FOREIGN NOTES AND PERSONALS Extract-Letter-Florence B. Lang, Slave Island, Colombo. like Perhaps you have thought that the Colombo Association is the only one in Ceylon. It is the oldest and largest, but by no means the only one. Here and there throughout the island are small Associations which we call "scattered branches." The Colombo secretary really ought to be the traveling secretary for Ceylon and visit these scattered branches regularly; but it is quite impossible to do this in addition to the Colombo work, where there is but one secretary. I promised several months ago to visit the two branches at Heneratgoda and Mabima, and since the trip is rather a long one, the meeting was arranged for Saturday, and I was to remain over Sunday. The journey was made by rail from Colombo to Heneratgoda and thence to Mabima by bullock cart. The funny little cars are two-wheeled, and quite comfortable when one gets accustomed to them. I used to think the native drivers were cruel, but closer acquaintance with the nature of a trotting bullock has lead me to change my opinion. It takes lungs of brass, muscles of iron, nerves wire, and the patience of Job to drive them! The journey was along a winding country road which led through several small villages. Everywhere were seen the various activities of village life. The houses resemble huge packing boxes set on their sides, with the open mouth facing the road. A still more open veranda will sometimes be attached, so when one passes along the road one can see the old grandmother pounding rice, the grandfather stretched out for a nap, the father shaving his customers (if he is a barber) and the mother giving the baby a bath. (The latter operation consists in pouring cold water from an old tin over the head of the dancing infant.) Whenever the cart entered a village the little brown children would race after it, shouting strange words at me. I amused myself and delighted them by throwing a one cent piece into the crowd every now and then. This could hardly be called extravagance, since one Ceylon cent is but one-third of an American cent in value. I found out afterward that the children were asking for a book. The missionary in whose cart I was riding gives them picture post cards and illustrated tracts. They much prefer the former, especially if they are colored. The friends of this missionary save all the post cards they receive and send her great packets of them. I found the missionary's bungalow situated in a little garden some distance from the road. In the same compound was a school room made of mud, with open sides and a thatched roof. In this room the meeting was held. I was touched to see the decorations which had been made and to hear afterwards about the real labor which had been given to make the room attractive for this meeting. There were about fifteen members assembled. More were expected, but the sky looked threatening. Four of these had about nine miles to travel in a bullock cart! Most of the members were Singhalese who understood English. One poor girl went to sleep, which distressed me somewhat, but I was told afterward that she always does that because she understands so little English. How I wished the girls at home could see this little Association meeting in Ceylon, and could have heard the beautiful closing prayer of one of the members as she prayed for Association people all over the world, and for the mothers who sent their daughters so willingly for the work in far-away countries. I thought that last remembrance was so beautiful! The native preacher of the Baptist Church sent word to me to preach at the morning service! Upon being assured that the people were not higher critics I consented. The preacher interpreted for me. There were about forty present, many of whom were Association members. During the prayer the children squirmed just as they frequently do at home, and two had to be led out in disgrace. In the afternoon we talked to a little school, about two miles away, which the missionary built with twenty-five dollars which was sent her by a friend at home. The land upon which the school stands was given by a poor old woman who is a convert from Buddhism. I had the pleasure of seeing the old woman and shaking hands with her. Her wrinkled old face was bright with happiness as she tried to say a few English words. There were about twenty children in the school, and such interesting, bright, and, many times, pretty faces! How they could repeat Scripture! The first girl of twelve stood forth and recited the 103rd Psalm. The others were younger and they went through other long Psalms and parables from the New Testament. A young man of about nineteen, still a Buddhist, but very much interested in Christianity, was in the back of the school listening to everything. He is learning English, and came to get "Pilgrim's Progress" from the teacher, as some one had said it would improve his English. The missionary is hoping it will make him really come out as a Christian. When one gets out into the villages and sees the life of the people one can understand how very difficult it is for the people to accept Christianity. If we were the only Christians in our home town, and all the town people were ridi culing or persecuting, I wonder how many of us would have the courage to remain true, especially if our own knowledge of Christ and his love were as meager and