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BIOGRAPHICAL SERIES No. 4. 
 
 MISSIONARY TO ASSAM. 
 
 liVoman’g Baptists Foreign Miggionai'if j&oietij, 
 
 OF THE WEST. 
 
 “Even Chrtst pleased not Himself.’’— Paul. 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 JAMES GUILBERT, PRINTER, 
 1889 . 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Columbia University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/mrsorrellkeelermOOwoma 
 
MRS. ORRELL KEELER MASON 
 
 ' jVl !S3!0NARY TO ^SSAJVI. 
 
 STUDY. 
 
 “Even Christ pleased not Himself.”—P aul. 
 
 “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to 
 minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” In these 
 words our Divine Master embodies the constraining motive 
 for His incarnation, His life of love and mercy, and His cruel 
 death. He has placed before the world, in the record of His 
 earth-history, the most beautiful and only perfect example of 
 self-abnegation. The words of the apostle, quoted above, 
 reveal to us, for our example and inspiration, the secret of the 
 power and beauty of this divine life. Unselfishness , inspired 
 by a holy purpose to save and benefit others, lies at the root 
 of all philanthropy, and is pre-eminent in the missionary enter¬ 
 prises of the followers of Christ. 
 
 In the four sketches preceding this one of the series, we 
 have seen two of God’s sainted ones rounding out long lives 
 of service in varied surroundings, fruitful in well doing and 
 rich in good works. The other two seemed hardly to have 
 begun their labors, when called to their rest above. The 
 Providence that removed them, in the midst of abundant labors 
 
4 
 
 and incompleted plans, seemed mysterious and sad; but in each 
 of these, so different in character and age, we recognize the 
 marks of those who follow the loving and unselfish Christ. 
 
 Again is the Society of the West called upon to pen a trib¬ 
 ute to one of its faithful and beloved missionaries. Orrell 
 Keeler Mason pre-eminently illustrated throughout her life 
 the spirit of Christly unselfishness, and with rare fidelity and 
 hopefulness, toiled and prayed for the souls under her influ¬ 
 ence. The steps of this dear sister were providentially led to 
 Assam, where she was permitted to take up much of the work 
 begun by Miss Bronson, and to reap the harvest of her sow¬ 
 ing, as she did that of others who preceded her at Nowgong. 
 
 Going back to her early life, we find that her birth-place 
 was in Harlem, Delaware Co., Ohio, where she was welcomed 
 by Christian parents into a Christian home. They were 
 members of the Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Ohio, and 
 daily exemplified the principles of the Gospel. There she 
 was early taught that no service or labor was too costly to give 
 to the Lord. The death of her mother, when Orrell was onlv 
 seven years of age, brought to her the first experience of sor¬ 
 row, and bereaved her of all that is meant to childhood by the 
 possession and watch-care of mother love. Of this period of 
 her life her sister, Mrs. Mason, a missionary in China, writes: 
 
 “Although it has not been my privilege to witness the frui¬ 
 tion of the graces of character which appeared in her child¬ 
 hood, yet as the opening bud foreshadows the beauty of the 
 yet unfolded flower, so, in her childhood she manifested those 
 traits of character which afterward developed into the devoted, 
 faithful missionary. 
 
 “As I look back to her life in our childhood’s home, her 
 
5 
 
 unselfishness, patience, meekness, faithfulness and courage 
 withal, stand out pre-eminently in her character. 
 
 “The death of our mother early called forth her sympathies 
 in behalf of others. Her own troubles she bore in silence, like 
 her Master. Her brothers and sisters were always sure of her 
 loving sympathy and help in all their childhood’s troubles, and 
 in later years, no one else so nearly filled our mother’s place. 
 But while always kind and gentle, she was also firm, and 
 could not be moved from pursuing the course that she believed 
 to be right. Because she was uncomplaining, she was some¬ 
 times unjustly treated. What would arouse my indignation 
 she bore with patient meekness. But when danger of any 
 kind came, her courage was equal to the occasion. When we 
 were yet children, how I admired her courage, though not 
 inclined to emulate it. What a heroine she was in my eyes! 
 I well remember one evening when she remained at home to 
 keep house, while the rest of the family were away for 
 evening service. Hearing an unusual sound proceed from the 
 cellar, as if a thief were helping himself to the contents of the 
 pork barrel, Orrell took the lamp and went alone to the cellar 
 to investigate matters; but she found only an unfortunate rat 
 floundering about in the briny deep of a fishless fish barrel. 
 While always kind and pitiful to other creatures, it was seldom 
 that a snake, however large or fierce, survived long after it 
 crossed her path. While I would scamper away, she would 
 boldly face the foe, and generally left a bleeding victim when 
 she turned her back upon it. 
 
 “One evening, when returning from our grandfather’s, we 
 lost our way in the woods. I was terrified, but Orrell’s calm¬ 
 ness re-assured me, and it was not until we had reached home 
 
6 
 
 safely that she told me, that she too feared we would be 
 obliged to spend the night in the woods.” 
 
 We find from this testimony that she had patience, gentle¬ 
 ness, and unselfishness, combined with firmness and courage. 
 But a heart preparation and renewing was indispensable to 
 consecrating and perfecting these qualities. What of her 
 spiritual history and development? 
 
