The following pages contain a reprint from fflje Christian atroocate of March 22, 29, and April 5 1900 /^\NE of the most interesting chapters in missionary annals of the Methodist Epis¬ copal Church is that which relates the story of the Meth¬ odist Episcopal Memorial Pub¬ lishing House at Madras. . —Christian Advocate of cMarch 22, mo . . ... ¥ ¥ HE Indo-American Bible Booklet Society is chartered in conformity with the provisions of the laws of the State of Maryland, and the charter is signed by the Hon. Henry D. Harlan, one of the judges of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore city. It was formed for the purpose of circulating free, in all the languages in which the Bible is printed, hun¬ dreds of millions of pages in sixteen-page booklets. A specimen page containing some verses from the MAHRATTE - - * V- - V V - 1 - fv STft* jcricr^vpir, sprot «Pir k sjirasra nratfte. $t srer & vjsr, ^ wmsfr 3 tt^ ^ vjwr, t Srsr- *n^r It vist, it ^ttTnr gtifte,, Beatitudes in the Mahratti language is herewith given. According to the provisions of the charter all donors of one dollar and upward will receive a certificate, on the reverse side of which is printed a Guarantee that the interest will be invested annually in the man¬ ufacture and cost of free distribution of Bible Book¬ lets among the heathen in all lands and countries and islands of the sea. For further information, address Rev* A. W. RUDISILL, 1227 Myrtle Avenue, Baltimore, Md* Editorial from 44 Christian Advocate ” of March 22, 1900 O On " Cs A On pages 13-15 of this number The Methodist Publish- of The Christian Advocate mg' House at Madras appears the first of several arti¬ cles relating to the founding and work of the Methodist Episcopal Publishing House in Madras, India. A more interesting chapter is not to be found in the missionary history of our Church. Dr. A. W. Rudisill, the agent of the Publishing House, and .the chief instrument of its inception and development, is now in this country, and is much sought after by Conferences, missionary conventions, and churches for the presentation of his work. His address before the Hew York Preachers’ Meeting two weeks ago was of the deepest interest and value, and gave the ministers a clear insight into the work of our Church in India. The publishing estab¬ lishment in Madras is a remarkable institution, and is achieving great things for Christianity; and if it were placed upon a better financial basis, its possibilities for usefulness would be wonder¬ fully increased. Among the publications of this press is "The Bible Booklet,” a small book of not more than sixteen pages, two by three inches, containing selections from the Scriptures, which is manufac¬ tured at a cost of fifty thousand pages for one dollar. For the dissemination of this booklet by the million throughout the heathen world a society has been organized, the president of which is Bishop Thoburn, who says, "For years I have wished to see printed pages of Gospel truth scattered like leaves of autumn all over this Eastern world, and here at last is a plan for realizing what I have so long cherished as a waking dream.” This "Bible Booklet” society guarantees that the interest upon the subscriptions to its endowment fund will be devoted annually to the manufacture and free distribution of the booklets among the heathen. Here is an opportunity for the investment of money in a way that will become a perpetual blessing to those who dwell in darkness. Should any of our readers desire more explicit information or feel disposed to help this good cause, let them communicate with A. W. Rudisill, D.D., 1227 Myrtle Avenue, Baltimore, Mel. i I A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency By A. W. Rudisill, D.D. [One of the most interesting chapters in the missionary an¬ nals of the Methodist Episcopal Church is that which relates the story of the Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House at Madras, India. The chief human instrument in this wonderful work is A. W. Rudisill, D.D., who has consented to acquaint the readers of The Christian Advocate with some of the facts concerning the inception and development of this important enterprise and successful agency for the dissemination of the Gospel of Christ. Dr. Rudisill’s story is as follows:] How I Came to Oo to India, and Inception of the Enterprise About the middle of 1884, while in my second year as presiding elder of the West Baltimore District of Baltimore Conference, a question suddenly swept through my mind one day, “Will you leave your present field and go into a foreign?” I paid no attention at first, supposing it was a freak of fancy. As the day wore away, while my mind was in full play, I found to my surprise that from a sort of flitting through my thought the question would repeat itself. When it assumed this more serious aspect I attributed it to an in* flamed imagination, but after a few days it seemed to move steadily as a plowshare, making deep furrows into my soul, and I ex¬ claimed, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” Many objections presented themselves, but at last I consulted my wife about the mat¬ ter, and together we agreed that if the call was of God, it was not necessary for me to offer my services, but that God would put it into the hearts of those in authority to ask me if I were willing to go. And I also believed that He would lead my wife in the same way that He had led me. It was not long before she declared her willingness to accompany me to India. We now agreed that if this was of God, I would be asked to go be¬ fore I mentioned this impression to a living soul. Without any planning on my part I was asked by a member of the Missionary Board whether I would be willing to take up work in southern India. I replied in the affirmative. Within a few days I received a letter from Bishop Taylor urging me to join South India Conference. Shortly after a presiding elder from South India Conference lectured in one of the Baltimore churches. I had never before seen him, and was introduced to him at the close. He said, “My brother, you have consented to come to India; have you any wish to express as to your appointment?” I replied, “None whatever; I am ready to 2 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 3 go to any appointment I am assigned.” Being blessed with a com¬ panion who encouraged