At Gan- galur we camp for a day. Here we must have a mission- ary station soon. How great the need of a medical mis- sionary here. A great ovation was given Miss Blackmar on the part of the women of the Mallah section of the pop- ulation. Old and young they came to the tent to see her, and I bear her witness that she tried to talk with them. But her Hindustani would not fit in the best. But as I write she is having better success in the Hindi-school over the way. The school house is a shed without walls with a grass roof. Our camp is in a fine tope of mangoes. By the side of the tope is a tobacco garden. Hundreds of times I suppose it has been said that man is the only ani- mal that will eat tobacco. We are now in a position to positively deny this serious statement that has so long come down heavily on tobacco users. We all saw several goats 26 4 OUR WORK. and their kids deliberately eating the broad green leaves of the filthy weed with apparent relish for some time. It came to us that the goats of Gangalur were not aware of the bad company they were getting into. We had some conversation with the people as to their wellbeing and their need of medicine and medical help. The death rate is certainly abnormally large and yet they look on it all as their fate. Many die in infancy that might be saved, had they a little help. In this district up to date, nothing ap- pears to have been done for the medical comfort of the people ; yet right here by orders of the British Govern- ment, hundreds of rupees are paid in advance for a stock of opium which is sent here and held in the Government treasury and sold out to the people and supplied to a con- tractor as well. We submit that it is a rotten source of revenue and a wrong thing to do in any case, and especially so when no medical provision is yet made for the benefit of these poor people. As we journey, we are stuck, as in previous years, with the rich soil and the sparsity of the population. One vil- lage we camped in, two years ago had at that time forty houses, and has now but four, and the presence of a police station near by, was given as the reason for the depopula- tion of che village. But what a field is here for the poor of India's over-populated districts, if the tide could but be started. But these poor of India are slow to move from the home or customs of their fathers. As hitherto it comes to me that the hope of this land and these poor, is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Secular gov- ernment alone cannot do all that ought to be done for these people. There is no need so great in Bastar to-day as the need of the gospel. These people waken my deep- est sympathies more and more each time I see them. If God did not send me hither to call the attention of chris- tians to these neglected regions I am at a loss to understand the ways of the Master. OUR WORK. 265 Up to this date I do not see more than the beginning of the much needed work, but I believe the good time is com- ing when all these people shall be the Lord's. Whether I, or my church, is to do all that will be required or not may not now be said ; but somehow, I expect to see the answer to my prayers for Bastar before I go hence. From Gangalur we moved on for thirty miles over ground we had not hitherto seen till we struck the old road at Nelsenar. Thence we moved on till we reached Jagdalpur on the 13th of April. All through the part of the Nizam's country we passed and the Godavery valley we found everything dry and parched. Scarce a tree had leaves. When we ascended the first plateau at Vijyapur we found the country a little greener but when about fifty miles this side of Jagdalpur we ascended the main plateau and found ourselves 2,000 feet above the sea the change was marvellous. At Katanar below we found but little green but in two hours we found ourselves in a land robed in living green. It was a sight to cheer the weary heart,. Miss Blackmar said the country looked like Pennsylvania. vShowers of rain are common all through the season on the plateau and the evaporation does not seem to be so great and the result is a land of beauty all the year. At Jagdalpur we soon came to see how great was the loss of the Mission and to Dr. and Mrs. Batstone by the fire that burned them out on the first day of March. The doctor was out at his work and Sister B. was not aware of the fire till the whole house seemed to be_ ablaze and she had barely time to make good her escape with little Evan- geline from the burning building. It was the grass house I began for them last year with such additions as the doc- tor had made during the year. All that was saved was the clothing they wore and that without a single change. All the doctor's medical and religious books, even to their bib- les, went, Medical instruments and apparatus, with fur- niture, clothing, and personal effects, with many things 266 OUR WORK. presented them on their marriage, the house, etc., repre- sented a. loss in money of more than Rs. 4,000. Money can't replace much that went. Really they have suffered the loss of all things. And strangest part of it all is, that they both say they cannot mourn over it and they bear the loss joyfully, declaring that God has made the loss of all a great blessing to them. Bishop Thoburn on the eve of his departure for America heard of the loss and sent them Rs. 100. . Others have sent in help and many have written letters of sympathy. But it will be some time before they can get to be as comfortable as they were before. A sew- ing machine is now on the way overland for them and when they get this they will be able to do somewhat to replenish their very spare wardrobe. We saw the two wings of the hospital started while there and the doctor will live in one and work in the other for the present, till a bungalow and dispensary is built. When we left Jagdalpur on the 24th, the work was in a fine