 Her earliest distinctly serious impressions were received at a 
 prayer meeting, and were probably the culmination and legiti¬ 
 mate outgrowth of the influences received in her home. Very 
 early she evinced a thoughtful conscientiousness and a rare 
 sense of obligation. The question with her was always, 
 u Ought I to do this?” not do I wish to do it? While yet in 
 her childhood she heard a returned missionary speak of the 
 hopeless condition of the heathen, without a knowledge of 
 Christ, having no heaven and immortal life in prospect; and 
 her young heart was deeply moved. She then decided that 
 she would some day go and tell them of Jesus and His love, 
 and from this decision she never wavered. At the age of four¬ 
 teen she united with the Presbyterian Church. Three years 
 after, death snatched from the family the father who had been 
 so much to them, and the home was broken up. Until this 
 time she had only the educational opportunities afforded her 
 by an ungraded country school, with very little time to study 
 after the daily tasks of the farm house were finished. After 
 her father’s death her guardian sent her to an Academy 
 in Central Ohio. She made her home with her teacher, 
 the Rev. Henry Bushnell, whose relatives wer$ engaged in 
 mission work among the South Sea Islanders. The story of 
 their labors deepened her interest in missions, and strength¬ 
 ened her resolve to give her life to work among the heathen. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 “Get thy spindle and thy distaff ready, and God shall send thee flax.” 
 
 This quaint old proverb finds abundant illustration in the 
 histories of those who are fitting themselves for work in God’s 
 vineyard, and not less so in the study and teaching carried on 
 by Miss Keeler, which proved directly preparatory to her 
 work as a foreign missionary. Let us trace God’s guiding 
 hand in this portion of her life. 
 
 From the academy, Orrell entered on her work as teacher 
 in the district school at Galena, Ohio. While here she read 
 “Theodosia Ernest,” and began to study the Bible regarding 
 baptism. The result was that she accepted the truth found 
 therein, and was baptized by the Rev. A. Darrow into the 
 Baptist Church at Sunbury, Ohio. 
 
 Mrs. G. L. Mason writes fully of the influences which drew 
 her sister to missionary work, and of her experiences during 
 this period, in the following extract: 
 
 “All unknown to her most intimate friends, from childhood 
 she cherished the hope of one day being a missionary. Vari¬ 
 ous influences led her to desire this. Our dear father was a 
 missionary in a humble way. Though a busy farmer, he de¬ 
 lighted to hold evening services, and to establish Sabbath- 
 schools in destitute neighborhoods. Orrell loved to go with 
 him to these services. 
 
 “Our grandparents would insist upon our reading the mis¬ 
 sionary news on Sundays for entertainment. Perhaps much 
 
8 
 
 of this reading* was done because we had to obey and be quiet, 
 and because we preferred reading the missionary magazines 
 rather than doing nothing. But this kind of penance doubt¬ 
 less had its effect in awakening in Orrell an interest in the 
 heathen. Addresses by returned missionaries served to in¬ 
 crease this interest. But especially was she encouraged by 
 Elder Darrow and wife, then in charge of the Baptist Church 
 in Sunbury, to give herself to foreign mission work. Had 
 it not been for their loving interest in her, and their encourag- 
 ment, she herself said that she would hardly have had the 
 courage to have offered herself to the Board. Had she not 
 been in Granville when the call came for two single lady mis¬ 
 sionaries, the time of her going might have been deferred. 
 
 It was her loving devotion to her brothers and sisters, at 
 that time attending school in Granville, that took her there, 
 seemingly at the sacrifice of her own personal interests. But 
 God made this visit a stepping-stone to the attainment of her 
 long cherished desire. 
 
 Previous to this visit and her application to the Board, she 
 entered the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, with a view to 
 better preparation for teaching. 
 
 Of her school life in Lebanon one of her class-mates, Mrs. 
 S. M. Burgess, thus writes: 
 
 u When I attended the National Normal School at Lebanon, 
 one of my most valued friends was my room-mate and class¬ 
 mate, Miss Orrell Keeler. By both teachers and school-mates 
 she was highly esteemed for her earnest, devoted, Christian 
 example. In the noon prayer meeting her influence was the 
 means of leading some of her class to Christ. She will be re¬ 
 membered in the Baptist Church and Sunday-school at Leba- 
 
9 
 
 non as an enthusiastic and industrious worker. After a week 
 of hard work as a close student, Sunday morning always 
 found her before her Sunday-school class, her face beaming 
 with interest in the blessed truths she was teaching. She was 
 very conscientious, and the only fault I ever heard any one 
 find with her was for gently reproving some rude girls for 
 misconduct. They said she was “too strict.” But it was her 
 careful, strict habits that made her teachers trust her, and that so 
 grandly prepared her for the work of the years that lay before 
 her. Her devotion and her perseverance in Christian duty were 
 unfailing. How hallowed has been the influence of her pray¬ 
 ers! All the time she was in school she felt that her life was 
 to be set apart for special work for her Master. After her 
 graduation from the Normal, she taught successfully in Ohio 
 and Indiana. Not only was she faithful as a teacher, but she 
 continually sought to reach a higher life for herself and to lead 
 those about her to the Savior whom she loved so well. And 
 to-day many who were her school-mates or pupils remember 
 her, because by associating with her their lives were made 
 purer, better and happier.” 
 
 As has been before intimated, she was at Granville visiting 
 relatives, when the call of our Woman’s Board for seven 
 young women to go out as missionaries, came to her listening- 
 ears. She received encouragement and sympathy from her 
 friends, and applied for an appointment to fill one of the 
 vacant places. In July, 1875, she and Miss Anna Sweet were 
 accepted and appointed to Assam. During the busy weeks 
 which followed, Miss Keeler found time to visit many churches, 
 and awakened their zeal and interest in foreign missions, espe¬ 
 cially for the work among heathen women. Of her experi- 
 
10 
 
 ences at this time we will let her loving sister, Mrs. Mason, 
 again speak to us: 
 
 “Although long before this she had given herself to her 
 Savior, yet after her appointment she spoke of realizing, as 
 never before, that she was not her own, and rejoiced in the 
 fact, and she said she felt, too, that God’s people especially 
 were her kindred. A few days before leaving for India we 
 were together at the house of a friend. While there a pious 
 old colored man called to see her, and expressed his joy that 
 she was going to tell the heathen about Jesus, and praised and 
 blessed the Lord that she was willing to go. The whole- 
 souled blessing of this old man was like a benediction and did 
 her much good. After he left she said she rejoiced to claim 
 that man as her brother. And it was a great surprise and sor¬ 
 row that all Christians did not feel the same. Other pro¬ 
 fessed Christians spoke of her going as a “wild goose chase,” 
 and as “sacrificing herself,” and like expressions, which, while 
 they by no means made her sorry she had chosen the life of a 
 missionary, yet made her very sad and anxious about the spirit¬ 
 ual condition of those who cared so little for the heathen as 
 to speak thus.” 
 
