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THE PEOPLE
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CHRISTIANS AND OTHERS
Other denominations are not worth mentioning because their adherents are very few, the Jains being 5,571 (2,952 m; 2,619 f.); Christians being 1,176 (640 m. 536 f.) and Sikhs being 419 (270 m; 149 f.) The Christians in 1901 numbered only 209 and even of them 27 were Europeans and Eurasians. Now, however, even this small Christian population consists mostly of local converts. An account appearing in the old Yavatmal District Gazetteer is worth reproducing here as it throws sufficient light upon the activities of the Christian missions. "The American Methodist Free Church maintains missions at Yavatmal, Wun and Darwha, the last station having been recently opened. The missions are in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke and ten other Europeans. Orphanages for boys and girls are maintained at Yavatmal, each containing about 50 children. They are principally Mahars, but include other castes with two or three Brahman children. The boys are given ordinary elementary instruction including English in some cases and are given excellent technical teaching in carpentry, bicycle-repairing and gardening. The system of education was drawn up by Mr. Clarke from that of English, American and Indian Schools. With carpentry, free-hand drawing is taught and the boys go through a course of four years, continuing for two years longer to do miscellaneous practical work for customers of whom there are more than can be attended to. A native graduate of the Technical Institute of Ahmadnagar has been engaged as instructor. Some useful cheap machinery has been introduced by the School, in particular, a machine for handgrinding, which finds a fair sale. The Church attached to the mission consists partly of such senior orphans as are considered fit to belong to it and partly of converts from outside. A certain amount of opposition, sometimes taking a very mean form has been made by followers of the Svadesi movement, but [It is worthwhile inquiring into the present state of things in regard to these missionary workers.] there is little actual hostility apart from this. "
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