Part II, Chapter VI — Important Events (1878-79)
The conversion of the old mission house, erected by Valett in 1845, i^to a church, was an important event in the history of the Rajahmundry Mission. The new building by its very appearance of churchliness, without and within, testified that the Christian religion was beginning to make itself felt as a definite and permanent force in the fife of the native converts. It was built of bricks with a shingle roof, both being made by native Christians under the direction of Schmidt. The ground plan is cruciform, the length of the building, including the tower at the east end, being 70 feet, the width 20 feet. Two schoolrooms were attached at the ends of the main building on the north side. A resident English lawyer donated the pulpit. The baptismal font was purchased with money sent from Denmark by friends of Mrs. Schmidt. The first communion vessels used in the church had an interesting history. One of the cups was the gift of Schmidt's father who gave it to Groenning, when he first went to India. A second cup of the same size and pattern had been presented by Groenning to Poulsen. A third cup had been used by the Wandsbecker Bote, Claudius, and had been presented to Schmidt by friends in Luebeck, when he passed through that place on his way to India. The paten was the gift of friends in Denmark. It was the original intention of the missionaries and of the Com- mittee in America to build the church as a memorial to Dr. C. F. Heyer, using the sum of money he had bequeathed to the Mission for its erection; but Heyer's estate was not settled until 1879, and then only $290 of the $1000 bequeathed was secured. The church was finished in the fall of 1878 and consecrated on Christmas day, that year, receiving the name of St. Paul's Church.
Early in 1878 the first lace was sent from Rajahmundry to Philadelphia. It was made by the older girls of Mrs. Schmidt's
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, RAJAHMUNDRY
THE MISSION CHAPEL AT \ELPUR
Siniihir chajiels have been l)uilt in a mmiljet" of other villages, but, as a rule, the native congregations meet in nnul-walled, thatch-roofed prayer houses.
IMPORTANT EVENTS ( 1 878-79) 185 sewing class. "My sewing class meets every day from 12 to 2 o'clock," wrote Mrs. Schmidt. "Boys as well as girls come. It takes time and patience to teach them, bat those who are diligent soon learn to do good work. We furnish all the material, such as needles, thimbles and thread. The older girls crochet and do tracing. I was glad to be able to buy the lace made by the women during the time of famine, especially because the suggestion of earning something in this way came from them. Now I have more lace than I can dispose of here, and am going to send some to America, where it may find a sale.^
Poulsen undertook a short tour in July, 1878, in the "Dove of Peace." He took his wife and children^ and his catechist, Joseph, with him. At Jegurupad he baptized a woman on her death-bed, who had left her husband when, several years before, he had become a Christian. At the same time he baptized two of their children. At Muramunda he baptized three young women, daughters of heathen parents, one of whom was a widow, and another the wife of a Christian absent in Rangoon. On September 23, 1878, a daughter was born to Rev. and Mrs. Schmidt, who at her baptism received the name of Dagmar Inger Dorothea. Two days after her baptism, on October 8th, Poulsen with his family left for Vellore and Madras on sick leave, and was absent from Rajahmundry over two months.
In March, 1878, a communication from the missionaries was read to the Foreign Missions Committee, asking for per- mission to ordain the catechists Joseph and Paulus to the office of the holy ministry. The Committee granted the re- quest at its meeting in May, and the Synod of Pennsylvania at Easton, Pa., June 18, 1878, authorized their ordination.^
1 The June number of the "Missionsbote," 1878, contained a notice offering this lace for sale. It sold readily at 8 and 10 cents a yard.
2 September 2, 1875, a son had been bom to Rev. and Mrs. Poulsen, who at his baptism received the name of Aage Iver. 3 At a conference with the catechists on December ist, Schmidt oflScially informed them of the authorization received from America and had them sign the following agreement: "i. The end in view in every Mission must be the establishment of independent native churches with native pastors.
