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MISSIONARY HEROINES
IX
EASTERN LAiNDS:
Roman s Mod? in fllMsston jftel&s
BY
MRS. E. R. PITMAN
AUTHOR OF "l.ADY MISSIONARIES IN FOREIGN LANDS,
"VESTINA S MARTYRDOM," ETC.
LONDON
S, W. PARTRIDGE & CO.
8 & 9 PATERNOSTER Row
948764
MADRAS!
PREFACE.
THE annals of Christian Missions furnish copious
records of womanly heroism. From the days
of Ann H. Judson, in the early part of this
century, until now, the succession has not
failed. Alike in the frozen regions of Greenland and
under the tropical heats of India delicate women
have been found labouring side by side with *their
husbands among their untaught, heathen sisters.
The records of mission toil prove that they have
not laboured in vain, nor spent their strength for
nought. As the fruits of their self-denial, that " Great
Day for which all other days were made" will see
multitudes who shall be their reward and crown of
rejoicing. As we think of reward, we turn to the
days of Christ upon earth, when He told His disciples
that, as they had followed Him through contumely,
and hatred, and kingly persecution, so, " great should
be their reward in heaven." This may safely be said
of these missionary toilers. They followed their
Master in His self-denial and labour for others, and
they will share in the honours of His kingdom.
Vl PREFACE.
Mrs. Mackay Ruthquist s life among the Hindoo
peoples, furnishes some new light on mission work in
that land ; Mrs. Bowen Thompson s work in Syria
opens up a comparatively new field of mission life ;
Miss McGeorge s deals with the medical aspect of
missions in the East, showing how necessary and
beneficial it is that the missionary should imitate
his Master in being a healer and a teacher ; while
Miss Whately s life commends itself as a record of
self-sacrifice among the peasants of the Nile. In all
these instances it will be found that to women,
animated with the true Spirit, open doors were very
numerous. It is needless to attempt to tabulate
results in either of these cases. They worked for
eternity, sowing the sure seed of the kingdom which
infallibly bears abundant harvest.
We look upon it as a great honour conferred upon
stay-at-home Christians to be permitted to sustain
the hands of these far-away workers ; to be permitted
to count one such worker upon a family roll is a
patent of heaven s nobility. Those who have given
friends to this high and holy enterprise may rest
assured that the gift is honoured by the Master, and
will redound in blessings on those whom they have
left behind.
In conclusion, it remains for me to thank those
who have rendered me aid in the compilation of this
little volume of biographies. More particularly do I
extend my thanks to E. G. McGeorge, Esq., J.P., of
Belfast, who kindly furnished me with MS. assistance
relating to his sister s life. Her memory must be
to his family, as well as to the Irish Presbyterian
Church, a very sweet savour of cheerful self-surrender,
and a suddenly yielded life.
E. R. P
CONTENTS.
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST,
1. Early Life, ....
2. Access to Heathen Homes, .
3. More Zenana Work, .
4. Evangelistic Village Work, .
5. Sowing beside all Waters, .
8
9
13
18
24
29
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON, .
1. Beginnings, ,
2. School Work,
3. Encouragements, .
4. Closing Days in Syria,
40
59
69
III. DR. MARY McGEORGE,
1. Early Days Consecration and Training
2. The New Sphere of Work, .
3. Heathen Manners and Customs,
4. Life in Ahmedabad, ....
5. Medical W T ork, . . . .
6. Work among the Villages, . .
7. Home,
76
77
82
93
99
107
116
121
IV. MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY,
1. The Preparation, .
2. Beginning Work, .
3. Sowing beside all Waters,
128
129
139
148
Mkb. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST.
(front Photo by // Cordon, Aberdeen. )
MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Ufas. ^lena Ulatkag llutjjqmst,
A SINGER OF GOOD NEWS AMONG HINDOO PEOPLES.
M
CHAPTER I.
EARLY LIFE.
RS. ALEXINA RUTHQUIST was the
daughter of the Rev. M. Mackay, the Free
Church minister of Fordyce, a little village
on the Banffshire coast of Scotland ; she was
born there on the 8th of September, 1848. We are told
that Alexina " was a merry little girl, full of rhyme
and repartee," and when very young, was wont, out of
pure kindliness of heart, to visit blind, deaf, and
afflicted ones in the hamlet, and to do her childish
best to enliven and cheer their loneliness. It is likely
that Alexina had heard much of missions in her
childhood, for her maternal grandfather, the Rev.
John Robertson, was a staunch advocate of them,
9
10 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
even in the early part of this century ; and it is by no
means an uninteresting fact that no fewer than four
of Mr. Robertson s granddaughters have devoted
their lives to work in foreign mission-fields.
It would seem that Alexina s enthusiasm for mis
sions, and the design of devoting her life to them, grew
and matured, unknown to her friends, till the point of
decision was reached while she was away at school
in the city of Edinburgh. We are told that she
immediately wrote home, and acquainted her parents
with her resolution ; but that while the father saw,
like Eli of old, " that the Lord had called the child,"
the mother could not speak for tears. She had, both
by example and precept, trained up her children to
look forward to the Lord s service as the noblest
service, but " little had she dreamed as she and her
husband had patiently, and with much wrestling with
God in prayer, not only sought to make their children
choose the better part, but had also, with quite
exceptional care, endeavoured to fashion and mould
their lives after the Divine pattern that in the dim
horizon of the future there was awaiting Alexina a
lone bungalow, on the outskirts of a dirty city, teem
ing with idolaters, under a tropical sun, and in a land
of pestilence, storm, and cyclone." The blessing
Mrs. Mackay had sought so eagerly and believingly
was not at first received joyfully. Her heart ached
at the thought of parting with Alexina, even to
engage in the much-loved missionary work.
But a waiting-time of some years came to the
school-girl, and in 1876 Alexina was occupying the
post of governess in the family of Mr. Cowan, banker,
at Alva, in Stirlingshire. Early in that year the
Committee of the Free Church of Scotland Ladies
Society for Female Education in India and South
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. II
Africa needed a lady missionary to go to the East,
and made inquiries among various ministerial friends.
One friend replied : " I know the family of a Free
Church minister, where there are several girls all
pious for they have the inestimable blessing of
a mother who spends much of her time in secret
prayer. If you can secure one of them you will do
well."
A communication was immediately sent to Mr.
Mackay, and he forwarded the letter to his daughter.
We may imagine with what startled, grateful surprise
Miss Mackay would regard this letter. The call had
evidently come at last ! She said of it herself,
writing back : " Many thoughts have come upon
me since I received your kind letter, charged with
such weighty contents. I will tell you simply how
I feel in regard to this most important subject, and
may God overrule the whole matter for His own
glory and our good. Well, when I read your letter,
a burst of grateful surprise took possession of me,
since it seemed to me that here, at last, I had got the
call to go forth to the work I had many a time longed
to be permitted to be engaged in ; and at once I sub
mitted the matter to God s hands, that He might
dispose of it as He thought fit. With Him, then,
I desire that it may rest. I feel that it would be a
great privilege to be permitted to enter the lists with
those favoured few who have been called to bear the
lamp of life into the dark corners of the earth;
and if, in the providence of God, I am called to that
honour, I desire to respond, Here I am ! and to
venture forward on the unknown, untried path."
Finally, Mrs. Mackay fully recognised the hand
of God in the matter, and herself conveyed the
answer written by Alexina to the sitting Committee
12 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
of the Aberdeen Auxiliary Branch of the Society.
She felt that she could no longer refuse to recognise
God s answer to the prayers which for years she had
been putting up in her daughter s behalf.
The next step was taken when Alexina went to
Edinburgh and met the general Committee of the
Society, who engaged her on a three years term, as
was their custom, for service in India, though at the
time it was not certainly known whether Calcutta or
Nagpoor was to be her home. She was required at
one of these centres to assist among the Zenanas,
and her bright, sunny disposition fitted her exactly
for the work, for it is not exaggeration to say that
Zenana dwellers have the most cheerless lives under
heaven. Witness, in confirmation, the despairing
petitions of a Hindoo lady, as recorded by an
American lady : " O Lord, hear my prayer ! For
ages dark ignorance has brooded over our minds and
spirits ; like a cloud of dust it rises and wraps us
round ; and we are like prisoners in an old and
mouldy house, choked and buried in the dust of
custom, and we have no strength to get out. Bruised
and beaten, we are like the dry husks of the sugar
cane when the sweet juice has been extracted.
Criminals confined in jails are happier than we are,
for they know something of Thy world. They were
not born in prison ; but we have not, for one day, no,
not even in our dreams, seen Thy world ; we cannot
know Thee, its maker. We have been born in this
jail ; we have died here, and are dying. O God ot
mercies, our prayer to Thee is this, that the curse
may be removed from the women of India."
Miss Mackay was finally appointed to Zenana
work at Nagpoor, where the Rev. J. G. Cooper and
Mrs. Cooper were already carrying on a mission
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 13
successfully. Mrs. Cooper found Miss Mackay to be
so valuable a helper, that she wrote gratefully at the
end of a year to the Missionary Committee : " At the
close of a year, I cannot help writing to thank you
for the valuable help you gave us when you sent
dear Miss Mackay, and the wisdom you showed
in electing her. We truly needed help ; and Miss
Mackay has proved herself equal to the work, and
been able to carry it on with vigour, so that we
have every cause to thank God for so guiding you,
and inclining your hearts to help us."
CHAPTER II.
ACCESS TO HEATHEN HOMES.
IT is difficult for any Englishwoman to enter into
the full degradation and discomfort of a Hindoo
woman s life, especially if she belong to the
richer class. The higher -class women are
strictly shut up inside the high walls and dark rooms
of their Zenanas. Their houses are not like English
homes, comfortable or pretty, but the rudest, dirtiest,
and most uncomfortable that can be imagined.
According to Mrs. Ruthquist s biographer, " Hindoo
homes are very dirty and dusty. Even the ladies
apartments have little appearance of culture, or even
of comfort, and are most sparely furnished. Hideous
pictures of gods and goddesses (and there are three
hundred and thirty millions of these), adorn the walls,
but there are seldom flowers or ferns, or books, or
musical instruments, or anything to suggest the
presence of the gentler sex. Dogs swarm in the
rooms, and hens, chickens, and even crows are al-
14 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
lowed to remain unmolested, and perch on the bed
steads, pr anywhere they choose ; as part of the
Hindoo worship is that birds and beasts must be fed.
The homes of the Mohammedans are, of course,
equally unattractive, but with them * no dogs are
admitted.
Among other reminiscences of idolatry, we are told
that the Queen Dowager of the Rajah of Nagpoor,
when dying, was directed to lay hold of the tail of
one of the sacred cows, which was led into her
presence for the purpose by a Brahmin, under the
belief that it would drag her, at the moment of death,
into heaven. It was to such ignorant women, and to
such homes as these that Miss Mackay was deputed
to minister, as Zenana teacher and worker. But
before doing much, she had to acquire the Marathi
language, and we are told that she displayed such
unusual proficiency in the acquirement of it, that
"within six months she was able to sing native
hymns, and to read the Scriptures to the inmates of
the Zenanas to which she gained access."
Of course, the circumstances of the homes to which
she gained access were very varied. Our readers will
understand this for themselves, if we here transcribe
part of the first year s Report sent to the Committee
at home. It is so interesting that we would fain give
it all, but the exigencies of space forbid.
" Perhaps the most interesting mode of giving in
my Report of my first year s experiences of Zenana
visiting in Nagpoor will be by asking my friends to
accompany me in imagination on my various rounds
in the city, taking up each day s work as it comes in
succession.
" To begin with Monday. A pleasant drive along
a country road skirted with trees, and lying at the
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 15
city end of it, along an extensive, picturesque-looking
tank, leads us into the city ; and after threading our
way through a couple of streets, a lane, and an alley,
we reach our first house. On entering the narrow
old wooden door leading into the yard, the first thing
that meets the eye is a mass of weedy luxuriance,
occupying a spot in the yard which might be turned
"GRINDING THE MORNING S SUPPLIES."
to better account, while in another corner stands a
painted clay model of a sacred bull, in close proximity
to which two women are busy grinding the morning s
supplies by turning in conjunction a round flat stone
with a handle in the middle, upon a similarly-shaped
one beneath. * Salaam/ we say, and pass on round
the house to the outside room we occupy while
16 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
teaching. Something in the shape of a carpet has
been thrown down on the floor, and an old chair,
in preparation for the arrival of Misse Baba/ as
I am termed ; and after a few minutes waiting we
are joined by Sukyabai and her mother, Lodubai,
both nice-looking women, and both pupils, the mother
having first urged on her daughter to acquire the art
of reading, and requesting latterly to be taught her
self. Four little girls from the neighbouring houses
attend here as well, and listeners often drop in. We
begin by singing a hymn, and explaining the meaning
of it ; the effect of this opening exercise is wonderful
upon those who are present for the first time. Times
are surely changed when we can fearlessly open fire
upon a group of heathen men, women, and children,
and attempt to storm their prejudices by singing out
such words as these, Why do you toil in vain ?
Bathing, and going on pilgrimage, and all your many
pilgrimages, and all your many ceremonies will profit
you nothing, the only result being an interchange of
looks of pleased surprise, with perhaps an attempt at
argument afterwards, on the part of some zealous
believer in the Shasters. After we have sung, I am
in the habit of reading aloud, either a passage from
the New Testament, or a portion from some nice
tract or adaptation of Scripture ; but, for the most
part, I have as yet to leave the explanatory part to
Amundai, the native Bible- woman* who accompanies
me, or to employ a young friend from the Orphanage
to convey my thoughts to the listeners. It is not
easy for one living among English people to acquire
a foreign language, conversationally ; still, I do not
scruple to make attempts to converse with my native
friends, and I may report, for the comfort of my
friends, that I am well understood.
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. \7
" On Tuesday we visit another and very distant
quarter of the city, where eight houses are open to us.
I cannot visit all these during one morning, so I mean
to divide the labour, and go once a-week to each four.
IN THE ZENANA.
In this way I shall be able to spend more time in the
various houses, and to get more satisfactory work done,
though the visits must be less frequent. In the first
of these houses, separated in some cases by consider-
1 8 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
able distances, live a most respectable Brahmin family
father, mother, widowed daughter, and some others,
related to each other, I don t quite know how. There
is another widow with such a sweet-looking little boy.
Beside these, several friends came in from time to
time ; amongst others, a very respectable-looking man,
a son of the old Brahmin at the head of the house,
who keeps a school next door, and also some of his
boy-pupils. ... A little way off lives a Brahmin
widow, such a happy-looking old woman, in spite of
her shorn head. In her house we have four pupils,
one of them her little pet, a grandchild, in whose
lesson on the alphabet she eagerly joined one day
by way of encouraging the child, who was rather shy.
Near this house is another, where a number of showy-
looking women assemble, some of whom are avoided
by their neighbours on account of the low platform of
morality they occupy. . . . But it would be tedious to
enumerate all the houses visited. I have access at
present to sixteen houses, and I find that I have
twenty-nine pupils."
CHAPTER III.
MORE ZENANA WORK.
IN the last chapter we find that sixteen houses and
twenty-nine pupils comprised the number within
. the circle of Miss Mackay s influence and teach
ing. But as time went on, she was received with
cordiality into other homes notably, many other
Brahmin ones; and was permitted to teach a good
number of the wives and daughters of Brahmins.
Occasionally, she had to combat opposition on the
A BRAHMIN GIRL.
19
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 21
part of the husbands to their wives receiving instruc
tion, more especially religious instruction in the Gos
pel of Christ, so that she had to overcome prejudices
and opposition by degrees. Her bright winning
manner, however, and her talent for hymn-singing
stood her in good stead. In the end, she generally
gained her way, as the following instance will
show :
The husband of a woman whom she was visiting,
put the following note into her hand : " My dear
madam, I hope you will excuse me to express my
opinion in regards teaching of our women. I am
strictly of opinion that no books or sermons adverse
to the religion in which the learner is brought up,
should be taught or preached, unless, and not until
they have acquired sufficient strength of mind not to
be led away by the superficial light. This strength,
I perceive, cannot be obtained unless they advance
in their study. For the present, I think you will
kindly stick to rudimentary teachings and needle
work, and such other fine things which are essential
to a family woman."
Miss Mackay discontinued her visits, but she had
an interview with the husband, at his wife s request,
and so gained his respect and confidence that he
accepted portions of the Bible, promising to study
them carefully. He had been educated in the
Government school of the city, and could read well.
Accordingly Miss Mackay promised him a complete
copy of the Bible, as soon as he had read the two
Gospel portions. Finally, before many days had
passed, a message was sent to Miss Mackay, request
ing her to resume her visits to the house, as the wife
missed her teaching so much.
In the Hindoo religious teaching there is no sound
22 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
of sin or sinfulness. Hindoos never ask their gods to
take away their sins. They offer their idols presents,
in sacrifices, to please them, but never in the sense of
making atonement for sin. Descriptions of heaven as
a holy place seem to be above their comprehension ;
but when, to a group of poor downtrodden women,
heaven is pictured as a place where there is no death,
neither pain nor tears, they can receive and under
stand it.
A gentleman of the Indian Civil Service, in his
address at the Centenary Conference on Missions,
some time since, speaking of the value of hymn-sing
ing among the natives, on the part of mission-workers,
observes : " Let me remind you how important a part
hymnology must play how important it is to take
the native lute, and to train up men who go into the
villages, with their lutes, to sing the Gospel. We
want the Gospel sung in such a way that every native,
high or low, shall listen to it. We want to get down
to the masses, to their every-day life, and, if we can,
to saturate that with the blessed principles of the
Gospel of Christ." Miss Mackay acted out this teach
ing in her every-day visits among the people. Two
incidents proved to her how welcome these singings
were. " Once I was promised a piece (a copper coin
less than a halfpenny in value), if I would sing a hymn
to a crowd of people gathered in and around the veran
dah of a house." Again" One blind old man, sitting
beside me had a long story to tell me, in the course of
which he was checked by his neighbour, who wished to
hear the end of my story about why I had left my native
land. The blind man said that he had heard me sing
somewhere else, and had been longing to hear meagain."
In this connection, it is almost fairer and certainly
more interesting to give her own account of her
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 23
domiciliary visits. We therefore transcribe one
account in full.
" Some time ago you may remember that we made
bold to go up to a native school, which was held in a
large verandah facing the street, in hope of securing
some openings through the influence of the master, or
at best, of being allowed to sing a hymn to the
assembled boys. Well, we were allowed to sing, but
although we paid a second visit soon after, to inquire
as to the result of our intimation made to the child
ren of our readiness to visit their homes, we had no
encouragement given us, as no one wished to learn.
" On a subsequent day, however, we learnt that a
woman living in an upper story of the building, was
very anxious to see us. This was good news, and we
soon presented ourselves in the large verandah, from
whence the school had adjourned somewhere else, to
inquire after her. We got rather a rough reception,
however, from an old Brahmin, who had lain down to
sleep there. He told us that we had no concern
with them, indeed, so that we had to withdraw. On
hearing again that it was still her wish to see us, we
returned on another day, but though not repulsed as
before, we had to retire, as a feast was being given to
a company of Brahmins within.
" Well, once again, a few days ago, we had a direct
call from the woman herself as we were passing ; and
soon we were surrounded, not only by a little com
pany of women, with kindly faces, in the midst of
whom sat our special friend in the shape of a Brah
min widow ; but also a large gathering of men,
youths, and children grouped around us, and listened
very quietly to some of the most stirring hymns,
selected by us, as well as to a plain statement I read
them from a little book, concerning the true way of
24 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
salvation. As we were taking our leave of this
company, several of the women from other houses
urged us to visit their homes too, which we were only
too glad to do, finding new opportunities in the circle
of friends connected with each.
"The young native teacher of another school to
which we introduced ourselves, came up to our
gharree the other day, and asked us to visit his
mother (Sassoo), sending a boy along with us to
show us the way. Here we had a capital oppor
tunity, a number of women crowding in, while several
men and boys seated themselves in the little court
yard. The teacher himself joined us, and graciously
granted permission to his shy-looking wife to learn to
read, along with another member of the company
who had consented to become a pupil."
M
CHAPTER IV.
EVANGELISTIC VILLAGE WORK.
R. AND MRS. COOPER, the missionaries
at the head of the Society s mission work in
Nagpoor, were accustomed to itinerate in the
villages around in the cold season, and, upon
their inviting Miss Mackay to join their party, she
gladly consented. Here again, an extract from one
of her own letters will convey the most vivid descrip
tion to the mind of the reader of such visits.
"Yesterday morning saw us make an early start
for the district before daylight. Mr. Cooper,
Timothy, and Elisha (mission-helpers) had set out on
foot. Take a peep at us as we turn out of the avenue:
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST.
into the road. In front are Virima and a band of the
bigger girls, all looking very comfortable in their bright
shawls. Mrs. Cooper and I follow, and the rear
is brought up by the ark or large coach-like
gharree, my tonga, and a bullock-cart for the girls.
It was a lovely morning, keenly cold, but so clear
and bright that all nature looked glad. . . . Mile
stone after milestone we
passed as we journeyed on,
and still we did not seem to near our purposed place
of encampment ; for instead of eight miles, it turned
out to be fourteen, as our pedestrians found to their
cost. . . . Two or three busied themselves over get
ting ready the morning meal. The others, with all
haste, got out the tent-gear, and set to work erecting
the same into those wonderful patriarchal tenements,
26 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
so suggestive of olden times. First, the stakes on
which the cords had to be fastened were to be driven
into the ground. Just before being reared the tent
looks like a folded umbrella, but by a long pull, a
strong pull, and a pull all together, it is gradually
induced to expand itself generously for the accommo
dation of the homeless ones seeking its shelter. I
have a little Noah s Ark-like tent for myself by way
of a bedroom a little pet it is, with its quaint brown
canvas walls figured with a perpendicular coral-like
pattern. I cannot say I spent a very comfortable
night in it, however, for, do what I would, I could not
get warm.
" In the afternoon, we all set out for the neighbour
ing village to do a little evangelistic work. Mr.
Cooper and his assistants went by themselves, to
minister to the men, while Mrs. Cooper and the rest
of us went to minister to the women. I had fallen
behind with one or two of the girls ; and this led to
our ultimate separation from the rest of the party, as
a woman beckoned me to speak to her, and we soon
found ourselves surrounded by a group of her neigh
bours, along with herself, to whom we sang some
hymns, and told the Gospel story. Passing on in
search of Mrs. Cooper, but not finding her, we again
gathered a group around us, and did what we
could amongst them. This morning I wandered into
the city, and not knowing in which direction to
turn, I was looking about me, when I discovered
Mr. Cooper surrounded by a little band to whom
Timothy was preaching his sunlit countenance and
mild expression giving beautiful emphasis to his
words."
Again, " On Sunday afternoon I asked Mrs. Cooper
to let me have Virima, the Bible-woman, with me, as
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 27
well as my usual quota of the girls to help me with
the singing, and she was quite agreeable. In passing
up the street, we were called by a woman. She
wanted to hear us again, as she had forgotten what
we had told her the day before. Poor woman ! The
certain strange things brought to her ears had not
been sufficiently grasped by her. She was a woman
in very humble circumstances, trying to spin cotton,
though her arms and hands were sadly deformed and
shrunken. A good many neighbours gathered around,
and we had a nice little meeting, which was brought
to a close by our telling them we must go farther up
the street and tell others what we had been telling
them."
So the band of mission workers proceeded, for days
and weeks together, sowing the seed of the kingdom
by all waters, sometimes accorded an enthusiastic
reception, and at other times scarcely endured. Occa
sionally they would meet with a band of strolling
musicians, who would, however, listen eagerly to their
hymn-singing : at other times, they were entertained
in the native fashion, in native homes. In one
home she was laden with flowers, in another, feasted
with sweetmeats. She says: " Another pleasant ex
perience I had when a hymn (wholly unintelligible to
me because in Hindustani, and not in Marathi) brought
tears into the eyes of a stout woman amongst the
listeners, who had been trying to show me that the
Koran is the revelation to them, as the Bible is to us.
I begin to reap the fruits of perseverance in visiting
all who call me, be their language what it may, and
their motive what it may in inviting me. The bright
idea occurred to me, lately, that I could order copies
of Gospels in all the different languages spoken around
us, and use them in exceptional circumstances. In
28 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
carrying out this idea, I have been able to give
Gospels in Gujerati to the Parsees while teaching
them English ; in Telugu and Tamil to the Madrasees,
and so on, in this way meeting the exigency in some
measure, and having an opportunity of holding forth
the word of life/ to the very mixed population in this
centre of the Central Provinces."