 The farewell services of these dear young sisters were held 
 in Granville, in September, 1875, and on the 18th of the same 
 month they left New York on the Steamer Utopia. The 
 feelings with which Miss Keeler set forth are told best in her 
 own words. 
 
 From London she wrote back, just before setting sail for 
 India, “To-morrow we sail! We are anxious to be on our 
 way to begin preparations for our work. I trust I may have 
 grace and strength to do much for the Master. I have been 
 
11 
 
 very happy since I left home, because I feel assured that I am 
 just where the Lord would have me to be, and I rejoice that 
 I am counted worthy to endure trial for Christ’s sake, I 
 would not retrace one step.” 
 
 Thus have we seen the spindle and distaff prepared; have 
 seen the King’s daughter with loving heart and waiting hands 
 looking up to Him who awakened the desire for His service. 
 He has placed the flax in her hands, and she has gone forth 
 with it to distant lands, to spin and weave her life’s web, 
 according to the pattern shown her in God’s word. How 
 earnest and faithful she was in the fulfillment of her task we 
 shall see. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 “To begin a reform, go not into the places of the great and rich; go rather to those 
 whose cups of happiness are empty—to the poor and humble. And then I laid apian 
 and devoted my life.”— Lew Wallace. 
 
 An ocean voyage has ceased to be a rarity. The earliest 
 missionaries embarked in ordinary and oftentimes uncomfort¬ 
 able merchant vessels. Six months voyaging around the cape, 
 with complete isolation from the outside world, the travellers 
 often being destitute of many comforts and in dire peril, 
 formed a trying feature of their initiatory experience. Nor 
 was this all. Dr. Bronson tells us of two months more of ter¬ 
 rible journeying from Calcutta to Sadiya, Assam, in native 
 boats, against a rapid current, with numberless discomforts, 
 while himself and fellow passengers were at the mercy of a 
 native crew whose language they did not understand. 
 
 Far different is the experience of the travellers of to-day. 
 Misses Keeler and Sweet embarked on the Utopia, Sept. 18, 
 1875, for England, whence they again took a steamer to Cal¬ 
 cutta, which they reached in about five weeks. Their voyage 
 was prosperous and pleasant, and afforded them the rest and 
 invigoration they so much needed. Instead of rude native 
 boats another steamer bore them rapidly and safely to their 
 stations in Assam, that lovely valley nestling among its sur¬ 
 rounding hills, beyond which the snow-capped Himalayas 
 tower heavenward. From their heights the noble Brahma¬ 
 putra descends to beautify and make fruitful the country 
 
13 
 
 through which it passes to the sea. They were warmly wel¬ 
 comed by the missionaries. Miss Keeler joined Dr. and Mrs. 
 Bronson at Gowahati, while Miss Sweet went to Mr. and 
 Mrs. Neighbor at Nowgong. There they began that labor 
 which became surpassingly dear to them, “work for the blessed 
 Master among the women of Assam.” 
 
 Bravely and cheerfully had Miss Keeler’s loving heart en¬ 
 dured the hurried preparations and passed through the ordeal 
 of parting from friends and kindred. But turning from all 
 these she writes from her first home in a strange land as 
 follows: 
 
 “I am thankful that the Lord ever turned my heart towards 
 the perishing heathen, and I rejoice that I am in India to-day, 
 instead of being in my own native land.” Having “laid a 
 plan” and “devoted her life,” with her there never was any 
 looking back or withdrawal of her consecration. 
 
 About the close of 1877 she received injuries by a fall from 
 her pony which for nearly six months rendered her unfit for 
 study or work. It was feared she might be obliged to return 
 to America. At this time she wrote, “It seems infinitely 
 harder to return to America so soon, without having accom¬ 
 plished anything for these poor people, than it was to leave 
 the home land.” 
 
 But this trial was spared her. By the departure of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Neighbor from Nowgong, Miss Sweet was left alone, 
 and by Dr. and Mrs. Bronson’s advice, Miss Keeler decided to 
 join her, and try the effect of a change of residence. Here 
 she was most warmly welcomed, and soon began to improve 
 rapidly in health, so that before long she was able to resume 
 work. But still another change awaited her. Miss Sweet 
 
14 
 
 began to fail in health, so that in a few months, on the one so 
 lately almost a helpless invalid, rested the whole care and 
 responsibility of the mission. But her God was her helper, 
 and never was the promise “and as thy days are, so shall thy 
 strength be,” more fully verified than in her case. Her health 
 and strength were restored, and when Miss Sweet was finally 
 forced to go away for medical treatment, she went bravely on, 
 with the aid of her native helpers caring for all the interests 
 of the mission, superintending the schools, prescribing for the 
 sick, training the Bible-women, looking after the household 
 affairs, visiting the Zenanas as she found time for it, counsel¬ 
 ing, advising and reproving the native Christians, settling their 
 family quarrels and church difficulties, keeping the accounts 
 of all money matters connected with the mission station, act¬ 
 ing as secretary of the Government schools, and withal being 
 obliged to depend entirely upon her own judgment and re¬ 
 sources in managing all these affairs, a responsibility that taxed 
 to the utmost all her mental and physical energies. 
 