me to trust in this manner, I could speak the more freely. Some in conversation and others in their prayers ex¬ pressed pity for my wife. Such a woman is not to be pitied, but to be emulated. We left our comfortable home, sold our furniture, and sailed for India. We went out not knowing whither we went, but during all this time I never detected in her the slightest degree of anxiety as to where our home would be. After it was fully settled that I would go to India, while on a visit to my father at York, Pa., he urged me to accept a small press, print- a corner of the press room Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House, Madras, India V ing a card four by six inches. I hesitated to accept it, thinking it would only be an additional burden, but finally consented, solely to avoid hurting his feelings. During my boyhood my father was the proprietor and editor of a monthly magazine. At the age of sixteen years I had worked in every department of a printing office, from the first duties of an apprentice to those of a compositor and press¬ man. After that it occurred to me that as I had this practical knowledge of printing I might, in connection with my pastoral work, print tracts in the vernacular. I banished the thought, however, after re¬ flection, knowing well the difficulties attending such an undertaking. Not the least obstacle in the way was the great sum I supposed it would require to fit up a printing office in India. I determined, therefore, not to ask anyone for money, nor even to mention that I 4 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency entertained a thought of purchasing printing material for India, until I saw that Providence was pointing in that direction. I made that matter a subject for prayer, and concluded that if some one would hand me a sum of money, stating that it was not for my own A. W. RUDISILL, D.D. Agent of the Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House, Madras, India support, but that I should use it in some way in India, I would re¬ gard such a gift as an indication that God was in the suggestion. Shortly after I preached at Wolfsville, Md., on Smithburg Circuit. The Rev. Phillip Edwards, the pastor, and I were the guests of Mr. J. H. Morgan, a merchant whom I had never met before. It was Saturday, a very busy day with country merchants, so that he had scarce any time for conversation. On Sunday morning, after prayers, he said, “While engaged in my private devotions this A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 5 morning I was deeply impressed that I ought to give you five dollars, not for your own use, but for the cause of the Master in India.” As he handed me the money I realized that this was in answer to prayer, and felt sure it was the beginning of a series of gifts that would en¬ able me to use the press as an agency for good. Without solicitation I received nearly $200. After beginning my work in India, on learning that I had some money and a little printing press, the missionaries on the district and native Christians strongly advised me to begin a Mission Press. In the meantime the General Publishing Committee of our work in India appointed me “Agent of the Madras Mission Press ” Shortly after Miss Thoburn urged that we print a Tamil edition of “The Woman’s Friend,” and secured from the Woman’s Foreign Mission¬ ary Society a monthly appropriation to defray the expense of publi¬ cation. Bishop Thoburn, who was then presiding elder of the Cal¬ cutta District, by word and by letter pointed out the necessity of meeting at once the growing need of a Mission Press in southern India, and advised me to begin the work. During the latter part of the year 1885 such an accumulation of providential unfoldings made their appearance that I could not doubt my call to this work, and in a small' room in the parsonage of the Methodist Episcopal church, Vepery, Madras, on the little press given by my father, the capacity of which was a page four by six inches, after putting in type in the Tamil language John 3. 16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” my wife, our little boy Harry, and Jacob, a native Christian, each offered prayer, and I struck off the first impression. During 1886 a few native compositors were employed, and suffi¬ cient English and Tamil type was purchased to make up double royal forms; but not having a machine sufficiently large, they were taken to the government press and printed. In the beginning of the year 1887 Mr. and Miss Alnutt sent an additional contribution of $300 to purchase a double royal hand printing press and office fur¬ niture. More hands were employed, and a fully equipped printing office was begun in the parsonage. After some months a long narrow building, located on the Vepery Church property, was rented from the trustees, and the plant moved into it. Shortly after the secretary of the Madras Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society advised me to organize a binding department. I purchased the needed machinery, employed work¬ men, and soon we were binding portions of Scripture and Bibles. In 1888 the Rev. D. O. Ernsberger, our missionary to the Canarese, seeing the pressing need of tracts and books for the Canarese-speak- ing people of southern Injlia, collected $265 to add that vernacular to our Press. The same year Rev. S. P. Jacobs, M.A., our missionary at Hyderabad, Deccan, collected $2,262.50. Among the donors of this 6 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency amount was Bishop William Taylor, who gave $100; the founder of our work in all southern India well knew the great need of a Mission Press. Also Mrs. J. H. Stevens, of Manchester, la., gave $1,000 to purchase a cylinder printing machine as a memorial to her son, N. H. Stevens. Deccan-Hindustani was also added to the vernaculars printed, so that at the close of 1888 over thirty hands were employed, printing was done in five languages, and a binding department was in full operation. In July, 1889, the deepest of sorrows came into my life—my pre¬ cious wife died. For some time my health had been failing, and shortly after the death of my wife I was ordered home by my phy¬ sician. My health was slow in returning, but in 1891 I felt that I had further work to do for the Mission Press at Madras. Experience made it evident that the time had come when new