జనరల్ కౌన్సిల్‌లో మిషన్ వర్క్ ప్రారంభం (1869)

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CHAPTER 1

THE BEGINNING FOREIGN MISSION WORK THE GENERAL

COUNCIL (1869)

As the delegate the Minnesota Synod, Dr. Heyer at- tended the convention Reading, Pa. , December 12-14, 1866, which planned the formation the General Council the Evangelical Lutheran Church North America, unequiv- ocally founded the Confessions the Lutheran Church. He served member the first committee the prepara- tion hymn book. took active part all the de- liberations and was enthusiastic advocate the new move- ment. the first convention the General Council Ft. Wayne, Ind. , November 20-26, 1867, was appointed a member the mission committee which Rev. Wm. A. Passavant, D. D. , was chairman, and which "respectfully sug- gested that the executive committee the Pennsylvania Synod requested effect arrangements for the prosecu- tion the work missions among the heathen during the coming year. " Thus, from its very foundation the General Council sought fulfil its obligation factor the ful- fillment the great commission our Lord. continue to support the India Mission The Foreign Missionary Society the General Synod was not possible under the cir- cumstances. The executive committee the mother synod decided that would most advisable start new mis- sion some other non-Christian land. its report the 121st annual convention the Pennsylvania Ministerium, convened St. Mark's Church, Philadelphia, June, 1868, offered the following recommendations: "Your committee, after careful consideration the subject, deems best propose the synod the establish- ment mission China. They have made application The Foreign Missionary Society the Evangelical Lutheran 133

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Church transfer this synod the moneys collected for the establishment mission China, several years since, most of which were contributed our congregations. pro- posed this the spirit peace avoid all questions claims the property the India Mission and all conflicts in the foreign field. this proposal answer yet has been received. " That the Ministerium Pennsylvania might have established its title much property Guntur, Rajahmundry and the Palnad certain; that relinquished its claims that direction and merely asked for the funds contributed for China mission, but not used for that pur- pose, was magnanimous proposal. By rising vote the Pennsylvania Ministerium resolved to begin mission China, call the Rev. Robert Neu- mann its missionary, and educate young Chinaman whom Rev. Neumann recommended one the Lutheran Seminaries the United States, sent out later native ordained pastor. Had the Rev. Mr. Neumann ac- cepted the call the synod, the General Council would have begun the history its foreign mission work effort behalf the christianization China; but the Rev. Mr. Neumann declined the call, the Chinese student left the country, and nothing further was done carry out the resolution the synod. remained for the Swedish Augus- tana Synod undertake, the year 1908, independently of the other synods the General Council, the original pur- pose those whom the General Council entrusted the inauguration its foreign mission work; and cannot re- frain, this point, from expressing the hope that some day the whole General Council will permitted join effort christianize the Chinese republic. When the General Council met its second annual con- vention the First Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, November 12-18, 1868, the outlook for foreign mission work was still uncertain, and special committee was appointed consider the whole matter and report the next meeting. Before could arrive any definite conclusion, however, God guided affairs return the Pennsylvania Ministerium,