state of progress and our pioneers were in fine cheer at their prospects. We had to take the masons from Yellandu for the building work at Jagdalpur. Carpenters and coolies can be had there. Leaving Miss Blackmar in Jagdalpur, with my preachers, I left on the 25th, for a run south to Sukma, a place as yet not visited by us. We reached this place in four days, the distance being sixty-four miles. In going south we went down off the plateau to 600 feet above the sea at Sukma. As may be imagined we found a different atmosphere. At Jagdalpur we enjoyed eighty to ninety-six degrees, at once we came to no at midday at Sukma, on the 29th of April. From this place we went west twenty-five miles and climbed the plateau again to Mokpal where for the last eleven years till last December, the C. M. S. has had two or more workers but no missionaries. When Gen. Haig was acting as missionary at Dummigudium early in the OUR WORK. 267 eighties he sought to lead the C. M. S. into Bastar, by taking up five acres of land at Mokpal and getting the workers appointed there. But in December last, the Rev. John Cain of Dummigdium handed over to me this station with all property held there. It was my business in part on this occasion to take over the property and decide what we should do with it. After looking over the ground we concluded the place was good and the field needy, and that we ought to made the station a medical one as soon as con- venient. Our CM. S. friends have found the field un- fruitful and so have with the heartiest good will handed it over to me and withdrawn their workers. We are not at all discouraged by the report of the land thus coming to us and so shall try to man the station as soon as we can. We found the field surrounding Mokpal the purest Koi we have yet seen. Telugu is almost utterly unknown, as is the Hindee of Jagdalpur, and the only language current is the original Koi. Indeed we seemed to be here in the very honK, J the Koi. Hemmed in by hills so as to make a field much to itself are about 300 villages of these pure Kois. It is the most rugged part of Bastar I have yet seen. The hills too, differ from those of other parts in that they are cultivable to the very top. Here we found many of the old Koi grave yards with their peculiar and many shaped head-stones. But the people seem to be abandoning the custom of erecting these stones now. We have only seen one new stone erected within a year. They burn the body anywhere and then in memory of the person deceased, erect a head-stone in some given place. This Mokpal field will be a little difficult of access, but it is therefore more needful to make it a field to itself. Mok- pal is forty-five miles to the west of Jagdalpur. Its eleva- tion is about 1,500 feet above the sea. From this we made our way twenty miles to the west, to the top of the Baila Dila hills, to see if a sanitarium could be made there if needed. We reached the foot of 268 OUR WORK. the hills on the 3rd of May and the next morning, leaving our carts, we collected ten begaries for our beds, cooking utensils, etc., and on the 4th ascended 2,000 feet to the topmost part of these stalwart hills. The ascent was not so difficult as I had expected, but what a sight and what a breeze. Here 4,000 feet above the sea we had a view such as I did not expect. Sixty miles away to the west we could see and identify the hills along the Godavery. For seventy-five miles east, towering range over range, as far as the eye could see, were the Jeypur hills. Much of Bas- tar was at our feet and the sight was one not soon to be forgotten. We came up well warmed up and the breeze seemed icy cold to us at 8 a. m., in this the hottest month of the year. We spent the whole day exploring and then slept on the top that night to get an idea of the night tem- perature. There are fine locations here for sanataria if needed, and splendid spring water abounds near at hand. Roads will need to be made to reach the hills and for the ascent to the hill. But this is neither expensive nor imprac- ticable. Well pleased with the discovery made, we descended on the morning of the 5th and returned to Mok- pal for Sunday. On the 10th we were back in Jagdalpur but having had four days of the hardest travel that has yet fallen to our lot in Bastar. The hills were certainly terrible for our carts. There we found Brother Gilder, who had dropped down from Raipur. On the nth he baptised the four converts and organized the first quarterly conference in Bastar. God has given Dr. and Mrs. B. soul saving success the very first year, and these four converts are the result. They are most promising cases. Sunday following Evan- geline was baptised, and the next day a little one for the first convert family. Our little flock in Jagdalpur num- bers eight souls old and young. As I write this morning the doctor writes me that two more seekers have come to them of the sweeper caste. 270 OUR WORK. On the 14th I transferred to George K. Gilder and Miss Blackmar one half of our fifty-three acre building site for W. F. M. vS. purposes, and we hope to, see the ladies at work here early in ninety-five. Leaving J. this same day we visited the waterfalls at Chitterkot and made our way on north to Kondagaon and showed the W. F. M. S. trustees the land available for them there. Here we parted camps and Brother Gilder with Miss Biackmar went north exploring the way to Raipur while I with my camp turned back homeward. I had planned a return through the Maria country but a few days fever made me abandon this plan. On the 24th of May we bade our missionaries and christians at Jagdalpur fare- well and set out for Sironcha and home. Before we parted we had the Lord's supper together. We have now selected all our building sites in the five Bastar stations and in a little time shall have all the papers and shall be ready to begin operations as soon as we can get our