Burma by H. H. VOTAW

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1905

Burma

By H. H. VOTAW

INSEIN.—Since coming to Burma, we have met some hard conditions; but, on the whole, the work has been most encouraging. Insein is a quiet suburb, away from noise and dirt. We could sleep but half as soundly as we needed to sleep in Rangoon, because of the distracting sounds caused by natives singing in their mournful, minor key, all night long. Their songs are always pitched about two octaves higher than the natural voice will reach, necessitating a change to a falsetto; and the full opening of the “tremulo,” added to this, gives a hideous combination of sounds. It can not be imagined; it must be heard to be understood; yet nothing has given me more desire to help these poor souls. With no more real hope than they possess, how could their music be different? I long to tell the love of Jesus with such power that they will be able to join speedily in the glad songs of Zion.

Brother Myers had always held meeting in the house in which he lived, and when we left that house, we were without a place to hold services. Rents are so high in Rangoon as to be almost prohibitive. After about a month, we secured a hall formerly occupied by the English Baptists. The providential manner by which we came into possession of this place removed all doubt in regard to what we should do.

Brother Hansen and I called upon the landlord, a very prominent barrister, left our card, but received no encouragement. He said that the Baptists had not given notice of vacating yet. Immediately after we left, government officials came to secure the place for a branch post-office. The manager of the Y. M. C. A. and four others also applied. But, notwithstanding the fact that the gentleman had lost our card, and knew no way of locating us, he reserved the room for us. He has very kindly deducted five rupees a month from the rent.

Since coming into the new hall, we have had a marked increase in Burmese attendance, as well as an encouraging gain in English. Brother Maung Maung occupies half the place as a residence, and I believe this makes the natives feel more at home with us.

Recently Brother Maung Maung was suffering most severely with an ulcerated tooth. He was in bed, and had hot applications to the jaw, but was suffering intensely. During the day some Burmese inquirers came, and the chance to talk present truth appealed so strongly to him, that, regardless of pain, he dressed, and began to teach them. God answered his love by healing the tooth himself, as soon as he began to talk. He has not been afflicted since. He has translated a number of tracts, and printed them. A large portion of the money used for printing has been raised among native friends. Brother Maung Maung is anxious to make the work self-supporting. He seeks to avoid taking anything from the mission funds for printing.

We find a liberal spirit among the people here. Although the rent upon our church is about twenty dollars a month, we have been enabled to raise a large part of it by subscription, and we believe that it will all be met in a short time.

Mrs. Votaw is teaching one of our servants English. He has gone through the primer, and is just ready for the second book. He attends her native Sabbath-school, and has quit painting his forehead, since she told him God was not thus honored. This man is decidedly a superior native. He is clean and neat in appearance. He has learned to pray, and says that as soon as he can read the Bible, he wishes to go and tell his people about the true God. He shows most encouraging evidences of a real work going on in his heart.

H. H. VOTAW.