MISSIONARY MEETING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 11 June 1912, Page 8

MISSIONARY MEETING

WORK IN INDIA* Miss Beckingsale had a very attentive audience last evening in the Baptist Church and addressed on her work and experience in India for nearly an hour. Without any preliminary she at once took up her story —her own story in her own district and that amongst women and children as an evangelist and a medical missionary. In the latter office Miss Beckingsale has, during the last year, had over 5000 visits at her ) dispensary, and has performed 60 opera- ■ tions, many under chloroform. The medical work is made more difficult by reason of the superstition of the people and the many cruel and harmful methods they adopt for the treatment of disease; and further by their dislike to European treatment, through fear that some evil eye will be on them. It is marvellous, too, at how little expense the dispensary work is carried on. The whole of the branch under Miss Beckingsale's charge, including the two New Zealand ladies who are with her, eight Bible-women, servants, extra boatmen and drivers, are all maintained for £450 a year. The experiences of a lady missionary in India, as were related last evening by one who had had a long experience, were very various and often exceedingly disagreeable. It needs a whole-hearted devotion to the service of God through the service of man to maintain the needed courage and strength to endure it all. Miss Beckingsale was in India all through the violent anti-European feeling in that country, chiefly over the partition of Bengal, and for a time her work had to be given up in the villages, and confined to Brahmanb'aria. When, however, this strong feeling died down and the missionaries could again visit they found the warmest welcome in the villages where their former patients and friends lived; thus showing that their services are appreciated. Incident after incident was described, sometimes humorous, sometimes very pathetic, and the interest of the audience was well kept until the last. During the evening Miss Carthew sang "Nearer, my Cod, to Thee," and Mr. A. H. Ambur.y also gave a solo. The collection was made and then refreshments and a social chat followed, during which Miss Beckingsale had many questions to answer. She will carry with her the best wishes of all for her welfare and ? prosperity wherever she goes.