YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 09912 5149 TIDINGS from Bengal-Orissa

1836-1936

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MARCH, 1936 No. 1 BENGAL-ORISSA FIELD DIRECTORY Bhimpore, Midnapore Dist., Balasore, Orissa, B.N. Ry. Bengal. Rev. H. I. Frost. Mrs. H. I. Prost. Rev. H. C. Long. Mrs. H. C. Long. Mr. Lloyd Eller. Mrs. Eller. Miss Naomi Knapp. Mr. J. G. Gilson. Mrs. J. G. Gilson. Midnapore, Bengal. Miss Lillian Brueckman. Rev. A. A. Berg. Miss Ethel Cronkite. Mrs. A. A. Berg. Miss Ruth Daniels. Bhadrak, Balasore Dist., Orissa. Khargpur, B.N. Ry. Vacant. Rev. E. C. Brush. Santipore, Hatigarh P.O., Mrs. E. C. Brush. Rev. C. C. Roadarmel. Orissa. Mrs. C. C. Roadarmel. Vacant.

Jamshedpur, B.N. Ry. On Furlough. Rev. G. B. Harris. Rev. L- C. Kitchen. Mrs. G. B. Harris. Mrs. L. C. Kitchen. Miss Grace Hill. Rev. W . S. Dunn. Jhargram, Bengal. Mrs. W . S. Dunn. Vacant. Rev. W . C. Osgood. Mrs. W . C. Osgood. Salgodia, Hatigarh P.O. Rev. J. A. Howard. Mrs. J. A. Howard. Mr. George Ager. Miss A. Stearns. Mrs. George Ager. Miss S. B. Gowen.

U.S. subscriptions to Tidings may be secured from— Dr. P. H. J. Lerrigo, 152, Madison Ave., N .Y. Single subscriptions $0.30 each. Four subscriptions $ 1.00. Local subscriptions from— Mrs. E. C. Brush, Khargpur, Bengal— 6 As. each. CONTENTS Page. CENTENARY CENTRAL CELEBRATION PROGRAM 4 GLEANINGS FROM THE CENTRAL CELEBRATION 6 ANNUAL REPORTS, 1935 Work in Bengal 1 . Rev. A. A. Berg and Mrs. Berg Santal District Evangelistic Work Brief Historical Notes on Santal Churches io Midnapore Evangelistic Work and the Church 15 2 . Miss Ada Stearns Midnapore Girls’ High School 18 3 . Rev. H. C. Long and Mrs. Long Bhimpore Boys’ High School 19 4 . Miss Naomi Knapp n -> Bhimpore Girls’ School 5 . Rev. J. A. Howard and Mrs. Howard K o ra WTork 25 6. Rev. E. C. Brush and Mrs. Brush Khargpur English Work 26 7 . Rev. C. C. Roadarmel and Mrs. Roadarmel Khargpur Indian Work 28 W ork in Bihar (one district) 8. Rev. G. B. Harris and Mrs. Harris J amshedpur 32 Work in Orissa. 9 . Rev. H. I. Frost and Mrs. Frost Balasore— Historical Note and Report 35

3 P age. Santipore—Historical Note and Report .. 38 Chandbali— ,, ,, „ ...... 40 B hadrak ,, ,, ,, .. ..41 Balasore Girls’ High School . .. 43 10. M r. J. G. Gilson and M rs. Gilson Balasore Technical School...... 45 11 . M r . R. K . S a h u Balasore Christian Boys’ High School .. 48 1 2 . Mr. George Ager and Mrs. Ager Salgodia Church and School 50

AMERICAN BAPTIST BENGAL-ORISSA MISSION 1836 CENTENARY 1936

Program of Central Celebration, Balasore, Orissa. February I3th-i6th, 1936. Thursday, February 13t h , 1936. 8 : 0 0-10 :00 a.m. Chairman—Rev. Charles C. Roadarmel. W orship. Address of Welcome— Chairman. Greetings from Guests and Delegates. 1 : 3 0-3 :00 p.m. Chairman—Rev. G. Bartow Harris. Address : “ Missionary Pioneers ”— Rev. Edwin C. Brush. Recognition Service for Former and Retired Missionaries. 3 : 3 0 -5 :30 p.m . Sports. (Mr. R. K. Sahu, Director.) 7 : 0 0 - 8 :3 0 p.m. Chairman—Khan Bahadur M. Hamid, District Magistrate and Collector, Balasore. Local Greetings. Address— Dr. Oliver H. Sisson, Representative of American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Friday, February 14th , 1936. 8 : 00-10 :0 0 a.m. Chairman—Rev. Amrita Lai Maity. Devotional Address—M iss Grace A. M aine, Burma.

4 Address : “ The Progress of the Century Evangelistic— Rev. Ganga Dhar Rath. Educational— Mr. Behari Lai Das. Women’s Work— Mrs. Rachel Bose. Devotional Address— Rev. Benjamin Pradhan, C uttack. 1:30-3 :00 p.m. Chairman—Mr. Rama Kanta Sahu. Address: “ Indian Christian Pioneers ”— Rev. Prabodh Ch. Nayak. Recognition Service for Indian Christian Workers. 3 :30-5 :30 p.m. Exhibition. (Mrs. H. I. Frost, D irector.) 7 : 0 0-8 : 30 p.m. Pageant: “ One Hundred Years in Bengal-Orissa

Saturday, February 15th, 1936. 8 :0 0 -1 0 :0 0 a.m. Chairman—Rev. Horendra Kumar Mahapatra. W orship. Address : “ Some Outstanding Events in the History of the Bengal- Orissa Mission ”—Mr. J. C. Hudson. Address : “ Reminiscences from My Sixty Years of Service in Bengal Orissa ” — Dr. Mary W . Bacheler. 1 : 30-3 :00 p.m. Chairman—Rev. Chotarai Tudu. Address : “ The Future Outlook ” . In Evangelism— Rev. Natobar Singh. In Education— Rev. Herbert C. Long. 3 :30-5 :30 p.m. Procession. (Mr. Jacob Simons.) 7 :00-8 :30 p.m. Chairman—Rev. Harold I. Frost. Christian Endeavor Meeting— Mr. Harry S . Myers, Secretary of Visualization, Northern Baptist Convention. Lantern Lecture: “ A Century in Bengal-Orissa ” — Rev. August A. Berg.

Sunday, February 16th, 1936.

8 :00-9 :00 a.m. Sunday School. 4 : 00 -5 : 00 p jn . Worship Service. Sermon by Rev. S. K. Mondol, Asansol.

5 7 : 00-8 :30 p.m. Consecration Service. Address : M rs. Howard Wayne Smith, President, Woman’s American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. Candle-lighting Service.

Note :—On Wednesday, Feb. 12th, at 7 p.m. there will be a preparatory prayer service led by Rev. Kritibas Behera.

GLEANINGS FROM THE CENTRAL CELEBRATION

From the U.S.A. we welcomed as guests Mrs. Howard Wayne Smith, the president of the Woman’s American Baptist Foreign Mission Society and Miss Grace Maine representing the same Society ; Mrs. Grace DeWitt, the Rev. O. H. Sisson, Secretary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Myers representing Free Baptists of America whose organization began the work on our field ioo years ago. Others present included delegates and visitors from the American Baptist Missions of Burma, South India, Assam, the Canadian Baptist Mission, the Baptist Mission Society (English) and affiliated organizations, the Evan­ gelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhunj State, the Methodist Mission (American), English Wesleyan Mission and the Bihar and Orissa Christian Council. An interesting feature of the celebration was the mingling of the different languages and accents spoken by all who participated in the programme. At the welcome service for our visitors, English was used and the variety of accents audible in the replies was tantalizing to the ears of the listeners. Usually, the longer talks were translated from English into Oriya or Bengali, and when these languages were not understood by the persons present, impromptu translations were made quietly by missionaries sitting near them. The language complication added much variety to the occasion. Dr. Mary Bacheler’s leaving for U.S.A. this year completes practically a century of service on the part of her and her father who came first to our field in 1840. Her presence on the occasion of the Centenary brought a benediction to all.

6 To the Rev. C. C. Roadarmel of Khargpur, Chairman of the Committee on arrangements and to Mr. R. K. Sahu, local chairman at Balasore belongs much of the credit for the successful planning and completion of the program m e. Special features were much enjoyed by those present. Sports were participated in by school boys and visitors one afternoon. The Drama, written by two of the Balasore Christian men, in which local boys and missionaries had a part vividly depicted the work and difficulties of the early missionaries. The procession on Saturday afternoon attracted much attention throughout the town and district along its six miles’ march. One band of musicians from Khargpur and two from Balasore took part. Banners flying aloft announced the meaning of the parade. The Exhibit, held in the Girls’ High School building, included hand and industrial work carried on in the diiferent stations, some century-old copies of the “ Morning Star ” , a religious publication of the Free Baptists, a table once owned by Amos Sutton, and several photographs of our pioneers. The magazines, very little damaged by time and the climate, had been the property of Jeremiah Phillips and one copy contains the letter written by Amos Sutton to the Free Baptist of America, urging them to send missionaries to assist the General Baptists of England in their Mission in Orissa. About seventy of the missionary parents and children and all the visitors were entertained at tea in the Ellers’ compound on Friday afternoon, a Valentine tea arranged by Mrs. Eller in honor of the birthday anniversaries of several present. The occasion was a very pleasant one. The lantern lecture arranged by Rev. A. A. Berg giving us the faces and forms of the pioneers who have gone before revealed again the human factor in Kingdom progress. Most impressive was the closing session of the Celebration featuring an address by Mrs. H. W. Smith and the candle-lighting service at the end of which each person left the church building carrying a lighted candle symbolizing the spreading of the Light of the Gospel which we hope will penetrate still farther into the unlighted spots in Bengal and Orissa in the century to come.