"2. In the event of the ordination of Joseph and Paulus, the General Council
1 86 THE TELUGU MISSION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL
After a serious illness of three weeks Schmidt was again well enough on Christmas, 1878, to take part in the services of that season, which included not only the usual celebration of the festival but more especially the consecration of the new church at Rajahmundry and the ordination of Joseph and Paulus. These services began at 8 o'clock in the morning. More than two hundred Christians were present, and many heathen gathered about the doors and the windows of the church. Poulsen preached in Telugu and Schmidt in EngUsh. Then came the formal consecration of the building to the wor- ship of the only True God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. The solemn ordination of the catechists closed the service of the morning, which lasted three hours. During the service three adults and two infants were baptized. Joseph and Paulus wore white gowns; Schmidt and Poulsen black ones. The candidates knelt at the altar and were ordained by the mis- sionaries by the laying on of hands and by prayer. The administration of the Lord's Supper to the congregation fol- lowed the ordination, the newly ordained native pastors assisting in the distribution. In the afternoon the usual Christmas dinner was served to the Christians in the mission compound at the expense of the EngHsh judge.
At a conference of missionaries and native pastors, held the day after Christmas, it was resolved to ask the Com- mittee in America to increase the salary of the native pastor to Rs. 25 a month with a travelling allowance of 5 annas for each day spent on tour beyond six miles from the pastor's promises to pay in future their salaries, namely, Rs. 20 per month and travelling expenses.
"3. They are to reside in a central village and be the pastors of a number of surrounding villages, where they are to try to develop an independent ministry. A district is to be assigned them for special evangelistic work among the heathen. They are to accompany the missionaries on longer mission tours.
"4. The foreign missionaries are to remain superintendents of these congre- gations; but they are to regard the native pastors as fellow-ministers who with them are members of the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America.
"5. With regard to money received from foreign sources the foreign mis- sionaries remain the only agents, but with regard to money collected in their own congregations, the native pastors have equal vote with the foreign mis- sionaries.
"6. As soon as a third missionary arrives, church government is to be vested in a Conference or Synod."
IMPORTANT EVENTS (1878-79) 187 residence. It was, moreover, resolved to exact a fee of Rs. 2 annually, payable in advance, for each seat in the church at Rajahmundry, those paying no fees to have the privilege of usmg the mat. At an adjourned meeting, on December 29th, a system of fees for Christians outside of Rajahmundry was devised for the building, repair and maintenance of churches and schools; but the Committee in America disapproved of the system and advised the encouragement of voluntary but systematic contributions.'
A forward step of far-reaching importance was taken by the American Committee in November, 1877, when it resolved to pubKsh a German organ "in which the wants and claims of our Telugu Mission could find adequate expression, and through which our congregations could be interested in its behalf." The Rev. F. Wischan was elected editor-in-chief, the Revs. A. Spaeth, D. D., and H. Grahn associate editors. The first number of "Der Missionsbote," as the new paper was called, appeared in the first week in January, 1878, and thereafter monthly. The number of subscriptions rose during the year to 8000. Every year the accounts showed a profit, which was turned into the General Fund.
But the most important step of the year 1878 was the sending out of the fifth foreign missionary of the General Council, the Rev. A. B. Carlson, a Swede, and the first man wholly trained in America to become a General Council foreign missionary.
Augustus B. Carlson was born in Doederhult, Sweden, August 16, 1846. He emigrated to the United States when he was seventeen years of age, and after attending Knox College, Galesburg, 111., studied theology at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1878. At the close of his senior year he received and accepted the call to go to India. He was ordained by the Swedish Augustana Synod, June 16, 1878, at Princeton, 111. ^ The year ended in India with a balance of $379 in the mission treasury, $4000 having been received from America and $126 from the friends of the Mission living at Rajahmundry. Schmidt's expenditures for district and school work had amounted to $973; Poulsen's, to $520; and the new church building had required $520 additional, or $1120 in all.
