2 / « Bee wl” 3 ne ee i ie Spee av \e an \e 3. = —_ < é : ‘J OUDH AS A MISSION FIELD. ~ By Rey. B. H. Baptzy, M. A., Lucknow. S ~ OUDH AS A MISSION FIELD. (Printed from the “Indian Evangelical Review, January 1887.) | a former number of this Rreview* the writer spoke of Oudh “the Garden of India,” its history, area, population,f &c. The object of the present paper is to trace the growth and describe the status of missionary work in this very interesting province, As can easily be imagined, Oudh was not a hopeful field for missionary effort. A Muhammadan kingdom for scores of years, with Muhammadan influence predominant at the Lucknow court and consequently throughout the province, there was no room for the missionary. Lucknow, with its 300,000 inhabitants, the fourth city in India, during the long years of Muhammadan rule—rather misrule—previous to the Mutiny of 1857, was effectually closed to the Gospel. Oudh had been for generations “ the paradise of adventurers, the Alsatia of India.” The Census Report ascribes the comparatively small increase in population to an over-estimate in 1869, the nursing-place and sanctuary of scoundrelism, almost beyond a parallel on earth. “The territory was divided among barons or talwqdars, who, with the smaller chiefs, were in a state of constant disturbance from the petty wars into which they plunged: all property was rendered insecure: the very crops in the fields were plundered: roads were not con- structed, and those already constructed were neglected. A state of things little short of political anarchy obtained.” The city of Lucknow, as described by tourists and other visitors, was a striking illustration of oriental misrule. Bishop Heber, who spent ten days here in October 1824, in his very interesting “Journals,” thus describes his entry into the city :— “We now proceeded, three elephants abreast, that on which Mr. Lushington and I rode in the centre, Meer Hussun * Indian Evangelical Review, October 1878 : pp. 34-52, + The Census Returns of 1881 give the following figures as compared with the preceding Census :— Area, Sq. miles, Population. In’ J869% <), eas +» 23,930 11,220,950 TnsISsi)..; a ... 24,246 11,387,741 Increase 316 166,791 G27) Khan on the right, and Captain Salmon on the left, with the motley multitude before, and the spare elephants behind. We thus advanced into Lucknow, through a very consider- able population, and crowded mean houses of clay, with the filthiest lanes between them that I ever went through, and so narrow that we were often obliged to reduce our front, and even a single elephant did not always pass very easily.. A swarm of beggars occupied every angle, and the steps of every door, and all or nearly all the remaining population were, to my surprise, as much loaded with arms as the inhabitants of the country, a circumstance which told ill for the police of the town, but added considerably to its picturesque effect. Grave men in palanquins, counting their beads, and looking like Moullahs, had all two or three sword and buckler lacquies attending on them. People of more consequence, on their elephants. had each a suwarree of shield, spear and gun, little inferior to that by which we were surrounded, and even the lounging people of the lower ranks in the streets and shop-doors had their shields over their shoulders, and their swords carried sheathed in one hand.” (Journals, Vol. II., pp. 51, 52.) Bayard Taylor, who visited Lucknow in 18538, while charmed with its natural beauty, was constrained to say: “ The scene is lovely as the outer court of paradise, yet what deception, what crime, what unutterable moral degradation fester beneath its surface!” Similar is the testimony of the Rev. Dr. Butler, who visited the city three years later :—‘‘I bad never before seen anything approaching its aspect of depravity and armed violence. Every man carried a weapon: even the trader’s sword lay beside his goods ready to defend them against the lawless, I had not supposed there was a community of men in this world, such ferocious Ishmaelites, as I saw in that city. It was not safe for an unarmed man, black or white, to move among them,” Had the way been open, Lucknow would no doubt have been taken up as a mission station a number of years before the mutiny. Benares to the south was occupied in 1814; Cawnpore, forty miles west on the Ganges, in 1832; and Almora, far away to the north, in 1850. The “City of Roses” was simply inaccessible. God’s time for the church to enter had not come. Muhammadan prejudice still deep, and Muhammadan opposition still strong, were ten times intenser in the days of the kingdom. Bishop Heber at the time of his visit wrote as follows: “It would not be expedient at (48 ~) present to send a missionary here: but they (the Christian inhabitants) might have a schoolmaster, furnished by our Society with a stock of sermons to be read every Sunday. I have requested Mr. Corrie to enquire for such a person.” The author of “Missionary Sketches in North India,” Mrs. Weitbrecht, was told by the Rev. W. Greenwood, who acted for some time as Residency Chaplain at Lucknow in 1832-36, that