7 SANTAL DISTRICT EVANGELISTIC WORK

As the last year of the first century of mission work in these regions is drawing to a close we are deeply conscious of God’s grace towards us ; for sending out such a noble band of pioneers, who have prepared the way and sown the seed ; for giving us the privilege of having a share in the harvest. We have had no mass movement; those who have been won for Christ have been few and far between. Nevertheless it is apparent that doors are now opening everywhere. To abandon now would be a tragedy. So we are boldly looking ahead, consecrating ourselves anew to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, asking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the work as we step across the threshold into the second century. The God of the Lone Star Mission is also the God of the Morning Star Mission ! The miracles performed in the former, can they not also be expected in the latter ? The God of the Karens is He not also the God of the Santals ? W hat God has wrought in Burma and Assam can He not also perform amongst us ? Let the beginning of the second century tell the story. Revive Thy Work, Oh Lord— is our prayer for days ahead. Not so many have been baptised during the past year. The lull in this phase of the work as a whole may be due to the fact that concentrated efforts in direct evangelism have somewhat taken secondary place. That this is true is apparent from the fact that the ten Santal churches in this part of the field, excluding Bhimpore, have only four pastors. Among these, until recently, only one was ordained. The other churches are served by teachers, who must give most of their time to the school work. Rajendra Tudu, who formerly served as pastor, has spent practically all his time during the past year visiting from ten to twelve schools weekly, to give Bible instruc­ tion. The evangelistic missionary, who formerly gave all his time to preaching and touring, visiting the churches, has been compelled to give a lot of time to village school supervision, necessitated by the departure of Rev. L- C. Kitchen, the second Santal educational missionary, who left on furlough in January, 1935. It appears that these circumstances have been observed by outsiders. The S.P.G. Mission seems to have taken advantage of our depleted forces,

8 and sent emissaries (one a former member of ours who left because of discipline) into promising and ripening fields. In two places, Chainasole and Monapara, where we have churches, they have organized churches and conduct separate worship. They are also wedging in south of the Suborna- rekha river, where we have Christian families and several schools with Christian teachers. In this entire section of the field a genuine revival was on two years ago with baptisms monthly. Since the above Mission entered our work has naturally suffered. Rev. Amrit Lai Maity has done a splendid service, travelling and working among the churches, and in many respects filled the place of the missionary. His zeal and passion for the souls of the individuals and the life of the churches has been commendable, and his labours unceasing and self-sacrificing. Chotorai Tudu returned from Cuttack Training College the latter part of 1934, and went to his former charge, Chainasole. He was ordained in Bhimpore during the Yearly Meeting in October. Akhiel Soren came from Domsahi the early part of the year, and has since served acceptably as pastor-evangelist to the Chitrapathor, Tilaboni and Ulda churches. In exchange Dukha Hasda was transferred to Domsahi. Rev. Narayan C. Soren took up the charge as pastor in the Dampara field in February, and located at Chukripara, filling the place of Benod Murniu who, after fifteen years of successful ministry as Home Mission evangelist, resigned to accept the pastorate at Bhimpore. Since his coming to Bhimpore, he has regularly visited neighbouring villages, and a number have been baptized. Promising work has developed in this area during recent years, largely due to persistent efforts of Miss Knapp and the Bhimpore Biblewomen, in connection with village and village school work. As a separate report is expected of this no details are given here. In March the Half Yearly Meeting was held at Chukripara, with about 100 outside visitors and delegates attending. The early part of April in inspiring Workers’ Conference was held at the Jamda compound, Jhargram, average attendance being about 40. We consider it an imperative need that the large Santal field should have a right to claim one missionary family to devote all the time to evan­ gelistic work. Any arrangement which prevents this will seriously handicap the work which is now so promising. While other communities may be able

9 to put forth their own men with adequate qualifications to carry on aggressive and constructive evangelistic work, including supervision, the Santals do not yet have them.

BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTES ON SANTAL CHURCHES Bhimpore— Through the influence and preaching of Dr. O. R. Bacheler and native assistants, and through the medium of the first Santal village schools, organized by him in 1863, the Christian message reached the Santal communities in and around Bhimpore. Six Santals from that area were baptized by Dr. Bacheler in Midnapore, 1869. Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Phillips went to Bhimpore, 1873, as missionaries to the Santals ; July 17, the same year a chapel was dedicated, built and paid for by local Christians. January 1, 1874, a church was organized with 42 members. During 1874-75 Dr. Bacheler had charge of the Bhimpore work, assisted for a period by Rev. R. D. Frost. From 1880 to about 1900 Dr. and Mrs. Thos. W. Burkholder strengthened and enlarged the evangelistic and educational work. During their time the new and beautiful church edifice was constructed, most of the expense and labour being furnished by the local people. Peleram Kisku was one of the first pastors, and the first Santal preacher to be ordained, in 1893. Other pastors have been : Debnath Mamdi, Champai Murmu and Naravan C. Soren. Still others have served for shorter periods. In 1903 the membership was reported to be 258. Missionaries succeeding the Burkholders at Bhimpore have been Dr. and Mrs. A. L. Kennan, Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Murphy, Rev. and Mrs. Oxrieder, Rev. and Mrs. L. C. Kitchen, Rev. and Mrs. H. C. Long. Rev. E. B. Stiles served filling in during a furlough period, and Mr. Geo. Ager has also given some time to Bhimpore. Misses Grace Hill and Naomi Knapp have contributed many years of consecrated service to the Christian community in general and the children and women in particular. The present membership is 319, and for many years the church has been entirely self-supporting. Some years back it was contributing Rs. 100 a year towards the Dampara Home Mission Work. Chitrapathor.— The beginning of the work in this place dates back to 1890, and grew up as result of visits and contacts made by Rev. E. B. Stiles

10 and assistants. Sagor Manjhi was one of the charter members, he later joined the Church of England, together with some from Ulda and Chainasole. In 1909 the membership was given as 50. Champai Murmu was one of the first pastors here. Narayan C. Soren also served this church for some years. In recent years Rev. Debnath Marndi served as pastor, while giving much of his time to district church work. It was here his tragic death occurred 1933. The condition of the church has not been satisfactory for some time ; for lack of interest the primary school was closed about five years ago. This has been revived during the past year, the local people paying the teacher. Akhil Soren has been located there since last February, and since his coming the condition of the church has improved. The present membership is 35. Ulda.— Here the work was established in 1890. The first one to be baptized was the village headman, who went to Bhimpore, and was baptized by Dr. Burkholder. During that year 17 were baptized, which also consti­ tutes the membership for that year. Here also Rev. E. B. Stiles appears to be responsible for the beginning. The first pastor was Tipu Soren. In 1895 some members were imprisoned, because of some land dispute. The missionary furnished bail and they were released. This was followed by prosperity and backsliding. Since then the church has had its ups and downs. Some left early to join the ranks of the Catholics. Rev. Debnath Marndi was largely responsible for the growth of the church in recent years. Narayan Soren was pastor there 1909. Dukha Hasda served the church from 1927 to 1933. Akhil Soren has served as visiting evangelist during the past year, and the local teacher has also conducted the worship services. The church has a large group of young people, which could be a power in the church and community if properly guided, and the members of this church are perhaps better off economically than in any other district church. The present membership is 49. Kenduasoli.— Work was commenced here about 1900. Tonu Hasda served several years as independent pastor. Year 1904 land was acquired for pastor’s house site by Dr. Kennan, and an assistant placed there the same year. Because the members have been so widely scattered, it has been difficult to develop a strong central Avork at this place. The membership is now only 27, and few of these are resident. Rajendra Tudu has served

11 as pastor since 1927, except during 1934, when he substituted at Chainasole. The past year he has given most of his time to religious instruction in the village schools in that area. One of the upper primary schools is located here, with three teachers and about 80 pupils, offering a splendid opportunity for real Christian work. Chainasole.— Beginnings here were made before 1902, for by that time we find that a regular resident preacher is located there, namely Dubku, who continued at that place until 1909. During 1903 Dr. Kennan toured extensively and preached, assisted by Rev. Champai Murmu, the latter also spent some time there in 1909, which resulted in the quickening of the church and the baptism of 10 that year. The church was organized in 1927. By that time quite a number had been baptized as result of Rev. Oxrieder’s persistent efforts. Subodh Hembrom was preacher there for a number of years up to 1929. Chotorai Tudu succeeded him that year, and since his coming there the work has been revived. In the course of three years the membership trebled. In 1931 there were 23 baptisms, and 15 the following year. Simultaneously the school which had been closed for a number of years was revived, and they built their own church without financial assistance. At the beginning of 1933 the membership was 85 ; this was somewhat reduced when the Monapara church was organized the same year, being a daughter church of Chainasole. Chotorai returned as pastor in November, 1934, having spent one year at the Cuttack Training College, to complete his theo­ logical training. The present membership is 62. The school was raised to upper primary standard in January, 1935, has two teachers and over 40 pupils. Ramchondropur : (P.S. Jamboni).— The first to be baptized here was the teacher of the local school, Ramchoron Mamdi, January, 1929. The church was organized April 9, 1933, with 17 members. The present membership is 26. The above teacher continues in the school, assisted by two others. He also conducts the religious worship services. One promising young man from this vicinity has already completed Guru Training and the Bible School course, and is now giving valuable service in our religious education program, and another young man, having completed Guru Training, to which may be added several years of teaching experience, is now taking his second

12 year at Cuttack Theological College. This community boasts of having one of our best upper primary schools, with nearly 100 pupils. M onapara.— This is a branch church grown out from the Chainasole revival. Many years back a primary school was conducted here, but had to be closed on account of drunkenness and indifference. The first baptism took place here October 19, 1930, when three were baptized, all relatives of the present pastor, Gobinda Murmu. The church was organized April 2 3> T933- The present membership is 19. Gobinda serves as preacher- teacher here, the school also having been revived. Tilaboni.— Rev. Debnath Marndi frequently visited this area, coming and going between Chitrapathor and Ulda while doing church visitation w'ork. Through his efforts inquirers came forth, and several w^re baptized 1931-32. The church was organized in May, 1933, and at present the member­ ship is 33. One of the lay members, Bhagrai, has continually participated in witnessing and the shepherding of the new flock. Now Akhiel Soren gives part of his time to this church, besides Chitrapathor. The members erected a splendid church building during 1934 at their own expense and on their own initiative. A school is also conducted here, served by a young Christian teacher, recently baptized.