vague as these poor people's must be. As we walked home the sky was one mass of lovely color from the setting sun. The paddy (rice) fields of brilliant green were bathed in this soft light and the whole scene was exquisitely beautiful. We passed one field where the rice had been cut and was being threshed. Eight bullocks were tramping out the grain. I went up to watch them closely, for the missionary said the method was just like that used in the Bible times. The oxen were hitched together in two sets of four, and moved around in a circle like the hands on the face of a clock. Every now and then the chaff would be blown away as the men lifted the straw. Darkness settles very quickly in this country, and we went home in complete blackness. Every now and then a native would pass with a blazing torch, which would light up the road for a space and then flit away like a huge fire-fly. Prayers after dinner with three Singhalese servants closed a day which had been full of interest and joy! How should like to know the language, that I might understand what the people are saying and speak to them. They are a friendly folk and always ready to stop and speak with anyone whether friend or stranger. This little branch of the Association is an important part of the great worldbody, for though they are few in number, they are earnest and are letting their light shine in the midst of such darkness about them! Japan. When we came back to Tokyo on the first of September we had a shock! We found a foreign lady staying in one of our Japanese hostels. This is worse than it sounds. There are no accommodations for either sleeping, eating or living in foreign style, and foreigners are not allowed to stay there even for the fun of the experience. But the matron of the dormitory had been even more dismayed than were we, for when she had refused a room to this lady the evening she arrived, the latter presented a telegram purporting to be from the Association which said that although the secretaries were not in the city she could be accommodated in one of the dormitories. The matron, supposing Miss Matthew must have sent the telegram, although not understanding why, took the lady in, and she slept on the floor, sat on the floor, and made the domitory her headquarters for six days until we arrived. You could appreciate this better if you could see her. She is sixtynine years old and is traveling around the world alone. She is one of the most entertaining old ladies I ever saw, and I am sure she can take care of herself on this trip. We found that the old man at the Tokyo Association, on receiving an English telegram from Cook's office in Yokohama, had taken it to a lady in the neighborhood who knew English, and she had sent the reply, at the same time neglecting to mention it to any one interested! I want to tell you about the summer that one of the Japanese school girls spent. For nearly a year she had been planning to spend her vacation with some friends in the mountains, but at the last minute, through her own fault, had to give it up. It was a terrible disappointment to her, and I am afraid she did not accept it very patiently. But in her owns words. "At the summer conference I lost half of my disappointment and got much good spirit instead of it." This girl had been baptized since her last summer vacation, and none of her family were Christians. I am going to use her own words: "When I got home I was surprised to notice a great change which had taken place in my family during the year. Younger brothers and sisters had learned to sing some hymns which were disgusting to them before, and moreover, mother and sister wanted me to tell them about the Bible. How thankful I was! I could not know anything about my father, for he was away on business. I found a lot of work to do at home. I began a Sunday school on the first Sunday. Sixteen children, from five years old to thirteen years, came, and with them two principals of primary schools and four other people, to celebrate the opening of the class. They asked me to have it twice a week, and very fortunately the children were glad of it, so I had them on Sunday and Wednesday. At the first lesson when I asked them who was the greatest in the world many answered that it was our Emperor, and some mentioned the names of shrines where families worshipped, but a few who were brought up in Christian homes had a dim conception of one God. When my father came home I had to take my class to another place, for my father had not changed as I had hoped, and he was displeased. At one time he came and stood outside the entrance for about five minutes. When I came back he was very cross, and I made a great effort to be patient and went out to the veranda and read Psalm 42 and prayed. The fact that he had not much knowledge of Christianity gave me hope, and I prayed that he might change his mind before I came back to school. . . . I got up usually at half past five, slipped out of my bed and mosquito net, grasped my Japanese Bible and the little book, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs," and went out into the corner of the garden. There is a round rock which is big enough to be my table. There I had my silent hour. Every evening we went out to the sea and sat on the bank looking at the moonlight and the waves which reflect the golden light. First of all we sang hymns, then some children's