ది జూబ్లీ ఇయర్ (1895)

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CHAPTER XIV

THE JUBILEE YEAR (1895)

THE year the Jubilee the foreign mission work the General Council India, 1895, came and went without any special celebration America; but India three days' celebration was held November Rajahmundry, which quite number missionaries from other Lutheran Missions in India were present. ! The Guntur and Breklum Missions were well represented. Among those who delivered addresses were the Provost the Leipsic Mission, the Rev. K. Pamperrien, and the Rev. Harless the Breklum Mission. At its meeting February, 1895, the Board Foreign Missions resolved "instruct the Mission Council India to take steps provide Seminary building, look proper site and send plans, with view laying the corner-stone this Jubilee Year. " The condition the school really de- manded new and more adequate buildings. Kuder wrote 1895: "When came here four years ago the number pupils found the Seminary was between 125 and 150. It was then already generally admitted that the building was inconvenient, too small and too poorly equipped. Two years ago became necessary overhaul old room adjoining the church building. Last year was again necessary repair another room, and when this was not found sufficient, a cheap shed, the walls which are bamboo mats and the roof palmyra leaves, was rushed up. This year similar but larger shed will have erected. The school now contains 265 children and they are still coming. " 1 the same time the twenty-fifth anniversary the arrival Schmidt Rajahmundry was celebrated. 2In the following spring the Rev. Mr. Harless, his way back from Madras, whither had gone send his wife and children home Germany, was taken seriously ill the railway station Rajahmundry and was removed to the home Rev. E. Pohl, where died fever March 26, 1896. 307

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A tract land containing thirty acres just outside Rajahmundry, presented the Mission Dr. H. C. Schmidt, was selected the site the new buildings. Plans were sub- mitted the Board and approved it. building com- mittee India was appointed the Board, consisting of Kuder, chairman, Schmidt and Pohl. Kuder began digging well insure good supply water. Material was being gathered and the foundations were about laid, when Schmidt again reached the field after furlough Germany and America. objected the arrangements which had been made and the plans, some difficulty arose with regard the transfer the site the Mission, the Board's treasury became somewhat embarrassed because a lack funds and the whole undertaking was indefinitely postponed. In India the Jubilee Year was inaugurated the consecra- tion the new Emmanuel Chapel Dowlaishwaram, ! on the gth January, during the meeting the Mission Conference. All the native agents, 160 number, attended the service consecration. McCready and Arps conducted the last service the old schoolhouse. Ten missionaries, including number visiting missionaries, all clerical robes, led the procession the door the new building, where the 24th Psalm was read responsively Arps and the school children. Baehnisch read the first Scripture 'lesson (Genesis 28:16-19); Kuder, the second (Psalm 122); Isaacson, the third (Psalm 84); Pastor Joseph, the fourth (Luke 19:1- 10); Pastor Paulus, the fifth and sixth (Psalm 51 and Kings 8:1-13, 22-30). Pohl preached the sermon and performed the act consecration. Arps offered the prayer consecration and baptized infant, his first baptism missionary. Missionary Schultze the Breklum Mission pronounced the benediction. the evening supper rice and curry was served. All the Rajahmundry missionaries attended the First I This chapel 45 feet long and 15 feet wide with altar niche 8 feet wide. It has now become entirely inadequate, and larger building, for which plans and specifications have been approved the Board, should provided.

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THE HOME THE MISSIONARY DOWLAISHWARAM

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INTERIOR SAMULKOT CHURCIT

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Joint Conference Lutheran Missions the Telugu country, held Guntur, January 17-19, 1895. Besides the Guntur and Rajahmundry Missions the Schleswig-Holstein Brek- lum and the Hermannsburg Missions sent delegates. ! After this Conference Arps went back Dowlaishwaram to take independent charge that district, assisted Pastor Joseph and 18 teachers. "Here the town Dow- laishwaram, " wrote, "four different denominations have congregations, namely, the Roman Catholics, the Plymouth Brethren, the Canadian Baptists and the Lutherans. This is deplored, but being the case becomes necessary for our Christians and especially for our teachers know what Lutheran. " Arps got box medicines for epileptics from Bielefeld, Germany, January, 1895, and began the treat- ment 1g persons afflicted with this dread disease, some whom was able relieve. Concerning the work foreign missionary wrote: 'It is, indeed, high honor mis- sionary among heathen; but only for one who can accept the darker hours with grateful heart and can subdue the evil powers with patient confidence faith. Believe me, there are times when missionary would rather break stones than the work missionary. Nevertheless, love for the poor heathen will finally overcome all hindrances, all their wiles and wickedness, all their pride and blindness, all their un- gratefulness and hardness heart. " Miss Sadtler left Rajahmundry April 8th, the Board having given her special permission return the United States order attend the golden wedding anniversary of her parents, the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sadtler, Baltimore, Md. "Holy week, " wrote Pohl, "saw the depar- ture Miss Sadtler. Palm Sunday afternoon the congre- gation Rajahmundry assembled for hour prayer, and we prayed God give our sister safe journey home. Our Christians presented her, whom they all respect and love, 1 Those who took part the program were Unangst, Uhl, Wolf, Harpster, Aberly, Dr. Anna Kugler and Miss A. L. Sadtler, the Guntur Mission; Kuder, Pohl and Miss Agnes I. Schade, the Rajahmundry Mission; Schultze and Harless, the Breklum Mission; Woerrlein and Maneke, the Hermannsburg Mission.