features must be introduced into the work of the Publishing House in India. A general impression prevailed among missionaries that Christian literature should be made more attractive and illustrated with scenes and in¬ cidents familiar to the natives. To do this we must make pictures on the spot, and not buy them in America or Europe. So essential is an electrotyping foundry in this time of rapid ad¬ vance in cheap publications that no publishing house in American or European cities can engage in the whirl of competition in cheap as well as artistic bookmaking without its aid. Not until electrotypes are used in vernacular printing can large editions of books be printed at small cost. The stereopticon, with its brilliant lime lights, also -would enable tens of thousands to witness illustrated Gospel sermons, and be made a most effective method of calling attention to distributing and sell¬ ing Christian literature. During the native feasts, or melas, an immense screen might be erected, illustrated sermons projected upon it, and then from booths brilliantly illuminated by electricity these sermons could be sold. In the spring of 1892 I submitted to Bishop Thoburn and Dr. J. O. Peck, Missionary Secretary, a plan by which photo-engraving, elec¬ trotyping, and the stereopticon, if introduced into the Madras Meth¬ odist Episcopal Publishing House, would each be made to contribute toward spreading the Gospel among the people of India. The plan was heartily indorsed. To introduce in our Madras Publishing House the departments proposed, including the purchase of ground and suitable buildings, the sum of $25,000 would be required. While special departments might be named for any who would endow them, it was my earnest desire that the Publishing House as a whole should stand as a me¬ morial to my departed wife. 9 Up to Sept. 1, 1893, I had received through a lecture and other voluntary contributions the sum of $12,000, and by carrying a rea- A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 7 sonable debt I had fixed upon $19,000 as sufficient to justify our pro¬ ceeding to India and beginning operations. In the summer the out¬ look was bright enough, because with little difficulty I made engage¬ ments to deliver that same lecture in towns and cities reaching from Cleveland, O., to Duluth, Minn., and then purposed returning to Baltimore by a southern route. Taking the past as a criterion, it seemed probable that the remaining $7,000 would be contributed in time to sail for India the latter part of December. In less than two months $7,000 in cash was placed in my hands, and when the ap¬ pointed time arrived passage was engaged for Madras. How I Got the Ground On the morning of my arrival in Madras, Feb. 7, 1894, I saw that the long narrow building on the parsonage lot was inadequate to accommodate our increased plant. Immediately after breakfast, in company with one of our missionaries, I went in search of new quar¬ ters for our Press. Miss Elizabeth J. Alnutt, of Baltimore city, had given me $5,000 which I might invest in purchasing a site. After searching for four or five hours without finding a suitable place that could be pur¬ chased, I suggested going to Mount Road, the “Fifth Avenue” of Madras, not thinking for a moment that it would be possible to se¬ cure a site in such a locality. As we were passing by a choice location I saw a man with a long tape measure engaged in measuring a lot. I stopped and inquired the name of the owner, and was told that he lived on the opposite side of the street. On inquiry I learned that I could purchase this site of two lots for 25,000 rupees, or, as exchange was at that time, about $9,000. That evening we were given a reception at the home of Miss Grace Stephens. Among the guests was her brother, J. H. Stephens, Esq., one of the leading architects of India, and a compe¬ tent judge of building sites, who urged me to purchase the Mount Road lots if possible. I gave him 100 rupees as earnest money, and requested him to secure them at as low a figure as possible. The next morning he secured them for 18,000 rupees instead of 25,000 rupees. The lots have a combined area of 200 by 250 feet. They were owned in fee simple, with a title made good by the High Court of Madras. Concerning this property Mr. Stephens afterward wrote me: “The way you were led to this locality almost immediately on your arrival at Madras, and without a word of advice from anyone, and secured r the only available site, which before had been for a long time in dispute before the High Court, is a miracle to all business men, but we know it was from the Lord.” At the present time these lots are easily worth 80,000 rupees. 8 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency Erecting the Buildings After buying the lots the next work to be done was the erection of buildings for our Publishing House, which must be large enough to accommodate the binding department, envelope-making plant, com¬ posing department, comprising a complete set of type for job and book work in the Deccan-Hindustani, English, Canarese, Tamil, and Telugu languages; the printing presses and machines, electrical ma¬ chines for lighting the building and continuing the work of photo¬ engraving, including a studio for the artists, dark rooms, skylights, and whatever else is needed in a first-class establishment of that kind; and, in addition, a stock shop, salesroom, and offices. To the designing and erecting of a building adapted to meet the needs of all these departments Mr. Stephens gave the full benefit of his experience and skill. In six months from the time it was begun the Publishing House was occupied. As the work of building goes on very slowly in India, this excited considerable notice. It is 40 by 130 feet; the rear section is one story, the middle two stories, and the front three stories, to which additions have been made since 1896. It is built of brick, with granite copings and terra cotta orna¬ ments. The roof is iron trussed, covered with tiles, and all the floors are cement. If the material and labor of this building had had to be paid for at their market value in India, it would have cost $8,000; its actual cost was $2,500, Mr. Stephens himself donating the larger part. • During the erection of the Publishing House many curious things happened. One Sunday evening in Madras I preached upon