Y.W.O.A.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13208, 15 February 1905, Page 2

Y.W.O.A.

On Saturday evening last a very helpful and practical address was given to the memliers of the Bible class by Sister Amy Lill, lato of Inglewood, formerly conncctcd with the Y.W.C.A., Dnnedin. Along and interesting letter was also read from Sister Clare, the lato deaconess and secretary of tho Y.W.C.A. (who,, it will bo remembered, recently left for India), giving a detailed description of "the hive of industry" at Mukti, whore she is now working with Pandita Ramabai, her daughter, Manoramabai,'and other helpers. Mukti is really a farmof 200 acres, with a Government road running through _ it, a few minutes' walk from Kedgaon Hallway Station, ami 40 miles by road from Poona. There is a hospital and dispensary, superintended by an American lady, assisted by a native doctor and a fow native nurses, The industrial depart- • mcnt is under the management of a Danish . lady, who takes groat interest- in teaching tho girls all kinds of fancy sewing, such as drawn thread, silver thread, and wool work. Then there is a block of buildings comprising, dwellings of native tcachcrs and helpers. Ihe Reseuc Homo is superintended by an English lady, who';tenches the' inmates sewing and making ' not only by hand but h}* sewing machines, which they put oil A- low- form in front of them, sitting' themselves down comfortably .on the floor. Miss Abrarns makes tli© Bible training sehoor her special care, while Manoramabai i 9 principal of the day school, with a kindergarten class for "the tinics.'-. The large church, which when finished will accommodate 2000;- is on Sundays more than half occupied by girls and young women? whilo the men and boys are in another paH. When the inhabitants of tho. Mukti settlement gather there oh Sundays it is a sight not to 1m forgotten. In front of the platform is tho choir of 10 or 12.girls; there is no organ, but as.soon as the tune is started all tho congregation take it tin and maintain it vigorously. To hear the little ones Sinn "Jesus loves me," in/English, with evident enjoyment-, is very touching. A' long row of buildings elsewhere comprises the kitchen and dining room, the entrance' hall, the - rooms of tho workers, and those for visitors; also the boys' department and weaving industry, printing offices, eta There are more earnest and experience! workers neeae.d urgently. Sister, Clare lV busy .'studying' :the ' language,- previous, to. taking up Bible class work.