In the good providence of God, my work is again in this the city of my birth and the “Ideal

Presidency of Madras”. We note with interest the great change that has taken place within a few
years in the people of India. This is especially marked in seaport towns like this. While idolatry still
prevails, and thousands die as in ages past, clinging to the Hindu faith, still a very apparent change
is evident in the minds of many. Old beliefs are shaken, earnest enquiries are made and the truths of
Christianity have taken strong hold not just upon the masses, but upon the caste people also. We
thank God and take courage in reviewing all the tokens for good shown in the year past. Death by
plague and cholera has come to our very doors – the air has been laden with dread disease – almost
hourly our ears have been filled with wailings for the dead, and the warning cry of those who bore
the dead, but no harm has come nigh to us or any of our helpers. Satan has, however, been busy,
and we mourn over the falling away of some who should be our joy and crown of rejoicing. But
upon the ashes of these disapointments will arise one day, by the help of God, the structure of a
nobler character in the form of Christian helpers tried as by fire and fully consecrated to the work.
Willl you not help us by your prayers? Here in Royapuram one of the northern parts of Madras four
Bible women have been employed and we look with hope for the fruit from seed sown in these
hidden places, - the homes of Hindu women and girls. In one house a rich Brahmin woman sits
cross-legged upon her high cot and asks, with earnest face, if this joy is for her. “Tell it over again
to me” she says. We repeat the story many times while we pray that she may truly believe before
she is called from earth. In another home a young widow confessed her faith to us, but can she, will
she break away and make open confession. We do not urge this in the case of mothers but the
command of our Lord is fully explained and its obligations impressed upon every pupil in our care.
The children in the near hamlet Sunday School have learned to sing and repeat the precious words.
We sit in the open, in sun and dust and noisome odors, trying to make known the Gospel to these
dull hearts. The mothers come and listen and so the message has a double power. My strongest faith
is in the teaching given to children in this and every land. In my field also is the choultry poor-
house built many years since by a native rajah. Here several women weak in body and mind,
receive regular Bible instruction. Most of these are members of the Church in Tondiarpetta and help
us mainly by their earnest prayers. The distribution by myself and helpers of nearly two thousand
tracts and leaflets has given me great satisfaction. An intelligent Hindu in city employ asked for and
received tracts and then a Bible, over the truths of which we have had many earnest talks. And so
the seed is sown in the hearts of women in the homes, in those of the children in the filthy hamlet in
poor-house and hospital, in parks and streets. What fruit, do you ask? The day will declare when
many of these will with us lay down their crowns at Jesus' feet. Pray that blessings may follow our
efforts in this hard soil of a city field.