so violent and fanatical was the spirit exihi- bited by the people of the city, that he believed no mis- sionary could have attempted to preach there at that period except at the risk of his life. Occasionally, missionaries from distant stations in their itinerating tours visited the place, .but the reception they met with was most discouraging. On one occasion, one of these took his stand at the Iron Bridge, in the suburbs of the city (not daring to enter the main streets), and began preaching: while thus engaged, a base fellow hastily collec- ted all the old shoes he could find in the bazav, and fasten- ing these together, slipped up behind the missionary and threw the string of shoes over his head—as marked an insult as could be given. The servant of Christ, nothing daunted, lifted his eyes to heaven and exclaimed, “I bless Thee, Heavenly Father, for this token of the coming of Thy Kingdom in this wicked city !’ Of his auditors, one at least was deeply impressed with the scene, and is to day an ear- nest preacher of the Gospel in Lucknow, often addressing large crowds of people in the identical place where years ago he heard the missionary preach. Protestant missions in Oudh represent three churches, the Church of England, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ‘the Wesleyans, Taking these up in chronological order the following historical resumé may not be uninteresting :— I.—Tue Metuopist EpiscopaL Courcu.—l, Lucknow. The Rev. W. Butler, D. D., commissioned by the authori- ties of this Church to establish a mission in India, arrived at. Lucknow, November 29th, 1856. Satisfied of the suitabil- ity of this city to become the, head-quarters of the new Mission, he sought from a member of the Government some statistics of the kingdom to be incorporated in his report to the Missionary Board at New York. From what has been already mentioned, we are not surprised to hear him say : “T shall long remember his surprise when he found that we seriously contemplated planting the standard of the Cross there. He asked me to look at the people, to consider their Cot45r) inveterate prejudices, and the venerable character of their systems, and say if I thought anything could ever be done there. So far was he from so believing that he considered. it was madness for us to try, nor would our life be safe in attempting it. His mind was so made up on that question that he could lend no countenance to such an effort: in fact he was no friend to Christian missions, and he intima- ted pretty plainly that he considered I would manifest more good sense were I to retrace my steps to Calcutta, and take the first ship that left for America! “T received no better encouragement when I afterward called on Sir James Outram—-a good man, and one of the bravest generals that ever commanded an army. He could lead the advance that so gallantly captured that city; but to stand up for Jesus alone and unprotected, exposed to the rage of the Muhammadan and the Hindu in their bazars, seemed to the military hero something that ought not to be attempted in such a country as Oudh. “ Satisfied that we should end our wanderings and regard Oudh and Rohilkund as our mission field, we sought for a house in Lucknow, but none could be found. All spare ac- commodation of the kind had been engaged by the officers connected with the increased civil and military establish- ments of the Government. So we were necessitated, as the next best-thing, to go on to Bareilly, where a residence could be obtained, and wait for the future to open our way into Lucknow. We thus escaped the honor and risk of being numbered with those whom the relieving general, speaking for a sympathizing world, was pleased to designate ‘the more than illustrious garrison of Lucknow, who for one hundred and forty-two days were shut up and besieged within the walls of the Residency.” (Land of the Veda, pp. 212, 213.) From the very heart of the besieged Residency came a solemn injunction, a powerful exhortation, that must have wonderfully thrilled the heart of the Church: “Let a Christian mission be established in Lucknow!” said the brave Sir Henry Lawrence as he lay dying amid the crushing storm of shot and shell hurled by the rebels upon the Re- sidency July 4th, 1857. The dying injunction of the great hero ‘‘ who tried to do his duty” could not remain unheeded : the door was open, the Church was ready. The mutiny crushed, Dr. Butler without delay, returned to Lucknow, accompanied by the Rev. R. Pierce, They ar- ere) rived early in September 1858, and were most kindly receiv- ed at Government House. The Commissioner, Sir Robert Montgomery, “ welcomed us,” says Dr. Butler, “with the cordiality of a Christian, requesting us to consider his house our home till we could obtain a mission residence, and offering to aid us in every way within his power. He believ- ed in missions, and in the ability of God’s truth to reach the hearts even of the turbulent race whom he ruled.” The way was no longer blocked up. A great number of houses and locations in Lucknow had been confiscated during the mutiny, and were at the disposal