MISSIONS IN INDIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1352, 27 September 1886, Page 2

MISSIONS IN INDIA

The Rev Mr K. irry at the meeting we referred io in oar issue of Saturday, traced iho formation < f the mission to the advent of Dr Carey to Calcittt, 94 years ago As is well-knowi he had been a shoemaker or rather a cobbler, for a' though ho oonld mike two ehoes, it was said .of' him he never could make a pair He had not been audio en-ly long apprenticed to learn his trade properly. A atory is to d of him, when he had became a great man, and was dining with the 6 >v'rnor-Qaneral how uma centlemm in epaulettes remarked loud enough to ho overheard, “Was not he a shoemaker 1” and Carey struck in with “No, air, a cobbler air.” He at t tined to be Professor of Oriental Lan,utges, and when in receipt of a stlary if £I2OO per annum, he lived on £2OO and devoted £IOOO to 'the Mission. He labored 7 years era a convert came,'and that one composed a Bengali hymn, so much esteemed that it ia s'ill a one at Native services British. Continental and American Societies fol'owed in the wake <'l the Baptis-, until now there are 27 of them. The rates of increase of converts was, 30 years ago, 50 per cent. Ten years after it was 66 per cent, then 80

The politic*! aspect of all true missionary work is not to be overlooked. Tho most high minded and farseeing politician Is the man who recognises the missionary enterprise as a m at important factor in the prosperity of tho Indian Empire. The Natives among whom he lived, used to say, of Lord L awrence that “Jan Larrance ” knew everything. And what did John Lawrence say t He said, after forty j ears of Indian life; “1 believe, notwithstanding all that the English people have done to benefit India, the missionaries have done more th»n all other agencies combined.” If that be so, then all who care for England’s greatness will feel warranted n viewing with enthusiasm the progress of Christianity in that land. Lotd Lawrence was not alone in his view, men like the late Sir Bart’e Frare, like Lord Northbrook, men like Sir William Muir, Sir Monler R'illUnia, have agreed in their verdiot as t > the importance of missionary woik. At the Colonial and In Han Exhibition, opened by the Empress of India herself there was n< t wanting p-orf of what her own sons and daughters an able to produce. There w.* one particular case which must doableas have come in for a la-go share of attention from the fair sex. It was filled with gold and silver lacs, and other kinds, in wondrous and beautiful variety. This exhibit came from the Government of Travaneore, and was the work of Ch.istian women. The Imy who taught tha women of Nagereoil to mike such lace was a missionary's wife, and in this respect alone Mrs Mault has proved a great banefactor to them. Miss onaiiea are at the h, j ad of many of the reforms (hat are being worked out there, not to mention others. Thera was no talk of abolishing Suttee, cr of tho re marrlige of widows till the missionaries went < ut.

Another gratifying feature of the work, ii the fr*<v’d'y spirit in which repress"tallies of European and Ameriosn Societies labor all n -aide of rich other. When (heir fields overlap there is a readiness to ai ( each o’her ; and the people at Home and in the colonies, where churchet joillu ea~h o her so ti speak. in ema'l place*, will benefit large'y from seeing each cooperation fcskint* place abroad. It is net likely that Mr Karry will visit this colony • 'tin, but should he ever do so] we trust ho may come in warmer weather, and ihst there will be a more numerous and representative and'ence