D a m p a r a H o m e M i s s io n W o r k One of the most encouraging phases of all the work in our entire field is the Home Mission work, undertaken by the churches. Chordia, in the Balasore District, and Dampara, in Singhbhum District, have been the projects under this scheme. In the latter field the work has been chiefly among Santals. The earliest report of work done in Dampara, is a reference by Dr. Kennan to touring in Singhbhum District 1905. Rev. Oxrieder mentions touring and preaching “ west in the hills ” , 1909, no doubt referring to this area. The first convert, Kanai Lai Murmu, village chief of Chukripara, was baptized by Debnath Marndi July 12, 1917. The pastor-evangelist, Rev. Benod B. Murmu, and wife, were stationed there in February, 1919, and continued there until February, 1935. During their ministry the work was greatly blessed. The Chukripara church was organized 1922. A branch

13 church grew out from this, and Kalapator church was organized in April, 1930, the center of the latter being about 10 miles east of Chukripara. The first convert there was Dukhia Hembrom. A third church in this field was organized at Jhaprisole, 6 miles northwest of Chukripara, the latter part of 1933. The first fruits in this section were four baptized at Sikrabasa in December, 1927, belonging to the Pargana Jhetu Baske’s household. The work in the Dampara field now extends over 200 square miles ; nearly 200 have been baptized, and Christians are to be found in 26 villages. Rev. Narayan C. Soren succeeded Benod Babu as pastor at Chukripara in February, 1935 ; Ramchoron Murmu, an earl}- convert from the Dampara field, who suffered severe persecution at the time of baptism, became the pastor of tfye Kalapator church in 1932, having spent some time at the Midnapore Bible School; his predecessor was Gobinda Prosad Murmu. The Jhaprisole teacher conducts the religious worship services. Up to this time the Mission has financed the five primary schools in this field partially aided by government grants. The oldest school, Huldajuri, is raised to upper primary standard from January, 1936. It is hoped that the churches will take over this responsibility also, as they have with the evangelistic work. From the above survey it is apparent that six of the Santal churches were formed between 1927-1933, one a year in this end of the field, all but one in village communities not previously occupied. Besides these at least two Santal churches have been formed in the Balasore end of the field during the past five years. This growth has not involved increased expense, for the budget in connection with the evangelistic work is considerably reduced from what it was in 1927, both for the evangelistic missionary and the Home Mission Board workers. But to supervise this growth, and develop it in the future— to expand and win new and greater victories for Christ and the church, we would again emphasize the need of allowing one evangelistic missionary to devote his full time to the evangelistic work among the Santals. Even if pastors cannot be placed at all the churches, an efficient and consecrated Indian evangelist or two, can help to nourish the churches, with the aid of local laymen and teachers, so that the churches may develop a normal growth and become centers of real evangelistic efforts.

14 (It may be mentioned that two churches among Santals previously existed at Topobon and Goarisole. These have many years since ceased to exist as independent churches.) Revs. Champai Murmu and Debnath Murndi deserve special mention for their long and faithful service among the Santal churches.

MIDNAPORE EVANGELISTIC WORK AND THE CHURCH

Three Biblewomen have worked during the year, supervised jointly by Dr. Mary Bacheler and Mrs. R. Bose. They have visited homes in the community and near by villages. Occasionally they have motored to more distant villages with Dr. Bacheler and Mrs. Bose, and on several occasions accompanied the Santal missionary to markets and villages. They have regularly witnessed to patients coming to Dr. Bacheler’s dispensary. Last November three Bible School students accompanied the missionary and Rev. Amrit Lai Maity on a week’s evangelistic tour in the Satbankura area. The Midnapore church has continued without a regular pastor. Signs of division among the members have been rampant during the year. The latter part Lalmon Patnaik and companion, two consecrated evangelists from Cuttack, spent nearly two weeks conducting revival meetings, house to house visitation, conferred with members individually and collectively. Much prayer and pleading resulted in a genuine revival; groups and individuals were reconciled, and for a while it appeared that God was still willing and ready to bless and use the Midnapore church. With regret it must be said that friction has again developed, and unless prominent individuals are willing to step aside or humble themselves and allow God’s Spirit to have full control, the Midnapore church may be doomed. Prayer for it is solicited that it may again become a light in the darkness round about. Since Miss Daniel’s return to the station last November, she has given much of her time, strength, and consecrated efforts to help the church through this crisis.

15 D is t r i c t P r im a r y S c h o o l s

Sanial Education Board Schools.— Since a recent history and survey of these schools appeared in 1931, written by Rev. L. C. Kitchen, it is un­ necessary to repeat historical notes. The progress of these schools during the year has been fair. The enrollment increased nearly 2 5 % during the year in spite of adverse economic conditions on account of the crop failure a second year in succession. Eighty-one teachers served seventy-one schools, of which nine were upper and the rest lower primary, with a total enrollment of 2,215 pupils. The two Bhimpore lower primary schools merged with the primary department of the Girls’ School in January, 1935, as recommended by the Educational Survey. Four scholarships were won by village school pupils in competitive examination at the end of the year ; 52 took the upper primary examination, and 84% passed. Instead of conducting the lower primary annual examination at Bhimpore as in previous years, it was held at seven different convenient centers. This resulted in a larger number of candidates to appear, but for various reasons the number who passed was less satis­ factory, namely 40%. The annual village school teachers’ convention met for its 71st session the first week of January, 1935, with Rev. F. Ryrie of the Chapra Training Institute as special speaker on “ Primary Methods ”. At that time the teachers bade farewell to Rev. and Mrs. Kitchen, who had completed a second term of efficient service in connection with the Santal schools. The conven­ tion met for its 72nd annual session the first part of J anuary, 1936. Speakers then included The District Health Officer, The District Agricultural Officer, The Publicity Officer, Department of Industries, and Rev. C. C. Roadarmel, who conducted the daily devotional periods and spoke on “ The Meaning of vService ”. During the convention four exhibits were held : on health, agriculture, industry, and Bhimpore school products. The teachers voted to contribute Rs. 120 towards the support of the Bhimpore High School during the year. Home Mission Board Primary Schools.— The management of other primary schools, primarily for Christians, and with Mission support, was turned over to the Home ^Mission Board, May 1st. During the year these have been:

16 five primary schools in the Dampara field, for Santals ; two for Koras ; one for Bengalis and the Telugu school at Khargpur. In Dampara there has been a revival of interest in these schools ; during the year they have erected new school houses at Chukripara and Leda ; at Huldajuri they are putting up a large new addition to accommodate the upper primary classes. Indi­ cations warrant us to believe that not less than too pupils will s e e k enrollment in this school during the coming year, and not less than four teachers will be required. Only a fe w years back they tried to drive the teacher out of the village and close the school, because he was a Christian. The Koras have not yet come to appreciate the value of even primary education, and our schools there have had very little local support. But as our work among them is only five years old it is hoped that before long they also-nvill rally to the support of this important work. Two of the Dampara schools are now aided by government grants.

V i u ,a g h S c h o o l S u p e r v i s i o n .

All these schools in the above two groups, making a total of 80 schools, 94 teachers and 2,363 pupils, have been under one central supervision scheme, with headquarters at Bhimpore. This supervision council has consisted of two full-time supervisors, the clerk, who has given part time to school visitation, the government sub-assistant inspector of Santal education and the missionary. The council has met monthly to consider reports on the progress of the schools, allot grants, assign and transfer teachers and make any other necessary adjustments. This council is responsible to the Santal Education Board, consisting of the District Magistrate as Chairman, the District Inspector of Schools, and the missionary as Secretary. This body met once during the year, to approve the budget, which is practically the same as that reported in the 1931 survey, except for reduced Mission appro­ priation.

R e l ig io u s E d u c a t i o n .

The program during the year has suffered handicap because the lessons were late in coming out and the circle teachers were deputed for training. The coming year the first year course, specially prepared, goes out in book

17 form, three circle teachers have returned from training, many Christian teachers : all these will be utilized to give regular weekly Christian instruc­ tion in at least 65 schools. A . A . B e r g a n d R u t h B e r g .

MIDNAPORE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

The year has been largely conspicuous for what did not happen. First and foremost, we did not die even from a temperature of a 960 degree deficit. That proved we were immune to all shocks and all manner of adversity and we continued our sublime existence until the smallpox struck us in its fury the latter part of November and closed the school for all of December and over half of January and, not being a prophet, we do not venture to predict when we may begin business again. But none of us got it and in spite of a few inconveniences in the way of forbidden foods in the local bazar, we have managed to eke out a pretty decent living from vegetables and fruits and an occasional chicken since the former are in the height of their season. Our perfectly splendid Headmistress had been with us so long we considered her a permanent asset unless she went to America for further training this spring, but suddenly a certain worthy youth considered she might be an equally worthy and permanent asset to him, and we have even survived that loss. The High School has held its own in numbers during these lean days and with Government co-operation what seemed our sure doom has evolved into a bright despair and we may get some necessary transactions through the Calcutta offices yet if we go ourselves and work hard enough. That done, we may smile and hope once more. We have an increasing number of girls coming to us this year, a good staff, a fair number going for Govern­ ment examinations in March, and a deficit below Rs. 100 and all in all, it does seem as if it may have paid Miss Daniels to return. The Boarding has always been the dearest thing we own and its reputa­ tion hasn’t changed any. It is a joy to hear guardians say it has improved. This coming year it will doubtless have more girls in it than there have ever

18 been in all the history of the school. The year has been a dull one for reports, for it has just been one of “ ahangin’ on” .

A d a S t e a r n s .

BHIMPORE BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL The past year has been another one of hardship on the high land. In 1934 the rainfall was very short in our area, and there were partial crop failures all over this region, so we had hoped for a better fall in 1935. But the record shows almost twenty inches less than normal, and local conditions are even worse than last year. Wells are as low in November and December as they usually are in April and May. Fortunately in some areas from which our schoolboys come conditions were more normal and the farmers have harvested better crops than last year. Of course our school has been affected. Although funds from the U.S.A. were reduced by 15 per cent., we could not increase fees either in the school or in the boarding. Nevertheless by fines for delinquencies and stricter collection, the fee income was increased. In 1936 we shall have to increase the fees to weather the additional reductions so as not to allow our essential work to suffer too much damage. Most of our boys pome from simple homes in agricultural districts, and many come from villages of terrible poverty. One of the recognized means of improving these conditions is by the teaching of better farming methods. For several years we have had instruction in gardening, and now we are farming in earnest. We have bought and leased for twelve years about five acres, and have constructed a little reservoir from which nearly two acres can be watered. This year a group of eight boys are farming it as their own project under the direction of Mr. Behari I,al Das, a master and our School Secretary, who takes the keenest interest in the farm. They are paying all expenses, from money advanced by the school, pay rent to the Mission, and take all profits, averaging about 40 per cent, more than the stipends that their classmates in other industrial departments have received. We hope this project will prove useful in giving the boys immediate help while in school, in teaching them improved methods, and in giving them some experience in managing the business end of farming.

