ADDRESS BY MISS MANORAMABAI.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11493, 28 January 1903, Page 5

ADDRESS BY MISS MANORAMABAI.

Owing to tlie wt-t weather only about thirty persons were pivsstnt ttt the meeting llield last night in the new rooms of the Young Women's Christian Association, situated above Mr E. W. Roper's bond stores, in Gloucester street. Mrs Schmidt occupied the chair, and on either .side of her ■were Miss ManoraxnaAxu, in native Costume, and Miss Abrams. bofch uf the Mukti Mission. After a hymn and prayer, and another hymn, Mrs Schmidt stattd that Miss Manoromubui's work in India, begun thirteen years ago, had been wonderfully blessed. The Hindu lady, in an interesting little address, spoke of the number of her countrymen whose, new education had caused them to forsake their old religion only for atheism. She dwelt on the condition of the Hindu women and children, and stated that in India there were 200,000 widows under fifteen years of age. There were sights which could only be seen by high-caste Hindu women, such as the lacerating and stabbing with knives, or branding with redhot* irons, of wives •who were supposed to have committed some crime in a former existence. In one of the most beautiful palaces of Agra there were dungeoms which strangers were seldom allowed to see, where, the wives of former emperors were hanged when tliey incurred their lords' displeasures. A current of the Jumna ran beneath the dungeons, and swept away the bodies. Nobody could ■ever know how many were put to death ■there. The lecturer" referred to the good work which had bo«n don* by tihe mission, and stated that she lutd come to ChriKtehurcih to tusk Christian people to pray for the workers in India, and in all heathen countries.

Miss Abrams, a fellow worker of Miss Manonimabai. also gave a 'brief address. A second nu-eting will bo held in the Society's rooms to-night, and on Thursday the Association's annual meeting will be held, when the Rev. J. MclCenzie, M.A., wiM preside. A missionary mwting will Ik> held on Friday evening in"tli6 Choral Hall..