Satara City has a population of 22,000, in the midst of a district of the same name having a population of 500,000. There are 700 villages in the district and 2 churches, with 121 communicants. On account of the feeble health of Mr. Bruce, he and his wife were transferred from Satara, where they had labored for thirty-three years, to Panchgani, and Mr. and Mrs. Lee took up work at Satara in October. Before Mr. and Mrs. Bruce left, the Christian community held a memorial service in which they paid a beautiful tribute to these faithful missionaries. The memorial recalled the fact that the field was a hard one, prejudices were intense, but that they had by indefatigable labors won the confidence of the people, and by a many-sided service gained for the Christians at Satara manifold blessings for which they expressed their heartiest thanks. Mr. and Mrs. Lee commenced their service at Satara in October, and have already made friends and acquaintances among all classes. Mr. Lee writes he had traveled over 2,000 miles during the year in his tanga, at the rate of six miles per hour. The schools are showing some increase in attendance and regularity. Mr. Lee is courageously entering upon his work at this difficult post. Wai City has a population of 14,000, and the district of 89,000. Its villages number 120 and there is 1 church. This is a stronghold of Brahmanism, and it is believed to be a specially favorable station for medical work. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were here until October last, and their places were taken by Dr. and Mrs. Beals, who were transferred from Sholapur. Mr. Lee while in Wai found many signs for good. The schools in some of the villages were in a prosperous condition. A colporter of the Bible Society had sold 150 copies of the Scriptures each month. The missionary was convinced that Hinduism is being undermined and that the truth is being acknowledged privately, if not openly. Mrs. Sibley reports that the Bible-women's work has been unusually free from interruptions, and that the homes of the natives are open for the express purpose of receiving Christian instruction. The Abbott Home for Widows and Children has had an attendance of 22 women and 25 children. The Hindu girls' schools have not been hindered by plague this year, but recovery from the effects of previous plagues has been slow. The government inspector expressed himself as well pleased with the work of the year. MADURA MISSION MADURA.-John S. Chandler, William M. Zumbro, Frank Van Allen, M.D., David S. Herrick, Ordained; Mrs. Henrietta S. Chandler, Mrs. Harriet S. Zumbro, Mrs. Harriet D. Van Allen, Mrs. Dency T. M. Herrick, Miss Eva M. Swift, Miss Mary T. Noyes, Miss Harriet E. Parker, M.D., Miss Mary M. Root, Miss Helen E. Chandler, Miss Gertrude E. Chandler. DINDIGUL.-Willis P. Elwood, Ordained; Mrs. Agnes A. Elwood. PASUMALAI. John X. Miller, John J. Banninga, Ordained; Mrs. Margaret Y. Miller, Mrs. Mary D. Banninga. PERIAKULAM.-James E. Tracy, D.D., Ordained; Mrs. Fannie S. Tracy. ARUPPUKOTTAI.-James C. Perkins, Ordained; Mrs. Lucy C. Perkins, Miss C. S. Quickenden. BATTALAGUNDU.-In charge of Mr. George S. Eddy and Mrs. Maude A. Eddy; Rev. Burleigh V. Mathews, Ordained. MELUR. Edward P. Holton, Ordained; Mrs. Gertrude M. Holton. PALANI. Rev. Franklin E. Jeffery, Ordained; Mrs. Capitola M. Jeffery. On furlough.-John P. Jones, D.D., Ordained; Mrs. Sarah A. Jones. Associated with the mission, not under appointment.- Mlle. Cronier, Miss K. Tremenheere, Miss M. Bishop. Ten stations; 417 outstations; 15 ordained missionaries, one a physician; 13 wives; 7 single women, one a physician; total American missionaries, 35; 22 ordained native pastors; 156 unordained preachers; 415 teachers; 84 Bible-women; total native helpers, 705 35 organized churches, with 6,633 communicants; 295 Sabbath schools, with an attendance of 9,584; 226 schools and colleges, with 10,209 under instruction; native contributions, $6,033. The changes in the missionary staff have been many. Mr. Wallace came to America on furlough, and has since then, for reasons connected with his family, resigned his connection with the mission. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, Dr. and Mrs. Van Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery, and Mr. and Mrs. Banninga rejoined the mission after furlough in America. Two recruits were joyfully received, Miss Gertrude E. Chandler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Chandler, and Rev. Burleigh V. Mathews. These are the first recruits the mission has received for five years, excepting the arrival of Mrs. Zumbro, the wife of Rev. W. M. Zumbro, in 1907. In April of this year, after a short illness, Mrs. H. C. Hazen died at Kodaikanal, having been in the service nearly twenty-five years. The health of the mission, on the whole, has been good, 38 missionaries having been at work during 1908. There has been a gain of 20 congregations, 862 adherents, and 289 communicants. The Madura district, with an area somewhat larger than that of the state of Massachusetts, has a population of 2,831,000. The people are chiefly agriculturists, and the year has been one of hardship because of the high price of grain. There is a fair prospect of a good harvest for the present year, though continued high prices are anticipated. The report of the