medical missionaries on the spot. We are well pleased with the locations given us, and by God's blessing we shall see a grand harvest in this land for the Lord. Nine days march brought us to Sironcha on Saturday night the 2nd of June. When we got off the Bastar pla- teau we found we could not travel by day ; we had sud- denly come into a temperature that registered 114 degrees in our camp. So for a week we traveled all night and camped all day. We have sent to Jagdalpur twenty-five cart loads of iron ware, clothing, machines and other necessary things for our work and workshop there. The cart hire for this 300 miles of hill and valley is about Rs. 800. There is no other way in this the beginning of this work with no railway. I am more than glad that Brother Gilder and Miss Blackmar have seen the country and are pleased with it. We have done a good year's work and hope we may get home. Two Orphan Girls. 272 OUR WORK. We are closing a tour of about iooo miles in much com- fort within a little over three months. Four of our preachers have accompanied us and much preaching has been done that we hope will bear fruit. Among other things we have the beginning of a Koi vocabulary and skeleton grammar. At Yellandu we have been tried with sickness among our christians. We hardly see why, but believe that there must be some good intended for us in it all. While away from home, a letter comes to say that two orphan girls have been taken into the mission. We could wish for ioo orphans. No work we have done in India seems to us so gratifying as that for orphans. But for this work we have not had the workers we have to-day. While Beemaya and Samuel are keeping up the preaching in the home field, Nursaya and W. Eraya are at work at Sironcha and Chen- day a, Ramaya and Yati Hamama are with us on tour, or as we sometimes say, blazing the forest in Bastar. YELLANDU BASTAR MISSION FIELD CALENDAR. YELLANDU CIRCUIT. C. B. and E. M. Ward, missionaries. Rama Gnanappa, Yati Hanama, Beemaya, W. Eraya and Samuel, preachers. Church Members forty-nine, Probationers six, Sunday- school Superintendents three, Class-Leaders three, School Teacher one, School Chapel one, and one day school. SIRONCHA CIRCUIT. M. Nursaya, G. Chandaya and G. Yellaya, preachers. Members six. GANGALUR CIRCUIT. MOKPAL CIRCUIT. JAGDALPUR CIRCUIT. W. H. L. and Alice Batstone, missionaries. Church OUR WORK- 273 Members five and Probationers two. Sunday-school Su- perintendent one and Class Leader one. KONDAGAON CIRCUIT. ANTAGARH CIRCUIT. By the above it will be seen that we have only four mis- sionaries and eight preachers in all this great field and they in three circuits. While four circuits are utterly un- manned. The entire field comprises a population of nearly 600,000. It is a rare thing to find so large a field unen- tered by any mission, but this is what we found when we first visited Bastar in 1892. And to this day we are the only parties on the ground and it looks as if the Lord had given us a commission to evangelize this people. To do it we need many helping hands. We thank God that He is raising up for us more native workers and we are earn- estly praying for the pioneers we yet need. Who will come over and help us and that soon. Five preachers are now at work in the bazaars and vil- lages, with much to encourage them. Yellandu itself grows monthly larger. Continued call for labor in the mines is bringing people in here from the four quarters of the compass. Latterly some people from the sea-coast have been dropping in here and among them a few chris- tians of different missions, and we try to do what we can for them ; for left to themselves they will soon be more heathen than christian. But I fear that the worst mate- rial the missions represented had in stock, has floated into our sea and so the work for and among them is not very encouraging. But the people who are coming here from the east coast, have all heard much of the gospel from the Baptist and C. M. S. missionaries and their helpers. Our Presiding Elder held the quarterly conference on July 10th. Preachers, Sunday-school Superintendents, Class-Leaders, Stewards and one Committee reported well of the work of the church spiritually and financially. The 274 OUR WORK, Telugu church services and Sunday-school have been growing in interest and numbers this year steadily. The former has an average attendance of sixty to eighty and the latter nearly i oo The English Sunday-school reported Rs. 24-14-9, for the last quarter and the Telugu S. S. for the same time Rs. 8-0-4. The Stewards reported Rs. 664-7-1, and expended for the same long quarter Rs. 626-9-0, leaving a balance in hand of Rs. 37-14-1. We observed that the amount contributed by the native christian community increases and the blessing of the Lord rests upon them in their busi- ness. They at present give about Rs. fifty per month. Other members of the church and friends put into their hands the balance of the amount needed to carry on the work they have undertaken, costing nearly Rs. 150 per month. They continue to manage the affairs of the church and as they assess the salaries of the preachers so they pay them. At the quarterly conference Ramaya, Yati, and Bee- maya were all recommended to the district conference for admission into the annual conference on trial, For the next four months it was arranged that Brother Plumley look after the English services and Sunday-school and Brother Ramaya be responsible for the Telugu work. We are very thankful to the Lord for so many favors in so many ways, but we do so much long to see souls being converted to God. The people have been hearing the gospel for a long time and great numbers now daily listen with deep interest and we feel that the time has fully come when we should see souls coming to the Lord. We must search our hearts and see whether we are not in the Lord's way in the work, and if