మొదటి విదేశీ మిషన్ ప్రయత్నం

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AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS

IN INDIA

CHAPTER 1

THE FIRST FOREIGN MISSION EFFORT THE EVANGELICAL

LUTHERAN CHURCH AMERICA

IN the earlier history the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America two dates, century apart, are especially note- worthy. The one, 1742, designates the year the landing of the patriarch our American Church, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the shore this western hemisphere; the other, 1842, marks the beginning our Church's foreign mission India the first American Lutheran foreign mis- sionary, John Christian Frederick Heyer. the wonderful providence God the original desire Muhlenberg preach the Gospel the heathen India was eventually fulfilled, one hundred years afterward, through the instrumentality the Church which organized the United States; and the field which Heyer selected and which has been cultivated ever since our Church, lies not many hundred miles northeast of the place where Muhlenberg would have landed and labored, had followed, first intended, the wake Ziegen- balg and Pluetschau. During the century from Muhlenberg Heyer the Lutheran Church the United States was called upon devote herself primarily the task gathering into organized congrega- tions those her communion who immigrated hundreds of thousands into the United States. The work her self-preservation rather than that her extension other lands demanded the first attention and the full vigor our Church during the last half the eighteenth and the first half of the nineteenth century. Even after she began foreign

IT

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12 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

mission work, much her energy was needed for the work home missions that, the beginning the twen- tieth century, she was obliged expend the greater part of her strength and resources the absorbing effort caring for those her own household faith, first all the mother-tongue the immigrants they arrived, and then, after the second third generation, the English language. Now that immigration from Lutheran countries the wane and the home mission facilities our Church are more numerous and efficient, notable increase foreign mission spirit and activity discernible. During the early decades the nineteenth century the activities the Lutheran Church North America were, for the greater part, confined two bodies, namely, the Ministerium Pennsylvania and the General Synod. The latter was called into existence mainly through the effort of the Ministerium Frederick, Maryland, 1821. The Ministerium, however, withdrew from the General Synod shortly after its organization. These two bodies, almost equal in numerical strength, continued exist side side and engage similar nearly similar lines work, until they reunited 1853. 1866 they again separated. During the first period their separate existence (1823-53) their relations seem have been amicable. this period trace the beginning our American Lutheran Mission India, which both bodies, under peculiar form agreement, co- operated for number years. Year year Lutheran immigration continued and the territory the Church's operations extended westward line with the territorial expansion the Union, the increas- ing responsibility the organized bodies the East sup- ply, best they could, the destitute portions the Church on the western frontiers with, least, the occasional admin- istration the means grace, forcibly impressed itself upon these bodies and developed within them not only growing home mission activity but also sincere purpose carry the Gospel the heathen. To the General Synod belongs the credit having made

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FIRST FOREIGN MISSION EFFORT LUTHERAN CHURCH 13

the first united effort our Lutheran Church behalf foreign mission work. Previous the year 1833, individuals and congregations in various Lutheran Synods sent occasional contributions the "American Board Commissioners for Foreign Mis- sions. " Indeed, the first organized effort the General Synod was intended co-operation with that Board; but 1833, the meeting the General Synod Balti- more, Maryland, special committee was appointed, charged with the duty formulating plan for more energetic and extensive mission activity. Meeting York, Pa. , 1835, this committee urged the necessity, importance and value both home and foreign mission work and concluded with strong appeal for united endeavor behalf for- eign missions. Its report led the adoption resolutions looking the organization missionary society. The first resolution recommended the holding mission- ary meeting Mechanicsburg, Pa. , connection with the convention the West Pennsylvania Synod, October, 1835. The second and third resolutions, which were intended as inspirational, referred the labors Guetzlaff, German missionary China. The fourth resolution recommended to all Lutheran Synods ''to give, their ensuing meetings, an expression their sentiment and feeling respecting the establishment foreign mission the Evangelical Luth- eran Church the United States. " The missionary meeting was held, arranged, Mechan- icsburg and resulted the formation "The Central Mis- sionary Society. " Its object, expressed its constitu- tion, was ''to send the Gospel the Son God the desti- tute portions the Lutheran Church the United States, to assist, for season, such congregations are unable support the Gospel, and ultimately co-operate sending to the heathen world. " The Rev. C. F. Heyer was chosen the society's first missionary. was called engage mission work for period five years, his compensation be five hundred dollars year. was directed devote himself primarily the work home missionary, but also

