[Sidenote: A Great Festival.] “On the evening of November 5th we went by rail together to Majaweram, in order to celebrate Brother Meyner’s wedding. This fell just in the time of the great Bathing Festival to which as many as fifty to sixty thousand assemble. On the chief day we went to the bathing-place, and looked at the matter a little more closely. There was a tumultuous throng; hardly to be penetrated. We were the only white faces among all these dusky multitudes. The best place for viewing the whole affair appeared to be the flat roof of the idol temple. We climbed up to it by a ladder, without any opposition. From here we could overlook the human masses; they stood close packed together, some bathing, some chatting, etc. We saw also how they were carrying about different idols, which were adorned with gold, silver and precious stones. All were greeted by the crowd with uplifted hands and loud acclaims. In view of this our hearts might well sink, as we beheld heathenism yet subsisting in its full, unbroken might. If we did not know that God’s truth gains the victory, we should despair of the possibility that India will ever be converted. It is an almost impregnable citadel of Satan, and the individual mission stations are like oases in the waste, and the individual missionary is as a drop in the ocean. For instance, in each of such cities as Sidabarum, Cuddalore, Cumbaconam, etc., of forty or fifty thousand inhabitants, there is only a single missionary! What can a single man effect over against such masses? Even yet it is only a siege from without--we have not yet made our way into the interior of the fortress. Nevertheless we will not therefore despond, but with fresh courage attack the task in the name of the Lord--you at home with prayer and gifts, we in the land itself by preaching the Gospel to the poor, blinded people, and attracting such as are willing to let themselves be saved. We know that the Lord by little can accomplish much. But Thou, O Lord Jesus, accept our poor, weak will, our slender strength, take also the offer of our youth, and fashion us into men, and into instruments of Thy mercy! Do Thou Thyself fulfill Thy work in power and bring hither to Thy flock them that are scattered abroad in the world, so that Thou canst soon appear in Thy glory and conduct us out of the conflict and strife of time into Thy kingdom of peace! Amen.”