not, betake our- selves to fasting and prayer till the times of refreshing from on high come upon these poor souls. We cannot persuade ourselves that we should go on 276 OUR WORK. preaching- year after year without seeing souls saved. It was not so in the times new testament writers tell us of. OUR VILLAGE AT YELLANDU. We are getting into shape at last and begin to see what we may expect out of our colony in the near future by the blessing of the Lord. In land tax and produce this year the village has netted Rs. 2.700. This Ave consider about one-half the sum we shall get in a couple of years more. The attempted con- fiscation of our village by the Nizam's Government put us back more than a year in our reconstruction work. But in two years from this date we expect to have the village up to the average of its capabilities. We have been en- deavoring to get all the ways to income in hand and feel as if we had made a start. In 1891 we purchased one candy of paddy and planted a part and lent out the rest. This is but the fourth year and that candy has grown into more than thirty. By lending out three and taking in re- turn four, the putwarries and patels of villages in these parts make more than the land tax amounts to. From the beginning I have given out four and have taken in return five and have reserved this to cultivators on our own vil- lage. Those who get the benefit of our rate, think we are kind. We have shown that sugar cane yields well here and saffron and ginger as well. We have lately put a good stock of singara into the tank. Up Jagdalpur side every tank is full of this productive vine, and it yields a hand- some profit with very little trouble or cost. We are also trying to get 1,000 babool trees to grow. This wood is very valuable and is scarce in these parts. After the Buckingham canal was constructed in the time of the last great famine the banks were seeded down with babool. For the last five years there has been a great abundance of that wood cut yearly from the canal banks for sale. It grows easily and upon ground where other things wont OUR WORK. 277 grow, so we are trying hopefully for 1,000 trees from which we may hope for a good return in about ten years. Meanwhile they will cost us little and help us utilize ground otherwise idle. We are getting a garden well un- der way with all sorts of good fruit trees many of them grafted. Thus in time, we shall reap if we faint not, and our christians will have learned how more effectually to get the good out of God's ground there is in it, for them who seek it. Our tanks and villages in Bastar will in a few years do us no little help in our work there. But the work calls for patience such as the successful emigrants of all lands possess. I for one have a call to help the poor Indian to dig his native gold out of the ground that Satan has caused to be all but lost sight of in weeds of sin. About our home in the station may now be seen more than 500 fruit trees, on which we have bestowed much labor, and even now we begin to see the fruit of our labor in lime, guaves, plantations and other things. We are as ever a faith and works mission as the ring of the workshop anvil and the smoke of our lime kilns give daily witness. And the best of all is the Lord is with us. It will take us years to get all our Bastar mission stations up to what Yellandu is now, but I hope to see all that and more, ere I go hence. It pains me to see Satan getting all the good of the land when the Lord intended it for his own children. As God helps us, we shall make him trouble in doing so well as he has been done in the past. People are coming in and settling upon the village, who are not christians and those become a little parish of souls for us to evangelize. Our opportunities for good work are grand and we need grace to be faithful. JAGDALPUR. At last writing the Batstones were living in the wing of the hospital we started when I was there in April. All the OUR WORK. 279 buildings undertaken were well under way and prospects cheering. All the goods we started up to them got through before the rain fell, and they are now a little more com- fortable than they were. They have the tools and machines for a workshop like ours at Yellandu and will no doubt soon see the profit of it. The Transit and Building Fund Society (New York) on learning of the results of the fire at Jagdalpur ordered their treasurer to expend $500 for the relief of the station and the Doctor and Mrs. Batstone. Of this $364 was put into purchases for their benefit in New York and the balance remitted to them in cash. Thus about Rs. 2,000 of the loss of the missionaries and the mission has come in again. It is less than half the value of what went up in smoke, but for it all praise the name of the Lord. At latest writing all were well and full of zeal for the souls of the people. They need a good pair of Hindee-speaking workers there. One of their converts will in time make a worker, but must be made. Let these workers have a chance and the Lord will bless and souls will be saved there. During my absence in Bastar, Sister Ward had been sick most of the time. It seemed to be at last a matter of necessity that she should go where she could rest wholly for a time, or in all probability break down altogether. Never before had it been possible for us to leave the work even for a time. Bro. and Sister Plumley were ready to nold shop for us a few months, and the workers were in a condition to carry on their work without me for a time and so we decided that we would take a trip to America. Everything was therefore hastily arranged and advantage taken of the reduced fare to get away as soon as possible. On the 1 6th of July we left Yellandu, a company of eight persons. A missionary father and mother with their 280 OUR WORK. five children and one of the Indian girls we have brought up to years of womanhood. Our home had