'In another house, one of the first on our list, the two daughters were very apathetic about learning; but during the year they had both been going through the ordeal of their marriage, so there was some excuse for indolence; for one of their strange marriage customs is really an ordeal. The poor bride is made to sit in a room alone, entirely apart from the rest of the family, for weeks before the actual marriage ceremonies take place, which themselves last many days, and often weeks. Here she is almost starved, in order that she may look pale and interesting; and we have been told that many even apply leeches behind the ears to make them look as white as possible! 'One of these poor girls was thus kept five months, instead of a few weeks, preparing for her marriage; and then it was to become the third wife of her father's cousin and contemporary in age. Now that the festivities are all over, both sisters have at last made up their minds to learn to read. Their aunt, who is a widow, and supported by her brother, is a confirmed opium-eater. She has long suffered from violent pains in her head, and began to take it to give her ease; but she has, alas! allowed her young daughter of thirteen years of age, who has no such excuse, to acquire this fearful habit. It is piteous to hear the mother entreating for some medicine to help her daughter to give it up; but just after such an appeal I have seen her unconsciously put her hand into her pocket, take out what looked like a piece of indiarubber, and breaking off a piece, roll it up into a pill, and swallow it, before one had time to stop her! We asked Miss Hewlett if nothing could be done to save this poor child; but she said her only chance would be in separating her entirely from her mother for some time, and then there was the probability on her return home of her falling into the old habit, from her mother's example. As the latter would not hear of parting from her daughter, even for a time, there seems no hope for her. Yet this unhappy mother listens when we tell her of sin and its certain consequences, and even seems at times to wish to break away from the bondage of her evil habit; but her power of will is gone, and only the mighty power of God, with whom " all things are possible," can break the chains which hold this poor creature captive. "Is there anything too hard for the Lord?" therefore we do still hope, even though escape seems hopeless! This is a saddening house to visit, yet none gives a warmer welcome or more willing listeners. 'We could thus take a glimpse into every house and find something in each to claim an interest in our hearts and prayers, but this must suffice. Yet before closing I must mention Baba Khel, avillage two miles from Jalandar, in which we are very specially interested, though its distance makes it impossible to visit it constantly. The Lambardar is our fast friend, and is always waiting at the gate to conduct us to his house with due honour. His wife and little daughter give us a hearty greeting too. The latter is very clever, and her father takes great pride in her learning, as he is her teacher. After some talk about her progress and her needlework, etc., the Bible-reading begins, and the Lambardar, who hovers about outside, now quietly joins the circle, and if he thinks his wife does not understand, he explains it to her. all 'Very lately, when reading about the king who, "moved with compassion," forgave his servant that debt," we asked, "Who will forgive us all our debts?" He himself answered in a low voice, “Yesu Masih;" and "In what way did He pay our debts?" Again, instead of leaving the answer to his wife, he said, "By dying for us on the cross." Surely when a Mussulman thus openly speaks of our Saviour before his household, we may hope that he is “not far from the kingdom of heaven"! The other house in this village belongs to the Lambardar's relatives. The head of the house was an Honorary Magistrate for many years; this honour, as well as a pension, was granted to him by the English Government for good and loyal service done by him during the Mutiny. He died some months ago, and there has been great mourning in his household, and his sister, who was specially devoted to him, has been dangerously ill from grief. 'On our first visit after his death, the wives, in truly Oriental style, between tears and sighs, said, "The sun shines no longer! Why should we live in this great darkness? The light of our eyes is gone! It were better we had died!" etc. But the sister looked imploringly at us, and asked, "O Miss Sahib, shall I ever see my brother again? Shall I meet him in heaven?" When it comes to some sure hope beyond the grave, what comfort is there in their Prophet's boasted revelations ?-only that "every Mussulman must pass through hell before he can reach heaven." 'We read parts of the 21st and 22d chapter of Revelation, which tell of our "blessed hope," even an abundant entrance, "through the blood of the Lamb," into God's own holy presence, where there shall in no wise enter in anything that defileth," where "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying," and where "there shall be no more curse." Was it strange that they listened to the description of such a heaven, with an interest more keen than they had ever shown before? Yes, we have "glad tidings of great joy" to tell, and may we not at the close of this year look back with grateful hearts for all the many opportunities we have been granted for telling out the "faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners "? "This we have been able to distribute, as we could not otherwise have done, to relatives of our pupils, who in many cases have sent urgent requests for Bibles, by a generous grant of £5 which we received from the Society for the Free Distribution of the Scriptures, sent through the honorary secretary, Mrs. A. E. Robertson. To her, and to that Society, we desire to return our sincere thanks for this most acceptable help, and also for the cordial and ready response to the application made to them on our behalf by our unwearying friend and helper, Mrs. Bourdillon, late of Tunbridge Wells. 