Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Columbia University Libraries httos://archive.org/details/danishmissionbri00unse INTRODUCTION. 20 of 020— The Danish Mission, being a comparatively new one, is in some respects labouring under great disadvantages. It has got no College, no High School of its own and not even a Training Institution for Indian agents. Consequently it is under the necessity to procure its agents from other Missions. And as other Missions—as a matter of course—do not willing- ly depart with their best agents, we must generally—if we dislike the policy of paying higher salary than others—be content with inferior men whom they don’t care to secure for their own field. And this disadvantage is felt so much the more as the Danish Mission is a supporter of the old idea, that, India must be converted by its own sons, and that the foreign missionaries can do comparatively little direct missionary work beyond preparing the Indians for the battle field. Theoretically, I think, the majority of the Indian missionaries are one with the Danish Mission on this point. But practi- cally matters are different. Here it appears to be a general belief that an overcrowding of India by foreign missionaries would guarantee its conversion to Christianity within a very limited space of time. Atthe Bombay Decennial Conference, three years ago, a Macedonian cry was adopted by the Con- ference and sent to the Home-Churches to urge them to “come over and help us ;” andit was no more than could be expected from an assembly like that. But no similar step was taken in the direction of getting Indian helpers; no Macedonian cry was sent to God in heaven to urge him to raise from the Indian soil devoted men, “filled with the Holy spirit and faith,” and zealous like Paul for the conversion of their own countrymen. On the contrary, our Indian helpers, and more especially “the poor catechists,” were spoken of by the Conference in terms anything but fit to give one an high idea of the importance attached to these agents by the mis- sionaries. Kver since I came into closer contact with the Indian cate- chists, I have always felt that, those Sweeping remarks about the catechists as “a corrupted race,” “a silly lot of people,” etc., sound rather awkward in the mouth of missionaries. I shall willingly admit that, I also have found many black oe ——— if sheep among the catechists ; I have even met with some down- right rascals who called themselves catechists and worked as such. ButIcan never help putting the questions before myself: who selected these men for this work ? Who trained them for this work ? And who are their leaders in this work ? and the inevitable answer must be: the missionaries! Now, if the missionaries whose first duty itought to be to select proper Indian helpers and train them for and guide them in the work, speak in such terms about the catechists, will it not be something like what is expressed by the Tamil Proverb: wwertg od peste witScrGwe Sapo. The dis- ciple is not above his master, and so the catechist will gene- rally not rise above the level to which his missionary elevates him; and thus the blame must be given another address. I have always found that, those missionaries, who speak most eloquently of the uselessness of “ the silly catechists” are such who do little or nothing to raise them to a higher spiritual level and thus make them useful helpers. Many of the catechists may come to the missionary ser- vice with very small attainments, and very low ideas of the responsibility they are taking upon them by entering into the Lord’s work; all this I admit and have experienced it myself; but if you want a grateful audience, you can find no more attentive listeners than your catechists, so if you have anything worth hearing to say them, you can always be sure of their attention; and if you want to guide them in the work nobody will more readily look upon you as their spirit- ual leader and take advantage of your hints and guidance than your catechists. And now, if we are not able to influ- ence and convert men with whom we are in daily contact, and who willingly surrender themselves to be converted by us, how, then, can we expect to convert the heathen around is, to whom our language, our skin, our dress and our whole style of living is foreign, and can never be anything but ion. To me it appears that, next to our own heart, we ‘oreion missionaries have got no more important mission field ‘han our Indian helpers. To convert them to real believers in, and followers of, Jesus Christ, to care for them, guide them in all matters and thus add to their usefulness, is in my opinion the surest way to the goal we are aiming at: India for Christ ! In our Danish Mission we have begun to do a little on this line. Four years ago our South Arcot stations joined y ‘Ill together in a union for conbined work, specially for the benefit of our Indian agents. ‘The first week of every month we gather at one of the stations, by turn, and a catechist from each station has to deliver a lecture bearing directly or indirectly on our work. The subject has previously been given him by his missionary. These lectures are generally followed by discussion, in which the missionaries take the | lead, correcting, advising or encouraging according to need. We have heard some good lectures at these meetings ; asa rule, however, we don’t profit much by them; but the lecturer himself does profit so much the more, and that is, what is aimed at. The exercise of expressing their thoughts about a certain subject in a clear and simple way and putting them down in writing has been very beneficial to many of them. In course of the meeting the missionaries also deliver each one a lecture or sermon, in which the old truth, that, it is impossible to put fire to others, if we are not in fire our- selves, in some form or other is