19 Progress is being made in the other industrial departments. The garden is better organized; the boys in the carpenter shop are turning out more work and keeping better note books ; in the weaving class some of the second year boys are turning out really good pieces of cloth. We were pleased when the inspector of schools noted some improvement in English. During the vacation in January, 1935, we held a short institute for the local teachers of English in which eiforts were made to improve pronunciation and teaching methods. An English Club was started in an informal way to help the boys’ colloquial English through games and con­ versation. Several clubs are functioning regularly. The School Service Club has furnished most of the posters bearing weekly verses and prayers for the month for the daily chapel service. Some of the boys have framed several pictures, helping to beautify the bare class room walls. A Santal Club has been organized with the purpose of learning to real Santali in Roman characters so as to keep in touch with Santals in other areas where the language and character are not Bengali. It is hoped that the boys may be kept in sympathetic touch with their people so as not to fail to pass on benefits to the less favored ones in the villages at home. The latest organi­ zation is the Junior Red Cross. Their first project was to care for the orna­ mental garden in front of the school, and later they undertook some health education. During the latter part of the year we were delighted to welcome back Babu Birendra Kumar Sinha, M.A., B.T., as mathematics teacher and boarding master. We have noted a change in the school and the boarding since his return. He is a man of high Christian ideals, and has a strong hold on the affections of the boys. We do not require attendance at church on Sunday morning, but the boys from the Christian boarding attend regularly, and many of the non- Christians come also, with their boarding master, Babu PadmalochanMarndi, who is at heart a Christian and we hope will soon make a public profession. We usually have 60 to 80 present at Simday School with about 55 children of Christian families. Throughout the year we have invited various classes of groups of boys to come to our bungalow on Sunday evenings for music,

20 a short talk after a social hour, temperance instruction, the showing of curios, or the informal looking over of illustrated magazines. The non- Christians appreciate these privileges as much as the Christians, and often show their gratitude in ways that touch us. The quiet sowing of the seed may help in the reaping of a harvest in the future, sooner or later. Im­ provement has been made in the daily chapel service by careful planning month by month. Each month there is a special closing prayer learned by all, and the thoughts of the daily devotions are linked together by a Scrip­ ture verse for each week posted on the front wall, and an appropriate topic for meditation is suggested each day in the opening moment of quiet. Financial handicaps, disappointments as to the attitude of certain boys or groups, and other difficulties discourage us at times. It requires patience and love and faith to carry on, especially in these last two years of scant rainfall and cuts. How some of the boys themselves carry on at times we marvel. Many of those boarding themselves are living on the scantiest rations, simply rice and salt, with occasionally greens or a fresh vegetable, oil instead of fat. And yet they return for another year of struggle against countless handicaps, even barriers of language, for the most of our boys come from homes where only San tali is spoken, and in school Bengali and English are taught. However in this year of 1935 there is much to cheer. We are completing the jubilee year of our Mission history. If we look back a hundred years, what do we find on this site ? No well kept compounds, no brick buildings, no gardens, no Christian community, no groups of boys and girls gathered to study. Instead we would see miles of sal jungle, with wolves and leopards prowling about, we would see a wild appearing race of folk, keeping quite to themselves in their village huts, with no books or papers, no written language at all, preyed upon and deceived by their Bengali neighbors and landlords, drinking hard liquors heavily, carousing night and day during their frequent festivals. These were the people with whom Dr. Jeremiah Phillips came in contact in 1845, and in whom he saw such needs and possibi­ lities that in 1852 we read he published a volume combining grammar, first lessons, and dictionary. In 1863 we find Dr. Otis Bacheler starting a regular work amongst the Santals of Midnapore District, and in 1864 the work has

21 grown so as to warrant the opening of a Santal Teachers’ Institute of 15 members, which has continued to the present year, when more than 80 village teachers assembled for refreshment in Bhimpore. The elementary schools meeting under shade trees throughout the district are now housed in comfortable mud cottages. Bhimpore has become the centre of these 80 feeding schools, with high school enrolling about 160 from 3rd standard up to Matriculation class and four hostels for non-residents. This year’s class numbers six, going up in March for the School Leaving Examination. The girls too have their opportunity. In the early days the wives of 14 to 18 ran away to their fathers’ houses, they became violent and broke all the cooking-pots, when husbands mentioned baptism. To-day our girls of that age are reading happily in the central school here, and every year a number offer themselves for baptism here or in their home villages. Our high school has a staff of 13, 6 of whom were educated in our school, and 4 went to Balasore High School later, and the clerk is another graduate. The advance made in a hundred years can be noticed in the attitude toward religion and prayer. It is a joy and inspiration to see those 160 boys file quietly into the. beautiful school hall for morning chapel, sit reverently throughout the service, join in prayer and song, and pass out quietly. A recent visitor, principal of a girls’ high school, remarked on their conduct in service and their hearty singing of hymns. There is still need to push temperance work amongst a people whose besetting sin has been the drinking of hard liquors; we have plenty to do in daily contacts and evangelistic efforts, but there is a lively hope for results. We ask your prayers for this work for Santal boys and young men, and also for the local Christian community, that bj- their lives and homes and efforts they may help to win more of these boys for Christ. H. C. Long. ______M. R. Long.

BHIMPORE GIRLS’ SCHOOL

Preparing for the Centenary causes one to pause and consider things as they were in the early days. As we tried to depict the school as it -was

22 when started much less than 100 years ago we came to realize something of the great changes and something of the real growth of the school. In January 1935 co-education was started through Class 2 (3rd grade) of the girls’ school. This meant crowded quarters for the lower classes until the new school building was opened. It was dedicated in April at which time the magistrate came from Midnapore. ijeveral other visitors were present. The boys and girls have been very proud of their new mud school-house and it has given the higher classes an opportunity to have separate rooms. Miss Hill was in charge of the school until October giving much of her time to supervision and improving of the teaching. Mrs. Long and I each had one class in English. Molina Marndi, one of the Bible women, helped in the Religious Education classes. At present the enrollment is 144. Pour girls from our school entered Midnapore High School this year, one has entered a hospital for nurse’s training. Two others who finished are still here, one helping me in the office while the other is remaining for a few months learning what she can about school methods hoping to be able to teach in the village schools. Two of the teachers went to a Guide Training Camp last January. Miss Bhoba Murmu takes the responsibility for the Guides while Miss Surubala Kisku works with the Bluebirds. Several girls have become second class Guides. At present there are 36 in the boarding. This cold season they have had a garden of their own to work. They have been divided into two groups, one group working in the garden while the other does the house work. The garden well was getting dry in November so we have made a drain from the tube well to a tank made in the garden. This has helped the girls very much in their work. Two pump water into the tank while the others carry it from the tank to the plants. Another improvement we had wanted for a long time was a place large enough for an assembly room and a place where the girls could meet for worship. Just before she left Miss Hill finished the chapel. It was dedicated in November soon after she sailed. At that time Mr. Mondol of the Children’s Mission spent a week here with the boys and girls inspiring them to better living. Three of the girls were baptized on New Year’s Day. Since the chapel has been dedicated we have started Junior church.

23 Molina Mamdi has taken the responsibility for that. We have as many as 70 some Sundays altho the average is not more than 50. The girls’ C.E. Society has met regularly each Wednesday. The boys of Class 2 went to their teacher requesting they have a C.E. and they have been very faithful to it. One day recently I saw the smaller girls gathered in the chapel. As I went past I stopped a minute to see what they were doing. They said to me, “ Didimoni (the name given their teacher) couldn’t come so we are having a prayer meeting by ourselves ” . I couldn’t stay with them but they carried on one of the Class 2 girls conducting a regular service. The Industrial class still carries on, the girls making pillow-lace, doing weaving, making rugs, and doing various things in cross-stitch. The Biblewomen have been working as usual. Miss Molina Mamdi teaches two Bible classes in the girls’ school and one in the boys’ school and works the remainder of the time in the villages with the other women. I Mas unable to spend much time in the district but they were out for some time. Two preachers, who were in Bible school in Cuttack last year went out touring as soon as their school closed in October. They came in occa­ sionally to get more books to sell and to report on their work. They visited nearly all parts of the field north of the river except the part farthest north. Mr. Berg was able to spend a few days in that section. Part of the time Babu Madhob Murmu was able to be with them. He has been a great help. Altho he has no training his Christian life is such an inspiration that it means much to have him with them. They report that never before have people in that area been as eager to hear and really asking the way of Life. During the past year we have been unable to get to the schools regularly but the teachers have tried to teach the Religious Education lessons. At least we are seeing results in the interest of the teachers. During the year two more teachers have been baptized and others are wanting to come and are asking our prayers. Since one of the young preachers, Babu Jotish Kisku, is to visit the school regularly this year we are praying for great things. Besides the teachers several others have been baptized especially in Harulia where Babu Madhob Murmu lives. We are very glad to be able to report the first year of the R.E. course in book form and being used in nearly all the village schools. The second

24 year has been completed but needs much revision before being put in book form . A part of each day goes in answering sick calls but hardest of all is seeing the poor youngsters who do not have enough to eat. The two years of crop failure because of the small amount of rainfall have made it very hard for people to get enough to eat let alone pay school fees. Many of the parents come saying, Please let me work enough to pay my child’s school fees. I want him to get an education but I can neither pay the four cents school fees nor buy his books” . Our Sunday offering has been able to give the fees for a few children. The Women’s Society has met regularly for worship except in the hottest weather. Once each month they have gone to homes, the other meetings being held in the church. They gave a contribution of Rs. 15 toward Home Mission work at the time of the Woman’s Conference.

______N a o m i H . K n a p p .

KORA WORK One of our problems has been the obtaining of an educated Kora ministry. We are glad to say that last year one Kora boy was in Bhimpore for higher education. This year we hope for another boy who is taking a step higher on the educational ladder. Many Koras have uncertain land to rent which makes their locating any place uncertain. Next year some of the new Christians have taken out permanent land leases, which will stabilize the Christian community. An interesting land deal is on now whereby a dozen poor Christian families will obtain land in their own names and, as the land is excellent, it should mean a definite advance in the direction of self-support. In March a group of fourteen new Christian families formed themselves into a new church. They have built themselves a permanent church building, without any aid whatever from the mission. In one locality a division entered a church. One party was about to cut the ripe rice of the other party. This would probably have resulted in hammering of heads with bamboo sticks and bloodshed. However, all

25 glory be to J esus, after much, pleading at the throne there was a joyful harmony established. At the southern end of our field is a group of new Christians who came into the fold this year. They are quite faithful and about ready to organize a new church. Off to the north-west at the edge of a tiger-infested jungle is a new group of five families who came into the Jesus road this year. They are quite sincere and we hope to organize a new church there soon. A number of villages are not far from the Kingdom. It makes one’s heart ache to think of the countless villages in densest darkness. In the western section of our field the Lord has especially blessed our work. The church will not hold the worshippers any longer so they sit in the courtyard for worship. It may be necessary to organize a new church to relieve the pressure. During the year 1935, all glory be to Jesus, who sent the Holy Spirit to work among us, forty-three precious souls have followed the Lord in baptism. Not one of them gained anything in a financial way by being Christian. In fact most if not all of the new Christians are the result of the earnest efforts of the old Christians, who out of their love for Christ, without any pay, told of their new-found Redeemer and urged others to accept Him too. The prospects are as bright as His promises. The coming year should be more fruitful if we plead for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the field. We need the fire of God to bum out every bit of sin in our own hearts. If we go forth realizing the unspeakable awful­ ness of a soul being lost eternally, we believe that 1936 will bring abundant harvest. We plead for your constant prayers for the field and that we may not leave the foot of the cross for one single second.

J o h n A. H o w a r d a n d G r a c e H o w a r d .