 In writing to the Board she says, “The work came to me 
 unsought, and I have taken it. up with many fears, but the 
 path has been a plain one. I could not do otherwise than go 
 forward. The Nowgong mission is struggling for life and 
 pleading for stronger arms to sustain it. Without a mission¬ 
 ary in charge the two grant-in-aid schools would be closed, 
 and twelve Christian teachers be thrown out of employment, 
 the Normal school would be shut up, and our Mikir boys, who 
 are to be teachers and preachers to their tribes, would be sent 
 away. Our woman’s work, too, would suffer, and the Zen¬ 
 anas which have been so promising would be neglected. Oh, 
 for power to sound out the Macedonian cry! Are there none 
 
15 
 
 to come to the rescue of Assam?” But in January, 1880, she 
 was cheered by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, and she 
 was soon relieved of the care of the station, and gave herself 
 with renewed zeal to her own specific work in the girls’ 
 schools and in the Zenanas. But the imperative needs of the 
 work called forth the pathetic appeal to our Board: “I hope 
 you will plead for another young lady for Nowgong. Is there 
 not some one among God’s chosen ones to come over and 
 help us?” 
 
 In November, 1881, her desires were gratified, and Miss 
 Anna K. Brandt came to her aid, full of zeal and earnestness. 
 She was also greatly encouraged by hopeful indications in her 
 school work. Two of her brightest pupils were baptized, 
 and another was married to one of the most promising native 
 preachers, and set out with her husband to labor in the Naga 
 Hills, the first foreign missionaries sent out from the little 
 church at Nowgong. Another gratifying fact was that one 
 of her girls had successfully passed a Government examina¬ 
 tion, and as this was the first time a girl had appeared at these 
 examinations, her school had the honor of taking the lead in 
 female education. In Miss Keeler’s report for 1886 she states 
 that four girls from her school had passed the Government 
 examinations, and one who had passed the primary examina¬ 
 tion the preceding year had been sent to Calcutta to take a 
 medical course of study under the Lady Dufferin Fund. This 
 is the first step Assam has taken towards educating women as 
 physicians. But the long continued strain upon Miss Keeler’s 
 energies had left serious results, and it became evident that she 
 must have a season of rest or break down utterly. In May, 
 1883, she writes, “I do not know how much longer I can re- 
 
16 
 
 main in Assam before a change will be necessary, but I 
 hope to be able to stay two or three years. The thought of 
 leaving this dear people whom I love so well, even for a short 
 time, is painful to me. I feel that 1 cannot go, unless it is an 
 imperative necessity. So many have already gone, others are 
 not well, and altogether, the future of Assam looks dark. 
 We are praying that more help may be sent soon, and that 
 those now on the field may have strength to stay on.” In 
 addition to the station work, we find her about this time open¬ 
 ing a school for girls in a Hindu temple, thus “carrying the 
 war into the enemy’s camp,” and taking a step towards 
 aggressive movements. 
 
 The secret of her persistent labor appears in the following 
 extract from a letter written at this time: 
 
 “I am constrained to acknowledge the goodness of our 
 Heavenly Father in His care for us, in that He has begotten 
 in our hearts such love and pity for this people that toil be¬ 
 comes a loving service. In missions as in all other work diffi¬ 
 culties will be met, but we can bear testimony to His glory 
 that, of all the good things which He has promised, not one 
 has failed!” 
 
 Under the inspiration of such faith and such assurance, we 
 cannot wonder that in working out her “plan,” even during 
 the lonely sojourn in Nowgong,we find her exhibiting a cour¬ 
 ageous perseverence amid great discouragements. 
 
 The next year there remained no question as to the neces¬ 
 sity of her return, and in March,18S3, she committed her work 
 to Mrs. Moore, and started homeward, reaching this countr\ r 
 early in June. Thus, after eight years of faithful, devoted ser¬ 
 vice among those whose cups she found to be indeed “empty 
 
17 
 
 » 
 
 of happiness,” she returned to greet old friends and enjoy 
 Christian society, and seek the needed rest and health. The 
 exceeding frailness of her appearance, and the extreme pros¬ 
 tration of her nervous system, shocked all who knew her. 
 But it was the body alone which had yielded under the long 
 continued strain during the life in Assam. The soul within 
 its frail tenement looked forth brave and hopeful as of old. 
 
 During the eight years of her absence, many changes had 
 taken place among her family friends. Great was her joy in 
 finding her brothers and sisters—students when she left—now 
 active workers in the church and occupying responsible posi¬ 
 tions in society. Mrs. Mason had already followed her exam¬ 
 ple, and was laboring with her husband in Hang-chow, China, 
 while another sister had married the pastor of a Baptist Church 
 in Ohio. In her companionship she found sweet and precious 
 fellowship, which added much to the enjoyment of her stay 
 in this country. 
 
 Soon after her arrival she placed herself under medical care 
 in a sanitarium in Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. A. K. Scott, who 
 had spent some years in Nowgong before Miss Keeler went 
 there, was connected with the institution and saw much of her. 
 She has written of her as she was at this time, and says: 
 
 “Though feeble in health and under medical care the greater 
 part of the time, she was ever on the alert to enlist every one 
 in sympathy and effort for her beloved Assamese, and her 
 strong faith in her Savior was to all an inspiration to a higher 
 and more active Christian service. She was ever truly loyal 
 to the noble band of women who formed the Board of the 
 Society of the West. Their prayers and their wise counsels 
 had been of much value to her during all her missionary life, 
 
18 
 
 that she would not undertake to carry out any plans nor in¬ 
 augurate any measure without their approval.” 
 