Sabbath observance. At the close of the sermon a gentleman approached me and said, “It is all very well for you to preach, but they were at work all day on your Publishing House.” Sure enough! The native blacksmith who had taken the contract for making and putting up the iron trusses for the roof had stolen a march on us, because it was cheaper to rent the derrick on Sunday. Mr. Stephens com¬ pelled him to take down those he had set up, let them lie on the ground, and reset them at his own expense. This was his rule if employees broke the Sabbath on public works. Why and How I Learned the Various Processes Used in the Publishing House In the spring of 1895 a train of circumstances made it evident that I must abandon all idea of carrying out my promise to the many who had contributed toward the founding of the Publishing House at Madras, or I must learn electrotyping, photo-engraving, half-tone, and line work by sunlight and electric light, the working of the booklet machines; I must gain a practical knowledge of the con¬ struction of the dynamo, be able to set up an electric-lighting plant and do the work of a lineman; I must know how to erect shafting, counter-shafting, calculate the speed of pulleys, and fit belting; I must have a practical knowledge of half-tone printing, which in¬ cludes underlaying and overlaying. That I may not be taken ad- A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 9 vantage of in the working of the machinery, I must be able to take an engine apart and put it together again and run it. I must know how to manipulate a steam boiler, so that I could avoid accidents. I must be able to work the stereopticon, make .the gases used in the lime light, and also how to “build” a stereopticon after having purchased such parts as the lenses and dissolvers, and make lantern slides. And after having gone through with the above processes I must be so acquainted with them as to go out in India, meet the new con¬ ditions of climate in the use of chemicals, and the many emergencies that would arise in the erection and moving of machinery. I knew nothing whatever about photography, but must acquire the most difficult processes. I knew nothing about machinery, but I must acquire the manipulation of twenty-five different kinds of ma¬ chines, apart from the machinery used in the printing and binding departments, and the erection of shafting and the fitting of belting. When first dawned upon me the fact that circumstances had made it necessary for me to pass through such a round of work, or fail in my undertaking, I was thrown into a mental struggle so great that at times I lost my physical strength, so that I was compelled to keep in my room. I could with difficulty walk about. But it soon became painfully evident that I must move quickly. For a long, weary month I sought admission into photo-engraving establishments in different cities. I was not only refused even ad¬ mission, but looked upon as visionary. Some who had been my best friends advised me to abandon the whole project, lest I should be regarded as unfit for the work of the ministry. The only firm that agreed to teach me photo-engraving was one in Philadelphia—terms, $5,000, one half cash in advance! Through the influence of some friendly directors I was allowed admission to some electric-lighting plants, but soon found that in¬ stead of teaching me the young men in charge of them regarded the matter rather as jest than dead earnest. About all they taught me was the danger of touching this and the certain death that lurked in handling that. As for electrotyping, I was told by the proprietors of different foundries that I would be so much in the way of their employees that it was not possible to teach me. Then, when heart and flesh seemed to fail, a way for learning electrotyping at last opened un¬ expectedly. Mr. William Hollingsworth, a young machinist, started a shop in Baltimore city. I had had some business relations with him, and as he had recently removed to a building which was at that time larger than he required, it occurred to me that I might rent one of the large unoccupied rooms, and having set up an electrotyping foun¬ dry, engage some one to teach me at night, and I would practice during the day. Mr. Hollingsworth most cheerfully entered into the arrangement, 10 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency and placed at my disposal, free of rent, a room fifty by twenty-two on the second floor, and well lighted. Miss E. A. Snyder furnished the money and I bought the machinery. Mr. Jesse G. Buck, a skilled electrotyper, agreed to teach me. My new workshop was fitted up with the necessary macninery. The first thing I did was to rent a Shipman engine, in which the steam is generated by kerosene oil, just such a one as we were then using in our Press at Madras. I took it apart, put it together, and with some instruction could run it for my work in the foundry. After working day and night, sometimes till four o’clock in the morning, for three weeks, I turned out electros of book work, job work, line work, cuts with type, and half-tones. I sent samples of my work to the foreman of one of the leading electrotype foundries in New York city. Without knowing who made the plates, he pronounced them “all right.” Then I took cour¬ age to proceed with the remainder of the lines of work. Mr. Hollingsworth now opened the third story of the building to me, and I set up a complete photo-engraving establishment. Mr. August Parchem, one of the most skilled photo-engravers in America, who had worked for the leading monthly magazines, and was then doing work for a Southern periodical, began to take an interest in my work. He agreed to teach me without charge if I gave him a pledge that I would neither do photo-engraving in America nor teach anyone here. How shall I ever forget his patient interest in my progress, the happy expression that appeared in his face when I overcame any difficulty! He agreed to come to my studio at 10 p. m., and work with me till midnight. Sometimes he stayed till nearly two o’clock! We worked by the arc light which I had put in the room. In day¬ time I worked by sunlight, except on cloudy days, when I used the electric light. In less than one month from the time I began he passed my work and said I was ready to set up a plant in India. I next took lessons in what is called