of the Govern- ment. A portion of this property on the river Goomty, adjoining the celebrated Hossainabad bazar, the Commis- Sioner made over temporarily to the mission. Three weeks later, premises in the same vicinity, well adapted to the wants of the mission, were purchased by Dr, Butler, and thus the missionaries found a home and began work. Mr, Pierce was left in charge, Dr. Butler returning to Nynee Tal for his family. The year 1859 was one of marked activity. Dr. Butler and Mr. Pierce both resided in Lucknow. In April, Mr, C joined the mission, and was appointed to labor among the soldiers in the Fort. On the first of May, a chapel fitted up for temporary use was dedicated. In July, a new school was opened in Sadat Gunge in the western part of the city, Re-enforcements from America soon began to arrive. August 9th, the Rev. J. Baume and wife reached Lucknow. On the 21st of the same month four missionaries with their wives, the Rev. C. W. Judd, the Rev. J. W. Waugh, the Rev. E. W. Parker, the Rev. J. R. Downey, and the Rev. J. M. Thoburn arrived in Calcutta. “They proceeded at once to Lucknow, where the first general gathering of the missionaries took place. The journey alluded to, from Cal- cutta, was attended with some excitement and severe fatigue and exposure, which proved fatal to one of the company. Mr, Dowaey was ill on his arrival at Lucknow, and the An- nual Meeting was clouded by apprehensions of his death. He was the guest of Dr. Butler, and received every possible attention, with good medical aid, but the illness, at first apparently slight, developed into dysentery, and in four days he was gone, After appropriate services, conducted by Messrs, Pierce and Baume, he was borne by natives to his last resting place in the mission cemetery.” (Reid’s Mis- sions of the M, E. Church, Vol, ii, p. 143.) Cy5 y) The first Muhammadan convert was baptized, June 12th, 1859: his widow, Elizabeth, is still in the mission. The first Hindu.convert, a policeman named Jia Lal, has retired on pension, but is still in the mission. During this year an orphanage containing both boys and girls was establish- ed, and the foundation of the present flourishing orphanages containing 500 children was laid. The first Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church organized in Asia was held at Lucknow, December 8-14, 1864, Bishop Thomson presiding. A better indication of the marked favor of God toward the newly-opened mission than this historic conference there could hardly have been; it was held in the very city so long barred against the Gospel, and where but six years previously work had been begun; and yet it was attended by fifteen foreign and several native missionaries, representing nine important cities in Oudh and Rohilkund, wherein as many churches had been organized and the foundations laid for a grand, far-reaching work. During the past twenty years there have been steady growth and enlargement: of this only an outline can be given (1) Educational Work.—In beginning their work, the missionaries, to quote from an old Report, “soon established schools.” In India, as in every heathen land, the herald of the Cross is appalled at the indescribable ignorance that confronts him ; and rightly judging that the full measure of success he seeks, can never be realized until this is removed, he naturally and resolutely sets about to remove it. He is both preacher and teacher, vibrating between the pulpit and the school-room. Previous to 1858, with the exception of.a few indigenous schools hardly worth the name, there were no educational institutions in Lucknow. The king, wasting thousands of rupees in cock-fighting and on dancing-women, founded not a single school. Hence the missionaries here as elsewhere were the pioneers in educational work. The first schools were opened on the mission premises, one for boys, the other for girls. In 1859, the Sadat.Gunge Boys’ School was opened, and has been in active operation ever since. A large central school was early established on the mission premises at Hossainabad, which soon became very popular, and in 1865, was attended by 230 scholars. A building .was erected at a cost of Rs.6,000. This school was afterwards transferred to Victoria Street :. it now ranks (oe (Pr) as an Anglo-Vernacular Middle Class School, and has an attendance of 800 pupils. Other branch schools for boys were gradually opened in various parts of the city. The Centennial High School was opened with half a dozen students in February, 1877. Its first class matri- culated in 1882. A building costing about Rs. 20,000, half of which was given by Government, was erected in 1883, (Dr. Butler was happily present, and delivered an address on the opening-day). A dormitory for students and a bungalow for the Principal were erected in 1885. Other dormitories, an observatory, and a building for the College Department are to be provided for at an early day. As intended by its projectors, it is expected that this institution will shortly be raised to collegiate grade. ‘The large number of students in the present Entrance Class (48) indicates the