| Description | 28 Apr: Regrets pain given to Phipps by Corrie's "unruly tongue", but he has been careful not to disclose the donor of the gift; the amount of the donation had to be revealed as the withdrawal of government support from Christian institutions and its refusal to tax Hindus and Mohammedans for the support of Christian ministers had resulted in the withdrawal of the chaplain from Howrah, and his return, made possible by Phipps' gift, had to be explained; Corrie himself has suffered from hostility and misunderstanding at home and in India, especially as he does not feel as free in writing home as when Pratt was Secretary; agrees that accounts should be kept carefully, but the Secretaries should care more for the good of the work and not so much for the committee men; it is not possible to make every detail of a situation plain to those at home; e.g., Wilkinson and Bowley excel as itinerant evangelists and the interference from headquarters was considered unkind; Eteson is better at building up converts; the Rajah quarrelled with him because he wanted to re-assume the gift of old Jay Narain; "Mr. Dealtry who lately came among us was at first warm as any London committee man can be on the subject of returns and reports, but only last meeting with reference to these points he said "I see the missionaries will plan for themselves"; if told that they must not exceed their allowance missionaries might well sit at home "as the Propagation Society men do, but by supplying trifling extra charges there is no excuse for idleness, whilst the missionary is cheered with the idea that his labours are approved"; headquarters have suggested "concentrating"; if they mean that new stations are not to be opened this seems, in any case, impossible at present; if they mean stationing more than one missionary in one place, it will be necessary for them first to agree; Corrie will submit accounts on the new plan henceforth; last year £500 less than the allotted grant was drawn, and this year £1,500 less; is grateful for Goode's kindness to his children Laura and Nana; Hindus openly declare their renunciation of Hindusim, but are averse to Christianity, "the system pursued has left them without any religion or wish to have any. I trust our bishop has been sent for such a day as this" |