KHARGPUR ENGLISH WORK It is less than forty years ago since Miss Combs from Midnapore first came to the new Khargpur Railway Settlement in her bullock cart to gather

26 some of the little children for a Sunday School. The only place where she could teach these Anglo-Indian children was on an open veranda in front of one of the offices. One of these little girls, now a grandmother, has sent her two girls, and now is sending her three grandchildren to our Sunday School, three generations following the same path to learn of J esus the friend of chil­ dren. That first dozen or so has now grown until you can see on Sunday morning little tots pushed by the ayah in a pram, older ones walking or carried on the back of an older brother’s bike, older brothers and sisters, and here and there a mother and father, all coming to Union Sunday School, over a hundred of them. That first little Bible Story and memory verse has grown so that now we have the full Keystone Graded Lessons from Philadelphia. That veranda class has grown until the church is no longer large enough for all the classes, and the whole primary department has been transferred to the veranda and two large rooms of the mission bungalow. Only just the other dajr a young man came to me and said, Mr. Brush, there are several of. the older boys who used to come to Sunday several years ago who would like to start coming again. Can you organize a class for us ? ” I assured him that we would. They have not come except for one Sunday. We hope they will again establish the habit. But the incident reveals the hunger felt in adult life for more of what they found here in childhood. In this centenary report I should like to pay tribute to those who have labored so faithfully during these years, both Anglo-Indian and Missionary. The people of Khargpur have always been willing to support our work, giving of time and money that the church, Sunday School, and clubs might carry on. The clubs and Sunday School are entirely self-supporting, and the church pays all incidental expenses and contribute Rs. 1,200 each year to missionary salary. There is always a waiting list of those who wish to teach in the Sunday School. Among the missionaries we find the names of Oxrieder, Browne, Collett, Clark, Hartley who served before the arrival in 1923 of the present missionary. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Oxrieder who arrived in India in 1902 secured land from the Railway, and built the bungalow and church. The corner stone was laid in 1906 by grandma Phillips, just 30 years ago. The Oxrieders laid the foundation for the religious and social work which during these years has

27 helped to build and strengthen Christian character in so many of these Anglo- Indian people. I should also mention the one term of service of Mr. and Mrs. Zoe Browne which has proved to be a benediction for so many. The success of the past 12 years has been largely due. to this pioneer work. We are very happy to report on this centenary year that the past service has not been in vain. There is an increased interest and attendance in all the services of the church. Easter and Christmas, the two special seasons, we have special services. The number at the Annual Picnic was 250. We look forward to the visit of the Home representatives with us, and trust they will give us that forward look which will make the beginning of the second century as notable as the first.

E . C. B r u s h a n d H e u t x B r u s h .

KHARGPUR INDIAN WORK The centennial celebration of the founding of our mission calls us to review some of the evidences of growth in our work.

Y e s t e r d a y

Christian work in Khargpur began, as far as we can ascertain, with occasional visits of Midnapore missionaries to the villages in this vicinity during their cold season touring. In 1002, when there was still little more than a village here, more regular visits and teaching were undertaken by the missionaries from Midnapore with the help of Indian workers. On September 17th, 1904, an Indian church was organized with 7 members, meeting in the home of one of the Christians. The church called a pastor and began paying Rs. 3-8 towards his salary. As the numbers grew a thatched roof mud building was erected which served for a church. Prayer meetings were held in homes in the town and a Christian Endeavor Society was organized. The pastor learned Hindustani and began services in that language. Such were the beginnings. Through the years many people have had a share in the work here, but three stand out for their long devoted labors : Rev. and Mrs. J. H. Oxrieder and Rev. Koilas C. Mohapatra.

28 T o d a y

Today at the end of T935 what do we find has grown up from these humble beginnings! The Indian church has grown to a membership of 263, besides becoming the mother of a now separately organized Telegu church of 82 members. The one Christian Endeavor Society has developed into four in different parts of the town. The mother church is now called the Ward Memorial Church in remembrance of Dr. J. Ward through whose generosity a commodious " pucca ” church building with pastor’s house and a row of quarters for other workers was made possible in 1921. The contri­ bution of Rs. 3-8 per month has grown, in spite of the depression in railway work, to nearly Rs. 100 per month in the mother church alone. For several years the church has been practically self-supporting. From 1936 it is assuming full responsibility for repairs to the church building and pastor’s house which is the final step in self-support. In Nimpura, a suburb of Khargpur about two miles from the Ward Memorial Church building, another small temporary mud church with cor­ rugated steel roof was built in 1932 with funds raised locally, and is in use as a center for Christian service there, although the people remain members of the central church. Centering in the English church compound on the south side of the town today is the Telegu church, separately organized since 1928 with its own pastor and varied activities. Two Sunday Schools enroll 77 pupils. With the aid of a mission grant a primary school is maintained in a small building on the compound, providing the beginnings of an education for a group of Telegn boys and girls in a Christian atmosphere. From paying Rs. 12 per month towards the pastor’s salary in 1929, the church has increased its con­ tributions until now it is paying Rs. 35 per month and is arranging to pay the whole salary of Rs. 50 within three years. Near the Ward Memorial Church building stands the Khargpur Christian Hostel erected in 1929 which furnishes a home with game facilities and reading room for about 40 young men. A house is now under construction ^or the hostel assistant. The rents charged provide for the running expenses and the upkeep of the hostel building.

29 On the opposite side of the church stands the residence of the missionary family designated to Indian work, conveniently located to allow them to supervise the hostel, assist in the church work, and reach out into the com­ m u n ity. A Bengali young man appointed by the Home Mission Board works among the men of the town and assists the Ward Memorial Church pastor. A young woman, well adapted through a speaking knowledge of several languages and special Bible school training for work among the women of Khargpur, goes with an older woman as her helper into the Christian and non-Christian homes. She is trying to make Christ a living reality to non- Christian women and to help the Christian women to grow in their spiritual lives. She conducts two prayer meetings a week for the Christian women. We recognize that these facts about progress in contributions, buildings, and organization are external. They take on meaning as we share in the work here and see the results in the lives of the people. Here we see the daily ministry of these Christian workers bringing new light and new strength to people faced with the perplexities and temptations of life in an industrial town. We see the growing sense of responsibility and independence in the Christian community. We see in the developing organizations attempts to meet the common needs for teaching, for worship, for fellowship, and for an outreach in service. All is not steady progress, but as we look back we can see growth. Early in 1935 at the annual Ward Memorial Church elections a division broke out which grew until finally in August after a business meeting there was a fight on the road and several men were injured. The work of the church was blocked and the Christian witness to the community was rendered futile for a time. Various efforts for a reconciliation were made, but success came only when two devoted Christian workers, Lai Mohan Patnaik and Braja- nanda Mahanty, came to Khargpur for a series of meetings. Every evening for about ten days after the preaching service those who were most deeply involved in the quarrel were called together in a prayer group. Gradually the Spirit of God gripped the various members until each one of those who had been involved in the fight confessed and asked forgiveness. Other misunderstandings were brought out and cleared away ; slights and angry

30 words were acknowledged and forgiven. Since then there has been a renewed sense of fellowship in the church.

T h e W o r k o f t h e M issionaries . Our work has been of various types. Mrs. Roadarmel spent several months in Darjeeling making a home there for our three children while they were getting a start in school. While in Khargpur she has visited the Indian women in their homes, has taught a class of senior girls at the English Sunday School, has been the mainstay of a home where we try to keep an atmosphere of Christian love and co-operation, and has helped in innumerable ways. For my part, my work has taken me into many different phases of the local and general mission work. I have sought to work very largely through the churches and Christian people, sharing in their activities and counselling with the leaders. A few retreats with the workers and the Christian Endeavor leaders have shown the possibilities of that type of fellowship. Lhave taught a. Sunday School class of young men throughout the year. As Superinten­ dent of the S.S. I arranged for a series of lectures on improved methods by Mr. V. M. Koshi of the India Sunday School Union. Some fruit is being seen in the plan for dividing the Ward Memorial Sunday School into three departments from January 1936. Each week for several months I helped Rev. Ch. Prakasam, the Telegu pastor, in the study of " Psychology for Bible T ea ch e rs” . With the young men at the hostel, besides the usual supervision, I have helped in the planning of social evenings and lectures, and we have had a series of teas for them in our home. I have made a number of contacts with in­ dividuals and groups in the general community life. One result has been that when a new High School was being started I was requested to take the position of Manager. I did not feel that my time would allow me to take as m uch responsibility as that, but I accepted a place on the managing com­ mittee of the school. Outside of Khargpur I had the privilege of teaching the Bible period each day for a week at each of the two Workers’ Training Conferences in April, using the general topic of “ The Meaning of Service ” . I used the same topic with a somewhat different point of view for a series of discussions at

31 -the Santal Village Teachers’ Convention held early in January of this year. A t the English church I have assisted some with the choir and I took charge of the services for the six weeks of Mr. Brush’s vacation. This enumeration of types of contacts can only mention the host of personal interviews, committee meetings, and letters through which we try -to help plan, to inspire, to teach, and to render Christian service. I have felt keenly the need of a wider distribution of available vernacular literature among our Christian people, so have arranged displays at various mission meetings and local church meetings, selling and taking orders for the various books and pamphlets. A beginning has been made on a small personal loaning library to encourage better reading. Sometimes we feel our work is so varied as to be “ scattered ” , but there are many different phases to the building of “ The Kingdom ” in the hearts of men and society. We need you to join in prayer with us that we may be able to see what is most vital and live in sitch constant fellowship with Christ that every contact with those about us may be a means of sharing His love.

Ch a r t s C. R o a d a r m e i ,.

E t h e l N . R o a d a r m e i,.