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and through the General Council, part the Telugu Mission India, where the mother synod had begun the foreign mission work the Lutheran Church America. While negotiations were pending between The Foreign Missionary Society The General Synod and The Church Missionary Society England for the transfer the Rajah- mundry Mission the former the latter, Dr. Heyer was liv- ing temporarily Helmstedt, Germany, whither had gone with granddaughter direct her education. When heard of the proposed transaction, hastened, April, 1869, Apenrade, confer with Groenning and, possible, pre- vent the transfer. Apart from the keen personal interest which these pioneers took the Rajahmundry Mission, they were unwilling that the condition should violated which The North German Missionary Society had transferred it, 1850, The Foreign Missionary Society, namely, that should remain Lutheran Mission. In Groenning's home Heyer met two young men, Hans Christian Schmidt and Christian Friedrich Johan Becker, whom Groenning had been preparing for service India under The Foreign Missionary Society, which, however, had failed call either one them. Both expressed their willingness Rajahmundry; and was arranged that they should accompany Heyer the United States and offer their services the Pennsylvania Ministerium the hope that the mother synod would make effort assume full responsibility for the work Rajahmundry, and thus pre- vent its transfer non-Lutheran society. Only Schmidt could arrange leave Germany once; but Becker agreed to hold himself readiness Rajahmundry soon as received call. Heyer and Schmidt reached New York just time at- tend the annual meeting the Pennsylvania Ministerium Trinity Church, Reading, Pa. , beginning Trinity Sunday, May 23, 1869. The unexpected appearance the intrepid pioneer foreign missionary and his address the synod created most profound impression. Protesting most earn- estly against the transfer the Rajahmundry Mission

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non-Lutheran Society breach contract, pleaded for the continuation the work that station the mother synod, which had sent him out the first foreign missionary of the Lutheran Church America. introduced Mr. Schmidt, pupil Father Groenning, who had accompanied him America because was willing become the synod's missionary Rajahmundry; and then, reaching the climax his plea and holding his travelling bag, said that was ready moment's notice, the synod wished it, even though was seventy-seven years old and would his third journey India, order that might direct his younger brethren the reorganization the mission work. On Thursday afternoon the special committee appointed consider and report the threatened transfer the Rajah- mundry Mission The Church Missionary Society submitted the following resolutions: "Whereas, report has reached that proposed transfer the mission stations Rajahmundry and Samulkot India The Church Missionary Society England, and "Whereas, learn from report the proceedings the General Synod's Missionary Society Washington, that a transfer these mission stations another interest was referred its Foreign Mission Board with power act their judgment they should deem most advisable, and "Whereas, This synod originally established the India Mission and sustained the same successfully for many years; therefore, "Resolved, That most solemnly protest against the transfer the Mission any other than Lutheran Mis- sionary Society, and "Resolved, That the Rev. C. F. Heyer requested lay this protest before the Foreign Mission Board the General Synod, and "Resolved, That the executive committee authorized to take such action consultation with the committee Foreign Missions the General Council, they may deem proper. " These resolutions were adopted the synod, and Schmidt,

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after having been examined and recommended the minis- terial session, was ordained, together with twelve other candi- dates, Wednesday evening, May 26th. The executive committee the Pennsylvania Ministerium! met June 15, 1869, delegated Heyer meet with the execu- tive committee The Foreign Missionary Society and 'learn whether was still its power and whether were willing to transfer the mission stations the Ministerium Pennsyl- vania, " and elected the Rev. S. K. Brobst, the Rev. B. M. Schmucker and Mr. H. H. Muhlenberg sub-committee on foreign missions. Furthermore, the General Council's committee foreign missions was duly informed the action of the Pennsylvania Ministerium and its executive commit- tee, and its approval was requested and obtained. Heyer experienced difficulty securing the consent the executive committee The Foreign Missionary Society to the proposal the Pennsylvania Ministerium, and its secretary was instructed communicate once with the officers The Church Missionary Society England and with Missionary Unangst India, directing that the negotiations with that society discontinued. At the meeting the executive committee the Penn- sylvania Ministerium, held Reading, Pa. , August 27, 1860, the transfer the Rajahmundry Mission, formally offered the executive committee The Foreign Missionary Society, was accepted, and Heyer, Schmidt and Becker were called to the Ministerium's foreign missionaries. The resolu- tions the committee read follows: "Resolved, That accept the transfer the mission stations Rajahmundry and Samulkot; that the Rev. C. F. Heyer, the Rev. H. C. Schmidt and Mr. C. F. J. Becker be sent labor those places; that the necessary travelling ! This committee then consisted the officers the synod, namely, the Rev. C. W. Schaeffer, D. D. , President; the Rev. B. W. Schmauk, German Secretary; the Rev. Jacob Fry, English Secretary; the Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer, Treasurer; and the Presidents the Conferences (among others the Revs. W. Rath, F. J. F. Schantz, J. Hapler and J. W. Hassler), and the following addi- tional members: the Rev. B. M. Schmucker, D. D. , the Rev. F. A. Muhlen- berg, D. D. , the Rev. J. J. Kuendig, the Rev. J. Kohler, the Rev. S. K. Brobst, and Messrs. H. H. Muhlenberg, C. Pretz, H. Trexler, J. Henry and F. Lauer.