1 88 THE TELUGU MISSION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL Two weeks after his ordination, on May 31st, in Philadelphia, he married Miss Hilda Linsky. He was solemnly commis- sioned for service in our foreign mission on the morning of June 24th, at a service held in Zion's and St. Michael's Church, Philadelphia. The Rev. A. Spaeth, D. D., chairman of the Foreign Missions Committee, delivered the charge to the missionary, addressing him in the following words: "I ask you, dear brother, do you believe and confess the teachings of our Evangelical Lutheran Church, and promise to teach in conformity with her Confessions as a missionary among the heathen, and to adorn the doctrines of the Church by a holy walk and conversation? Are you willing and ready to devote your life to the holy calling and work of a missionary with all your mind and strength, though you may be called upon to lay down your life for the Name of Jesus?"
Thereupon the missionary answered so that all in the church heard him: "Yes, the Lord helping me through the power of His Holy Spirit." Kneeling, he was commissioned with the laying on of hands, Dr. Spaeth repeating John 15:16 in German; Dr. Schmucker, Acts 20: 24 in English; and Rev. Mr. Lindberg, John 15:4 and Psalm 121 : 8 in Swedish. After the missionary had risen. Dr. Spaeth addressed the congregation, saying, "And now, dear congregation, forget not this solemn hour and all this of which we have been witnesses. He whom we have here commissioned for service in our mission field is your messenger. Remember him and our Mission in your prayers. Pray for him in earnest, continual supplications. His work is your work; his conflict, your conflict; his victory, your victory."
The offering at this service was used for the purchase of an organ for the Rajahmundry church, costing $155, which had been displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer presented the missionary with a silver communion set for use in the Mission.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlson sailed from New York June 26, 1878 visited his parents in Sweden, took ship at Trieste, passed through the Suez Canal, reached Madras January 14, 1879, and Coconada eight days later. At Coconada Schmidt met
IMPORTANT EVENTS (1878-79) 189 them with the "Dove of Peace," and brought them to Rajahmundry. Happy beyond expression were the missionaries on the field because, after waiting eight years, hoping aknost against hope, they could grasp the hand of another co- laborer.
On February 3, 1879, a Mission Conference was formally organized, Schmidt being elected President, and Poulsen Secretary and Treasurer. It was resolved that Carlson should conduct regular English services in St. Paul's Church, Rajahmundry, for the benefit of the English-speaking families. Pastor Joseph was stationed at Jegurupad and Pastor Paulus at Velpur. Each baptized twenty-five persons by the first of May. Joseph visited Muramunda, Peravaram and Lolla on the east side of the Godavery River ; Paulus was given Malla- pudi, Jagganathpuram, Mahadevipatnam and Argatipalem on the west side. The wisdom of their ordination and appointment to special parishes soon became evident. Unlike the foreign missionaries, they had no building operations to super- intend, no boats to build, no salaries to distribute, no work of any secular kind whatever to do. Accustomed to the climate, thoroughly familiar with the habits of thought and modes of life in their own country, having a good command of the con- versational vernacular, these sons of the soil, Telugus of the Telugus, whom all foreign missionaries who had known them Heyer, Groenning, Schmidt and Poulsen—had recommended for ordination, proved to be a power for good in the Mission that can scarcely be overestimated.
