of divinity at Jena, was a man of superior talents and acquirements, and admirably qualified to promote the cause of Christianity in India. His loss was therefore severely felt by his colleagues; but amidst the regret of being thus early called from the service of his Lord upon earth, and of being separated from an affectionate wife and an infant daughter, he expressed in striking terms the peace which he enjoyed, and his lively hope of future happiness. His widow and child, however, survived him only a few weeks.*

assistance from the labors of the native catechists, and the numbers of converts in the neighboring districts being now very considerable, deemed it highly expedient to provide for the discharge of the higher functions of the ministry by one of their own countrymen. For this important purpose they selected one of the catechists named Aaron, a man of respectable family, who had been baptized by Ziegenbalg, and who had for many years been distinguished both by his personal piety and by his talents and usefulness as a teacher. At the close of the year 1733, the missionaries from Madras united Among the literary labors of the missionaries at with their brethren at Tranquebar and the chap- this period, besides the printing of the Portuguese lains of the Danish factory, in ordaining him to the Bible, were a grammar in Tamul and German, and work of the ministry, according to the rites of the a History of the Church, composed by Mr. Walther Lutheran church. He was at this time about thirty- in Tamul, and printed in 1735. The latter work five years of age, and his long white pastoral robe, was occasioned by a request of the catechist Rajalike that of the Syrian clergy, corresponded with naiken, to be informed as to the origin and progress the mild and amiable character of his appearance of the errors of the Church of Rome, in order that and manner. The mother and sister of Aaron had he might be better prepared to reply to the objec also embraced Christianity. The duty of the new tions, and to refute the false opinions of the Roman minister was to preach and administer the sacra- Catholics. This ecclesiastical history, which overments alternately in a district of Tanjore, compris- turned the pretended antiquity of the Romish Church, ing several congregations of Christians; and such and which was extremely useful to the country catewas the success with which he labored, that in the chists, was particularly designed for the instruction course of the following year he had been the instru- of the pupils of the seminary, who were to be edument of converting no less than fifty of his country-cated as catechists and schoolmasters. About the men to the faith of the gospel. The services of the catechists, particularly of Rajanaiken, had been at the same time eminently beneficial.

The translation of the Bible into the Hindostanee language, which had been completed in 1732 by the learning and diligence of Mr. Schultz, though not printed till some years afterwards, was a work from which the missionaries anticipated much advantage in their labors in that quarter.

Mr. Sartorius having, in his late journey to Tranquebar, spent some days at Fort St. David, the governor expressed his readiness to assist in forming a mission in that neighborhood. On communicating this intelligence to the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, Mr. Schultz was directed in the next despatch to take measures for that purpose. That zealous missionary having at the same time reported the want of adequate accommodation for preaching the Word of God in the only house then occupied by the mission at Madras, the Society immediately obtained the consent of the Court of Directors to build a church and two schools at that presidency, under the superintendence of the governor of Fort St. George and the agents of the Society. Instructions were accordingly sent to their correspondents to commence those buildings, in the hope that though their present remittances would not be sufficient for so considerable a work, the providence of God would enable them to complete it the following year.*

The attention of the missionaries at Tranquebar was in the year 1735 directed to the practicability of extending their Christian labors to Bengal, and they had written to request the assistance of their friends in England in carrying this design into execution, and had received their cordial acquiescence, when it was painfully interrupted by the premature loss of two of their number, Messrs. Reichsteig and Worm. These excellent men had been companions on the voyage to India, and had during nearly five years been zealous and indefatigable in the discharge of the laborious and self-denying duties of the mission. They died at Tranquebar within three weeks of each other, leaving a very powerful testimony to the truth and value of the principles and promises of the gospel. Mr. Worm, who had been a pupil of the celebrated Buddæus, professor

* Report of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.

same time, Mr. Sartorius completed the Tamul Dictionary which had been commenced by Ziegenbalg.

The presents sent to the missionaries at Tranquebar and Madras, from the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, amounted, in the year 1736, to no less a sum than £1,500, and in the following year, to £1,700 sterling; while the collections in Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, on several occasions, exceeded three thousand crowns. The zeal and liberality of professor Francke, of Halle, in promoting these subscriptions, are frequently mentioned in their reports.