emphasised. The stationary meeting which, besides the lectures and sermons, comprises Bible examination and examination of a certain portion of the Church history, is brought to a close by a social gathering, at which we are taking Tea together and conversing freely about our work and about matters of general interest. At one of these meetings. here at Tirukoilur, some two years ago, one of my agents was converted and is now a fire brand among the other agents and an efficient and zealous evange- list to the heathen. The second part of the meeting is the open-air preach- ing, from which a great number of villages heve been “suffering” last year. Our band is divided into parties, and a missionary, or one of our pastors, is put at the head of each party ; and the local missionary distributes to-all the leaders a list of the villages to be visited, and a sketch of their situation. Thus provided, and after a prayer meeting, we start in all directions preaching in all the villages within 5 miles from the station, or from our temporary stand- quarter. At this open-air preaching it is not the chief work of the missionary to preach, (though we as a rule do preach ourselves), but to listen, listen to the speeches of the catechists and try to find out, in what point they are lacking and need his guidance. And when the cate- chists know that, we are not present there as their cold 1V critics but as their friends, who are anxious to promote their spiritual welfare, they will most willingly submit themselves to our guidance here also. Occasionally—at least once a year—our Madras missionaries join us to an enlarged monthly meeting conducted on the same line. These meetings have been a source of much encouragement to us and we all look upon them as an efficient missionary agency, which we can safely recommend to other missions, that may not yet have started a similar one. How many villages we have visited through our monthly meetings I am not able to say; but judging from the num- ber visited here in Tirukoilur Taluq it cannot be less than 300. Thus the main feature of our work has, as usual, been preaching to the heathen, and any other branch of work taken up by us is bearing on this point only. When we educate children in our Boarding School, we co so with the sincere hope that somé of them at least may come out as efficient and zealous preachers to the heathen ; others as good and faithful members of the congregation, members whose whole life and conduct may prove an eloquent preaching to the non-Christians around them; and thus with our indus- trial_work and our small Day-Schools which we have started of late. Last year a new station has been erected at Kallakurichi, and thus our South Arcot Mission has got four stations superintended_by European missionaries, besides six out- stations under Indian superintendence. Together with our station in Madras and that on the Shervaro ills, we have por ein a _six main stations with eight European and one I in all six main stations with eight Huropean and one ndian missionaries. Last year 68 heathens have been baptised in our South Arcot Mission, and 9 in Madras and “Ponneri. On the fol- lowing pages Ershov decdantt will he wireadee each station by the local missionary. I MADRAS. oe Rev. L, P. Larsen reports :— For Street-preaching Mr. Jensen and I have usually been going out four mornings and four evenings in the week during last year, In the mornings we have gone to different places in Choolai, a suburb close to our house. One of the mornings we made it a rule to go down through some of the streets with tracts and handbills, distributing them to all who will receive (it is a rear thing that anybody refuses), and sometimes thereby getting an opportunity of coming into a talk with people. The other three mornings we used to take our stand at about 7 o’clock in one or another of the few suitable places we have been able to find in Choolai itself. It would be very desirable, if only possi- ble, to get more into the streets, among the houses, with our preaching ; it would bring us much nearer to the people, I believe. But you don’t find very many places there where you can gather an audience without obstructing the street. A few we have had in the bazaar street and one or two other streets in Choolai, not for very large audiences, but that we usually don’t get in the mornings, Atleast that has been our experience, that the mornings are not so good as the evenings for gathering large and steady audiences for open-air.preaching, There are people enough that pass in the morning also, but they all seem to be more busy, most of them are going to their daily work where they must be at a fixed hour, whereas in the evening they are going home and it does not matter much if they stop half an hour or even an hour on the way. For our evening preaching we have several places. most of them on the road that passes the Central Station, Memorial Hall, the Bazaar, down to the High Court. We generally are three together, besides Mr. Jensen and myself, a young graduate who has entered our Mission service about the middle of last year, But occasionally some other friend may join us in the singing and preaching. Hxcept on one day, when there was a balloon ascent, we have not found 6 any difficulty in getting an audience, and on the whole we have only reason to be thankful both for the number that listen and for the attention shown. One evening lately there was a Biahmin who declared, with ali the contempt he could show by the tone, that he was astovished to hear that such preaching was still carried on by the Christians to the Hindus, after Swami Vivekanada in America had finally settled the question of Christianity or Hinduism, A few such signs of the “revival of Hinduism” we do meet with ; Ido not say that objections and disturbances have died away altogether, but our general experience is of some- thing