possibilities before the school. Itis proposed to make this the Mission College for the entire mission, including Oudb, Rohilkund, Kumaon, Garhwal, and Cawnpore, An Endowment Fund is being slowly secured, and it is hoped in the interests of higher education, that this institution may speedily be enabled to do the work its friends believe it capable of doing. A good beginning has been made in securing a fine campus on an elevation adjoining the far- famed Residency: the premises include seven acres, with additional land available. The Centennial High School has an attendance of 380 pupils: the branch schools, ten in number, mostly Anglo- Vernacular, contain 903 students ; total 1,283, (2) Publishing interests—In 1866 the Mission Press, then in its infancy, was transferred from Bareilly to Lucknow, the Rev. J. W. Waugh, D.D., being Superintendent. After various itinerations it found, in 1878, under the superinten- dency of the Rev. T. Craven, a permanent home in Hazrat Gunge, where it now occupies commodious quarters. The work of this Press is too well known throughout India to need description: making Sunday-School literature and requisites a specialty, and giving much attention to the publication of school-books for mission schools; it has also sent out millions of pages in the shape of scriptures, cate- chisms, religious books, hymn-books and tracts, ~ The Kaukab-i-Iswi (“‘ Christian Star”), a monthly news- paper, was established in 1868, intended especially for the Native Christian community. Several years later, the title was changed to Kaukub-i-Hind (“Star of India”): in 1872 ( 8 5) it was made a fortnightly, and since 1882 has been published asa weekly. It is printed in Roman Urdu, with an English department. An edition in lithographed Urda, Shams ul Akhbar (the “Sun of News”), was published several years and then discontinued. The Lucknow Witness, founded in April, 1871, by the Rev. Messrs. Thoburn and Messmore, was published here until January 1882 (the Rev. J. Mudge serving as Editor eight years), when as The Indian Witness it was transferred to Calcutta, holding on its way with the courageous vitality that has marked its history from the beginning. Illustrated papers for the Sunday-School (in Urdu the Khaiv-Khwdh-Atfal, in Hindi the Bal-Hittkdrak) were begun in 1873 as monthlies, but are now issued as_weeklies, and are invaluable helps in our Sabbath School work. “The Woman's Friend” (in Urdu Rafig-i-Niswan, in Hindi Abla Hiti-Kdrak) was established in 1884, through the liberality of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of this Church; it is intended to help in the great work of carrying light and joy into Hindu and Muhammadan homes. The paper is illustrated, and bids fair to accomplish great good, A similar paper in Bengali is published, under the patronage of the same Society, by the Methodist Pub- lishing House, Calcutta. The latest publication, one which promises to be a great success, is “India’s Young Folks,” established early in 1886, a fortnightly illustrated paper intended for Sunday-Schools and young people of all classes. It is published in English, and deserves a wide circulation. (8) Church Organizations—Two separate Churches exist, both virtually self-supporting. The Hindustani Church has been self-supporting half a dozen years, and now pays its pastor Rs, 35 per month, besides meeting other expenses, The Native Christian community numbers 363, of whom 185 are communicants. Besides the Native pastor, two other Native ordained preachers are employed in evange- listic work in the city, assisted by catechists and colporteurs. The Native Christians contributed for religious purposes in 1885 Rs. 450: the number of adult baptisms in 1885 was 18, The English Church has a smaller membership (50 members): the congregation varies from 200 to 300. Up- wards of Rs. 100 per month are contributed toward the Pastor's Fund. The Sunday School gives Rs. 18 monthly for local missionary work. The Dasehra Services held in con- Cae) nection with this Church year by year since 1871, are we'll known throughout India: they have been largely attended, and are productive of great good. The English Church building is a beautiful structure, erected in 1877, at cost of Rs. 22,000, mostly contributed in India, . (4) Sunday School Work—-As the past dozen years have witnessed, the interesting and difficult problem—How to carry on Sunday schools among non-christian children— has found a happy solution in Lucknow, This good work, which has been frequently referred to in the pages of this Review,* continues from year to year with undiminished interest. The co-operation of a number of foreign mis- sionaries, both men and women, the zeal manifested by the members of the Native Church, especially by young men in the Centennial High School and the girls in the Lal Bagh Boarding School, have, with the blessing of God, made success possible. Want of space makes it im- possible to do more than present the statistics of this work for 1885 :— OFFICERS AND x g SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. Tie Gates SCHOLARS. Zia F Pinu Era. (o) . ‘ab) ‘3 