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expenses Heyer and Schmidt paid; that the sum $150 for outfit paid Rev. Heyer; that $100 for each the others appropriated; and that the whole expense not exceed $1500. "Resolved, That the salary each missionary $500, gold; that the missionaries authorized expend for native missionaries and schools sum not exceeding $300, gold, year; that information this action transmitted the committee the General Council Foreign Missions; and that the delegates the Pennsylvania Ministerium the General Council lay this action before that body and offer transfer the mission their custody and control. " Heyer felt that time should lost making the transfer practically and fully effective the actual occupation the field; and the last day August, 1869, four days after the ratification the transfer, sailed from New York, bound for India the shortest route. The General Council session the Swedish Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chicago, November 4-10, 1869, heartily endorsed the action the executive committee of the Pennsylvania Ministerium, accepted the custody and control the Rajahmundry Mission, elected its committee on foreign missions the executive committee the Pennsyl- vania Ministerium, and requested the district synods for- ward all their foreign mission contributions the treasurer of the General Council applied the Rajahmundry work. ! Before leaving America Heyer had been instructed ascer- tain whether the Hermannsburg Missionary Society could induced co-operate with the General Council foreign mission work India; and after visiting his brother, Prae- positus Heyer, Plau, Mecklenburg, Germany, went Hermannsburg for conference with Pastor Ludwig Harms 1 The General Council also instructed its foreign mission committee cor- respond with the Leipsic and Hermannsburg Missionary Societies and solicit their co-operation the Rajahmundry Mission; take the claims the in- creasing Chinese population the United States into consideration; and, through the Swedish Secretary the Council, confer with the Finnish Lutheran Missionary Society concerning the establishment mission among the Indians Alaska.

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and Inspector Anstaedt. They gave him encouragement, however, and told him that they preferred to' work inde- pendently their newly established mission Naydupet, north Madras. Heyer then visited Groenning Apen- rade, who cheered him with the assurance Becker's willing- ness follow him Rajahmundry and with the prospect securing one two additional missionaries from the Mission Institute Copenhagen. From Trieste Heyer crossed the Mediterranean Sea Suez, though the canal had not yet been officially and formally opened. reached Bombay October 23, 1869, and from that city took train the newly constructed railway Sholapur, where terminated. Over two hundred miles the south lay Secunderabad, eight miles beyond that Hydera- bad, and still farther south the Palnad, through which wished pass his way Guntur. will let Heyer himself describe his long overland journey from Sholapur Secunderabad, quoting from letter written Miss Nora Taeger, Reading, Pa. : "When the agent understood that was engaged mission work, offered, would consent let him put some mer- chandise the body the bullock-cart and make kind of bed the top, charge nothing. accepted, not considering knowing what would have endure. Only think old missionary, seventy-seven years age, horizontal position top store-boxes common country cart, carried two hundred miles day and night! the roads had been good and the weather favorable might have endured without much suffering, but the second day was caught heavy monsoon rain, coming down Indian style. did seem there might have been five hundred washer-women the clouds pouring down rain the buckets- ful. Night came and the cart stuck fast the mud. spent most uncomfortable night the upper story cart. Next morning additional bullocks were brought, and we started again. After going mile two came place where bridge had been washed away and where about ane hundred bandies were waiting get across. Seeing that