mission speaks of the most important ecclesiastical event of the year as the consummation of a plan for organic union between the Congregational churches of the London and American Missions and the Presbyterian churches of the United Free Church Mission of Scotland. This event took place on the 24th of July, 1908, when the bodies met together in the Davidson Street Church, Madras, constituting the First General Assembly of the South India United Church. The union will embrace the Christians of six missions, numbering nearly 150,000 souls. It is believed to be the first instance of the churches of different polities becoming organically united. A scheme of federal relation with other churches not yet ready for organic union was also adopted, which it is hoped will draw Christians of several communions closer together. This certainly is a notable event, and it is believed will result in wider fellowship and fuller coöperation in missionary work, and may lead to similar unions in other lands. The report of the year is given by stations, of which there are ten. The plan of the mission is to have at least one American missionary family at each station for the supervision of the work in the surrounding villages, where the Indian catechists are doing the local work. THE STATIONS Aruppukottai.-This is the largest station of the mission, having a population of 240,000 and a Christian community of 5,715. During the year Mr. Perkins has been partially laid aside by illness, but he rejoices in the increased energy shown by the native pastors and helpers, who were determined that the work should not be hindered because their missionary was ill. The congregations have given 1,000 rupees more than during the previous year, and the net increase of adherents has been 514 and the communicants have increased by 145. Mr. Perkins regards this efficiency shown by the native agents as giving sure promise of a day when foreign agents can be withdrawn, and India's church be officered by India's children. The boarding school has had a prosperous year, and won the banner in the prize Bible examination held for all the boarding schools of the mission. The 120 pupils come from the villages where the moral life is low, and where the instruction is not as efficient as it should be. Nevertheless, in the village schools there are gathered 920 Hindu children, where the Bible is daily taught in connection with the other studies, and these schools form a fine evangelizing agency. Mention is made of three or four village churches where there has been marked success; at Koilangulum the high caste people have joined with the other classes, and many of them are no longer attending the Hindu temples, but are going to the Christian assembly. On one Sunday 7 men of four different castes presented themselves for baptism. At Mukkur there is a large congregation with every prospect of increase, where the catechist and his wife have won the esteem of the people. At Karmuthi, the town second in size connected with the station, a fine little brick and tiled church has been erected. Fifteen years ago, when the oldest pastor went there, he and his family with two or three others made up the congregation, but now there are two congregations in different parts of the town. The itineracy is spoken of as one of the happiest branches of work in which the missionary engages. He goes with a pastor and eight or ten catechists about among the villages and towns holding services morning and afternoon and evening; large numbers of people are quite ready to hear, and good results follow. The addition of 48 people to the Karmuthi church was largely due to an itineracy, while 50 adherents were gained by the itineracy at Taraigudy. The tracts and leaflets distributed are often productive of excellent results. Bible-Women's Work.-Miss Quickenden reports that during the year 14 Bible-women have labored in the villages of the Aruppukottai station and 480 Hindu and Mohammedan women have been taught, a goodly number of inquirers have appeared, and some secret disciples have been revealed. The Hindu girls' schools have shown an increase in numbers, and children have manifestly changed for the better in character. Tirumangalam, the station north of Aruppukottai, has been in charge of Mr. Hazen. The district is a large one, covering 744 square miles, with 287 villages, the entire population being 285,000. For this district the mission has 3 pastors, 16 catechists, I evangelist, 14 schoolmasters and 16 schoolmistresses, and 16 Bible-women. These are all very busy workers. Some of the catechists have two or more congregations to care for beside the school work. Aside from their work in their home stations these laborers go out upon itineracies, four of which have been held during the year. The special point made in the report relates to the opportunities which confront the missionary and the limitations under which work is done. Pressing invitations for help have been received from 15 different villages. It is hoped to enter some of these places with new helpers during 1909, but mention is made of 10 places which must be left unentered for lack of men and money. One congregation of 40 souls has been lost for lack of help. For two years they waited, but no one could be given them and they lost heart. Mr. Hazen says, "It is one of our