A Case for Explanation

Southland Times, Issue 13502, 20 July 1896, Page 3

A Case for Explanation

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I think the newspaper cutting herewith will show the ladies they have just been a little precipitate in falling in with the scheme of Dr Emily Ryder for forming a circle here, ostensibly to assist the child wives of India, and that it would be well for the officers of the circle to hesitate before sending away what they may have collected. We have a fund for support of a Zenana missionary in existence here, with a recognised responsible channel for ensuring that the funds are properly expended in the cause, and X would suggest that tho kind ladies who have banded • themselves together to assist what they considered a worthy object (Dr Ryder’s scheme) should consider well whether they would not be securing better results by devoting their energies to this Zenana mission than by following up a scheme of which they themselves, and more particularly the Christian philanthropists on the spot, know nothing about, as is clearly shown in the following extract.—l am, &0., R. A. Tho following paragraph appears in the Bombay Guardian, a weekly religious newspaper of some repute, for June 6th:—“lt would be a public service if any of our readers could enlighten us as to the disposition of certain funds now being collected by Dr Emily Ryder, it is said in large amounts, in Australia and New Zealand, for the benefit of the ‘ little wives of India.’ It must now be close upon three years since Dr Ryder went to Australia from India. From time to time we have heard of her as lecturing there on the sorrows of the little wives of India, but we are totally unaware of any ono on this side who is in communication with Dr. Ryder for the purpose of applying these funds to tho object for which they are being ostensibly collected. In imitation, apparently, of the method by which the admirable work of Pandita Ramabai is supported from America, Mrs Ryder is said to be forming ‘little wives of India circles’ to carry on the work in India. But what work ? These circles are said to bo worked ‘side by side with the missionaries.’ But what missionaries 1 It is safe to say that here in Bombay, where Dr. Ryder passed the greater part of her career in India, no missionary is at present in touch with her. Another question arises. How are the little wives of India to be benefited by the money when it is raised ? Widows can be educated and trained for a useful career, but the little wives, however deplorable their lot under the cruel custom of child marriage, cannot havetheir troublesalleviatedby philanthropy in the same manner. Gan anyone help with an elucidation of these questions?” -