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it would tedious business, left the cart and walked five miles the next bungalow. Thus went for six days, travelling the rate two miles hour. The cart stuck fast every day, and every day had walk from three six miles reach some bungalow. After six days got into better roads, and for the last three days went about three miles hour. Passing through the Mahratta and Canara regions was with difficulty that could get the people understand me. signs and tokens only could exchange a few ideas. Indeed, found that had undertaken more than ought have done, and only wonder how the Lord enabled patience and perseverance overcome the difficulties the way without sinking under them. Novem- ber sth arrived Secunderabad and parted with coach, bruised and sore, condition which had never before been. " In Secunderabad Heyer bought palankeen for $12 and engaged bearers carry him Bayawarrow, one hundred and sixty-six miles. paid the bearers Rs. 70 about $25. They covered the distance about twelve days; but even this comparatively more comfortable mode travel was wearisome. November 16th, Gurjal was reached. Six- teen years had elapsed since had last been the Palnad, and rejoiced find there some the converts whom had baptized. The bungalow which had built Gurjal was still standing, and occupied again for few days with a devout feeling gratitude. The catechist, Cully, welcomed him most cordially and told him the progress Chris- tianity the district, where the Christian community numbered six hundred. After spending week the Palnad, Heyer proceeded Guntur. "Boniface, " wrote, "could not have been received more joyfully and respectfully his German converts than the native Christians received their old missionary who had unexpectedly come visit them. " December 1, 1869, arrived Rajahmundry, just three months after starting from New York. Writing soon after his arrival said: 'My own impres- sion before left America, well the opinion some

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the brethren, was that our prospects India were rather discouraging; but from personal observation fully con- vinced that erroneous opinion. . . . Unangst found that could not attend all the stations and, being left without funds meet the current expenses the mission, called the assistance neighboring missionary belonging to the Church Missionary Society. Last spring (1869) kind of transfer was made the C. M. S. , and since last May December 1st, the catechists and teachers connected with the Rajahmundry Mission were paid the C. M. S. This money, course, must refunded and the sooner the better for our credit. The General Synod's Board should held responsible for May, June, July and August. Conse- quently, our executive committee will assume payment from September 1st, the time when the Board made the transfer to the Pennsylvania Synod. have not yet received the ex- act statement, but will amount about $31 month for catechists and teachers. Besides this the C. M. S. has given a monthly allowance $10 for travelling expenses. " In Rajahmundry Heyer found ten native Christian families and school about twenty children taught native Christian teacher; Dowlaishwaram, five Christian families; at Metta, six Christian families and school with teacher and sixteen children; Peddahem, one Christian family; at Gowripatnam, three families inquirers; Muramunda, the oldest congregation outside Rajahmundry, twelve Christian families and thirteen children mission school; at Jegurupad, six Christian families and twenty-four children in school; Peravaram, five Christian families and newly opened school; Lolla, one family inquirers. Counting three average each family, the number Christians was 135; counting four, 180. The total number children in all the mission schools reported Heyer was 73. Forty- nine persons from Rajahmundry and adjacent villages at- tended the first administration the Lord's Supper Heyer at Rajahmundry Christmas day, 186g. After Christmas Heyer made his first tour the out- stations. From Rajahmundry walked Dowlaishwaram

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on foot. There, small building which Groenning had secured for the mission, reopened school. Then went by canal Jegurupad and Muramunda, baptizing three women and two girls the latter place. Samulkot found nothing but the bungalow which Long had built. The total force native Christian workers consisted two catechists, Joseph Rajahmundry and Paulus Mura- munda, and five teachers. That was all with which the General Council had begin in its foreign mission field. From that mustard seed there has since grown sturdy tree with branches spreading wide in every direction, and bearing rich fruit the continual conversion men, women and children, body and soul, from gross, gruesome Hinduism repentance and faith Christ, the divine Redeemer, the Revealer the True God.