songs. Three boys from the next house often joined us. I told stories from the Bible. Always the youngest child fell asleep and I had to take her home on my back. One night only my sister was listening to me. It was as quiet as possible, for nothing was heard except the noise made by the touching of boats with the little waves, and you can imagine the moonlight night on the seashore; just quiet and peaceful it was. Little islands were black and yet their shape was clear. One little fisherman's boat was floating on the golden waves, and a stately ship with two black sails was sailing across. I took two hours to end the story of Christ, and when I had finished sister sighed and said, "I was just about to cry." She understood me, every word, and she has decided to go to church when she goes back to the city. next term to school. God did lay his hand on us and bless us, for my father changed. One night just before I came back to school he went to a Buddhist meeting and when he came home he asked me about my Christian faith, and then he came to want to know about Christianity, and allowed me to have my Sunday School at his house again. At the last lesson he sat and listened. This was the greatest answer to my prayer and the greatest joy, too. When I left home for school I gave him a Bible. Once he had destroyed a book like that. Thus the vacation which had begun in disappointment was full of work for God and this first summer after my baptism became a memorable experience." Miss Esther Anderson is making a brief visit in this country after a five years' stay in Australia. The board of directors at Adelaide proved its appreciation of Miss Anderson's service by urging her to come to America for six months at its expense. She is to return for a limited period and supervise the erection of Adelaide's new building. Miss Beatrice Cron of Indianapolis is to be associated with Miss Mary Rutherford in the work at Calcutta. Miss Cron has the distinction of being the first secretary to become the foreign representative of the Association which she has served in this country. Indianapolis has provided for her outfit and journey as well as for her support. The "Twenty-four Hour a Day Club," which has assured her support, held its first meeting on the evening of the 11th of January, which was the first day that Miss Cron was on the sea. The ease with which Indianapolis has raised its missionary money should be an incentive to many Associations to have their own foreign secretaries. Miss Florence Denison, formerly of Illinois, was a member of the secretarial party that sailed for India on January 11th. Miss Denison has had a varied experience as physical director, general secretary and county secretary, and goes to India to help to awaken interest in the physical department as well as to assist in the general work. Miss Agnes Hill sailed for India on January 4th to undertake independently a special piece of work among the women of North India. Miss Hill's long service as an Association secretary has developed in her an intense love for Indian women, and she hopes to train some into effective Christian leaders among their own people. Miss Laura Radford spent a month at Singapore, as she was returning from India. As a result of that visit, an urgent request came to the Indian National Committee for Miss Radford to become the general secretary at Singapore. This appeal was granted with the belief that Miss Radford could open an important territory of Association interests in the Straits Settlement. Miss Radford sailed for her new field of service on January 11th. A second new field for the American Associations is being opened through the transfer of Miss Jessie Mather from the office secretaryship of the Indian National Committee of India to the general secretaryship of Allahabad. Miss Mary Rutherford is returning to India before the expiration of her furlough period, in order to take the general secretaryship of Calcutta and relieve Miss Bentley, so that she may attend the World's Student Christian Federation Conference at Lake Mohonk in June. Miss Rutherford sailed on January 11th, and expects to reach India about February 25th. Maxims of a Financial Secretary This is the season of the annual finance campaign. Not only is this method of securing support coming to displace the old diffuse and disheartening way of raising funds irregularly through the year, but in a number of cities in the Middle West a series of campaigns is being successfully conducted this spring based on the plan of the single concentrated effort, with the three-fold appeal for local, field, It is perand headquarters work. tinent to quote at this time certain principles and details applicable to the finance work of any large welfare organization as suggested recently by a finance secretary, in addressing a group of social workers in New York: 1. It is necessary for you to spend money in order to get it. Unless you are willing to make this venture you will lose what you already have. 2. The person who does your finance work should also be your press agentknowing not only the details of raising your money, but how to get your interests into the papers. This representative of your organization, who often has a perspective for its work that the general secretary cannot possibly have, must see that our common tendency to gloss over facts is not permitted, that our organization stands for the truth in presenting its cause or its claims. 