Another native Christian, who from the day of his baptism was of great service to the missionaries, was Ratnam. After having spent a year as Schmidt's Telugu teacher, he was given charge of the school at Rajahmundry, when Paulus and Joseph left for their respective stations in January, 1879. In April he reported an attendance of twenty-three pupils, boys and girls, in two classes. In the first class the following branches were taught in Telugu: Bible History, New Testament Read- ings, Luther's Small Catechism, Telugu Language (Fourth Book), Telugu History, Grammar, Geography, Arithmetic and Writing. The second class had two divisions. In Divi-
IQO THE TELUGU MISSION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL sion A, the Telugu Language (Second Book), Catechism, Old Testament History, Arithmetic and Writing were taught; in Division B, Telugu (First Book) and Arithmetic to multi- plication. The boarding boys, of whom there were eleven, attended in part the Rajahmundry mission school and in part the Government schools of the town, all of them meeting Missionary Poulsen for one hour of rehgious instruction each day. This arrangement was very unsatisfactory. The mis- sionaries desired to have a mission school of a higher grade, and presented its claims to the Committee in America, which, as a consequence, reported to the General Council at Zanesville, O., in 1879, as follows: "We are deeply impressed with the importance of elevating the grade of our provision for instruction. The schools, at present, are entirely Telugu, and furnish no means for completing the training of the teachers and catechists. This must be done in the Government schools, from which all Christian instruction is excluded. We cannot hope to obtain qualified teachers from other Missions, and we have no training-school of our own. Our present force is not adequate. The first necessity, therefore, is more laborers. If good teachers could be sent out, the want might be partially supplied. The Conference has proposed the re-occupation of Samulkot as a place well adapted for an advanced school, there being no government school in that place; but the absence of a Christian congregation there makes us doubt whether the step is advisable until our number of laborers is larger." It was hoped that Carlson, because of his familiarity with the English language, might fit himself in time to become the manager of a training-school for native workers, but this hope was blasted by Carlson's early death. Schmidt, greatly needing a protracted vacation, left Rajahmundry, with his wife and infant daughter, March 19, 1879, for the Nilgiri Hills. From Madras they went to Coimbatore, where for three days they were the guests of the Leipsic mis- sionary, Sandegren. Then by bullock cart they travelled to Coonoor and farther up to Ootacamund, which lies at an ele- vation of 8000 feet above sea-level, and where in April and May, the hottest months on the plains, the average tempera-
IMPORTANT EVENTS (1878-79) I9I ture is about 60° Fahrenheit. Here they spent two months, thoroughly enjoying the cool mountain air, which renewed their health and strength, and the pleasant fellowship of other missionaries and their families, as well as of English officials; for Ootacamund had become one of the favorite vacation resorts in South India. June and July were spent in Banga- lore, where Schmidt met and labored with a Commission of eleven other missionaries in the revision of the Telugu Bible.
After leaving Bangalore, July 31st, the Schmidts went to the Basel Mission station at CaHcut on the west coast, because 1 The first printed translation of the New Testament into Telugu was done by Brahmins under the supervision of William Carey at Serampur in 1818, but was entirely useless. The first translation which could be used was made by Missionary Gordon and other missionaries of the London Missionary Society at Vizagapatam, who translated the Old Testament in 1809-23. This trans- lation was published by the Madras Auxiliary Bible Society. A revision of this translation made by the Rev. J. Hay formed the basis of the work of the commission. Six hours a day were given to the work. At 8 o'clock in the morning the commissioners met around a long table, the chairman, Dr. Cham- berlain of the American Dutch Reformed Church Mission, sitting at one end and the Rev. Mr. Hay at the other. After a Scripture lesson and prayer, the day's work began with a review of the previous day's revision. Then new work was taken up. Rev. Mr. Hay reading his manuscript sentence by sentence. The Greek versions of Tischendorf, Tragelles and Lachmann were used as well as the Hebrew original. Dr. Chamberlain compared the translation suggested with the originals in every case. Dr. Jewett of the American Baptist Mission, had the Sanscrit and De Wette's German translation before him. Dr. Alexander of the C. M. S., Ellore, had the English versions; Rev. Mr. Clay of the Propagation Society, the Tamil; Rev. Mr. Lewis of the London Society, the Canarese and Urdu; Rev. H. C. Schmidt of the American Lutheran Mission, Rajahmundry, the Danish and Luther's German. Several native pastors rendered valuable assistance by suggesting the suitable Telugu diction. Mr. Schmidt gives the final revision of Matthew 7 : 21 as a sample of Telugu construction, as follows: "Lord, Lord, to me saying everyone not, but in heaven being my Father's will who is doing, shall into the kingdom of heaven come." Such words as Heaven, Gehenna, Hades, sacrifice, law, judgment gave the commission much difiiculty, until finally words used in Hindu mythology were employed in the hope that their Christian use would eventually sanctify them. Where this method seemed dangerous or questionable, Sanscrit terms were employed. When the close of Matthew's Gospel was reached the Baptists on the Commission insisted that the participles baptizing and teaching should be rendered in the imperative, but the necessity of placing the main verb "make disciples," according to Telugu syntax, at the end of the whole sentence, perplexed them considerably, for it clearly upset their Baptist theory. For the word "bap- tize," however, they did not insist on the use of the Telugu word for immerse, for in a figurative sense that also means to deceive. The use of the Greek term "baptize" was rejected and finally the word "snanamu," used by Telugus for their ceremonial washings, was adopted. The Commission resolved to meet for two months every year, each member working independently ad interim, until the revision had been completed.
