[Sidenote: The Children’s Missionary.] In 1872, when a farewell meeting
was held in Harrisburg for Dr. Uhl, there was in his audience _Adam D.
Rowe_, who determined then to devote himself to missionary work.
Conceiving the plan of collecting from the children of the Church the
means for his support, he sailed for India. Worn out by his active
labors, he died in 1882. Similarly there fell while at work, the _Rev.
John Nichols_ and the _Rev. Samuel Kinsinger_.
A missionary who has been spared for many years of service is _Dr. Anna
S. Kugler_, who went to India in 1883. Beginning in a humble way by
caring for a few afflicted women, Dr. Kugler has stimulated and directed
the founding of a large and finely equipped woman’s hospital. Capable,
enthusiastic and deeply consecrated, she has been rewarded for years of
unceasing labor by the realization of many of her hopes. The importance
of Christian medical work is illustrated by an experience of Dr. Kugler.
A neighboring rajah, various members of whose family had been cured in
the hospital, expressed his gratitude not only by a large gift, but also
by the making of a metrical translation of the Gospels into Telugu.
To-day the Guntur Mission has in its service thirty-nine missionaries
and twelve Anglo-Indian assistants. In addition it has eight hundred and
sixty-one native workers, who include Bible women, colporteurs and
catechists. It has a baptized native membership of about fifty thousand.
It possesses twenty-one church buildings and school buildings, one
hundred and ninety-six schoolhouses and prayer houses, two hospitals,
three dispensaries and two college and high school buildings. Its
college is the only Lutheran college in India. Its last biennium has
been extraordinarily blessed and unceasingly does it call like all other
missionary enterprises for more workers, larger sums of money, and more
fervent prayers.
[Sidenote: A Man of Practical Ability.] The record of the Mission of the
_General Council_ is a brave one. When Father Heyer returned to
Rajahmundry after his appeal to the Ministerium of Pennsylvania that the
station be not given over to the Church of England, he was followed in a
few months by the _Rev. F. J. Becker_, who had scarcely more than begun
his preparation for active service when he died. In a few months his
successor, the _Rev. H. C. Schmidt_, arrived, and subsequently the _Rev.
Iver K. Poulsen_. For a short time, until the final return of Father
Heyer to America, there were three missionaries on the field. Beside his
fine service as a preacher and teacher, Doctor Schmidt is especially
remembered for his wise care of the property of the mission. He is the
third of a trio of workers in the Rajahmundry mission who have stood in
the eyes of their Church above their fellow men, the others being Father
Heyer and Doctor Harpster. At the time of Doctor Schmidt’s retirement,
Doctor Harpster became the director of the mission. Of him we have given
above a brief account.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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