Poughkeepsie, N.Y., March 7* 1867
My dear Mrs Hale
Your esteemed letter of the .4..   current came duly
to hand with enclosed Slip of "Womans Union Missionary Soc" meeting
th                                                                       A
held in N.Y. on the 10..   ultimo.   Previous engagements hinder?.
me
from reading it till last evening.    I think the remarks of the several
gentlemen who spoke on the occasion opportune & interesting, especially
those of the Rev..  Joseph Scudder the native missionary of India.   I was
not aware before reading the latter that the Literture of that country was
300 years older than the Christian era, nor the language of the "Hindoos'1
so elevated and refined but they greatly lack the "one thing needfull" to
make them a good, great, and strong nation, to-wit, a pure system of
Christian Theology.
There is however a sublimity in thier Paganism,- the worshiping
of a plurality of gods under the Kidea of Gold, in "Is not gold one thing
even if divided into integral parts,  "so is our God",.   The though reminds
me of a Stanzas of "Pope" in his Essay on Man.
all
"That, changd  throf and yet in all the same;
Great in the earth as in the etheral frame;
xsaaxin the sun, refreshes in the breese,
Glows in the stars & blossoms on the trees;
Lives through all life, extends through all extent,
.  Spreads undivided, operate unspent." &c
Can any though be more sublime & lofty to express omniscience, beni-
ficence &Love.----l     I think at no distant day our College may send out
in
Mar. 7,  1867         - 2
some missionaries to these heathen lands.   How would it do for "Vassar"?
I intend to propose it.--     I will hand yf article to our Lady Principal Miss
Lyman, she has quite a missionary Spirit,-   No Ladys Book recd yet.
Yrs &c M. Vassar
N.B.    Did I even send you a little poem essay by one of young Lady pupils
call.r. "Hill-top Idyl", delivered at the College on the "Founder3 Day"
celebration 29""1 April  '66, while looking up some paper in my folio found
one of them, and will send you it if you wish &c
M.V.
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