192 THE TELUGU MISSION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL Schmidt wanted to see their industrial work. They were back in Rajahmundry by the end of August.
While Schmidt was away, Poulsen, who supervised all the mission work, had an attack of typhus fever from which he could not fully recover, and his return to Europe was urged by his family physician. The Foreign Missions Committee granted him a furlough, to begin in the spring of 1880. In August, 1879, the following table of statistics was sent to America Chris- CommunPupils. tians.' icants. Boys. Girls. Rajahmundry and Dowlaishwaram, V. Ratnam 86 44 27 18 Pastor Paulus' Parish: Velpur, H. Alfred 34 20 3 6 Mallipudi, E. John 10 4 5 i Batlamungutur, K. Prakasam 17 5 Jagganathpuram, C. Matthew 20 11 3 3 Mahadevipatnam, N. Stephen 14 6 6 Agartipalem 18 6 Pastor Joseph's Parish:
Jegurupad, Pastor Joseph 74 36 6 6 Muramunda, M. William 44 28 7 Peravaram, B. John 24 12 . . 3 Lolla 10 4
Totals 334 171 74 42
One of the encouraging features of the closing years of the first decade of the history of the India Mission was the in- crease of financial support from America. As much as $5525 was received in India from America in 1879, and the total income of the mission treasury, including a balance of the previous year and $155 from local contributors, amounted to $7103.90. The total expenditures amounted to $4435.68, including the salaries of the three missionaries, each of whom received $1000, leaving a balance, at the close of 1879, of $2668.22.
The accounts in India did not, however, adequately express the actual increase of effort on the part of the Church at home, for there were many items of expenditure connected with the affairs at home and the sending out of Carlson which were not ^ The total number of baptisms in the Mission, to the end of the year 1879, that is, for the first ten years of the work of the missionaries of the General Council, was 400.
IMPORTANT EVENTS (1878-79) 193 entered on the books in India. The following table of income and expenditure in America will, therefore, serve to give a better idea of this increase. The figures are taken from the reports of the treasurer of the General Council:
1870. Income $2480 Expenditures Balance
1871.
1872.
$3065.00
$4555-79
2276.29 2279.50
206_ 414
2861.32 203.68
1873 Income $6148 Expenditures 3^79 Balance 2269
1874. 187s-
74 $5368.00 $3385-13 24 4008.96 2071.66 50 1359-04 313-47- 1876 Income $2974 Expenditures 2806 Balance 167
1877.
1878, 1870.
$5877.41
513,003.67 12,821.72 181.95
4347.68 1529-73
At the convention of the General Council at Zanesville, O., in 1879, the Foreign Missions Committee suggested that its membership be enlarged so as to permit some representation from the Swedish Augustana Synod, which was beginning to contribute several hundred dollars annually. As a consequence the following members were added: Rev. C. J. Petri and Rev. Samuel Laird, D. D. The committee was also empowered to fill all vacancies and to add others to its mem- bership, if found necessary. Philadelphia was designated as the geographical center with reference to which the Com- mittee should in the future be constituted.