Her perambulations among the villages were not
always so cheerful or pleasurable. The " rainy days/
which come into every life, came into hers at times,
and from different letters to friends we find that various
mischances befell her. At one time, the wheel of her
bullock-cart broke down, so that she was beholden to
the^kindness of a native gentleman to take her back
again to the city. A conversation with this modern
good Samaritan revealed the fact that he was a
Theosophist, whereupon Miss Mackay seized the
opportunity to urge him to examine also, as carefully,
the claims of the Christian religion. At another
time, the murder of a man and woman in the neigh
bourhood, by criminals anxious to possess themselves
of the jewels of their victims, made her almost afraid
to sleep alone in her little bungalow ; but the precious
words of the ninety-first Psalm reassured her trembling
heart. On another missionary journey she was able
to succour and comfort a poor soldier s widow, who
was proceeding to Bombay with her three children.
And sometimes she met with travelling friends her
self, who would share with her their refreshments,
much to her comfort. She was ever on the look-out
for opportunities of doing good, and sowing the seed
of the kingdom, whether it were among a group of
natives, or among the wives and families of soldiers.
She said, writing home once: "We must work in
season and out of season, in other words, to catch
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 29
men, and not become weary in well-doing, for in due
time we shall reap if we faint not." Miss Mackay
acted out this precept of our Lord, so that she
became known as a seed-sower wherever she went.
She was always on the watch for opportunities to
win souls.
CHAPTER V.
SOWING BESIDE ALL WATERS.
MISS MACKAY S sympathies were much drawn
out towards the soldiers, and she frequently
visited them, in company with some other
mission worker. There was much need of
evangelical ministrations among this neglected class
of the population, as various entries in her journals
and letters prove. They drank to excess whenever
opportunity offered ; and in India, where every glass
of spirits is said to be " a nail in a man s coffin," the
result may easily be divined. Miss Mackay, writing
home on this matter, says : " You will scarcely guess
my new sphere of labour. Well, it is among the
soldiers at the Fort! The thought crossed me one
day, that I would get Mr. Douglas to pay them a
special visit, that he might distribute a lot of nicely
illustrated magazines I had picked up when in
Bombay. It was suggested that I myself should
visit them. No objection being raised, the suggestion
took root, and I engaged Mrs. Douglas to accompany
me some evening." Accordingly, one evening, the
two ladies went, and sang several hymns, which so
recalled the home-land, that some of the soldiers
30 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
joined in the singing. The result was that the ladies
were asked to come again. Finally, Miss Mackay
was requested by the soldiers to hold a special service
in the mission church for their benefit, which, though
an ordeal to the lady, resulted in good. It was almost
impossible to read or talk without interruption at the
barracks, seeing that some of the soldiers delighted in
rioting and making uproar. Still, much good was
accomplished, and some of the men professed to have
undergone a saving change, as the result of Miss
Mackay s ministrations. It will be seen that these
ministrations were needed when we mention that
within a fortnight eight poor fellows were cut off by
sunstroke a result chiefly of their drinking habits,
added to the intense heat of the climate.
About this time, a younger sister joined Miss
Mackay in the mission, and lived in the lonely
bungalow (which she had occupied alone for the year)
with her. They visited the native houses in com
pany, and were kindly and even warmly received.
In many of them there was beginning to be a value
put on education, and a strong love developed for the
teacher. Sometimes they would be called into a
house, and requested to read or sing ; at others, they
would visit homes on occasions of festivity, and ever
met with a welcome, for all the people delighted in
listening to singing. They could catch ideas better
from hymns than from sermons, and these ideas
would take root in their minds very frequently, and
bear encouraging fruit. We give an extract from her
account of such a visit : " About ten days ago, we had
a splendid opportunity of singing Gospel hymns, and
telling the story of Jesus love, to one of the most
motley throngs I ever saw. We became the central
objects of attraction as soon as we had entered the
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST 31
large pavilion, and the attention bestowed was won
derful. The youthful bridegroom could not read, so
there was no use in giving him a book ; but several
little fellows present carried off small prizes gained
A YOUTHFUL BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM.
on the spot, by a public exhibition of their pro
ficiency in the art."
Sometimes these domiciliary visits revealed the
fact that the master of the house was a decided
believer in Christ, and was teaching his wife the way
32 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
of salvation through Him, though quietly, so as to
arouse no bad feeling on the part of his neighbours.
At other times, it was discovered that though con
vinced of the truth of Christianity, the people had
delayed and quibbled, until from being very near the
kingdom, they had grown hardened and indifferent.
The duty of confessing Christ had been shirked, and
the curse had come upon them of hardness and
impenitence of heart.
Everywhere it is pleasing to find that Miss Mackay
was kindly and even eagerly received, while in many
cases the people hung upon her words, as if the new
and strange doctrines were of such amazing comfort
that they could not miss one word. But space fails
to tell all the pleasing incidents that might be
recounted.
In November, 1882, she returned to Scotland, after
five years of work, for a twelvemonth s furlough.
During that furlough, she might have made what
is generally spoken of as " a good marriage," but
she chose to return to her beloved work, for Christ s
sake. By February, 1884, she was back in Nagpoor
again, and labouring eagerly among the old ties. In
what spirit she did so, may be seen from the follow
ing:
" It was my privilege to resume Zenana mission-
work here some nine months ago, after a year s
absence at home a year ever memorable, bringing
with it abundant opportunities of usefulness, and
much refreshment of spirit, apart altogether from the
great benefit derived by a renewed measure of health
and strength. Never before did I enjoy so much
delightful intercourse with Christian friends. After
seeking to water dry and thirsty places here for five
years, I was watered also myself, and oh how
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 33
refreshing the showers were felt to be. Never shall
I forget last year s memories."
So she continued to labour among the ever open
households of Nagpoor and vicinity, until October,
1886, when after eleven years of most devoted labours
she was married to the Rev. Johan Ruthquist, a
Swedish missionary, labouring at Amarwara, a lonely
village in the jungle, about twenty-six miles from
Chindwara. Henceforth she helped her husband in
his labours among the Gonds or " hill-men," as they are
called. It involved some measure of sacrifice to settle
down in the lonely jungle, afar from all the associa
tions and friends of her years of labour. The Gonds
are known as "timid, truthful, and superstitious.
They had about fifteen deities to whom they prayed
and sacrificed, and were in addition, devil-worshippers;
but they have a strong sense of sin, and of their need
of a living sacrifice, and of the shedding of blood.
Dark and dense as their ignorance was, they pre
sented a much more encouraging field for work than
did the Hindoos, as they had so much less to unlearn,
and were so much less self-righteous." So here, also,
Mrs. Ruthquist pursued her new avocations, making
the mission-house, which was comfortable and roomy,
an example of Christian living to the surrounding
natives.
But to Mrs. Ruthquist there came now a period of
suffering. She had worked longer than the general
average of women-workers could do in India, and
though tried by climate and other influences, main
tained a fair state of health. But her active, working
o
life would not have been perfected had not some kind
of suffering come into it. She became a mother, at
the little lonely mission-station of Amarwara on the
1 5th of November, 1889, giving birth to a little girl,
c
34 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
whom the parents named Mary Juanita. But this
only little one (for Mrs. Ruthquist never had another)
died after twelve days, under rather mysterious cir
cumstances. BoUi the parents and the medical man
suspected that the infant had had opium admin
istered to it, as it was impossible to rouse it out
of the twelve hours unconsciousness which preceded
death.
This sorrow fell heavily upon Mrs. Ruthquist, but
the thought of meeting her lost baby in the land of
light and love was a strengthener and comforter to her
mourning heart. She began to prove now the truth
of the beautiful words, " Work is but one half of life ;
suffering is the other." Writing home at this time,
she says : " I was just thinking that little babes will be
restored to us at the resurrection, just as they were
when we parted from them ; for we cannot imagine
that the little body that was laid in the grave will be
changed into a big one. The development of mind
and body will take place afterwards I think, but like
that of a perfect flower, never to fade again."
Mrs. Ruthquist s sister Maggie, who had married
another Swedish missionary, Mr. Danielsson, was
settled near Amarwara, among the Gonds, so that the
two sisters could have frequent intercourse. This
sister found in her compound one day a forsaken
- infant, who had been cast away by its mother, who
happened to be one of the mission-house servants.
The child was named Benjamin, and the two childless
sisters resolved to bring him up, between the two
houses, training him for the Lord. It was customary
for Mr. and Mrs. Ruthquist to ride about to the little
villages in the neighbouring country, and teach the
Gonds the good news of salvation through Christ,
he preaching and she singing. If we had space to
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST. 35
write more at length of the evangelistic work accom
plished by Mr. and Mrs. Ruthquist in their journeys
up and down the Gond country, it would be seen how
valuable and how valued their labours were. Some
times the heathen listeners would say of. Jesus Christ,
" Show Him ! " To this her answer was a Christian
hymn, translated into the vernacular, which was
explained verse by verse, and which touched the
hearts of the people.
In 1892, a mission dispensary was opened in
Amarwara, and bodies as well as souls received
healing. Here is one of the cases ministered to,
which shows in a striking light that the dark places of
the earth are full of cruelty. " The other day my
husband came in and said, c I cannot understand how
people can be less merciful towards each other than
towards their horses and dogs. Our sweeper s son-
in-law had told him of a girl who was lying in a
deserted wayside inn, in the greatest misery. No
one gave her anything to eat, or took any care of her.
She had lost caste. Here one could see what it was
to be without caste. John hastened to the poor girl,
but the smell where she lay was so fearful, in con
sequence of her illness, that at first he almost fell
down backwards. She was being eaten alive by
worms almost, which had made large holes in her
head, from whence came this dreadful smell. We
called our own servant, and she was carried to our
mission-house to be taken care of. I summoned my
courage, and went to see her. Never shall I forget
the sight. Before we could attend to her sores, her
hair, which scarcely deserved the name, was obliged
to be cut off as closely as possible, and then John had
more than an hour s work injecting disinfecting fluids,
d picking off parasites. The girl was extremely
36 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
exhausted, and began to tremble and complain
of hunger before she was cleaned. Our kind old
sweeper made as much haste as he could, and com
forted the girl, who began to cry, telling her that now
she had become quite a new person. Porridge and
newly baked bread she ate ravenously. How had
she come into such misery? and how old was she?
She had been turned out
of doors by her hus
band, because she
had eaten some
thing which
had been A
offered to
an elephant
by all the
caste, and
since that
she had
wandered
about beg
ging till, in con
sequence of
wretched con
dition, every
one had
driven her
away from
their doors. She had then determined to lay her
self down and die alone in the deserted inn, and
very soon this would have been her fate unless some
one had rescued her. She is between fifteen and
sixteen years of age, of a slight and womanly appear
ance. Poor Poosiya (this is her name) is now get
ting better, and her strength is returning."
"EVERY ONE HAD DRIVEN HER AWAY FROM
THEIR DOORS."
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST.
37
Circumstances now began to indicate that Mrs.
Ruthquist was to remove her tent from India, though
she knew it not. On the 25th of July, 1892, the wife
of Mr. Karlsson of Saugor, a brother missionary, died,
leaving an infant a few days old, and another child
aged one year and eight months. Mr. Karlsson was
strongly advised to take the little motherless children
home to Sweden, there to leave them with relatives,
so, though Mrs. Ruthquist had offered to look after
"THEY CAME TO THE MISSION HOUSE AND WEPT BITTERLY."
the orphans, it seemed best to take them home. He,
therefore, wrote to her, asking if her husband could
spare her to accompany him and the children to
Stockholm. Mrs. Ruthquist was not as strong as of
yore ; indeed, her friends were apprehensive that she
was far too weak for such an undertaking. But she
believed that " God s biddings are enablings," and in
this faith she cheerily undertook the journey and
responsibility. Still it was no light thing to have
38 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
wakeful, wearisome nights with so young an infant, in
her enfeebled state. The intense heat of August in
the Red Sea, however, drew on ; but the hope of
safely accomplishing her errand, and after that, of
spending a month at home, in dear old Scotland,
sustained her for a while. She wrote a cheery letter
on the 2Qth of August, telling her parents of her
arrangements and plans, and saying that she could
only spend a month with them as she had made
" a sacred promise " to her husband to be " back in
India by Christmas, God permitting."
She had, however, overrated her strength, which
now utterly failed, and on the 4th of September she
was compelled to take to her bed, trusting to get
rested while Mr. Karlsson looked to the two children.
But the weakness grew and intensified, until within
twelve hours she became unconscious. She lay thus
for another day, when about 5.30 P.M. on the 5th of
September she sank to rest, without a struggle or a
groan. " She had reached the haven, while her
friends were still far out at sea." Her last message
o
to her husband was written on a luggage label, inside
a parcel, which she had forwarded to him from
Bombay. It was this: "Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, to-day, and for ever." " They which live
should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto
Him who died for them, and lived again."
" My times are in Thy hand ;
My God, I wish them there ;
My life, my friends, my all I leave
Entirely to Thy care. J
" I 11 always trust in Thee."
Mrs. Ruthquist was buried at Suez, having gained
the Promised Land of Heaven, somewhere near the
MRS. ALEXINA MACKAY RUTHQUIST.
39
point where the Israelites crossed the Isthmus to
gain their Promised Land. When the native women
at Amarwara heard of her death they came to the
mission-house, and wept bitterly that she had not
been allowed to die among them, so that they might
have had the privilege of going to lament over her
grave.
" Of all the thoughts of God that are
Borne inward unto souls afar
Along the Psalmist s music deep ;
Now tell me if that any is,
For gift or grace surpassing this,
He giveth His beloved sleep."
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON.
;
MISSIONARY WORK AMONG THE DAUGHTERS
OF SYRIA.
CHAPTER I.
BEGINNINGS.
IT has often been said that " The child is father to
the man," and the saying was never more truly
exemplified than in the case of the subject of the
present sketch. From " Recollections " con
tributed to a memoir by a surviving sister, we find
that from her early childhood, Mrs. Bowen Thompson
was distinguished for seeking to do good to others.
" The love of God as it dawned in the first years of
her childhood, was especially manifested in the exer
cise of a strong and simple faith." Her family motto,
" Dare and persevere," was changed into the Apostolic
one, " I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me," and bore good fruit in daring all
things for God.
According to the testimony of those who knew her
best, she was religiously disposed from her very child-
41
42 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
hood, so that sometimes thoughtless companions
taunted her with being "a little saint." Certainly,
her study of the Bible and Prayer-book indicated
principles and leanings of no common kind. To this
was added a keen interest in the discoveries of remains
and monuments in Bible lands, casting light on Bible
prophecy. The discovery of the Rosetta Stone by
Consul Salt, in Egypt, led the sisters of the home to
study the lore of the Pyramids. While in her teens,
she was busy, up to the extent of her opportunities,
in doing Christian work of one kind and another,
among all with whom she came in contact.
On attaining the age of womanhood, she was invited
to work on behalf of the Syro-Egyptian Mission by
Sir Culling Eardley. Her association with this Com
mittee led to an acquaintance with Dr. James Bowen
Thompson, who had for years devoted his professional
talents to the service of the Syrian Mission. He had
opened, and personally conducted, the British Syrian
Hospital at Damascus from 1843 to 1848. The
acquaintance ended in marriage, and after a short
residence in London the young couple proceeded to
Syria, and settled at a little place near Antioch,
where Dr. Bowen Thompson owned some property.
Here, she grew to know more of the ignorance of
Eastern women, and opened a school for them in her
own house. This labour went on for about eighteen
months, and then, on leaving for the seat of war in
the Crimea, to which Dr. Bowen Thompson seemed
irresistibly drawn, the little school was left behind with
a Christian native teacher, and several Armenian
converts, who continued to meet for prayer and
worship each Lord s Day. As they bade a tearful
" good-bye " to the little band of scholars and con
verts, it was not easy to foresee the future.
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 45
It seemed a strange step, to leave Antioch and its
neighbourhood for the seat of war. But Dr. Thompson
had gained much knowledge of Eastern epidemics
and disease, and felt eager, considering the extreme
need of medical aid in the Crimea, to place his services
at the disposal of the English Government. Before
the commission from Lord Panmure could reach him,
he and his wife were on their way to the seat of war.
They arrived at Balaklava, but almost immediately
Dr. Thompson was stricken down with the malignant
fever which raged among the troops, and was put on
board the steamer engaged in the conveyance of
invalids to the military hospital at Scutari. Here,
the rigid military rules forbade admission to the
suffering invalid, as his commission had not yet
arrived, so making him to be, in the eyes of the
military authorities, only a civilian. After some delay,
however, through the intercession of Dr. and Lady
Alicia Blackwood, permission was granted to admit
the fever-stricken man. The boon, however, came too
late ; he was admitted to the hospital in the closing
days of July, and seemed at first to go on well, but by
the 5th of August he had passed away. The poor
widow followed him to his grave, accompanied by the
nurses and some of the medical staff. " His grave
was under a spreading tree, commanding a fine view
of the Bosphorus and Constantinople."
After this, Mrs. Bowen Thompson returned to
England, and found a congenial home with her sister
and brother-in-law at East Coombe Park, and while
with them learnt to be " a succourer of many." The
dreadful Indian Mutiny broke out in 1857, and her
heart bled for the forlorn widows returning from India.
Monetary assistance, clothes, widows weeds, and
clothing for children, were all needed by those who
46 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
had left husbands and fathers in the far East, as
victims to the vengeance of Sepoy rebellion, in
these, and other works of mercy, Mrs. Bowen
Thompson served her generation. Her biographer
finely says: "As the physician s widow, she now
entered upon her last term of education in God s
school. This, to all her previous training, was the
needful complement, ere she could prove a capable
and sympathising teacher of husbandless isolation and
bereavement. She had now her commission from
God. She now heard, as it were, His voice calling for
some tried and pitying hand to pour into the wounded
spirit the balm of a Saviour s love, to hush the widow s
sobs and the wail of orphans clinging to her knee.
The occasion for the application of all her past ex
periences now immediately dawned."
In 1860, the bloody massacre of the Maronite
Christians by the Druses of the Lebanon district of
Syria attracted attention and sympathy. Lebanon and
the district round Damascus had been deluged with
Christian blood, and the Druse soldiers did their best
to slay every male among the Maronites, from seven
to seventy years of age. It was, in truth, a religious
war of extermination, carried on by fanatical Druses
against the sect of Christians known as Maronites.
Without a brief explanation of these circumstances,
it may be difficult to understand or appreciate the
condition of things which attracted Mrs. Bowen
Thompson s Christian sympathies. The district of
the Lebanon is peopled chiefly by Druses and Maron
ite Christians. The latter, a hardy, industrious race,
are Roman Catholics; but the former profess no
religion. The Druses were masters of treachery and
intrigue, and especially hated the Maronites on
account of their numbers and prosperity. They
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON.
47
framed pretences for war, and engaged the willing
help of their Turkish rulers to aid them in the work
of extermination. The Maronites, who were armed
and trained in self-defence, brave in war, and indus
trious in peace, needed their time and labour for the
cultivation of their land, and consented to give up
their arms, on conditions of amnesty. They were
BEYROUT.
then entrapped, in this helpless condition, into the
forts of their enemies, where they were murdered by
thousands. After the massacres were over, a com
mission of the Allied Powers investigated these atro
cities, and thus reported, " There were eleven thousand
Christians massacred ; one hundred thousand suffer
ers by the civil war ; twenty thousand desolate
widows and orphans ; three thousand Christian
habitations burned to the ground ; four thousand
48 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Christians perished of destitution ; and ten million
dollars worth of property destroyed/
Mrs. Bowen Thompson worked for the Syrian
Temporal Relief Fund in sending out stores and
clothing ; but her own experiences of widowhood and
bereavement suggested to her that now was the time
to arise and engage in a work for the poor, sorrowing
women and girls of Syria. So she started for
Beyrout^vhile just emerging from an attack of illness,
in October, 1 860. Perhaps prudence just at that period
would have been the better part, for immediately
upon her arrival at Beyrout she was laid low with an
attack of rheumatic fever. During this illness she
experienced the greatest sympathy from the Euro
pean residents, including Lord Dufferin and his
mother. At length she was able to sit up, and
walk about the corridors of the hotel on crutches.
As soon as she was able to mount a donkey, she
rented a house, and removed thither, intending to
commence her work of mercy among the bereaved
widows and sufferers.
We cannot do better than relate the commence
ment of Mrs. Bowen Thompson s work, as detailed
herself in a letter to a friend.
"You will remember the sanguinary massacres
which decimated the male population of the Lebanon
and Damascus district in 1860. Suffice it to say, the
Mohammedans and Druses made common cause for
the destruction of the Christian population, and their
bitter enmity often provoked strife. The Maronites
and Greeks of the Lebanon, who fled for refuge to
their Mohammedan rulers, were betrayed, and the
men delivered up to the sword. The order at Has-
beya was that every male from seven to seventy
should be slain.
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 49
"Thus thousands upon thousands were butchered.
Those who escaped to Damascus were, in a few
weeks, also cut down by the Turks, Druses, and
Kurds ; their houses were rifled and burnt, and their
widows and orphans abandoned to all the horrors of
flight. Stained with the gore of their husbands and
sons, the sound of the murderer s sword still ringing
in their ears, crowds of these helpless widows and
children fled distractedly, they knew not whither;
some to Tyre and Sidon, but the greater part to
Beyrout, the seaport towns of Syria. When tidings
of these fearful events reached Europe, England sent
large contributions in money, food, and clothing.
Many of my friends, and the members of my family,
took an active part in organising various sources of
relief; and as it had pleased God that during the
Crimean War I should be one of the many who
suffered bereavement, it was but natural that my
heart should respond to the widow s cry. Then, too,
the happy portion of my married life which I had
spent in Syria had enabled me to acquire some
knowledge of the language, as well as of the ignor
ance and degradation of the women. Therefore, as a
widow caring for the widow, I felt specially called
upon to try and alleviate their distress, and make
known to them the only balm for a broken heart
the love of Jesus. My first effort was to meet with
suitable premises for an Industrial Refuge, . . . and
I commenced in December, 1860, with thirty women
and sixteen children. Within a week we had above
two hundred under our care.
"Our gates were besieged by applicants clamour
ing for admission, saying, Even if you cannot pay us
for our work, let us come and sit and listen, for our
hearts are sad. At this juncture I received not only
D
50 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
liberal aid, but cheering intelligence that our friends
in England had formed themselves into an associa
tion called The Society for the Social and Religious
Improvement of Syrian Females. At first my heart
often died within me at the squalor, noise, and misery
of these poor people. Ignorance of the truth, and
deeply cherished revenge characterised the greater
number of the women. Even the families of priests
would say, We are like the cows ; we know nothing.
When, however, their Christian teachers unfolded to
them the Bible, they would sit at their feet in rapt
attention, exclaiming, * We never heard such words.
Does it mean for us women ? Now, we will
always sit here ! While some few blessed God for
the privilege of learning to read His Word. Women
as well as children commenced with the alphabet,
but such was their avidity to learn the daily text and
portion of hymn taught by dictation, that in a short
time the Bible was in their hands, and the songs of
Zion rose up to heaven, instead of their former impre
cations and idle talk. Groups of women being taught
by their children now met the eye, and in their miser
able abodes, as well as at school, the Bible was read,
and the teaching of the Holy Spirit sought in prayer."
At the time of Mrs. Bowen Thompson s arrival at
Damascus, twenty thousand refugees were crowding
the khans (inns) of the city, huddling into rooms with
no openings but doors, and no conveniences of life.
The women were glad to get work at a piastre (about
twopence) per day at even road-mending, so abso
lutely destitute had the cruel massacre left them.
Mrs. Thompson procured two or three excellent
native assistants to help in cutting out work for the
women, and in teaching the children, of whom she
had a school numbering one hundred.
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 5 i
CHAPTER II.
SCHOOL WORK.
BESIDE these occupations, Mrs. Bowen Thomp
son found opportunity to visit the sick and
dying at the hospital an extemporised insti
tution, adapted from a house of a former
European resident From the patients in this build
ing Mrs. Bowen Thompson heard many sorrowful
tales. A young woman, with three little children,
one of whom was dying in her lap, had seen her
husband and three fine boys hacked to pieces before
her eyes. In another room was " a fine-looking old
woman, with the hand of death plainly to be seen
upon her brow. She had been brought in only the
night before. After propping up her pillows, to make
her comfortable, I tried to say a few words to her
about her soul, and asked her, Was she ready to
die? She shook her head, and clasped her poor
shrivelled hands with an air of deep sorrow. I went
out to see if there was any one who could read some
message from God to her soul. Daond, the cook,
said, I have my Bible, but the people will not listen
to it. I must not read it; they will be so angry.