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beautifully bound Telugu Bible. shall miss her very much. She has the happy faculty seeing the bright side things. " After Easter Pohl made his first trip Gonegudem, Chodawaram and Rampa the hill country. Choda- waram wrote: "I had imagined small village, but it consists nothing more than police-station, rest-house, a hospital three little rooms, unoccupied, half dozen small buildings for native officials, also unoccupied, and few huts. Around each building bamboo fence built about man's height, means defence against the possible attack jungle tribes. " Rampa found consist only twenty huts built two separate clusters ten each, about half mile apart the midst the jungle. the hill tribes said, 'How different they are from the Telugus physiog- nomy and customs! With fiery patriotism they speak the times the Pituri, the rebellion and the loss their ancient rights, which led them rebel. Rampa and Durachin- tapalem, ten miles apart, have twenty-five Christians, nine whom are communicants. "'! In accordance with resolution the Mission Council adopted January, 1894, and approved the Board, the boarding girls were withdrawn from the "Seminary" and or- ganized separate school under the direction Miss Agnes I. Schade. building was rented 60 rupees month, and the school was opened June 18, 1895, with 19 boarders and 25 day pupils. the end the first month the number boarders had increased 29. The school building contained but three rooms, each 14 feet long and 12 feet wide. The verandah had to used accommodate some the classes. Besides her work connection with this school, Miss Schade under- took manage the Hindu Girls' School Riverdale, the Artman Mohammedan Girls' School and the zenana work. After the girls had been withdrawn, the Seminary was con- 1 Pohl baptized two persons this visit Rampa. his homeward way he visited Jembupatnam and Srirangapatnam, where few inquirers resided; Nallakonda, where service was held; Kateru and Gadala, where few Chris- tians lived.

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tinued Boys' Boarding School under Kuder; 134 boys were enrolled, ' changes were made the staff teachers? and the promising graduates the Lower Secondary Depart- ment were sent the Government High School the town. A new curriculum Bible studies for those who expected become teachers the Mission was introduced, including Biblical History, Church History, Biblical Introduction, Bible Geography, Catechism and little Homiletics. The question Industrial Schools connection with the Mission was revived this time, and the Board was pressed for decision. Lace-making had been begun again; Mec- Cready continued carry the industry tile-making Tallapudi; and Schmidt had developed the work the prin- tery Rajahmundry. The Board discussed this question its report the General Council 1893, follows: "Our missionaries, some hold, are sent out preach the Gospel, and allow them spend their time the carrying this or that industry seems them be, say the least, misuse of their time and talents. the other hand, said, they must necessarily other things besides that preaching the Gospel, for instance, the erection houses for themselves, of schools and churches; and whether the supervision industrial school not only another branch the work missionary question that not easily answered. " The Board refused assume any responsibility for the indus- trial work already established, discouraged its development and declined approve any new industrial enterprise. 1 these, 120 were supported scholarships America. The school received Rs. 310 government grant during 1894-5. 2 R. Samuel took K. Gabriel's place. M. William was discharged and L. Johann employed his stead. N. Charles, son Pastor Paulus, was added to the staff. M. Devadas was sent the local Normal School; K. Gabriel and B. Anandam the Government High School. gymnastic master was em- ployed Rs. 12 month. 3 January 27, 1896, the Board adopted the following resolutions: "This Board not position either institute anything new continue work now operation, unless can done without expense this Board. Re- solved, therefore, That this Board accordance with its action taken its meeting July 15, 1895, will not institute any new industrial schools continue those already established unless they can continued instituted without any expense this Board this time-for financial reasons; and further Resolved, That missionary thinks proper and desirable continue organize industrial school-such schools time expense our

