n walls, though
leaving the community is followed by pursuit and recommittal. There are
no punishments except deprivation of food-wages. Each member of the
community is paid in food, and in proportion to the extent of his labor.
If he will not work, neither can he eat. Opportunities for education are
given to all. There is even a church, made up of converted convicts. The
faithful among these Erukalas, as they are called, are made monitors and
helpers to their weaker fellows. Squads are sent out from five to twenty
miles, to build and repair the roads, with only an unarmed comrade for
overseer. Nothing is given but education and Christian influence.
Everything for the physical man is earned. In this way hundreds of
reformed criminals learn to gain their own living and to lead an honest
life. It was pathetic to receive the welcome of these humble men, and to
see their reverence and affection for their "big father," Mr. Bawden. We
heard them greet him as "our savior." To show their respect for Mr.
Bawden's former theological instructor, these poor men subscribed of
their scanty means and hired a large gasoline street lamp to illuminate
the evening service.

I have reserved to the last my account of our visit to Nellore. Nellore
is last, but not least, for this was our first permanent mission station
in South India. Work was indeed begun at Vizagapatam in 1836, but in
1837 it was moved to Madras, and in 1840 to Nellore, Madras being
reopened in 1878. Nellore is one hundred and seven miles north of
Madras, on the main line of railway, and sixteen miles from the
seacoast. In the Nellore field we have six churches, and a total of
nine hundred and twenty-six members. It is our Baptist schools that
most attract our attention. The Coles-Ackerman High School, in charge
of the Rev. L. C. Smith, has more than eight hundred pupils, and is a
great credit to our denomination. Bible classes and special preaching
services for students are conducted with enthusiasm by our young
missionaries, Smith and Manley, and they bring good results. There are
also in Nellore a high school for girls, a hospital for women, and a
nurses' training-school, all under the direction of our Woman's
Society. In these schools, Miss Tencate and Miss Carman are
representatives of Rochester.

The general work of the mission is presided over by the Rev. Charles
Rutherford, one of my former pupils and graduates. Mr. Rutherford is the
young and able successor of D