JAMSHEDPUR

We have in Jamshedpur three churches— Bethel Baptist (services in Hindi), Emanuel Baptist (services in Orivah), and the Church of Christ (services in English). Bethel and Emanuel have their own Indian pastors; the station missionary is pastor of the Church of Christ. He also is intimately •connected with the work of the other two churches. Bethel Church is a splendid institution. It is happy in that its member­ ship contains so large a proportion of gifted leaders, and doubly happy in that these are willing to lead, and to lead unselfishly. Characterized by forward look and vicarious spirit, the Church moves on to an increasingly strong position in Kingdom influence. The inter-racial unity in aim, ideal, and Christian loyalty is worthy considerably more mention than space

32 permits us to give. In a body containing representatives of not less than seven native language-groups, there is unbroken fellowship. Rev. H. K. Mahapatra, the young minister, is loved by his people, and he finds them ever willing to help in the score of activities in which the church is engaged. The membership is constantly increasing in numbers. Emanuel is younger and not quite so strong, but is working toward firmer establishment. Its members live at Golmuri, five miles from Jamshed­ pur, and unlike Bethel, which has use of the building of the Church of Christ, must have a meeting-place of its own. The present quarters, owned by the mission, are really just sufficient for the pastor’s residence, and the church is striving to erect a building of its own. It has a fair sum in hand, and there are promises of quite a bit more. Emanuel’s position is strategic, and one cannot but hope and pray for an increasingly clear vision and greater self- confidence for our Oriyah brethren at Golmuri. The Church of Christ is not a strong organization. The community from which it so largely draws its membership is residentiallv unstable, and every year sees a decrease in its size. There have been slight compensating gains, but not sufficient to counter-balance the losses. However, attendance is keeping up, some of the members have an enlarged conception of the duties and responsibilities of the Church, and the outlook is not without hope. Work among our more stable Anglo-Indian community needs every encouragement. The visit of Dr. Stanley Jones for a series of lectures was the outstanding event of our 1935 church calendar. Dr. Jones was somewhat disappointed that there was not more interest, but those of us who know Jamshedpur are gratified that so many people, Christian and non-Christian, were willing to leave the innumerable competitive interests of the town, to attend the addresses. An influence has been exerted for Christ’s cause which we trust will be powerfully effective in days to come. The almost constant illness of our baby since last summer has interfered with plans to follow up the meetings, but new plans for study classes will be formulated this year. Both Indian and European interest is manifest. During the year several people came for individually varying periods of Bible study and for interview. Some requested baptism, and one or

33 two were accepted, others postponed until we could feel they were ready to assume the involved obligations. Our relations with the several communities are happy. Representa­ tives of these communities— Parsi, Hindu, Brahmo, Jain, Sikh, Moslem— are numbered among the missionaries’ personal friends or among those on whom we may count for co-operation in extra-communal activities. Relations with local Christians of other denominations are good. Espe­ cially happy are those with the Church of England. Both Mr. Paige, the Chaplain of Jamshedpur, and Mr. Nowrangyi, his Indian minister, have joined with us in a great number of church activities. A series of weekly lenten services, held at St. George’s (Church of England), was under the joint auspices of that church and the Church of Christ, and the two minis­ ters alternated in officiating. There were several occasions for mass meetings of Indian Christians, all held in the building of the Church of Christ, and Mr. Nowrangyi and his people gave hearty co-operation. Local Lutherans are lacking in leadership, but they have joined in all inter-denominational activities. Plans, originating within our body, are now afoot to form a Jamshedpur Indian Christian Union, inter-denominational in scope, the aims of which will be (i) to emphasize the brotherhood of the followers of Christ ; (2) to clarify and invigorate the local Christian witness ; (3) to instil into the community a spirit of wholesome pride, to the end that none may have reason to look upon Christians as an inferior fplk. Social problems connected with the work are immense and passing numeration. Unemployment on a large scale is a tragic and constant condi­ tion, and the numbers of unemployed who look to the missionary for help are huge. J obs have been procured for some, but these are a pitifully small proportion of the whole number of seekers. A high average of success is noted as to the lads from our Balasore Technical School. Almost without exception these applicants have been placed. One does not wish, however, unduly to encourage others to come in large numbers and find only dis­ appointment. Mrs. Harris has joined- the Women’s Council, an extra-communal organization engaged in various forms of social service. Also, she has been

34 a leader in the founding of a branch of the S.P.C.A., an enterprise which is getting large popular support. This will be our last year here. We are very eager that it be a telling year in the local work of Christ’s Kindgom.

G . B . H a r r is a n d H e l e n H a r r i s .

BALASORE Historical Note.— Balasore was a station of the English Baptist Orissa Mission before the time of the arrival of our two pioneers, Rev. Jeremiah Phillips and Rev. Eli Noyes and their wives, but it had not been permanently occupied by a missionary. Dr. Phillips spent some months of 1836 in Balasore and then joined the Noyeses for the 250 mile trip up the Mahanadi River to open the work in Sambalpur. The climate there proved so fatal---- Mrs. Phillips and baby, and the Noyes baby died there— that they returned to Cuttack and then the Orissa Baptist Mission agreed to turn over Balasore to them as a field for missionary endeavor. They came to settle in 1838, in the month of February. Dr. Phillips moved on in 1840 to establish Jella- sore Station. Mr. Noyes left India for good because of ill-health in 1841. Dr. O. R. Bacheler had arrived and took his place. Dr. Bacheler carried on a flourishing medical work during his ten years in Balasore, and laid the foundations for the later development of the work which has gone on so well since. Other missionaries who stayed long enough to render effective service have been Rev. Ruel Cooley and wife who gave 11 years of good service between 1849 and 1862 ; Rev. and Mrs. Burleigh B. Smith, arriving in 1852, thirteen years. After the death of her husband Mrs. Smith returned under the Women’s Society and served another 13 years ; Rev. Arthur Miller, a Canadian, established a very effective industrial work during his 8 years of service from 1859 ; Rev. and Mrs. A. J. Marshall who spent one term of 9 years. Coming into the 2nd half of the century we find that Rev. and Mrs. Z. F. Griffin had all but the first year of one term in Balasore. Rev. A. B. Boyer, another Canadian, died in Balasore after a brief residence of about 5 years but made a lasting impression on the work of the Mission

35 in this District by his great consecration and zeal, and because he inaugurated the effort to establish a High School. Dr. and Mrs. G. H. Hamlen who arrived in 1894 were in active service till 1914, with one long furlo in America. Dr. Hamlen was pre-eminently an educationalist and is perhaps remembered especially for his services to the High School, as first Principal and in a sense founder, and to the Technical (in his day Industrial) School, but he had much to do with the evangelistic work of the station and rendered good sendee. He helped to bring the Balasore Church, Mother Church of the Mission, to self-support and independence. The writer of this note and Mrs. Frost came to Balasore in 1912, and have had the longest active connection with the work of the station and outstations of any couple during the 100 years. The first convert of the Mission was baptized in 1839, Chakradhar, who had followed Dr. Phillips from Sambalpur, his son Silas Curtis, who had been given to the missionaries to rear, having preceded him. That same year Silas was baptized and others, among them Prasuram who became the first licensed preacher. His grandson, Rev. Rajoni Mohapatra recently retired after over 30 years of service as an evangelist and pastor. Of the latter’s children one is pastor of Bethel Church, Jamshedpur and another, Superintendent of the Balasore Technical School. The first chapel was dedicated in April, 1840. The foundations of the present church were laid by Dr. Bacheler during his term in Balasore. The building was dedicated in 1854. The bell, of very pleasing tone, was cast in Boston in 1850. The church now has a membership of over 450. The community has been built up principally by orphans, especially in the earlier days, and by some very strong personalities who came to Balasore either to serve or settle as laymen. There were 35 orphans as early as 1841, most of them famine orphans. 1849 and 18 50 saw the coming of the Oriya boys rescued from being offered as human sacrifices by the Khonds of Southern Orissa hill tracts. Their des­ cendants are among the most substantial members of the community to-day. Balasore church had 8 members in good standing in 1850 and 75 in the community. The orphan boys and girls no doubt made the number in the community disproportionately large. After 50 years of effort there were 207 members in the church and now there are more than double that number.

36 It is interesting to note that the total church membership in the Mission was 654 in 1888 while to-day the number in the Balasore Church Union is nearly 1,200 that is, nearly double. Strong men served as pastors of Balasore church during the first 50 years. Among them were Ram Mishra, a convert from near Jellasore and first ordained preacher of the Mission. He was ordained in 1847 at Jellasore. Another, Bhikari, came from the Cuttack Mission and served 30 years most faithfully as pastor and evangelist. Another was Kamal Nayak, also from Jellasore area, a mighty evangelist. His son Solomon was later pastor for 4 years. His grand-daughter, Miss Nirmala Nayak, the first B.A. woman graduate of Orissa, is now head of girls’ education in the Province. During the second half-century Reverends Sachidananda Rai, Joseph Fullonton, Natobar Singh, and Probodh Nayak have rendered outstanding service to this strong church. The two last mentioned have also served as church visitors in the District and helped to build the village churches. The Balasore Quarterly Meeting was organized in 1841 and enrolled in the New Hampshire Yearly Meeting in 1855. At that time there were still only two churches, Jellasore and Balasore. Report for 1935.— The past year has been an average year for Balasore church. The business of the church has been carried on efficiently and harmoniously by the strong group of lay leadership. The pastor has suffered much from ill-health and evangelism has not been as agressively pushed among the young people of the schools as it should have been. There are four village churches, Metrapore, Kundupur, Kusudhia, and Ujurda. Mr. Cooley settled a small group of orphan boys at Metrapore in 1855. To-day there are 10 families and they have a small village school. Ujurda was the next of these churches to be founded. It was started by Mr. Boyer and Rev. Daniel Nayak about 1890. The people were very poor and of very humble caste. There are about 20 houses of Christians, and a congregation of 90 men, women and children gather on Sundays. The primary school got run down, but has been improving the past year. The children had a fine school garden and sold some vegetables, keeping the money to help purchase books or slates for some of the poorest of the pupils. Kusudhia and Kundupur are about 4 miles apart. The first members were baptized about 1911. For

37 several years there was one church at Kusudhia, but in time the Kundupur people came to want their own church organization. The members have been gathered largely from a respectable, hard-working, Hindu caste, called Golas. Kusudhia has already supplied three preachers, one of whom is the capable pastor of our strong Khargpur church, altho born in Hinduism. His father is helping Mr. Howard win the Koras. A young man and wife were recently baptized from Hinduism. The Kundupur church is easily the most aggres­ sively evangelistic group in Balasore District. Starting with one man and his wife— he is still the key man— who insisted in staying with his own brothers in their common home, family by family, a circle of Christian homes has been established around the church. Each year sees a few more added. Within recent months two men and their wives were baptized. It is most significant that one of these men went back into his home where he lived in a joint family— that is property held jointly and sharing a common mess— and his unbaptized brothers allowed him and his wife to continue to eat with them.