presented a very busy scene for a couple of weeks before the start. To secure the cheap passage rate we must needs take the Arabia, or pay more than Rs. 1,000 more to get to New York. Our effects all packed up, we were so helped of the Lord that we enjoyed the rare experience of having all our things and ourselves at the railway station in time for the train with a few minutes for rest. A few dear friends accompanied us to the first junction, and sent us off with tears and smiles. Two nights and a day on train brought us to Bombay. Here other friends met us and did us no little kindness during our waiting for the steamer's departure. On the nineteenth we left the har- bor. About four hours at sea, and as if in battle, one and another fell, till the upper deck was about clear of our company, I alone was found unslain. Upon me therefore fell the task of nursing more or less all the rest. But the next day found the children nearly all up, and bold enough to go above again. But their mother bravely showed dis- cretion for another day. We set out upon our journey in the moonsoons, and so we had moonsoon breezes at their full force in the Arabian sea. Mighty waves laved our decks for eight days out. There was not much comfort in the voyage so far. When however we passed into the Gulf of Aden we found our wind milder and the sea calmer and the sun shone as if it loved to make us happy if it could. Eleven days brought us to the entrance of the Red Sea and found nearly all our ship's company in good trim and spirits. From a distance we saw Arabia's barren rocks that the British lion crouches upon the prow of, at Aden and at Perim we admired the Lion on guard at the gate-way to the sea of the Pharoahs. As we saw Arabia we thought of Israelite, Phoenician, Ishmaelite, Bedouin and Arab. In mind we queried: Is Mr. Bent right when he says he has found the land from 282 OUR WORK. which the Phoenician learned letters? The Red Sea treated us well ? and one day a terrible rocking was all the com- pany aboard wanted. Much of the time we were in sight of land on the one side or the other. When the peaks of Sinai loomed up on our right we had resort to our bibles to find all there was there about those historic rocks. Fortunately for us we had an old missionary with us who had wandered all over the hills and valleys of the penin- sula, namely Dr. Jacob Chamberlain of the Arcot Mission. With his help we were able to identify j ebul Musa, the encampment by the sea, with the seventy palm trees (Dr. Chamberlain says there are but sixty-eight now) ; the wells of Moses and the probable place where all the host of Israel crossed the sea just behind where we anchored at Suez. We read over the bible story and retold it to the children. It was Sunday, a sacred day to travel over this sacred region. For another reason I found the memory of this spot sacred to me. Here a little less than eighteen years ago the Lord wrought a deliverance forme not less wonderful than that the Egyptians saw Him work for long oppressed Israel. My long night struggle with the cor- ruption of my unsanctified heart for seven years, my Savior brought to an end just here on the evening of De- cember ioth, 1876. Miriam's song was no more joyous than mine. The memory of my bondage seems like a nightmare. Oh how I groaned, prayed, struggled and tried. But all in vain. Jesus ended all, by bidding me while I was crying for help, " Receive ye the Holy Ghost." What a deliverance came with those words.. We entered the Suez canal the night of the 5th of August. The next day as we moved slowly along by Ismailia I could but look away toward Egypt and think of the wonderful history of that land and of the yet possible historic discoveries to be made there. But for Israel's hard- ships there, we might have known little or nothing of it all. The more the curious turn up to light in that land of OUR WORK. 283 tombs, temples, sphinxs, obelisks, and pyramids the greater confirmation finds the bible record. Already a Tom Payne is an impossibility except bereft of honesty or reason. Port Said in 1876 was but begun, and now it is a great and wicked city. Men roam the streets to spot every stranger and openly solicit their patronage for places of in- famy. What need of some tremendously energeti: and courageous christian work here. Threepence to post a let- ter reminds us that we are out of the Postal Union on Egyptian soil. In the Mediterranean and we began to think of another part of the bible and Paul. His tours and labors called for one more glance over. When Crete and Clauda came in sight we felt that we were near the scene of the veteran missionary's toil. Just beyond we crossed the track his vessel went driven by the wind towards Malta. But we were intensely interested when we stood just off Rhegium. There after the shipwreck he had touched and then passed on through the Straits of Messina. The scenery along the passage of the strait was beautiful but the. most interesting of all to us was the fact that this was the way the Apostle went on his way to Rome. The terraced hillsides and continuous sprinkling of houses all along the coast for fif- teen or twenty miles both on the Italian and Sicilian coasts was indeed a sight to be remembered. Opposite Paul's Rhegium stands Messina, a large city, to the eye at least. As we passed the narrowest part of the strait I tried to see where the Sirens sat and sang. I could see no bandstand either on Scylla or Charibydis. The latter on Sicilian shores is all sand and Italia's Scylla is a rock indeed, but full three miles of ocean intervene, and never probably was less. Dr. Chamber!? in says the Sirens are not kept up in these days owing to the expense, so we passed safely and yet charmed, (by what we saw). Not least among the wonders of this Saturday (Aug. 11.,) was ^Etna's smoking 284 OUR WORK. crown way off to our left, After we had turned around