From the minutes of the March 1901 meeting of the executive:
"The committee of the PWMU have instructed me to offer their deepest sympathy with you and your family in the sorrow which has fallen upon you in the death of your beloved daughter, a sorrow in which they share.
It seems but as yesterday that she stood among them so bright and full of hope to go out to the work so dear to her heart. How little did they think when they said good-bye that it was farewell - "Early death is early glory" to the young Christian, let this thought be your comfort.
To you it is sorrowing, yet always rejoicing while you mourn your beloved taken away at the threshold of her work, and your hearts bleed for your bereavement, the pain will pass away, but the sure hope that your dear daughter now enjoys happiness unspeakable will not pass away.
Commending you and yours to the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am yours affectionately, Jane Macdonald."
Monday, February 13, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Missionary Photographs...website
The following is a link to the "International Mission Photography Archive". There are mostly pictures of southern Indian missions, but still some good ones of day-to-day life and missionary activity that would have been similar to that in Poona.
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/impa/controller/simplesearch.htm?page=75&x=1328928983664
http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/impa/controller/simplesearch.htm?page=75&x=1328928983664
Saturday, February 4, 2012
The Poona Indian Village Mission Group 1900
This photo is reproduced in White Already to Harvest, June 1, 1900. It may have been taken in May, or perhaps even earlier in the year. The copy below was provided by the Presbyterian Research Centre, Dunedin. The photo came from the personal album of Rev. Robert Middleton Ryburn. His brother, Josiah Ryburn is in the front row holding a bible.
I wonder if Jessie is centre right with the black tie...(click on the image to enlarge it)
I wonder if Jessie is centre right with the black tie...(click on the image to enlarge it)
Jessie gives a speech at the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union monthly meeting prior to her departure
This is taken from The Outlook, August 26 1899, p 27, provided by the Presbyterian Research Centre, Dunedin:
"The monthly prayer meeting was held in the hall of First Church on Tuesday, August 15, when there was a large attendance, the hall being quite full...
...Miss Blair who leaves very shortly for India, said that she was going not in her own strength but in that of the Master. She felt weak and unworthy for the work, but God has said that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." She asked all those present to follow her with their prayers. She was going forward to tread an unknown path, but God promised to stand by His servants, and the work will prosper if done in entire dependence on His will. God is calling now for men and women who will love him with a self-sacrificing love, with deep yearning over dying souls that they may be wakened to a sense of their danger and brought into His kingdom. Miss Blair said no-one can overestimate the importance of interesting children in mission work, and mentioned two incidents which had given her much pleasure, one of a little boy of seven, who having saved all his pennies for missions gave her the contents of his money box (7s); another of a little girl, who with crochet hook and cotton was able to earn money with which she could help to send the Gospel to those in heathen lands. Miss Blair concluded by again asking for the earnest prayers of those present."
"The monthly prayer meeting was held in the hall of First Church on Tuesday, August 15, when there was a large attendance, the hall being quite full...
...Miss Blair who leaves very shortly for India, said that she was going not in her own strength but in that of the Master. She felt weak and unworthy for the work, but God has said that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." She asked all those present to follow her with their prayers. She was going forward to tread an unknown path, but God promised to stand by His servants, and the work will prosper if done in entire dependence on His will. God is calling now for men and women who will love him with a self-sacrificing love, with deep yearning over dying souls that they may be wakened to a sense of their danger and brought into His kingdom. Miss Blair said no-one can overestimate the importance of interesting children in mission work, and mentioned two incidents which had given her much pleasure, one of a little boy of seven, who having saved all his pennies for missions gave her the contents of his money box (7s); another of a little girl, who with crochet hook and cotton was able to earn money with which she could help to send the Gospel to those in heathen lands. Miss Blair concluded by again asking for the earnest prayers of those present."
The "SS Karlsruhe" on which Jessie travelled Melbourne to Colombo departing 12 September 1899
SS Karlsruhe
She had accommodation for 44 first class passengers, 36 second class passengers (Jessie travelled in this class) and 1,955 third class passengers. Launched in August 1889 she was scrapped in 1908.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
So what did Jessie do in her year at Mahableshwar?
It is difficult to know, other than what Jessie has described for us in her letter (April 1900) but Isabel Cutts writes in White Already to Harvest:
"HOW NEW MISSIONARIES SPEND THEIR TIME
Experienced missionaries are emphatic in telling us that the first two years of a young missionary's life in the new land of his or her adoption, are years of much importance. This is found to be true in practical experience. The language of the country has to be tackled under new and sometimes difficult circumstances, the heat is trying, and in numerous other ways the young missionary in a new and heathen land, has much to learn, in these first years. It is with the idea of giving each new missionary a fair and square start, in the untried life that lies before them, that the management of the Poona and Indian Village Mission send their young women missionaries as they arrive from the home lands to the Receiving Home, which Home the readers of White Already to Harvest might like to know something about.