underlaying and overlaying in half-tone printing. Then I went to Erie, Pa., and took a course of instruction in fitting together the parts of the dynamo and run¬ ning it. Also the principles of wiring, including the hanging of arc, incandescent, and other small electric lamps. At Warren, Pa., I took a course of instruction in the booklet machines. At Mr. Hol¬ lingsworth’s machine shop I studied the erection of shafting, counter-shafting, and the fitting of belts and pulleys. In everything I kept copies of my failures and kept a record of the reasons. I purchased available standard books on all the subjects I studied. I kept a diary of my work, and noted down the chemicals and propor¬ tions in which they were used. If it had not been for this written record of my failures and successes, I never could have repeated these various lines of work. The entire time occupied in this work was less than four months. A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 11 Mastering Details in India There was so much to do during the regular working hours of the Press that no time was left to practice and teach my newly acquired lines of work, except early in the morning and late in the evening; also Mount Road, where our Publishing House is located, being nearly three miles distant from Vepery parsonage, made it impracticable to utilize these odd times away from home. The trustees of our Vepery property, always ready to lend a helping hand in the work of the Press, cheerfully gave me permission to erect temporary buildings in the parsonage “compound,” or grounds, and to use some of the rooms in the parsonage itself, to set in operation electrotyping and photo¬ engraving as I had learned them at home. The most suitable place for a “dark” room was the little apartment in Vepery parsonage in which ten years before I began in the most humble way the printing of tracts, and in this room I now began my first photo-engraving work in India. Like some one who is in a dark cave, with but one match left to light the candle that will enable him to reach the light, so I found that one of the most useful chemicals had, because of its highly explosive character, within that year been entirely prohibited from being sent across the seas from England, and the supply in Madras and Bombay and, as far as I could learn, in all other parts of India had been exhausted, and there was only sufficient left of our stock to make a few negatives. It can be imagined with what keen anxiety I learned of this state of affairs. I was so eager to utilize to the best advantage the precious little that remained that I shrank from touching it, and several days passed before I ventured to make my first trial. Notwithstanding my new surroundings and absence from my teacher, I succeeded in making my first negative in India the best I had up to date produced. It is impossible to tell how grateful I felt to God, who had so gra¬ ciously helped me thus far to meet every emergency; it seemed to me the crisis I so much dreaded was now passed, especially when the engraving was completed, the first proof taken, and pronounced by one of the critics “as good as they do it in England.” The order was given for one thousand copies, and I felt like a little boy with his first earnings when the money was paid and the hope of years real¬ ized; for the moment I forgot that I was now without, perhaps, the most essential chemical needed to produce half-tone work. In preparing glass for a half-tone negative we use three distinct preparations; the third and final one is composed of seven ingre¬ dients, one of which is commonly known as gun cotton. It seemed as though the prohibition by the government of importing gun cotton would put an end to half-tone engraving in our Publishing House, until one day I found that the surgeons in the Madras Hospital use a preparation composed of three ingredients, each of which is found 12 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency in the seven above mentioned, and one of these three is gun cotton, held in solution by the other two. In this solution, by condition, it loses its highly explosive character. Analysis, however, revealed the fact that the proportions in the surgeons’ preparation were not simi¬ lar to those used for photo-engraving, but that sufficient gun cotton was held in solution to make that a unit of quantity. It was, there¬ fore, an easy matter to adjust the proportions and add the remaining four ingredients. Having done all this with great care, I allowed the improvised mixture to stand the usual time required in such cases, and then, full of expectation, took a negative, and instead of a picture got a passable cloud effect! For days and weeks, with the first beams that darted from the rising sun, I toiled until the last rays of the setting sun lingered and played about the copy before the camera, but no picture appeared on the sensitized glass. In the meantime I was so hindered in my movements by a growing abscess that at last, through pain and exhaustion, I was compelled to keep in bed. Things looked gloomy enough, and I lay wondering how deliverance would come, because I never doubted for a moment that it would come. Before leaving home I suggested to my wife that as the Publishing House work in India would be many-sided, it would be well for her to gain a practical knowledge of photo-engraving, and then super¬ intend that department. As soon as I set up the plant in the par¬ sonage she entered upon her work with great zeal, and by the time I was laid up with the abscess she was able to go through all the manipulations of the negative, and as I lay in my bed took up the work. Failure after failure was the only result. One day, as I lay in a half-awake state, she brought into the room a gcod, clear nega¬ tive. I held it before the light, examined it with a magnifying glass, and, sure enough, it was, as my teacher used to say, “All right.” It was a surprise that this new preparation should work so sud¬ denly, and for awhile it was a mystery. In this case, however, the old proverb was literally true, that “time and practice conquer all things.” Time brought the chemicals into working condition. By v marking the date upon the bottle, both of mixing and of its work¬ ings, and comparing results afterward, we found a certain amount of time must elapse before the solution was fit for