3. The finance secretary, before presenting the claims of the organization, should go out and see for himself (or herself) what it is actually doing for people so that he may speak not so much from a knowledge of the machinery, as of what it is accomplishing. For in the long run we want to say as little about the organization, and as much about the people for whom it is working, as possible. 4. The waste basket is playing an ever more prominent part in the financial affairs of our large cities, and you cannot consider too carefully the nature of the finance letters you issue. Men of large interests receive from twenty-five to two hundred appeals a day, which, incidentally, go through the hands of their private secretaries, so it is sometimes well to gain the personal attention of the secretary first. A fac-simile letter is advisable providing it is a good fac-simile; but never, under any circumstances, use a facsimile signature for a finance appeal. The personal signature by an important officer in your organization will carry great weight, and one such name, written by hand, is infinitely better than half a dozen fac-simile signatures grouped at the end of the letter, however impressive the names. Get the president to sign the letters if possible. The signing of two thousand letters is sometimes a liberal education for the signer! Begin your letter with a one line paragraph. Get the letter all on one small sheet. Just because we are interested in our organization other people are not necessarily so, and above all we must be brief. As far as is possible use words of one syllable. Be honest; understate the situation Be instructive. A well-known organiza- Every organization is different from 5. If the inertia of writing a check can once be overcome by genuine interest, you will get your contribution. And if you can once get a person to give, the probabilities are that he will continue to give. Remember that we who are perhaps professionally connected with our organization, who are earning our own salaries, cannot judge other people by ourselves-they do not have the same attitude of mind toward giving that we must necessarily have. After a first contribution don't give the newly aroused interest opportunity to flag. A contributor is generally in the position of vacillating between being an upholder of the organization and being critical of the way it is spending his money! If he doesn't hear from it he begins to get doubtful. Assume that he is doubtful and rein force his confidence from time to time, reporting definite achievement (with out appeal) or sending him readable printed matter. We are derelict in our duty unless we do more for our contributors than merely sending them our annual report. An Important Conference On January 13-14 a most interesting and significant conference was held at National Headquarters in New York. In response to a request from some of the Women's Foreign Missionary Boards, the student committee of our National Board set aside these two days for conference concerning the missionary work of students. Official delegates numbering fifty-two were present from twenty-four Women's Foreign Missionary Boards, from the Council of Women for Home Missions, the Student Volunteer Movement and the National Board of the Young Womens Christian Associations. The program included a discussion of the principles of co-operation between the National Board and the Missionary Boards in promoting interest amongst college students in the Missions in their own churches and in establishing a closer and more personal relation between women student volunteers and the secretaries of their respective boards. Considerable time was spent in discussing the ways in which church interest could be promoted through the denominational meetings at the summer conferences and all agreed that this was one of the most important links with students. The Alumni work of the student committee was also shown to be a means of relating graduates to the work of the local church and Sunday school, as well as to the needs of Home Missions. Mr. F. P. Turner and Mr. Wilbert B. Smith, secretaries for the student Volunteer Movement, led discussions on the subject of securing candidates for the foreign field. The value of the services of the local church to the student during her college days was also emphasized in many ways. On both days the delegates lunched with members of the National Board student committee and the value of those hours of social acquaintance was evident to all. Many of the delegates had been so absorbed in the work of their own denominations that they had not much opportunity to know those of other churches. These lunch hours were a great opportunity for comparing notes about the progress of the missionary work amongst the various boards. Before the conference adjourned, the delegates agreed on certain principles of co-operation with the National Board, which they embodied in recommendations which are to be forwarded to all the boards concerned for their consideration. This conference with the Mission Boards has emphasized the value of the closest co-operation on the part of the Association with the church organizations; it is only in this way that each can supplement the other. We hope that this may be just the beginning of many similar meetings. |