The Rev. Geo. Bowen, of Bombay, was perhaps one of the most self-denying of all the missionaries who lived in that land. He reduced the annual expenses of his living to $150.00. It was in this path of self-denial that he sought to find greatest usefulness as a missionary. Of this life he said at one time: “I have not been wholly disappointed, but I have not been successful enough to make me feel like advising any one else to follow my example. And yet I have not so completely failed as to make me regret the course which I have pursued. I have discovered that the gulf which separates the people of this country is not a social one at all; it is simply the great impassable gulf which separates between the religion of Christ and an unbelieving world.”
It may be laid down as a general principle of life in that land that the missionary should adopt that method of life which, while consistent with severe economy, shall best conduce to health and efficiency of service among the people.
And in this connection it should also be stated that there are many things which are perfectly natural and wise and desirable in the line of self help in America which should be unnecessary and unwise in such a land as India. It is a safe rule adopted by the best missionary workers in that land that a European should never do those things which can easily be done by natives in the matter of domestic service. It would be folly for a missionary man or woman to spend much time in household work and in similar duties when there are many people around whose special province that is, and who can do it for one-thirtieth his own wage, and who can thus release him for the more serious and higher duties of life.
Thus, in all these matters, one should consider fully the whole situation—the character of the climate, of the people, and the conditions of the best health and efficiency and greatest usefulness of the missionary worker.
The question as to the length of the missionary’s service is an important one. Shall he enter upon it for a definite term or shall he consider it his life work? In most missions and societies the missionary service is considered a life service. It is a service so peculiar in its training and in its direction; it tends in many ways so to lead a man away from the atmosphere of work and direction of activity found at home, that it is better for him, who undertakes it at all, to consecrate himself to it as the great mission of his life. It is also a fact that the longer he continues in it, the more ability and aptness he acquires for that special work.