THE ZENANA MISSION

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 481, 18 June 1890, Page 4

THE ZENANA MISSION

Auckland, June 14. A public meeting was held at the Baptist Tabernacle last evening in connection with the Baptist Zenana Mission in India. There was a large attendance, and Dr. Kenderdine occupied the chair. Pastor Birch and the Rev. W. Gittos were unable to be present, each being laid up with a cold. After devotional exercises the Rev. W. Hooper, D.D., delivered an interesting address, in which he dealt with mission work in India. As secretary of the Anglican Zenana Mission, he could speak from his own knowledge of the work. He had never entered the zenana in which Miss Newcombe conducted her mission, but he was, nevertheless, acquainted with the severe trials which lady missionaries in India have to endure. Ladies had to endure far more self-sacrifice and far more physical discomfort in India than any man missionary possibly could, there being an entire absence of chivalry there in regard to the treatment of the gentler sex. The Rev. G. D. Cox, representing the Auckland branch of the Zenana Mission, made an earnest appeal for sympathy and support on behalf of the women of India, amongst whom their lady missionaries were labouring. He mentioned that only 6 per cent, of the entire population of India were able to read and write, and that of the women in India only one in 200 was able to read and write. In concluding an earnest address, he expressed a hope that some of the young men and iromen of the Tabernae’e, who had consecrated themselves to Christ, would hear a call to enter into the mission field and help to bear the burden of those already carrying on that noble work. Mr F. Battley spoke of the labours of the Rev. Mr Paton, in the New Hebrides. He announced that the money in the missionary boxes (£l6 16s sd) with the collection made at the present meeting amounted to £2O 11s sd, and that this sum included two special donations of £2 from Dr. Kenderdine and £2 2s from Dr. Knight. Other meetings in connection with the mission werethenannounced, and proceedings closed with the Doxology. During the evening several hymns were sung by the congregation, under the leader of the church choir.