Page 33 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (3)_Neat

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Aden

Kiev. CaKI. J. KAhM USSKN

(I received the enclosed interesting and encouraging account of t|lc
work of our sister mission at Aden, which I am forwarding ior
“Neglected Arabia.” The writer, the Rev. Carl J. Rasmussen, belong,
to the Danish Church Mission, studied at Cairo, and has been remark­
ably successful in his evangelistic work. This mission is in close co-
operation with the mission of the Free Church of Scotland, and 1 am
sure that the whole or part of his account of the work at Aden will
deeply interest the supporters of our own mission.—S. M. Zwemer.)

T HE people here are intelligent and very likable. 1 suppose they
are a bit influenced by the sunny and dreary-barren rocks which
surround our town on three sides. In some quarters they arc a
little fanatical but the majority are open-minded and ready to
discuss religious questions, even to receive new impulses and fresh
ideas.
In our mission school all seats are engaged and we could without
doubt get many more students if we had more ample accommodation
and a better equipped teaching staff. Our work is carried on in a rented
building where we can have about ninety students. It is conducted oq
the same principles as the Government’s educational work. Religion as
a subject is not included in the curriculum, but we have Bible reading
and prayers every day. It has been most inspiring to watch its effect
upon the students’ minds. Those who in the beginning looked angry
when we began the Bible lesson and often stopped their linger^ in their
eaib to prevent any new idea interfering with their train of thought
are now unwilling to leave the schools without prayers. The ones who
at first would not touch the Holy Bible will now read it and openly
ask questions regarding its sacred precepts. We have often the joy of
seeing old students who have finished their education and are away at
their work voluntarily come in for the Bible lesson.
Every Wednesday evening we turn our dining room into a meeting
hall where we gather the students and their friends. These meeting,
are conducted in English; we sing hymns and study the Bible. \yt
always translate the address into Arabic for the benefit of those who du
not understand the former language. As often as possible we get a
British officer or some other interested person to come and addre*
these young folks. At such times we have had large gatherings, some­
times more than sixty in number. Yesterday a young Moslem who
has been at work for some lime came and asked me for a hymn bouk
of the kind we had used at these meetings when he had been in regular
attendance. Three years ago we started a regular Arabic Sunday
morning service in the center of the town. It was with great fear dm
we made the beginning, not knowing how the Mohammedans would
like to have the Gospel preached in their midst every Sunday. How.
ever, after much prayer we made the venture and I must confess tha* 1
this work has given us far more joy and encouragement than 1 am all*
to tell. To begin with our audiences numbered seven only and then