SANTIPORE

Historical Note.— We begin with Jellasore for Jeremiah Phillips moved on from Balasore in 1840 to found Jellasore station. Presumably the spot was chosen because of i£s proximity to the ford across the Surbamarekka River, so that in those days it was a natural camping ground for the pilgrims to Jagernath Temple in Puri. But there were also some very worth­ while converts from villages in that area. Pour of the Phillips children were born there. Mr. Hallam also spent 6 years, 1857-63, at Jellasore. The palmy days of Jellasore were the two decades, 1861-82, when that re­ markable woman, Miss Lavina Crawford, lived there and poured her life into the orphan girls who had been gathered by the Mission. In 1867 there were 136 girls. It seems impossible to-day that for some time Jellasore church equalled, or exceeded, Balasore in number of church members. There were 116 in 1871. The old bungalow, remodelled from time to time, still stands, and behind it the old banyan under which the first Sunday School Convention

38 to be held in India was assembled, so the story goes. There are less than a dozen houses of Christians now, but regular services and Sunday School are still held. The people are very faithful in church attendance. Santipore.— It was while touring from Jellasore that Dr. Phillips came upon the site where later he built a dam over the stream and near-by helped a group of Christians, many of them orphans, already grown up, to establish a Christian village. It was an outstation from 1852 and Dr. Phillips lived there from 1865-77. A central “ Normal School” as they were called in those days was opened and many village schools for Santals. However, from 1877 on Santipore was looked on as an outstation for much of the time until Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were located there in 1904 and did much for the station including the erection of the Girls’ School building as a memorial to Nellie Phillips. After a brief stay they had to leave India and were followed by Rev. and Mrs. C. A. Collett. During their oversight lasting 6 years the present church building was built, a fine stone structure, toward the cost of which the church members gave liberally. The Bansboni church made up of Santals was also organized and a fine stone church provided for them. The villagers had been tenants of the Mission from the beginning, but the Mission sold their title to the land to others in 1926. Mention should also be made of the remarkably unselfish service of Miss E. M. Butts to the girls and women of Santipore during her last term, an extended one. She went from Santipore to Calcutta for treatment and there died. By some strange working of Nature the number of girls in Santipore began to grow less a few years ago, and that condition still continues in a measure. The Girls’ Sliddle Vernacular School was reduced to an Upper Primary School, the Boys’ School, for want of efficient teachers having reached the same status. But through Mr. Osgood’s efforts a co-educational Rural Middle School has been recently established and received permanent recognition in December last. It should be noted that Santipore has furnished a goodly number of preachers and Biblewomen during the years. One of the finest men in Mission service during the last half-century was Babu Samuel Das, a native of Santipore, and trainer of a generation of preachers through his service in the Phillips’ Bible School, Midnapore. The church was organized in 1867 and in 186S had 24 members. To-day there are about 150. Mrs. Ivhiroda Nayak, teacher

39 in the Girls’ School, and now in the combined school has for 30 years rendered splendid service. Santipore in 1935.— The church has carried on in proper manner the regular services and Sunday School. Giving has lagged somewhat. As supervisor of the churches in the area Rev. P. C. Nayak has worked hard and efficiently. In the Spring a new church was organized, entirely Santal in membership, at Gangtaboni six miles away, several baptism having brought the number to 22. Suffering much inconvenience the evangelist, Pyari Soren and his wife have labored hard for this new church. They are now to have a school teacher. There have been other baptisms on the field. The staff of the Middle School has been strengthened by the coming of Lalmohan Marandi, Failed B.A., and Trained, to be Headmaster. He is a Santal, a native of Santipore, and a product of the Santipore and Balasore Schools and had his collegiate training in the Wesleyan College at Bankura. The number enrolled was about 90, with boys in the majority. We hope through this school to make a distinct contribution to rural education.

CHANDBALI

Chandbali.— About 1876 the Mission began to think of opening a mission station at Chandbali. Revs. Marshall and R. D. Frost were the committee that reported on the proposal after visiting the place. It was then the port and chief way of access to Orissa’s capital, Cuttack. It was not until 1885 that Dr. Milo Coldren was able to begin building and he went there to live in 1886. It was his station until about 1909. He established a Middle School which was maintained for many years, and only closed because the Christian constituency did not grow large enough to justify continuing it. He opened several outstations and evangelized the area most faithfully. To-day, in the villages one meets men who were once students in the school, and the Middle English School maintained by the District Board is still popularly known as the “ Mission School ” . It occupies the site of the former Mission School, a corner of the old Mission compound. The system of village Sunday Schools

40 was also employed to spread the Good News. A small sum was given to the Hindu village teachers, for which they gladly got the boys out on Sunday for a Bible lesson taught by one of the preachers. Dr. Coldren did not live to see much fruit from this line of effort, but in 1924 in two villages baptism took place among people of Kondra caste (a humble caste), which were the result of this Sunday School work and the market preaching. To-day there are Christians in at least four villages. The largest group live in Charadhia. That church was started by Indians and the worker has been maintained by the gifts from the Christians of Balasore District, and at present is carried on the budget of Balasore church and with the help of special subscriptions from Balasore people. The area is subject to floods almost annually and gets a good crop about once in 4 years. Without a missionary in residence since 1909, it has been visited often by touring parties, and during his last term Mr. Dunn spent much time there. There is a church building at Chand- bali, also a Girls’ Primary School. A primary school has been opened at Charadhia, and a Christian woman from Santipore is teaching under greatest difficulties, owing to want of room. W e have not yet secured a site for the school building.

BHUDRAK

Bhudrak.— Bhudrak is a town as large as Balasore, that is, about 20,00a population, two-thirds of whom are Muslims. Mrs. Smith started a Girls’ School in 1872. Two good sites were secured. One has been rent-free and still is. The other was taken by Government to allow for expansion of the public high school which occupied the adjoining lot. A small bungalow was completed about 7 years ago and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Dunn until furlo in June last. Missionaries had never resided there but for a few months on one or two occasions. It has been a preaching station. The one school for girls has given access to the better class homes. Results have been meagre. Rev. Rajoni Mohapatra and wife spent many years there as preacher and teacher respectively and won goodwill for their Master. There is a church. The services are usually held at the railway station:

41 2-i miles from the town. There are locomotive sheds, and a few Christian families. One young man, baptized with his wife by the English Baptist missionaries, came there io or 12 years ago and started in as a tailor. To-day he has two, or three Muslim tailors working for him all the time. At present there are four or five families in the railway lines. One Oriva, one Telegu, two Hindi-speaking from different places in the Central Provinces. The pastor usually preaches in Hindustani. Observations.— It can be truly said that the Oriyas have taken an im­ portant and honorable part in the life and growth of the Mission. In the earlier days Oriya workers went to share in the founding and development of Midnapore Station.. Outstanding among them was Rev. Jacob Mishra. His son, Chandra, was a faithful preacher until his death. During the last 25 years, to my knowledge, Oriyas have been more often Chairman of Yearly Meeting than any others. The Revs. Natobar Singh and Gangadhar Rath were the first and second presidents of the Home Mission Board during its first 15 years. The first Treasurer was Pandit Samuel Das, previously mentioned, and the first Indian Secretary of the Board was Babu Behari L. Das, his son, who still serves, and is also the Secretary of Bhimpore Santal High School. The founder and long-time pastor of the Jamshedpur church, Rev. A. L. Maity is half-Oriya. The present pastors of that church, of the Golmuri church, Jamshedpur, and of Ward Memorial, Khargpur, are Oriyas. The present President of Yearly Meeting, Mr. R. K. Sahu, is an Oriya. The Oriya churches have rejoiced in the progress of the Santal work. They have helped to establish 3 churches for Santals, Rangiam, Bansboni and Gangtaboni. They have contributed regularly from the beginning to the Home Mission work among Santals in Dompara field. In their own District it has been our Oriya leaders that have carried the burden of the evangelistic work and church development. Missionaries have come and gone, or been occupied with many other duties, as schools, but our leaders, already mentioned, have wisely and consecratedly travelled the District in heat and rain to preach the Gospel and to counsel their junior colleagues and to keep the churches steady. Special mention should be made of the literary work of Rev. Gangadhar Rath. His 80 page tract in metre by a wise relating of the Gospel to the

42 best aspirations of Hindu saints has had a tremendous appeal to caste Hindus. Cases of conversion through reading this book, Satya Purana (True Way) are known. It has been reprinted in about 30 editions, and translated by him into Bengali has, if anything, been more popular. He also wrote all Four Gospels and Acts in metre with a view to making them more attractive to the Hindus. And recently when it was desired to put Mukti Marga, a little tract that, written by an English Baptist Missionary, Mr. Heberlet, has gone to 250,000 copies, into Bengali, this Oriya poet was asked to do it. As we end the century we are encouraged by the growing acceptance of responsibility by the laymen of our churches, by the increased ability of the churches to manage their own affairs, by the more sympathetic hearing given to the Gospel by non-Christians, and the increased sense of dissatis­ faction with their own religion of which we have evidence, and by the number of people who are sincere inquirers. Even in the villages men speak much more of “ God ” and much less of Seba, Vishnu and Krishna. Through our 16 tracts for Muslims in Oriya, all prepared in Balasore, and our monthly evangelistic paper, ‘‘ Nur ” (Light) we have stirred the 60,000 or more Muslims of Orissa as is evidenced by their having on several occasions gone to the trouble of issuing controversial pamphlets in answer to our tracts. Two new tracts were printed in 1935. And yet ! and yet ! there are one million people in Balasore District. There are but three churches south of Balasore, although the greater bulk of the population dwell in that half of the District. Jesus said “ Go . . . preach to every creature ” . Our work in Orissa has hardly begun.

H . I. F r o s t .

M a b e i , F r o s t .

BALASORE GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Near the beginning of the year, Miss Cronkite, who is Principal and Secretary of the School went to America for a furlo of ten months. Mr. Frost then became Secretary and I, the Acting Principal. The Staff, -with Miss Mahanty as Head Mistress, were very loyal and

43 most faithful in their work. In November one teacher left to be married. Her place, however, was filled by a better qualified teacher on the same pay. The Staff helped to supervise the celebration of the King’s Jubilee by serving refreshments which had been purchased by the committee to all the pupils and a very large number of parents. Following this “ Tea ” was a program, given by various people interested in the school and by some of the pupils. Armistice Day was commemorated at the school by special chapel exercises appropriate to the occasion conducted by the Acting Principal. In the middle of the year Miss Nayak, the Government Inspectress of Schools, visited our school. She seemed quite pleased and her report was very good, one of the best we have had. In January 6 girls of Class II were sent up for the Hygiene and Sanita­ tion Examination, and all of them passed, one of them in the 1st division and 4 in the 2nd division. During Education Week all the schools of the district sent exhibits of hand work to the Exhibition. Our school received a certificate for Clay M odelling. From the middle of the year a Study Class was conducted each morning with teachers present to give individual help. In the Upper Primary Government Examination one of our girls received the highest mark of the whole district and so won the Scholarship which pays for two years of school fees. Eight out of eleven of the 7th Class were sent up for examination and seven passed, five with distinction in Arithmetic and one with honours. Of the 8th Class all except one who had been absent on account of sick­ ness, were promoted to the next class. Of the 9th Class also all except one passed. The 8th and 9th Bible classes taught by the Acting Principal showed great interest and all passed, several having done excellent work. One of the girls showed poetic skill in translating an English poem, " A New Year’s Motto ” into very good Oriya verse. During one recitation when the question was asked, Would you prefer to be a Rarni (queen) or a teacher of Bible

44 in this Girls’ School ? ” A Hindu girl replied, “ I would prefer to be a Bible teacher in this School” . Miss Cronkite returned in December just as the girls were taking their final examinations. She was received by both pupils and staff with a “ right good welcome We hope that this year may end with even better results than last year and that through this School girls may be led to know Christ and may learn how to really live. M a b e l S. F r o s t .

