in a simple course of medicine, which would give the preachers and their wives great access to the people in the villages, with one or two dormitories more for the accommodation of the students. They remind us in their report of the serious and important character of their position and work and of the high indorsement which it has received when they say to us that:
“This is the first Methodist Theological School organized in Asia. It should be raised at once to the highest effectiveness. Our immediate work is educating a native ministry for a population of forty million and in a language that can reach one hundred million. There is a pressing demand for trained men in a rapidly expanding work. Now is the time for a shoulder to the wheel. The great deep in India is breaking up. The Church should move with wisdom and power at this supreme moment. Anti-Christianity is trying to preempt the field. It is a burning shame that infidels and scoffers from Europe and America are found here doing the work of their father, the devil, villifying Christianity and withstanding the missionaries. These are scattering infidel literature and trying to organize the natives against us. A native ministry under God must save India. If a trained ministry is needful anywhere, it is in a field like this. Our pressing work and rapidly growing Church demand it.
“What friends say of this institution: Bishop Foster, in his visit here, pronounced this “the most important missionary enterprise in India.” Bishop Ninde wrote: ‘I was strongly impressed while in India with the invaluable aid which this school affords to our work. The marked efficiency of our native ministry in North India is largely due to the vigorous and careful training so large a proportion of them have obtained here. The seminary should be liberally sustained and its facilities enlarged.’ Bishop Thoburn wrote: ‘Our Theological School at Bareilly has become more than ever a necessity to our work, especially throughout North India. It will continue to exert a blessed influence far and wide by educating men who will take the place of leaders.’ ”