I said, Never mind, God will not be angry. He
looked delighted, and fetched his Bible. I told him
what to read. He read part of John xiv., and such
texts as chap. iii. 16. I soon saw that he was not
only acquainted with his Bible, but had been taught
of God. He constantly bade her say, Lord Jesus,
save my soul ! Cleanse me from my sins ! Give me
Thy Holy Spirit! The poor woman repeated the
words after him, while the Greek nurse stood over
52 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
her, calling out at each petition, * Say Jesus, Mary
Joseph, have mercy on me ! The poor old woman
seemed at a loss, but soon gave her mind to what the
young Arab cook was reading. Oh ! what a grief it
was to me not to be able to speak to that poor dying
woman. Then came the assistant-doctor, who said,
This woman is dying ; send for the priest. I could
only pray that Jesus, the High Priest, might be with
her, and absolve her from all her sins. ... I do
earnestly hope that this poor woman may have
received the message of Christ s finished work to her
soul. She, too, was a Damascene, and had been very
rich. She saw her husband hacked to pieces, which
so affected her heart that she had been ill ever since."
After ministering to the destitute refugees in the
necessary matters of food and clothing, Mrs. Bowen
Thompson determined to open, to use her own words,
" English, industrial, ragged, and evening schools in
Syria." She looked to the Committee of the Syrian
Relief Fund for supplies of clothes, books, working
materials, and money wherewith to pay the workers
and teachers. The magnitude of the work would have
overwhelmed a weaker woman, and appalled one with
less faith. But Mrs. Thompson was not an ordinary
woman. The " Deborah " of nursery days for by that
name she was hailed often by her brothers and sisters
proved equal to daring and doing great things for
God. She rented a large house for her purpose, and
opened it for the miserable sufferers whom she sought
to serve and save. We must here quote a letter of
hers to the Syrian Relief Committee detailing her
general plan, so that our readers may understand her
beginnings of work. She says, writing to her helpers
t home :
" In one room we shall gather the children ; and
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 53
Saada Barakat, the excellent young widow from
Damascus, whose husband was killed, and herself and
child left destitute, is to be the teacher of this Ragged
School. Her salary is 200 piastres per month, with
food and clothing.
" Second room Industrial Department for women
and girls, under the superintendence of one of the
Damascene widows.
" Third room The depot for receiving and giving
out the work of the Anglo-American Committee,
under the care of another widow from Damascus, who
has lost her all, and will also help in the house
keeping.
" Fourth room Stores from England, which, I
trust, like the widow s cruse of oil, will not fail so long
as there is an empty cruse to be filled. Mr. Consul
Moore is much pleased with the evening school for
teaching the young men Arabic and English. I have
engaged a master for about fourteen pounds per
annum. We are only waiting for you to send us the
books. Arabic Bibles and Testaments I look for
from the British and Foreign Bible Society ; English
spelling-books, adult reading, Scripture portions, map
of Syria, etc., I greatly long for, and trust they will be
sent rapidly."
Mrs. Thompson soon set her poor women to work,
but the demand both for garments and workers quickly
exceeded the supply. Speaking of this she says :
" The door was besieged by some fifty poor women,
all entreating to be taken in, but I had to be firm and
refuse them, and shut the door. We are well supplied
with work from the Relief Committee. The Rev.
Dr. Thomson at once got me a number of warm
jackets and clothing to make up for the people from
Diel el Khamar, as they wish to send them from
54 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Bcyrout as soon as possible. So now we are hard at
work. The Relief Committee will pay me one piastre
and a-half per day for each woman, three piastres for
two, or if need be three helpers ; but I shall have to
pay the teachers about thirty shillings per week.
The teachers are delighted with their work, and even
these few hours have made a great change in their
expression. One poor woman came in during a pelt
ing storm, with nothing but an under-garment and
a few rags to cover her, while her sickly babe was
barely covered with wet tatters. I took from our
bundle of old clothes a little night-gown and frock,
and we dressed the crying babe, to the great delight
of all the women. When we get our boxes, and can
afford to give a few garments to these poor people, it
will be a boon indeed."
At the end of 1860 Mrs. Thompson secured a house
in the suburbs of Beyrout, so spacious and convenient
as to afford schoolrooms and work-rooms, with sleep
ing accommodation for the orphans. Thirty widows
from Hasbeya formed the nucleus of the working-
school, and, in addition, the poor women were taught
habits of cleanliness and household management.
This adult school was always opened with Bible-
reading, prayer, and a hymn, either repeated or sung
by the whole assembly. The hymn, " My faith looks
up to Thee," was a great favourite with the women,
and they were soon able to sing it in Arabic. She
also found it necessary to open a girls school for
the upper classes ; for families who had previously
sent their daughters to the French Sisters of Charity
preferred to put them under the care of the English
lady who taught Protestant principles, and were pre
pared to pay good fees for the privilege, provided
they were allowed to continue their study of French.
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 57
Mrs. Thompson, therefore, made arrangements for such
a school, and engaged another teacher, and, as she
expected, she found the income from this branch to be
a great aid in the support of the widows and orphans.
Very soon she had to convert an old stable into an
additional class-room for adults, and before two
months had gone she opened an infant school, which,
within a week, received ninety pupils. Yet the work
grew, for she had to throw another set of outbuild
ings into one large room, to accommodate a school for
young women. She could not have set on foot
so many branches of work had not a sister from Eng
land, and that sister s husband Mr. and Mrs. Mentor
Mott joined her, resolved to work also for the good
of the destitute people of Syria. In consequence of
their home in England having been burnt down, they
resolved, rather than rebuild, to imitate Mrs. Thomp
son in spending and being spent for the poor Syrian
sufferers. A younger sister Miss Lloyd had al
ready been helping her for some time. So that now
there were four individuals out of one family hard at
work in the self-denying enterprise of feeding the
hungry, clothing the naked, and instructing the
ignorant. Surely such an example is very rare !
And the undertaking grew and prospered, until Mrs.
Thompson herself was amazed at its magnitude. She
says of it :
" When I began, amidst great discouragement, I
had not the slightest idea how large and how rapidly
the work would grow, and when I now look at the
schools as they stand, I own I marvel at what the
Lord has wrought in little more than two months and
a-half. Not a single woman or child has been asked
to come here, but I have had to select, and now we
have 65 women, and 1 10 children, and here for the
58 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
present we must stop, for, as it is, the care of this
large flock completely exhausts my strength and
time. Added to this, refugees from all parts come
here. From dawn till dark, notwithstanding all pre
cautions to admit none but our own women and
children, others make their way into the garden, and
follow me from room to room entreating for work
and clothing. ... I had almost forgotten our Sunday
evening class, when some of the parents and brothers,
as well as our workers, and their friends, come. The
few who can read sit round the tables and read verses
in turn, after which Selim (a teacher), reads a chapter,
and explains it. Many questions are asked, and
then we close in prayer."
In addition, Mrs. Thompson opened a laundry,
which was largely supported by the officers of Her
Majesty s fleet, then lying in the roadstead. By this
means some dozens of women were provided with
occupation and maintenance. The stories told by
these women were very bitter. Here is one which
could be multiplied tenfold : " She told the sad tale of
her experiences in the massacre, and how she had
stood up to her knees in blood, while the Turks
stripped her of her ornaments ; one even attempting
to cut off her finger for the sake of the diamond ring ;
another cutting her neck with a knife, in taking away
her pearl necklace. Then, of their sufferings at the
castle, exposed to the burning sun, with scarcely a
rag to cover them, hungry and thirsty, and how some
Mohammedans who were once their friends brought
them bread and meat which, when they had tasted,
made them sick, and her mother and darling child
died in convulsions from the poison the wretches had
put into the food. Others had also died from the
treacherous act. Sometimes at the schools, the only
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 59
ones who could be prevailed upon to sing the hymns
were the little children ; the women would say, their
hearts were too heavy. "
In July, 1 86 1, the people of Zahleh expressed a
strong desire to have an industrial school opened
there. One chief promised to give his house for a
school, and his daughters " to be Mrs. Thompson s
servants." The people themselves surrounded Mrs.
Thompson in groups, begging her to open a school
without delay. Mrs. Thompson opened a school
here, and it became a prosperous institution.
CHAPTER III.
ENCOURAGEMENTS.
IN 1862, we find Mrs. Thompson writing: "Our
schools have been useful in giving an impetus to
the education of females, and I quite expect in
the next generation it will not be the reproach
of this country that the women are degraded, idle,
and ignorant. The thirst for instruction is extremely
great, and were it not for the love of money, and the
pernicious influence of the priests, education, and not
merely instruction, would be deemed essential, and
sought and paid for by the people themselves. But
it is ours to sow in faith."
Again, " I had no money in hand for my poor
widows. They were without food ; I could not taste
my own dinner. I went up into my own room, and
besought the Lord to give me the means of helping
them. While yet in prayer, the excellent Prussian
Consul called to tell me he had opened a soup-kitchen,
60 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
and would give a meal every day to fifty of my poor
women. Jehovah-Jireh.
" Last week, when the anxiously anticipated box
of Bibles arrived, the women and children in our
schools were eager to possess this treasure. When
I told them that I could only let them have them on
their paying a part of the cost, many voices called
out, Kadesh, kadesh ! how much ? how much ?
Ten piastres (is. 8d.), I replied. A sorrowful look
came over many a bright young face ; but when
I proposed receiving the amount in weekly instal
ments of one penny, more than twenty at once gave
in their names.
" In our women s school, which numbers a daily
attendance of fifty, there are some in whose hearts
the Holy Spirit s influence is clearly at work. Lately
some of these widows have had very severe persecu
tions. The owner of the houses of some of the women
actually turned them out of the house because of their
prayers. One of the women, Mart Mosa, of whom
I have told you before that the Lord had opened her
heart like that of Lydia, had a prayer-meeting one
evening every week at her house. At the request of
the women, I have allowed them the use of the great
hall every Wednesday. Our two Bible-women have
been very hard at work, and what I have told you of
the prayer-meeting may be traced to their great but
unobtrusive work."
In May, 1862, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a
visit to the schools at Beyrout, and was extremely
pleased. On his arrival near the outer premises, he
was astonished at being greeted by the children, who
stood in long rows inside the garden singing " God
save the Queen " in the Arabic tongue. At the
Prince s visit next morning, he asked to hear them
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 6l
sing, read, and recite in the Arabic language, and
further inspected the needlework, being particularly
attracted by the specimens of gold embroidery exe
cuted by the women. Next day, he sent Mrs.
Thompson a present of twenty-five Napoleons,
accompanying the gift with a large order for gold
embroidery.
Writing in 1863, Mrs/Thompson says: "Not only
have we under Christian instruction the children of
those who were butchered in cold blood, but the
children also of those by whose order, if not by whose
hands, multitudes were slain. Yes ; the Druses, the
very sound of whose name, not a twelvemonth since,
excited such a commotion in our schools, are now sit
ting side by side with these same girls, learning the
same Gospel, and singing the same hymns of praise.
For the last four months we have had the two
daughters of a Druse Sheik who was condemned to
death for his evil deeds, but was afterwards sentenced
to banishment instead.
"Mr. Selim Bustros (a Syrian gentleman), came
last Thursday and examined the women s and child
ren s schools for nearly two hours. I cannot tell you
how astonished and delighted he was. He had
known many of the Hasbeyan women before the
massacre, and was amazed to find them in this school
neatly clothed, educated, and in a better mind. He
heard the girls read a chapter from Exodus in Arabic;
Luke in English; also Arabic hymns, geography,
arithmetic, the first class in fractions on the black
board. They recited various pieces in English, and
then he examined their writing, both Arabic and
English. He spoke to the girls, both individually and
collectively, and expressed his delight at what was
being done in these schools, and urged the girls to be
62 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
diligent and punctual in their attendance. He further
said that he never expected to see his countrywomen
so enlightened, and begged I would remove the
schools nearer to the Greek quarter (more aristo
cratic), that the families round might send their
daughters. He said he would do all he could to
facilitate our getting a good house at a reduced rent,
and offered to build a school at a considerable
reduction."
Mrs. Thompson records, now and then, encouraging
instances of spiritual good among the old women pupils.
Here is one which is too interesting to be passed
by : " The blessing our Women s School has been to
some who have not been able to learn to read, in
spite of their long-continued efforts, is now evidenced
in Shehene s mother. She was with me before the
school opened, and is the most aged of the widows.
She has been sinking for some time, but would not
see her danger, and was angry when anyone spoke of
death. She was very fond of the school, and it was
touching to see the old spectacled grandmother,
bereft of her husband and all her sons, sitting on the
mat, and learning to sew, or repeating her A B C or
text of Scripture. When we called to see her yester
day, she said : Dear lady, I bless you for that school ;
I cannot sleep at night for oppression and cough, but
those words I was so long in getting by heart (I
think it was three months ere she could repeat them
correctly), are always sounding in my ears : " Come
unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest." It was affecting to see the old
woman sitting upright on her mattress on the floor.
She said she was a great sinner. I asked her, did she
not know the hymn, Just as I am ? Her countenance
lightened up, and then she joined Shehene and myself,
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 63
with our faithful Gebour in singing it. But there is
one hymn I love better, said she, which we used to
sing at school, and then she sung
1 My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary.
Saviour Divine. "
Towards the end of 1863, Mrs. Thompson was
prevailed upon to set up schools at Hasbeya, a place
in the Lebanon, some few miles from Beyrout, and in
the midst of the district decimated by massacre. The
refugees who had lived at Beyrout so long, and
profited by Mrs. Thompson s sewing-classes and teach
ing, were compelled to return to their ruined homes
in Hasbeya, or forfeit the small allowance granted by
the authorities. But it seemed impossible for them
to return to their ruined homes, broken-hearted and
alone, to commence re-building. Mrs. Thompson
says : " Many of the women urged me to transfer the
Women s School to Hasbeya, and to open a Girls
School there, so that they might continue to enjoy
the spiritual and temporal advantages to which most
of them had been strangers when they came to
Beyrout." Before deciding this matter, it was neces
sary to visit the district of Hasbeya and the neigh
bouring villages. Accordingly, she did so, and the
record of her own impressions, as related in her letter
home, is most interesting.
" At the little village of Ain Kamyreh we found our
tent prepared ; but instead of getting any repose, crowds
of women and children gathered round us, but oh ! so
fearfully ignorant. They scarcely seemed to know
that God made them ; and in answer to our question,
What would become of them after they are dead ?
they replied, How should we know ? We are women !
we are Arabs ! Georgius (a teacher) spoke very
64 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
plainly with them, but none could answer the simplest
question. Who was the first man ? In how many
days had God made the world ? How should we
know ? We are like the cows ; we know nothin^
o
The missionary and native preacher were engaged in
talking with the men ; and when we had separated
after dinner, most anxious for a little repose, the
women and children came again, and said : Would
we open a school for them ? They begged Georgius
would again read the Gospel to them ; and squatting
down on the ground near the tent door, he read
Luke xv., and applied it to them. Their looks were
riveted, and even the children listened with the great
est attention. . . . We then proceeded to Hasbeya,
where is a very fine temple of Baal ; indeed, the
region of Dan abounds in idolatrous temples."
At Hasbeya, they found ruins of cottages and
shops indeed, there was scarcely a house or a roof
left ; while in some cases, the dirty, half-starved
women were trying to re-build their homes with their
own hands. " Amid the masses of ruined houses sat
an aged widow on a low stool, with a little earthen
pot of charcoal before her. Her hands were folded
on her knees, and she sat motionless as a statue.
By her side was a little sort of wigwam, not high
enough for her to stand upright in, and under this
miserable shelter the poor widow sleeps, bemoaning
the dead, and without hope for the future."
Having finally secured the goodwill of both
Mohammedans and Druses, and taken the names
of fifty girls who promised to attend school, Mrs.
Thompson engaged a room, ordered it to be white
washed, and the floor covered with mats, and then
appointed one of her trained girls as mistress.
Further, she engaged such of the native women, as
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 67
workers for wages, who could knit stockings, and
understood making garments. These articles would
find a ready sale at the monthly fair, which was held
in the neighbourhood.
At other villages where she stopped on the return
journey, with her party, Mrs. Thompson was entreated
to open Industrial Schools. In some cases, where the
ladies of the village promised protection, she con
sented.
In the spring of the following year Mrs. Thompson
and her friends made a tour through the Holy Land.
A little incident which happened to the party in the
plain of Esdralon illustrates the dangers of travel
in that land. The incident is recounted by Mrs.
Thompson s sister, Mrs. Mott, in her book, " Stones
of Palestine." It appeared that, in crossing the
plain of Esdralon, the party were benighted, so that
the guides lost their way, and a party of Arabs from
the notorious village of Hattin offered to lead them.
Mrs. Mott says: "We remounted our horses, led by
these mysterious strangers. There passed a peculiar
call from mouth to mouth and from place to place
something thrillingly frightful. Elizabeth overheard
their conversation, and told us we had fallen into bad
hands. One party was evidently urging on another
to some deed, to which he replied, * I am afraid.
Why is that man afraid ? asked Elizabeth. Is he
afraid of the wolves? I am not afraid of them.
The men, finding she could understand them, said the
call was a watchword to let their people know that
the strangers were coming. It was midnight when
we reached Hattin, wending our way down the rough
mountain pass. Here, a number of men, above a
dozen, were lying down. They started to their feet,
threw off their Arab cloaks, and made a movement with
68 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
their weapons. One of our guides now had a close
consultation with their chief, and, meanwhile, Elizabeth,
with her usual tact, had asked for their wives, and,
though it was so late, a nice young woman came out.
Elizabeth, who had previously inquired her name,
now addressed her familiarly as Ischi, and told her
we wanted some lebban (a delicious, thick, sour
milk), and begged her to give us some. After some
parleying with the men Ischi brought us out butter,
or, more properly, buttermilk, in a lordly dish.
Now we knew that we were safe, for having once
shared their hospitality they are bound to defend
not to injure."
The year 1864 witnessed the most encouraging
progress in all the schools, and the purchase of the
sites and buildings was completed. The total number
of schools in Beyrout was eight, and in these four
hundred pupils of different ages and both sexes
gathered regularly, while at some important Lebanon
villages, such as Hasbeya and Ashrafia, other schools
were in working order, with a total of about two
hundred scholars in daily attendance. Most visitors
to the Holy Land heard of these schools, and visited
them. Among other visitors Canon Tristram was
shown over them, and published a most interesting
account in his journal. A few sentences from this
volume will convey to the reader a truer conception
of the abiding value of Mrs. Thompson s work than
can any extracts from her own papers, and with them
we close this chapter.
" I must not omit to mention what was by far
the most interesting to me in Beyrout the female
schools established and conducted by Mrs. Bowen
Thompson. Here, nearly four hundred native
females married women, girls, and infants are
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 69
receiving a sound, useful, and thoroughly Christian
education. Nowhere has the experiment of female
education in the East been tried with more suc
cess, and nowhere has it been conducted on more
uncompromising and thoroughly Christian principles.
Nor is it merely orphans and outcasts that are taken
in, and orphans such as those from the massacre of
Hasbeya received and clothed a very large propor
tion are the children of the wealthiest families in
Beyrout, who pay for their education at a liberal rate.
All the races of Syria are represented."
CHAPTER IV.
CLOSING DAYS IN SYRIA.
THE account given by Mrs. Mott in Mrs. Bowen
Thompson s Life of the funeral of the wife of
a Greek houri (priest) illustrates the success
won by the Gospel among the Syrian people
almost more than anything else can do, and will be
perused with interest by our readers :
" Mrs. Thompson and I mounted our horses and
rode to the houri s house, which stands in a large
mulberry garden. What a scene presented itself!
In front of the cottage, stretched on a low bier,
wrapped in dark clothing and covered with a veil, lay
the wife of the Greek priest. More than one hundred
women were seated on the ground near the bier.
Among them was one of our Bible-women, who was
speaking in a low tone. The three daughters were
seated at the head of the corpse. They rose, and
most affectionately greeted their beloved teacher.
Mrs. Thompson spoke a few words. Such a holy
70 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
calm pervaded the whole. The men were assembled
at the back of the cottage, but the houri, on hearing
that the lady had arrived, came up and spoke to us,
UiBLE-CLASS OF MOM.KM.x
and then stood a little way off. There were no large
candles, and no bemoanings. Our teacher, Georgius,
opened his Bible and read very impressively John xi
MRS. BO WEN THOMPSON. 71
and parts of John x. and xiv. He then made an
earnest, simple address on the resurrection from death
to life, consequent upon the resurrection from sin to
holiness, making a personal appeal to each one
present ; he then repeated their favourite hymn, My
faith looks up to Thee, the women all repeating
it after him, and concluding with the Lord s Prayer.
It was a most solemn service, and would have been
striking even at the funeral of a Protestant. Never
before has such a service been attempted at the death
of a member of the Greek Church, that member
being the wife of a priest, who was present the whole
time, and who cordially thanked Mrs. Thompson for
all her kindness."
Long ere this, Mrs. Bowen Thompson and her
co-workers had so won their way among the Syrian
peasantry that visits, instruction, Bible-readings all
were eagerly welcomed, as well as temporal succour.
Schools had multiplied until many important villages
and centres became supplied with these institutions ;
so that the number had increased far beyond what
she had at first intended, or hoped. Boys schools,
girls schools, infant schools, orphanages, Sunday
schools, " Olive-branch " schools, Moslem boarding-
schools, blind schools, and a school for cripples, were
all in working order in Beyrout and the Lebanon. It
was wonderful whence the supplies came. Moslem
boarders paid, it was true ; but all the profits, after
deducting expenses, went to the support of other
institutions and their teachers.
Mrs. Thompson had a wonderful tact for choosing
workers ; and having chosen a young lad or girl to
assist her, she gave that assistant a proper course of
training in her Normal Training College, from whence,
after the period of training was completed, each was
72 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
appointed to branch or village schools. Most of
these institutions were supported by her own means,
and those of her family. Friends and travellers who
visited the spot, and saw for themselves the self-
denying work carried on by Mrs. Thompson and
members of her family, assisted with donations,
which were always welcome; but still, for the
regular means of support, her private fortune was
laid under tribute. In the whole history of missions
it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find another
instance of this kind.
As a final effort, schools were established at
Damascus; for even in that city the longing for
instruction had entered, and the Moslems entreated
for a school to be opened in which their daughters
might obtain a thorough education, embracing Eng
lish, French, needlework, and other accomplishments.
Of course, they had to pay for this privilege which
they were perfectly willing to do and the school
fees went toward the support of Arabic schools for
the poor. By opening this higher-class school first,
Mrs. Bowen Thompson secured the good-will and
co-operation of the Moslems, and was, consequently,
able to open other schools for the poor and needy.
Not only so ; but at a conference held before the
establishment of any school at all in Damascus she
secured their co-operation, as also that of the Jews, as
witness the following statement from her journal: "It
has been agreed upon, that as the rich were contend
ing the poor ought not to pay, that they should do so
for them ; and I proposed that for every pound they
should have the privilege of sending four children for
one year free to our Arabic school, and this, I am
glad to say, meets their objections. In this way,
several Jewish children have been already adopted
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON. 73
four little ones for one pound. May a rich blessing
attend this plan."
In 1868, the last full year of her service in Pales
tine, Mrs. Thompson records that teachers had been
trained in the College for " two schools in Damascus,
three at Zahleh, two at Ain Zahalteh, two at the
Olive Branch at Ashrafia, one at East Coombe,
two at Musaitbeh, one at Jerusalem in Bishop Gobat s
School, and one at Cairo, with dear Miss Whately."
Last of all, the schools at Damascus were founded,
which she says " may be regarded as our crowning
mercy." And, day by day, numbers of pupils sought
admission, far above the capacity of either teachers
or buildings. Very soon the Prince of the Hauran
district presented a petition for the establishment of
a school in one of the Giant Cities of Bashan ; but
Mrs. Thompson had to tell him that her hands were
so full she could not undertake more. Yet it was
with sorrow and regret she said this ; for in the cities
of the Hauran district the ignorance was so dense
that poor people, widows even, in the direst poverty,
actually paid their priests heavy fees to secure two
feet square of standing-room in heaven after death.
And to such a people the entrance of God s Word
would have been the coming of that which " giveth
light."
In 1869, Mrs. Thompson suffered from illness
induced by overwork and responsibility an illness
which was really the precursor of the end. The
following summer was one of weakness and prostra
tion ; but even while in bed she occupied herself with
reports and operations of the school-work. She said
once to one who sat by her : " Notwithstanding my
great weakness, I have never one instant lost my
peace oi mind, or the sense of the presence of Jesus."
