Ifomgu Sfaxott ^Miration
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ANNUAL REPORT o r THE FRIENDS’ Ifomgu Sfaxott ^Miration, 1886. “GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.” PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT THE ORPHANS' PRINTING PRESS, 10 & 12, BROAD STREET, LEOMINSTER. FRIENDS’ FOREIGN MISSION ASSOCIATION, 1886. Treasurer: JAMES HACK TUKE, H itchin. Honorary Secretary: HENEY STANLEY NEWMAN, L e o m in s t e r . Secretary: CHARLES LINNEY, H i t c h i n . Executive Committee: STAFFORD ALLEN JOHN T. GRACE WALTER ROBSON WILLIAM C. ALLEN THEODORE HARRIS G. SATTERTHWAITE J. GURNEY BARCLAY WILLIAM HARVEY FREDERICK SEEBOHM WILLIAM L. BARCLAY HENRY HIPSLEY J. S. SEWELL WILLIAM BECK JONATHAN B. HODGKIN ISAAC SHARP J. B. BRAITHWAITE JOSEPH HUNTLEY SAMUEL SOUTHALL C. L. BRAITHWAITE CALEB R. KEMP J. FYFE STEWART ISAAC BROWN RICHARD LITTLEBOY GEORGE STURGE ALBERT J. CROSFIELD WALTER MORRIS JOHN B. TYLOR JOHN DIXON HENRY NEWMAN JAMES THOMPSON THOMAS W. FISHER THOMAS P. NEWMAN MARRIAGE WALLIS R. REYNOLDS FOX GEORGE PALMER CALEB S. WILSON JOSEPH S. FRY ARTHUR PEASE JOHN E. WILSON THEODORE FRY, M.P. ALFRED RANSOM WILLIAM WHITE JOHN GAYNER WILLIAM RANSOM JOHN WHITING Madagascar Sub-Committee : WALTER MORRIS WILLIAM RANSOM J. FYFE STEWART ALFRED RANSOM FREDERIC SEEBOHM JAMES HACK TUKE J. S. SEWELL India Sub-Committee: WILLIAM BECK JOHN DIXON THOMAS P. NEWMAN ALBERT J. CROSFIELD HENRY HIPSLEY JOHN B. TYLOR HENRY S. NEWMAN China Sub-Committee: WILLIAM L. BARCLAY WALTER ROBSON JOHN E. WILSON HENRY S. NEWMAN J. FYFE STEWART RULES OF THE FRIENDS’ FOREIGN MISSION ASSOCIATION. 1.— That the name "Friends’ Foreign Mission Association” be adopted. 2.— That its object is to aid the spread of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and Mission work abroad, chiefly by assisting such members of the Society of Friends, or those in profession with them, as are believed to be called of the Lord to this service. 3.— That all annual subscribers be members, and that a General Meeting be held annually at such time and place as London Yearly Meeting may appoint. 4.— That the business be transacted by an Executive Committee, to be appointed annually by the General Meeting, with power to choose a Treasurer and Secretaries. 5.—That Friends who feel it their duty to engage in foreign Gospel service, or to reside abroad for educational purposes, may communicate with the Secretary, who shall bring the matter before the Committee. 6.— That the Executive Committee meet at such times and places as it may appoint, and the Secretary or any Sub- Committee shall have power to call a meeting thereof by circular to its members. NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT. I n presenting the report of another year’s work in our various missions, we are thankful to God for many tokens of His divine favour, and for signs of expansion and growth, both in Madagascar and India. The unhappy war which has prevailed so long between France and Madagascar, was brought to a close last January, a treaty of peace being entered into, marked by concessions on both sides. Our reports shew very steady work in all branches of the M a d a g a s c a r M i s s io n , the Schools especially presenting encouraging features, and Bible and sewing classes with the native women being well attended. The Printing Office has been marked by unusual activity during the year, no less than 68,000 books, pamphlets, etc., having been issued. The addition of Dr. Allen to the medical staff has been of much value to the M e d i c a l M is s io n . Hospital and Dispensary work are both vigorously carried on, and the training of native medical students is developing into a valuable agency. W e have engaged the services of an efficient trained nurse, who will shortly go out to superintend the Hospital wards. W e have been several times strongly urged by the Medical Committee in Mada gascar to provide more suitable Hospital Buildings, the existing ones being old and defective, and the site unsuitable on sanitary grounds. But the large 6 outlay that would be involved in such a scheme still causes the Committee to postpone the matter. The I n d i a n M is s io n appears to be in a vigorous condition, although it has to some extent suffered by the absence of Samuel and Anna Baker during the last eight months of 1885 : but we have en couraging accounts of the zenana visiting in Ho- shangabad, a work which seems only limited by Ellen JSTainby’s time and strength. The orphanage, schools, and bazaar preaching are maintained. Charles and Harriet J. Gayford, who have been for six years