It has been about four years since the work was first started at Karmatar. Shortly before the death of Elder D. A. Robinson the property which the mission now occupies was leased for the purpose of having a home for the orphans, and for the workers who should labor among the native people in the surrounding villages. Elder Brown successfully started the medical work. Even now the mission is known in the surrounding villages as the Doctor’s Bungalow. When Brethren Robinson and Brown died, the work was considerably frustrated, and plans for medical and other work among the native people were given up, as there was no one to go forward with them. Since their death the place has been used as a home for the orphan children, and about two years ago a European school was opened here. This school has been in successful operation, and good has resulted from the faithful work of those in charge. With the beginning of the present year it was thought best to move the school to Calcutta, that more might have the opportunity of attending. A very pleasant, commodious schoolroom was found, and the school, which is now in operation, opened in its new quarters with a better attendance and support.
THE KARMATAR SCHOOL
Moving the European school to Calcutta left the property at Karmatar again wholly for native work. It was a question in the minds of some whether the property should be retained, as the rent was quite an expense. It seemed for a time that the place would have to be given up, but the Lord heard the prayers of those who asked for aid, and funds were raised to pay the rent on the property for five years. Two of the workers contributed their salary for one year toward paying the rent, and another sister who is a self-supporting missionary pledged the remaining sum necessary to pay the rent for five years. Arrangements have been made with the landlord to lease the property for that length of time, and he has granted an option of renewing the lease for another five years, when the present lease expires. I might also add that the landlord, desiring that we should continue work in this place, made a reasonable reduction in the rent.
All things considered, the workers have all felt that the Lord had a work for us to do here, and now by his strength they wish to make it a center of light among the benighted people of India. The property consists of a large, well-built building with ten rooms, bathrooms, and three spacious verandas. There are several other buildings on the place, which can also be used to advantage in the work. The grounds, including rice land, consist of about twenty-five acres. There are a large number of fruit-trees,—mangoes, guavas, custard apples, limes, pomegranates, and bananas,—besides a variety of beautiful shade trees, which are much to be desired in this hot climate—nine hundred and seventy-three trees in all. These, with the peaceful surroundings, make the place very pleasant.
For some time we have felt the need of a training-school for native workers, and plans are now in operation to make Karmatar a training-center for this purpose. Our hope of reaching the many people of India lies in training the native people themselves, so they can bear the glad tidings of salvation to their own people. We have been much hampered in this field by the lack of workers from America who were able to speak the language and teach the people, and by the limited training which our native workers have had. If we can get men and women to come to this field and learn the language who are qualified to train new converts, there is no reason why, with the blessing of God, a mighty movement can not be inaugurated among the people of India. The time has come to lay broader plans for the extension of our work among the native people of this land. Most of the efforts of our workers in India have been for the English-speaking people, and very little has been done for the natives.
There are a number of young people who would like to attend our training-school and get a fitting for the Lord’s work, but they have no money to pay their way. The people of this country are very poor, and most of them are able to pay but little if anything toward the education of their children. It costs six rupees, or approximately two dollars, a month for board and tuition of each pupil in the Karmatar Training-school. This is a small sum, and there may be those who would like to support a pupil in this school. There may be some in the homeland unable to go to a foreign land themselves who would like to help the cause in India by supporting or helping to support a young man or woman while getting an education in our training-school. There may be Young People’s Societies who would like to help some young people in this country while getting a preparation for work among the needy and benighted people of this land. If so, we know of no better way. To train young people of this land to carry the message to their own people is the wisest work we can do. Those who would like to know more about the training-school may correspond with Sister Georgia Burgess. Any donations sent to the Mission Board will be gladly forwarded by them to this field.
