p. 11 | OUTLOOK IN BURMA

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 27, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 21.

OUTLOOK IN BURMA.

"WHEN I left Burma last March," says the Rev. David Gilmore, "the prospects for missionary work—at least for the work of the American Baptist—were generally regarded as brighter than ever before. The most significant feature is the changed attitude of the Burmans toward the Gospel. The Baptist mission has in the past been blest with great success in Burma; but this success has been principally among the Karens, a non-Buddhistic race. The work among the Burmans (who are Buddhists), while equally faithfully done, has, until recently, had comparatively meager results. But now all over Lower Burma it is noticed that the Burmans are much more ready to listen to the Gospel. The number of those desirous, or at least willing, to embrace Christianity is steadily increasing, and many more Burmans are being baptized now than was the case five years ago.

"Other important signs are the great increase of Bible reading among the Christian Karens, due to the introduction of a cheap and portable photo-engraved Bible; the extension of work among Telegus and Tamils by the Baptists, who for the past two years have had a missionary devoting his whole time to this work, and the organization of a conference by the American Methodist Episcopal mission in Lower Burma. The Methodists are evidently determined to take up work for the natives with the same energy they have shown in their Eurasian work in Rangoon."