fea ‘3 . jaa) a5 pio! "= s g URS face 9.2 S x P ss + a re) » bo ZA a ~_ =) fe} fo) (=) jo) | Gq ie) om om oo = = e = Ss) Oo | et 1l 9 2 ep 3 50 OL 81 286 1,785 2,071 (5) Woman's Work, (A.) City Schools for Girls. The first of these was established in February 1865. Several interesting cases of conversions have occurred, but here, as in most parts of North India, the cause of female education among non-christians makes slow progress. The schools at present are ten in number, with 260 pupils, _(B.) Zenana Work. This important branch of work has been carried steadily forward since 1869, under the superintendence of lady missionaries (foreign): assistants and Bible-readers have labored vigorously, and the Bible is systematically taught in hundreds of Hindu and Muham- madan. families in the city. As in other cities, the results * IT, H. Review, January, 1877, p. 380: April, 1878, pp 319-329 GeO.) of this patient, difficult, little-talked-of work do not readily appear: great good is being done and from time to time fruit appears. | (C.) Girls’ Boarding School, This school was opened - in April 1870, under the superintendence of Miss Thoburn. At the close of the first year it numbered 25 pupils: the numbers have gradually increased until they now exceed 100, two-thirds of whom are boarders, The institution has been raised to the grade of a high school, and its first class (two girls) matriculated in 1886. In accordance with the action taken by the North India Conference at its session held in Lucknow in January 1886, steps have been taken to raise the school to collegiate grade. Miss Thoburn has been appointed to solicit funds in America, and a First year’s Class has just been opened, It is hoped that the “ Woman’s College,” with its wide and widening sphere, may be a great success ; commodious dormitories and other buildings have been erected, and others will be, as required. (D.) Home for Friendless Women, This Home was established in 1882. A building was purchased and dormi- tories provided. The institution is superintended by an American lady-missionary, and has met a want felt in North India. Its patronage is not confined to one Mission. Glancing at the personnel of the Mission from its beyin- ning, we find that the following missionaries have labored in Lucknow as follows (including 1886): Rev. J. H, Messmore, 19 years: Rev. T. Craven, 13: Rev. J. W. Waugh 8: Rey. B. H. Badley, 8: Rev. J. Mudge 8; Rev. R. Piera, 5: Rev. J. M. Thoburn,4: Rev. C. W. Judd, 4: Rev. J. Baume, 4: Rev. S. Knowles, 4: Rev. E. Cunningham, 4: Dr. Butler, 3: Rev. W. R. Claccy, 8: Rev. H. Jackson, 2: Rev. T, S. Johnson, 2: Rev. Mansell, 1: Rev. F. M. Wheeler, 1; Rev. J. C. Lawson, 1—total, 94 years. The present staff is as follows:—Rev. T. S. Johnson, Presiding Elder, Oudh; Rev. J. H. Messmore, Superintendent, Mission Press (Methodist Publishing House); Rev. W. R. Clancy, Pastor, English Church ; Rev. B. H. Badley, Native Church and Centennial High School. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Clancy, Mrs, Badley: Miss Blackmar, Superintendent, Home for Friendless Woman; Miss Nickerson, Superintendent, Zenana Work; Miss Mansell and Miss DeVine, College Class and Girls’ Boarding School: Rev. M. Stephens, Rev. Chimman Lal and Rev. Peter Gray, Native ordained preachers: Babu Ram Chandra Bose, M.A. special lecturer, Celt) 2. Outstations—The dates of occupation of these to- gether with other statistics may be seen from the following table (these are all zillah centres, each zillah, as a rule, having a population of about 1,000,000; :— NATIVE CHRISTIAN CoMMUNITY. NAME. OccuPIED, |—___——_—___———_|__ MIssIoNARIES. Native {Communi- Christians.| cants. Sitapur and 87 79 : Taek pk. 1861 50 so Rev. J, ©. Lawson.* Roy Bareilly. 1864 #1 34 » H.-F. Kasterdieck.* Gonda Tr 1865 214 170 » %, Knowles. * Barabanki 1866 34 22 ‘(je Ae. baal Bahraich ... 1867 45 24 » W. Peters. Hurd? ~... 1871 67 40 oy) tte. Oe! Unao are 1882 8 6 » J. W. McGregor. 576 405 Among numerous sub-stations occupied, the next impor- tant are Misrikh (Sitapur), Ajudhiya, Dalmas (Roy Bareilly) and Shahabad (Hurdui). 3. The general statistics of the Methodist Missions in Oudh for 1885 are as follows :— Foreign Missionaries oe Oo Native Christians wee = 989 Wivesof do. ... oleae Do. Communicants... 590 Other lady do. ... we 4 Schools ... wes ny 99 Ordained native preachers... 10 Scholars ... “te w-, 4,306 Other do. oe 39 Sunday Schools oe ~ 170 Scholars ... ee cer ated! 4, Special developments.