74 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
In September of that year she returned to
England, and went to a sister s home at Black-
heath, reaching there on the ;th of October. But
though apparently benefited by the voyage, she
continued sinking so low that before many days
the physician pronounced her condition hopeless.
This decision was communicated to her ; but
it did not disturb her mind, nor stop her thought
ful arrangements for her Syrian schools. In
one of her last prayers she used these words :
"And now, Lord, let none of those who know me,
and none of those who love me, ever think of me
as going through the grave and gate of death, but
through the gate of glory ! " Her marvellous quiet
ness of mind astonished all who saw her ; it literally
seemed as if angels bore her company. Mrs.
Thompson s sister, writing of the end, says: " Several
times her feet seemed to touch the very brink of
Jordan. Her large bright eyes intently fixed, her
hands stretched out, and looking upwards, she said
faintly, Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost. Jesus ! Jesus ! Rest ! Rest ! Arise !
Amen ! As the last midnight hour of the Sabbath
was tolling out its solemn sound, she deliberately
crossed her arms upon her breast, and resigned her
spirit into the hands of Him who gave it, and while
in the very act of commending her soul to Him, she
entered into that rest which remaineth for the people
of God."
She passed from earth to heaven on the I4th of
November, 1869, leaving many behind who would,
doubtless, follow her.
Here we must close. Of the sorrow of friends, the
bitter lamentations of the Syrian orphans and pupils,
we can say nothing ; but of Elizabeth Maria Thomp-
MRS. BOWEN THOMPSON.
75
son it may safely be said that she shall be held " in
everlasting remembrance " in Syria.
" With wisdom, grace, and love divinely blest,
She raised the fallen, shielded the oppressed.
The blind she led to touch the Word and see ;
And healed the strife of creeds by charity.
Damascus mourns her Hermon s daughters weep
Their mother in the Lord has fall n asleep.
Her native land hath claimed her mortal part ;
Jesus her soul ; but Syria hath her heart."
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
7
r.
MEDICAL ZENANA MISSIONARY TO INDIA OF THE
IRISH PRESBYTERIAN MISSION.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY DAYS CONSECRATION AND TRAINING.
MARY McGEORGE was the seventh child and
eldest daughter of James McGeorge, Esq.,
J.P., of Newry, County Down. She was born
at Newry, on the 3Oth of April, 1850, but in
i860 the family removed to Carnmeen House, a
picturesquely-situated residence, three miles from the
town. From her earliest years she was thoughtful and
studious never idle, but ever helpful, and always
seeking for something to do for the good of others.
We are told that she busied herself in visiting the
aged and sick near her home, and established an
evening Sabbath school for the benefit of the child
ren of the labourers on the place, as well as for those
children of neighbouring families who were willing to
attend. Mr. McGeorge was a very intelligent man,
and encouraged his children in their intellectual pur-
77
78 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
suits and studies, while the cultivated, gentle mother
ably seconded him ; so that the tone of the home-life
conduced to, and fostered in the members of the
family, intellectual life and activity. In all this
Mary shared, growing by its means more fitted, as
years rolled on, for the great work which God meant
her to do.
A time came when Mary saw before her what she
had long desired a definite work on behalf of Christ
and His Kingdom. It came about in this way. The
late Rev. Dr. Fleming Stevenson was a greatly es
teemed friend of her father s, and as he passed hither
and thither, in various ministerial or other errands, he
became, from time to time, a much honoured guest in
the home at Carnmeen. Previous to the visit which
led to a decision to work in Zenana missions, infor
mation concerning that branch of work in connection
with the Irish Presbyterian Church Missions in India
had been eagerly sought for ; and so much did this
information touch the heart of Mary McGeorge, that
several Auxiliary Missionary Societies were estab
lished in the neighbourhood of Newry, mainly by her
instrumentality. She acted as secretary to these
Auxiliaries, and by the distribution of missionary
letters (for the Mission had no magazine in those
early days) kept alive the public interest in the work
of the Zenanas. Her own efforts roused, she by
degrees drew into active co-operation many who now
serve the cause of missions with whole-souled devo
tion. What, then, could be more natural than that
she should become, in far-off India, an accredited and
earnest worker ? She had no particular home ties ;
her heart was in the work, she was active, healthy,
energetic, and, beneath her outwardly quiet manner,
enthusiastic. She had received a good education,
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
79
the last year of her school-life having been spent at
Clifton, under Miss Millington, principal of a school
for ladies there, and this made it comparatively easy
for her to enter upon a university career, with a
view to a special profession.
Yet she had other and higher qualifications. Those
we have mentioned would not, of themselves, afford
justification for entering upon a life of toil and self-
sacrifice in Zenana missions, although we all admit
that scholastic training and educational acquire-
THE HOME AT CARNMEEN.
(It was here that Miss McGeorge decided on her life-work. )
ments are indispensable. It required much love,
sympathy, and a single aim, in humble dependence
upon the Holy Ghost, to lead others out of darkness
into the marvellous light of the Gospel. All these
qualifications were possessed by Mary McGeorge, and
she waited humbly and prayerfully for the call. That
call came, and in this wise. In one of Dr. Stevenson s
visits to the home, he believed he saw in his friend s
eldest daughter one who was in every way fitted to
80 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
labour successfully among our neglected Indian
sisters. He spoke his thoughts, explained the nature
of the work, and asked the mother (the father being
dead) if she would consent to part with her daughter.
Then, turning to the daughter, he asked if she were
willing to leave home and friends for Christ s sake?
The response was immediate ; the call had come, and
the prepared heart responded fully, so that from that
moment, Mary McGeorge was devoted to the service
of the Zenana missions of her father s Church.
In pursuance of her consecrated purpose, her
application to be appointed Zenana medical mis
sionary was forwarded to the Missionary Com
mittee at Belfast, and received by them on the ?th
of November, 1878. The Examining Committee,
before whom the candidate appeared, handed in
a satisfactory report, and she was unanimously
accepted.
The decision having been definitely made, no time
was lost in entering upon the needful studies. Just
here, it may be useful to remind our younger readers
of the difficulties which existed in those days in
regard to the intellectual rights of women. The
medical course connected with colleges was not yet
thrown open to women. The idea was very novel
and very distasteful that women should have access
to the same medical classes as men. " There was no
precedent for such a course ; " " the thing would not
work ; " " the male students would not stand it ; " " let
women stick to their own sphere;" "they will lose
refinement and delicacy ;" "they have not the nerve;"
" there is no room for them ; " " let them become
teachers, or hospital nurses, or anything rather than
doctors." These, and many other unkind things, fell
to the lot of all women who sought medical training
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
81
during the time of which we write. Still it may not
be amiss to refer to these things, if only in order to
show how many difficulties and prejudices had to be
overcome by any woman who longed to enter the
noble profession of medicine. But after many
struggles, the day dawned when no one would think
of hinting at the exclusion of women from the
medical profession, for it had come to be recognised
that they were richly endowed with all the needful
qualities of intellect, nerve-power, and of judgment.
Eventually, fully-equipped schools of medicine were
established, and to one of the chief of these the
London School of Medicine for Women Miss
McGeorge betook herself, her name appearing in
the register of that Institution as having entered
in October, 1879. Her course of study embraced
the usual subjects, and in two of these, Chemistry
and Surgery, she passed with honours.
As preliminary to this medical training, she
had passed, previous to her London curriculum of
study, in Latin, German, English Literature, and
Geometry at the University Local Examinations,
held in the Hall of Queen s College, Belfast.
Her career in London was uninterrupted, and un
usually successful. She worked diligently, never
missing a class or a lecture, and passed every exam
ination with credit, her four and a-half years course
ending in 1884. Mary McGeorge was not one of those
who offer on the Lord s altar that which costs them
nothing. The best of her life, her power of brain,
and her heart s love were freely offered to Him whose
she was, and whom she served.
82 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
CHAPTER II.
THE NEW SPHERE OF WORK.
WHILE awaiting her appointment, Miss
McGeorge acted for six months as house
surgeon to the New Hospital for Women,
Euston Road, and while gaining valuable
experience there, became a valued worker. In
May, 1884, she passed her final examination in
Dublin, for the Licentiateship of the King s and
Queen s College of Physicians, and also took the
L.M. diploma.
On the 3 ist of July, 1884, Miss McGeorge started
for Vienna, for a course of special study. But she left
England in somewhat weak health, and being pro
strated with severe illness, after a few weeks was
compelled to return home to England by easy stages.
Early in November of that year she arrived at the
new family home at Buxton, her mother having
removed from Ireland to that town.
During 1884, and the earlier months of 1885, Mrs.
McGeorge s health steadily declined. She had spent
much upon her daughter s medical education, and her
longing desire to see Mary as a worker in the mission-
field appeared far from being gratified, as, day after
day, she showed no signs of returning strength.
Meantime all Mary s spare hours were spent in
devoted attendance upon her., much-loved mother.
The thought of shortly leaving that mother, perhaps
never to see her again in this world, was a sorrowful
one, but God had decreed that the separation should
take place prior to Mary s departure. During Sep
tember the mother " fell asleep," and her remains
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 83
were laid to rest in Fairfield Cemetery. So, across
the threshold of Miss McGeorge s life-work lay the
heavy shadow of bereavement, saddening her heart
as she bravely stepped forth to her service of love
for the Master, in a strange and distant land. The
great link which held the young missionary to this
country was now broken in the inscrutable Providence
of the all-wise Disposer of lives. Mrs. McGeorge had,
as we have already seen, longed to see her daughter
enter upon the life to which she had so cheerfully
dedicated her, but this was not to be. The mother
departed to see "the King in His beauty," and the
daughter set out to carry into execution the dearest
wish of that mother s heart.
A valedictory service was held at Rosemary Street
Church in Belfast, on Tuesday, the roth of November,
1885, to take farewell of Dr. Mary McGeorge and
Miss McDowell, on the eve of their departure for
India. Dr. Fleming Stevenson was there, and ad
dressed the two women consecrated to the work in
language affecting, cheering, and tender, as he could
well do. Doubtless he remembered that early scene
when Mary consented to devote herself to the work
in response to his inquiry and urging, and he and all
who heard him had full hearts.
The missionary party, of which Miss McGeorge was
a member, sailed from London in November, 1885,
on board the P. and O. steamer Nepaul, and reached
Bombay, via the Suez Canal, late in December. Two
of the Presbyterian missionaries met the party at
Bombay, so making the young beginners first experi
ences of India pleasant and free from difficulty. En
route to Ahmedabad a city which was to be the
centre of her work for the next few years stoppages
were made at Surat and Anand, to familiarise the
84 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
newcomers with the distinctive mission operations
carried on at these centres, and give them a foretaste
of what lay before them. First impressions are gen
erally striking, and every detail possesses interest.
Miss McGeorge had a faculty of observation, and her
descriptions of places, person, and customs are al
ways vividly pictured.
Her first letter deals with initial impressions of mis-
BRAHMINS OF SURAT.
sionary operations at Surat. She says : " You will
have heard of the safe passage of the Nepaul, P. and
O. steamer, by which we arrived. It was uneventful
the usual thing : stormy in the Bay of Biscay-
enjoyable in the Mediterranean very close in the
Canal very hot in the Red Sea cooler in the Indian
Ocean, or perhaps I should say the Arabian Gulf.
Everyone was delighted to anchor off Bombay. I was
glad to see Mr. Taylor and Mr. Shilliday, who met us.
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
Having been on the Continent makes one feel less
foreign to the open houses and matted floors, and all
PARSEE CHILDREN.
that kind of thing. ... It is not possible to say yet
how I like India, because we are not yet in our own
home. We stayed a week in the Zenana house at
86 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Surat. The mission work is getting on well, and as
it was holiday time we saw some phases of it that we
should not otherwise have seen. A number of Parsee
girls came to see us, and stayed to afternoon tea. It
was interesting to see them, and to hear from them
about their study of English and other subjects. I
believe that Parsees are most difficult to get at how
ever. They receive instruction in the Scriptures
willingly, but are slow to be acted upon ; still they
learn, and some are Christians, but not able to declare
themselves so. It is easy to understand how hard it
must be for them, when they would have to leave
their homes, and be outcast for the sake of Christ, for
there is no place to which they could go."
Again, she adds : " However, there is a great deal
of underground work going on, and it may be that
some day they will come out in numbers and have
each other s support. ... I was down in the dispen
sary a few times."
Again, " Mr. Shilliday has charge of the printing-
press. The books and tracts they print have a wide
circulation, so that a great deal of good is being done
in that way." . . . f< I also visited a Mohammedan lady
with Miss Roberts. The house seemed very bare,
but I was told this uncomfortable abode was the
residence, of one of the first families. We then visited
the Armenian Church it was a ruin, a home for bats.
We then went to a native school three small rooms,
with the boys sitting on the floor like tailors. I think
I shall find India and my work will prove most inter
esting."
On the 6th of January, 1886, Dr. Mary McGeorge
arrived at Ahmedabad. The two ladies were met by
Mr. Taylor, a missionary coadjutor already resident
there. Her verdict was that "Ahmedabad was a
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
8 9
fine city, flourishing and very different from Surat"
The accompanying illustration of the Zenana Mission
House in Ahmedabad, gives a good idea of the gen
eral style of dwelling occupied by Europeans in
India. She says, "Bungalow is a term applied to
one-story dwellings, but as the illustration shows
two stories, the more dignified name of house is
properly applied to the mission residence. An up
stair room is an advantage, inasmuch as it protects
from malarial ground influences, and gives one the
chance of getting any occasional breath of wind there
may be. During the day, however, the upper room
becomes a strongly-heated furnace, from which one
flees, owing to the lack of a verandah, similar to that
on the ground floor. The dark rolls, visible under the
edges of the verandah roof, are chico, or blinds made
of very narrow thin laths ; these are let down in
the daytime to exclude the glare and the hot wind.
Some people prefer hot wind to none at all, and,
therefore, leave all the dcors open, and banish
chico ; but under these conditions the glare is very
blinding, and must in time injure the eyes.
"On the ground-floor there is just one long apart
ment. Of this a quarter is screened off to form a
bedroom ; the remainder is divided by a folding-
screen into a sitting-room and dining-room. Behind
the sitting-room is a tiny apartment, which does duty
as a surgery.
" All roofs are tiled, or should be, and in the picture
will be seen the ravages made thereon by the sacred
monkeys. Troops of monkeys hovered in the neigh
bourhood, and from time to time made a general
stampede over the house, scattering tiles in every
direction. These animals a dozen at once would
rush across the sitting-room, tear up the stairs, and
90 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
down again, while the occupants of the sitting-room
would calmly gaze at them, and, indeed, would not
attempt to interfere with their vagaries. Now and
again a scorpion would be found by the wall, close
to where a member of the mission band had been
SACRKI) MONKEYS.
sitting, and sometimes it would creep about on the
floors at night, making its presence known by strik
ing the floor with its tail, keeping rhythmic time to
its own steps. Occasionally, too, there would be an
alarm in the compound (or yard) on account of the
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 91
presence of an invading snake, creating alarm, and
even terror.
" The doors must be kept open at such times as the
monkeys make their inroads, and this is chiefly during
the rainy season, unless the deluge of rain compelled
them to close doors ; but in this case it would be very
dark, as there are no windows in the Mission House.
It is not so very much cooler during the rains, but
rather a different kind of heat a steamy, muggy,
kind of atmosphere/ certainly one which would be
extremely unhealthy."
Before passing to the account of Miss McGeorge s
work, it may be well to remark that there is much
quiet, underground work of a religious character
among the natives of India which cannot very well be
tabulated, but is none the less real, and which must
tell in time to come, if it only has a fair chance.
Such work is literally like " seed sown by the way
side." This view is strongly held by missionaries of
all the evangelistic Churches who have laboured there.
Though comparatively few outward results appear
from various forms of missionary labour, there is an
undergrowth of belief in the Christian religion which
would spring up and bear abundant fruit, but for the
" fear of man." There are many secret disciples ; and
if by some work of the Holy Spirit these secret
disciples could be brought to band themselves to
gether, a bright day of Gospel light and life would
dawn upon India. The following extract from a
letter refers to this question :
"AHMEDABAD, 2oth April, 1886.
" is in heart a Christian, but he is waiting for
baptism in the hope that his wife will also come out.
He says she believes in Jesus, and reads the Gospel
of St. Luke every evening. What makes them both
92 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
hesitate is the caste persecution they would have to
endure. The Hindoos are a timid race, and what
they would have to pass through is, in any case,
formidable. He says he knows about forty Hindoos
in Ahmedabad who believe in Christ, but dare not
avow their belief. Perhaps some day a nation will
be born in a day."
Another interesting case is also referred to by Miss
McGeorge, presenting very nearly the same difficulties.
Our readers will be thus enabled to understand some
of the peculiar trials of mission life :
"AHMEDABAD, 2nd August, 1 886.
- has brought his wife to read, and he wished
her to attend the Female Training College, but she
was afraid that she might be made a Christian, and
therefore has not gone. The struggle within himself
as to whether he may have courage to be baptised
still continues ; but I think he is growing stronger in
the faith. He is naturally well inclined. From time
to time I give him a tract on the subject, or lend him
a book."
The next extract refers to the case of a young
Mohammedan, a student at the Mission High School.
He went into the schoolroom where a young class
was being taught.
" Presently in walked a young Brahmin, a student
in our High School. I asked him what he wanted?
He said, Only to see the class taught. We invited
him to remain. We sang I have a Saviour, and he
joined in it. Then followed prayer, after which he
salaamed, and said he was going ; but I persuaded
him to wait. The Bible lesson was on The offering
of Isaac, so that pointed to Christ, and I spoke
seriously to him. He said that he did not think
baptism was necessary, if we kept the commands of
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 93
Christ. I told him baptism was a command of
Christ. They all stumble at baptism, because it
seems such a decided step. He promised to come
next Sunday."
In this way we think it will be quite easy to detect
that the leaven of the Gospel had made its way into
native minds ; but in how large a percentage of cases
this assent of the head was followed by the allegiance
of the heart it would be very difficult to say.
CHAPTER III.
HEATHEN MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
AHMEDABAD was wholly given up to idolatry
in many forms. We find that among the high
festivals of heathenism in the district, could
be reckoned that of Krishna s birthday. The
people also worshipped serpents, and observed certain
days as sacred to them. The process of worship
mainly consisted, however, in drawing serpentine lines
in the sand and indulging in feastings. The Gujerati
Hindoos seemed not to mind how many objects
of worship they had, and the greatest uncertainty
might prevail over the facts .and origin of a super
stitious custom ; nevertheless it was observed all the
same. Some extracts from Miss McGeorge s letters
will prove these statements.
"To-morrow at 4 A.M. begins the anniversary of
Krishna s birth, and to-day is also a great holiday.
The people have been bathing in the Sabarmatti river
for purification, and they will spend the remainder of
the day visiting the temples, perhaps eight times. They
only look at the idol, and give money to the priest."
94 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Miss McGeorge also describes a mourning celebra
tion among the Mohammedans. " Last Saturday
was the great Mohammedan festival of MoJiurrum,
a festival in honour of Mohammed s grandsons,
Hossein and Hossan, who died in one day, fighting
for the cause. The observance or festival is called
The Tabut. We had a splendid view of the pro
cession. About 150 tabuts were carried along on
men s shoulders at intervals of about a minute.
These tabuts are like huge toy mosques, made
of wood, and covered with gold and silver tinsel.
Some are really expensively got up. Then a wooden
elephant was dragged along on wheels, and also a
wooden peacock. The streets were densely crowded
along the route, and Sepoys preserved order. The
people here were quiet, but in some other places there
were riots. The * tabuts are supposed to be thrown
into the Sabarmatti river, to appease the gods, and
favour the ghosts of Hossein and Hossan. I believe
that they cast in only poor little tabuts/ and reserve
the good ones for next year. However, they are
nearly all carried down and sprinkled with the river-
water, which is sacred. Inside some of the tabuts
there are fruits and representations of various figures.
Over each tabut a canopy was borne. Men followed
beating their breasts and dancing wildly. Although
it is a Mohammedan festival, the Hindoos take as
much part in it as their former conquerors."
Miss McGeorge tells us her personal experiences
of the climate. In September, 1886, she narrowly
escaped a sunstroke.
" October is the most trying month of all. How
ever, the season has happily not yet affected my
health, but the climate is very trying all the same.
One never feels buoyant here ; always inclined to
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
97
succumb to the heat and its attendant evils, so that it
is always working against the elements. If one
admits the fact that it is impossible to get through so
much in a day as at home, and rests contented, one
can do pretty well. It certainly is an impossibility to
study as at home. Night study is very unhealthy,
and the days are just melting.
"The other morning, walking a few steps to the
Ghardi from the Dispensary, the sun struck my back,
and I felt sick for a day or two, and had a great
headache. The hardened natives go about unhurt.
Most of the men have an umbrella ; the women have
not, and I suppose custom has inured them."
Again, " One month of work at the Dispensary is
over, and some grave cases have come. It is said
that Lord and Lady Dufferin will visit Ahmedabad
next month. The day that the Duke and Duchess
of Connaught landed was kept as a general holiday."
About this time Dr. Fleming Stevenson passed
away to his reward, leaving behind him a gap which
could not be filled. Miss McGeorge thus laments
him :
"We are all shocked to hear about the death
of Dr. Stevenson, so suddenly called away ! His
place may be filled, but there are few so enthusiastic
and of such a kind, gentle, thoughtful disposition.
What an amount of work he crowded into his life !
He said once he did not like to lose an opportunity
of work because, though life might be prolonged, each
opportunity came but once. "
Miss McGeorge held to the opinion, in common
with other missionaries, that the time is coming when
native workers will do the work that foreign mission
aries are now doing in India. Writing on this point,
she says : " Here all Churches look forward to the
G
98 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
time when foreign missionaries will not be needed at
all, but the whole Church will be managed by the
natives themselves. But I believe that day to be far
distant."
We get just a little peep at her medical work.
" I may be said to be in full swing now. This is my
routine of work. Every day from 8 to 10.30 I am at
the Dispensary, and attend from 75 to 80 patients.
Then home to breakfast at 1 1 A.M., and very tired.
Pundit for two hours, or his wife for Scripture lesson
and sewing. At 3 P.M. a cup of tea, study till about
5.30 ; walk ; dine at 7 P.M. ; at 9 we have prayers,
then bed. This is the usual routine."
Again. " My medical work proceeds daily as usual.
I get patients from every caste ; I have had to put up
a notice that no man is to come without permission.
Yesterday there was rather a hubbub because a man
came with his little boy. I let him in by a different
door, and made him wait behind the curtain. He
said he had been to many doctors, without benefit,
and he therefore came to me. There is a sad lack
of proper ideas in this country. Most things are just
exactly the reverse of what they should be."
About this time Miss McGeorge paid a visit to
Borsad, a town which was the first station occupied
by the Irish Presbyterian Church. It lies in the
elevated table-land of Gujerat, at about 1900 feet
above the sea- level, and is connected by rail with
Bombay and Baroda. The population numbered
about 13,000, and presented an interesting field for
mission labour. Here she was summoned to
attend the Ranee, who was ill at a village close
by. But, after a few days work and visiting, she
was back in Ahmedabad again, eager to take up
her duties.
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 99
CHAPTER IV.
LIFE IN AHMEDABAD.
IT will be needful to describe Ahmedabad before
going further, so that our readers may be more
fully acquainted with Miss McGeorge s work in
that city, the city itself, and its position in the
Gujerat district.
The city of Ahmedabad is the capital of the district,
and is situated on the east or left bank of the river
Sabarmatti. It was formerly one of the largest cities
in India, celebrated for its commerce and manufac
tures. Silk and cotton fabrics, articles of gold, silver,
steel, enamel, mother-of-pearl, lacquerie ware, and fine
wool-work, were all manufactured there. With the
rise of the Mahratta power, however, Ahmedabad be
came the scene of repeated struggles between the
Mahrattas and the Mussulmans, whose power began
to wane. From this period its prosperity declined ;
it was captured by the Mahrattas in 1755, and again
by the British in 1780. The British soon gave the
town back to the Mahrattas, who held it until it finally
came into the hands of the English in 1818, during
the rule of Warren Hastings. At present, the city is
flourishing; it contains a population of over 116,000
souls. It has a large and important station on the
Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway. It is
the seat of important silk manufactories, and has two
cotton-mills worked by steam-power.
