Chapter X
" MUKTI "—THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON
"The Lord thy God: He it is that doth go with thee."— Deut. xxxi. 6. THE
hand of the Lord has been remarkably seen
in raising up helpers for Ramabai in the great
work He has put into her hands. The hearty
way in which the older girls, even some of the Hindus,
threw themselves into the work of caring for the famine
girls, was delightful and inspiring. The conversion
and baptism of groups of the new girls from time to
time had a reflex influence for good upon the older ones.
Many who had been halting between two opinions came
out boldly for Christ, and a holy enthusiasm seemed to
pervade the whole establishment.
After the girls had been gathered at Khedgaon, and
all their material wants provided for, a vision opened
out to Ramabai of what such a settlement might mean to
the country around, from an evangelistic point of view.
Here, she thought, is a great missionary opportunity for
some fully qualified and consecrated Christian woman
to come and live among these girls, lead them to the
Saviour, and train them in the Word of God, so that
114 PANDITA RAMABAI
they shall be fitted to carry the Gospel to all the region
round about, where no missionary work has ever been
carried on. Ramabai spoke of the need and the oppor-
tunity to several whom she thought suitable, but none
responded. She and her immediate helpers made it a
matter of constant prayer ; and God Himself called the
one He had chosen for the post.
Miss Minnie F. Abrams came to India in 1887 as a
missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In Bombay she had varied experience, both of visiting the women and caring for children. In 1895 she relin-
quished the care of the girls' boarding school in Bom-
bay to devote herself to the work of village evangeliza-
tion. She became a deaconess of that Church, and was
duly set apart for this work. Miss Abrams aimed to
reach the women in those villages, where the Gospel
had already been preached to the men. With a tent,
and two or three Bible-women, she itinerated from place
to place in the villages around Poona, coming into the
city each year for the rainy season. She came into
Poona as usual at this period in 1897, and employed
herself in caring for a number of older famine widows,
some of whom were sent her by Ramabai. When the
end of the rains came in October, she was planning to
leave this work in other hands, and was making ar-
rangements for another camping season.
One morning at this time she awakened earlier than
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 115
usual, and as she lay with the duties of the day in her
mind, a voice seemed to say to her, " Go to Khedgaon."
The impression deepened on her mind, and she went.
Ramabai was absent, but Miss Abrams surveyed the
place, and saw the girls and women gathered there.
She returned to Poona in the evening wondering why
she had been sent there. She said as much to the Biblewoman who had accompanied her. The woman re-
plied : " Who knows ? Perhaps one of those tracts
you gave at the station had a message for some one ! "
The following morning, Sunday, Miss Abrams was
again awakened early. In telling the experience of this
hour, she said reverently that it was as if the Lord
Himself came and commissioned her to go to Khedgaon
and take up the office of spiritual teacher to that flock
of girls and women. The holy influence of that hour
followed her all day. The sermon at the morning meet-
ing was singularly appropriate, and confirmed to her
the commission she had received.
The next day she went to the Sharada Sadan, and
found that Ramabai had gone on her final visit to the
Central Provinces on rescue business. Miss Abrams
opened her heart to Soonderbai Powar, and as she told
of what she believed the Lord had called her to, the
tears ran down Soonderbai's cheeks and she said:
" This is what Ramabai and I have for months been
praying for." When Ramabai returned, her practical
ii6 PANDITA RAMABAI
question was, " When can you come ? " In a fortnight
all difficulties had been overcome—Miss Abrams was
established at Mukti, and commencing the work which
has grown so remarkably under her care.
I must mention here the case of Ramabai's clerk, or
chief steward. He was a Brahmin of good education,
a member of the sect of reformed Hindus known as
Brahmos. He had been in Ramabai's employ for
several years. At one time, when the tide of Brahmin
disfavour was setting strongly against Ramabai, this man acted against her interests in a way for which most
employers would have dismissed him. Ramabai, how-
ever, retained his services, though obliged to withdraw
her most confidential work from his hands. But, as the
years went on, Ramabai's faithful life and teaching led
him to see that there must be something in the religion
she professed. Then the Lord dealt with him. His
wife became an early victim of the plague at Poona. And when a large group of famine girls were baptized
in 1897, more than making up the number promised to
Ramabai at the Lanouli camp-meeting, Mr. Gadre came
out also as a believer in Christ, and was baptized with
his younger children.