—{1) Our paper would not be complete without at least brief mention of the wonderful results which attended the labours of three native preachers at the Ajudhiya mela in March 1885, where in the course of three days, March 24-26th, no less than 248 Hindus, men, women, and children, were baptized. Of these preach- ers, two, Rev. A. C, Paul of Barabanki and Rev. Chimman Lal of Lucknow, are ordained ministers who have served the Mission many years, and have led many to Christ. Both are experienced workers: the third preacher is also one of the oldest workers in Oudh, a fine bazar preacher, As these brethren went to the mela and as they reached the encampment, they were led to pray more earnestly than ever before for special blessings; and on the first day of the mela while praying in their tent their hearts were great- * Foreign Missionaries, (1%) ly blessed. Calling in a poor leper, Rudragir by name who stood in front begging, they preached to him, and on his accepting Christ, baptized him at once. This man, after testifying far and wide to the honour of the Saviour, was released from his sufferings and passed away to the better world. The work spread largely through the zeal of a woman, Masih Dasi, who on being baptized, at once went through the camp urging the people to accept Christ, and who it is expected will make an earnest worker: many came to the tent for baptism and instruction. A few copper coins were given out by one of the preachers to some of the poorer converts to help them to buy food; and this trifling circumstance led to the report that the converts were bought at two pice per head! The editor of the Indian Witness investigated the matter thoroughly, giving as his opinion that “this wasa good work badly done” (Jndian Witness, Oct. 31, 1885), a conclusion not endorsed by all: missionaries and one which, considering the. age and ex- perience of the men who did the baptizing, seems harsher than the circumstances justify. The ‘Ajudhiya baptisms” attracted a great deal of attention both in India and at home. The discussion thereon in the Calcutta Missionary Conference was most interest- ing and helpful to the cause of Missions. We trust the time may soon come when such happenings will be of such frequent occurrence that those who questioned the propriety of the course adopted at Ajudhiya may be led to see that God’s power is far wider “Than the measure of mans mind,” | and that instantaneous conversions and baptisms are strictly in accordance with the genius of the Gospel and the prac- tice of the Apostles. (2) The work among the Tharus. In April of the present year the Rev. 8S. Knowles of Gonda, accompanied by two native helpers, itincrated to the Nepaul boundary in the eastern part of Oudh, preaching in the villages, and urging the people to accept Christ as a present Saviour. Their efforts were blessed of God, and in a single fortnight 13 entire villages, men, women and children, in all 593 persons were baptized, with 22 exceptions : these were all Tharus, an aboriginal tribe dwelling in the Terai at the foot of the Himalaya mountains. From long contact with Hindus about them, these people of the jungle have been more or less influenced by, while not strongly attached to, Hinduism. —e.r — Cob) They are a hardy, industrious, well-to-do class, said to be remarkably honest. There are supposed to be 3,000 Tharus in the Gonda District alone, while in the Terai pro- per, between Rohilkund and Kumaon and in other parts of Oudh and Rohilkund, there are perhaps ten times as many. This remarkable work has been graphically described by Mr. Knowles (vide Indian Witness, May 22nd, and four following issues). It is hoped that it is but the beginning of a far reaching work: steps are being taken to establish schools among the new converts, and several of the village “headmen ” are in training as Christian workers. It is note- worthy and encouraging that among the converts there are at least a few who came into British territory from their villages in Nepaul and who have returned—where the missionary is not permitted to go—to testify for Christ among their friends and kindred. The progress of this remarkable work will be watched with great interest. It need hardly be remarked that Mr. Knowles is an ar- dent advocate of instantaneous baptism ; and the results in his field of labour are certainly most encouraging. The view he entertains and the practice he adopts in itinerating are bound to have larger endorsement as the years pass. With God today is the day of salvation; and there is no reason why the awakened villager, casting away his stone idol on hearing the name of Christ and expressing his belief in the world’s Redeemer, should not be accepted as a follower of the blessed Lord and be baptized. I1—CnuRCH OF ENGLAND MISSIONS. 1. Lucknow.—The following account—its briefness is to be regretted—of the foundation of the Lucknow Mission is taken from the last General Report of the C. M. Society issued in August, 1885 :—- “The Lucknow Mission was founded in the year 1858, in response _ to an appeal from an anonymous correspondent, who offered Rs. 10,000 for the purpose of establishing a Mission in Oudh, then recently annexed. This offer was made early in 1856, and the Committee thankfully accepted it, and pledged themselves to commence work in the province, The outbreak of the Mutiny, however, delayed the carrying out of their plans for more than a year. But in September, 1858, the Rev. C. B. Leupolt, of Benares, arrived in Lucknow, to make all preliminary arrangements for the establishment of the Mission.