the point of Sicily and made westward again for hours we still saw this lofty volcano till we found ourselves well nigh along side of Stromboli. We were told that Stromboli and iEtna work alternately. When we were passing along side of ^Etna her fires were dying down and as we neared vStromboli her fires were waking up. Smoking mountains were a great wonder to the children. They call this summer but we found it extremely cold as we went forward from Messina toward the Strait of Boni- facio and on to Marseilles. It was cold as an Indian win- ter. We sighted France in the early afternoon of the 13th of August and anchored before the magnificent harbor at Marseilles at 9 p. m. The next morning we were tied up to the docks by seven o'clock. All these parts are historic. Evidence has been found in Marseilles in modern times that show that the ancient kings of Sidon were here. Ital- ian Sardinia has also yielded Phoenician foot prints. As we passed the Strait of Bonifacio the Corsican rocks upon our right reminded us that they bare Napoleon Bonaparte. Marseilles is a city about the size of Madras, with a harbor perhaps unexcelled. In front of the harbor is one of the finest breakwaters in the world. Anchored here we found more steamers than it was ever our lot to see in any one harbor at one time. Then there were sail ships by the hundred. Fishermen's craft and pleasure yacts too many to try to count. Here among them all we discharged and took on cargo for three and a half days. Leaving Indian wheat, linseed and peanuts, we took on oil, pig lead, Rus- sian and Turkish wool and a few other things much of which is to go to America. While our ship was here we hunted up the Salvation Army, attended one of their meetings, and through an in- terpreter spoke of India and salvation to a small house full of the middle class. At this meeting we met one of the Guinness Algerian missionaries who chanced to be in the city and dropped into the meeting as did we. OUR WORK. 285 He, Mr. Liley, was our interpreter. An elderly lady of English birth, the widow of a French gentleman, we also met and we were all invited to take tea with her the fol- lowing day which we did. Though a member of the aris- tocacy she took pleasure in sympathizing with and helping the S. A. in their unpopular and difficult work in Marseilles. We found her a dear christian soul and enjoyed her com- pany, and after a song and a prayer with her and the S. A. Major and his wife, we bade them all good-bye in the name of the Lord. The same day Mr. Liley took us about to see the city. Notre Dame is the name of a Roman Catholic church on a hill overlooking the harbor, and especially reg-arded, as the seamen's cathedral. Topping the tower of the church, is an immense image or statue of the Virgin Mary. The full name of the church is Notre Dame de Gard or our Guardian Lady. The harbor is regarded as under the especial guardianship of the Virgin Mary. To the top of the hill we went and found the church in the centre of military barracks, and soldiers on duty in the midst. We were taken to the top by a hydraulic car and made our way about as we pleased to see inside and out. What shall we say? Idolatry we have never more certainly seen in India than we saw it here. And as for abominable imposture, at and around the door language fails to express me. In- side were numbers bowing down to images, statues, pic- tures, crosses, relics, etc., and outside and at the very door were similar things in miniature for sale at the hands of holy sisters who thus serve the church, not the Lord, and these same holy servants of the church have for you holy cigars, cheroots, cigarettes, all sorts of liquor, etc. We saw ladies who had come to pray, sitting upon the church door-step regaling themselves with whiskey and bread. From this eminence we had a splendid sight of the whole city but we came down with a heavy heart to think that all this heathenism was carried on under the name of 286 OUR WORK. Jesus Christ. Then we visited a cathedral that has been thirty years in building and is far from finished yet. We did not ask the name but simply took a look round and here found worse idolatry than we saw at Notre Dame. In this magnificent building were a number of chapels where mass is said, at cost to suit the purses of those who come. In one we were told mass could be said for one franc, in another for five, in another for ten, in another for 1,000. And so on according to the means of the comers. But what here attracted our attention most, was a full sized statue of Christ upon the cross but bolted not nailed. The right foot we noticed was covered with a silver slipper toe. We did not wait long to see why this was. As each wor- shipper was about to retire from the bulding from any chapel he or she went before this statue, bowed to it, crossed themselves, stepped up upon a little raised plat- form and kissed this silver toe. Little children were put through the preliminary processes and lifted up to permit them to kiss the silver toe. We had no heart to take the dimensions of the great cathedral, almost as long in build- ing as was Herod's temple. We learned that in Marseilles were some thirty or forty Roman Catholic churches. On inquiry we learned that there were some three or four Protestant churches only (and they not noted for their ag- gressive character), a McCall mission, a Baptist mission, a sailors' home and a detachment of the S. A. These make the little gospel leaven that is silently and slowly working in this great city. Thank God that there are here a few of the Lord's own. The city is said to be fearfully wicked. The S. A. had an officer here who had wasted two million francs in riotous living and at last was converted. While a sinner, his father paid all his debts. Now that he is con- verted, he is disowned and outcast. On the eighteenth, at noon we moved out to sea again, bound