BALASORE TECHNICAL SCHOOL My work during the year has been so scattered and varied, as is that •of most missionaries under present conditions, that I hardly know where to begin. As Mission Secretary I have accomplished nothing except to keep up the necessary correspondence and the minutes of meetings ; even so it "has taken a considerable am ount of tim e.

I n d u s t r i a l A r t s a n d V o c a t io n a l E d u c a t i o n

A s Director of Industrial Arts and Vocational Education I made two visits to the Santipur School and two to Bhimpur. The results of the year’s work at Santipur are very discouraging partly due to the absence of the regular teacher at training school and partly due to the lack of adequate supervision of the industrial arts and agricultural work. At Bhimpur the teachers are taking considerable interest in learning about modern methods and improving their teaching, and some progress has been made during the year in defining the objectives of the courses, use of notebooks in the instructions, and improved quality and quantity of work produced. Mr. Long gives most active co-operation in promoting my sug­ gestions and supervising the work.

B a l a s o r e T e c h n i c a l S c h o o l History.— This school was established as a separate institution in 1906 i>y Rev. G. H. Hamlin who was at that time also Principal of the Balasore

45 High School. We find, however, that some sort of industrial work had been taught in the Balasore schools from the time they were started nearly 100 years ago. So long ago as 1850 there were vocational classes in carpentry and blacksmithing for the famine children then cared for by the Mission. Tailoring, bookbinding and leather work were also taught in the schools at various times. The trades which were taught in the “ Boys Industrial School” , as it was called when first established, were carpentry, blacksmithy, tailoring, bookbinding and leather work. Later on the tailoring, bookbinding and leather work were discontinued as the demand for them ceased ; and machine shop, motor car repair, electricity, water supply and sewage disposal depart­ ments have been added one by one with the changing demands of the time. A commercial department is to be added in 1936. Upon Mr. Hamlin’s retirement in 1913 Rev. H. I. Frost became principal of the school and served for two years. It was then decided that the school should have a principal who could give it his whole time, and Mr. V. G. Krause was appointed for this position in 1915. During Mr. Krause’s administration the school grew rapidly, several additions were made to the building and a considerable amount of modern machinery was installed. The shop work was put on a paying basis and a high degree of skill was attained by the students. During this time the instruction in the school had been on an apprentice­ ship basis, and no systematic instruction had been given in related subjects, but in 1925 Mr. Krause initiated a scheme of half time work and related instruction. On Mr. Krause’s retirement in 1926 Mr. J. G. Gilson became principal and continued the development of the related instruction. In 1930 a technical high school course was started for boys who had completed Middle English school. The first student completed this course in 1934. Mr. Lloyd Eller, who was then Mission Builder, acted as principal of the school during Mr. Krause’s furlo in 1921-23, and on his return from furlo in 1929 was again made principal, in which position he is still serving. He has given his main attention to developing the water supply and sewage disposal departments in the school and has received wide recognition for his pioneering work in these fields.

46 Work of this year .— Mr. Eller will report on the progress of the water supply and sewage disposal work. Little progress has been made in the other departments so far as improving the method or product was concerned, though some results are showing from the effort to regain the furniture market by making furniture to suit the popular demand for cheap things. Some progress has been made in the way of trade analysis and organi­ zation of the shop teaching on a more scientific basis. The experiment of using notebooks for shop instruction has proved successful and will be con­ tinued with some changes. The experiment of having the artisan students spend one day per week in related classes has not proved satisfactory and is to be discontinued, and instead the artisans will be permitted to attend any of the regular classes for which they are qualified. A Government Committee is now engaged in a survey of unemployment conditions in the province to find the causes of unemployment and ways and means of preventing it. In this connection we have had a number of questionnaires to answer, and have had to study the situation of our passed students. We find that more than 90% of the students who have completed courses in the last 5 years are now employed in their trades, and a majority of those who have left without completing their courses are also employed. An exhibition of work and products was held in August, and was attended by a large crowd of people including the District Officer and many of the gentry of the town. This has been responsible for a considerable number of sales of products and it is planned to hold such exhibitions regularly in the future. A new step in co-operation with other Missions was made during the year when the Orissa Church Council connected with the Baptist Missionary Society decided to make a contribution of Rs. 2 50 and to select boys from their churches to send to the school. We hope that this co-operation may continue in the future so that the school may serve more fully the whole of Orissa. Co-operation with High School.— Some progress was made during the year in putting into effect the plans for combining the Technical School and the High School. Approval of the plan was secured from both the Director of Public Instruction and the Director of Industries, and the new committee

47 of management was organized in May. From the first of July the 8th class manual training was transferred to the technical school and sufficient time given it so that the boys attend for hours every day. The boys work on projects which they may wish to take home with them and keep records of their drawings, plans, estimates and time of work, together with related information in notebooks. The boys took a great deal of interest in this class and have done some very creditable work. Mechanics was also started in the 9th class from July, and arrangements have been made to teach it as an optional subject for the Matriculation Examination from January, 1936. Further developments to be started in 1936 include offering commercial studies as an optional subject for the Matriculation Examination, addition of metalwork to the industrial arts curriculum, extending industrial arts work to the 9th class, and use of high school teachers for some of the academic subjects of the technical courses. A most needed development which has had to be postponed to some future time is the provision of equipment and teacher for science classes in the two departments. At present no science except mechanics is being taught. An encouraging start has been made in co-operation but it will take several years, even if funds are available, to accomplish all that we plan in making the two schools into one ‘ ‘ Comprehensive High School ” . I consider this my major project for the next four years’ work, and hope that the Mission will see fit to make sufficient funds available to carry on the schools with some degree of efficiency. J o h x G. G i l s o n .

A l i c e W . G il s o n .

BALASORE CHRISTIAN BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL Balasore Christian High School opened a new chapter in her history in the year 1935. After several years of talking, planning, consulting, deli­ berating, we have at least come to materialize the scheme of co-operation, or if you so please to say, amalgamation of this school with her next door neighbour and beloved sister, the Technical School. Though platforms, pulpits, councils, assemblies, and universities are loud in their denunciation

48 of the existing system of education in this country, and though all suggestions for the solution of the problem lead towards the direction to which our scheme aspires ; yet let us not forget that things do not move in this country half so fast as they do in America, and that the slightest deviation from the existing ways of doing a thing is likely to produce widespread dissatisfaction and bitter criticism. And it is no wonder that we should be criticized. But it is no small encouragement to find that even our worst critics do not fail to see some redeeming features in our scheme. Besides there are already indications that our scheme is gaining popularity we had to disappoint several candidates for admission to class VIII, the lowest class in the High School proper, where our scheme begins as our funds would not allow dupli­ cation of the class. The results at the Matriculation Examination this year show that out of ten sent up for it, five passed. This is certainly not discouraging when we realize that the percentage of passes in the university is much lower. There has been a rise in the numerical strength of the school. We have on the roll 211 as against 190 last year at this time. And had our funds allowed us to open another section to class VIII, for which there were several candidates, the figure for this year would have been higher still. In sports and games our boys are not backward. Our senior football team played the finals of the Baripada Shield tournament, the tournament open to all schools in Orissa. Our junior football team won the trophy for the competition open to teams of their age. Besides one of our boys won the first prize in High Jump in the Mayurbhanj Olympic Sports, the achieve­ ment never before accomplished by any school boy. In the Field Sports foi the district our junior boys secured all the points this year. The boys Boarding Home has been experiencing a very happy change. At the beginning of the year we started a scheme by which the boys are to manage their own messing. It has been working so nicely that all com­ plaints regarding their meals have been eliminated. Besides, ex-boarders of different times are enjoying visits to their friends in the Boarding Home now. The most outstanding development in the whole system is the “ Pra}7er Society” as they call it, of the Hindu boys in Easley Memorial Hostel. It

49 is entirely a voluntary organization founded and managed by the boys themselves. The aims of the Society are (i) to know God, (2) to develop their power to speak, (3) to manage the internal affairs of the hostel. They elect their Chairman and Secretary every six months and inform the Head­ master. They meet every evening for about 20 minutes, every one is present there, when they have hymns, prayers and occasionally, some one among themselves speaks to them on religious topics. One of the most remarkable features of the whole thing is their devotional attitude, not before an image of any god or goddess. The whole thing is essentially Christian. Another remarkable aspect of the organization is the power that the Chairman exercises. He is one among themselves and yet he fines them and even at times inflicts corporal punishment on one whom the Society finds at fault. And, believe me, there has never been a word of protest against the decision of the Society. They have prize-givings and prize money comes from the ex-boarders of the Hindu Hostel as their voluntary contribution. May their desire to know God be fulfilled. R . K . Sa iiu .

SALGODIA CHURCH AND SCHOOL Churches.— The members of the Salgodia Church are growing spiritually and one can easily observe that they are trying to live clean and useful lives and are giving all the help they can in furthering the work of our Master in this village. The Christian community in Amdiha too are progressing in their Christian lives— I have great pleasure in saying that some of them are going to the near villages to teach their friends, who are still out of our Shepherd’s fold, the right way of living, in their homes, and are enticing them to renounce their rotten customs and accept Jesus as their Saviour. A man and his wife were baptized in their village, which is about 5 or 6 miles from Amdiha, and there are not a few who are trying to learn and follow in the footsteps of our Master. I am sorry to say that the Christians in Domsahi are not progressing as was expected of them.

50 Preaching in the bazaars and villages has been kept up regularly during the cold season. We found many interested listeners and the people were not so noisy as in past years. A number of tracts and books were sold and .given away. There has been an increase in the attendance in both our Sunday Schools. Four girls and three boys were baptized during Christmas week. These are from our Christian families. The weekly Women’s meeting has been well attended and I am glad to say that they are reading the Scripture Union Portions in their homes. Schools.— The Middle English School is progressing, one of the scholars has passed the Government Scholarship examination and is to receive a grant- in-aid from the District Board in Midnapore, which will help him for four years to continue his studies and prepare for the Matriculation Examination. He is hard working student so we hope he will succeed. We found seven of the young men in the villages while we were preaching who are teachers of schools and doing Zemindary work. One of them was baptized with his wife. The Lower Primary School is doing well. One of the girls (a Christian) has passed the scholarship examination and receives a stipend from the District Board at Midnapore. She is continuing her studies in our Middle English School. Two scholars of the Amdiha school appeared for the Upper Primary Examination but one passed and will join the Salgodia M.E. School.

G e o r g e A g e r .

M a r y A g e r .

Published by Mrs. E. C. Brush, for the A.B.F.M. Society, Khargpur, and Printed by P. Knight, Baptist Mission Press, 41 A, Lower Circular Road, Calcutta.