that looks, at least, like attention. How many times exactly we have been out for street-preaching during the past year, and how many pcople we have been preaching to altogether, I cannot tell. And I would not care a bit to tell it. For such figures could neither give ourselves nor anybody else the slightest idea of the work thathas been done. ‘Lhe question of importance is not how many we have spoken to but what and how we have spoken to them. The Reading Room on Popham’s Broadway has been frequented by a pretty good number of young men, most of them Hindus. It is openevery evening (except Sunday) from 5 to 8, and there has been I think about 15 on an average daily. We have not very much money at our dis- posal for the reading-room, and of course the supply of papers must be limited accordingly. Our best thanks are due to the Christian Literature Society for sending us, gratis, all their publications; Iam glad to say that these small books and pamphlets are being read with great interest by many. One of us, either Mr. Jensen or myself, go down there in the evenings as far as possible. All the time we have looked upon this asa chief point in connec- tion with the reading-room: our personal acquaintance and friendly intercourse with the young men who come there. In such a place they will generally feel more free than in our home, there will be more of that feeling of equality which is so essential for a truly friendly intercourse. For a deep, serious conversation on personal, spiritual questions it may not be the best place when others are sitting around, but it may help considerably to make such a talk more pos- sible at home. As a rule twice a month we have had a lecture, follow- ed by ashort discussion. The subjects have been very 7 varied but mostly bearing on social, moral and religious questions. In one of the last months of the year a Hindu graduate gave alecture on “Revelation ;” it was very charac- teristic that he only made reference to the Bible and Christianity to illustrate and discuss the question. And the reason why he did so he plainly said was that he knew more about Christianity than about Hinduism, and that again was because Hinduism is much more complicated and intricate than Christianity and its Bible. Such a statement is not very uncommon in Madras, and I am sure that state is still more frequent than the statement. But then one cannot help asking what must be the effect of this on Hinduism when a constantly growing number of those that bear its name confess that they know more of Christianity. I have confined myself hereto the street-preaching and the reading-room because these are the chief sides of my work. Of our sinall ami] congregation I don’t know much to bring into this short report beyond that they attend the Divine Services with praiseworthy regularity. Rey. J. Lazarus reports :— The Lord has been merciful to me during another year and enabled me to sustain uninterruptedly the various departments of my work both in Madras and Ponneri. Besides two or three new features of interest nothing of note has recurred. he seed. has been sown in room and hall, ou the pial andin the open air, with both voice and pen; and the truth has been pressed home to the hearts of both the cultured and the illiterate Nothing tries the Missionary’s faith so keenly as the general lack of religious earnestness among the hearers. The Indian conscience lies still in deep slumber. Every means by which it can be awakened needs to be fully availed of, and, in this respect, at least the out- look is hopeful. ‘Those who read aright the sigus of the times believe the time is not far distant when Christ will gain an entrance into the Indian heart. Opin-AIR PREACHING has been as usual regularly carried on with the assistance of a violinist in the most convenient as well as crowded corners of thecity. At the end of the address J invariably sell the Messenger of Truth and distribute Handbills in Tamil, 8 Telugu and Nnglish. Of the Messenger, some 1,500 copies were thus disposed of. Once a month I take my stand at a corner along which pass the clerks employed in the Fort, and distribute about 100 short papersamong them. Similar attemptshave been made to catch the students of the Culleges facing the Esplanade. If English addresses of a powerful and interesting kind could be arranged at these centres a great good might be done to the Students of Black Town. A small attempt has also been made in holding preaching concerts in Mrs. Lazarus’ Poor School at the Elephaat Gate, —a locality which is becoming more and more a centre for systematic Mission work. Tur Epucatep Crasses have not been neglected. They have been reached as usual by visits, conversations, social intercourse, correspendence and occasional lectures. ‘They are now passing into a state of great unrest. Moral forces of different kinds have begun to act on the educated mind which isalready beginning to break locse from the traditional restraints of a religio-social bondage. Efforts are put forth to guide their movement and help the mind to discover the path to peace and liberty. The Messenger of Truth is now inits eighth volume and still maintains its wide circulation. The illustrations on the first page have proved an additional attraction. It is a welcome visitor to both Christians and Hindus, Among the latter are scores of regular subscribers in Madras and Ponneri. By the generosity of a Scotch Bible Society, I have been able to employ in Madras a CoLporRTEUR since November last. Heisan energetic young man and has already succeeded in selling about 12 rupees worth of Scriptures—a similar agent will soon be going about the Taluq of Ponneri with thetorch of truthin his hand. The Colporteur is an excellent pioneer in missionary work, Tur SERVICES at our Church in the Broadway have also demanded some share of my time and strength. I have preached both in English and Tamil. Once a month the congregations in Ponneri make a similar demand. 