Nettie M. Senger, Manchester College graduate [Class of 1915] and Church of the Brethren missionary to China, presented "Buddhist Bible, Vol. 4" to the Manchester College Museum.

A handwritten note, probably written by Nettie Senger is adhered to the cover.  It reads:

Buddhist Bible Vol 4.

This is one volume of the great Buddhist sacred classic kept only in the temples and read by the priest in the presence of the large Buddhist idol.  This is read in rhythm and a gong is struck as the musical accompanyment.

Given to Manchester College Museum in 1922 by Nettie M. Senger.

Liao Chow, Shousi, China

 

Nettie Mabelle Senger

 

The Reuel B. Pritchett Museum at Bridgewater College is caretaker for a number of items brought from China by Brethren pioneering missionary, Nettie Mabelle Senger.

 

Born in 1885, her girlhood spent in Panora, Iowa; Miss Senger applied in 1911 for a missionary appointment through the Church of the Brethren. She was working toward a Bachelor of Divinity from Bethany Biblical Seminary at that time. In her application for missionary work, Miss Senger wrote, “…I am willing to take the hard work.”

 

Miss Senger went on to complete her Bachelor of Divinity in 1923. She was active in the Chinese Mission Field from 1916-1939.

 

Miss Senger’s evangelical and missionary work in China focused on spreading the gospel as well as teaching skills of childrearing and sustainability to the women with whom she worked. Among her accomplishments in teaching and building better lives for Chinese women were starting a school for Chinese mothers, writing textbooks for her work with Chinese women and a self-sustainable wool industry program started in China in 1931.

During the 1930s, Miss Senger actively published on her evangelical, musical and homemaking work in China.

She was licensed to ministry in 1947.

 

Among her other accomplishments, Miss Senger co-authored an important genealogical work on the Sanger family. She was also active in the study of Chinese philosophy.

She died in 1969 in Allen, Indiana.

 

Biography of Senger written by Stephanie Gardner, Special Collections Librarian, Bridgewater College, Alexander Mack Library, 2013.

For additional research, Bridgewater College Special Collections hold a number of Nettie Senger's papers:

The Nettie M. Senger China Missions Papers, Circa 1916-1940s (four boxes)in Bridgewater College Special Collections include materials from Senger's scrapbook, "Pictures to and from China and in China and Furloughs," 1916-1939; Photographs from her "Red Scrapbook," Circa 1920s; Senger's 1939 passport; Senger's personal correspondence from the 1930s and 1940s, miscellaneous booklets, articles and certificates relating to Brethren missions in China; and Senger's books in English and Chinese from the 1900s-1940s.