sore trials to have to turn a deaf ear to these calls." On the other hand, he is greatly cheered in the line of self-support. In one of four pastorates composed of seven congregations, in each of which there is a school, there was a volunteer attempt made to do what they could during 1909 in caring for their own teachers and catechists. Recently they have paid the salary of a pastor and for repairs on his house and the church, and they propose to do yet more. This movement is deserving of the warmest praise. In the boarding school there are 100 boys and girls, and there is manifest growth among these pupils intellectually and religiously; 8 have united with the church, and others are hoping to do so soon. The value of these boarding schools is most apparent. The report concerning Bible-women was made by Mrs. Hazen prior to her death, which sad event occurred in April, 1909, at Kodaikanal. She speaks of the "great joy" she had on her last round of visits to find so great an improvement in the quality of the work done. Pasumalai. This is a small but not unimportant station, inasmuch as here are located the theological seminary, the mission press and high school, and a normal training school. Dr. Jones was in charge of the station until October, 1908, when Mr. Miller took his place. The church has shown much activity in connection with village congregation work, and also in financial matters. A deeper sense of responsibility has been felt both for the church expenses and for home and foreign missions. Six village schools, taught by 9 teachers, have had 213 pupils in attendance. The students of the seminary and the evangelists have conducted tours, reaching 287 villages and 10,794 hearers in the various meetings held. Madura City.-There are 4 flourishing churches in Madura City, having together 917 members. Connected with the work are 11 catechists, 37 teachers, 22 elementary schools in the city and villages, having together 1,027 pupils. Mr. Chandler, who supervises this work, speaks of a hopeful spirit of inquiry, especially among the young men. The station has gained 121 in adherents and 52 in communicants. Mrs. Chandler reports concerning the work of the woinen that there are delightful evidences of real spiritual life and growth. Of the Bible-women's work in the villages of the station, under the care of Miss Root, she reports that there is an increase in all lines-in the number of pupils, in the number of houses visited, in the number of villages in which work is being done. "Eighty-seven villages and 27,485 persons have this. year heard the gospel from the lips of our Bible-women." Miss Root gives also in her report an interesting account of their experiences as they go in their touring cart through the district, reaching the poor as well as the better classes, gaining influence with the people wherever they go, and receiving a cordial welcome by old and new pupils. The Bible work among the women of Madura City is under the care of Miss Swift, who reports that nearly 100 Hindus and Mohammedans have been under instruction during the year. It is reported that there are about 100 castes among the people of the district, and about 30 of these are reached by our Bible-women, which are a most important part of the community. These Bible-women exert an influence not only on those they regularly reach, but upon other women who are in contact with those taught. Aside from the number regularly taught, no less than 1,672 visits have been made in homes which they enter for the purpose of giving the message of the gospel. Mrs. Herrick reports concerning the 4 Hindu girls' schools in Madura City, having 21 teachers. The number of children has increased and there have been 152 on the rolls. In all these schools there are Christian Endeavor Societies and Sunday schools, and the weekly meetings are well attended. Manamadura.-This includes the old Tirupuvanam station, and has a population of 380,000. It has been under the care of Mr. Vaughan, who finds that though the growth as indicated by the statistical tables is small, yet the people have stood fairly well under persecution, and that they are developing sterling qualities which give assurance of ultimate victory for the gospel. He relates an incident in a village where the Hindus had bitterly persecuted the Christians, yet several persons asked for full membership to the church. At the examination of these candidates the pastor questioned them, saying: "Suppose persecution should begin again, and suppose at the same time that the mission should say: 'We have helped you thus far; you must now help yourselves. We are going away.' What would you do?" Without any reflection or hesitation or struggling after effect came the simple answer, "Even if the mission went, God would not go." Mr. Vaughan is cheered by the steadfastness of many disciples in this district, of which he has charge. Melur is one of the largest stations of the mission. The church loaned its pastor to the Pasumalai church for a period of six months. On his return the appreciation of the people was shown by their raising his salary, and providing him with further aid for carrying on his touring work. For years this church has been seeking to erect a much needed edifice, and it is an interesting fact that every one of the agents connected with the station has |