CHAPTER XIIIThe Methodist Episcopal Mission, Burma

Methodismwas established in Rangoon in 1879. Unlike any other mission known to the writer, Methodism began its work in Burma, as in some other places in India, without any financial support or any community of Methodistic sentiment or tradition among the people to depend upon. It is true that there are a few persons in Rangoon who had known of the wonderful work done in Calcutta under Dr. Thoburn, and had repeatedly invited him to come to Rangoon to preach. William Taylor had sent out Mr. and Mrs. Carter from America to begin self-supporting work among the English-speaking people in Rangoon. At this juncture, Dr. Thoburn went over to Rangoon and laid the foundation of Methodism in that city. He always remembers, with cordial appreciation, the kindness of the Baptist missionaries in receiving him and giving him the use of their chapel in which to preach until the size of the congregation required a larger building. Then he went to the municipal hall where he arranged the first Methodist society within two weeks of his first service.

The beginnings were very encouraging. Of allthe English-speaking Churches which Methodism has organized in India, that at Rangoon was the largest in numbers and most diverse in its membership at the beginning. Some of these original members remained with us for nearly a score of years. Some of them proved their loyalty and faithful service through long years and under all changes.

The self-support of this Church has been somewhat remarkable. The Government gave the site for the church and parsonage, and the first year a plain, wooden church edifice was erected, and also a parsonage by its side. Mr. Carter was succeeded by Mr. Robinson as pastor. Under this pastorate all that had been done previously was conserved and new undertakings were begun. The church and parsonage buildings were paid for and the Church taught Methodist usages. Considering that very few of the members, if any, had any previous knowledge of the doctrines, this instruction was most necessary.

From the very first until the present, a period of twenty-one years, the Church has supported its pastor with a modest salary. If part of that time there has been a supplemental amount paid by the Missionary Society, this has always been more than offset by the real missionary work done by the pastorate. Much of the time the pastor has been presiding elder of the district, and always he has had more than his pastorate to care for.

Rev. Mr. Robinson, aided by his devoted wife, had four years of labor in care of the Church andthe affairs of the mission. During this busy period he began a girls’ school for the English-speaking children and also a mission to seamen. These two institutions were begun in a modest way as works of faith and without buildings or funds for running expenses. They were both launched to meet a great need. Here again the liberality of the congregation and the community of Rangoon friendly to an active evangelism was exemplified in the contributions to support both of these institutions. Here, as in the case of the church, the Government was generous in its aid of the school. It was at this time the Government was extending its newly-organized educational department and felt generous in its plans for schools already organized. A very desirable piece of land was given the mission to be used for our girls’ school. But a building was to be erected, and our people had no funds. At that time the thought of receiving mission money from America was not entertained by any. After giving the land, the Government gave over half the cost of the first school building, and the people of Rangoon and vicinity gave the remainder of the required funds. This has been the order almost throughout our experience as a mission. Support of all English branches of our work has been secured almost entirely in Burma.

It was impossible for a single missionary family to do all the work required. The first re-enforcement sent to this field was Miss Warner, who did enduring work in successfully superintending this school in its infancy. Afterward she movedto another part of India, having been married to Rev. D. O. Fox, with whom she continues in effective missionary service.

Methodist Girls’ School, Rangoon

After four years of service in Rangoon, Rev. S. P. Long came to aid Mr. Robinson, and took work among the seamen, and assisted Mr. Robinson in his increasing labors. The “Seamen’s Rest” became a resort for many officers and sailors, and in all its years no seafaring man ever received aught but good in this institution. No class of men so much need wholesome surroundings in a seaport. It will surprise American readers to know that many of the Sailors’ Homes and like institutions, maintained often at Government expense in these Asiatic ports, sell liquors to the sailors who seek shelter within their walls. Thus the sailors meet one of their worst enemies in the house of their professed friends. The Seamen’s Rest has sheltered and protected sailors through all these years. So well did it do its work that, even to this day, men who found Christ in the services maintained in the Rest and on board ships years ago, return to tell us of the glad experience of those days. So well is the work done that the Government for years past has given money to pay the rent, and, sometimes, additional aid. More hard work without adequate remuneration has been done by the superintendents and managers of this seamen’s institution during its nearly eighteen years of good service, than in any other institution I have ever known in any land. It has secured these workers almost always from themembership of the English Church. The mission to seamen should be regarded as a part of the Church’s activity. It is such work as this, in ways too numerous to record, that this congregation has fostered, that led Bishop Thoburn to write, some years ago, “The Rangoon congregation is the best working Church I have known in any land.”