 As her health improved and strength returned, she felt a 
 strong desire to awaken an interest in others kindred to her 
 own in the condition and needs of the Assamese. Like the 
 Hindu among the Wise Men in Ben Hur, the misery of the 
 heathen strengthened her love. Like him she could not rest, 
 nor sought to plead weakness as an excuse for inactivity. She 
 proved it true that “the happiness of love is in action, its test 
 is what one is willing to do for others.” As soon as it was 
 deemed safe, she met in Christian gatherings those who asked 
 her of her work and its results. Often was her gentle voice 
 heard in many of our churches during the latter part of her 
 stay. With quiet dignity, but great earnestness, she pressed 
 home the needs of the Assamese and our obligation to meet 
 them with the Gospel. It was a matter of great thankfulness 
 to her when she was pronounced sufficiently restored to re¬ 
 turn, and she joyfully began preparations for her journey. 
 Looking forward to this step with mingled emotions she 
 might well have said : 
 
 “I do not yet understand myself. The most I am sure of 
 is that I am doing the Master’s will, and that the service is a 
 constant ecstacv. When I think of the purpose I am sent to 
 fulfill, there is in me a joy so inexpressible that I know the 
 will is God’s.” 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 “I settled my faith into the keeping of patience, and took to waiting.”—L ew Wallace. 
 
 The Assam mission is the second of those established by the 
 American Baptist Missionary Union. Much interest had at 
 that early period been awakened by an account of the Shans 
 brought to the notice of missionaries by British officials. Dr. 
 Nathan Brown and Mr. O. T. Cutter went from Burma in 1835 
 to establish a mission among them. It was supposed that they 
 could be most easily reached by locating first among the 
 Khamties of Upper Assam, who were supposed to be, prop¬ 
 erly speaking, emigrant Shans. Later, Revs. Miles Bronson 
 and Jacob Thomas and their wives were sent to the infant 
 mission. The latter crossed the ocean and underwent the perils 
 of the Brahmaputra at the heights of the rains, only to catch 
 sight of the trees of the mission station and then enter the rest 
 above, before labor on heathen soil was begun. The Khamti 
 war forced the abandonment of the Upper stations. The mis¬ 
 sionaries, reinforced by Rev. Cyrus Barker and wife, opened 
 the present prominent stations of Sibsaugor, Gauhati, and 
 Nowgong. Dr. Bronson reluctantly abandoned the interest¬ 
 ing mission among the Angami Nagas, where he had buried 
 his only sister, Miss Rhoda Bronson, who accompanied Mr. 
 and Mrs. Barker to Assam. The fever which took her so 
 early from her work attacked her brother, and the only safety 
 for him and his family was to seek the plains. This exper¬ 
 ience led to his location in Nowgong, where the most of his 
 
20 
 
 forty years of service were spent. The missionaries began 
 work afresh among the Assamese, consisting of both Hindus 
 and Mohammedans, the neighboring Hill Tribes being largely 
 spirit worshippers. 
 
 The Assam mission has been prosecuted with varying 
 success. Precious souls have been saved, churches founded, 
 schools established, the New Testament and portions of the 
 Old have been given to the people in their own tongue, and 
 believers have died in the triumphs of faith. God has hon¬ 
 ored and blessed the labors of His servants, though He has 
 seen fit to try their faith, lo, these many years. It is a field 
 having much to discourage, and where many obstacles have 
 to be overcome. The hard soil of Brahminism has long re¬ 
 sisted the ploughshare of the Gospel. The necrology of the 
 mission embraces the names of many noble men and women. 
 Abundant in labors, they laid choice sacrifices upon the altar, 
 and toiled with rare diligence and fidelity, till called, sooner or 
 later, to their reward. Their prayers for the Assamese are 
 before the throne. Their tears often watered their seed sow¬ 
 ing. “These all died in faith,” assured of the final redemp¬ 
 tion of the country from the thraldom of heathenism, and this 
 faith was based on nothing less than the promises of God. 
 
 Of late years the force of missionaries has been small, and 
 they have been barely able to hold the stations, without 
 attempting aggressive work. Thus it has been true of this 
 mission that the laborers had much of trial, and their faith has 
 indeed “settled into the keeping of patience,” and “taken to 
 waiting.” Fully aware of these discouraging facts, Miss 
 Keeler did not shrink from returning to join the faithful few 
 in that distant land, nor to take up the burden she had so reluc- 
 
21 
 
 tantly laid down. Having spent some months in the study of 
 medicine while at home, and furnished through the kindness 
 of friends with a good supply of remedies, she felt better fitted 
 to cope with and relieve the physical misery with which she 
 would soon be surrounded. 
 
 Feeling the need of a helper and of companionship in her 
 work, she greatly rejoiced 'at the application of Miss Nettie 
 Purssell to be sent out with her. She was appointed her asso¬ 
 ciate and they proved congenial spirits. A rare and beautiful 
 friendship at once sprang up between them. In September, 
 1885, Miss Keeler sailed again for Assam, this time accom¬ 
 panied by Miss Purssell. They reached Nowgong, Dec. 1st, 
 and were welcomed with great joy by missionaries and church 
 members and school children, as well as by Hindus and Mo¬ 
 hammedans and those of the Hill Tribes then in the station. 
 
 Thus, they two—the elder tried and proved, the younger 
 enthusiastic and inexperienced—began work together. They 
 found sad changes among the native helpers. Some of the 
 most efficient had died, others were disabled, and few seemed 
 fitted to fill the vacant places. But in spite of these discour¬ 
 agements Miss Keeler cheerfully took up her work again, 
 leaning upon God, and stimulated by her bright cheery young 
 helper. The last year of her labors was filled with the regu¬ 
 lar routine of mission work, varied by some jungle trips with 
 encouraging results. Her health had been unusually good, 
 and her letters breathed a spirit of hopeful courage. 
 