The city was founded by Ahmad, grandson of a ruler
styled Wajeh-ut-Mulk ; who chose a site occupied by
a community of the Bhil race, whose predatory habits
were the terror of the neighbourhood. He resolved
to create a new capital, and this he did, by using up
100 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
the materials of a conquered city, compelling all its
former inhabitants to follow the spoils of their temples
and dwellings to the uninteresting and unhealthy site
on the banks of the Sabarmatti. The agriculturists
are Kimbi, Rajputs, and Koli ; while many of them
are also skilled weavers. Some of their social customs
are very peculiar. For instance, the Hadna Kimbi
tribe, when a suitable husband cannot be found for a
girl, marry the poor girl to a man already married,
obtaining previously his promise to divorce her as
soon as the ceremony is over. This being done, the
girl is afterwards given " Natra," which is the second
and cheap form of marriage, to any one who will wed
her. Such is the lot of many a poor native girl ;
sold into the bitterest slavery, without a word of her
own upon the matter. What would our own girls say
to this? The humblest and hardest-worked maid
servant in the British Islands is a queen in her own
right compared with her Hindoo sisters ! thanks to the
religion of Jesus.
The principal architectural attractions of the city
consist in heathen temples some of which are of
great beauty. The external dimensions of the great
mosque are 382 feet by 258 feet, and it is said to be
one of the most beautiful mosques of the East.
Ahmad Shah and his queen lie buried there.
Writing in some of her depressed moments, Miss
McGeorge says : " Sometimes our race seems short,
but it is long enough after all. As it is said in the
hymn, so I feel, I would not live alway. Life is
bearable because we know it has a glad termination.
. . . Yet, in this country, the heathen around seem
happy enough ; but this is the happiness from ignor
ance. They do not think much, and are content to
take the hours as they come. It is only the civilised
DR. MARY McGEORGE. IO3
folk who have the pain of deep thought ; so true is it
that knowledge increaseth sorrow. "
Miss McGeorge tells us, here, how she spent her
first Christmas in India among the people whom she
taught. The experiences were somewhat different
from those of home and the home-land.
" Our Christmas-tree went off capitally. It was a
babul tree with thorns that conveniently held the
presents and the candles. There were about one
hundred and fifty little native children, and perhaps
as many grown-up folks relations and friends and
a few Eurasian and East Indian children."
At the commencement of 1887, she paid a visit
to Mount Abu, a hill health-resort and a celebrated
mountain of western India, between five and six
thousand feet in height. She tells us of some
noted heathen temples built upon the sides and
platforms of this mountain height, known as "Jain
temples." As one reads her description of them,
one can realise very fully how the natives of India
are " wholly given up to idolatry." She says that one
temple was " built by two brothers, rich merchants,
about the end of the eleventh century, and for
delicacy of carving and intricate beauty of detail,
stands almost unrivalled even in this land of patient
and lavish labour." Another temple built by a rich
merchant prince, about 1032, is one of the oldest, as
well as one of the most complete examples of Jain
architecture known. The principal object inside the
temple is a cross-legged figure of the god Parisnath,
seated cross-legged in a little cell, which cell is
surrounded by a court-yard and a double colonnade of
pillars, forming an immense portico. Outside are
about fifty other little cells, just as would be seen in
a Buddhist monastery.
104 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Europeans resort in large numbers to Abu, where,
owing to the great elevation, the atmosphere is much
cooler than in the scorching plains below. It is the
favourite spot with missionaries stationed in the
Gujerat district, and going to Abu is known as " -oino-
to the hills."
Miss McGeorge found many Parsees amon<r the
dwellers in that district, and they were invariably
apt pupils in all branches of education, but she
almost as invariably discovered in them a spirit
opposed to the doctrines of Christianity. We quote
from her own account :
" The Parsees take on European civilisation more
eadily than any other of the peoples of India. Would
that they would also take on our Christian religion,
but that they reject. I do not know of one convert
from amongst them in Ahmedabad."
She says, in a letter dated the isth of May, 1887 :
" Your letter reached in time to add its weight of influ
ence to that of others, requiring me to fly the plains.
We left Ahmedabad on Monday, the 9 th, at 10.20 A.M
and reached Abu Road Station at 5 P.M. Here we
found conveyances awaiting us two ponies, a chair,
and a dandy/ In the dandy (a hammock on poles) one
is obliged to recline, and in the chair to sit bolt upright -
so Miss M Dowell and I took each mode alternately!
The coolies deposited us occasionally on the road,
and refreshed themselves with water and a pipe.
Eventually they set us down in a compound, and
seemed indifferent to any pressure until a lady
emerged and directed us here. Here there are red
It is so delightful to see home flowers again !
For the first time since leaving Ireland, I feel cool
and comfortable, and can write and study without
feeling such action to be a distinct effort. One sets
DR. MARY McGEORGE. IO5
tired with so much conscious cerebration. One can
live at Abu. At Ahmedabad, one forces one s-self to
exist, and to perform one s duty in spite of a tempera
ture of no F. in the shade. It has reached 115 F.
this week, down in those lower regions. In Surat,
the temperature is not so high, and they have not the
(hot) furnace wind we have at Ahmedabad.
" In each side of our railway carriage, instead of a
window, there was a tatte, which, dipped into water,
kept the air cool. This tatte, a species of miniature
mill-wheel, is made of grass, and we have to give it
an occasional turn.
" Abu is a beautiful place a mass of hills crowded
almost to the summit, crags and boulders, winding
mountain paths, etc. A great many people stay here ;
their time is altogether taken up with amusements,
and we see little of them."
The next letter gives us a description of a visit to
a heathen temple at this elevated health resort.
" We visited the Dilwarree temples yesterday. If
I remember rightly, they are eight hundred years old.
They nestle at the foot of the hills, and, it is said,
took fourteen years in building. The cost of exca
vating their sites alone is said to have been 560,000.
They are, of course, typical Jain temples. On the
flat roof are numerous little domes. Inside, there is
a central sanctuary, and around, a square of little
cells, fifty-two in number, each containing one, two,
or three idols in white marble, sitting cross-legged,
and wearing that look of imperturbability common to
Buddhist deities. These temples are considered to be
next in splendour to the Taj Mahal, at Agra. They
are erected on the site of a temple formerly dedicated
to Siva and Vishnu, and the founder, Bunul Sah, a
Jain merchant of Anhilusana, purchased the site from
106 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
the Ruler of Sirohi by covering the required ground
with silver coin. The building cost eighteen millions
of rupees. The second temple was founded in the
thirteenth century ; the other two, which are much
inferior, being only about 400 years old. The pillars
inside are all of white marble, and are beautifully
carved in small figures."
Miss McGeorge returned to her work in Ahmeda-
bad much benefited by the change of air and scene.
She soon resumed her correspondence.
We get a little insight into the self-esteem and pride
of the Brahmins in the next letter. The " Brahmins
are gentlemen," according to their own opinion.
" AHMEDABAD, %th August, 1887.
"This month is a great holiday time, especially
with the Shravaks. One-third of the population of
Ahmedabad is composed of Shravaks, a sub-division
of the Vanias. One boy told me yesterday, We
Vanias and Brahmins are gentlemen, and we do not
mix with Kimbies and Dherds. So I told him that
the Kimbies and Dherds would get into heaven, and
they, the gentlemen, would be left out."
The Stevenson Memorial Fund was raised by the
Irish Presbyterians for the establishment of a native
pastorate in the Gujerati district, and from Miss
McGeorge s testimony it seems that some of these
men were most exemplary in their conduct.
She says : " There is a native Christian in the
Anand district who contributes a tenth of all his
substance, so setting a good example. Then at
Bhalay, a native evangelist named Nathu has given a
bell for the church, in memory of his little daughter.
If they show the grace of liberality in this way, it will
augur well for the future of the Christian Church in
India."
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 1 07
CHAPTER V.
MEDICAL WORK.
"IT the Dispensary, the people like to get the
l\ tracts and Parables explained to them by the
L A. Bible-woman, and they say : We want to
understand everything ! tell us all ! and they
ask leave to visit the Bible-woman s home. She is
very good at explaining the Bible, and somjavos them
well. This word means to cause to understand In
Gujerati, the fewest possible words are used, and a
great deal is left to be understood. For instance,
What are you doing ? is properly Shoon t humming
kurro cho? One can omit thumming altogether, and
ask only Shoon kurro cho! Then again, the same
word stands for both to-day and to-morrow katte.
Another strange peculiarity of this tongue is that they
always say No when we would say Yes. House
wives may be interested in hearing how floors are
scrubbed over here. Well, they deluge the floor with
water ; in this they wade, with skirts gracefully
tucked up, and walk in a stately fashion, or slide as if
rinking. No soap, of course ; much loss of time, and
little good is the result of these proceedings. We
shall be glad when all this graceful rinking is over,
and we emerge as from a second deluge, resuming
our normal life once more."
Miss McGeorge says in another letter : " I am busy
at work again, and the Dispensary is getting full once
more. At present I am trying to open a second dis
pensary in another part of the city if possible in the
Mohammedan quarter. Mr. Taylor has some inquir
ers now, and I trust they may go on to baptism. One
sees so many go to the verge, and yet stop short, that
IOS MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
one cannot but feel doubtful. And yet we must go
on with such ones as perseveringly as if we knew that
they would take the final step. I have three women
of the Vania caste who come to me to be taught, and
I do hope that all three will yet be Christians. They
are all inclined to be so ; but whether they will break
away from caste remains to be seen."
In her dispensary work, Miss McGeorge was always
assisted by a Bible-woman, and a native dispenser.
While both she and her assistant were busy putting
up medicines for the body, the Bible-woman was talk
ing and reading to the waiting patients, thus supply
ing healing for the soul. It may be wondered at that
Miss McGeorge could prescribe for her patients with
out being perfect mistress of the language ; but she
had acquired it partially, and it must be remembered
that missionaries in general make a beginning with
"stammering tongues," rather than hold back until
they have obtained linguistic facility. The following
letters deal strictly with dispensary work in 1886-87.
" The dispensary now begins at seven in the morn
ing, and until ten, and very often eleven, there is a
constant stream of patients. It was impossible to
limit the number to forty ; when they appear, one has
not the heart to send them away, especially when
they come from long distances. They come from
Baroda, and from up-country, and naturally wish to
return the same day. I am so thankful that our
Bible-woman is so capable, and that we have such a
truly earnest, sincere, Christian worker. Her heart is
in her work, and it is quite evident that she has the
one pure aim of teaching the women about Christ.
The other morning she sung a hymn, and one young
woman is particularly anxious to learn to sing it. A
patient paid a friendly call a few days ago, and to
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 1 1 1
turn her thoughts to higher things than her physical
pain I took up the Elementary Catechism and asked
her a few questions. As of course she could not
answer them her curiosity was aroused, and then it
was easy to lead on the conversation. When I told
her that God knew everything, she eagerly inquired,
Does He know about my pain ? and when leaving,
she asked anxiously, Was I pleased to see her ?
I said I was, very much, and told her to come again.
Just now, a lady, a Hindoo, from Ahmedabad came in
for treatment. They do not grudge coming any
distance for relief. A native doctor came with her.
She had been under his care for a time.
" Medical work is interesting at all times, but
particularly so in this country where there is so much
ignorance about the commonest ailments ; at the
same time I should not feel half the interest in it were
it not for the mission aspect of the work. It is a
great comfort to be able to point them to Him who
can heal the sin-sick soul. There is no limit to the
openings in this country ; but then, to undertake half
the work that is waiting would need a very large
accession to our ranks.
" Sunday last I was called to Nariad to see a
patient. She was a Nagar Brahmin a Brahmin of
the Brahmins and a widow of about thirty-six years
of age. She lay on a cot on the verandah in the
inner court. She was suffering great pain, and
although her sisters and other relatives tried every
means they could to afford her some relief it was of
no avail, so at last they sent for me, as the native
doctor could not attend her. I did all that the cir
cumstances warranted, but I wished very much to get
her up to Ahmedabad to some relatives so that
I could see her again, as she requires constant care.
112 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
It transpired that a widow of her caste must spend
the first two years of her widowhood in the house,
and can under no pretext depart from this strict law.
In ways such as this, one s work is baffled, and the
suffering of the patients lengthened. Her son, who is
very intelligent, accepted two little books in Gujerati
and promised to read them. I hope they will send
for me again."
Again, she tells us: "There is an entertainment
to be found in the dispensary known only to the
initiated. That is the effect of the strong ammonia
bottle. Some women who have been permitted
to smell the bottle to cure their headaches, ask
that their stranger friends may do the same, and
advise hereto take a good smell ; which she generally
does, and is, in consequence, rather overcome by it
this effect being anxiously looked for and hailed with
shouts of good-natured laughter by the friends, in
which the sufferer joins heartily. This big smelling-
bottle is known well in many of the villages, and
people have walked miles just to smell the bottle,
their friends have told such wonderful tales about it.
" The women I am most interested in are the village
women. They are very simple in their manner, and
have such implicit faith that they believe by drinking
one bottle of medicine they will be cured of all their
diseases, no matter how serious they may be. Then
they listen so attentively. The story of the Gospel
seems to go straight home to them, and they receive
it, and believe it with great joy. One morning three
women came, and after their bodily ailments had been
treated I sat down to talk to them. I told them I
had something to say to them. They replied in their
simple^direct manner, Speak, sister ! After telling
of God s love to sinners, and His sending His Son to
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 113
die and suffer for us, I saw the tears flowing down
the faces of two of the women. I talked to them for
some time, and when I stopped they pressed me to
go on and speak more. On going away they asked
if they might bring me some butter and milk the next
time.
"Another very poor woman, who had walked a
very long distance, after listening to the Gospel for
the first time, was so pleased, that on going away she
took an egg out of her basket and gave it to me,
saying, You have told me good news to-day. I am
poor, that is all I can give you in return. These are
just one or two instances of the way in which the
women receive the message we have to give them,
and there are many such. The dispensary work is
very cheering, and opens the hearts of all the women
to listen to the Gospel as nothing else can.
" One very miserable woman came, because, as she
had only daughters, her husband considered her an
encumbrance no longer to be borne. So she did not
know where to go, or what to do. She has got some
work now, and looks happier ; but as her health is
quite restored she does not require to attend the dis
pensary, and she seems very sorry to stay away.
" It is a great step in advance that these heathen
women will sit quietly listening to Christian teaching,
and even discuss it intelligently. It speaks well for
the lessening of prejudice that their husbands and
brothers will read the little books some of the women
take home, instead of prohibiting another visit where
teaching subversive of their own religion is given.
In one or two cases the patients did not return when
they had a book given them, so that now they are not
offered them, but get one when they ask. Sometimes
a patient says, * Give me a book ; everyone has read
H
114 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
the last one I took away. They are wonderfully
grateful for the treatment of their illnesses, and now
and again give a small donation, so as to pay for
medicine for others.
" Of the three Vania women who came to me for
instruction, only one remains. The first and most
promising has removed to another town, where her
husband has a post. I tried to induce her to be
baptised before leaving, as she understands quite
clearly the way of salvation ; but, although she ad
mitted the duty of receiving the outward sign, and of
making a profession of her faith, she said she could
not face the persecution that would follow. She said
she would continue to read the New Testament,
which I think she can now understand, as she is well
acquainted with Peep of Day/ and Earth s Bible
Stories, and knows the First Catechism and part of
the Second. As a leward for saying the First Cate
chism without a mistake, I gave her the Pilgrim s
Progress/ with which she is much delighted. It may
be that, as her light increases her faith will become
stronger, and she may yet be numbered among the
members of the visible Church. Her husband, I am
sorry to say, has so long trifled with conviction, that
now he professes that baptism is not necessary that
he can be saved without it. The second inquirer
never came regularly, although her husband was led
to believe she attended twice a-week. But she went
elsewhere, and, at last, fled secretly, and threatens, if
brought back, to put poison in her husband s food.
This is one sad illustration of the baneful effects of
child-marriages, and is by no means a rare one. The
third still comes, and brings a younger brother with
her. She has invited us to go to her house, which we
intend doing very soon. Her husband is a post-
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 115
master, so that they are very respectable ; and he, of
course, is educated, and anxious that his wife should
learn more. She tells me that her husband studies
the Bible, and believes in it. There are many such
COURT OF A ZENANA.
even in Ahmedabad, and if only one amongst them
selves could be raised up to lead the way, I have no
doubt that numbers would flock to the leader, and
avow their faith in Christ."
Miss McGeorge sums up some of the results of
Il6 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Zenana and medical work among women, as follows
especially as it regarded every-day learning.
" A number of Parsees came one afternoon to the
Zenana bungalow, and took part in some sewing.
One of them stitched as neatly as any machine could
do. They sang a number of hymns very nicely,
accompanied by the harmonium. They sang in Eng
lish, and some of them speak it very well indeed,
especially G . She reads a good deal, and on
asking her what she read she replied, TIte Bombay
Guardian and The Times of India. It is pleasant to
see how much attached they become to those who
visit them, bringing some life and brightness from
the world outside.
"One Hindoo, of good caste, comes to me for
Christian instruction. She is a nice young wife, and
her prejudices against our religion are lessening. She
sat down to tea with us one day, and that was a great
step in advance. She learns the Elementary Cate
chism well, and reads Earth s Bible History with
understanding. The difficulty with Hindoos is, that
their religion is so interwoven with every detail of
their social life, that the embracing of Christianity is
not only a change of creed, but a revolution in almost
every particular."
CHAPTER VI.
WORK AMONG THE VILLAGES.
DR. McGEORGE and Miss Moore, a companion
missionary, had for some time cherished a
desire to visit a few of the scattered villages
o
lying outside the bounds of their regular daily
work, and in pursuance of this determination they set
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 1 17
forth in the early part of the year 1888 Miss Moore
taking charge of the evangelistic, and Miss McGeorge
the medical department. As the following letter will
prove, they had a most encouraging tour, carrying
spiritual light and physical healing wherever they
went, and winning the affection and goodwill of the
native women. The accommodation was sometimes
rather modest ; but such considerations had no
weight with the devoted mission workers. The
first letter we have relating to this tour is dated
from Khadama, one of the villages a few miles south
of Ahmedabad. It speaks of the abundance of mon
keys, parrots, and gay-coloured flowers ; but adds .
"You will shortly have primroses. How lovely
primroses are ! So fresh and sweet ! No fragrant
flowers bloom here ; we have colour in abundance,
but little fragrance. No sweet songsters of the grove,
but gay parrots. The parrots fly about the streets in
Ahmedabad."
As the ladies had no tent with them, they had to
accept any accommodation available. We find them
in this journey lodged in the local church buildings,
presumably belonging to the Mission. Miss McGeorge
says : " Miss Moore and I arranged some months ago
to visit these villages in the cold season, and that I
should bring medicines. Accordingly, we came. We
are living in the church : a plain building, more like
a barn than a church, except that it has a verandah
at two sides. We have a table and chairs, and that
is about all. The vestry is our sleeping-room. The
church is near the village of Khadama, where, and in
some other villages, there are Christians. On Sunday
we have two services, conducted by a native agent,
who does wonderfully well. You would be surprised,
and perhaps taken aback, at the appearance of the
Il8 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
flock in church. To begin with, there are no seats
whatever ; they all sit on the floor, gathered up in
a heap, and in Christian fashion, take off their tur
bans. Now, considering that in Oriental fashion they
also doff their shoes, you can imagine they present a
rather wild appearance bare legs, feet, and head ;
hair unkempt, black, and often long, except in some
cases where they conform to the heathen practice of
shaving the head, leaving only a top-knot for the god
to lift them up to heaven with when they die ! Some
of, them stand at singing some remain inert. The
singing itself is something very terrible to listen to
three or four different keys all striving for the
mastery, the ambition being who should shout the
loudest.
" To reach the heathen, we go to a village every
morning, accompanied by a Bible-woman, who works
under a Bible-woman at Borsad all the year round.
We gather the women around us, and they having
provided Miss Moore and me with a native bed to sit
on, the Bible-woman first sings a hymn, and then
talks about the subject of it a little. Afterwards Miss
Moore addresses them, and they listen attentively,
and seem to comprehend. During the day patients
come to me ; I have had 424 so far. . . . Last week
we went to Pandoli, ... A little brick-building had
been arranged as a dispensary. It was carpeted, and
had flowers on the table. The gate was closed to all
but women, and a Sepoy kept order, for outside there
was a great crowd of men. We hope soon to have
visited the whole seventeen villages."
Another letter tells of the first administration of
the Lord s Supper in Borsad, and the feelings with
which Dr. Mary McGeorge regarded the, to her, sacred
spot.
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 119
" It was very interesting to visit Borsad, the first
station of our Mission, and to see the spot, on the
roof of a gateway, where the Lord s Supper was first
dispensed in Gujerat. . . . The drive back to Anand
was very amusing ; the bullocks could scarcely be
prevailed upon to go at all, and some of them at
length lay down in a pond. It is a matter of great
thankfulness that our Heavenly Father has granted
me health and strength ; but then, seeing He brought
me here, He will faithfully protect me from all harm.
... I never have time for fancy work now, and am in
danger of forgetting all such feminine accomplish
ments."
Sometimes she records friendly ministrations on
the part of the women. Thus, at Khadama
" The women seem to understand our motive in
coming so far. Yesterday we went to Jogan, a vil
lage of about 900 inhabitants. After we had finished
talking with them, one friendly woman asked, Why
could we not come and live with them ? She said
they would give us of their food, and consider it
greater merit than to feed the Brahmins. They said
they had heard of Jesus two years ago from Miss
Moore ; but how could we expect them to know any
thing when visited only once in two years. If we
would come every week they might know something,
etc., etc. At the dispensary, which we erected pro
tern., some men pleaded so hard to be attended to that
I had to make an exception to the general rule of
treating only women and children. . . . They all
understand that our wish is to do them good, and
one woman said that she had heard that we are
merciful people, and would cure their diseases.
There is a great deal of neglected disease and
suffering in these remote districts. . . . We are
120 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
twelve miles from the nearest railway station, and
the free, open life is a pleasant change from the
denseness of the city."
The following account of work among the women
is interesting: "A few mornings ago I brought my
Testament, and read to the waiting crowd about the
Woman of Samaria. At first they did not seem to
understand very well ; but I went over it a second
time, trying to explain a little, and then one woman
in front, with a bright, intelligent face, seemed to
grasp the meaning of the story, and as I read each
verse, she turned to those around her and, with many
gesticulations, explained it all : how the woman
thought This is just a tired-looking man how could
she know He was the Son of God ? and how, when
He said He would give her water, she wondered where
He would get it from, the well being deep and so
on. The whole scene the well the tired traveller
the waterpots left behind while the woman hastened
to the city along the hot, dusty road, and the eager
crowd coming out to see all would be vividly real to
them. I wondered as I looked at the earnest, in
terested faces of the women if they also would believe
and thirst no more/
One woman told Miss McGeorge "how weary
she was of life," and for reply to her had quoted
Christ s invitation to weary, heavy-laden souls. " I
saw she was listening to me, so I went on to speak
about the Saviour of the world. She told me she had
so much misery in her life that her sole pleasure had
been in the worship of God, and also told me of all
her fastings and washings, and the portions of Scrip
ture she had repeated every day."
Evidently here was an earnest seeker of the king
dom of God.
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 121
CHAPTER VII.
HOME.
THE time drew nigh for Miss McGeorge s visit
home. Climate and continuous hard work
had told upon her, so that her physical need of
rest and change cried out for indulgence. She
had given the first morning dew of her youth to the
sacred work of imitating the Master ; and still
thought her work one of the most blessed to be
found upon earth. It will not be out of place here
to quote some written words of her own dealing with
the opportunities and results of medical work, and
reviewing the progress made.
"All doors open to a doctor, for sickness comes
alike to all. Why do you take all this trouble? is
often asked ; and when we tell them it is God who
has had pity on them, and has put it into the hearts
of people at home to send us out to them whom we
regard as sisters they are pleased and not a little
astonished. After having been in a house in a time
of illness, one is ever afterwards a welcome visitor.
All stiffness is laid aside and the women talk quite
freely. Do not be afraid ! she is like a mother, is
the assurance given to a timid comer who fain would
join the circle, but fears the strangers. Occasionally
they ask one to go even when they themselves feel
convinced that the end is close at hand. Never
mind, only come and see ! This is a very welcome
invitation, because the general rule is that where
hope is excluded no effort is made. In such rare
cases it has once or twice been possible to turn the
scale in the sick one s favour. For instance, in a
fever patient who is being allowed to die merely from
12: MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
starvation owing to ignorance, a timely giving of
suitable nourishment has carried her over the critical
period, and then this unexpected result is proclaimed
as a miracle. ... It was only after three years of
work among caste and outcast women that Mussul
man women at last invited us into their homes, and
this we attribute, under God, to the labours of a
Zenana missionary who devoted as much as pos
sible of her time to the neglected Mussulmans.
It seemed as if the work among Mohammedans was
just opening up attractive vistas of usefulness when
an interruption on account of health shut out the
prospect, for a time at least. The very last week a
Mohammedan rajah brought his Ranee down from a
distant state, while other places were asking for visits.