* The Calcutta Report for that year tells us that the then * The following interesting extract is taken from the General Report for 1859 :— **Mr. Leupolt proceeded to Allahabad and Cawnpore, and, as he passed over from them into Oudh, he was reminded of the first act of (ples) Chief Commissioner of Oudh, Mr., afterwards Sir, Robert Montgomery, has previously sent ‘a most cordial Christian invitation to the Church Missionary Society to commence a Christian Mission among its people,’ and that, on Mr. Leupolt’s arrival in Lucknow, he ‘was received in the most friendly and encouraging manner by the Chief Commissioner and other authorities,’ The Mission in Lucknow has advanced steadily since those days.*” Associated with Mr. Leupolt, who was permitted to enjoy forty years of labor in North India, and who died deeply lamented in December 1884, was the Rev. J. P. Menge who died in 1878, thirty years after arriving in India, Among the other labourers connected with this Mission, the Rev. J. Fuchs (who died in 1878), the Rev. J. Erhardt (1864-67), the Rev. C. G. Deuble (1871-79, now in Europe), the Rev. J. P. Ellwood of Jabalpur, and the Rev. G. B. Durrant (now in Europe) deserve prominent mention: to their faithful labours is due much of the success which has attended the Mission.t The present staff consists of the Rev. W. Latham, the Rev. A. E. Bowlby and the Rev. T. F. Robatham, and the Rev. D. Solomon, Native Pastor. Early in its history the Mission came into possession of a valuable piece of property known as the “ Zahur Bakhsh,” in which the Mission premises are located. A dozen years ago a church building was erected here, in which services are held both in English and Hindustani. A commodious school-house was also erected in the native city giving accom- modation to the High School for boys. In 1885 the High School and two branch schools contained 528 students (boys) classified as follows :—Christians, 9 ; Mohamedans, 142; and Columbus when he landed in America; and his earnest prayer was, ‘ Let this country be soon Thine, O Lord, and its inhabitants soon acknowledge Thee to be the Lord !’” He received a Christian welcome at Lucknow from the Chief Commissioner, and from other friends of Missions amongst the authorities of the place; and on the 24th of September, the eve of the anniversary of the relief of the garrison of Lucknow by Havelock, a Church Missionary Association was formed, with the Chief Commissioner as President. The sound of distant artillery was still heard at Lucknow, of troops engaged in the suppression of parties of rebels.” * Missionary operations in the City by way of preaching were commenced, September 14th. + The following list shows the labourers from 1868 to 1886, with years of residence: Rev. C, B. Leupolt, 1: Rev. J. P. Menge, 7: Rev. W. J. Bali, 3: Rev. W. J, Storrs, 5: Rev. S$. Atlee, 2; Rev. J. B. Wheeler, 2: Rev. W. T. Storrs, 4: Rev. C. Reuther, 3: Rev. J. Erhardt, 3: Rey. C. Fuchs, 6: Rev. H, Weber, 9: Rev. 8. F. French, 1: Rev. J. P. Ellwood, 6: Rev. C. G. Deauble, 7: Rev, F. H. Baring, 1: Rev. G. B, Durrant, 9: Rev. W. Windsor, 1: Rev. W. Latham, 5: Rev. T. F, Robathan, 2: Rev. A. E. Bowlby, 1 : Total 78. Cabal) Hindus, 377. Besides, there is a small Day-School for Chris- tian boys and girls at Zahur Bakhsh. The native church contributes liberally to the support of its pastor, and is perhaps one of the strongest in North India. In 1885 the Native Christians contributed Rs, 795 for religious and charitable purposes. The Native Christian community numbered (in 1885) 286, with 95 communicants : there were 21 baptisms, 6 of whom were adults. A religious newspaper, the Shid Shidan (“ Messenger of Light”) printed in English and Roman- Urdu, is edited and published (fortnightly) by some enterprising members of the congregation. There are two small out-stations in the District, Mau and Fatehgunge. 2. Fyzabad.—tThis is the only zillah centre outside of Lucknow where the Society has sent a European Mis- sionary : it was occupied in 1862, but has been favored with a resident missionary only half the time since. The present staff consists of the Rev. F. E. Walton (now in Europe), and the Rev. F. Abel, a native missionary. Two congregations are reported, with a Native Christian community of 127, of whom 385 are communicants. Native contributions in 1885 amounted to Rs. 64, There are two vernacular schools (boys’) with 50 pupils, mostly Hindus. The out-stations, Ajudhiya, Sultanpur, Pertabgarh and Akbarpur, are cared for by Catechists. The general statistics of the C.M.S. Missions in Oudh for 1885 are :— Foreign Missionaries 3 | Native Christians 413 Wives of do. 1 | Communicants 120 (Mrs. Durrant, since deceased) | Schools 6 Ordained Native preachers 2 ! Scholars 610 3. Woman’s Work.—In this connection may be noticed the zenana school and medical work conducted by the ladies of the Indian Female Normal School Society. (1.) Lucknow. In 1885 there were 243 pupils in the Zenanas ; 4 Mohamedan schools, one Bengali and one Hindu school. The Bengali Zenana work had 384 houses with 48 pupils. The total number of attendances in the Dispensaries was 5,568, or 32 daily. This work in all its branches is being very successfully carried forward. The staff of workers is as follows:—Dr. A. Marston, L. K. Q. C, P. I, in charge of Medical work ; Miss L. Marston, Miss H. P, Matthews, and Ge i) Miss A. Redmayne: (2.) Fyzabad. In 1885, 182 pupils in schools, and 118 in houses were reported. Miss Harris has charge of the Zenana Mission. IJT.