in England, returned to India last January. They are at present taking charge of the work in Hoshangabad, where Dr. Gayford is carrying on the Medical Mission and other work, and finds himself fully occupied. The work at Sohagpur is progressing satisfactorily; the numbers attending the Boys’ and Girls’ Day Schools are growing; and bazaar preaching and zenana work show signs of promise. The C h i n a M is s i o n , in which many of our sub scribers are deeply interested, has experienced some vicissitudes in its commencement. Henrietta Green, after many months’ residence at Hankow, where she was gradually training for service, has felt it right from conscientious motives to propose that her connection with our Association should cease. The Committee, after serious deliberation, has accepted this proposal. The offer of two other Friends for service in the western part of that vast country, has been accepted, and we expect them to go out in the autumn. The Missionary Helpers’ Union continues to grow both in numbers and in influence ; there are now 73 branches, with 3,000 members, and this, with the kindred Young Women Friends’ Christian 7 Union are a great help to the work. The visits of Samuel and Anna Baker to many of the meetings in England and Ireland have been much valued, and have helped to increase and deepen the interest of our subscribers in our Indian work. W e are thankful to our heavenly Father for the extending love for Foreign Mission work amongst us. The financial condition of our Association a year ago was a source of anxiety, and appeals were made last autumn for increased support, and the wider sympathy of Friends. These appeals, aided by individual efforts, have resulted in an addition of about £700 to the annual subscriptions, and ,£2,063 has been given in special donations, for both which we thank our many subscribers. This addition has enabled the Committee to conclude the year with a balance in hand of «£798 ; but it is im portant to notice that this result is only obtained by taking the legacy of £1,000 left by the late Edward Pease. W e ask our supporters steadily to keep in view that the work to which we are committed for the coming year, including the larger number of missionaries in India, and the Chinese work, will require at least £8,500. W e hope, there fore, that our friends will maintain their liberal contributions during the year, without which the Association will again be heavily burdened with debt. INDIA. MISSIONARIES Charles a n d H arr iet J. G ayford, Hoshangabad. R achel M etcalfe, „ E llen N a in b y , „ John H. and E ffie W illiam s, Sohagpur. S amuel and A n n a B a k e r , at home on furlough. A n n a L. Evens, going out in the autumn. R e p o r t o f t h e S u b -C o m m i t t e e . A l t h o u g h for several months the absence of Samuel and Anna Baker in England has entailed additional burdens upon Rachel Metcalfe and Ellen Nainby, we are thankful that they have been graciously sustained, and enabled to carry forward the work at Hoshangabad. The number of members is slightly less than last year, being now seventeen; one or two converts of unsatisfac tory character having left the Mission, and no fresh additions made. The hearts of our Mends at both stations have been much cheered by a visit from Rufus P. King and W . Creeth, on their way from Australia to England. A t H o s h a n g a b a d our native brethren have la boured diligently to keep up the bazaar preaching, which has often proved to be a season of blessing, when a spirit of inquiry was manifested among the hearers. Charles Gayford writes : “ W e have good times, as of old, in the bazaar and about the city. There are crowds of listeners, and many seem to understand the beauty and fitness of the Gospel message.” Open-air meetings in the villages have also been sustained, Bal Mukand, David, and William, all striving to spread the good tidings of the cross amongst their fellow countrymen. 9 Ellen Nainby has devoted as much time as pos sible to zenana visiting, and finds an open door amongst the women, who are some of them glad to receive instruction in Scripture truth. The number of houses visited remains the same; more would be opened could our lady friends find the requisite time. The O r p h a n a g e in Jumerati Bazaar is filling an important place in the training of young children under Rachel Metcalfe’s care. The accommodation at the Home being very limited, and the need of more room being increasingly evident, we have decided to erect a new building for this purpose on the Mission compound, for which a portion of the kind gift of our friend G.