Only those who understand the pain of having to
refuse much-needed help can enter into the feelings
of such as have to leave the happy work in this city,
knowing that there is no one left behind to carry it
on."
Dr. Mary McGeorge left Ahmcdabad in November,
1890, for home, on a year s furlough this furlough,
however, being afterwards extended to two years.
Reaching Bombay, she embarked on board the P. and
O. steamer sailing for London. Disembarking at
Southampton, a few days were spent with her sisters
in Bath, and with friends in London and elsewhere.
The weather at this season was very severe, the snow
lying deep, more especially in the South of England.
The change, within a few days, from the genial
warmth of the Mediterranean to the biting wintry
winds was felt intensely, and she suffered keenly
for a time. On her journey from Ahmedabad
to Bombay she had been attacked, while at Surat,
by malarial fever, but hastened forward and had
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 123
the good fortune to find the feverish symptoms
disappear the moment she reached the sea-board.
They gave her no trouble whilst at sea, but when the
journey was fairly over, and she had settled down in
the house of her brother E. G. McGeorge, Esq., J.P.,
at Belfast the fever returned, and ran its normal
course the ague for some days being very trouble
some.
To all appearance her constitution was very
seriously shaken, but she rapidly gained strength,
and though for some considerable time unable to
undertake any public work, was preparing herself
for further usefulness during her holiday. She
felt that her life was wholly devoted to her
special branch of service, so that her one wish in
India or at home was to forward the interests of
Zenana missions.
In pursuance of this desire she addressed many
missionary assemblies in furtherance of Zenana and
medical work. It was recognised by all how fully her
heart was in her vocation ; and wherever she spoke
fresh interest was awakened. The work received a
great impetus, and the assemblies she addressed were
spellbound.
In the early part of 1891, while Miss McGeorge s
own health was but feeble, she was called to the
bedside of a brother who was lying ill, almost on the
verge of the grave. Loving devotion and constant
attention, however, turned the scale, so that in about
three weeks the patient was out of danger.
For the last three months of her visit home Miss
McGeorge was with her sisters in Bath. On looking
back to these happy days of her stay with them, her
friends could afterwards recall how frequently she spoke
of the possibility of never again returning home, so much
124 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
had she suffered from the climate during her first
term of service. At such times she would say, " I do
not expect to return. I will die at my post." At
other times she took a more hopeful view, and dis
cussed plans for her final retirement ; but not until
she had given the best of her life to her work. She
looked upon the Zenana Medical Mission as her own
life s mission, and resisted all overtures to turn her
talents to account in the civil sphere.
It was noticeable during the last few months that
her spiritual experiences were remarkable, as if to
fit her for the closing scene of life. It can now
be recognised by those who knew her, that her spirit
seemed to be fast ripening for heaven ; she was the
possessor of that perfect peace which "passeth all
understanding." Every possible moment was spent in
close, earnest, loving study of the Bible, in order also
to be able to impart instruction to her Indian sisters.
During her furlough, and, in consequence of fre
quent conferences with the Zenana Committee, she
had arranged for several new departures in connec
tion with her work in India. A large tent was
ordered for her use for journeys outside the cities,
through villages. Such a structure was felt to be
absolutely necessary by night as a place of rest, and
by day as a place of shelter and residence : a dispen
sary and a waiting-room combined. Lady mission
aries, when out among the villages, are often put to
much inconvenience in consequence of unsuitable
accommodation ; and it was supposed that the tent
would remedy that, beside adding to the comfort and
efficiency of the workers. She had also set her heart
on having a hospital in Ahmedabad, seeing the abso
lute need of such an adjunct to all medical work
in India.
DR. MARY McGEORGE. 125
The sojourn at Bath drew to an end, and the
natural sorrow at the immediate severance from her
much-loved sisters cast its shadow over her. But she
maintained her brave spirit. In one of her last
letters she writes : " I must say { good-bye yes, for
ever, on this side of the river. Mrs. Beatty"
(the wife of another missionary), " and I are going
in the steamer Roumania, of the Anchor Line."
Mrs. Beatty had been at home in England for some
years on account of delicate health, and Miss
McGeorge had arranged with Mrs. Beatty that they
would return together. She left Bath on the 2ist of
October, 1892, and was accompanied as far as Birken-
head by one of her sisters. Her last letter home was
dated Birkenhead, the 22nd of October, 1892, and in it
she says : " We have been down to the Roumania.
It is small, but comfortable. We go on board finally
at five o clock this evening. All has* gone nicely so
far, and will, I am sure, continue to do so. Things
promise well. Good-bye. Don t forget me." During
the night of the 22nd of October the Roumania
steamed away on her last voyage, a full week behind
her appointed date. Humanly speaking, that week s
delay was her destruction. But we cannot tell, after
all. We must look away from second causes to the
great First Cause and Disposer of all things, even of
life and death. There are no " happenings " with
God ; " The Lord reigneth," and this fact proves the
only consolation of believing souls in times of dark
ness and sorrow.
The weather was known to be stormy and foggy,
but no one seemed to have apprehende d danger. The
continual safety of missionary passengers in their
numerous voyages to and fro had passed into a
proverb, so that seafaring men have been heard to
126 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
express the wish to have a missionary on board. But
now two missionaries were to ascend to the " Father s
House " through the medium of a " chariot of waters."
On the morning of Saturday, the 2Qth of October,
the news began to be whispered in England that
the Roumania was lost off the coast of Portugal.
Only a few persons were aware, however, of the
importance of the Roumania s safety to the Irish
Presbyterian Church. As the day wore on fuller
information came to hand, and, ere evening
closed, it was known that the vessel had gone down,
and that only nine souls were saved, while among
the " lost " were the two lady missionaries. As this
became realised, the feeling of the Irish Presbyterians
was intense ; in fact, no circumstance had so moved
this branch of Christ s Church for over fifty years. In
one short hour, the wife of one faithful missionary,
going out to rejoin her husband, and the devoted lady
Zenana doctor, going forth to resume her work, were
cut off amidst a howling, angry tempest and a raging
sea, whose cold, cruel waters knew neither pity nor
tenderness. As we said before, only nine souls
were saved ; the others all rest, either in their ocean-
bed, or in the little sea-side graveyard, until the
resurrection morn. Then, among those who come
forth to meet the Master, for whom they sacrificed,
laboured, and lost their lives, will be Dr. Mary
McGeorge and her friend.
The investigations of the Rev. Mr. Jeffrey, a gentle
man sent out by the Irish Presbyterian Mission Board,
seemed to establish the fact that Mrs. Beatty s body
had been washed ashore, and interred with others in
the churchyard of Serros Bouros, on the Portuguese
coast. But the most vigilant search could not dis
cover the body of Dr. Mary McGeorge. Down in her
DR. MARY McGEORGE.
127
ocean-grave, among seaweeds and rocks, rest her
remains until that day, when " the sea shall give up
her dead." But Mary McGeorge has the limitless
ocean for a tomb, and the truth of God, which she
taught to the ignorant, idolatrous women of India,
shall doubtless bear blessed fruit in that land " where
there is no more sea." Until the resurrection trump
shall sound, her remains rest, although uncoffined and
unknown, in the safe, sure keeping of our Father.
And in that confidence, faith must rest and be quiet.
" So she took
The one grand step beyond the stars of God,
Into the splendour, shadowless and broad,
Into the everlasting joy and light,
The zenith of her earthly life was come !
" What then ? Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard,
Wait till thou, too, hast fought the noble strife,
And won, through Jesus Christ, the Crown of Life !
Then, thou shalt know the glory of the Word ;
Then, as the stars for ever, ever shine,
Beneath the King s own smile, perpetual zenith thine."
MARY LOUISA \VIIA! ELY,
ousa
THE STORY OF HER MISSION LIFE AND WORK
IN EGYPT.
CHAPTER I.
THE PREPARATION.
"Jesus ! Master ! take me, use me !
I belong to Thee ;
Thou art mine ! my life shall serve Thee,
Through eternity."
ARY LOUISA WHATELY was the second
daughter and third child of Archbishop
Whately of Dublin. She was, however,
born on the 3ist of August, 1824, at
Halesworth, in Suffolk, of which parish her father
was then rector. In 1827 Dr. Whately removed to
Oxford, having been appointed to the principalship
of Alban Hall. From this post he was translated to
Dublin as Archbishop in 1831, and from this date
Dublin continued to be the much-loved home of Mary
Whately. She is described by her sister as being a
quick, intelligent child, with a retentive memory ;
129 I
M
1
130 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
very ardent and impulsive, hot-tempered and gener
ous, possessing a great faculty for picking up know
ledge of all kinds, and capability for turning her
knowledge to account. The conversation and reading
carried on in the Whatcly home conduced very much
to the mental development of Mary and her sisters.
Outside the family the children were encouraged to
be useful. The mother wisely trained them to
remember the poor and needy, as well as to teach
the children in the schools of Dublin, and to distri
bute kindly gifts to the poor in a judicious and
systematic way. And so wisely did Mrs. Whately
train her daughters how to give, that for months, at
one time, they had been saving their pocket-money
in order to purchase some of the loaves and meat
destined to be distributed ; thus learning to exemplify
true lives of unselfish devotion. Mrs. Whately often
employed Mary and her sisters in doing missions
of mercy and kindness among the residents of
Stillorgan. Archbishop Whately had opened a
National School in his grounds for the benefit of the
village children, and in this school the sisters were
delighted to teach classes. Further, they employed
their ready pens in the production of reading-books
for use in the Irish National Schools. Mary Whately
was thus in these various ways being trained for
the work of her later life in Egypt.
During the days of the terrible Irish famine,
between the years 1846 and 1851, the Whatelys
were much engaged in Irish Church Mission work, as
carried on by Protestants among the Irish Roman
Catholics. Mary received an undoubted spiritual
blessing in carrying out this mission to the poor and
starving, for, according to her sister, she " always
declared that at this period the turning-point in her
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 131
religious life came." And, naturally, with the deepen
ing of her spiritual life, came the increased desire
for active work for God. Accordingly she, with her
sisters, laboured "more abundantly" in Ragged
Schools and Irish Church Mission Homes, doing
good as opportunity offered to waifs and strays of
humanity. It is suggestive that the worker among
" Ragged Life in Egypt " did not in these early days
disdain ragged life in Ireland.
Hospital work at this time also claimed Miss
Whately and her sister. There happened to be in
the providence of God, about the end of the Crimean
War, a considerable influx of destitute Italians into
Dublin. Mary Whately and her sisters visited these
poor foreigners at their homes, and the sick ones at
the hospitals. In this way she learnt the art of com
municating religious instruction to those of different
races and faiths. By all these ministries she became
proficient in the ministry of explaining Biblical truth
to those of opposing religions, customs, and super
stitions, a gift which stood her in good stead in the
coming years of her cherished life-work.
At length an opportunity for foreign mission-work
presented itself. In the winter of 1856 she was
recommended to visit Cairo for the sake of her health,
and did so, accompanied by a friend. The following
somewhat lengthy extract, written near the end of her
life, accurately describes her feelings at her entrance
into this " open door " of service. She says :
" More than thirty years have passed since I first
looked on the shining shores of Egypt. A calm,
blue sea, with glittering light on its faint ripples, a
distant view of white minaret towers, and feathery
palms just visible on the flat line of coast, a crowd of
shipping in the harbour before us, with many coloured
132 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
flags waving gently in the faint morning breezes, and
strange groups of men, black, white, and brown, in
little boats, rowing hither and thither, and chattering
in unknown tongues, over all, the indescribable
atmosphere of the sunny south, bright and clear,
throwing deep purple shadows in strong contrast with
the intense light. I see it all now in memory s eye
as plainly as if the scene were actually present ; and
I recollect the bewildered sensation of stepping on
shore, dizzy with the long rough sea passage in a
wretched old steamer, and of forgetting fatigue and
everything else at the sight of a string of camels.
Look at them ! I said to my companion ; we are
really in Africa.
"Who that has studied Scripture does not feel a
thrill of delight as he looks for the first time on these
creatures at once awkward and graceful, with their
spongy feet lifted and set down with solemn cautious
ness their long necks turned occasionally from side
to side, the large beautiful dark eyes glancing round
with an expression of dignified contempt ? How
many times we have read of Abraham and his servant,
and of Rebekah alighting from her camel, and of Job
with his three thousand camels ?
" Then we made our way towards the hotel, slowly
and on foot, for in those days there were scarcely any
carriages in Alexandria, and we preferred walking
after the cart on which baggage had been placed, to
riding on donkeys, as the native saddles were strange.
Very different is everything now in the same city,
which has become more than half European. It is
only the sunshine that is quite unchanged. As we
moved along the unpaved street, from the harbour to
the hotel, the groups were all so curious and interest
ing, that I kept pausing every moment to observe
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY.
135
them. Here a Bedouin from the desert in goat s hair
mantle, or flowing white woollen robes, and red and
yellow striped Kuffieh on his head, his red leather
BEDOUIN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
girdle supporting a knife in a sheath, and an old-
fashioned gun on his shoulder, was standing with a
comrade at a little rude stall where huge water-melons
136 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
displayed their dark green rinds and bright crimson
pulp, as the thirsty wayfarers devoured the juicy
slices, glancing around meantime with what I after
wards learnt to know as the genuine Bedouin look
which seems nought to mark, but all to spy.
" A little further on were a party of native women
in their dark blue garments, limp and soft, fallino- in
graceful (if dirty) folds, as they sat on the dusty
ground or stood leaning against a bit of ruined wall
some wearing the face veil of black crape tied under
the eyes, which I then saw for the first time; others
being of the poorest class, with face uncovered. Little
brown children, half naked and miserably neglected
in appearance, clung to their shoulders or squatted
beside them in the dust. Next, a party of wealthy
merchants would pass with their long robes of rich
cloth and beautiful striped native silk, setting off their
dusky complexion. Numbers of men and boys of the
humbler class were mixed with them, hurrying to or
from the harbour on some errand, their arms and legs
bare, and their only garments white or blue cotton
shirts, but all, rich or poor, had turbans. The red
tarboosh, now common among many of the poor, and
most of the higher class, was then a mark of Turks or
Europeans, or Syrians ; now worn by most gentlemen,
it was then confined to Levantines, or visitors. Every
group was a picture then, and the prevalence of rich
colours in so clear an atmosphere, was enough to
delight the eye of anyone who had a love of the
picturesque. But it was most strange and confusing
to hear ail around a language so entirely different in
sound from any of the European tongues with which
I was more or less familiar. Altogether I felt like a
person in a dream.
"Two days afterwards we were on our way to
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 137
Cairo. The primitive oriental life had already been
changed by the introduction of the first European
railroad, which had been completed about a year
before. It was October, and most of the Delta was
under water, the inundation having been heavy that
year, and that part of Egypt being entirely flat and
with very few trees. Here, all there was to see were
little groups of mud huts with bundles of reeds by
way of roof, and a large sycamore fig-tree or a few
palms near them standing like islands on slightly
raised plots of ground, with water all around, and
buffaloes standing half submerged evidently enjoying
their bath extremely. Whenever we stopped at a
station, a troop of excessively dirty children clamoured
for backsheesh/ and frightful old women with faces
like walnut shells, bleared eyes and dangling rags,
offered baskets of sticky dates covered with leaves,
which feebly protected them from the swarms of flies.
" Young girls passed up and down the platforms at
every station with the porous water-vessels of the
country, offering drink to travellers with the cry,
Cold water, O ye thirsty! in a sweet half-plaintive
tone. Every one was hot and thirsty, for early in
October, in Egypt, the weather is still like summer (a
good deal hotter than some English summers, indeed),
and many hands were stretched out for the vessel of
water, and gladly were the coppers demanded paid ;
but as we passed on and the little water-sellers were
left far behind, my heart ached for them and for all
the rest in their land, because they had never heard
the blessed invitation, Ho ! every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters, and knew nothing of the
water of life which Jesus Christ, our Lord, gives to
them that ask, without money, and without price. "
This sketch graphically describes Miss Whately s
138 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
first impressions of the land which was to be her
home for so many long years. Still, however, one
obstacle and another kept her from entering upon
her life-work. After spending this winter of 1856 in
Cairo, she joined a party of friends going to the Holy
Land in 1857, and revelled in the beauty of the Anti-
Lebanon, ending with a visit to Damascus the old
est city in the world. The party of travellers spent a
month on the Mount of Olives and its environs, and
she became so interested in the work being carried
on among the young Jewesses of Jerusalem, that after
her return home, in the summer of 1857, it was a
scheme very much laid upon her heart to revisit
Jerusalem, and engage in mission work there. But
God, who " has His plan for every man," had His
plan for Mary Whately.
In 1860, bereavement visited the home of the
Whatelys, and both the mother and youngest sister
died within the space of a few weeks. A long winter
of anxious care and nursing, followed by deep sorrow,
had its effect in undermining Mary s health so
seriously that it was feared by the medical man
that her lungs were affected. He advised her spend
ing the following winter in a southern climate, and
Mary s thoughts immediately turned to the Egyptian
city where she had formerly visited, and gained her
first Eastern experiences. During that preliminary
visit she had become acquainted with Mrs. Leider,
wife of a Church Missionary living there, and so had
made some acquaintance with mission work. Thither,
therefore, she resolved to go, believing that Provi
dence had opened a way for her to make educational
and Christian efforts on behalf of the Moslem women
and girls a hitherto much-neglected class of the
population of Egypt.
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 139
CHAPTER II.
BEGINNING WORK.
" He that winneth souls is wise,
In the gracious Master s eyes,
Well may we contented be,
To be counted fools for Thee.
So may we redeem the time,
That with every evening chime,
Our rejoicing hearts may see
Blood-bought souls brought back to Thee.
F. R. HAVERGAL.
THE winter of 1860 found Miss Whately in
Cairo, with a cousin. After spending a few
weeks with Mrs. Leider, she took a house in
Cairo, in this way accomplishing two objects
making a temporary home for herself and friend, and
gaining an opportunity of doing good to the female
population of Cairo. It was doubtless the first effort
made on behalf of Moslem females since the rise of
the False Prophet, some 1200 years before, and, as
such, is full of interest. The reader will best appre
ciate the story if given in her own words. She
says :
"At the period of my first visit to Egypt, I saw
little but the outside of things, but when circum
stances brought me there a second time, it was
laid on my heart to try and do something for the
girls and women of the land, especially those of the
Moslem poorer classes by far the most numerous, of
course. The only schools hitherto opened for the
children of the land had no scholars except from the
Copts or native Christians ; others were considered
quite out of reach, and many of my friends endeav-
140 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
cured to dissuade me from an attempt, which, they
said, was sure to end in failure. However, it seemed
best to make an effort at all events. I was aware,
indeed, of the great bigotry of the people, and of
their utter indifference to female education. Even a
short residence and very little acquaintance with the
language were sufficient to convince me of these facts,
and to show that the work must be slow, for it was
all up-hill. But it was begun in prayer, and, there
fore, difficulties and delays did not greatly discourage
me.
" First, a place of residence had to be found, not
nearly so easy a matter as in these days. There
were comparatively few new houses, and the old ones
were apt to be extremely dirty, and the wood-work
full of vermin. A new one was recommended by a
gentleman who assisted my cousin and myself in our
search. It was not quite finished, but after visiting
some of the old ones, we thought it had the fewer
disadvantages on the whole. It stood at the corner
of a street not quite so narrow as many others, where
the inhabitants of the opposite dwellings could not
shake hands across, as would be possible in some
cases. It looked out on a lane on the other side, and
this lane was occupied by curiously tumbledown
abodes, with a few mud huts here and there between
the more pretentious buildings, partly stone, and
partly mud brick. This neighbourhood was desirable,
however, as enabling the poor people to be visited
easily. A coffee-house of a humbler sort was exactly
under the window of the chief room in this house,
and several small shops on the opposite side of the
street, with some apartments above them, were occu
pied by wealthy people apparently.
"The house was so new itself that the staircase
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 141
was incomplete as yet. The walls were not plastered
nor the windows glazed, nor the doors put up, and to
crown all, the workmen were actually lying on the
floor upon heaps of shavings, fast asleep, though it
was ten o clock in the morning! It appeared after
wards that in order to prevent them from leaving
their work, they had been locked into the house, and
thus afforded a fine example of forced labour.
" As it was not to be painted till a year had elapsed,
the work really need not have taken more than a few
days. The owner promised on his head that in
seven days all should be perfectly ready ; but when,
on the eighth day, his future tenants (who had, accord
ing to custom, paid in advance), presented themselves
at the door, humbly following on foot an ox-cart con
taining their effects, he looked as much amazed as if
they had done something unexpected indeed in
believing his word ! Yet it was the only chance for
the tenants to get all things finished, to be on the
spot, inhabiting such rooms as were habitable, other
wise the year might have rolled on to its close, and
the house remained just as it was.
" The outside was clean and white ; but it certainly
required some courage to enter the scene of litter and
confusion within. We had to spring over pools of
whitewash, and clamber over loose stones, in order
to reach the stairs, where we were met by a troop of
dirty, half-clad boys and girls, with hods of mortar on
their heads, and pails of water in their hands. Thread
ing our way through this ragged regiment, we reached
the first storey, and found at last doors and windows ;
but the former, having no locks or latches, obstinately
refused to remain shut, till the maid who accompanied
me, an energetic little Irishwoman, gave it a slam, and
then it shut and would not open, and we remained
142 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
prisoners for some time, till our new cook, a Syrian
of stalwart proportions, heard our cry of distress from
below, and came and forced the door open with his
shoulders."
After more adventures of the kind described, Miss
Whately and her helper finally settled in the still un
finished house, determined to try what could be done
in the way of educational experiments for the much-
neglected Egyptian maidens. And, seeing that the
custom of early marriages forced the girls to leave
school when about twelve years of age, there was no
time to be lost. Miss Whately says on this point :
" The wish for some sort of education for girls,
though a very slight and important one, had for
several years been spreading in Egypt. Among the
wealthy a teacher who can instruct the young ladies
in the harem in French, and perhaps a little piano, as
European music is called, is frequent, though not
universal ; and among the middle classes in the great
towns many parents are willing, if any pains are taken
about it, to allow these girls to attend schools under
European superintendence, and even to pay a trifle
towards their teaching. Though thousands are
plunged in utter ignorance in the towns, and in all
the villages, still the schoolmistress is abroad. But
when I came to Egypt in 1860, there was not a
Mohammedan girls school in Cairo, or any other
Egyptian town. Everyone of whom I inquired
assured me that the masses of the humbler class,
being both indifferent to education in itself, and dis
posed to look with aversion on Christians, would
never consent to let me have their little daughters in
a school ; while the right sort of girls were shut up,
and therefore quite out of reach. One can never say
that anything is a failure which has never been tried/
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 143
was my answer. They smiled and shrugged their
shoulders, and left me to my obstinacy.
" The only teacher to be found after many inquiries
was a worthy Christian matron, who could read in the
only book she was accustomed to, which was the New
Testament, and the narrative parts of the books of
Genesis and Exodus, She had a young daughter of
thirteen, who had been to school at Beyrout, and could
read as well as write fairly. But to secure the services
of the good woman and her girl, we had to accommo
date the whole family, as there was no cheap lodging
near at hand, and though inconvenient, we had space
enough, including the use of the schoolroom after
school. Behold the teacher, therefore, with her five
children (her husband was out on business till the
evening), seated in the new room, swept and pre
pared with clean mats, and a few books, but no
scholars. The servant had been sent to speak to
his acquaintances, but without result.
" At last the matron and I sallied forth together ;
my cousin was indisposed, and still confined to her
room. We went rather timidly up the narrow and
dirty lane on one side of our house : the other looked
on a busy thoroughfare in which we should have
been jostled ; and besides, it was all shops, and we
were seeking to speak with women who were very
rarely seen in shops. The occupants of the tumble
down houses and mud huts in the lane were all at
their doors, staring at the strangers. They live
chiefly outside ; indeed the little dark dens being
used merely to sleep in. With the matron s help
(she knew a little English), and my own broken
Arabic, I managed to make one or two understand
our errand, something in this way. Good morning ;
peace be to you. Oh ! peace to you, lady ! I see
144 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
you have a nice girl there ; will you let her come to
our school, and learn to read, and also to sew ? The
woman, who is squatted on the threshold of her hut,
muffled in filthy garments, for the day is rather cold,
shrugs her shoulders, and the matron interposes, and
repeats what I had said, with some additions and
many friendly smiles. We are Moslems, and our
girls don t learn. Oh, but it is so nice to read,
sister, and she shall learn to sew, too ; the lady has
brought little thimbles. (Girl, in a loud aside, * I
want a thimble. Matron pats her on the back.)