 As Orrell Keeler stood on the threshold of 1887, did no 
 whisperings of the changes so soon awaiting her visit her 
 spirit in its quiet hours? Was not some loving token given 
 her, as to Bunyan’s Christiana, that she soon should be doubly 
 
22 
 
 crowned—crowned with a husband’s love, and the crown of 
 victory God gives his beloved? That she should have, not 
 only earth’s best gift—a loving heart all her own—but she 
 should be admitted into the presence of her Heavenly Bride¬ 
 groom forever? We know not—but we do know that for all 
 this she was well prepared. 
 
 “Oh, restful, blissful ignorance! 
 
 'Tis blessed not to know; 
 
 It stills me in those mighty arms 
 Which will not let me go, 
 
 And hushes my soul to rest 
 
 On the bosom which loves me so. 
 
 “So I go on—not knowing; 
 
 I would not, if I might; 
 
 I would rather walk in the dark with God, 
 
 Than go alone in the light. 
 
 I would rather walk with him by faith, 
 
 Than walk alone by sight.” 
 
 With the opening of 1887 a change in her condition was 
 apparent. She complained of great physical weakness and 
 nervous prostration. She would not acknowledge she was 
 ill, and continued her labors till April. It became evident her 
 strength was failing. Loss of appetite, sleeplessness, depres¬ 
 sion of spirits and great nervous exhaustion, filled the hearts 
 of her associates with anxiety and alarm. Her devoted friend, 
 Miss Purssell, watched over her with the tenderest assiduity, 
 gradually taking one task after another upon herself, hoping 
 by thus relieving Miss Keeler of care and labor, to avert the 
 dreaded alternative of a return to America. During the 
 Assamese Jubilee at Nowgong, in December, she received a 
 
23 
 
 proposal of marriage from Rev. M. C. Mason, missionary to 
 the Garos, in Assam. She warmly reciprocated the love thus 
 proffered her. The marriage met the most cordial approba¬ 
 tion of all the missionaries. All who knew them believed 
 them to be eminently adapted to each other, and that such a 
 union would be mutually helpful, and enhance the efficiency 
 of both in their chosen work. Those who knew her and un¬ 
 derstood her pure, sweet, loving nature, rejoiced that her 
 beautiful life was to be crowned with this dearest earthly joy. 
 Her friends all fondly hoped that change of scene, surround¬ 
 ings and associations, would prove beneficial to her health, 
 and that years of happiness and increased usefulness were to 
 be hers in the new home awaiting her. Miss Keeler was 
 ardently attached to her missionary associates and loyal always 
 in her friendships. Her loving words of appreciation show 
 how hard it was for her to part with themand her dear people 
 in Assam, to enter on a new work in Tura. 
 
 For change and rest she went to Calcutta, accompanied by 
 her beloved Miss Purssell. Here Mr. Mason joined them, and 
 their marriage was solemnized at Lall Bazaar Chapel, April 
 27. The next day she and her husband set out for Tura, 
 which they reached May 4th, where she was warmly wel¬ 
 comed by the missionaries and native Christians, who hoped 
 much from her coming. The following evening, though 
 weak and weary, she attended and greatly enjoyed the weekly 
 prayer meeting. Little did those gathered with her that eve¬ 
 ning think that with the morrow alarming symptoms were to 
 develope, which would soon remove her from the new home 
 she had only just entered. But such proved to be the will of 
 the Master. Ten anxious days and nights, loving, sympathe- 
 
24 
 
 tic friends ministered to her. They could not keep her with 
 them, and as the Sabbath morning dawned, the weary spirit 
 rested in the bosom of God. 
 
 Wallace says, ‘^The good man, like the bad must die,” but 
 remembering the lesson of our faith, we say of him and the 
 event, “No matter, he will open his eyes in heaven.” To en¬ 
 ter upon this glorious awakening, Mrs. Mason slept in Jesus. 
 Miss Purssell writes, regarding this mysterious providence: 
 
 “Five weeks ago to-day Mrs. Orrell Keeler Mason, who 
 seemed a part of our very being, was laid to rest on the hill¬ 
 side in Tura. Never was any matter made the subject of 
 more earnest, conscientious prayer than her going to Tura; 
 never was greater desire to do just the right thing, to follow 
 the leading of the Spirit, than was in her heart. That the 
 Lord should direct her in that way, permit her to go, and then, 
 when she had scarcely reached her home, take her from us, 
 seems a mysterious providence. These have been days of 
 darkness, of doubting and questioning. That she, who had so 
 won the hearts of these people, who was so peculiarly fitted 
 for missionary work, was so much needed in Assam, and so 
 necessary to us who loved her, should be so suddenly taken 
 from her work, seems very strange to our short-sightedness. 
 We have felt that ‘to be denied the privilege of pouring forth 
 our love and lamentations over the grave of one who, in life, 
 was our happiness, is to shut up the soul of the survivor in a 
 solitary tomb, where the bereaved heart pines in secret till it 
 breaks with the fullness of uncommunicated sorrow.’ 
 
 “Here in Nowgong, Christian and heathen alike have 
 mourned their loss. Educated baboo and street beggar have 
 expressed the same love for her who was so well known as 
 
25 
 
 their friend. The Zenana women want to talk of her all the 
 time. To the Society of the West, to the work in Assam, to 
 our home and to our hearts, the loss is irreparable. 
 