In 1886, Mr. Robinson, after six years of most useful labor in Rangoon, transferred to India, and Mr. Long took charge of the Church in addition to his other duties. For nearly four years he met the requirements of his position in the strength of Christian manliness. One event of signal importance occurred during his incumbency. A courageous young woman came out from America and became his wife. She was a companion to her husband in all his arduous labors. But early in 1890, Mrs. Long’s health having broken down under conditions of living already developed, which prostrated the writer and his wife two years later, they were compelled to return to America, leaving the results of a memorable service in Burma. Mrs. Long’s health never being fully regained, they could not return to Burma. But it is a joy to all their friends to know that they have been signally successful in the pastorate at home.

The girls’ school prospered during this period also, under the care of Miss Julia E. Wisner, who succeeded to the principalship at the marriage of Miss Warner. She was aided by Miss Files, who came later, when it became evident that one womancould not endure the multiplied burdens of such a school. These ladies, as also Miss Warner, were sent to Burma by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, which has done so much to aid all the missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Charlotte O’Neal Institute, Rangoon

Early in the administration of Mr. Long it became evident that the school must be divided. A number of orphans and destitute children had been placed in our hands, and some of the patrons paying full fees objected to their children being placed on an equal basis with “orphans.” There arose out of this protest, and out of the further fact that the first building was much crowded, the necessity of securing a second building. This was done while only thirteen hundred dollars out of its entire cost came from America. The remainder of the five thousand dollars required was secured by subscription in Rangoon. This building was known as the “Orphanage,” under separate management from the school, except that all the children had the same class-room privileges. During 1899, Miss Fannie Scott was sent out to take charge of the Orphanage. She continued most devotedly at her post until failing health required her transfer to India, in September, 1891, where she has done faithful service since. Miss Perkins succeeded Miss Scott in charge of the Orphanage.

During the last year of Mr. Long’s service in Burma, he was joined by Mr. Warner, who came to be his assistant. On the departure of Mr. Long, Rev. R. C. Chancy was transferred to Burma, to be the head of the mission and pastor of theChurch. But the year 1890 was to witness frequent changes in the small band of workers. Miss Wisner, owing to failing health, went on furlough with the Longs, while the management of the school fell to Miss Files. Mrs. Chancy was ill when they arrived in Rangoon, and the old parsonage was a most unfit place for a well person to live, much less a sick mother with the care of a family. But as it was the only residence in the mission, and the Missionary Society had not then, nor has it yet, been able to help us in acquiring houses for our missionaries, it could not be helped. Mr. Chancy pushed the mission work vigorously; but he was compelled to leave Burma for America for his wife’s health at the end of six months. Even then he was too late. He only reached the shores of California to see her slip away to the other world.

Mr. Warner took charge of the work as best he could, though it would have been too much for a far more experienced man. He held the post until the arrival of the writer the last day of this year, as noted elsewhere. Mr. Warner’s short administration was embarrassed by the defection of a young woman to another mission, after she had been with us but a very few months, having been sent out to take up Burmese. Singular that he and his wife should follow in her footsteps soon after.

When our party of three landed in Burma, we constituted the largest number of re-enforcements received from home by our mission at any one time in its history. This fact shows that the mission has not been well sustained by the home Church.

The most important personal experiences of myself and family during the first two and a half years have been given elsewhere. I only wish to emphasize a few facts learned in that pastorate of six years. The Church was well attended during nearly all that time, and often crowded. The congregation was such a collection of humanity as I believe can be found in few other places in the world. But the very variety gave life to it, and inspiration to the preacher. Sailors and soldiers, wanderers from every land, English, Irish, Scotch, German, Scandinavian, Americans, were all in the audience at once with Burma’s own score of differentiated humanity. Once, of nine penitents in one meeting, six different nationalities were represented. As I look back now, two classes have impressed me more than any others of my auditors. The one class was the faithful ones of diverse racial descent who were regular in their attendance, and could be depended on for any and every service the Church requires. They do not realize how valuable just this kind of service is. In any land it takes first place in worthy Christian fidelity. It is far above social prestige, money, or even bright talent. But in Burma, when in the nature of the case there is so much instability among many, this fidelity becomes the very pillar of the Church. Our Rangoon Church has some such as worthy and as faithful men and women as any missionary pastor they have ever had.