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14 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

to hold himself readiness sent out foreign mis- sionary when the need arose and the necessary arrangements could made. The organization "The Central Missionary Society" induced the Pennsylvania Ministerium also form synod- ical missionary society. Wednesday evening, June 1, 1836, the evening before the annual convention the Ministerium, at Easton, Pa. , number clerical and lay delegates met and organized '' The Society the Synod Pennsylvania for the Propagation the Gospel, " electing its first officers: the Rev. Wm. Beates, president; the Rev. J. P. Hecht, vice-president; the Rev. C. Miller, recording secretary; the Rev. F. Ruthraufi, corresponding secretary, and Mr. C. J. Hutter, treasurer. During the first year its existence effort was made by the society foreign mission work; but its second meeting Lancaster, Pa. , May, 1837, the executive com- mittee was authorized and instructed spend $150 for the spread the Gospel among the heathen. Moreover, three members the society? were appointed delegates the con- vention Lutherans called meet Hagerstown, Md. , connection with the meeting the General Synod during the closing week May, 1837, and determine what course should pursued response appeals for financial aid, ad- dressed all Germans America Guetzlaff China and by Rhenius India. The appeal the latter, especially, had 1 Twelve directors were elected, namely, the Revs. J. C. Baker, D. D. , C. R. Demme, D. D. , J. Medtart, G. W. Mertz, E. Peixotto, M. Keller and S. J. Brobst, candidate J. Sahm and Messrs. F. Wm. Heckel, Chr. Strack, Fr. Er- hard and Chr. Haeger. A committee consisting the Revs. Keller, Ruthrauff and Medtart and Messrs. Hutter and Heckel formulated constitution, abstract which is here given: Article I. Name. Article defines the purpose the society be the employment missionary travel through the country and organize congregations, and 'as soon possible send the Gospel the heathen. " Article III fixes the time meeting connection with the annual con- vention the Synod. Article determines the fees, namely, one dollar year for active membership, ten dollars for life-membership and twenty-five dollars for life-directorship. Article regulates the election officers and board twelve directors. Article creates executive committee consisting of the officers and three others elected the board directors. Article VII specifies that the members the executive committee shall live nearly contiguous localities possible. Articles VIII XII deal with matters government, auxiliary societies and amendments. 2 The Revs. C. W. Schacffer, J. Medtart and Mr. F. Wm. Heckel.

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FIRST FOREIGN MISSION EFFORT LUTHERAN CHURCH 1Ij§ created profound impression throughout the Church. The conviction was general that Rhenius should supported his independent mission work and that his appeal had set the time for action the American Lutheran Church behalf of foreign missions. was felt 'that indifference the leadings Providence was sinful and that God would have the Church engage the work foreign missions. " Those who responded the appeal Rhenius his effort inter- est the Germans America his independent Tinnevelly Mission could scarcely have realized that time that his ap- peal and their response actually determined, then and there, that India should the field for the foreign mission work the Lutheran Church America. Considerable enthusiasm for foreign missions was manifested at the Hagerstown meeting the General Synod and was carried over into the missionary meeting, which aimed the organization all Germans America, whom Rhenius had indiscriminately appealed, into one foreign missionary society. consequence the new society, organized May 30, 1837, was called "The German Foreign Missionary Society. " Steps were taken extend immediate aid Rhenius. Three hundred dollars were appropriated sent once; and two semi-annual payments thousand dollars each were promised. Furthermore, the Rev. Charles Philip Krauth, D. D. , was requested write and ask Rhe- nius '""he would willing employed the missionary of the society labor among the Tamils India. " The enthusiasm the Hagerstown meeting spread. ''Money poured into the treasury the new society and funds were speedily forwarded India. " Although the delegates the Missionary Society the Pennsylvania Ministerium took part the organization "The German Foreign Missionary Society, " the former society decided continue its separate existence. its third annual meeting! held June 12, 1838, Philadelphia, 1 this meeting besides nine auxiliary congregational missionary societies, one ''female missionary society" was reported, namely, that St. Michael's Church Germantown, Pa. , the Rev. J. W. Richards, pastor. This was, therefore, the first women's missionary society the Pennsylvania Synod.

