హేయర్ భారతదేశానికి మొదటి ప్రయాణం

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CHAPTER III

HEYER'S FIRST JOURNEY INDIA

IN the official call the Executive Committee the Missionary Society the Pennsylvania Ministerium, ! Heyer was instructed depart for East India soon could prepare himself for the journey, and begin his work missionary India, "whenever the Lord would open the way. " His travelling expenses were paid and was to receive annual salary $6co. was agreed that, this sum proved more than sufficient, his salary was reduced "in proportion his wants. " the other hand, the committee agreed increase it, proved inadequate. The sum $150 was advanced for outfit and was per- mitted spend ''a moderate sum for the purchase picto- rial representations Biblical history, should consider them useful and necessary the instruction the heathen. " A special appeal for contributions addressed all Luth- erans the United States, written the Rev. Dr. Baker, of Trinity Church, Lancaster, Pa. , the treasurer the society, was published German the '"Kirchenzeitung" and English "The Lutheran Observer. " The appeal reads follows: To the ministers and congregations the Evangelical Luth- eran Church the United States. Respected Brethren: The Missionary Society the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod Pennsylvania resolved its last meeting establish mission among the Hindus in India. The Rev. Mr. Mueller Tinnevelly, whose ! The executive committee which called him was constituted follows: The officers the society, namely, the Rev. Wm. Beates, president; the Rev. J. Haesbert, vice-president; the Rev. Fr. Schmidt, secretary; the Rev. C. R. Demme, D. D. , corresponding secretary; the Rev. J. C. Baker, D. D. , treasurer; i directors, the Rev. H. S. Miller, Mr. C. Hager and Mr. J. F. Hein- Itsch. 25

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36 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

support heretofore contributed, having again entered into connection with the Church Missionary Society, and that society being fully competent sustain that mis- sion station, further aid his behalf required from us. order, however, take active part evangel- izing the heathen, which regard sacred duty the Church God, have resolved humble reliance the great Head the Church send our beloved brother, C. F. Heyer, the East Indies. will, accordingly, proceed that region prosecute the work under the superintendence of our mission society. indulge the hope that our con- gregations will effectually support this euterprise; and, whereas many Lutheran ministers belonging other synods are not favor sending missionary connection with the American Board and have signified their willingness afford assistance our mission, assure them that their donations will thankfully received and applied the above purpose. The treasurer the society will present the Church exact statement the receipts and expenditures. scarcely necessary assure the Church that shall not lose sight our dispersed and destitute brethren this country, espe- cially the distant West; but shall continue, hereto- fore, provide for them the utmost our ability. May the Lord, our God, bless and establish the work of our hands, yea, the work our hands may the Lord estab- lish. Written the name the Mission Society the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod Pennsylvania. John C. Baker, Treasurer. The response this appeal justified the faith those who thus ventured this pioneer project. ! On Sunday, October 5, 1841, Heyer, then forty-eight years age, was solemnly commissioned public service in St. Paul's German Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. The 1 The congregations York, Pa. , the Rev. Mr. Lochmann, pastor, and Baltimore, Md. , the Rev. J. G. Morris, pastor, contributed liberally for Heyer's outfit. St. John's English Church, Philadelphia, gave him $60 for the establish- ment and maintenance mission schools.

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HEYER'S FIRST JOURNEY INDIA 37

charge was delivered the Rev. J. C. Baker, D. D. , and the missionary-elect preached sermon, choosing his text Jonah 3:2. Heyer spent several days Boston with num- ber the members the American Board and attended the service farewell that Board's missionaries, whom was to accompany Ceylon. Before sailing Heyer received letters recommendation and credentials from the faculties Pennsylvania College and of the Seminary Gettysburg, Pa. , and from the Executive Committee the Missionary Society, which, besides whatever other useful purpose they may have served, greatly strength- ened the heart the missionary who was leaving behind all that was precious him, order that might follow the call the Lord land which knew practically nothing, excepting only this, that needed the Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ. In those days was, indeed, hazardous undertaking go heathen land Christian missionary; and, though the Hindus were known peaceable people among whom missionary might labor without the fear martyr- dom, the voyage sea sailing vessel around the Cape Good Hope, lasting not less than five months, involved con- siderable discomfort and tediousness, not say danger, compared with our modern methods rapid, comfortable and safe transit over sea and land. Moreover, sixty and more years ago, life South India for American Euro- pean lacked many the sanitary safeguards and physical comforts to-day. The opening phrase Heyer's farewell letter written in Boston just before sailing, "This being the last Sunday which shall probably spend the United States, " indicates that his mind was not entirely free from grave apprehension; but that the spirit heroic faith suppressed all feelings fear evident from the closing sentences. 'All ready be- gin the voyage, " wrote the intrepid pioneer. 'I feel calm and cheerful, having taken this step after serious and prayerful consideration. The smiles friends have cheered, and the approbation the churches has encouraged thus far. But

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38 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