The other class that impressed me was the Scotchmen, who have sat in that congregation duringthose years. I had not personally had much acquaintance with the sons of this distinguished branch of our race before going to Burma. Some of the wisest counsels I have ever received were from Scotchmen in Rangoon. Warm friendships that I cherish highly grew out of this acquaintance. On land and sea I have some scores of Scotch friends, made while in the pastorate of Rangoon. All these Scotchmen could listen to a sermon and not grow weary, if there was anything in it to rebuke, instruct, or inspire. The Scotch are great “sermon tasters.” To have had their sterling men in the congregation, in our home, to have traveled with them oft by sea, and to have counseled with not a few about the riches of “the kingdom,” makes very precious memories of six busy years.

For nearly four years of the six that I served that Church, I had the joy of witnessing frequent conversions at the regular services. These Sunday evening congregations especially furnished our chief opportunity to arrest attention and lead men to God. Often weary and poorly prepared by stress of work during the week, yet to preach to a crowded house of attentive hearers, and knowing that some of those present in every such congregation had opportunity to enter a church but seldom, and some who could attend such services avoided God’s house except on occasions, lifted the preacher to efforts beyond what he would ordinarily be capable of giving. This Church had among other good qualities the desire and expectationof seeing sinners converted, and rejoiced when God gave new-born souls to their care.

Two more facts of importance in the acquisition of property which occurred during my residence in Rangoon may be noted. The one is mentioned elsewhere as the purchase of residence property in the cantonments, where we purposed also to remove our boarding department of the Girls’ School. The other was the enlargement and connection of the school and orphanage buildings in the center of the town.

Miss Wisner had returned from furlough and the school was prospering under her care, as was the Orphanage under Miss Perkins. Both buildings were too crowded for comfort, and provision for more room was urgent. Just at this time a man left two children on our hands, and advanced payment on them. On application to the Educational Department, we secured from the Government an equal amount, and constructed an addition connecting these two buildings. This completed a general architectural design, and gave us a good commodious row of buildings that furnished us excellent accommodations for our large day-school.

It will be seen that in all these Rangoon enterprises we are much indebted to the Government and the Rangoon public for funds to plant the Church, school, and Orphanage. The Government and the community are in turn much indebted to us for founding these same institutions and maintaining them. But all this work was done withonly thirteen hundred dollars from America. The knowledge of these facts has been slowly understood in America. It has in some cases had exactly the opposite effect from what it should have had. Since we have been able to accomplish so much without much aid from America, it has been taken for granted that we needed no mission money. The result has been that for twenty-one years we have received less money, in proportion to the work done or the importance of the mission, than perhaps any other field of any Church. It ought to be that most help should go to those who do most for themselves; but the fact that we have done much to help ourselves has until recently had exactly the opposite effect on the people at home.

During my pastorate in Rangoon I had many evidences of the advantageous location of our church. It is centrally placed and open to every good cause, and so became a gathering place for the common religious interests of Rangoon. This was markedly true of the temperance gatherings for a term of years. One gathering of this sort was especially memorable. The Hon. Mr. Caine, the great English temperance advocate, visited Burma, and he addressed a public meeting in the interests of temperance. This meeting was held in the Methodist church, which was crowded, though it began at a late hour. Only one other English church in Rangoon would have been open to a meeting like this. The Church is Methodistic to the fullest degree, but forms a common rallying ground for the united Church interests.

At the end of 1896 I was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. C. T. Erickson, who had, with his wife, just arrived from America for this pastorate. The general work of superintending the district, together with the pastorate, always was too much for one man, and yet I had been laden with that double task for six years. Mr. Erickson’s coming was in answer to my often repeated request, and gave me corresponding relief. He took up the pastorate, and I had the opportunity to give attention to district interests. The people were as much relieved as myself, as they wanted a pastor who could give his whole time to them. But in a few months all our plans were disconcerted again by the return to America of Mr. and Mrs. Erickson, on account of the latter’s health. Just at that time we had some prospects of getting other recruits to our mission from America, so Mr. Schilling was called in from the Burmese work to supply the English Church for a few months, until Mr. and Mrs. Hill, our expected re-enforcements, arrived.