use. But this was not the end of my troubles. Sometimes this “hos¬ pital” preparation varied in quality and slightly in the proportions of ingredients. Still we struggled on, and procured results which satisfied our. patrons. Experiences with Machinery I am sure that all our missionaries in India thanked God and took courage when they heard that Bishop Foss and Dr. Goucher would make an official visit to this land, so full of the triumphs of mission¬ ary labor. I too rejoiced, not only for the sake of our general work, A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 13 but that the Publishing House would have the honor of a visit from these distinguished official guests, and especially that those who had contributed so royally toward this enterprise would have one so com¬ petent as Dr. Goucher to investigate and report upon their invest¬ ments. As the Press had up to this time had no official opening, I deter¬ mined to make their visit an occasion which would ever after be noted as the real beginning of the many-sided work of the Publishing House. The thought grew upon me that no more beautiful unfolding of the enterprise could happen than that Dr. Goucher should first set in ANOTHER CORNER OF THE PRESS ROOM Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House, Madras, India motion, at one time, all the machinery brought together by the gifts of the people who justly hold him in such high esteem. It was far in the summer before the last large official envelope reached the Press from the last inspector, giving official sanction to the last step needed to bring all this about. As Bishop Foss and Dr. Goucher were to visit our part of the work in December, we must be ready at that time, but in slow-moving India it seemed an almost im¬ possible task. To my great relief, it was arranged that their visit should take place after the sessions of South India Conference, because by this arrangement the opening was postponed some days. The time ap¬ pointed for the Conference was Dec. 9, and the place Bangalore. The latest we could leave Madras, in order to be present at the opening session, was the evening of Dec. 8. By working from daylight to far 14 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency into the night for months together, we were enabled to test every machine and light the entire place from the Press dynamo. But about noon on Dec. 7 steam was turned on from the thirty horse¬ power boiler, all the connections made, and for the first time every machine moved at the same time. The sight was so inspiring, after these many years of toil, that the employees rent the air with a spontaneous burst of cheers. In order to cap the climax I turned on the electric lights, but the globes looked as if they contained red-hot hairpins, the arc lights up in the photo-engraving rooms only sizzled BINDERY DEPARTMENT Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House, Madras, India * and emitted a few reddish sparks, and the cheering was followed by silence. This made it clear that the machinery ought to be well tested as a whole before any formal opening was attempted. I ex¬ amined carefully every part of the dynamo and its connections, but could not locate the trouble. The belt slipping, of course the speed of the dynamo slackened, so that it generated a very feeble current. We resorted to the usual remedies—tightening the belt, using differ¬ ent substances to prevent slipping, etc., but all to no avail. It now ■v became apparent that the belt was not wide enough to transmit the required power, and that the builders of this splendid London engine had not furnished a pulley wide enough to move at one time so much high-speed machinery. After some hours we noticed the engine pulley could not be found. It was now after four o’clock. I must leave for Conference the next evening. What was to be done must be done quickly. I must get a pulley of the same diameter, the same bore, but five inches A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 15 wider. My two years’ experience in hunting through the bazaars and shops in Madras made it plain to me that there was only one place in this region where there was a likelihood of my getting such a pulley. It was a large native foundry in the suburbs of Madras. I hired a carriage and paid the driver to go at full speed. It was some miles, and we arrived there at half past five, just as the em¬ ployees had gone and the manager was about to close. I explained the difficulty, how that it was announced that Dr. Goucher would start all the machinery, and the engine pulley had failed to do its required work. He said it was hardly worth while to go in and look, for he was certain he had no such pulley. After some persuasion he turned back, and we hunted over perhaps an acre of ground strewn with all sorts of things in iron imaginable—pulleys, old boilers, parts of printing presses, fences, and what not. Then into sheds and all sorts of quaint places, but nowhere the pulley I wanted. He said, almost impatiently, “I must go; I told you it could not be found.” ‘‘Is there no other place?” I asked. “Have we looked everywhere? Let me look back of that shed.” Without waiting for a reply I ran and peeped back of the shed. There lay a pulley among some rubbish. We fished it out. I held my breath while we measured it. The manager laughed outright, and said, “This is your pulley.” I was not long fastening it to the carriage, and away we drove. It was old and rusty and partly muddy, but I don’t think a woman ever looked on her diamonds with greater admiration than I did on that dirty old pulley. On arriving at the Press I found the men in charge of the machinery waiting for me, and they carried the pulley in triumph to the engine. Its bore was bushed, or lined with wrought iron, and the bore of this bush was almost the sixteenth of an inch too small for the engine shafting. By the light of tallow candles our men began to file out the bore. I soon woke up to the fact that even if we got the pulley fitted on we had no belt wide enough. The length of the engine belt was twenty-four feet, by five inches in width. I had a duplicate belt, and sent for ten chucklers or native shoemakers, who, after the usual wrangling for extortion, agreed to fasten these two belts together by crosspieces a little over eight inches apart, each one being one inch in