9 By Baptism four persons have been brought under direct Christian influence. One of these is an elderly woman, the mother of a former convert; one isa young man, with a little education and fitted to be a teacher; but the friends of this young convert are doing their best to make him join the Roman Catholics. The third is a day-labourer at the Elephant Gate; while the fourth is a native doctor who became an enquirer by his regular persusal of the Messenger. We shall now go to PonnerI. The Taluq beyins atthe 11th mile from Madras and extends some 23 miles northwards. It is now rather less than 5 years since this little Mission was founded. Then there was nota single Christian in these parts (except at the old Dutch town, Pulicat) ; now by the grace of Goa there is a congregation of about 60 souls. There are also 3 schools with upwards of 100 pupils, not to mention 2 other element- ary schools just being opened. Bigotry and prejudice are as strong as ever, but the Gospel is putting its way iuto this stronghold of Hinduism. MontH_iy Journeys to Ponneri have become a regular inatitution. Trying, time-consuming and inconvenient as are these journeys, they are nevertheless a source of great profit to me for both body and spirit. What was painful at first is now pleasant. I spend a week in the taluq, visiting different parts with the catechists preaching, selling Scriptures and tracts, visiting the people in the village and in the cheri, holding indoor meetings, examining schools and otherwise giving a helping hand to the poor brethren labouring out here—far away from Christian influence and Christian counsel. It is however a matter for thankful- ness that the Ponneri railway has been actually commenced. Ere another year has passed away, Ponneri will become but an hour’s cheap and comfortable ride from Madras, while its importance as a Taluq town will steadily continue to increase and its bitterness towards Christian Missions will be considerably mitigated. 10 Tue Mipptr ScHoon at Pouneri—the most important institution in the whole Taluq—has suffered not a little owing to the rumoured conversion of a Brahmin teacher. An adventure school has been started, the ‘l'eachers of which frighten the people against entrusting their children to our Christian teachers. The Government however has wisely refused to recognize this school. A former Captain of the Salvation, Army, an F, A.,is our Head Master and thus our School bids fair to resume its former position in the town. The excellent site on which the school chapel is built roused the hatred of the people who prosecuted me for encroachment on public land. After 15 months’ weary waiting, the Lord gave me the victory. The elementary schools are in a flourishing condition. Tur PonneRi CONGREGATION consists chiefly of Pariahs. These however are mostly independent land-owners. They area simple sincere sort of people—especially those at Hlavur. At every harvest they bring an offering to their Sayiour. There are now two collection-boxes heavy with the money thus contributed. Seeing my difficulty in having tosleep on the floor, the poor people have of their own accord made what is called a rope-cot for my special use. Among the Pariahs there is at present a general desire for education. At one village about 58 chief Pariahs have signed a petition for a school. Experience has taught me that in every big or central village there ought to be an elementary school for Christian instruction. This is the only safe and sound way to re-create the manhood of the Pariah and lift him from his degradation and depth of misery. Only two families have been added to the church by baptism. But the first Supra CoNnvERT was baptized at the close of the year. Iwas so afraid of the consequences of his baptism, that I had to baptize him at Madras. ‘The young mau’s name is John Krishnasawmy (Naidu). He isa teacher of the 4th Grade. One of the old converts died after a lingering illness. Taking advant- age of this sad circumstance, the relations of the deceased have removed the widow and children to a far off village. 1] LF | Tus AGENTs, both catechists and teachers, need special encouragement. I am anxious that good papers and magazines should be sent to them regularly. ‘he Ponneri catechist last year gained a prize of Rs. 5 fora Handbill he had written entitled The King and the Fool. Suchis avery brief summary of the work of a year. There have been many failings and shortcomings. ‘But we know that the Lord has been with us, sustaining us under trial and difficulty, guiding us in doubt and weakness, and chastening us under success and 49Y? Mrs. Lazarus who has laboured for the last 9 years as Honorary Zenana Missionary furnishes the following account of her work among women :— Hxcept during December when I was unable to leave my house, I have as usual visited Hindu women regularly twice a week. 1J'wo Bible-women go out daily from 10 till 5, teaching pupils to read the Bible and speaking to groups of women in the Zenanas, I examine ‘he Bible lessons and any fancy or plain work they have done during the week aud then speak to them about the love of God. Many are intelligent listeners; but a great many cannot think of anything higher than their daily ceremonies and their feasts and fasts. Iam generally out from 10 to 12 ; sometimes later. There is a great desire for education and enlightenment that they may become fit companions for their husbands. This is especially the case with young wives. I try to place not only the Testament and the Psalms, but good Tamil books in their hands, These they read. But as yet there is no deep thought about sin aud God and a holy life. In other respects there is not a little improve- ment. Christian teachers are more cordially received than formerly. Caste scruples have lost much of their force. Indian women have begun to imitate us in many ways, even as regards dress and manners. ‘Their admiration for Christian morality is genuine. Visits are even returned, Several Hindu women are subscribers to my Poor Schools. One woman, a Brahmin widow, hasbeen a regular worship- per at our church for many months, ‘Thus | know a real change for the better is going on even in the secluded Yenana. Hach improvement renders it more and more possible for the eventual acceptance of Christ by the women of India as the Son of God and Saviour of mankind.” 