representatives at Madras, for the support of the Missions and Schools in the peninsula, encouraging them, at the same time, to look for further support from home, to any reasonable extent.2 ries sta 3. One of the first steps of the Corresponding MissionaCommittee was, as we have seen, the removal of the tioned at Society's Missionaries, Schnarrè and Rhenius, from Madras. Tranquebar to Madras. Two Stations had been proposed for them-Madras and Travancore. Committee deliberated on the comparative claims of these stations for an immediate supply, and their unanimous choice fell on Madras.3 The favourable Governor. 4. The Missionaries were removed accordingly; Their and shortly after their arrival, Mr. Thompson waited reception upon the Governor, the Hon. Hugh Elliott, in order by the to obtain his permission for them to remain at the Presidency. His Excellency, with an expression of goodwill toward Missionaries, desired to see them, gave them a very kind reception, and, after a short conversation, and a slight survey of the Summary of the Designs and Proceedings of the Society, not only permitted them to settle in Madras; but assured (2) Church Missionary Society's Reports, 15th and 16th. Missionary Register, 1816, pp. 32-34. (3) This station was preferred for the following reasons:"Its high consideration, as head of the whole peninsula; the desire for Christian knowledge which appears to prevail therein; the frequent demands for the Scriptures in three or four languages; the consideration that the Rev. Dr. Rottler has there already a Malabar congregation, a secession from the Roman Catholics; the Chapel, in which he officiates by appointment of Government being open to the Missionaries; and a translated Liturgy of the Church of England just completed by him, for the use of his congregation. It is manifestly important to occupy Madras by Church Missionaries; to provide for the Tamul congregation, small as yet, but increasing, against the possible failure of their present venerable Minister, and thus keep open the Chapel for Tamul Divine Service. All this the Committee persuade themselves that they may accomplish by means of the Society's Missionaries. The Society will thus commence its career in the South, at the seat and under the eye of the Government." CHAP. Their in Black Town. them of his countenance, so long as they conducted themselves with prudence. The Governor was, in fact, predisposed in favour of Missionaries in general, from the good conduct of the Moravians in Antigua, where he had been Governor; and there were two or three other circumstances of less moment which inclined him to afford them his counte nance. 5. The next object was, to obtain for them a residence suitable residence. The Committee hired a good house in a very eligible part of Black Town, in the midst of a garden, with every convenience that they required, and sufficient space for the erection of Schools and any other buildings that might be wanted. In a word, these premises afforded every facility for the formation of a complete establishment, such as both the Society and their Corresponding Committee desired to form at the headquarters of their South-India Missions. Here the Missionaries were soon settled, when they began diligently to prepare for their future work. They had improved their time at Tranquebar in the study of Tamul, and the acquisition of such knowledge of the Natives and the country as they were likely to require. They also brought away several Tamul books, which were useful at the commencement of operations. Interview with an Idolater. 6. A few extracts from the Missionaries' Journal will serve to illustrate their situation, and their capabilities for the duties to which they were called. Mr. Thompson had remarked, "From the front of their house they have perpetually in view four or five ugly little mementos of the work for which they are come out, which will prove, I hope, an useful stimulus to increasing diligence in their studies and fervour in prayer."1 The following (') Missionary Register, 1816, p. 34. extract from the Missionaries' Journal will describe these things, and show how they endeavoured to turn the opportunities thus afforded them to good account: "Feb. 17, 1815-It has been, for some days," Mr. Rhenius states, "my wish to throw the net of the kingdom of God in the place nearest to us; I mean, to speak with those men who worship every morning their stony gods behind our house. This morning they were late enough there, and I embraced the opportunity. I had the following conversation with the idolater: Why do you do this?' pointing to the stones. Sir, that is our god.'-' But can this stony god hear you? Can he see you?' He laughed, and of course would not say yes.'Such worship,' I said, 'does not please the only True God. He is angry.' 'True, Sir: you are a good master, for another would have turned me out of this place by force.'-' Well,' said I, 'the reason that we do not turn you out by force is, not that we are indifferent about your worship, but that we wish to instruct you in the knowledge of God, who has made you and all things; and of the salvation which God has given to all men by Jesus Christ; so that, by these means, you may abandon that folly, and throw these stones into the tank. By such worship you will go to hell; your soul will be lost; your sins remain without forgiveness: seek, therefore, the salvation of your soul.' After a few days the man discontinued his attendance upon these idols, wearied, no doubt, with the Missionaries' admonitions, though he appeared to receive them in good part.2 Interview 7. "March 9-I visited the School in the adja- Inter (2) They subsequently give a similar account of their conversation with a Brahmin and others who came every Sunday to worship a kite on a tree in their garden, until they discontinued it for shame. manists. CHAP. Care in distributing the Scriptures. Commencement of Religious Service in Tamul. cent village, Raypooram, which will shortly be removed into our garden, and found them tolerably to my satisfaction. A Roman-Catholic Priest lives not far from the School: I therefore took the liberty of visiting him. I found two priests, one of whom had lately come hither. I acquainted them with the design of our coming, and was received in a friendly manner." Then, after some conversation on the necessity of giving the people the Scriptures to read, and the priests declining his offer of some copies of the Tamul Testament, they parted on friendly terms. 8. The Romanists in general were glad to receive a copy of the Testament; but the Missionaries soon found it necessary to be very careful to whom they gave them. The Natives of all castes would seldom decline the offer of a book; but unless disposed and able to read them, they have sometimes made a bad use of them, and thereby brought discredit upon those who, though with the best intention, have committed the Sacred Volume to their hands. The Missionaries therefore remarked "In order to prevent all possible abuse of this gift, according to Mr. Thompson's custom and advice I wrote in each copy, on the title-page, This is a gift of the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society,' with our names; and, on the last page, the name of the receiver, and the date. 9. In reading the next extract, it should be borne in mind that the Missionaries had now been little more than nine months in India. This will sufficiently speak for their diligence in the acquisition of the Tamul language. "April 12, 1815-We held, this evening, the first religious meeting in our house. Some of the RomanCatholic Christians had applied for Old Testaments, which, however, we could not give them, having but few copies; and there is not yet any prospect of its being reprinted. I proposed, therefore, to hold, every Wednesday evening, an Old-Testament Lecture, which they might attend, if they wished. About fifteen persons were assembled; but of the Roman Catholics, only one, a boy. I began with the first chapter of Genesis. May God graciously grant His blessing on this small beginning! visitors at House. 10. The visitors of all castes at the Mission House Increase of were becoming numerous, especially Romanists, the Miswho, when asked the reason of their desiring the son Tamul Testament, replied, "In our Church we hear Latin, which we do not understand: we wish to read and understand for ourselves." This anxiety on the part of the people began to alarm their priests; and the Missionaries remark, in their Journal April 21-"We were told to-day that a RomanCatholic Priest had, last Sunday, exhorted his congregation, from the pulpit, to take care; for there had wolves and tigers come among them, who will ensnare them-probably referring to us." 11. "May 1, 1815-We opened the Free School in our garden. About twenty 'Christian and twelve Heathen children made the beginning.' The new plan of education which we wish to introduce, both in Tamul and English, being strange alike to the children and the Schoolmaster, will require some time to bring them into the desired practice of it. Most of this day was, therefore, taken up with arranging the School." The Missionaries set out upon the plan of freely receiving children of all castes for instruction, hoping that they would thereby learn from their youth to become by habit indifferent to distinctions so repugnant to the principle of Christianity. They resolved, also, to let those scholars pay who could afford it, regulating the amount by their circumstances. The poor were admitted gratis. Every Wednesday one of them catechized the children in A Free School for all castes. |