 “In 1S83, when it was thought that she must go home, she 
 wrote in a little diary which we find among her papers, ‘I feel 
 that I cannot go to America and leave these people.’ At an¬ 
 other time, when visiting missionaries were here at an ordina¬ 
 tion, she wrote, ‘How many, many times I have sat alone 
 among these native Christians. Now the Lord has permitted 
 me to see six missionaries here, all interested in the people I 
 love —the Assamese .’ She did love them as her life, and suff¬ 
 ered for them as few people are capable of suffering. Never 
 sparing herself, she literally gave her soul and body to this 
 work. The love and sympathy which were manifested by 
 her every look, word and act, won all hearts to her. To re¬ 
 lieve and soothe the weary, aching body, to comfort the sor¬ 
 rowing heart, brought joy to her own loving heart, and she 
 never was more beautiful than when engaged in her daily* 
 ministrations among these degraded people. She left to us, as 
 a precious legacy, this, her unfinished work, as she called it; 
 and as it is impossible to go about the house without seeing 
 her finger-marks and feeling that we see or hear her, so it is 
 impossible to go among these people and not feel her 
 influence. 
 
 “She but entered the door of the waiting home in Tura, 
 and was gone ere the Garo people realized what they had lost. 
 But while the Kullung river washes these sand banks of 
 Assam, the influence of Orrell Keeler Mason will be felt in 
 Nowgong and the surrounding country. 
 
 “She had translated Moody’s “Prevailing Prayer” into 
 Assamese, hoping soon to revise and publish it. 
 
26 
 
 “Heaven has gained an angel, but we hope she will be a 
 ‘ministering spirit’ to the many friends so sorely bereaved.’ 
 
 Mr. Mason pays her the following beautiful tribute: 
 
 “Her love and devotion was pure, rich, and deep. Her 
 whole soul was in her work for her Savior, and her whole 
 heart ached for sinners out of Christ. Her love and sympa¬ 
 thy touched those hard Hindu hearts, as few have the power 
 of doing. It was a blessing to have a share in that love, 
 though but for a day. But, oh! what hopes are blasted! when 
 I had thought this blessing mine, for daily help in the per¬ 
 plexities of my work, for a constant aid in the conquering of 
 my daily faults, and for an hourly tonic to a nobler, truer 
 Christian life. These past four days I have been struggling 
 with all my might to get upon my feet. The blow is so 
 severe. I am benumbed. I lift up my head and think I 
 can rise, but, oh! how weak! I stretch forth my hand to 
 work, but it serves me so feebly. May the God of mercies 
 hear the prayers of this day, and help me to feel the Father’s 
 arms sustaining me, and enable me to do better service, and 
 make greater efforts for these poor souls $0 whom so few have 
 come to tell of a Savior’s love.” 
 
 In a later letter he says: 
 
 “I regarded her as one among a thousand. The unselfish, 
 Christlike kindness which flowed easily, and, as it appeared 
 naturally from her daily life, was a characteristic of her work. 
 She plead with the powers of love, both with the heathen, 
 and for harmony and united work with the Christians. She 
 found much to discourage, for sin has full sway among this 
 people. ‘They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy,’ is the faith¬ 
 ful promise which I have had inscribed upon her tombstone.” 
 
27 
 
 Thus, suddenly, in the midst of harvests waiting to be gar¬ 
 nered, desert places needing to be sowed with the Gospel seed, 
 with new paths and fresh joys opening before her, our sister 
 was taken to rest forever in her Father’s home above. 
 
 In closing this study of a lovely, consecrated Christian life, 
 we cannot do better than to append a loving tribute from her 
 associate and friend. It is earnestly hoped that the perusal of 
 this sketch may lead some to follow in the steps and emulate 
 the spirit of the departed. Also that new interest may be 
 awakened in the Assam mission, resulting in prompt reinforce¬ 
 ment and vigorous prosecution of work among the Assamese, 
 whom so many sainted ones have loved, and for whom they 
 have devoted their labors. Others labored, but we may enter 
 into their labors. 
 
.A. TRIBUTE 
 
 TO 
 
 HER FRIEND AND FELLOW WORKER. 
 
 BY MISS NETTIE PURSSELL. 
 
 “No life can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife, and all life not be purer 
 and stronger thereby.” 
 
 Mrs. Orrell Keeler Mason’s life was one singularly pure in 
 its purpose. A two-fold purpose: To be like Jesus, and to 
 win others to Him. 
 
 Everywhere, under the most trying circumstances, there 
 were the same sweetness, gentleness, and patience. I have 
 seen perfect strangers tell her their heart sorrows because the 
 spirit of love and sympathy was manifested in her expression 
 and manner to such a degree that they instinctively knew her 
 to be their friend. 
 
 In travelling with her, again and again, persons have spoken 
 to me about the manifest loveliness of her character. Shrink¬ 
 ing from publicity, naturally dependent and clinging in dis¬ 
 position, she never hesitated or shrank when duty called or 
 when she could help another, even if it meant to brave danger 
 single-handed or to meet death face to face. In the fullest 
 sense she lived for others and spared not herself. In all the 
 little things which go to make up our lives and to photograph 
 our characters upon those about us, there was in hers nothing 
 to mar the beauty and loveliness of the picture. 
 
29 
 
 She was so Christlike and lived so near to the Father, that 
 it was often with feelings of the deepest reverence that I 
 touched her. The world is better because she lived; there 
 are many who will say—because of her life I am saved; those 
 who knew her most intimately have higher and holier aspira¬ 
 tions because of her influence. 
 
 Of the daily and most confidential companionship of one 
 year and nearly eight months, I have only the most sacred 
 recollections. And the love which began with the first clasp 
 of the hand and deepened to the end of her life, is only strength¬ 
 ened by the separation, until it shall be renewed in eternity. 
 
 Chicago, Aug. 31ST, 1888. 
 
 I thankfully acknowledge the aid received in the writing of this sketch 
 from a manuscript sketch of Mrs- Mason prepared by Mrs. A. K. Scott, 
 and from an article printed in the Journal and Messenger, by Mrs. Shep- 
 hardson, about the time the news of her death was received. 
 