12 If. SHERVAROY HILLS. ooo (THABOR.) Rev. M. ANDERSEN reports :— The Mission Station, “Thabor,” is situated on the Shervaroy Hills, 4 miles north of Yercaud, the Huropean settlement, and is within a mile’s distance of the three Malialie villages, Attiur, Assamboor and Manjakuttai. In Assamboor, we have a church, a school and houses for a catechist, and teacher. In Kiliur, a village near Yercaud, we have a school-house and also a house for a teacher, but these are not used at present for want of pupils. In Chemanatham, a large village situated on the N.-W. side of the Hills, about 7 miles from the Mission station, we have also a school and houses for a catechist and teacher. We, i.e., the Missionary and native helpers, go out to the villages for preaching 5 days in the week, three days to distant villages, and two to the nearer. The Malialies, who in the early days of the Mission, were much afraid and very difficult to gather, have gradu- ally, in most villages, become willing to listen to our message of Salvation. But to a great extent it is still mere politeness, rather than the need of Salvation that makes them listen. Some of the people think, that after death they are buried and then are lost to all existence; others, that when they die they must of necessity go to heaven ; showing, in both cases, a want of knowledge of their real selves. They very often say “yes, yes, that is true, all what you say is correct ;” but when I say “ why do you then not act according to what you say is right ?”’ the answer is, ‘‘ what can we do, our forefathers did not do so, and how can we do it.’” Ifthe other villagers will come and be Christians, we will also.” If I, after they have acknowledg- ed themselves to be sinners, turn to one of them and ask ** But are you then a sinner?” Iam sure to get the reply *‘No.” I then have to show them that it is not alone the words and deeds that others can hear and see, but also, and rather, the thoughts innermost in their own hearts that constitute sin, But this is to get them to think about sin 13 in quite a new light and one not pleasant to them, so it is . hard to get them to understand, much more to accept its truth. Still our preaching about sin and grace has not been without effect, and though we many a time come home discouraged by their indifference, yet we, by remembering, that it is not we but the Lord who has to convert them, itis we who have to sow the seed, but it is He that gives it growth, get new hope and new faith and know that our work is not in vain. As the Malialies are all illiterate our schools come in also as a good help to our work, and we have found that where schools have been opened we have come nearer the people, and they are more ready to listen, and seem to want something better than what they have themselves. It is very difficult to get the boys and girls and young men to come to our schoolsas pupils, the teacher has to go round the village to call them, and if he does not know how to interest them they will stop away after a short time. Another difficulty we have to contend with is, that the teachers are people from the low country who find the work on the Hills very hard and when besides that they get fever they are soon discouraged and leave. We must there- fore turn our energies towards getting helpers from among the Malialies themselves. This is, of course, to look very far into the future, but still we cannot help trusting that among the clever and intelligent boys and young men whom we do find in our schools our Lord and Master has for us some helpers to tell His Gospel to their countrymen. Iil. PATTAMBAKKAM. were (“‘ Bethany.”) Rev. Cur. SCHLESCH reports :-— Some of the Indian readers of this report may, while travelling down the line from Madras by the S. I. Railway, a couple of miles before their arrival at Nellikuppam Station, have noticed a small Gothic Church-building in a very small distance from the railway-line. This is the “Church of the Holy Cross” belonging to the Mission station “ Bethany” at the village of Pattambakkam (near Nellikuppam, South Arcot District.) 14. From this place as a centre I, my predecessors and our different Native agents have now for the third part of a century, trusting to God’s blessing, tried to evangelize the surrounding country. We have ample space for our efforts as the country here is very populous. Hverywhere generally within 1, and even } mile, of each other can be seen the small groves, which mark the presence of a village. Pattam- bakkam isa large village with 4,000 inhabitants. Nellikup- pam, 2 miles to the Hast, has 12,000, Simnappen Nayakan Palaiyam, 4 or 5 miles to the South, 10,000 inhabitants. At this last-mentioned place an out-station was opened in 1893. Since 1886 there is another out-station at Tondamanatham, S.