It was impossible for a single missionary family to do all the work required. The first re-enforcement sent to this field was Miss Warner, who did enduring work in successfully superintending this school in its infancy. Afterward she moved to another part of India, having been married to Rev. D. O. Fox, with whom she continues in effective missionary service.
Methodist Girls’ School, Rangoon
After four years of service in Rangoon, Rev. S. P. Long came to aid Mr. Robinson, and took work among the seamen, and assisted Mr. Robinson in his increasing labors. The “Seamen’s Rest” became a resort for many officers and sailors, and in all its years no seafaring man ever received aught but good in this institution. No class of men so much need wholesome surroundings in a seaport. It will surprise American readers to know that many of the Sailors’ Homes and like institutions, maintained often at Government expense in these Asiatic ports, sell liquors to the sailors who seek shelter within their walls. Thus the sailors meet one of their worst enemies in the house of their professed friends. The Seamen’s Rest has sheltered and protected sailors through all these years. So well did it do its work that, even to this day, men who found Christ in the services maintained in the Rest and on board ships years ago, return to tell us of the glad experience of those days. So well is the work done that the Government for years past has given money to pay the rent, and, sometimes, additional aid. More hard work without adequate remuneration has been done by the superintendents and managers of this seamen’s institution during its nearly eighteen years of good service, than in any other institution I have ever known in any land. It has secured these workers almost always from the membership of the English Church. The mission to seamen should be regarded as a part of the Church’s activity. It is such work as this, in ways too numerous to record, that this congregation has fostered, that led Bishop Thoburn to write, some years ago, “The Rangoon congregation is the best working Church I have known in any land.”
In 1886, Mr. Robinson, after six years of most useful labor in Rangoon, transferred to India, and Mr. Long took charge of the Church in addition to his other duties. For nearly four years he met the requirements of his position in the strength of Christian manliness. One event of signal importance occurred during his incumbency. A courageous young woman came out from America and became his wife. She was a companion to her husband in all his arduous labors. But early in 1890, Mrs. Long’s health having broken down under conditions of living already developed, which prostrated the writer and his wife two years later, they were compelled to return to America, leaving the results of a memorable service in Burma. Mrs. Long’s health never being fully regained, they could not return to Burma. But it is a joy to all their friends to know that they have been signally successful in the pastorate at home.
The girls’ school prospered during this period also, under the care of Miss Julia E. Wisner, who succeeded to the principalship at the marriage of Miss Warner. She was aided by Miss Files, who came later, when it became evident that one woman could not endure the multiplied burdens of such a school. These ladies, as also Miss Warner, were sent to Burma by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, which has done so much to aid all the missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Charlotte O’Neal Institute, Rangoon
Early in the administration of Mr. Long it became evident that the school must be divided. A number of orphans and destitute children had been placed in our hands, and some of the patrons paying full fees objected to their children being placed on an equal basis with “orphans.” There arose out of this protest, and out of the further fact that the first building was much crowded, the necessity of securing a second building. This was done while only thirteen hundred dollars out of its entire cost came from America. The remainder of the five thousand dollars required was secured by subscription in Rangoon. This building was known as the “Orphanage,” under separate management from the school, except that all the children had the same class-room privileges. During 1899, Miss Fannie Scott was sent out to take charge of the Orphanage. She continued most devotedly at her post until failing health required her transfer to India, in September, 1891, where she has done faithful service since. Miss Perkins succeeded Miss Scott in charge of the Orphanage.
During the last year of Mr. Long’s service in Burma, he was joined by Mr. Warner, who came to be his assistant. On the departure of Mr. Long, Rev. R. C. Chancy was transferred to Burma, to be the head of the mission and pastor of the Church. But the year 1890 was to witness frequent changes in the small band of workers. Miss Wisner, owing to failing health, went on furlough with the Longs, while the management of the school fell to Miss Files. Mrs. Chancy was ill when they arrived in Rangoon, and the old parsonage was a most unfit place for a well person to live, much less a sick mother with the care of a family. But as it was the only residence in the mission, and the Missionary Society had not then, nor has it yet, been able to help us in acquiring houses for our missionaries, it could not be helped. Mr. Chancy pushed the mission work vigorously; but he was compelled to leave Burma for America for his wife’s health at the end of six months. Even then he was too late. He only reached the shores of California to see her slip away to the other world.