Page:Life in India or Madras, the Neilgherries, and Calcutta.djvu/380

328 sion to the new religion. Strange to say, they have embraced Christianity in good faith, and are to this day steadfast in the new way, and a permanently Christian village.

The Christians of Tinnevelly have at times been persecuted by the zemindars, or landowners, and by their heathen neighbours; but their general prosperity attracts the notice of the latter, and their good conduct in general satisfies the former. They have, in a most interesting manner, and of their own accord, established among themselves a number of benevolent societies. One, called the “Pilgrim Society," is for the purpose of sending men to preach among the heathen villages. Another, called the “Church-Building Fund," was commenced at the suggestion of a catechist who had belonged to the robber-caste, on the plan of each member of the society giving the proceeds of his best day's labour in the year, with as much more as he pleases, for building places of worship. The first church built by this society was opened for public worship in the year 1842, and is a pleasing evidence of the power of the gospel in a district lately so dark, so poor, and so debased. They have also tract and book societies, widows' funds, and a society