Miss Abrams contributed a graphic account, to an
Indian paper, of some of the scenes that occurred in
connection with the early conversion of the girls in the
first weeks of her residence at Mukti. She spoke of a
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 117
great and general awakening that had taken place in
both the Poona and Mukti Homes. This revival pre-
vailed not only among those who had been rescued from
famine, but reached to a goodly number of the widows who were previously in the Sharada Sadan. It was an
outcome of special services held by Rev. W. W. Bruere —first, for ten days in the Poona Home, when one hun-
dred and sixteen women and child-widows were bap-
tized. He then went on to Khedgaon ; and what hap-
pened there we must give in Miss Abrams' own words
" The women had been prepared for these services by
constant daily religious teaching, ever since they entered
the Home. The older widows, and consequently those
most hardened in sin, are living at the farm in Khed-
gaon. But the Spirit of God is able to transform even
hardened sinners. He was present in great power
from the beginning of the service. At the close of three
days' services when Mr. Bruere was called away, sixty-
seven had been converted. The meetings were con-
tinued; Mr. Bruere returned; and as the crowning
event, November 15th, the baptismal service took place.
" It was a rare sight when seventeen bullock carts,
crowded with seven and eight women in each, started
out for the Bheema River, five and a half miles distant
from the farm. Songs of joy arose one after another,
as they slowly went along, methinks mingling with the
joy around the throne when sinners are converted.
ii8 PANDITA RAMABAI
" A tent was pitched on the bank of the river, which
served as a dressing room. A short service was held
by Rev. W. W. Bruere, after which the baptisms took
place. Pandita Ramabai's secretary, Krishnabai/ and
the writer, stood in the water and helped the candidates
to enter and return to the shore. One of the school-
mistresses on the shore called out the names of those to
be baptized. It was very interesting to hear each one
repeat with the minister, ' In the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.* The happy
faces and frequent expressions of praise showed that the
Spirit teaches His children alike the world over, for
these women had never come in contact with many
Christians, revivals, or baptismal services. One hun-
dred and eight women and girls, and one boy of twelve
years of age, were baptized.
" When Pandita was taking the names of those who
were asking for baptism, a little girl of six years tugged
away at my dress and said, * Bai, bai, mere nam likna
(Bai, bai, write my name).' This dear little child, who prays much and gives evidence that she really loves
Jesus, was carried out into the water. Mr. Bruere
took her into his arms and put her under the water.
Jesus took such in His arms and blessed them.
" I should like to tell of how the Spirit led many to
*One of the former converted widows who had been acting
as Bible-woman with Miss Abrams for some time previously.
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 119
confess their sins of stealing, lying, quarrelling, and
fighting; and many with tears confessed their idolatry. One woman arose to speak. She covered her eyes, and
began to pray in the Marathi language, but soon broke
forth in her own language (Hindustani) with the con-
fession of her sins, enumerating them one after another. Her whole frame was convulsed with weeping as she
pleaded the merits of Christ's sufferings on her behalf. Then she broke forth into loud praises to Jesus, for
salvation, the forgiveness of sin. It was a solemn yet
a joyous time.
" When Pandita was bringing widows from the Cent-
ral Provinces, a deaf and dumb woman insisted on
coming. Pandita refused to bring her. She came and
sat in the train. They made her understand that she
could not learn in school, hence could not be taken.
She told them by signs that she would grind, cook,
wash clothes, scrub, etc. She literally refused to leave
the train; and at the last minute Pandita laughed and
bought her a ticket. She has been true to her word and
works cheerfully.
" She always preserves a reverent attitude during
worship. When the women were asking Pandita for
baptism, she persisted in having her name written.
Pandita tried to put her aside, but again she was per-
sistent. One day she arose to testify. We all felt
God's presence as she stood in silent eloquence before
120 PANDITA RAMABAI
God. The girls said aloud, * Mookkie knows God as
well as we.' On two occasions she tried to speak and
made a low sound. She received baptism with the
others. While the services were going on, one day she
brought two children to the altar, closed their eyes, and
then closed her own in prayer. All who have con-
tributed toward this famine work will rejoice at this
bountiful harvest of souls.'*
Ramabai rejoiced so at these spiritual developments
that she said she could not wait for another camp-
meeting at Lanouli, she must have one of her own at
Khedgaon. Accordingly she issued invitations; and,
in response, a goodly number of missionaries and In-
dian Christians gathered in December, 1897, to praise
the Lord with her for all His goodness. Those who
attended it spoke of it as a most favoured time. It in-
cluded adedication service of the new settlement to
God, by the name of Mukti,^ i. e., salvation. The large
barn served for the meetings, and the visitors camped
out in grass huts. By this time arrangements had
been made for a permanent settlement, and ground
was laid out for a large building. Ramabai gratefully
dedicated the whole to the Lord, and called the place
** Mukti " in reference to Isaiah Ix. 18 : " Thou shalt
call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise."
