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THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

MISSION STATIONS

OF THE

NORTH INDIA CONFERENCE

OF THE

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

For the year 1377.

LUCKNOW:

PRINTED AT THE AMERICAN METHODIST MISSION PRESS.

REV. T. CRAVEN, Superintendent.

A WORD TO OUR FRIENDS IN INDIA.

In presenting another Annual Report of our work, we most cordially thank the friends in the various stations who have given us financial assistance during the year, and respectfully solicit a continuance of the same. Had it not been for this assistance we should have been obliged to curtail the work in more than one department. As will be seen in the school statistics, Rs. 8,000 less were expended in educational efforts in 1877 than in 1876: this arises from the fact that the appropriations from America were that much less, and hence schools (and even Sunday-schools) had to be closed. A like reduction has been made in the appropriations for the present year. In view of those facts we would be glad to have our friends increase their subscriptions and donations for 1878.

As it may not be fully understood, we would explain that the appropriations from America do not cover all the expenses incurred during the year. For instance, no appropriations are made for Sunday-school work, for Christmas treats, or for special prizes to Sunday-school children: the same may be said of various other items of expenditure, as the expense of sending orphan children to the Orphanages, and the like. It is to meet these expenses that we collect funds in each station: the home appropriations are thus supplemented, and an opportunity is offered to all who may wish to take a part in the great work.

As will be seen from the following pages the past year has been a good one. We trust and pray that the coming year may be better: and to this end we bespeak the co-operation of all our friends.

B. H. B.

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schools for boys, in which some 250 boys are getting the rudiments of an education.

Our work is to itinerate among the villages preaching to all, but giving special attention to those villages where there are native Christians or enquirers. We also make a specialty of examining the schools and instructing the boys. Thus the Christian religion is coming to be very well understood, and many are turning away from their old heathen institutions and seeking a better faith. Here we find all classes of hill people, even from Bhotea and Nepal. We have this year baptized three Nepalese, who give us good reason to believe they are really in earnest about being Christians.

There are many of the higher castes who acknowledge to us that they fully believe in the Christian religion, but they do not seem to have courage to face the opposition and persecution that will follow should they make an open confession of their belief. Hence most of those who have become Christians are from the lower classes.

At the beginning of the hot weather most of our work closes in the Bhabar and opens in the mountains. Then for about six months we give special attention to the work in Nynee Tal. Here we have a larger community of heathen and nominal Christians. Among these the Gospel is preached; Sunday and day-schools conducted. Beside the above a great amount of personal labor from house to house is done. During this part of the year we have work going on in the villages near Nynee Tal, where the people from the Bhabar resort for the hot season. We particularly try to keep up preaching, also day and Sunday-schools in the villages where the native Christians from the Bhabar go for the warm weather.

We have at one of these outstations a medical dispensary in charge of a native preacher who is also a doctor. During the past year he has had 3,102 patients who have received medicine from him. Thus in every way we are endeavoring to spread the light and truth of the Gospel.

ENGLISH WORK.

THE congregations in the Chapel have been larger. We have also increased the scope of our ministrations by a system of cottage services held in different parts of the station. There

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has been scarcely a week in the past season in which some persons have not sought Jesus.

The people who are converted or quickened in these services annually carry with them to the cities of the plains a new interest in the spread of Christianity, and often become efficient friends of our Mission work. Our two English-speaking Sabbath-schools have been efficiently superintended by SurgeonMajor Moffatt.

The Berean Lessons have been well taught in letter and in spirit. Earnest instruction and faithful prayer have been encouraged by the conversion of at least eleven children.

In the new soldiers' Chapel-built this year by the generosity of Sir Henry Ramsay we have had charge of a regular Sabbath service for non-conforming soldiers. Earnest laymen, in connection with the pastor, have held prayer-meetings and Bible classes in the same place among these men, three evenings in each week. These services have resulted in an encouraging number of conversions.

The expenses of this English work are entirely paid by the congregation. We have been relieved of all care in raising current funds by the kind services of S. E. Marston, Esquire,

our treasurer.

GURHWAL CIRCUIT.

REV. J. H. GILL,

Missionary.

SCHOOLS.

OUR main school at Paori has been smaller this year than usual. This may be accounted for chiefly by the hard times. and the difficulty of getting food. Our students, as a general thing, coming far from home. The efficiency of the school has, however, not diminished. Two boys this year passed the examination for entrance to Roorkee College, but failed to be admitted owing, it is believed, to there being a surplus of successful candidates. The Srinagar school has not done much during the past year; but the place is a hard one, and it still needs a good Christian master. We maintain branches at Chippleghat, Bangar and Gagwara. In future it is our intention to open schools, for the most part, only where we have a

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