When one has all one's life been interested in Foreign Mission Work, and has loved and reverenced with the men and women who have served God in the past even unto death, it is wonderful for such an one, one day to realise at last she is in a heathen land, and that the opportunities and work which she has so longed and prayed for, are actually before her.
It is when our young missionary is brought face to face with men and women with whom she can hold no communication, and whose dark loveless lives she cannot touch, in the way she desires most; it is then that she understands that until she can speak to the people in their own tongue correctly and forcibly, she will be of little use. To be able to do this will mean months of patient plodding and hard work; and those in authority have deemed that nothing shall come between the student and the aquisition of this difficult language as quickly and perfectly as possible. The Home of which we have spoken is a large, cool bungalow with lofty roof, and spacious rooms. Into this bungalow the last party of ladies who arrived from Australia in October were at once taken, and after having a few days to settle and to arrange their private belongings, they were introduced to Marathi and to their teachers, or pundits. They have just taken in the situation, and knowing as they do, that only one thing is of more importance than being able to speak the language of this people, (among whom they have come to spend the rest of their lives) namely: the health of their won souls, and the abiding presence with them of the blessed Holy Spirit, they have believed that with God, all things are possible, and have gone on in simple dependence upon Him for help, nor has He failed them.
If one were to pass through the reception rooms of this Ladies Bungalow any morning, excepting Saturdays and Sundays, you would see in many corners of these rooms girls who have become children again, and have gone back to school: and as one passes on, one might hear strange sounds and if one were to go near enough, one might see strange characters on the page of the little book our student is so diligently studying with the help of her teacher. You would be struck with the air of quiet determination on those young faces. You would see no signs of the home-sickness one hears about in the homelands, as being endured by lonely young missionaries. Perhaps if your visit was immediately after the delivery of the home mail you might happen to see a tear-stained face once in a while; but this sort of thing is by no means the rule, though the home ties are just as sweet and tender as ever they were, and will remain so too, please God. Our sisters have put their hand to the plough, and they do not look back.
The girls study from between five and six hours per day; they have regular times for recreation, and each has some little household duty given them, each week; this helps to keep up the home-like feeling in the house. The awakening bell rings at 6 am but many lamps are lit before that hour. The dear girls have found that out that the "Morning Watch" is the bet time to meet God, to hear His voice, and to read His Word.
Mr Lowe gives a bible reading four mornings in "The Hall". Thursday's and Saturday's are reserved exclusively for prayer. The students have the great advantage of having the Scriptures opened up by Mr Lowe, and opened up in a wonderful way: the teaching is most helpful, and is much appreciated. After breakfast, we have Family Prayers and a short season of united prayer, immediately after tiffin, draws the household together in the bonds of holy love and intercession.
Monday evening is reserved for mending and darning and while the garments are being mended, and the stockings are being darned, some one reads aloud, from some interesting and instructive book. Very often Mr Strutton is the reader; and one Wednesday evening Mr Lowe came in to tea unexpectedly, and remained to the little sewing meeting. Instead of the reading Mr Lowe gave a talk about God's wonderful works in the Heavens, the Sun, the moon and the stars-the work of His hands. Not so much mending was done that evening: each one laying aside her work just to listen the more intently. Saturday at the Ladies Bungalow is a rest day, no Marathi, or other work being done by the students. In the afternoon of that day a little social gathering is held when each one can ask her friends to afternoon tea. One feature of this home life is that no gathering is ever held (of whatever nature it may be) that God's blessing and guidance is not asked. The party enjoys good health, and sometimes wonder when the are to meet the hardships they had heard about before leaving home. They live in the most simple way, both as regards food and clothing; and as the days and weeks pass by every one is happy and contented. The days are full of quiet work, and in a few months at most, those students will have gone away into the dark Bhor State, into one of the very strongholds of Satan's kingdom to be light bearers for the Master, to tell them of the redemption by the precious blood of Christ which as yet they know nothing of. May God speedily choose and send forth others who in their turn will be sent on the same errand and with the same blessed message."
White Already to Harvest, February 1 1900.
Clearly this is where Jessie spent her first few months at Poona. From here (most likely in April, as her letter describes the long journey) Jessie travelled to Mahableshwar, the "rest" station for missionaries in the north. We know that Jessie's first language examination was in September of 1900.
"HOW NEW MISSIONARIES SPEND THEIR TIME
Experienced missionaries are emphatic in telling us that the first two years of a young missionary's life in the new land of his or her adoption, are years of much importance. This is found to be true in practical experience. The language of the country has to be tackled under new and sometimes difficult circumstances, the heat is trying, and in numerous other ways the young missionary in a new and heathen land, has much to learn, in these first years. It is with the idea of giving each new missionary a fair and square start, in the untried life that lies before them, that the management of the Poona and Indian Village Mission send their young women missionaries as they arrive from the home lands to the Receiving Home, which Home the readers of White Already to Harvest might like to know something about.