The "Missionsbote" had become such a successful venture, having increased its subscribers to 13,000, that the General Council authorized and instructed its Committee on Foreign Missions to pubHsh also an Enghsh organ for the development of interest among the churches which used that language. The Committee at once, in November, 1879, resolved to pubKsh a four-page paper, similar to "The Church Messenger" in style and form, and elected the Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer editor-in-chief, and the Rev. B. M. Schmucker, D. D., associate editor. The first number of this paper, "The Foreign Missionary," appeared in January, 1880, and there- after regularly every month.
As the work in India spread and the interest in America grew, the need of more missionaries was more urgently pre- sented. The Committee pleaded at Zanesville for men from America. It pointed out the fact that the missionaries who had been laboring at Rajahmundry, had all been born in Europe, and that the General Council had not yet famished one missionary who had been both born and educated in the United States. "This," said the Committee, "is surely a cause for shame and repentance." Their appeal moved the General Council to pass the following resolution: "Resolved, That inasmuch as our Telugu Mission greatly needs more laborers, and believing that it is the imperative duty of the General Council to provide for this need, we, as pastors and delegates, earnestly praying to the Lord to send more laborers into the field, will work diligently in our synods, congregations, Sunday schools and famihes to awaken a deeper interest in the great work of foreign missions." God heard the prayers of His Church and soon raised up a number of men for the Mission in India.
THE HINDU TRIAD OF GODS Brahma, The Creator; Vishnu, The Preserver; Siva, The Destroyer. THE MONKEY GOD HANUMAN He has the body and legs of a human being with five arms on each side and the head and tail of a monkey.
KEY
1. Hindu Temple.
2. School Inspector's OflSce.
3. Hindu Temple.
4. An Inn. B. Toil-Gate. 6. Girlt- Cenlral School. 7. Di-trict Jail. 8. Tyll-Giite. 9 10. Tunks. 11. JU'lge's Court. 12. Piincliama School.
I'i. Munsifa Court. 14. Ji'Verifale Girls' Schoot.
1.5. Chief Eiig'r'9 Bungalow. 16. Anglican Church. 17. Roman Catholic Church. IH. Bungalow.
19. .SV. Fa Id's Church. 20. andni'eri 11. R. Slalion. 21. Judge'3 Bungalow. 22. An Inn. 23. Former Post Office. 24. A&B. Hindu Temples.
2.i. Municipal Boys' School. 26 Government Girls" School, 27. Municipal Hospital. 28. A. Police Sta, B. Mosque. 29. An Inn. 30. Hindu Temple. 31. K. R. Freight Station. 32. Municipal Primary Boys' School. 33 Government College. 34-35. Tanks. 38 An Inn. 3V. College CnmpuB. 38. Edward Primary Boys' School,
3.1. Agency Collector's dflice. 40. Miigistrate's Court. 41. Taluk Co'irt. 41. Telegraph OITice. 43. Art's College. 44. Toll-Gate.
4.5. Raiahmundry R. R. Sta. 46. Halcott's Garden. 47. Girls' School, .Tamipeila. 43. " •' Lackshmtvarampetta 49. ** *' Manpalavarampetta. 50. Munshig.iru Sabbarayyudu's H'se 51. Dispensarii, A. E L. Mission. 52. Girls' School, Belhlrhim. 63. .Mcdicnljlomp, Ni'w Hasp I Site 51. Sundau .'School (Miss Swensont. 55. Girls' School, Aryapuram. Museum (iarden. New Post Office. Zenana Home. Itiverdale fiunpolow: English Club House. Cemetery, A. E. L. Mission. A'tw Boys' Central ."School. Xew Boys' Central School, Dormitory. JVcw Boys' Cenlral School, Mgr's Bungalow. Wuman'sand Children's Temp. Ilospdal. Missionary's Bu>irialou',Church Compound. Boys' Hii/hSchr.n'r. .Missionaries' Bwnnlnw.iMrs. Taylor's). 0. Sunday Schoi.is. (.tliss Sicenson). RAJAHMUNDRY,
INDIA.
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