Arif»I Jficlir

THE arif»i Jficlir: A MAGAZINE SPECIALLY DEVOTED TO MISSIONARY TOPICS. TNq.IL] F E B R U A R Y , 1886. - NOTES FROM THE MYSORE DISTRICT MEETING. By t h e R e v . D. A. R e e s . E have often heard the good folk at home fondly recall W ing the glories of the old “ coaching days” when journeys were done more leisurely than in these days of the iron horse, and when passengers had more time to observe and enjoy the varied scenes through which they passed than they can now that they are whirled along afc the rate of sixty miles an hour. We confess to feeliDg some sympathy with these old folk as tve steamed into Bangalore Petta station to attend the District Meeting. In those good old days, not so very long ago either, when journeys varying in length from 172 to 42 miles had to be done by bullocks, one felt as he alighted wearied and dusty under the friendly porch in Bangalore that he had accomplished something. There was a spice of danger, and a glorious defiance of all rules of punctuality about the old mode of travelling that you lose entirely as you steam in punctually to a station, and emerge spick and span to shake hands with your waiting host. One feels when riding in a railway train that he has lost the independence of the olden days when his vehicle was his own, and the bullocks his for the time being, and he could start when be liked and stop when he liked. Then again we miss the opportunities we used to have for sympathising with the good brother who had to wait two hours for a pair of bul locks, or whose bullocks lay down on the road. We miss too the thrilling recital of a run off the road over a gutter and into the jungle, on the part of the inevitable pair of wild 226 Notes from the Mysore District Meeting. "bullocks, a collision with a saman bandy whose driyer was asleep or an upset down an embankment. The old fashioned bullock coach was a wonderful vehi cle. The variety of shape and colour could only be equall ed by that of the picturesque costumes of the inmates. The capacity too of an orthodox coach was marvellous to the uninitiated. After a sturdy missionary, his wife, three children, an ayah and a boy bad dismounted, we have seen the old coach disgorge countless articles ranging from a portmanteau to a tea-kettle until the verandah was literally strewed, and then it would be trotted off to the coach-house behind, looking as if nothing had happened. But though the mode of travelling has altered we found the greeting and hospitality of our Bangalore friends had not lost one whit of their ancient warmth. We soon got to work, beginning with the European appointments. The changes for the present year are very simple. Mr. Robinson removes from Gubbi to Chikmagalur, and Mr. Holdsworth is to visit the Gubbi and Kunigal circuits monthly from St. John’s Hill, Bangalore. It has long been a reproach to us that we had no European missionary at Chikmagalur, the head-quarters of the ELadur district. This reproach is now removed, and we trust that Mr. Kobinson will meet with great success. The only other important district unoccupied by a European is Chitaldrug. We fear it will be a long time before we can carry out our plans there. In the meantime we have thrust forth one of our Native ministers and placed him in independent charge. We shall watch the experiment prayerfully and sympathetically, and have every reason to expect that brother Premeka will acquit himself like a man. The accession to the ranks of our ordained ministers of two tried brethren, A. Philip and H. Premaka, is an event full of significance and encouragement. Both are pure Kanarese men. They have served several years as evangelists, and four years on probation as assistant ministers. During this time they have been tested by yearly examinations, and under the scrutiny of friends and foes in various stations they have approved themselves as men of sterling character and Christlike zeal. They were set apart by the imposition of hands at the Canton ment chapel on January 11th, after which the Chairman delivered a charge full of valuable counsel. Notes from the Mysore District Meeting. 227 We have discarded the name catechist in favour of evangelist, which is more intelligible, more scriptural and better describes the work done. During the year one of the truest evangelists has died, and another has become a super numerary. To fill these two vacancies two young men who have completed three years training in the Theological In stitution have become evangelists, and two candidates have been admitted to the Institution. Our arrangements for the training of Native agents are working admirably. We insist on the necessity of both grace and gifts, in those who are brought forward. Each superintendent before proposing a candidate for the Institution must satisfy himself as to the piety, stability of character, and general fitness of the young man. He must have been a local preacher at least nine months before he is proposed. In November he has to take an examination in Scripture, Theology, and General Know ledge, and if he obtains the necessary number of marks, he appears at the District Meeting at his own expense to preach a trial sermon, and answer any questions that may be put to him. By the votes of the brethren he is then accepted as a candidate, and goes through a course of careful training for three years in the Institution, having frequent examinations and daily opportunities for preaching. If his conduct during that time be altogether satisfactory, he will be proposed as an evan gelist, and sent , forth to one of our stations. Under the name of evangelist he continues, rising from the lower through the middle to the higher grade, a course which usu ally takes at least twelve years. Each year he has strict examinations in the subjects prescribed in Scripture, Theo logy, Kanarese and General Knowledge, and his promotion will depend, not simply upon his success in examinations, but also upon his general character, ability and fitness for a more responsible position. From these evangelists we select those whom we deem qualified to be assistant minis ters, and these after four years probation become Native ministers. It will thus be seen that we jealously guard, not only the door that leads into the Native ministry, but also the way that approaches to it. We feel that the honour of Christ and the interests of His work demand no less. Extension is not only a sign of spiritual life in the church but also an indispensable condition of retaining it. Had we the men and money we would at once occupy new 528 Notes from the Mysore District Meeting. stations in every direction. It is not the want of will or courage, but the want of means that prevents us from going up to possess the whole land for Christ. Every forward step is a matter for rejoicing. For the first time there appear on our minutes the names of Chenraypatam, Sira, Sagar and Honali, and as soon as possible we shall send evangelists Nunjungud and Chamrajnagar, both large and important towns in a part of the province densely popu lated and greatly in need of evangelistic work. The annual social gathering came just where this para graph does, right in tha midst of our work. It was as usual a time of real enjoyment. After tea we approached the Throne of grace, where confession of unfaithfulness mingled with praise for all the experiences of the past year pleasant and painful, and fervent supplication for a year of blessing ascended. Our worthyChairman then touched in his usual happy style upon the salient features of our social history for the year. For several years we have not been without a happy bride and bridegroom to congratulate, and this year was no excep tion. Had the event been more recent our wishes might have been more boisterously expressed, but they could not be more sincere than they are for Mr. and Mrs. Gulliford’s abounding happiness and usefulness. Miss Beauchamp was absent or she would have received a hearty welcome back to the District where she laboured so earnestly and successfully in former years. Miss Parsons arrived with her fresh English bloom on the morning of the day of our gathering, and at once received a warm place in our happy circle. Death had caused one sad vacancy, and no where was it so vividly recalled or so deeply felb as on that evening. Last year in fair health and as happy and pleasant as any of ns, Mrs. Roberts was in our midst. To-day she is among a nobler gathering above. This has taught and is still teaching us its lessons. We are tkankful that Miss Roberts has arrived to take charge of the two motherless children,and to lessen the fearful gap in the desolated home. Esprit de corps is not waning amongst us and we are anxious by keeping touch with all old Mysoreans at home to increase it still more. Every face beamed, and old times were recalled as warm, interesting letters were read from our brethren Symons, Haigh and Eslick, worthy represen tatives of the three branches of our work, Tamil, Kan&rese Notes from the Mysore District Meeting.

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