Yes, yes, my dear, a new thimble and needles thou
shalt have. The mother demurs. We don t like
strangers, and girls need not learn, except to make
bread or so. Why does this lady want our girls ?
The matron says, Because she loves God, and
therefore loves your children, and wants to teach
them about God. Mashalla / well, we will see
to-morrow ; perhaps she can go.
"After visiting ten or twelve houses and huts,
besides speaking to some groups who stood about
gossiping, some with babies on their shoulders, others
eating oranges or sugar-cane, we at last returned with
the promise of several scholars, feeling triumphant
and thankful. Of course, most were only inclined to
come and see what this new affair was, and even of
these several were dissuaded by their neighbours from
having anything to do with those Christians. One
woman appeared at nine o clock next morning, wear
ing a quantity of silver and coral ornaments on her
rounded brown arms and throat ; though her dress of
dark blue cotton seemed threadbare, and was far from
clean. She led a nice-looking child, about nine years
old, in the little white muslin veil and loose coloured
frock worn by tolerably decent poor girls. Of a
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 145
volley of words she poured out after the salutations,
I could only make out that the child was timid, and
afraid to stay, but to-morrow she would send her.
The first fish was caught, and now was escaping the
fisher s hand. The matron and I both caressed and
spoke kindly to her ; she smiled and said really she
would return, and she did; but at the time I could
not trust that she would do so, and felt rather cast-
down. Half-an-hour passed, and then two little
black-eyed, dirty-faced girls in ragged frocks trotted
in, followed by their mothers, and I thought grand
mothers also, for several women came in, some old,
some young, and there was a good deal of unveiling
and chattering. The Egyptian citizen s wife, indeed,
all but the very poorest in the towns, wears a black
crape face veil, fastened by a brass or gold tube rather
like an exaggerated thimble, which is sewn to a fillet
passed round the head at one end, fastened between
the eyes, and to the face veil at the other. After a
little while we had more visitors, and at length the
women departed, and nine little girls, from seven to
ten years old, were left to begin school. No recruiting
sergeant was ever so pleased as I, when T hastened
upstairs to report to my invalid relative that we had
actually nine pupils.
"After the names had been asked, and the little
Fatmah, Zeynab, Hosna, etc. were duly inscribed on
a paper, I asked each in turn, Who made you ?
Some replied, Allah (God), but two or three said,
Mohammed. The first verse of the Bible, In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth/ was
then repeated to them, and they were taught to say
it, first each one by herself, and then all together.
This was the beginnings of instruction for them, poor
children. The young teacher was too inexperienced
K
146 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS,
to be able to explain it, so I did what I could in that
way, and then we both set to teaching the first five
letters of their difficult alphabet, till they seemed to
be getting tired ; they were then allowed a rest, and
afterwards a singing lesson was commenced. The
neighbours might have supposed a set of cats to be
the pupils, if they listened to the discordant sounds
which the first attempt at a gamut produced. Three
months later, a stranger visiting the school was
delighted at the sweet singing of the hymns ! The mew
ing and squeaking were nearly forgotten by that time.
" The children were delighted when the work-hour
arrived, the real inducement to most of them and
their mothers having been the needle-work. Perhaps
the teachers were not sorry when every little brown
finger was supplied with a new thimble, and they
could sit down for a few minutes. No one who has
not tried it can conceive the difficulty of teaching
those who have not only no wish to learn, but no idea
of what learning is, or what possible good is to be
gained by all this trouble ; and, of course, the strain
upon the mind is greatly increased when one s know
ledge of the language is very limited indeed. The
children all took willingly to sewing ; indeed, they had
many times in the course of the forenoon thrown
down the cards, and cried out, The work ! give us
the work ! The English needles and scissors gave
them much pleasure, and were eagerly examined by
some mothers and elder sisters who paid visits to the
school-room in the course of the day to see what the
foreigner was doing with their little ones, for, if
ignorant, they are usually very fond parents. Some
brought bread, bunches of raw carrots, or some such
dainty, and after giving it to the children, would
squat down on the floor to watch the proceedings.
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 147
Of course, it did rather interfere with business, but it
will not do to strain a new rope too tightly, and,
besides, . Eastern manners are unlike ours, and I
thought it wisest never to meddle with them unless
some real evil was in question. On the second day we
had fourteen scholars. As they entered, each kicked
off her slippers, if she possessed any, at the door I
think more than half possessed some kind of shoe and
then went up to kiss the hand of the superintendent,
and lay it on her head, both which processes became
pleasanter when cleanly habits came more into fashion."
But Miss Whately was called home to Dublin, in
the spring of 1861, and she left after placing the
school, thus newly formed, under the charge of a
teacher provided by the Society for Promoting Female
Education in the East.
The end of 1861 and the early months of 1862 were
spent at Pau with some friends, for Miss Whately felt
the need of rest after her labours in Egypt. While in
Pau, she, however, found work of another sort to do.
A young man, the son of a Scotch minister, was
sojourning there for the benefit of his health, in the
care of two sisters and a brother. Miss Whately be
came intimate with them, and in time grew friendly
enough to converse with the consumptive invalid
upon eternal things. She could venture to point him
to Jesus, and sang many hymns by his bedside to
cheer him in his failing hours. She was a great com
fort to the distressed family, after all was over, and
cheered the bereaved ones in far-away Scotland, by
her kind, sympathetic letters. After leaving Pau she
made a little excursion, with friends, into the north of
Spain, and so recruited her health for coming years
of evangelistic labours in Egypt. She needed all the
strength she could gain.
148 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
CHAPTER III.
SOWING BESIDE ALL WATERS.
" In the highways and hedges, go seek for the lost,
Gather them into the fold ;
Was the earnest command that our Saviour Divine,
Taught His disciples of old."
DURING the winter of 1862, Miss Whately,
accompanied by her faithful Irish maid, sought
her mission sphere in Cairo again. But while
absent the little mission school had been closed,
for the teacher s health failed, and she had to remove to
another sphere of labour in the East. As soon, how
ever, as Miss Whately was again settled in her old
house, she re-opened the school. The news that the
school was again open soon spread, and former pupils
were only too delighted to return. However, the
re-opening of the school proved no slight matter, as
will be seen from Miss Whately s own account of it:
" Though but a few months had elapsed during which
the little ragged school in Bab-el-Bahar had been
closed, the desolate appearance of the room made it
look as if it had been deserted for a much longer period.
It had been no one s business to look after it particu
larly, and the poor little schoolroom was bare and
dirty when I came to take possession of it again in
the month of November, 1862. No texts or pictures
as of old hung against the walls ; nothing but dust,
and a few torn books remained. However, it is better
to look forward than to look back, and having caught
a little well-known child at the door, and despatched
her to look for the former scholars, and tell them,
School was open, I went upstairs to get some
books and pictures which were stored away there,
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 149
and then began to sweep the dusty room while await
ing the return of the maid, who was gone to fetch
work materials, and the arrival of the new matron,
who, like all Egyptians, was behind time. She was
merely engaged to help in keeping order, cleaning the
schoolroom, and instructing the scholars in plain
sewing, and was by no means to be a teacher, being
quite uneducated. No native teacher or assistant
could be obtained, though I was in treaty for one, so
that I was quite alone. The prospect did not look
very brilliant ; but help comes usually in one way or
another in time of need.
" The first helper was a poor washerwoman, who,
finding her former employer alone in the house
expressed much surprise and pleasure in the meeting,
and taking the broom almost by force from my hands,
exclaimed, Sit down, lady, and I will sweep the
room for you. She had scarcely finished when little
voices were heard on the stairs, and there was a rush
of scholars, chiefly old ones, but accompanied by a
few others (their younger sisters) all tumultuous in
their greetings. Twenty pairs of little henna-dyed
hands were eagerly held out, with deafening shouts
of Welcome ! welcome ! teacher ! Our teacher has
come back! God be praised! After some time
had been occupied in salutations and inquiries, and
recognitions, the affectionate but somewhat unruly
creatures were arranged in a row on a mat, while
I said a few words to them, explaining that as yet
there was no teacher except myself (for the only
matron I could procure did not know her letters), and
that I could only read Arabic very slowly and
imperfectly, but that I would do my best and would
study every evening so as to know more ; and on
their part they must be good and obedient, and learn
150 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
very nicely, which, of course, was promised readily
enough.
" After a short prayer and a portion of the Gospel
read and explained, they were set down to their
alphabet and spelling-cards ; for though some had
been formerly several months at school they had
forgotten in the interval, or else had made but little
progress, so that none could read except two, and
they with great difficulty, and only spelling each
word as they went.
" Keeping a Ragged School is not a sinecure in
any country, as everybody knows who has tried it,
and of course it is more difficult when the language is
imperfectly known, and where there was no aid such
as in a long-established school can always be obtained
from a monitress or teacher of some sort. The first
day or two it seemed impossible to keep the little
voices quiet, even for a moment. There were no
habits of order or obedience, and each seemed to
wish to do what was good in her own eyes. . . .
"In the course of about six weeks I was obliged to
change the matron for another, who, though equally
uneducated, was not so much addicted to forsaking
her daily duty in the workroom, and who did not
waste so much time over long cherrystick pipes.
I cannot say she never smoked when she should have
been cutting out needlework, or never made a pretext
of going to church when a visit to her sister s to
gossip and eat nuts and almonds was the second and
longest part of the ceremony ; but still she did
much better than her predecessor in many respects.
I arranged afterwards with a native embroideress to
come daily and instruct part of the scholars in this
popular, because lucrative, employment. They made
a pretty picture, in spite of the rags of so many,
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 151
when seated in little groups over the embroidery
frames, the Coptic girl who taught them leaning
over each set in turn, her net veil twisted gracefully
across her shoulders, and a heap of bright-coloured
skeins of silk lying beside her, and all the circle
looking so cheerful and contented. Nor was the
sight less pleasing from the contrast of what had
been the daily life of these poor children before
they were gathered within the walls of their
school."
From the foregoing extracts our readers will with
out difficulty enter into the obstacles to Miss Whately s
work. For some time the only teacher she could
procure was a girl of Oriental and Italian parentage,
who, though possessing a little knowledge of teaching,
was a Romanist, and, consequently, unfit to impart
religious instruction. Miss Whately, therefore, took
this part of the teaching upon herself. But it was
only by hard and continuous labour she could accom
plish this. Her knowledge of Arabic was still so
imperfect that she had to study each evening the
rudiments of the language in which she was to give a
lesson next day ; and even while at meals a grammar
or vocabulary lay on the table beside her, which she
consulted by snatches. The difficulties she met with
now determined her to obtain educated help, and on
seeking for such, a native missionary, named Mansoor
Shakoor, was recommended to her. He was about
this time engaged by the Moslem Mission Society
to work among Mohammedans in the East. Mansoor
Shakoor served her gratuitously for some time, only
working for her in his leisure hours ; but as, after
some time, the funds of the Moslem Mission Society
failed, Miss Whately took him regularly into her
employment. Shortly afterwards, finding the work
152 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
growing upon her hands, she engaged the services ot
his brother, Joseph Shakoor.
Immediately after securing the efficient help of
Mansoor Shakoor, Miss Whately started a boys
school in Cairo. But previous to the two brothers
Shakoor being engaged she had made a tentative
effort for the boys, stimulated thereto by the persistent
beseechings of a little fellow who hung about the
school daily, lamenting that he was not a girl, and
could not, therefore, be admitted. Some of the boys
whom she spoke to at the door of her house one day
admitted that they went to Mohammedan schools, but
as they spent their time in studying the Koran, and
often received severe beatings, they ran away very
often. Accordingly, when Miss Whately gave them
the offer of attending her school on one day in the
week, several lads were only too delighted to come.
The first Sunday she had to go out to look for
scholars, though several had promised to come. She
says : " They were a ragged and dirty crew, as may
be imagined. I can scarcely say how many we had
that day, as two or three went and others came ; but
I think nine stayed. These were clad in blue or white
shirts, or rather garments which had formerly been so,
but were now nearly undistinguishable, and cotton
caps on their little cropped heads. Certainly dress
had not done much for them ; but they had bright,
intelligent eyes, which lit up as they glanced cu
riously at the pictures on the wall. The younger ones
all clamoured to stay with the lady ; so I divided
them from the older boys, giving these over to the
young Copt who was my assistant that day."
From that day the boys Sunday school went on
and increased. The brothers Shakoor were able soon
to take the general management of the school, as well
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 153
as enter into other branches of her work. She was
the more glad of this, as in the autumn of 1863 the
death of her father, Archbishop Whately, called her
home. She merely returned to Dublin to arrange
needful family matters, and returned again, resolving
to settle permanently in Cairo, and devote both life
and fortune to her work there.
Having returned and resumed her life-work, Miss
Whately found it necessary to hire another house,
seeing that the two schools already in operation had
so grown that her own dwelling-house could not
accommodate them all. Finally, she found it neces
sary to erect a building ; and, as 1869 brought H.R.H.
the Prince of Wales on a visit to Egypt, he interceded
with Ismail Pacha on her behalf for a grant of land
upon which to build. The land was given ; and as it
lay just outside the old wall of Cairo, the Khedive
made the stipulation that the buildings should be
spacious and handsome, as they would be seen from
the road. She set to work to obtain contributions in
aid from English friends ; but in the end, spent a
sum of not less than three thousand pounds out of
her private fortune on the undertaking. In order to
do this she practised the most rigid self-denial, and
refused many luxuries and much needful rest in order
to attain the desired ends.
Having teachers now to conduct her mission
schools, Miss Whately spent much time in visiting
among the poor in the streets and lanes of Cairo, as
well as in the Bedouin huts outside the town. She
also treated the sick and disabled, as far as eye dis
eases were concerned, and wounded limbs. In spite
of dirt, disorder, and neglect she did all these tasks
cheerfully as unto the Lord, and was blessed by the
poor and suffering as she walked about, like her
154 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
Master, on her errands of mercy. As one result, \vc
are told, that in many places where she had formerly
been pelted with dust, and called a "cursed Nazarene,"
she was now met by saluations of blessing and respect.
" Sitt Mariam" (Lady Mary) became a household word
in Cairo. So much did she see of the benefits of
visiting the Egyptian women at their own homes,
that she finally engaged a native convert as Bible-
woman to carry on this branch of the mission work.
The elder brother Shakoor married in 1864 a young
girl from the Lebanon, who afterwards became as dear
to Miss Whately as an adopted child, and a valuable
coadjutor in the mission work. The two brothers
entered most fully into every branch of the Mission ;
superintending the schools, training the teachers,
reading the Gospel in the native coffee-houses, and
itinerating on the Nile, preaching and teaching as
they went. A depot for Bibles and other books was
opened in Cairo, and kept open for several years ;
but after it was closed, under pressure of Moslem
intolerance, Miss Whately used to make a missionary
journey up the Nile every spring, reading, teaching,
and giving away portions of Scripture to all who
could read, and who begged for them. For these
excursions Miss Whately hired a dahabyeh, or native
boat, making it serve as a home by day, and a sleep
ing-place by night. During the course of ten or
twelve days she was enabled to visit many riverside
villages, read, teach, distribute gospels, and attend to
cases of wounds or bad eyes, so imitating her Master,
who " went about doing good."
Miss Whately s mission dahabyeh was eagerly wel
comed by the dwellers in the Nile villages. The
first sight of the little vessel flying the English flag
brought eager crowds down to the landing-places,
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY.
155
crying : " Here are the people of the Book ! " " Have
you books for us ? " " Come to our house and read
to us!" Then
groups of wo
men and child
ren would as
semble round
Miss Whately
ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE A DAHABYEH. , "Mrs Sha-
koor, who would sit down on the first available
156 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
mound or fallen tree, and tell or read some of the
Bible stories. Afterwards little portions of Scrip
ture and text would be distributed to the men and
boys who could read. On one of these journeys,
Miss Whately supported a young girl while the
English doctor performed a trying operation for the
eyes, and afterwards supplied the nourishing diet
required by the patient for some time. These things
so impressed the old grandmother that she cried,
" These ladies will be sure to go to Ferdoos ! " (Para
dise).
These medical ministrations were found to be so
beneficial to the poorfe//a/ieen, that, in 1879, a medical
mission was added to the other branches of the work.
The younger sister of Mrs. Shakoor was married to a
skilful Syrian doctor who had been trained in the
American Medical College at Beyrout, and as he was
desirous of settling in Egypt, Miss Whately eagerly
embraced the opportunity of engaging him for her
medical mission work. A dispensary was opened
near the school buildings, and several thousand
patients were treated annually. Every week-day the
dispensary was opened in the early morning hours to
the crowds of patients, and Miss Whately delighted
to be there every morning, sitting in the midst of a
group of women, reading, talking, or recounting Bible
stories to the waiting sufferers. After her visit to the
dispensary, she made her way to the schools, over
which she still kept a general supervision, assisted by
Mrs. Shakoor.
We find, in her letters, at this time, scattered
sentences which indicate the longing for rest. One
sentence runs thus : " I long so for the end of warfare
for the Prince of Peace. Like old Doolittle, who
wrote ever so long ago, I say, * Why tarry the wheels
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 157
of His chariot? Didst thou say, dear Lord, "a little
while, and he that shall come will not tarry " ? To
my waiting heart it seemeth a long while."
In later years, she opened a European branch
school for Jewish and Syrian girls of mixed parentage;
and she found it necessary to devote as much time
each day as could be spared from other duties, to
teach in this latest educational offshoot. She says in
reference to this : " Now and then, on Saturdays or
holidays, I take an early donkey ride at 6 A.M. Then,
after breakfast and family reading, I go to my poor at
the Dispensary, for a time varying from three-quarters
of an hour to an hour and a-half, according to numbers.
Then I go to my class at the Levantine School, for
their Scripture lesson. At the Arab Girls School they
have now a fairly efficient teacher, and having only
one tongue to teach in makes it easier. The variety
of tongues and religions at the Levantine School
makes me feel that I am more needed there just now,
though, of course, I go in and out of the others as
time will allow."
Her next journey up the Nile in her missionary
dahabyeh brought to light some very encouraging
incidents. In some of the riverside villages, an eager
spirit of seeking for knowledge about the Christian
religion was manifest, as the following extract from her
journal of this date will prove : " Bring out the aged,
that they may hear the Word of God before they die !
These words were uttered by some poor Egyptian
peasants, who, with a group of dark-veiled women and
children were crowded round a lady seated on a
native mat on the ground, near a large village a
few hundred yards from the Nile. It was during the
last week of the old year ; a Bible was in the lady s
hand, and she was reading from it, pausing to explain
158 MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN .LANDS
every now and then in a simple and intelligible
manner, the hearers being mostly extremely ignorant
and all Mohammedans.
" Mrs. Shakoor and myself were on our usual mis
sionary trip, but untoward weather and a wretched
boat had hindered our progress, and time was very
short ; still we had the happiness of rinding that the
good seed brought in two previous visits to this
village (containing upwards of 1000 inhabitants) had
not all fallen by the wayside. Several came to the
boat afterwards to beg for the Book. And the
poor old people who were brought out to hear the
Word of God read and explained, bent forward, listen
ing as if for dear life."
She adds : " There were several in that village who
seem to have caught hold of the hem of His garment.
They are still weak and ignorant, and shut in by
bigotry and the danger of death, from publicly avow
ing how far they are changed, but there is reason to
think that some will be amongst the ransomed, by-
and-by, when the Lord comes to take home His own."
Miss Whately was always most interested in the
condition of the women of Egypt. The lot of the
women belonging to the poorer classes was more
tolerable than that of the richer classes, in that it was
freer, and had more variety about it. Much of the
woman s life was spent out of doors, assisting the hus
band in cultivating the little rice-patch, and similar out
door occupations ; but the women of the richer homes
were kept strictly confined to the harem. It was in
these latter homes that female slavery flourished, for
the number of women kept in the harem was only
limited by the master s means, and, frequently,
slaves were added to the household. She says : " The
rule is that women, not forced by the poverty of their
MISS MARY LOUISA WHATELY. 159
husbands to work for daily bread by helping to culti
vate the land, if in the country, or performing errands
in the towns, are kept in prison yes, prison is not
too strong a word. The grand harems of the wealthy
are chiefly occupied by fair Circassians and Georgians,
to the number, sometimes, of many hundreds."
The year 1888 dawned, and with it the last year of
Miss Whately s ministry for the women of Egypt. In
the beginning of that year, she made her last visit to
England, but she seemed full of life and vigour, so
that her friends little dreamt that they were seeing
her for the last time. In the summer she went to
Switzerland with a sister and niece, and all three
much enjoyed the visit. She returned to Cairo in
the early autumn Mrs. Shakoor and her family
welcoming her with much rejoicing and resumed
the old employments.
In February, 1889, she chartered a dahabyeh for
her usual voyage up the Nile, fearing to delay, though
she was not well, for the season was advanced, and
the river had fallen unusually low. She had caught
a severe cold, and the keen winds that prevailed on
the Nile at that time did not conduce to recovery.
From her " Last Nile Notes," jotted down each even
ing, and preserved by her sister, we find that she
resumed the old occupations of reading and talking
to the villagers, many of whom remembered her, and
came eagerly forth to listen to her readings and talks.
After visiting the last village, she felt so ill that she
returned home "to rest," and, after a day or two,
consented to call in medical aid. At first it was
hoped that she had only a sharp bronchial attack,
and that it would soon yield to medical treatment,
but ultimately congestion of the lungs came on, and
the case became complicated. Friday, the 8th of
l6o MISSIONARY HEROINES IN EASTERN LANDS.
March, was a terrible day of anxiety for those who
watched around her, but toward evening the worst
symptoms appeared to be yielding, and both doctors
reported her to be going on well when they left for
the night. She had a good night, but woke in much
pain in the morning. Hot applications were used,
and the local pains yielded, but a sudden paleness
and coldness caused Mrs. Shakoor to fear that the
heart was affected. She immediately called the
doctor, who confirmed her worst fears, and only a
few minutes later she saw a great change come on.
She bent over the sufferer and said, " You are going
to Jesus, dear mamma going to glory ! " Only one
bright look of response was given, and then all was
over ; Mary Whately s happy spirit passed away to be
for ever with the Lord whom she had so lovingly
served for so many years. She was called " up
higher" on the 9th of March, 1889.
Jt may not be out of place to quote the opinion of
a gentleman who has travelled much in the East, by
way of conclusion. He wrote : " In my experience
among Easterns of all classes and religions, and vari
ous agencies in the East, Miss Mary Louisa Whately s
Mission stands first. It has reached the very Jieart of
Islam, and has been the first to plant the Gospel of our
Divine Master in the very midst of the Mohammedan
families in Egypt. Such a thing was never heard
of before, nor has been done by any one since the
rise and progress of the Mohammedan religion. God
has manifestly watered the seed, and blessed it also,
which she scattered in faith in Egypt, and even before
she was called away to the higher service, the fruits
of her labours of love began to appear."
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England s Navy: Stories of its Ships and its Services.
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Loyal : A Story of the Mercantile Marine, By Arthur
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Oli8 Chauncey s Trust. By Mrs. E. R. Pitman, Author
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Roger the Ranger: A Story of Border Life among the
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Yashti Savage: The Story of a Gipsy Girl. By Surah
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Young Moose Hunters (The): A Backwoods-Boy s Story.
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^Chaplains at the Front : Incidents in the Life of a Chaplain
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With Kitchener s Army: Being a Chaplain s Experiences
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Lord Roberts of Kandahar, Y.C. : The Life-Story of a Great
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Her Saddest Blessing. By Jennie Chappell.
Julia Ried. By Pansy.
John : A Tale of the Messiah. By K. Pearson Woods.
John Halifax, Gentleman. By Mrs. Craik. New Edition,
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Jacques Hamon; or, Sir Philip s Private Messenger. By
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Lights and Shadows of Forster Square. By Rev. E. H.
Sugden, M.A.
Living it Down. By Laura M. Lane.
Louie s Married Life. By Sarah Doudney.
More Precious than Gold. By Jennie Chappell.
Miss Elizabeth s Niece. By M. S. Haycraft.
Martyr of Kolin (The) : A Story of the Bohemian Persecu
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Morning Dew-Drops : A Temperance Text Book. By
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Mark Desborougb s Yow. By Annie S. Swan.
Mick Tracy, the Irish Scripture Reader. By the Author of
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Naomi; or, The Last Days of Jerusalem. By Mrs. Webb*
Our Exemplar; or, What would Jesus Do? (In Has
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Out of the Deep : A Story of the Brays of Beachtown.