-W. of Cuddalore. Each of these out-stations is in charge of a resident catechist. Our chief work is evangelistic. We go around in the villages either preaching to greater numbers or conversing with a few, as opportunity offers. Six times during 1894 we have taken part in evangelistic tours in the mission-districts of “Siloam” (Tirukoilur) and “ Saron” (Tiruvannamalai), and 3 times we have had the pleasure to welcome our brethren from these places for the same object here. We especially direct our attention to the Hindus (or caste-people), as it is our conviction, that if the Hindus could be won for Christianity, their servants, the Pariahs, would follow suit. Itis at least human to reason in this way. But perhaps we are wrong. Perhaps also in this respect God’s ways are higher than ours. The 20th century will reveal it. We cannot at all events be said to have been successful as yet in our efforts for winning the Hindus, for amongst all the 110 converts from heathenism, I have bap- tized in the 13 years, I now have been stationed here at “‘ Bethany,” not one was a Hindu; they were all Pariahs. There are also many Mahomedans in these parts, espe- cially at Nellikuppam. We try of course to bring the Gospel also to them, but they seem at present, at least, to be still more inaccessible than the Hindus. It must be said, however, that the people in general, both Hindus and Mahomedans, seem to be very friendly dis- posed towards us, and they are generally always ready to enter into a friendly conversation with us, but their eyes are still shut to the necessity of a Saviour. We work, however, in the hope that the Lord in His appointed time will open 15 some of the blind and shut-up eyes also in these parts to the appalling nature of their own sin and to the wonderful great~ ness of God’s glorious grace. It only remains to give afew figures. On the last day of 1894 there were 122 Christians. 27 different persons par- took of the Lord’s Supper during the year. 4 converts from: Heathenism were baptized. There were 2 schools with 77 pupils, and the mission employed 3 catechists, 2 teachers and 1 colporteur. Just at the end of the year 2 additional cate- chists were engaged. IV, TIRUKOILUR. (Stzoam.) Rev. N. P. Hansen reports :— Last year has in some way been a marked year in the history of this station, as weon the 22nd of August could celebrate its 25th anniversary. According to the Baptism Register of the station 728 souls had been baptised in the Siloam church up to that date. Some of these are, of course, children of Christian parents, but the main part has come directly from the heathenism. But when you look at the present number of Christians attached to the congregation here, you will find that it does not come up even to the half of the above number. Where are they, all these seven hundred and twenty-eight ? Some have been removed by death, and some have gone to other places in search of labour, and have settled down there and joined other Protest- ant missions; but the main bulk of these 373 have in the course of time joined Romanism, and are now living as Catholic Christians in the villages round about here. The Roman Catholics, I am sorry to say, have been ove of the greatest obstacles to our work in the past. With the European priests here I am living on rather peaceful terms, one of them is even a friend of mine; but an Indian Catholic priest, who is our nearest neighbour, has done much harm to our work from its very onset. When I came down here some six years ago, and heard about his doings, I went to his place, and after some difficulty I was received by 16 him. I told him that I was anxious to live in peace with him and hoped that we might come to some understanding, according to which we could labour for our Lord without doing any harm to each other’s work. And as a special favour I asked him not to receive any Christians of ours who might come to him for the sake of money or other material help. With a dignity as if he could have been His Holyness himself he answered, that he could enter into no negotia- tions with an heretic like myself, and that, all our Christians were in his eyes like non-Christians and even further from the Kingdom of heaven than the heathens themselves ; in the bosom of the Roman Church only, he concluded, was Salvation for them, eatra ecclesia nulla spes salutis |” Since that day there has been no personal connection between us; but the connection between our congregations has not ceased ; upward of hundred and fifty of our Christians have, on promise of relief from their debt or other diffi- culties, been received as members of his congregation ; while we in exceptional cases only receive Roman Catholics. The effect of such a policy on the Christians on both sides will be obvious to all. OPEN-AIR PREACHING. At the beginning of last year, we had still some 60 villages vot yet visited by our Gospel messengers ; these we have managed to visit, and the Gospel has thus completed its first round in the taluq in the course of 5 years. The method of my predecessors seems to have been somewhat dif- ferent from mine; they used, it appears, to lay much stress on the preaching of the Gospel again and again in the villages around the station; and only occasionally a preaching-tour was made to some distant quarter, I shall advance nothing in favour of my own method—both may have their advan- tages and disadvantages—but only state that we found number of villages here, in which the Gospel trumpet had never been sounded, and the name of Jesus never been heard. Now Ican safely say that there is not a village, not even a hamlet within the boundary of the taluq, in which the message of salvation by Jesus Christ, is unknown. The name of Jesus ia kriown and spoken of (in some places, no doubt, contemptuously) all over the talug. Besides the above-mentioned 60 villages some 70 have been visited on 17 the second round ; twice a week we have preached at Tiru- koilur itself, and the villages in the vicinity have been visited as often as possible, some of them up to twenty times during the year. Finally we have preached in about 1590 villages through our monthly meetings at this station. Baptism, Thirty-three heathens have been baptised and received into the congregation last year. Seven of these only were caste people, the rest have come from the Pariah community, and even from the poorest of these down-trodden