Te Aroha And Ohinemuri News SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1909. THE EDUCATION MOVEMENT AMONG HINDOO WOMEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4414, 22 May 1909, Page 2

Te Aroha And Ohinemuri News

SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1909. THE EDUCATION MOVEMENT AMONG HINDOO WOMEN.

This above all—to thine own self be true, ind \t must follow as the night the day Jhou canst not then be false to any man Shakespeare.

Miss McGreggor. a New Zealand lady, who is at present in Auckland, on furlough from her work in connection with the Missionary and Rescue Homes of the now worldfamous Pandit a Ramabai, gives some most illuminating information on matters affecting Hindoo Woman’s life. Her lectures, illustrated by splendid limelight views, are a convincing proof of the transformation of the lives of the Hindoo women when brought under the influence of the Christian religion The contrast between the faces of the unhappy women in their natural state, and the smiling faces of some of the eighteen hundred women and girls in Ramabai’s homes is an evangel in itself. Just what bearing this work of evangelization and emancipation of India’s widowhood, and outcast womanhood, will have on the future of that most problematic land, it would be impossible to say at this date. Already the British Government has authorised the removal, by the Ramabai authorities, from the nameless associations of the temple life of any girl who is proved to have been married to the sin and shame of temple service. Already, from the native side, the absurd prejudice against the remarriage of the hapless widows is breaking down. Some of the men who have in principle recognised the right of these widows to re-marriage are carrying their principles into practice. Some who hold the 1 principle, are wanting the daring to j put it into practice, for in India ! I ancient custom dies hard. Ramabai . 1 herself is the supreme exponent, and - the perfect example of what we hope I is to be ultimately the type of .Indian womanhood.• Htr father, a ! J man of extraordinary individuality, ■ held strong views as to the educa- • tional rights of woman. He made * the attempt to educate his first wife, ! , but like David Copperfield had to give it up as hopeless. With a j second wife, however, his tender and solicitous endeavours to impart ; the education which he held to be 1 ; her right, succeeded. Little Ramabai , was one of the children of this i lnppy and truly companionable marriage. Inheriting from her father i the high ideals of education and devoutness (for her father was a ! patient :eeker after truth) which she did, it was no wonder that she became so distinguished for her learning that the feminine of M Pan--1 dit ’* meaning scholar, was conferred I upon her, and she was styled “ Pandita,” the first of her fellows to receive the title. ! But it is less for her scholarj ship, than for her singular devotion and saintliness of character, ■ combined with wonderful adminisj trative ability that she is known. I She has been influenced in the work to which she has fell herself led : bv the marvellous example of George Muller, of Bristol, and IludsonTaylor of the China Inland Mission. I At the meetings which Miss McGreggor holds no collections are allowed to be made, though of course anyone desiring to make a voluntary contribution may do so in person. Whatever else may be requisite in order that India may achieve true advancement there can bo no ! doubt that her Christianization , granted, the emancipation of hor womanhood f.om serfdom and unmerited degradation will be a necesi sary step. It is noteworthy that the great apostle of Hindoo Woman-

hood should be herself a Hindoo Woman. Pandita Ramabai is even more to countrywomen than , wcr ® Josehine Butler, or Francis Willard to theirs. She is not only their champion, she is mother, and home, and all to them. She is still in her early fifties, and we may hope that she will yet live to see wonderful things result from her splendid service.