THE ALMORA MISSION.
Stated mission work was commenced in Kumaon in 1850. Previous to that
time a few of its people had heard the Gospel from missionaries
travelling through it, or residing for a few months in it. In that year
the Rev. J. H. Budden, of the London Missionary Society, after labouring
for a time in Benares and Mirzapore, was obliged by the failure of
health to abandon all hope of continuing in the plains, and took up his
abode at Almora, the capital of the Province. The society declined to
enter on mission work in Kumaon; but Captain Ramsay, Senior Assistant to
the Commissioner, with other friends, came forward with most liberal
offers of support, and consent was given to Mr. Budden's entering into
an engagement to carry on the Mission as the agent of its local
supporters. For some time his entire salary and all expenses were met by
these friends. Afterwards a part of the salary was paid by the Society,
and for years the whole, but the friends who founded the Mission have on
to the present time supported it with princely munificence. At the head
of these is Sir Henry Ramsay, the Captain Ramsay of 1850, who has been
for many years the Commissioner of the Province, and who continues the
warm and liberal supporter of everything by which the spiritual as
well as the temporal good of the people may be promoted.
[Sidenote: WORK OF THE ALMORA MISSION.]
As the Mission at Almora was the first, so it continues to be the most
important in the Province. Organized and administered by Mr. Budden, and
heartily supported by friends on the spot, it has done a work which has
told powerfully and happily on the entire country. From the beginning
much attention has been paid to the education of the young. For a long
time the school of the Mission was the only one in the Province where a
superior education, at once native and European, was imparted; and
still, both in the number of its pupils and in the extent of its course
of study, it stands highest. From it have gone out for many years bands
of young men who now fill varied positions under Government, and it is
believed they are discharging their duties with greater intelligence and
a higher character than those they have succeeded. In remote parts of
the Province I have met persons who have spoken in strong terms of
gratitude of the benefit they had received from attending the Almora
Mission School. A few years ago a large, handsome structure was erected
for its accommodation at great expense, towards which the natives
contributed very liberally. In addition to this school-house, the
Mission has valuable property in mission-houses for native Christians,
an orphanage, and a book-room.
[Illustration: MISSION SCHOOL, ALMORA.]
[Sidenote: THE LEPER ASYLUM.]
In other departments excellent work has been done. Female education has
been zealously prosecuted under the direction of Mr. Budden's daughters.
For many years there has been an orphanage in which destitute children
have been brought up and educated. The authorities made over to the
Mission a Leper Asylum they had established, and for years it has been
under its exclusive charge. Much has been done for the inmates of this
asylum at the cost of personal labour, great anxiety, and a heavy
expenditure. Suitable buildings have been erected, the wants of the
lepers have been supplied, everything has been done which could be done
to mitigate their sufferings, and to secure order and cleanliness. The
efforts put forth to draw them to the Great Physician to secure their
spiritual cure have by the Divine blessing borne abundant fruit. When
the Rev. John Hewlett was in charge in 1864-65 there was a movement
towards Christianity, which resulted in the baptism of several. Since
that time the work has gone on. Christian worship has been regularly
maintained among them, and much labour has been bestowed on their
instruction. Many have been baptized, after giving all the evidence of
sincerity which could be expected, and at certain times the Lord's
Supper has been dispensed. Among the lepers there have been persons of
very debased character, but the conduct of most has been good, and, so
far as we can judge, a number have become the true followers of the
Saviour. If the Mission had done nothing more than sustain this Leper
Asylum, it would have done a most Christ-like work, deserving the warm
approbation and liberal support of Christ's people.
[Illustration: LEPER ASYLUM, ALMORA.]
From the commencement of the Mission a service has been conducted every
Sabbath in English for the benefit of our countrymen residing in Almora.
Services have been held in the native language for the native Christians
and natives generally.
In addition to the work of organizing and conducting the various
departments of the Mission, Mr. Budden has made large and valuable
contributions to native Christian literature.
I have seen much of the Almora Mission, and have had the privilege of
taking part in conducting its operations. Among other duties which I
endeavoured to discharge during two seasons was to go, along with my
wife, every Sabbath morning to conduct worship with the lepers, and to
instruct them. Mrs. Kennedy went besides once every week. There is no
work on which I look back with deeper interest than I do on this. We
first conducted a brief service of singing, prayer, and preaching. Mrs.
Kennedy then took the women and I took the men to see how much of the
sermon they understood, and to inculcate the great lessons of God's Word
in the way of question and answer. The work was at first very trying,
but gradually we became more than reconciled to it. Our heart was drawn
forth in deep pity to these poor people, and we left them deeply
thankful for the privilege we had of speaking to them of the Saviour,
and of telling them of His compassion for the suffering and the lost.
[Illustration]