collected in England, mainly through the efforts of members of Miss
Whately's family and the honorary secretary of her English committee.
But the difficulty of securing sufficient funds to carry on her work
efficiently was always one of Mary Whately's chief burdens, and she was
often obliged to make up deficiencies herself. During her occasional
visits to England, which latterly occurred only once in two or three
years, she was largely occupied in addressing public and drawing-room
meetings on behalf of her work.

But to return. The new school buildings were opened in January 1872.
"All the friends and acquaintances who took any interest in education,
whether natives or Europeans, were invited to be present. The school
hall, a large and beautiful room, though very simple and without any
architectural ornaments, was adorned for the occasion with wreaths of
green leaves, berries, and flowers, such as an Egyptian winter offers in
abundance; and a table spread in an inner room with fruit and sweets to
regale the children, while coffee and sherbet were handed among the
visitors. Mr. Shakoor then spoke to the parents and friends of the
scholars, telling them how the building had been made for God's glory
and the good of the children in time and in eternity, and that with a
good secular education the knowledge of God's revealed Word in the Old
and New Testament was given to all of them." [1] Four months later
Mansoor Shakoor died, an irreparable loss to the mission, and four years
later his brother Yousif followed him.

[Footnote 1: _Life of Mansoor Shakoor,_ p. 98.]

From the opening of the new buildings the schools advanced rapidly. It
was soon found that the simple teaching of reading and writing to the
boys would not attract scholars, but to secure the advantage of
instruction in English and French, geography, history, and accounts,
many parents would send their boys, who were thus brought under
Christian influence. The extent to which this prevailed may be judged
from the testimony of the schoolmaster, that "of the boys brought up
under his tuition, not one had, so far as he could find, taken more than
one wife," which showed a great breaking away from the traditions of
Mohammedanism.[1]

[Footnote 1: _The Christian_, June 29, 1888.]

The girls received a simpler education, but with both boys and girls the
daily reading and explanation of the Scriptures in Arabic held a
prominent position, the Bible being the princip