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$500! were ordered sent Rhenius Palamcotta. This sum, together with $250 contributed St. John's English Church Philadelphia, was remitted December, 1838. For while the foreign mission cause overshadowed every other interest and the enthusiasm was still its height, when the fourth annual meeting the society the Pennsylvania Ministerium, held Allentown, May 29, 1839, in letter addressed Rev. Fr. Schmidt, secretary, who had succeeded Rev. F. Ruthrauff that office, news was received of the death Rhenius Palamcotta, June 5, 1836, and the return his colleague the service the Church Mis- sionary Society. once the zeal the society began abate. The Executive Committee? was instructed with- hold further support until more definite knowledge con- cerning affairs Palamcotta had been received. ' The confirmation the news the death Rhenius and the return his son-in-law, Mueller, and his associates, to the Church Missionary Society, hastened the establish- ment separate American Lutheran foreign mission. The initial steps toward this end were taken the German Foreign Missionary Society Chambersburg, June 4, 1839, when was resolved '""to send forth missionaries into the field, either co-operate with the Palamcotta mission form independent station, the Executive Committee might find most expedient. " The Executive Committee The German Foreign Mission- ary Society, whose attention had been called the Rev. C. F. Heyer, then home-missionary the West Pennsylvania Synod work Pittsburg, the most suitable person appointed the society's foreign missionary, instructed its 1 The receipts the society during the current year were $775.14%%; the ex- penditures, $368.19%4. 2 this meeting the executive committee was constituted follows: The Revs. Beates, Baker, S. Sprecher, H. S. Miller, J. Haesbaert, G. A. Reichert, and Messrs. E. Haeger and J. F. Heinitsch. 3 The total receipts the society during the year were $1287.05; the expenditures, $962.72. 4 The members the committee were: The Rev. Prof. S. S. Schmucker, D. D. , the Rev. Prof. H. L. Baugher, the Rev. J. N. Hoffmann, Dr. D. Gil- bert, Mr. Isaac Baugher, treasurer, and the Rev. Prof. Charles Philip Krauth D. D. , corresponding secretary.

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corresponding secretary, the Rev. Prof. Charles Philip Krauth, D. D. , some time during the spring 1840, write Heyer asking him would consider call become foreign missionary and requesting his opinion ''as the place where a mission might advantageously commenced, whether the far West among the aborigines America the far East among the Hindus. " Heyer replied follows: 'I have no particular choice but would willing wheresoever the Lord may direct, even New Zealand, where missionaries have lately been slain and devoured the savages. How- ever, appears that the Coromandel coast, perhaps the Tinnevelly district, where Mr. Mueller, Rheaius' son-in- law, now standing alone, would the most suitable place to commence. undertake establish mission among our Indians, should, probably, have across the Rocky Mountains place perhaps difficult access the peninsula Hindustan. Moreover, our Indians are ofa roving disposition, and hence very difficult get hold them make impression them. There exists, also, certain kind prejudice among many our people against the Indians, which would render them unwilling much for mission among the Indians America for undertaking this kind among the Hindus. But willing to abide the decision the Executive Committee. " After some further correspondence the committee called Heyer May, 1840. accepted the call. Then the Ameri- can Board Commissioners was consulted with regard a suitable field India, and their recommendation the Telugu country was selected. Meanwhile the time had ar- rived for the biennial meeting the General Synod and, in connection therewith, The German Foreign Missionary Society. The society met Tuesday, May 11, 1841, Baltimore, Md. Having realized this time that the co- operation all Germans America was impracticable, amendment the constitution was proposed this meet- ing changing the society's name that "The Foreign Missionary Society the Evangelical Lutheran Church the United States. " After the report the Executive Com- 2

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18 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

mittee had been read, was unanimously resolved ap- prove the steps taken the appointment the Rev. C. F. Heyer foreign missionary, communicate this appoint- ment the Pennsylvania and Ohio synods and request their co-operation. committee! appointed recommend a plan co-operation with the American Board the case of the proposed Telugu mission, submitted the following report: "The Evangelical Lutheran Foreign Missionary Society, desirous avail" ing themselves the facilities afforded the American Board Commis- sioners for Foreign Missions the churches that have united with the work of foreign missions and also deeming important that the efforts the friends of this cause this country should more fully concentrated, propose form a connection with said board upon the following general principles: (1) The connection our missionaries with the American Board shall degree affect their ecclesiastical relations and responsibilities. (2) When desired our society, the American Board organize the missionaries furnished us into mission themselves under their direction; and should the con- nection the Board Missions the Lutheran Church with the American Board any time dissolved, the direction this mission shall then, matter course, transferred the Lutheran Board. (3) The Lutheran Board shall have the nomination their missionaries, but the American Board may confirm the nomination. (4) The Lutheran Board shall have the management all the agencies for collecting funds, etc. , within the bounds of the denomination, and also the charge fostering missionary spirit the churches and their candidates for the ministry. (5) All the pecuniary responsibilities the missionaries excepting when acting agents under the direction the Lutheran Board, shall wholly under the American Board. (6) The receipts the Lutheran Board after defraying the expenses agencies etc. , shall paid into the treasury the American Board. Whenever the amount paid into the treasury the American Board shall exceed the sum required for the support the missionaries furnished the Lutheran Board, for the current year, the American Board may apply the surplus the support of other missionaries their employment. And should the funds furnished the Lutheran Board any time inadequate the support the missionaries furnished said Board, expected that the American Board will afford us aid, they have surplus funds. (7) When missionaries are about embark missionary meeting shall, possible, held some Lutheran Church, which the instructions shall given the American Board and the charge delivered the Lutheran Board; and the missionaries, when the field, shall also maintain regular correspondence with the Lutheran Board. " 1 The committee consisted the Revs. Dr. G. A. Lintner, Dr. S. S. Schmuck- er, Dr. C. P. Krauth, Henry N. Pohlman and J. Berger.