The ten years for which the Ramabai circles in
^ Pronounced Mooktie.
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 121
America had pledged their help was to expire in March,
1898, and Ramabai's American friends had been urging
her to come over and help to devise some way for con-
serving the interest in the work and reconstructing the
Association, in view of its great recent developments.
Ramabai had hitherto seen no possibility of leaving
her post, but had gone on in faith, feeling that if the
Lord wanted her in America He would Himself open
the way. Now, Miss Abrams' capable help being pro-
vided; Mr. Cadre's conversion more than doubling his
usefulness to the institutions; with Soonderbai Powar
in full charge of the Sharada Sadan—Ramabai felt
clear to go.
My husband and I spent a day at Khedgaon early in
January, 1898. We happened on the very day Ramabai was leaving for her visit to America, a day of farewells.
It was affecting to see how genuine was the grief of
large numbers of these newly-rescued girls and women, when at the close of the afternoon meeting in the barn
they came up one at a time to receive a farewell em-
brace from the only real friend many of them had ever
known. It was a long day ; the train did not leave till
near midnight. About a hundred of the older girls
were permitted to remain when the others retired for
the night ; and with the teachers and a few visitors from
Poona, all sat out in the bright moonlight and pleasant
cool air of that January evening while Ramabai gave
122 PANDITA RAMABAI
her farewell counsels. Her progress to the station,
about a quarter of a mile distant, reminded me of noth-
ing so much as a swarm of ants carrying a cherished
trophy up the wall, a frequent scene in India. There
were girls in front of Ramabai, behind her and at each
side, all pressing to get as near as they could, till Rama-
bai seemed to be literally carried along in the midst of
the crowd. How gladly they would all have accom-
panied her to America!
It had long been a cherished plan in Ramabai's mind
to send some of her specially bright pupils of suitable
character to America for further education and train-
ing, with a view to their helping her more effectively
in the future of the Sharada Sadan, or of carrying on
similar work among the vast and needy masses in other
parts of India. From her own experiences she believed
that such training would be of immense benefit to them
in cultivating independence and individuality of char-
acter. Acting on this belief, she sent three girls to
America in 1897, and took two others with her on this
journey ; her own daughter, who had been in England
for eighteen months, joined her mother on the way, and
went on to America with her.
Manorama's education had already been generously
provided for. In one of her recent Reports, Ramabai
** When I was
tells how this came about. She says :
about to start from the United States to undertake the
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 123
work for Hindu widows, a Christian lady, quite unknown to me, came to see me in Philadelphia. She
was led by God to help me in some way. I did not know when I first met her what a faithful friend God
had raised up for me in her. After hearing a little of my story and what I needed, the lady before finishing
her call placed one hundred dollars in my hand and
promised to pay all expenses of my daughter's educa-
tion. This incident occurred nearly twelve years ago.
I am very glad to mention gratefully that this good
lady has kept her promise, and has been paying my
daughter's expenses for the last eleven years. God be
praised for such help, and for the helper! But for
this help I would not have been able to throw myself
heart and soul into this work. God has freed my mind
from one other care. I was seeking for a Christian
home for my daughter while she stays in America for
her education. God has given me another great friend
in Mrs. Emma S. Roberts, Principal of the A. M.
Chesbrough Seminary, North Chili, N. Y. She not
only cares for my daughter, but has undertaken to sup-
port and educate five young widows, former pupils of
the Sharada Sadan, who were sent to America for edu-
cation."
These girls are making good progress. Tungabai,
who had studied Sanskrit, Marathi, and 'English at
home, is reading Greek and Latin, and will take up the
124 PANDITA RAMABAI
sciences. Her thought is to estabHsh a school similar to
the Sadan in the southern part of India, and thus will the
influence of the Sharada Sadan continue to spread. These
girls, having tasted the bitterness of child-widowhood,
could tell many a sad story. Chumpabai, for example,
had been made to fast so long that one day hunger
overcame fear and prudence ; she attempted to help her-
self to a little of the porridge cooking over the fire : her
sister-in-law, discovering it, tried to pour the scalding
hot porridge down her throat. Yessoobai exclaims
again and again, " How can you be so kind to a poor
widow ? " Nermaddabai was a widow at five ; and,
when first an inmate of the Sadan, she would shrink and
crouch with fear before any one approaching her. Now she is friendly with all, and is making fine prog-
ress in her studies. Jewoobai, who scarcely under-
stood a word of English when she left India, now
speaks it quite well, writes a clear, bold hand, is quick
to see and to learn, desires to know how to do every-
thing, and promises to be an invaluable helper to Rama-
bai.