'We should here also like to give our warmest thanks to all the many English and Irish friends who have so liberally supplied us with such beautiful work, and dolls, etc., for sale, and Bible-pictures, illuminated texts, and prepared work for use in the schools and Zenanas. 'What has been written may seem more a description of the "field" of our work than the work itself; but of this, being of so hidden and silent a nature, it is almost impossible to speak. It is still but the "sowing" time here, at least among those we visit, very few of whom had ever heard before even the name of Jesus, and we must patiently wait to see "first the blade" ere we can expect "the full corn in the ear." Will our home friends continue to help us by praying Him who "giveth the increase" to water the seed already sown with His Spirit, so that in the great harvesttime, many, very many, precious souls in this place may be found gathered in with the wheat into His garner"? 'J. C. THOM.' Whitsuntide. He gave to every man his work.'-MARK XIII. 34. M UST we not weep for you who loiter still How can you linger while around you lies The field so precious in our Master's eyes, Untilled and drear? He comes with speed to bring us endless day, Alas! when worldly dreams the senses steep,— 'A little folding of the hands to sleep,' And life is gone! Uprise ye then, and to the parting word With care attend; 'Go, teach all nations,'-was the charge, world-wide, Until the end. Invested now with kingly rule and power, See where the desert blossoms as a rose, We upward look,-O Lord, baptize anew HORSFORD VICARAGE. M. B. E deeply regret the removal of no less than three prominent friends during the past few weeks. 1. Mrs. J. H. Fergusson of Culroy, Surbiton, was a muchvalued member of our Committee. Her Indian experience, her excellent judgment, her zeal for souls, her devoted piety, and her painstaking attention to what she undertook, made her influence a real power amongst us, and her loss will be deeply felt in our work. 2. Mrs. Windley, for fourteen years the Treasurer of our Nottingham Association, was called very suddenly on February 8 into the presence of the Master she loved and served. In her removal the C.E.Z.M.S. has lost a warm friend and supporter, who never wearied in her efforts to promote its welfare. Many of our missionaries will hear with true sorrow of the loss of the friend who was ever ready to welcome them to her home, and who entered with such large-hearted sympathy into the trials and the joys connected with their self-denying work for Christ. 3. The Rev. Edmund Hollond, M.A., of 23 Hyde Park Gardens, has been called to his rest. In him also we have lost a staunch friend, a wise counsellor, and an ever liberal supporter. Few knew the extent of his generosity where the purity of the gospel and the maintenance of Evangelical principles were involved. The cause of Evangelical truth in the Church of England has lost much by his removal. May others be raised up to fill the gaps in our ranks thus created! We are happy to announce the arrangements for our Annual Meeting. Hitherto it has been held, unfortunately, at the same hour as that of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, for the simple reason that at no other time could Exeter Hall be secured during the week of May meetings. Both Committees have felt regret that two Church Societies, whose raison d'etre is their Evangelical and Protestant principles, should thus appear to clash, and this year we, as the younger Society, have felt it right rather to withdraw from our vantage-ground in Exeter Hall than to seem to compete with a body whose views are identical with our own. We have therefore resolved to change both the hour and the place of our meeting in deference to the necessities of the case, and in humble confidence that the Master will not suffer us to lose by a trustful acceptance of the apostolic rule, 'Ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder.' Our Anniversary Meeting will this year be held on the morning of the Thursday in the 'Week of Meetings; that is, Thursday, May 8th, at II A. M., at the Polytechnic Institution, Regent Street. We have to note also another 'departure.' Hitherto our Chairman has been an eminent clergyman. This year our Anniversary Meeting will be presided over by a distinguished layman. Sir John Kennaway, Bart., M.P., has promised to be our Chairman, and he will be supported by the Lord Bishop of Travancore and Cochin, the Rev. Canon Tristram, the Rev. W. R. Blackett of Calcutta, and the Rev. T. P. Hughes of Peshawur. We may add that, by the kind permission of the Rev. Walter Abbott, the Anniversary Sermon will again be preached in the Parish Church of Paddington on the evening of Ascension Day (Thursday, May 22d), by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin. In connection with the Anniversary, we may mention that the Committee propose to hold a meeting in London of our Association Secretaries for conference, prayer, and consideration of the best means of developing spiritual interest in our work in every part of the kingdom. The Lord is opening wide doors of opportunity for bringing the gospel home to the women of the East. Shall we not pray that He will awaken also to a sense of responsibility the women of England, that they fail not to hand on the priceless treasure which has made them what they are? Our Service of Song has made its debut at Washingborough, near Lincoln, and received a very kind and appreciative notice in the pages of the local journal, from which we quote: 'A large number of parishioners attended, and were much impressed with the splendid example of self-dedication illustrated in the relation of the story of a young lady of position who sacrificed all for the Mission, and went amid great peril to the women of India. 'The solos and choruses interspersed in the story are very soul-stirring, and most applicable to the frame of mind induced in its recital. . . . The audience, which completely crowded the room, showed by their munificent response to the collection how much they appreciated the glory of the work.' One of our Missionaries suggests to friends in England that periodicals, when done with at home, are most acceptable and helpful to workers at lonely stations in the Mission-Field. 'One friend,' she says, 'sends me the Fireside, and another the Church Missionary Intelligencer, every month.' |