Page 59 - Malaysia by John Russel Denyes
P. 59

without aid from the missionary   treasury,  de-
      riving their revenue from three sources—school
      fees, government grants, and special gifts.
        The objects of these schools are to educate the
      children of native Christians, to open the homes
      of the people to the missionaries, to remove the
                     prejudices of the people  against
      Their Aims.    Christianity, and to open the eyes
                     of the younger generation to the
      moral and spiritual possibilities to be found no-
      where but in the Gospel.  To this end chapel ser-
      vices are held daily.  The children are taught to
      sing Christian songs, and are instructed in the
      fundamental truths of religion.  Voluntary Bible
      classes are conducted, at which a good percentage
      of the students are in attendance.  Lessons are
      explained from the Christian viewpoint, and five
      days every week the pupils   are under  the  in-
      fluence of earnest Christian teachers.
        Connected with many of the day schools are
      boarding schools.  The   inmates  of  the  boys'
                         boarding schools are for the
      Boarding Schools,  most part sons   of  wealthy
                         parents, and  these pay  for
      their board.  The boarding schools for girls par-
      take more of the nature of orphanages, and de-
      pend upon scholarships from America.
        The seclusion of the Chinese girls in the home
      after they reach the age of twelve or   thirteen
                  years has compelled the missionaries
      Home        to organize what  are  called home
      Schools.    schools.  Bible women go from home
                  to home, stopping for an hour or so
      at each place, teaching the older girls and moth-
      ers to read and sing.  But this social distinction
      is rapidly disappearing.  The  girls' schools  are
      overcrowded.  Nearly a thousand girls   are  en-
      rolled in the two girls schools in Singapore.

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