When one has all one's life been interested in Foreign Mission Work, and has loved and reverenced with the men and women who have served God in the past even unto death, it is wonderful for such an one, one day to realise at last she is in a heathen land, and that the opportunities and work which she has so longed and prayed for, are actually before her.
It is when our young missionary is brought face to face with men and women with whom she can hold no communication, and whose dark loveless lives she cannot touch, in the way she desires most; it is then that she understands that until she can speak to the people in their own tongue correctly and forcibly, she will be of little use. To be able to do this will mean months of patient plodding and hard work; and those in authority have deemed that nothing shall come between the student and the aquisition of this difficult language as quickly and perfectly as possible. The Home of which we have spoken is a large, cool bungalow with lofty roof, and spacious rooms. Into this bungalow the last party of ladies who arrived from Australia in October were at once taken, and after having a few days to settle and to arrange their private belongings, they were introduced to Marathi and to their teachers, or pundits. They have just taken in the situation, and knowing as they do, that only one thing is of more importance than being able to speak the language of this people, (among whom they have come to spend the rest of their lives) namely: the health of their won souls, and the abiding presence with them of the blessed Holy Spirit, they have believed that with God, all things are possible, and have gone on in simple dependence upon Him for help, nor has He failed them.
If one were to pass through the reception rooms of this Ladies Bungalow any morning, excepting Saturdays and Sundays, you would see in many corners of these rooms girls who have become children again, and have gone back to school: and as one passes on, one might hear strange sounds and if one were to go near enough, one might see strange characters on the page of the little book our student is so diligently studying with the help of her teacher. You would be struck with the air of quiet determination on those young faces. You would see no signs of the home-sickness one hears about in the homelands, as being endured by lonely young missionaries. Perhaps if your visit was immediately after the delivery of the home mail you might happen to see a tear-stained face once in a while; but this sort of thing is by no means the rule, though the home ties are just as sweet and tender as ever they were, and will remain so too, please God. Our sisters have put their hand to the plough, and they do not look back.
The girls study from between five and six hours per day; they have regular times for recreation, and each has some little household duty given them, each week; this helps to keep up the home-like feeling in the house. The awakening bell rings at 6 am but many lamps are lit before that hour. The dear girls have found that out that the "Morning Watch" is the bet time to meet God, to hear His voice, and to read His Word.
Mr Lowe gives a bible reading four mornings in "The Hall". Thursday's and Saturday's are reserved exclusively for prayer. The students have the great advantage of having the Scriptures opened up by Mr Lowe, and opened up in a wonderful way: the teaching is most helpful, and is much appreciated. After breakfast, we have Family Prayers and a short season of united prayer, immediately after tiffin, draws the household together in the bonds of holy love and intercession.
Monday evening is reserved for mending and darning and while the garments are being mended, and the stockings are being darned, some one reads aloud, from some interesting and instructive book. Very often Mr Strutton is the reader; and one Wednesday evening Mr Lowe came in to tea unexpectedly, and remained to the little sewing meeting. Instead of the reading Mr Lowe gave a talk about God's wonderful works in the Heavens, the Sun, the moon and the stars-the work of His hands. Not so much mending was done that evening: each one laying aside her work just to listen the more intently. Saturday at the Ladies Bungalow is a rest day, no Marathi, or other work being done by the students. In the afternoon of that day a little social gathering is held when each one can ask her friends to afternoon tea. One feature of this home life is that no gathering is ever held (of whatever nature it may be) that God's blessing and guidance is not asked. The party enjoys good health, and sometimes wonder when the are to meet the hardships they had heard about before leaving home. They live in the most simple way, both as regards food and clothing; and as the days and weeks pass by every one is happy and contented. The days are full of quiet work, and in a few months at most, those students will have gone away into the dark Bhor State, into one of the very strongholds of Satan's kingdom to be light bearers for the Master, to tell them of the redemption by the precious blood of Christ which as yet they know nothing of. May God speedily choose and send forth others who in their turn will be sent on the same errand and with the same blessed message."
White Already to Harvest, February 1 1900.
Clearly this is where Jessie spent her first few months at Poona. From here (most likely in April, as her letter describes the long journey) Jessie travelled to Mahableshwar, the "rest" station for missionaries in the north. We know that Jessie's first language examination was in September of 1900.
Was Jessie more at risk of disease by virtue of living at the 'rest' station?
The newsletters of the PIVM record faithfully which missionaries went to Mahabeleshwar station for rest, many of them were suffering from ill health and went there to recuperate physcially as well as spiritually. It is possible that this increased the risk of workers at the station contracting disease as many of these missionaries were in the convalescent or prodromal (and hence infectious) stages of illness.
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