for Liverpool. Does all this change of scene and people put India out of our minds or hearts? Nay OUR WORK. 287 verily. Much of our time on ship board is spent in the interests of our Yellandu-Bastar work. The year thus far has been an uncommonly busy one. Three months on our tour and one busy one, getting ready for this' voyage, left much in arrears. Accounts, reports, correspondence and much beside. So a bundle of memos, a few books, a pack of letters and other data came aboard with us for attention on the way. Twenty-one letters went back and forward from Suez in spite of the boistrous Arabian sea. A large bundle of arrears has been cleared and we have found time to read Ben : Hur, William Penn, the History of the Turk, and re-read a part of Wesley Fletcher and Henry Martyn. Among our thoughts for the Telugu work is the hope of being able to bring out in the years to come illustrated brief biographies of some of the holy men and women of old. We have made selections of a list of twenty- four worthies whose histories would be nerve food for our rap- idly multiplying Telugu christians, if God will, we shall do something toward, this much needed work. Plans for the early taking up of all the remaining Bas- tar posts are in our thoughts and prayers day by day. If the Lord will, two main colonies we shall develop in that coming state. Two large tracts of land are promised us and we trust the Lord of Hosts is with us to bring them into shape. Would that we might bring back with us half a dozen missionaries for this needy field. Just what we shall be able to do in the little time we can remain in America, we cannot now say, but we have a feeling that the Lord is with us now, as truly as when we were led into Bastar. On the 26th of August we reached Liverpool and the following day we were transferred to Glasgow where we had to wait three days for the steamer. Our enjoyment was marred in this beautiful Scotch city by the sickness of Sister Ward. She was confined to her room most of the time. The Philps-Cockburn Temperance Hotel was our 288 OUR WORK. home here and the stars and stripes always at the top re- minded us that we were nearing America. On the 30th we boarded the Ethiopia, the very same steamer on which in different years we had both crossed the Atlantic. Ten days landed us in New York. Here sickness and other causes kept us waiting "a few days when we took the train for Chicago via Suspension Bridge and met some old friends at the latter place, and pushed on to our old home in Cropsey, McLean Co., Illinois. Met by dear ones we were soon as comfortable as kindness could make us. Thus we have written our story. It is but the begin- ning of the work yet before us. Soon I return to the work in India, my wife and the children will stay in Amer- ica a couple of years and while recruiting health, the chil- dren can attend school and learn a few lessons in doing things for themselves which it is ever hard to learn in India. If God will, I hope we may have yet one-third of a century in that far off land and that our children may help us and carry on the work when we are gone. It is my prayer that these pages may be made a blessing to other young men and young women, encouraging them to trust God and undertake great things for Christ. Great fields yet lie untouched in many lands, awaiting the heroic young men and women of christian America. Oh, that many may be encouraged to say to God, "Here am I, send me." I praise God for my years in India. The story of all its toils and trials and victory is but imperfectly told in this little volume. Much that I have done has no mention here. Much we have gone through is not here. I have been an editor most of these years in a small way, and have written hundreds of articles for other papers than my own. I am left no room to question that this work has accom- plished much for the work of God in India and much in the souls of individual persons. I have for many years carried on an extensive correspondence, writing I suppose, not less than 500 letters per year. OUR WORK. 289 I have had time for extensive reading and study. If any ask where, I will say simply by using all the minutes at home or abroad. A good man has said to us Methodist preachers, "Never be unimployed." In trying so to do, I have had plenty of time. My work is well begun and to God is my heart lifted that I may have grace to accom- plish all my Savior's will and be permitted to see, ere I go hence in my chosen field, many thousands led to the Sav- ior from heathen darkness. God has highly honored me and mine in sending us as pioneers to more than half a million of souls. We know of no field in all Methodism that could tempt us away from this. Our prayers is to God for grace and helpers to do all that lies before us. The work calls for many workers yet and not less than $50,000, before the whole of oiir industrial settlements are equipped to a productive base, that will forever make the work self-supporting. We have the unfailing promises of God to plead till all this good work is set up, a multitude gathered together to praise and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Interested friends may at any time for years to come I trust, write me as below. Now unto God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be honor and glory forever more. C. B. Ward, Yellandu, Nizam's Dominions, India/ 2 9 o OUR WORK. " THE GOOD WORD OF GOD." God's word has formed so important a part in the de- velopment and discipline of our faith, as we have jour- neyed through a land by us hitherto unexplored, that we are constrained to add a few of the Bible searchings that have been so blessed to us, to show that God has given us a good foundation for this sort of work, and also in the hope that they may be blessed to others. "the fatherless." Deut. xxvi. 13, xiv, 29, and x. 18; Ps. xiv. 6-9, lxviii. 5, x. 14, lxxxii. 