width. They were stitched on the upper side of the belt, so as not to interfere with its move¬ ment. It was daylight w T hen everything was in readiness and the big belt began its work. Now it seemed to play with the machines, and all was well except the untrue movement of the pulley, which was caused by irregular fitting on the engine shaft. This was righted next day, and my wife and I started for Conference in the evening. Changing Shafting When it seemed for a time as if difficulties were vanishing and we might soon open work in every department, I was brought face to 16 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency face with obstacles that rose mountain high and seemed insur¬ mountable. It was found that our Press came within range of the new Indian Factory act. We were visited by the inspector of police, the boiler PHOTOGRAPHING PLANT Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House. Madras, India inspector, the sanitary inspector, the inspector of machinery, and the inspector of buildings, until it seemed to me the poor Press would have ail the life inspected out of it. The police inspector de¬ cided we came under the Factory act, the boiler inspector suggested changes in our steam equipment, the building inspector called for increased floor space and the rebuilding of our temporary structures, the sanitary inspector handed me over to the tender mercies of the A Unique and Valuable. Missionary Agency 17 plumbers for improved drainage, and the inspector of machines suggested a new system of protection for the operation of machines. One of the results of all this inspection was that it became neces¬ sary to place under the cement floor about one hundred feet of main preparing the plates Methodist Episcopal Memorial Publishing House, Madras, India shafting, which extended throughout the length of nearly three workrooms. This cement floor was laid on from six to eight inches of concrete ground, so hard that it was like stone, which would make the digging extremely difficult. To lower the shafting, with its pul¬ leys, it would be necessary to dig a trench the entire length, three feet wide and three feet deep. This trench must then be walled with brick and the shafting and pulleys let down into it. The earth 18 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency must be excavated and carried outside, brick and mortar and sand carried inside, and the foundation and walls built. Only one who has had a practical knowledge of the mathematical accuracy with which belting, pulleys, ,ounter-shafting, and shafting driving high-speed machinery must be adjusted can form an idea of the difficulties attending such an undertaking. To have this change made speedily I thought the only way out was to enlist the services of a skilled machinist. But I had had, a few months previous, a bit of experience. I had engaged one who, in¬ stead of really helping me, with a calm delight and inflexible con¬ stancy, proceeded to extract rupees, and I was compelled to take up and complete the unfinished work. I shuddered inwardly at the thought of being in the teeth and claws of such a rupee extractor a second time. Still, as it was the hottest time of the year in torrid Madras, and in addition to all other duties I was pastor of Vepery Methodist Episcopal Church, I did not feel like assuming this undertaking. I called to see the manager of a large machine shop, and after stating what was needed asked him how long it would take. He ex¬ plained that the first thing to do was to give out the contract for digging the ditch and carrying out the dirt, then the next contract would be with the stonecutters and the bricklayers; the bearings must be prepared, beltings lengthened, counter-shafting readjusted, a number of machines moved and reset, and numerous unforeseen things were to be done. Therefore it would take from four to six weeks. From past experiences I knew this meant at least two months of rupee extracting. It was useless to urge that we were printing a weekly paper, were crowded with reports which could not be delayed, and such a lengthy interruption could not be thought of. Without stopping to think what it meant, I said, “I can do it in one night without stopping the machinery.” He looked at me as though I had said I would climb to the moon or something equivalent to it. I left that manager with a determination to do it in the time I said, if possible. After a thorough study of what was to be done, and then mapping out the work for every hour, I put on nearly one hundred men to do this work, and from 4.30 a. m. one day to 8 a. m. the following morn¬ ing, the shafting was lowered and the machines all running without interrupting the regular running of the Press. But through that scorching heat I never left the work until it was finished. Not only was the machinery running, but the rubbish was all cleared away. When my machinist friend saw what had been done he exclaimed, “O, that’s the way with you Americans!” A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency 19 A Prayer Strike Prom the first every day’s work of the printing office was opened with religious services in the Tamil language, and all hands required to be present. Among the workmen are those representing different religious faiths—Mohammedans, Hindus, Roman Catholics, Metho¬ dists, and of the Church of England—harmoniously commencing the day’s work with a Bible reading, singing hymns, such as “Rock of Ages,” or “Jesus, Lover of my soul,” and all devoutly standing while led in prayer. So far as is known, it is the first time in the history of the world that Hindus and Mohammedans, still clinging to their faith, meet in daily religious exercises with Christians; and an in¬ teresting fact is that some of the orthodox Hindus take their turn at reading the Bible lesson for the morning. But this striking innovation of holding prayers with Hindus and Mohammedans was not all smooth sailing. The plan was carried out for the first few months with comparatively little difficulty, when a “prayer strike” was organized, and for a time threatened to bring these devotional exercises to a sudden termination. The ringleaders waited on me and informed me that unless “master opens like other offices—no pray, no sing, no read Bible—all the Hindus and Moham¬ medans will stop work.” I called the men together and asked, “Shall I pray