 Mrs. C. F. Tolman. 
 
THE HINDU MAIDEN. 
 
 BY ORRELL KEELER. 
 
 Think not ye favored ones of Christian lands that the one God like 
 element in human nature is your gift alone. Nay. It lies embosomed in 
 the hearts of the ignorant heathen, and ever and anon displays itself in acts 
 of heroic devotion. The story I am about to relate is no fiction; with the 
 facts and individuals I am personally acquainted. 
 
 In the Province of Assam is a small village which I shall call “Bel- 
 Tola.” Here lived two high caste Hindu families. According to Hindu 
 custom, the youngest daughter of one family, whom I shall call “Kamini,” 
 was betrothed in childhood to “Gopal,” an idolized son of the other 
 family. While children they pla}ed together and their interest in each 
 other ripened into affection. 
 
 The usual betrothal ceremonies had taken place, but the nuptial day 
 had been delayed beyond the usual time. Kamini remaining secluded in 
 her father’s house, not permitted to see Gopal, was joyfully looking for¬ 
 ward to the time when she should become his bride. A few years passed 
 in happy, hopeful expectation to Kamini, but they were working mighty 
 changes in the mind of Gopal. He had met a Christian teacher in his 
 boyhood and from him he had received a little tract. A few simple truths 
 had taken deep root in his heart, these had developed a spirit of inquiry, 
 and inquiry had grown to conviction. He resolved, come weal or woe. to 
 obey his conscience and his God. He sought his teacher, unburdened his 
 heart, and shortly afterward was seen proclaiming his faith in Christ by 
 baptism. The news spread and the dreadful tidings reached Kamini’s 
 ears. . Gopal was a Christian. She spent weary days and nights in bitter 
 tears. To her he was worse than dead. Soon her father sickened and 
 died. She felt that all was dark, that her life was desolate. Her beloved 
 father’s voice was silent and her betrothed had forsaken not only her but 
 his own family and friends for a new and strange religion. She refused to 
 
31 
 
 be comforted. At last her mother and friends said she must be married to 
 another more worthy than Gopal. They made choice of one more learned 
 and were careful to ascertain that he was true to his caste and his religion. 
 She begged of them not to marry her to one whom she knew not, nor cared 
 to know, and said, “Let me share the widow’s fate and ever mourn the loss 
 of him whom alone I love.” But they heeded not her entreaties. At an 
 early date the wedding day was appointed and they hastened the prepara¬ 
 tions. 
 
 In the meantime Gopal was happy in the joy of a Christian’s first love, 
 though oftentimes a sadness entered his heart at the remembrance of his 
 broken family ties, at the remembrance of his dearly beloved Kamini only 
 his faith and courage faltered. He had found peace in his soul and he 
 knew that his name was written above, but could he lay the idol of his 
 heart upon the altar? Through grace he was enabled at length to say, 
 “Yes, Lord, all for Thee.” Faith triumphed. He resolved henceforth to 
 cast his lot with the despised Christians. A few months passed. Gopal 
 being weary with his loneliness and unaccustomed to providing for his 
 temporal wants, decided to take a Christian wife. Fie chose one whose 
 name was Lilawote. He made known to her his intentions and on receiv¬ 
 ing his proposition she coquettishly delayed her answer. At last he insisted 
 on a definite answer and gave her a definite time in which to decide. But 
 no reply came. 
 
 In the meantime, Kamini remaining in thoughtful seclusion, tenderly 
 cherished memories of the past. The rigid rules of her religion became 
 became more and more distasteful to her. Fler anger toward Gopal had 
 changed to sympathy and admiration of his heroism, and as she examined 
 her own heart she knew that she loved him more than ever. But what a 
 barrier lay between them. Caste and Christianity . The time was rapidly 
 approaching when she was to marry the Hindu scholar. The thought 
 brought only sadness to her heart. At length affection triumphed and she 
 said, “Why should I forsake the one chosen for me in childhood by my 
 departed father?” Gopal is already my betrothed husband, and though he 
 is an outcaste, let his condition be my condition.” So, like Ruth of old, 
 she turned from her home and friends and started for the Christian village 
 where Gopal had found a home. True,love, never wanting in means of 
 
32 
 
 communication, had whispered to Gopal of Kamini’s fidelity. Overwhelmed 
 with joy he lifted his tearful eyes to Heaven in grateful prayer that God had 
 given back to him his beloved Kamini. Immediately he secured a place 
 for her in a Christian family and set out to escort her to the village. Her 
 arrival created a stir in the quiet Christian village. Some wondered at, 
 some admired her fortitude, while the heathen sneered at her strange deci¬ 
 sion. 
 
 With none did her arrival excite greater interest than with Lilawote. 
 Now she was ready to give an answer. She quickly announced to Gopal 
 that she was and had been both willing and intending to marry him. 
 Again he sought his Christian teachers. They heard his story, examined 
 the case and decided that he would be justified in marrying Kamini—that 
 Lilawote deserved to reap the fruit of her own folly. 
 
 Once more Gopal’s sorrow was turned to rejoicing, but not so with 
 Lilawote. Gopal hastily prepared a house and when all was ready the 
 happy two were made one. 
 
 And now in a simple native hut you will find two happy, contented 
 hearts, verifying Kamini’s own words, “If our minds are happy we want 
 nothing.” Kamini was taught from her childhood to observe the customs 
 of Hinduism and to despise Christianity as an unclean, heinous thing. 
 She now renounces all and desires to learn and obey the teachings of 
 Christianity, God grant that many others may have the fortitude to break 
 the fetters of sin and idolatry and come out into the glorious light and 
 liberty with which Christ has made His people free. 
 
 July 20 , i8j8. 
 

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