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FIRST FOREIGN MISSION EFFORT LUTHERAN CHURCH 19

Upon the adoption this arrangement with the Ameri- can Board, which was very distasteful Heyer, resigned his appointment the General Synod's society. That there were least some who sided with Heyer and opposed affilia- tion with the American Board, evident from the fact that an amendment the constitution was once proposed, striking out Article 12, which bound the General Synod's society co-operation with that Board. About month elapsed between the meetings the General Synod and the Pennsylvania Ministerium 1841. ap- pears that the latter's missionary society had continued send support Mueller Tinnevelly, ! but this meeting, held June 5, 1841, Harrisburg, Pa. , decided that "whereas said society (C. M. S. ) had sufficient means maintain the mission under Brother Mueller, this society will give more support but will look elsewhere order propagate the Gospel among the heathen. " At this crucial moment the afternoon Saturday, June sth, letter written Heyer two days previously was read the society the Rev. Dr. Demme, its correspond- ing secretary. The part which this important letter played in the history our foreign mission work justifies its quota- tion full: Baltimore, June 3, 1841. Dear Brethren: I prefer Missionary under the supervision a Lutheran Missionary Society, rather than beholden to other Christian denominations. This the reason which constrains apply your society. the brethren feel inclined send their agent the heathen, the follow- ing conditions should taken into consideration: (1) Your society will decide about the place region country where the mission commenced. (2) The travel- ling expenses the place destination are paid out the funds present the hands your treasurer. (3) ! During the synodical year ending June 1, 1842, $575, taken from the mission treasury, and $275.25, contributed, St. John's English Church in Philadelphia and the Bible Society Lebanon County, had been sent Mueller.

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20 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

The surplus the treasury paid the mission three equal instalments, life spared that long. (4) I will invest rooo dollars own money; the interest this investment shall applied the support the mis- sion long remain connection with the same. (5) To meet the other necessary expenses the mission rely on ministers and other friends our undertaking, who will be ready assist the accomplishment our object. Pray- ing the Lord guide and bless you your deliberations, remain, Respectfully yours, C. F. Hever. Dilatoriness and timidity, which often have harmed the interests the Pennsylvania Ministerium, characterized the report the special committee whom Heyer's letter was referred. ! The committee expressed its 'pleasure perceiving how much Brother Heyer devoted the cause of Christ and His Church, desiring does, sent a missionary the heathen and having declared that his wish sent out none other than the Lutheran Church. " The committee, however, regretted that ''the missionary society had not sufficient means hand form and main- tain heathen mission and that could not rely the co- operation the Lutheran brethren the General Synod, who had united their efforts with the American Board. " therefore concluded that ''the Pennsylvania Missionary So- ciety could not venture such enterprise proposed Rev. C. F. Heyer, even though might entertain the hope that the Lutheran Church could and would much for the salva- tion the poor heathen, and was convinced that Heyer would suitable person send foreign missionary India. " There were present that meeting, however, men who were not such little faith. Earnestly and convincingly they pleaded for aggressive measures and immediate action. 1 The committee consisted the Revs. S. Sprecher, C. Miller and H. S. Miller. The two latter signed the report.

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+

HINDUISM MOHAMMEDANISM ~~ CHRISTIANITY

207,700,000 60,000,000 3,000,000

TIIE RELIGIONS INDIA

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HINDU SNAKE CITARMERS

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FIRST FOREIGN MISSION EFFORT LUTHERAN CHURCH 2I

Their counsel prevailed. The resolutions offered the Rev. C. R. Demme, D. D. , seconded the Rev. J. C. Baker, D. D. , and passed unanimously, form the actual starting point our Church's foreign mission India. They were adopted June 9, 1841, and read follows: "Resolved, That reliance divine Providence commence heathen mission. "Resolved, That receive Brother Heyer missionary into our service; his offer, however, invest one thousand dollars his own property, the interest which aid in the support the Mission long connected with it, be not accepted. '"Resolved, That the Executive Committee solicited immediately enter into correspondence with Brother Heyer order carry the above resolutions into effect. "Resolved, That recommend the Executive Com- mittee Hindustan, mission field for their consideration. "Resolved, That the treasurer, the Rev. Dr. Baker, requested address circular the different missionary societies our Church, informing them the above resolu- tions and inviting them co-operate with us. " Thus the Pennsylvania Ministerium became the pioneer and leader the work foreign missions, did, some time another, almost every other department church work.