I aware that, ere long, amidst tribe men whose lan- guage will strange me, shall behold those smiles only in remembrance, and hear the voice encouragement only in dying whispers across the ocean; and then nothing but the grace God, nothing but thorough conviction being the path duty, nothing but the approving smile Heaven can keep from despondency. 'Farewell, long farewell, For may meet more, Until we're raised heaven dwell On Canaan's blissful shore. "" The good ship "Brenda, " under command Captain A. Ward, left the harbor Boston, October 15, 1841, carrying a cargo ice and eight passengers, all whom were mission- aries wives missionaries. letter written sea several hundred miles east Bahia, Brazil, dated November, 1841, and forwarded the United States whaling vessel, Heyer said that the voyage that time had been pleasant and that had devoted much time the study Tamil. December 20th, the "Brenda" passed the Cape Good Hope under full sail. Two weeks later the southern point Mada- gascar was reached. Several days were spent the island Zanzibar, where the missionaries enjoyed visit the palace of Seyed Syed, Ben Sultan and Sultan Muscat, who enter- tained them oriental fashion. Zanzibar and the eastern coast Africa opposite impressed Heyer good field for missionary operations. fact, was strongly inclined stay and labor there, but decided that the instructions had received from the Executive Com- mittee demanded that should proceed India. On Tuesday, March 15th, just five months after having sailed from Boston, the "Brenda" cast anchor the harbor of Colombo, Ceylon, landing her eight passengers the next day. Seven them had reached their field labor. One of them, whom shall follow farther his way, still had journey about thousand miles before him. After spending number days Colombo the com-

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HEYER'S FIRST JOURNEY INDIA 39

pany Protestant missionaries laboring that city, and preaching sermon the church which eighty years be- fore the venerable Christian Frederick Schwartz had preached and administered the sacraments, Heyer boarded the "La Felice, " which weighed anchor during the night March 19th, bound for Tuticorin the Coromandel coast South India. three days that port was safely reached. 'The dangers long sea voyage are overcome, " wrote the pio- neer. 'With heartfelt gratitude the Father mercies and God all consolation and grace Christ Jesus, our Re- deemer, raised Ebenezer Tuticorin March 23, 1842. " At Tuticorin Heyer engaged palankeen and bearers for his journey inland. After all-night run Palamcotta was reached. Here, where Rhenius had preached, labored, suffered and died, Heyer, Good Friday, 1842, attended Tamil service the church built Rhenius 1826, and, for the first time, heard Hindu preach. The newly arrived missionary was greatly pleased find that could join the congregation singing the Tamil translation German hymns sung their familiar tunes. Heyer, moreover, noted the customs, introduced the Halle missionaries, asking questions during the sermon and writing the heads discussion palm leaves. One of these leaves afterward sent, together with other curios, to the Seminary Gettysburg. Under the guidance the Rev. Mr. Hobbs the Church Missionary Society, visited the seminary for the training native workers and the boarding schools for Christian boys and girls, well the schools for Hindu children, Palamcotta, thus obtaining valuable information for the work which awaited him the Telugu country. After having purchased second-hand palankeen Tin- nevelly and engaged bearers, proceeded Kotaur where, most unexpectedly, met the Rev. Mr. Mueller, Rhenius' son-in-law, with whom was privileged spend few hours in profitable conversation. Satur Heyer quietly spent his first Easter Sunday India travellers' bungalow. March

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40 AMERICAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSIONS INDIA

29th arrived Madura, once the seat the powerful Pandyan monarchy, where missionaries Dwight and Ward of the American Board were establishing mission. As approached Trichinopoly, early Sunday morning, April 3d, looked forward with peculiar joy visit scenes and places, which, more than any others, recalled the remarkable life and career the great Schwartz. The Rev. Mr. Kohlhoff, his host Trichinopoly, who had been born India and whose father and grandfather had been missionaries there, guided him the church and the dwelling the sainted Schwartz, and gave him insight into the interesting life Hindu village and opportunity attend one the monthly meetings native workers, which, since the days the first Halle missionaries had been regular feature mis- sion work India. The next stage the palankeen journey brought Heyer Tanjore where arrived April sth. the company the Rev. Mr. Thompson, missionary the service the Society for the Propagation the Gospel, vis- ited the chapel which the body Schwartz lies buried. Standing near the pulpit reverently viewed the grave and read the inscription the granite stone, which Serfojee, the Rajah Tanjore, had caused inscribed it. From Tanjore Heyer went Tranquebar, where the memorials the beginning the Danish-Halle Mission Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau, 1706, occupied his devout atten- tion. Entering the New Jerusalem Church, beheld the vault near the altar, which contains the earthly remains the first Protestant foreign missionary, Bartholomew Ziegen- balg, and read the Latin epitaph the copper plate the vault. Continuing his journey northward through Cudda- lore and Pondicherry, Heyer finally reached Madras, April 16, 1842, half year after his departure from America. Four days later wrote: ''Some the brethren Colombo told me that travelling overland this season the year should suffer from oppressive heat; also that road would lead through several districts where the cholera raged; . . . moreover, that would not easy matter get along with the natives account imperfect knowledge

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A PALANKEEN FOR BRIDES AND BRIDEGROOMS

The common palankeen less ornate.

A JINRIKISHA

Dr. Amy B. Rohrer seated the Jinrikisha.

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ANY

ULLOCK 1

A

> » > >

PHANT CART

SNRELE

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HEYER'S

the language. But these difficulties and miles the interior great hardships. The was not permitted made out words

FIRST JOURNEY INDIA 41

the Lord has enabled overcome I have travelled four five hundred of southern India without enduring any heat found tolerable; the pestilence harm me; and with the native Indians and signs well could. "