people. The outward change we have experienced of these poor folk is quite remarkable, When they come here for in- struction, they don’t know to speak properly, don’t know to listen properly, and their whole outward appearance is such that one does not feel inclined to come into any closer con- tact with them. But in course of the instruction they make astonishing progress in all these directions and leave us aS quite another lot of people. And if the inward pro- gress could keep pace with the outward, there would be ample reason for satisfaction; but this is not always the case- To say that these people come to us with an intelli- gent understanding of the important step they are about to take, would, indeed, be far from the truth. They have begun to some extent, I believe, to understand and feel the burden of their present deplorable condition and cherish the hope that Christianity, when they embrace it, will bring about some change to the better here; and this hope may in many cases be the underlying motive for their coming tous. But we don’t generally ask for their underlying motives ; are they willing to place themselves under our in- struction, we receive them in the hope that the Word of God, that has wrought so many miracles, may show its power on their hearts also and make them “ wise unto Salva- tion.” Andif this hope be disappointed altogether, it lies in our power to refuse to baptise them ; and so we some- times do. Besides the above mentioned heathen, thirteen children of Christian parents have been baptised during the year, and thus forty-six souls have through baptism been added to the congregation, 18 Vue Boarpina ScHoou. The strength of the school has been fourty-five boys divided into four classes. Hight boys appeared for the fourth standard examination last year, and seven passed, some of them in the first class. Now it is our intention to raise the School to Middle School and thereby make a small beginning to educate teachers for our own field. The next question under consideration is the establishing of a Theo- logical Seminary, that could work hand in hand with the Middle School and result in producing some good cate- chists for our Mission and thus remove the disadvantage we at present are suffering under. In thus reviewing the work of last year with all its imperfections and shortcomings, I feel that I have ample reason to fall on my face and thank and glorify my heaven- ly Master, who has been pleased to make use of a poor sin- ner like wyself todo His glorious work, for which I am not at all needed, and has shown mountains of forbearance to me up to this very hour. Glory to His name ! *‘ He must in crease, | must decrease.” InpustRIAL Work. Miss Johansen, who superintends the Lace-work, writes: The work has been carried on last year, as usual, and several new workers have been admitted ; the average of the daily workers has been twenty-two during the year. Some of the old workers have been fortunate enough to get into other work ; but their places have quickly been filled by others, especially by widows and grown up girls; Among those thus admitted last year was a Hindu woman of the Vellala caste with a grown up daughter of about 16 years of age. By seeing some of my workers who live at Tirukoilur and do the work at home they had come to the conclusion that, if they could be taught to do this work, they would be able to maintain themselves and leave the heathenism, in which they had suffered so muche And so one day in utterly distress they left their own people and came to my house, asking me to give them work and teach them Christiauity, as they want to become Christians. I gladly admitted them, and after having received Christian instruction, they were baptized at the end of they. are 19 In connection with the Industrial School I have a small home, where I can receive women and girls who are anxious to stay here in order to learn something, but have no relations to put up with. ‘The first admitted last year was a motherless girl, six years’ old. Her father, a heathen, found her to be a troublesome little thing and came finally to the conclusion that the best way to get rid of her would be to hand her over tome. Later on some more women and girls were taken in, and at the end of the year 6 such had a temporary home here. They are spending their time in learning lace-work and attending a small school established for their sake, as none of them had ever had the opportunity of frequenting any school. One of the lace- workers, a widow, who had been brought up in a Boarding School, was appointed a teacher to them, and thoy are now goipg on very nicely, improving their knowledge in every respect. Vi TIRUVANNAMALAT. (Saron.) Rev. S. F. Brera reports :— Tiruvannamalai Taluk forms.the North-Western corner of South Arcot district. Its total population comes up to 906,000 inhabitants, of which the greater part belongs to the Pally and Pariah caste. The Christians nuicber about 6,000 which is very little below that of the Mussulman com- munity. Most of the Christians belong to the Papistical Church. The only town, Tiruvannamalai, which drives its name from the sacred hill at the foot of which it is situated, has nearly 13,000 inhabitants. One mile South of Tiravaunamalai, on the road leading to Tirukoilur lies the Danish Lutheran Mission station, out from which we work over the whole Taluk. From the commencement of our work here: July 1891 till December 20 1895 we have baptised 70 individuals. The total number of our{congregation at present is 132, One missionary, One native pastor, Six evangelists, T'wo teachers and Two mistresses—are engaged in the mission work, which has been carried on with steadiness and to some extent also with result last year, as we have baptised 31 heathens, all of the Pariah community, and 7 children of Christian parents; thus 38 souls have been added to the congregation. The Christians who are under the spiritual care and moral guidance of our mission here, are working in the following places :-— Tiruvannamalai... eat ... 