—WEsSLEYAN MISSIONS. 1. Lucknow.—The beginning of the work of the Wes- leyans in Lucknow is thus described in Moister’s “ History of Wesleyan Missions” (p. 506‘ :— “ Here, a neat little chapel has been built, and an English- speaking congregation collected by the missionaries of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America, The pressing claims of their native work in Bareilly preventing them from giving that attention to this charge which it required, they offered to transfer it to us, ifan English Wesleyan missionary could be appointed to the garrison at Lucknow. This generous offer was accepted by the Committee, and in 1864 the Rev. Daniel Pearson proceeded to Lucknow, where he met with a kind reception both from soldiers and civilians, and entered upon his work with cheering hopes of success.” Mr. Pearson was followed after a few years by the Rev. H. G. Highfield, and then by the Rev. Joseph Broadbent, who died at his post deeply lamented in 1872. A native ‘preacher was employed in 1872, but the efforts of the English labourers were confined to the Huropean element until 1882; since this time there have been at least two labourers, one for English and one for native work. In 1884, the statistics were as follows :—Native Christians, 34; com- ‘municants, 27; schools, 8; scholars, 441; Sunday School scholars, 1,032. The present Mission staff is as follows: the Rev. B. Peel (Wesleyan Chaplain); the Rev, E. Mortimer: and the Rev. J. R. Rolston, native ordained preacher. ci 2. Fyzabad.—tThis station was occupied in 1880. In 1881 the Native Christian community numbered 9, with 6 communicants: 6 Day Schools contained 144 pupils, and ‘there were 55 scholars in the Sunday Schools. The Rev. J. A. Elliott is in charge of the Mission. Several out-stations have recently been taken up, but the ‘statistics of these have not been reported as yet. TV.—STATISTICAL SUMMARY. : From the latest available reports, the following statis- tical table has been compiled, showing the status of Oudh Missions in 1885.* * The Roman Catholics have probably 100 Native Christians in Lucknow, and perhaps 25 others in out-stations. (7) OUDH MISSIONS, 1885. LABOURERS. N. C. Community. EDUCATIONAL WorRK. s = = os ep & S ° 8 s : 3 ; NAMES. | Fd baerea ie Ml bak Chg hatha hee No = ama eaile eels SST Stal ders S - 3 = S 3 : ra rs : < S 3 = eS SS 8 s RQ Q io) Q AS) aS a Ss ex4 = ~ QJ * . . EWP eulegiims selva: (re) 89] .8r} spis M. E. Church 7 7 4 10 | 939] 690] .. 99 |4,306 | 170 | 7,970 Church of England .. 8 TS fips D413) lel 208 ees 6 | 610 Te aN. Society “ i 5 881 Wesleyan Mis- sions ee 2 1 ie 1 76 46 ae 14 585 14 | 1,087 Total .. a by g 9 13 {1,428 756 rs 119 | 6,382 184 |9,057 In 1871 qe 4 3 | 628] 208] .. 42 }1.874| .. S In 1877 : if “6 oe ay ; 67 |3,207 ‘es od ie ee 5 | 10] 800 | 548| .. | 977 14,508 | 127 |5,850 “If it be asked,” says the author of a recent work on Oudh, a civilian, “what progess is Christianity making in Oudh, the only answer that can be made is, none that is perceptible by an ordinary lay observer. There are alLout 250 Native Christians in Lucknow, which is probably more than are to be found in all the rest of the province put together. The simple monotheism of Islam, and the elabo- rate theology and cosmogony of Hinduism, dissimilar as they are, present pretty equally impregnable fronts to missionary enterprise.’ —‘The Garden of India, By H. C. Irwin, B. A, B.C.S.: 1880.) In reply to this not over-inspiriting statement, we are free to admit that it is as yet but the “day of small things” with us: all boasting is excluded. But the fact that so many missionaries are engaged in Lucknow, the heart of the province, where pulpit, school and press are constantly uti- lized in the endeavour to christianize the people ; where in bazars and zenanas the word of God is faithfully preached and patiently heard ; the fact that in every one of the twelve zillas of Oudh, eitber foreign or native missionaries, are labouring ; the rapid rate of progress as indicated in the statistical table given above, and the general accessibility of the non-Christian people on every hand, give abundant reason for thanksgiving and encouragement. The people disappointed and dissatisfied with their moribund systems of religion are waiting to accept aSaviour who waits to save Gg) them, and who by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, manifested latterly in remarkable ways and measure, is drawing the hearts of these weary ones to Himself, the fountain of truth and life. Our faith tells us that “ the Garden of India,” beautiful and fertile, hemmed in by the lofty mountains on the one side and by the great Ganges on the other, shall ere long become the Garden of the Lord, filled with the sweet orders of praise and thanksgiving and rich in the fruits of regenerated hearts and godly lives. May God speed the day! Calcutta Advertiser Press.