The Work in Burma by J. L. Shaw

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 29, 1912

The Work in Burma

By J. L. Shaw

J. L. SHAW

Dr. V. L. Mann, Brother and Sister C. E. Weaks, Mrs. E. E. Bruce, Mrs. Shaw, and the writer sailed from Calcutta for Rangoon, Dec. 15, 1911. On reaching Burma, we spent one day in Rangoon, and then proceeded up country with the object of visiting the Meiktila Industrial School, and also Mandalay, where work has been recently started.

Nearly four years had elapsed since we had visited Meiktila, and in the meantime an industrial school for Burmese boys had been started. Twenty-five acres of land was purchased, and a very creditable school building has been erected. Meiktila is one of the most healthful stations in Burma. The school land is situated about a mile from the center of the station, near a beautiful lake, toward which the school land gradually slopes. The soil seems quite fertile, and with abundance of water near at hand, we feel certain that fruit and vegetables in abundance can be raised. All the money obtained for buying the land and putting up the school building has been given by the people of Burma, who are interested in the enterprise. More money is in sight, and with five thousand rupees from the $300,000 Fund, it is hoped that a workshop may be built and equipped, a means of irrigating provided, and a house erected for Brother Thurber and his family. Fences are also required.

We saw some very promising-appearing boys at the school. Brother Thurber is sparing no effort nor pains to make the school a great success. He has some good teachers assisting him, and all we

saw gave evidence that every one is making favorable progress. We were very much interested in the furniture which is being made at the school. Under the direction of a Christian Chinaman, the boys are already making and caning chairs. They are made of teak, mission style, are nicely put together, and are a great credit to the school.

While there are many problems yet to be solved in building up the Meiktila school, a beginning has been made, good judgment has been shown in the work thus far, and with the Lord’s continued guidance we look to see an excellent school built up, and later young men going from it to the Master’s work in Burma.

We spent several days at Mandalay. It is a city of more than one hundred thousand inhabitants, the streets are well laid out, houses are sufficiently far apart so that the city is not congested like most Eastern cities. Brother and Sister R. A. Beckner, who are located there, have been engaged principally in studying the language, but have also sold some literature. Our tracts and pamphlets meet with ready sale. We hope to see Mandalay prove a very fruitful field of labor. Burma is a wonderful province of the Indian empire, and the Burmese and their good-natured independence always appeal to me.

We are now in the midst of the Burma general meeting. Concerning it and the work at Rangoon, I shall write at another time.