Ramabai received a warm welcome on her arrival in
America. At the Annual Meeting of the Ramabai As-
sociation the Executive Committee disbanded; but a
Committee was formed, including a number of the old
workers, with a desirable infusion of new friends. Mrs.
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 125
Judith Andrews, the President of the Executive Com-
mittee, continued in office with all her former zeal and
energy. Before disbanding, the former Committee put
it upon record that those who withdrew from the work
did so from no lack of confidence or interest in Ramabai,
nor from any lack of faith in the future. They tes-
tified to the harmonious way in which the work had
been carried on, and wished Ramabai a hearty God-
speed. The new Committee stood pledged to work
on the same lines, to support the Sharada Sadan as
before, with no time limit, and to encourage Rama-
bai in the God-given developments of the work at
Mukti.
Ramabai's address to the Annual Meeting was
throughout a happy inspiration. Here are a few ex-
tracts :
" You have heard the reports of the school which you
started in India nine years ago. . . . You see the first
scholar of that school standing before you; she has
learned a lesson there—it is to thank and praise God.
For this work has not been done by human strength
alone. The Eternal God is behind it, and at the foun-
dation of it ; and as there is no end to Him, there will be
no end to His work. . .
" In these nine years we have erected a monument
a monument to the saints. Let us call this All Saints'
126 PANDITA RAMABAI
Day ! It is that to me ; and I thank God for the saints He has given me for my friends. There are these dear
departed friends who are, no more in this world; but I
do not mourn for them as those who have no hope.
This Sharada Sadan which stands in Poona is a monu-
ment to honour their memory, and also to the honour
of those saints who live here in the Church militant
you, all of you, who are working for us everywhere in
this country, and many who are working for us all over
the world.
" Now, what shall be the future of the school ?
There is nothing to regret ; and you have a property of
sixty thousand dollars, and two schools with three hun-
dred and eighty girls in them. What shall we do with
these schools and this property ? The first thing I have
to tell you in this connection is that Ramabai is dead.
The person who went in your stead is dead and gone. What will you do with the property ? The first scholar
of the school suggests that a new Association be
formed. God gave me this morning a name for it, if
you will adopt it. That is, the Faith, Hope, and Love
Association for the Emancipation of the High-caste
Child-widows of India ; for nothing but faith and hope
and love will redeem India. Do not concentrate your
interest in one person, for that person will die and be
gone, as many have gone before; but this Association
THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT KHEDGAON 127
must not die. It must be perpetually alive; and how
will it live but through faith, hope, and love ? Let this
new Association be organized right here, to go on
working in the same old way.
" We want twenty thousand dollars a year. When
I came here first, I only asked for five thousand; and
you gave me six thousand a year. Now my hopes and
expectations are enlarged, and my ambition for my girls
and for the elevation of the women of India prompts me to ask for great things. I believe, if we had not
a single cent in hand, God would shower from heaven
the funds we want. Last year God sent thirty thous-
and dollars. He is as rich to-day ; and He will send us
twenty thousand dollars—not for one year, or two, or
ten, but so long as India and its needs exist.
" We are not to take thought for to-morrow. We are
only to do His work faithfully. * Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added unto you.'
" Yet tell me that you are very busy, and your in-
terests are divided; and some of you say that you are
very old and cannot work any longer. You have many
poor people to help, and many widows and deserted
wives, I suppose; but our needs are greater. Are you
too busy to pray for us? No, because you are mem-
bers of that royal priesthood whose privilege and right
128 PANDITA RAMABAI
it is to pray for us. Why can you not work for us?
Yes, you can work for us^ and you will. And what
about old age?
*' Just about the time I started from India I was get-
ting very tired, and wishing to rush out from the school
and give up the work. I thought I too was getting too
old, and could not stand it. But the Father told me to
go and read the Bible; and in Luke's Gospel I found
the story of a prophetess who is called Anna—Mrs.
Anna, the prophetess, let us call her—and the Bible says
she worked for eighty-four years^ and did not give up
her good work in the temple service all that time. And
God said to me, * If you live to be that age, you must
work till then.' And I bring that same message to
you, my dear friends ; and it is a glorious thing for you
to look for."
In disbanding, the former officers of the Ramabai As-
sociation transferred the property and all its interests
to Ramabai personally. She remained in America a
sufficient time to see the New Board legally constituted
and the property duly vested in the hands of responsible
trustees.