my God to curse you, your wives, and your little ones?” All seemed horrified at the suggestion. “Then would you not rather I should ask Him to bless you and yours?” I said. All assented. “But that is just what I have been doing every morning. Where, then, is the trouble?” After some further parleying the leader’s frown passed away, and he cried, “Master talks very good.” Prayers then went on as usual. A Threefold Opportunity By our unique combination of machinery we are able to produce illustrated standard Christian literature at such low cost that the poverty-stricken masses of India can afford to buy, and the beautiful pictures of scenes and incidents familiar to them will be an induce¬ ment. The natives love pictures. The carpenter who cannot write his name affixes instead the picture of a gimlet; the weaver, a shut¬ tle; the cutler, a sword; the potter, a vase. Even the women, whose education is woefully neglected, will draw on the ground beautiful and intricate designs. It seems reasonable, therefore, that pictures should be made spiritually helpful to this picture-loving people. For ages visible representations of blood-curdling divinities in pictures, in wood, and in stone have streamed in upon the minds of 20 A Unique and Valuable Missionary Agency the people, and because their natural tendency is to cling to and de¬ fend what their fathers venerated, if you hold their idois up to ridi¬ cule or point out their hideousness, they cling to them more closely. There is a more excellent way. Since they love pictures, why not meet them on their own grounds? Children will be allowed to carry pictures into houses in which a missionary dare not set his foot; and pictures will not express antagonism, but will lead the people to in¬ quire into their history and meaning, while this inquiry itself may be used by the Holy Spirit to awaken pure thoughts and noble as¬ pirations, even among the most degraded. A threefold opportunity is afforded to disseminate the knowledge of Christ: 1. By replacing the portraits of hideous idols on the walls of native homes with Christian pictures and illuminated Scripture texts. 2. By selling Christian tracts and standard works at a low price, low enough to enable the poverty-stricken masses of India to buy. 3. By the pianufacture and free distribution of Bible booklets in all the languages in which the Bible is printed. We have found since introducing the stereopticon that it is a powerful aid to this work. For twenty years and more the magic lantern, with its pictures illustrating the Bible, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and standard religious books, has been found to be very effective in India. The people are always ready, after their evening meal, to sit in groups, gaze at the pictures, and listen to the missionary explain¬ ing them. But the magic lantern, with its coal oil lamp, cannot pro¬ ject pictures large enough to be seen by great masses of people, such as very often collect in India. The natives hold monthly and an¬ nual festivals, at which will gather from ten to one hundred thou¬ sand people. In some instances one million persons have been known to attend a single sacred feast. Indeed, on one occasion it was computed by a Calcutta paper that three million Hindus attended a sacred feast in northern India. For nearly a whole day, from the car window of an express train traveling at the rate of perhaps forty miles an hour, I beheld the great throng. If by the aid of the calcium light and stereopticon we project illus¬ trated sermons on a large screen, we can easily attract and hold the attention of these dense masses of humanity, and afterward at booths brilliantly lighted by electricity we can give away the booklets. It will result in the sale of Christian literature on a scale far beyond anything in the past. Several experiments only partially carrying out this plan have met with success beyond our most sanguine ex¬ pectations. Other methods of distribution and selling will also be adopted, and every effort made to reach great multitudes. Baltimore, Md. HE Methodist Episcopal Publishing House in Madras, India, is the most many-sided mission press in the world. Every department of printing—photo¬ engraving, electrotyping, half-tone print¬ ing, booklet manufacturing—is cleverly prosecuted by Hindus who have been taught by the talented agent of the press. More than that, he learned the mysteries of the electric lighting plant and works it successfully. Dr. A. W. Rudisill, the superintendent, is a rare genius, and his many talents have been thoroughly conse¬ crated to God. One of his newest ideas is the Bible Booklets, small portions of the Scripture in the form of little books, never larger than two by three inches and never, including cover, containing more than sixteen pages. They are to be issued in all the languages and dialects in which the Bible is printed. Christians in America are given the privilege of in¬ vesting any amount of money in them. The interest of the money is gauranteed by the Bible Booklet Society to be devoted to the perpetual annual free dis¬ tribution of Bible Booklets. They are rated at five hun¬ dred pages for one cent, three thousand for six cents, fifty thousand for a dollar, and fifteen million for three hundred dollars. —From Sunday School Journal , Aug., 1900. Bible Booklets Are endorsed by the Rev. John Sharp, M.A., Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, London. R. C. Morgan, Editor of The Christian , London Rev. F. B. Meyer, B.A., distinguished author and preacher, London. Rev. Edward W. Gilman, D.D., Secretary of the American Bible Society, New York city. Rev. James M. Thoburn, D.D., Methodist Episcopal Missionary Bishop of Southern Asia. General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Second National Biblical Congress, held at Washing¬ ton, D. C., April 17-19, 1900, convened by the Regents of the American Society of Religious Education, of which Hon. J. M. Harlan, Associ¬ ate Justice of the Supreme Court, is the president. Missionary Committee of the last General Conference, held at Chicago. Baltimore Annual Conference. Philadelphia Annual Conference. Central Pennsylvania Annual Conference. Philadelphia Preachers’ Meeting. New York Preachers’ Meeting. and many others. For further information, address Rev. A. W. RUDISILL, 1227 Myrtle Avenue, Baltimore, Md.