Once more we were in a difficulty about the principalship of the school. Miss Wisner, who had been in failing health for some time, was arranging to go home on a much-needed furlough, and Miss Keeler, who had been teaching in the school for four or five years since her arrival from America, being needed in her department as teacher, we were in great perplexity to secure a principal for the school. Conference was in session about this time at Calcutta, and after much deliberation it was decided to do a very unusual thing. Mr. andMrs. Hill were nearing the shores of India. Mrs. Hill was appointed principal of the school. She had never been in India before, and hence could have had no experience in our school affairs, or Indian life. But Mr. Hill had been brought up in India, and had had an intimate acquaintance with schools, and he could advise her in school management. Mr. Hill took the pastorate of the English Church, and Mrs. Hill conducted the school for nearly a year very satisfactorily. The pastorate of Mr. Hill was also successful from the first, and has continued until the present.

Toward the end of 1888 the mission was re-enforced by Miss Turrell, who came out from England to take the principalship of the school. She is an experienced educator, and enjoys the distinction of being the first missionary among us who has gone forth at her own charges, donating her own passage money and services. In the great generosity on her part she deserves the cordial thanks of our entire mission, and especially the good women at home whose work she had done until the present time in the place of one of their own missionaries. Early in 1899, Miss Files returned from her furlough with Miss Charlotte Illingworth, one of our own Rangoon girls, who came back from college in America to take up work as a missionary in the land and school of her early training. Miss Keeler retired from missionary work and, after a visit to America, returned and was married, and lives in Rangoon. After one year’s service in the school, Miss Files was transferredto India, and is teaching in the Wellesley Girls’ School at Naini Tal.

This somewhat detailed record of the labors of our missionaries in Rangoon and the institutions they have built up has been given, because a connected setting forth of this work has never been made. A new mission as ours is often small, and the importance of the several missionaries and their earlier work is not always appreciated until years afterward, when perhaps the exact date can not be recalled. It is the writer’s purpose to make mention of all the missionaries married and single, who have been sent to Burma under the Missionary Societies of the Methodist Church during the first twenty-one years of our work there. To do this it has been most convenient to give at the same time the planting and growth of our English work in Rangoon, with which, either in Church, school, or Orphanage, all but a very few of our missionaries have begun their labors. Those few exceptions will have mention in the two following chapters.

The fact that Methodism in Burma was founded on self-supporting English work, and so continued for the most part still, has the advantage of that self-support long before the Missionary Society could have done anything in the country, and of holding the position for later developments, and also in securing properties from the Government for church and schools at a time when such grants could be obtained. In all these respects, as well as in initial evangelism among English-speaking peoples,our mission has done nobly, and has been cordially approved by all its friends. I am free to say that our people, as a whole, could not have done more under the conditions under which they have worked. More than that, if we could not have entered the field as we did and worked as we have, there would have been no representatives of American Methodism in Burma to this day. Hundreds of people who have been converted, and thousands who have been uplifted by our preaching and teaching, would have been the poorer by so much as our Church and school have brought them. Many poor and destitute whom we have clad and fed and taught would have missed the protection and shelter we gave them. Many strangers who have found friends in times of temptation in a strange and wicked city, would have missed such friends. Earth and heaven are richer for this score of years of faithful work of our little mission.

But this plan of founding a mission has its serious disadvantages, which are now being realized. The foreign missions must have the Christless peoples leaning on false faith as their great objective. To reach this goal quickly and work it permanently, it is of vital importance to master the language of the people among whom you work. Happy is the missionary who has been able to devote his greatest efforts to this end during the first year of his life in his chosen field. He should lay a foundation in this period on which a mastery of the language is easily possible. To do this hemust be freed from other labors and all great responsibilities for the welfare of the mission. This opportunity has been lost to all our missionaries who have been plunged into the English first. The responsibilities in every post are extremely exacting. The climate exacts its tribute of strength, and when the large measure of exhausting labor in the school or varied pastoral duties has been met, there is neither time nor strength to apply on a language. So it comes to pass that every such missionary finds himself at a loss as the years move around, and he finds he can not preach to the people in their own tongue. The time has come when we must give the new missionaries a chance at the language as their first and most important undertaking.

Back to Index Next