CHILD WIDOWS OF INDIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 18 April 1910, Page 4

CHILD WIDOWS OF INDIA.

LB.TUiiE Br MISS McGREGOR, A lantern lecture will be given by .Hiss J. McGregor, at the Baptist Cnurcii uii \\ ednesday evening, in coniiecuon with the liamabai Mission for uit Lin Id Widows of India, and latter in Uic month a sale of work will be held ;:i aid of the same Mission. Miss McGregor was for several years connected w .in Pandita Kaniabai's Mission, and with the noble eliort to help the child widows of india ;and she gave a "Mail" itpibi-eiitative some interesting information in connection therewith. Pandita iiamaoai is an Indian of the Brahmin ciass, and is of marked culture and education. Her heart filled with sorrow tor me dai'Kness, ignorance, superstitions and many degradations of her Indian . liters, and it was her lecturing in advocacy of the education of the women of iiidia'that brought her under the notice of Europeans and missionaries. She became a Christian, and in 1889 began her iii'st sciiooi for Brahmin widows, at Bombay. The number of inmates of this tciioul increased ,and she removed to i'oona. During the great famines of lbsj? and 19UU, i;0C0 widows and orphans were gathered together ot the school, which was then removed to a place 34 miles from Poona, and the large home called "Mukti" (Salvation) founded. Pandita Kamabai had no funds with wincii to lace this greatly increased expenditure, but the Home has been kept goin ,r by voluntary gifts. iWth heioic lortitude and simple faith, surrounded by opposition, abuse, and treachery this little woman, once an idol worshipper und a pilgrim to many places, has steadfastly gone on with her labour of love and faith. A rescue home has been opened, and between 200 and 300 "ills and women are being educated and trained in industrial work. A hospital has been established, where the sick are cared for, and where patients from the villages obtai nmedicine and hear the Gospel. At Mukti, the young children attend the Kindergarten School from which may lpa«s into the Vernacular School and study till they reach the Sixth Standard. After 'passing the Sixth Standard in vernacular study their study is in the English language. Several have already passed their matriculation examination'. No one who visits the large institution can refrain from praising God for all He has wrought for the inmates of the Home. Rescued from starvation in famine; or from becoming the victims of those who make merchandise of the forlorn and unprotected; and brought from the undescribable sufferings of high' caste widows (sepecially child widows); or rescued from the sad lot of babies dedicated to the temples—these dear women and girls are living in a happy home, and being fitted to earn their own living or to conduct their homes as Christian wives and mothers (for many of them are married to Christian, husbands.) The cost of supporting an inmate of this House is as follows: Kindergarten pupil, £3 a year; Vernacular School pupil, £5 a year; Hig'i School, (English) pupil £7 a year; Bible women. £lO a year. The views to be shown on Wednesday evening will be illustrative of the Home and its work, and of India generally.