3, lxxii. 4, cxxvii. 3; Jer. xlix. n; Ex. xxii. 22;Isa. i. 17; Deut. xxiv. 19-21; Ps. cxlvi. 9; Hos. xviii, 14. " THE POOR." Lev. xxiv. 22; Esth. ix. 22; Ps. cxxxii. 15, cxl. 12, lxix. 32, xli. 1, lxxii. 13, lxxxii. 3, cvii. 41, cix. 31; Prov. xxxi. 9, xxix. 7, xxviii. 8, xxviii. 27, xxii. 9, xvii. 5, xiv. 31; Zech. xi. 7 ; Deut. xv. 11; Lev. xix. 10; 1 Sam. ii. 8; Matt, xxvi. 11; Luke xiv. 13. " THE NEEDY." Deut. xv. 11; Ps. ix. 18, xii. 5, xxxv. 10, lxxii. 12, 13, cxviii. 7; Prov. xxxi. 9, 20; Isa. xiv. 30. "THE LORD'S POSSESSION." Josh. vi. 19, xi. 14; Gen. xiv. 19, 22; Ex. xiv. 19, ix. 29; Job xli. 11; Ps. cxv. 16, xxiv. 1, 1. 10, 12; 1 Chron. x. 26, 28; Matt. xi. 25; Joel hi. 5; Hag. ii. 8; Lev, xxv. 23. " ALL THINGS." Matt. xi. 27; John iii. 35, xvi. 15; Rom. xi. 36; 1 Cor. viii. 6; Rom. viii. 32; I Cor. iii. 21; 2 Cor. iv. 15, vi. 10. "ASK." John xv. 7, 16; 1 Kings iii. 5 ; Ps. ii. 8; Isa. vii. 11; Matt. vii. 11, xviii. 19, xxl 22; John xvi. 13, 14; Eph. iii. 20. OUR WORK. 291 " TRUST." Ps. xxxvii. 3, xxxiv. 22, lxii. 8; Job. xiii. 15; Ps. cxviii. 8, 9 ; Prov. iii. 5 ; Isa. xxvi. 4 ; Ps. cxxv. 1 ; Isa. xii. 2 ; 1 Peter ii. 6. " PRAYER." i Sam. i. 9, 27; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 13; Ps. v. 9, x. 17, xxii. 24; Jonah ii. 2; Luke i. 13; Acts x. 31; Num. xi. 2, ii. 7 ; 2 Kings xix. 15, 20; Dan. ix. 20, 21; Ez. viii. 21-23; Neh. i. 5-8, ii. 4; Ps. cii. 17; Prov. xv. 8, 29; Phil. iv. 6; Eph. vi. 18. "riches." Eph. i. 7, 18, ii. 7, iii. 8, 16; Phil. iv. 19; Col. i. 17. "a word for a mission." Ps. ii. 8; Gen. xiii. 14-17, xv. 18; Deut. vi. 18; Num. xiv. 7-9; Josh. i. 7; Ps. xlvi. 10, xlvii. 8; Luke x. 2. "gold and silver." Matt. x. 9; Hag. iii. 8; Joel iii. 5; 1 Kings xv. ; 2 Sam. viii. 11 ; Josh. vi. 19. THE SPECIAL MISSIONS OF Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, Ezra, Jonah, and the prophets have been the subject of much study, profit, and encour- agement to us. These are a few of the flashes of light from God's word which have been greatly used of God in leading us. Along this royal road we walk and work, and pray and sing. 292 OUR WORK. ACCOUNTS. We present two tables of figures: The first presents our accounts as compiled up to March ist, 1891. The second embraces our account as compiled from July ist, 1890, the date when transactions with Bishop William Taylor's Transit and Building Fund Society commenced. Thus table No. II. goes back over ground covered in table No. I., eight months. I am unable to alter this, not having by me the necessary account books. Had I the needed data it would simply reduce the totals on both sides by perhaps Rs. 10,000, leaving the result June 30, 1894, how- ever, just the same. It will be seen that the total monies contributed by christian friends from different countries, has been in the 15 years and 4 months, about Rs 164,000 or about $40,000. During these years we have earned in various ways and turned wholly into the mission nearly Rs. 7 0,000, or about $18,000. We have spent about Rs. 3, 000 in printing and circulating vernacular tracts and scattering holiness literature in India. We have spent Rs.4,000, more on publishing reports and papers in the interests of our work. Our contributions to other christian work and causes has amounted to nearly Rs. 13, 000. It will be noted that of about Rs. 2 2 8, 000, expended in the maintenance of the mis- sion and the securing of mission property something over one-fourth has been the result of our efforts at self-help. Over Rs. 7 0,000 has been put into property. Thus of the Rs. 1 58, 000 that our mission has cost us for the support of missionary workers, orphans and all other kinds of work Rs. 64, 000 or two-fifths of the whole have been earned by us in India. We have but little of orphan work now on hand. In the fifteen years we have spent about Rs. 20,000 on Eu- rasian orphans. In all we have had twenty-five different OUR WORK. 293 boys and girls. Before the native orphan work became self- supporting we spent upon it about Rs. 18,000. Our mission has given India about sixty years of individ- ual missionary service i. e., our staff has been four male and female missionaries, all through on an average. In Kind, many dear friends in India have put us under deep obligations. Gifts of this sort would probably aggre- gate Rs.7,500, in the history of the work. The Transit and Building Fund Society has spent a considerable sum sending us missionaries and tools and various other things of value to the mission. But we do not have the totals or the details of this help. This is "my story, " we have pioneered a native chris- tian community out of heathenism and orphanhood, and that at starvation's door, into a self-supporting body of christians, who now represent a christian community of nearly 150 persons, who are now actively engaged propa- gating the gospel that has done so much for them. We are located at strategetic points in a field of 30,000 square miles with a population of half a million. We have prop- erty worth Rs. 100,000, and good prospects of getting much more at an early day. We are proud (humbly) of our living epistles, and tan- gible acquisitions, and of our glorified dead. We have learned to work and pray, and pray and work, and with a faith that sees the "triumph" all along. We closer grip our Saviors' s loving hand, and press on to greater things, A dear friend has dubbed us the ' ' Faith Works Mis- sion. "Well, "self-support," and, " faith and work " index our missionary politics. May thousands rise to do more and better, and to Christ be all the glory. C. B. Ward. c 3 O o < c H.2 tf) Kg 2 < a O Rs. a. p. 3,176 9 6 ' 2,398 14 9 4,150 5 5 4.580 1 15,107 10 7 26,847 10 4 31,202 11 * 17,401 6 5 5,918 4 22,291 11 30.017 9 11 24,456 12 3 O c OS -r m CO CO P £o3 <| c3 es Rs. a p. 1,080 "0 754 14 2 358 10 4 20 3 CO GO co 53 . 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