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The question building sanitarium for our missionaries and their families somewhere the hills the seashore was also decided adversely the Board, because "the demands of other parts the work seemed greater importance. " Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt with their daughter came America from Denmark the spring 1895, reaching Philadelphia April 19th. was great demand lecturer our Telugu Mission India and carried out extensive itinerary. He met with the Board six times during the year, and his advice concerning the proposed hospital, sanitarium, Seminary site and buildings, new rules and regulations for the Mission and other matters was very useful. Among other matters that establishing High School for boys Peddapur was dis- cussed, but definite conclusion was reached. Dr. Edman, who had drawn the attention the Board this subject conference with the Board April, urged that the boys' school which had begun Peddapur 1891, primary school, and which was attended large number Brahmin boys, should raised the standard high school college, and Schmidt seconded the proposal, but the Board hesitated. ! Another interesting subject which Schmidt discussed with the Board was his land endowment scheme. its meeting on July roth, letter was read the Board from Mr. John G. Haas Lancaster, Pa. , which stated that had given Dr. Schmidt the sum $3000 with which build church India, memory his departed wife, Charlotte Sophia, and $5000 addition kept trust fund, the proceeds which were used for the support native pastor who should serve the congregation worshipping the memorial church. "Dr. Schmidt, " continue the Board's min- treasury-such work shall under the supervision the Mission Council, reports its progress shall made regularly the Council, and all profits accruing therefrom shall paid into the Mission treasury. " ! This school Peddapur was continued Isaacson, who, March, 1893, raised the grade Lower Secondary School, and placed charge Ramo Rao, headmaster. This school met all its expenses from fees and government grant and from the private purse the Isaacsons. 1897 large building was rented and occupied the Lower Secondary Department, the Primary Department remaining the old building separate department.

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utes, 'explained that had received these $8coo differ- ent times for the purpose specified, that had placed the money interest, and that the reason had not mentioned it before was that was Mr. Haas' expressed desire not have mentioned. Dr. Schmidt stated that had com- menced building the memorial church near Mahadevipatnam, which resolution was authorized complete according to the desire the donor; and the balance the $8ocoo was be invested land India. " was, furthermore, resolved the Board request the Mission Council India suggest some one who might called the native pastor the con- gregation, when organized; and the thanks the Board was expressed Mr. Haas for his generous gifts. Other gifts for special objects received during 1895, were those the Sunday school St. Johannis' Church, Reading, Pa. , and two brothers, members the same congregation, for the support the native pastors Joseph and Paulus, and one $600, secured through Mrs. H. E. Jacobs from two unnamed donors, husband and wife, for new mission-boat which was named the "Margaret" and was used Arps the Dowlaishwaram district. While the Women's Missionary Society the Philadelphia Conferences was looking for woman physician willing to India, learned the desire Miss Charlotte Swenson of Axtell, Kan. , become foreign missionary, and presented her name the Board. Upon the recommendation mem- bers the Swedish Augustana Synod and after having passed a satisfactory medical examination, she was called the Board May 27, 1893. Charlotte Swenson, the third woman missionary the General Council, was born January 8, 1870, Langhult, Himryd, Sweden. She was taken America her parents, Anders and Anna Maria Swenson, when she was eight years old. The family lived Axtell, Kansas, where her father died 1879. She was confirmed the Swedish Lutheran Church near Axtell. She attended Bethany College, Linds- borg, Kan. , and was graduated from its Normal Department. Having accepted the call the Board Foreign Missions,

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she was commissioned July 17, 189s, St. James' German Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. This service was also fare- well meeting with Dr. and Mrs. Schmidt, whose company Miss Swenson sailed from New York July 20th. They reached Rajahmundry the midst cyclonic storm September sth. After his arrival India Schmidt resumed charge the Bhimawaram and the Rajahmundry-Korukonda districts, Pohl taking the oversight the newly formed Tadepal- ligudem district with headquarters the town the same name, where supervised the erection missionary's residence. Unable secure the material which wanted, it became necessary for him choose and cut down trees, have them sawed into boards and carted the building place, make the lime and the bricks under his personal supervision, and, indeed, give his personal attention every detail construction. The Board reported the following statistics for the Jubilee Year the convention the General Council Easton, Pa. , October 9-15, 1895: Foreign missionaries. . . . . . . . . . 8 Number Christians. . . . . . . . 4484 Wives missionaries. . . . . . . . . 8 Communicants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1763 Woman missionaries. . . . . . . . . . 3 Stations and out-stations. . . . . 108 Native pastors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Native workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Pupils school. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1803 In May, 1895, the Board increased the amount allowed per quarter for general expenses India $1400, and October, $1500. The receipts the Board for the bien- nium, 1893-95, were $40,783.61; the expenditures, $37,333.39. This was increase receipts over the previous biennium of $7927.09, and increase expenditures amounting $6489.69. 1 The Rev. Carl A. Blomgren, Ph. D. , and the Rev. J. J. Heischmann, D. D. , were elected the General Council take the places the Revs. G. Nelsenius and E. Elofscn. its reorganization meeting after the General Council the Board re-elected its former officers.