2l souls. Melattikan ms ts Ae cite, ha Chengam ese eee os serene Ate Arrimbakkamn .,,. Ay. pet ep Velandal Hs. ves Fees kccu te Total,..132 _,, With the only exception of our boarding school for girls at Melattikan, our work has been a pure evangelising one ; village-preaching has been carried on together with street-preaching in Tiruvannamalai itself, and we have on an average been able to visit more than 4 villages or 4 places in the town every day throughout the year, and be it noted: that we always preach both in the village and in the Parrahshery and both are consisted as one only. Montaty Mretinas. Our mission works in four of the eight Taluks of S. Arcot, viz: (Bethaniem) Tirukoilur, (Siloam) Tiruvanna- malai, (Saron) Kallakurichi (Bethesda), in these four stations monthly meetings are held by turns, and three were held in Tiruvannamalai, respectively, in April, July and December, the last during the Kartikai Deebam festival. These monthly meetings is a source of real strength and nourishment for our faith and love upon one another. 21 These meetings always begin at the first Friday of the month, and continue to the following Friday. The mission- aries from the other stations come together with their native helpers at the appointed mission station. On the very first evening one of the missionaries will deliver a Tamil lecture, which generally is followed by discussion of some of the leading Christians ; in thesame way we continue every evening, so that the missionaries and native helpers take it by turn. The subject of the lecturesis left to the choice of the missionary or to the lecturer himself, and though the contents of the addresses vary a good deal, the outline of them all, as a rule, is confined to the sphere of our practical Christian work among the non-Christians or to the progress of our own inner Christian life. Many of us can confess with joy and thankfulness that the lectures have done their good in a way or other, and we hope, will continue to do so in the future. So much about the evening lectures, which often are held in the open air on the mission compound. The mornings are spent in the villages or in the town, where we preach and converse with the people. Seldom more than two persons are allowed to forma preaching party, and thus we are able to visit 8—10 different places, the way to and fro is often longand tiresome, yet the work has been carried on with cheerfulness and zeal. Upon the whole we have not met with serious opposi- tion ; should we complain our anything it would rather be our that disheartening dullness and indifference, and that every where prevailing materialism which is ruling the minds of men whom, we believe, are created and set apart for higher purposes than that of the belly. In Tiruvannamalai town itself we have now and then been svbjected to mean person’s mind and dirty interfer- ence, but in spite of this we are glad to say, that we have also had many gatherings with attentive hearers. Besides the evening and morning work, we may men- tion as a third feature of the meetings: The Bible examin- ation. Kach missionary and his native helpers prepare a certain portion of the Bible in which we examine each 22 other at the last day of the meeting. This Bible study has indeed been a blessing for many of us. It has cleared away doubts and ignorance, and it has inspired many of us to go on digging out the golden truth of the Bible and utilise it in daily life. These monthly meetings are so to speak a concentrated mission work; aud as we have propagated by it hitherto I hope for certain, that we shall also benefit or obtain much good during such days of co-operation, and last but not least do I look forward to an increase of love and interest in each other’s work, so that we may understand that we do not come together to criticise and find faults, but to help each other forward with brotherly love, with a noble and honest mind. : ‘ ee eee Vie KALLAKURICHI. —-— (BerHesDA.) From this station no report has been received. Rev. A Larsen, the missionary appointed for this place, has been fully occupied last year by superintending the build- ing operations, that have been going on there, and thus very little time has been saved for missionary work. But now these operations have come to an end, and the spiritual building operations will commence with the current year, We close our report with the earnest prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been pleased to begin his glorious work here in India by the Danes, may also in the time to come let his face graciously shine upon our Danish Mission, and acknowledge it as a link in the great chain of efforts in operation to drag India to his feet! STATISTICAL TABLE FOR 1894. "PE8I-GI-1E FO "ON ‘pouiny “01 SIOpl[sSyoRd *PpaAOUoyy] saqoInyy 19430 WOd,T ‘TUSIUBIOY MO 7 ‘S]SIUBWIOY PouNy, *BOLIBMOISSIPAL ‘suoy1oa Apery *SIO4SR *seSsod4Sl] *s19]0BO J, pus szstyoo}ey ‘stidnd jo zoquinyy (Burpavog), sfooyog Sy} voy ‘posiyduq sueyjvoy *pesiydeq UOIpPlIqO UBIYSLIYyS “‘s]UBolUNMUO0y "S68I-SI-TE 40 “ON STATION. : A 2 r5 Jo) 2 < Ne) O 3. - e ~ e ° re sie : cae AS 3 ADE ° ° . ee ‘< ¥ N Saree: Sabie tek a ina) : mm = oe) ~ eure Ue ‘s es Z Lan : aE : Z : ee el mG BOAeI SAS: Mtn 2! CY 2 pS ma OO of i co co me <4 ar) O Pi er) ~~ 1d co * Yor) . . (Je) ct oH nN ale a * * ° or) ac) o1 cn) _ : oO 5 Be beac of tei. “Sumas Leo! ete af ~— ie) 3 <= on s ° ~ ° on 6D Pe a ° ae 5 5 co CO ee = 5 oueeE : ay (=) | ad lor) lo} (=) oS | 1a N = mH inc} 10 10 oO ed N Gad. o9 = ’ 1 ce al . yh oO N = it ae : é & = 3 - : e e e e es ° “to Tend ; 3 oS oe % be =I s oC g re} Oo ino} = =) a iss) Oo na! a © ~~ fo) ta + Ss aw Q oO lege} a o ~ FH QRa Rn A * Out-station to Madras. oa spe arses ysreeth tae