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Puritan Wooing (A) : A Tale of the Great Awakening to
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Pilgrim s Progress (The). By John Bunyan. 416
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Petrel Darcy ; or, In Honour Bound. By T. Corrie.
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Richard Bruce. By Chas. M. Sheldon, Author of " In His
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Strait Gate (The). By Annie S. Swan.
Son of Ingar (The) : A Story of the Days of the Apostle
Paul. By K. P. Woods.
Three People. By " Pansy."
Twentieth Door (The). By Chas. M. Sheldon, Author of
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Tom Shannon and His College Chums. ByJ. O. Keen, D.D.
Uncle Tom s Cabin. By Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Village Story (A). By Mrs. G. E. Morton, Author of " The
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Without a Thought; or, Dora s Discipline. By Jennie
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Wardlaugh; or, Workers Together. By Charlotte Murray.
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^Platform, Pulpit, and Desk ; or, Tools for Workers. Being
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Pleasant Half Hours; or, Thoughts for Men. By Rev.
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Bible Picture Roll. Containing a large Engraving of a
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Sunny Teachings. (New Series.) A Bible Picture Roll,
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The Friends of Jesus : Illustrated Sketches for the Young,
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Domestic Pets: Their Habits and Treatment. Anecdotal
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*The Life-Boat : Its History and Heroes. By F. M. Holmes.
Firemen and their Exploits. With an Account of Fire
Brigades and Appliances. By F. M. Holmes.
Marvels of Ant Life. By W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., F.E.S.,
of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.
The Romance of the Savings Banks. By Archibald G.
Bowie.
The Romance of Glass-Making : A Sketch of the History of
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The Romance of the Fost-Qffice : Its Inception and Won
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Marvels of Metals. By F. M. Holmes.
Miners and their Works Underground. By F. M. Holmes.
Triumphs of the Printing Press. By Walter Jerrold.
Astronomers and their Observations. By Lucy Taylor.
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Celebrated Mechanics and their Achievements. By F. M.
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Chemists and their Wonders. By F. M. Holmes.
Engineers and their Triumphs. By F. M. Holmes.
Electricians and their Marvels. By Walter Jerrold.
Musicians and their Compositions/ By J. R. Griffiths.
Naturalists and their Investigations. By Georg-e Day
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*The Angel and the Demon ; and Other Stories. By E.
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*A Measuring Eye. By E. Stuart-Langford, Author of " Miss
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*Wellington : The Record of a Great Military Career. By
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Hector Macdonald; or, The Private who became a General.
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Hiram Golfs Religion. By George H. Hepworth, D.D.,
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The Royal Life. By Rev. J. C. Carlile, Author of " Labour
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THE BRITISH BOYS LIBRARY.
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*Deeds of Daring ; or, Stories of Heroism in Every-day
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Noble Deeds: Stories of Peril and Heroism. Edited by
Charles D. Michael, Author of " The Slave and His Champions."
Armour Bright: The Story of a Boy s Battles. By Lucy
Taylor, Author of "Astronomers and their Observations/ etc.
The Thane of the Dean: A Story of the time of the
Conqueror. By Tom Bevan, Author of "White Ivory and
Black," etc.
The Old Red School-house: A Story of the Backwoods.
By Frances H. Wood.
Ben: A Story of Life s Byways. By Lydia Phillips.
The Secret of the Yew. By Frank Yerlock.
Major Brown ; or, Whether White or Black, a Man. By
Edith S. Davis.
The Bell Buoy; or, The Story of a Mysterious Key. By
F. M. Holmes.
Jack. A Story of a Scapegrace. By E. M. Bryant.
Hubert Ellerdale : A Tale of the Days of Wicliffe. By
W. Oak Rhind.
THE BRITISH GIRLS LIBRftRY.
*The Lady of Greyham; or, Low in a Low Place. By
Emma E. Hornibrook.
*The Gipsy Queen. By Emma Leslie.
Kathleen ; or, A Maiden s Influence. By Julia Hack.
Chrystal Joyce : The Story of a Golden Life. By Edward
Garrett.
The Rajah s Daughter; or, The Half-Moon Girl. By
Bessie Marchant, Author of " In the Cradle of the North Wind," etc.
In Self-Defence. By Julia Hack.
Regia; or, Her Little Kingdom. By E. M. Waterworth
and Jennie Chappell.
Una s Marriage. By Mrs. Haycraft.
Tephi: An Armenian Romance. By Cecilia M. Blake.
Christabel s Influence. By J. Goldsmith Cooper, Author
of "Nella."
Sweet Kitty Claire. By Jennie Chappell.
The Maid of the Storm : A Story of a Cornish Village.
By Nellie Cornwall.
Mistress of the Situation. By Jennie Chappell.
Queen of the Isles. By Jessie M. E. Saxby.
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NEW CENTURY LEADERS.
An up-to-date Series of Biographies of Men of Mark at the Opening
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Lord Rosebery : Imperialist. ByJ. A. Hammerton, Author
of " J. M. Barrie and His Books."
Joseph Chamberlain : A Romance of Modern Politics Bv
Arthur Mee.
Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury. J3y W.
Francis Aitken, Author of " Baden-Powell," etc.
Joseph Parker, D.D. : His Life and Ministry. By Albert
Dawson.
Hugh Pries Hughes. By Rev. J. Gregory Mantle.
General Booth : The Man and His Work. By Jesse Page.
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Crovn Svo. 160 pages. Cloth extra. Fully Illustrated, is. 6d. each.
Amid Greenland Snows ; or, the Early History of
Arctic Missions. ] B V
Bishop Patteson : The Martyr of Melanesia. \ J ess e
Captain Allen Gardiner : Sailor and Saint. J Pa S e -
The Congo for Christ: The Storv of the Congo Mission
By Rev. J. B. Myers, Author of " William Carey," etc.
David Brainerd : Apostle to the North-American Indians.
David Livingstone: His Labours and his Legacy.
From Kafir Kraal to Pulpit : The Story of Tiyo Soga, First
Ordained Preacher of the Kafir Race.
Japan: Its People and Missions. By Jesse Page.
John Williams : The Martyr Missionary of Polynesia.
James Calvert ; or, From Dark to Dawn in Fiji.
Lady Missionaries in Foreign Lands. By Mrs. E. R.
Pitman, Author of " Missionary Heroines in Eastern Lands."
Madagascar. Its Missionaries and Martyrs.
Missionary Heroines in Eastern Lands.
Reginald Heber: Bishop of Calcutta, Author of " From
Greenland s Icy Mountains." By A. Montefiore, F.R.G.S.
Robert Moffat: The Missionary Hero of Kuruman. Bv
David J. Deane. J
Samuel Crowther : The Slave Boy who became Bishop of
the Niger. By Jesse Page.
Thomas J. Comber : Missionary Pioneer to the Coneo Bv
Rev. J. B. Myers. *
William Carey: The Shoemaker who became the Father
;ider of Modern Missions. By Rev. J. B. Myers.
CATALOGUE OF NEW & POPULAR WORKS. 15
Is. 6d. each (continued).
HEW POPULAR BIOGRAPHIES.
*King and Emperor : The Life-History of Edward VII. By
Arthur Mee. Crown 8vo, 170 pages. Eight full-page Illustrations
on plate paper. Cloth boards, is. 6d. net.
*Dwight L. Moody : The Life-work of a Modern Evangelist.
By Rev. J. H. Batt.
*Noble Work by Noble Women : Sketches of the Lives of
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, Lady Henry Somerset, Miss Sarah
Robinson, Mrs. Fawcett, and Mrs. Gladstone. By Jennie
Chappell, Author of " Four Noble Women/ etc. .
Four Noble Women and their Work : Sketches of the Lite
and Work of Frances Willard, Agnes Weston, Sister Dora, and
Catherine Booth. By Jennie Chappell. .
The Canal Boy who became President. By Frederic T.
FlorencTNightingale : The Wounded Soldiers Friend. By
Eliza F. Pollard.
Four Heroes of India : Clive, Warren Hastings, Havelock,
Lawrence. By F. M. Holmes.
Fridtjof Nansen : His Life and Explorations. By J. Arthur
General Gordon : The Christian Soldier and Hero. By G.
Barnett Smith.
Gladstone (W. E.) : England s Great Commoner. By
Walter Jerrold. With Portrait and thirty-eight other Illustrations.
Heroes and Heroines of the Scottish Covenanters. By J.
Meldrum Dryerre, LL.B., F.R.G.S.
John Knox and the Scottish Reformation. By G. Barnett
Mich^eTparaday : Man of Science. By Walter Jerrold
Philip Melancthon : The Wittemberg Professor and 1 neo-
loo-ian of the Reformation. By David J. Deane.
Sir Richard Tangye ("One and All ") : An Autobiography.
With 21 Original Illustrations by Frank Hewitt. (192 PJges).
Sir John Franklin and the Romance of the North-West
Passage. Bv G. Barnett Smith.
Slave and His Champions (The): Sketches of Granville
Sharp, Thomas Clarkson, William Wilberforce, and Sir T. F.
Buxton By C. D. Michael.
Stanley (Henry M.) : The African Explorer. By Arthur
Montefiore-Brice, F.G.S., F.R.G.S.
rgeon (C. H.) : His Life and Ministry. By Jesse Page.
William Tynclale : The Translator of the [English Bible.
By G. Barnett Smith.
16 S. W. PARTIDGE & CO. S
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*Marchester Stories. By Rev. C. Herbert.
Aileen ; or, The Love of Christ Constraineth Us. By
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Duff Darlington ; or. An Unsuspected Genius. By i:.velyn
Everett-Green. With Six Illustrations by Harold Copping-.
Everybody s Friend ; or, Hilda Danvers Influence. By
Evelyn Everett-Green, Author of" Barbara s Brother," etc.
Fine Gold ; or, Ravenswood Courtenay. By Emma Mar
shall, Author of " Eaglehurst Towers," etc.
In Friendship s Name. A Story for Boys. By L. Phillips,
Author of "Frank Burleigh," etc.
Legend of the Silver Cup (The). Allegories for Children.
By Rev. G. Critchley, B.A. With 12 Illustrations. (Small quarto.)
Nella ; or, Not My Own. By Jessie Goldsmith Cooper.
Our Duty to Animals. By Mrs. C. Bray, Author of
" Physiology for Schools," etc. Intended to teach the young
kindness to Animals. Cloth, is. 6d. ; School Edition, is. 3d.
Raymond and Bertha: A Story of True Nobility. By
L. Phillips, Author of "Frank Burleigh; or, Chosen to be a Soldier."
Rose Capel s Sacrifice; or, A Mother s Love. By Mrs.
Haycraft, Author of " Like a Little Candle," "Chine Cabin," etc.
Satisfied. By Catherine M. Trowbridge.
Sisters-in-Love. By Jessie M. E. Saxby.
Sister Royal. By Mrs. Haycraft, Author of " The Children
of Cherry holme," etc.
Ted s Trust; or, Aunt Elmerley s Umbrella. By Jennie
Chappell, Author of "Who was the Culprit?" etc.
Tamsin Rosewarne and Her Burdens : A Tale of Cornish
Life. By Nellie Cornwall.
Insects: Foes and Friends. By W. Egmont Kirby, M.D.,
F.L.S. With Preface by W. F. Kit by, F.L S., F.E.S., of the Natural
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Iy D. J. D., Author of "Stories of Animal Sagacity," etc.
Pleasures and Joys for Girls and Boys. By D. J. D.,
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Anecdotes of Animals and Birds. By Uncle John.
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CATALOGUE OF NEW & POPULAR WORKS. 17
IS. 6d. each (continued).
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Alice Western s Blessing. By Ruth Lamb. Beautifully
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"The story is as wholesome as it is fascinating, as stimulating as it is
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public libraries, and be freely given as a prize by our Temperance Societies "
Dick s Chum. By Miss M. A. Paull.
This book is well written and illustrated. It is just the book for boys
especially for those of the working class."
The Little Quartermaster. By Miss M. A. Paull, Author
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Sidney Holt s Purpose. By Mrs. Clara Lucas Balfour,
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The Fortunes of Riverside. By Miss S. Hocking.
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Manor House Mystery. By Mrs. C. L. Balfour, Author of
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" It is written in excellent style, with a well-constructed plot, sparkling
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The Bird Angel. By Miss M. A. Paull.
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Runningfrom Home. By Miss M. A. Paull.
" Acapital book for boys."
Lyndon the Outcast. By Mrs. C. L. Balfour.
Ronald Clayton s Mistake. By Miss M. A. Paull.
" It is a capital book to place in the hands of working lads."
Nearly Lost, but Dearly Won. By Rev. T. P. Wilson,
M.A.", Author of " Frank Oldfield." etc.
Saph s Foster-Bairn. By Rev. A. Colbeck, Author of the
100 prize tale, " Fall of the Staincliffes," etc.
Hoyle s Popular Ballads and Recitations. By William
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including portrait of Author, price is. 6d., post free.
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Birdie and her Dog, and other Stones of Canine Sagacity.
By Miss Phillips.
Birdie s Benefits; or, A Little Child Shall Lead Them. By
Ethel Ruth Boddy.
Bessie Drew ; or, The Odd Little Girl. By Amy Manifold.
Cola Monti ; or, The Story of a Genius. By Mrs. Craik,
Author of "John Halifax, Gentleman."
Carol s Gift ; or, " What Time I am Afraid I will Trust in
Thee." By Jennie Chappell, Author of "Without a Thought," etc.
Children of Cherryholme (The). By M. S. Haycraft.
Author of " Like a Little Candle," " Chine Cabin," etc.
Dumpy Dolly. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of " Master
Lionel," " Lady Betty s Twins," etc.
Farm by the Wood (The). By F. Scarlett Potter, Author
of " Phil s Frolic," etc.
Frank Burleigh; or, Chosen to be a Soldier. By L.
Phillips.
His Majesty s Beggars. By Mary E. Ropes, Author of
" Bel s Baby, etc.
Harold ; or, Two Died for Me. By Laura A. Barter.
Indian Life in the Great North-West. By Egerton R.
You: to tin: North AiiK-rk an Indian Tribes, North
of L.-ikr \\ ;-;i,i|-i <;-. A .ihwj- of " \\\ > ,-inoe and Dog-train."
CATALOGUE OF NEW & POPULAR WORKS. 19
IS. each (continued).
CHS SHILLING REWARD BOOKS (continued).
Jack the Conqueror; or, Difficulties Overcome. By the
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Jim s Discovery ; or, On the Edge of a Desert. By T. M.
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Littla Bunch s Charge ; or, True to Trust. By NellU
Cornwall, Author of " Tamsin Rosewarne," etc.
Lost in ihe Backwoods. By Edith C. Kenyon, Author of
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Little Woodman and His Dog Caesar (The). By Mrs.
Sherwood.
Lady Betty s Tv/ins. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of
"Master Lionel," "Twice Saved," etc.
Last Look (The) : A Tale of the Spanish Inquisition. By
W. H. G. Kingston, Author of " Manco, the Peruvian Chief," etc.
Marjory ; or, What would Jesus Do ? By Laura A. Barter,
Author of " Harold; or, Two Died for Me."
OUT Den. By E. M. Waterworth, Author of " Master
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Pilgrim s Progress (The). By John Bunyan. 416 pages.
47 Illustrations.
Roy s Sister ; or, His Way and Hers. By M. B. Manweli,
Author of " Mother s Boy," etc.
Raymond s Rival; or, Which will Win? By Jennie
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St. Mary s Convent; or, Chapters in the Life of a Nucu
By J. S. Dammast, Author of " The Fatal Legacy."
Sweet Nancy. By L. T. Meade, Author of "Scamp and
L/ "A Band of Three," etc.
Twice Saved; or, Somebody s Pet and Nobody s Darling.
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Louie s Married Life. By Sarah
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Annie
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Grandmother s Child,
*nd For Lucy s Sake. J Swan.
Cousin Mary. By Mrs. Oliphant.
Living it Down. By Laura M.
Lane.
Her Saddest Blessing. By Jenni*
Chappell.
The above can aho be had in fancy cloth, price is, 6d.
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Jack s Heroism, A Story of Schoolboy Life. By Edith
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James Capes Story.
The Minister s Money. By Eliza F. Pollard, Author of
"True unto Death," etc,
Her Two Sons: A Story for Young Men and Maidens. 87
Mrs. Charles Garnolt.
Rag and Tag: A Plea for the Waifs and Strays of Old
England. By Mrs. E. J. Whittaker.
Through Life s Shadows. By Eliza F. Pollard.
The Little Princess of Tower Hill, By L. T. Meade.
ClOYie and Madge. By Mrs. G. S. Reaney.
EUerslie House : A Book for Boys. By Emma Leslie.
Manchester House: A Tale of Two Apprentices. By J.
Capes Story.
Like a Little Candle; or, Bertrand s Influence. By Mra.
Haycraft.
Yiolet Maitland ; or, By Thorny Ways. By Laura M. Lan*,
Martin Redfern s Oath. By Ethel F. Heddle.
The Dairyman s Daughter. By Legh Richmond.
Rills from tha Fountain of Life.
Bible Wonders. J. By Rev. Dr. Newtoo.
Bible Jewels.
CATALOGUE OF NEW &&gt; POPULAR WORKS. 21
IS. eaCh (continued}.
OMWARD* TBMPERANC_E_ LIBRARY.
Crv~<vn Svo. Illustrated. Cloth extra..
A Western Waif. By Old Cornish, Author of "Ste ; w
"Our Girls," " Pete and his Daddy," etc., etc.
" A. story of Cornish life. Well worth reading. A splendid bo-;k :
young men,"
JLddy s Two Lives. By Mrs. Ruth B. Yates, Authoi of
w Grumpy Grafton," " Green and Gold," etc., etc.
The Gambler s Daughter ; or, John Dudley s Secret. By
Edward Annytage,
Tha Tenants of Johnson s Court. By Janet Armytage.
" Tni in A well- written story of work and experienoo i^n^ti^it, the poor. Th
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wrote."
; or, Under a Cloud. By A. J. Glasspool, Author
of " Snatched from Death," etc.
Whispers to those who wish to Enjoy a Happy Life. By
Rev. Benj. Smith, Author of " Climbing-," " Gems Reset," <c Soon
Home," etc,
" A series of chapters suited for all young persons, and calculi tod to Ut o<
gre& standee. "
Storm to Peace. By Rev. Joseph Johnson,
Author of "Dibs.." " His Master s Likeness," etc., etc.
Among the Onsen s Enemies. By Fred Sherlock, Author
of " More than Conquerors," etc.
Snatched from Death. By Alfred T. Glasspool, Author iff
" Th Young 1 Abstainer s Laboratory," etc., etc.
M Full of interest and instruction ; showing how perseverance ancJ det/crrnin*-
Won to -io Lbe right arc re> .wiMv l."
Cot tp Crown. By Old Cornish, Author of " Ste,**
"Our Girls," " Pete and his Daddy," etc., etc.
" This la admirably adapted for youths sad young men st;;ri;!ij -n;t ia !L*.
Pointed, pishy,
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PICTURE BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
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*A Merry Game : Pictures and Stories for Little Reader*.
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Size io by 7! inches. 96 pages. Coloured Frontispiece and 91
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*Buttercups and Daisies : A Picture Story Book for Little
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"Holiday Hours in Animal Land. By Uncle Harry. New
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Dapple and Dobbin s Picture Book. By D. J. D., Author
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Coloured Frontispiece and 94 other Illustrations.
Pussies and Puppies. By Louis Wain. 96 pages, On
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Skipping Time: A Story Book in Prose and Rhyme. By
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and many other Illustrations.
Ring o Roses. Pictures and Stories for Little Folks/ By
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Holiday Joys. Stories and Pictures for Girls and Boys.
By C. D. M., Author of " Merry Playmates," etc. Four fuli-pag
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Bible Pictures and Stories : Old Testament. By D. J. D.,
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Bible Pictures and Stories : New Testament By James
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Moey and Louie ; or, The Fairy s Gift. By Edith E, Gibbs.
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Raymond s Angel : A Story of Two Lives Laid Down. By
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Light and Darkness; or, All One in Christ Jesus. By
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is. ; cloth, is. 6d.
Molly and I. By the Author of " Jack," " At Sunset," etc.
Long Svo. Illustrated Title Page. is.
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CATALOGUE OF NEW & POPULAR WORKS. 23
Is. each (continued).
Victoria: The Well-Beloved. (1819-1901.) By W. Francis
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8 Illustrations. Crown 8vo, .152 pages. Cloth boards.
*Anoiher Pentecost. By Rev. I. E. Page. Long 8vo,
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For Love s Sake. By Charlotte Skinner, Author of " Un
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Uncrowned Queens. By Charlotte Skinner, Author of
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Sisters of the Master. By Charlotte Skinner, Author of
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The Master s Gifts to Women. By Charlotte Skinner.
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The Master s Messages to Women. By Charlotte Skinner.
Some Secrets of Christian Living : Selections from the
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Daybreak in the Soul. By the Rev. E. W. Moore, M.A.,
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Steps to the Blessed Life: Selections from the "Seven
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Thoroughness: Talks to Young Men. ByThain Davidson,
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Babes in the Basket (The) ; or, Daph and Her Charge.
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Benjamin Holt s Boys and What They Did for Him. By
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Cripple George; or, God has a Plan for Every Man. A
Temperance Story. By John W. Kneeshaw, Author of " Norcl -fle
Court," etc.
Cared For ; or, The Orphan Wanderers. By Mrs. C. E.
Bowen, Author of " Dick and His Donkey," etc.
DaY/SOil s Madge ; or, The Poacher s Daughter. By T. M.
Browne, Author of " The Musgrove Ranch," etc.
Flight with the Swallows (A). By Emma Marshall.
Five Cousins (The). By Emma Leslie.
Foolish Chrissy ; or, Discontent and its Consequences. By
Meta, Author of " Noel s Lesson," etc.
For Lucy s Sake. By Annie S. Swan.
Grandmother s Child. By Annie S. Swan.
Giddie Garland ; or, The Three Mirrors. By Jennie Chappell.
How a Farthing Made a Fortune ; or, Honesty is the iJest
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Jean Jacques : A Story of the Franco- Prussian War. Bj
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John Oriel s Start in Life. By Mary Howitt
Master Lionel, that Tiresome Child. By E, M. Water-
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Man of the Family (The). By Jennie Chappell.
Mattie s Home ; or, The Little Match-girl and her Friends.
Phil s Frolic. By F. Scarlett Potter.
Paul : A Little Mediator. By Maude M. Butler.
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CATALOGUE OF NEW & POPULAR WORKS, 25
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Left in Charge, and other Stories.
A Threefold Promise,
Tare Little Girls and What they
did,
Ths Feu* Young Musicians.
Jed and Sally; or, A Good Deed
and its Fruits.
Tfce Island Horns. By F. M,
Holmes.
Chrissy s Treasure. By Jennie
Perrett.
Peppy-Dog Tales. By Various
Author;-!.
Mother s Boy. By M. B, Man-
welL
A Great Mistake. By Jennie
Chappell.
From Hand to Hand, By C. J
^ Hamilton.
That Boy Boh. By Jesse Page
Buy Your Own Cherries. By
J.W. Kirton.
Owen s Fortune. By Mrs. P.
West.
Shad s Christmas Gift.
Greycliffe Abbey.
Red Davs ; or, What Wflt Tho*
have Me to Do?
Snowdrops; or, Life from tha
Dead.
Dick and His Donkey; or, How
to Pay the Kent.
Herbert s First Year at Braia-
ford.
The Pearly Gates.
Jessie Dyson.
Maude s Visit to Sandybeach*
Come home, Mother.
Sybil and her Live SnowbalL
Only a Bunch of Cherries*
26
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Pride and Prejudice. By Jane
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From Jest to Earnest. By E.
P. Roe.
The Wide, Wide World. By
Susan Warner.
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The Household Angel. By
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The Better Fart. By Annie S.
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Swan.
Mark Desborough s Yow. By
Annie S. Sv,-an.
Her Saddest Blessing.
Miss Priscilla Hunter, and other
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Wild Bryonie.
AYICC. A Story of
Borne.
Links in Rebecca s Life.
From Different Standpoints.
Those Boys.
Christie s Christmas.
Four Girls at Chautauqua.
The Chautauqua Girls at Horn*
Ruth Erskine s Crosses.
Ester Ried.
Julia Ried.
Ester Ried yet Speaking.
An Endless Chain.
Echoing and Re-echoing.
Cunning Y/orkmen.
Tip Lewis and His Lamp.
The King s Daughter.
Household Puzzles.
The Randolphs.
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Wise to Win; or, The Master
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A New Graft on the Family
Tree.
The Man of the House,
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The Little Woodman.
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Missionary heroines in
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