The mission which the governor of Fort St. George had promised to support, was in the year 1737 established by Messrs. Sartorius and Giesler, at the neighboring town of Cuddalore. The missionaries had often preached there; and though at first the native inhabitants were indisposed to hear them, great numbers were in process of time persuaded to embrace the gospel. This branch, however, of the Madras mission did not long enjoy the benefit of Mr. Sartorius' labors. That active and valuable missionary died the next year, and was buried at Cuddalore; all the English gentlemen there attending his funeral. His loss was particularly felt, on account of his remarkable skill in the Tamul language; the most learned natives acknowledging that he spoke it like a Brahmin. The death of Mr. Sartorius was followed by that of Mr. Pressier, at Tranquebar, aiter twelve years of faithful and effective service in that mission. The loss, however, of these pious men was happily repaired, by the arrival of three new missionaries, viz. Mr. Wiedebroeck, and Messrs. Obuch and Kolhoff, who had studied for some years at Halle. The mission was farther strengthened, by the embarkation, in the year 1739, of Mr. Kiernander, who had been a teacher in the Orphan House, and was recommended by Professor Francke to succeed Mr. Sartorius in the mission of Cuddalore. He was accompanied by Messrs. Fabricius and Zegler, from the Royal Mission College at Copenhagen, whose immediate destination was to Tranquebar. By the ship in which these missionaries sailed, thirteen chests, valued at £1,500, including, besides books, and printing and other paper, foreign silver for the use of the mission, were sent as usual, free of freight, Niecamp, vol. iii. p. 124.

by the kindness of the Court of Directors of the East India Company.

contain many gratifying statements of the successful labors of the missionaries. The two native preachers, Aaron and Diego, in their travels through the villages of the district which had been numerous were their converts in some of them, that it became necessary, according to the custom of the country, to appoint a Christian warden or superintendent over them. The former of these pious men finished his course in June, 1745, after eleven years of diligent service as an itinerant pastor and teacher, having, during that period, been the means of converting many hundred souls. His

In the year 1740, Mr. Schultz, in addition to the preparation of some native youths for the service of the mission, as catechists and schoolmasters, accom-assigned to them, were eminently useful; and so plished the important point of commencing a Tamul school for the children of heathen parents, under a Christian schoolmaster. He began with eight boys, sons of merchants and tradesmen at Cuddalore, and indulged the hope that this measure would not only lead to a more intimate acquaintance with the inhabitants, but, by the blessing of God, tend to the introduction of Christianity among the natives. In this year the missionaries and catechists at Tran-end appears to have been hastened by his journeyquebar were remarkably favored by the numbers added to their congregations. They also nearly completed their new school buildings; while at Cuddalore the mission under the care of Mr. Giesler was gradually prospering.

ings and fatigues; and such was his amiable character, and his holy and exemplary conduct, that he was almost equally lamented by the missionaries and by his native countrymen.

The death of Mr. Obuch, one of the missionaries With the approbation of the Mission College at at Tranquebar, followed shortly after that of the Copenhagen, they, at the close of the year, ordained pastor Aaron. He was, according to the testimony the catechist Diego, who had long been most dili-of his colleagues, a most faithful and affectionate gently and faithfully engaged in that humble but brother, conscientious in the discharge of his duty, useful employment, to assist the native preacher, and persevering in it even to the disregard of life, Aaron, who was now become infirm, and unable so that he might fulfil the ministry which he had to perform his ministerial duties to a large congre-received, and finish his course with joy. gation.*

The general cause of the mission sustained a great loss in the year 1742, by the return to Europe of Mr. Schultz, in consequence of ill health, after more than twenty-years' residence in India. By this event the mission at Madras was deprived of a laborer of great learning, piety, and zeal, whose services from its establishment had been peculiarly valuable, and who marked his own attachment to its interests, by generously presenting the house in which he resided for the use of the mission. His place was immediately supplied by Mr. Fabricius, who entered upon the arduous duties of that station with that deep humility and dependence on the providence and grace of God, which formed the best security for the success of his labors.

The war between France and England, which commenced in 1744, having extended to India, in September, 1746, a French fleet appeared off Madras; and having landed a body of troops, after a bombardment of five days, Fort St. George was compelled to capitulate. The French commander at first promised to protect the mission; but soon afterwards, having ordered a great part of the Black, or native Town, to be levelled with the ground, for the purpose of improving the defence of Madras, the Mission House was destroyed, and the church converted into a magazine. Upon this unexpected calamity, Mr. Fabricius retired with the children of the mission school to Pulicat, a Dutch settlement in the neighborhood, where the governor gave them a kind and hospitable recepThe enlargement of their missions had now for tion. Here, with the assistance of a catechist and some time pressed heavily on the funds of the So-two schoolmasters, he took charge not only of the ciety for promoting Christian Knowledge; and they Christians who were with him, but of the converts even began to fear that they should not be able to near Madras, constantly visiting the villages around meet its increasing expenditure. They were, how him to disseminate the principles of the gospel. Or ever, encouraged by a most friendly and Chris- the restoration of peace in 1748, Mr. Fabricius re tian letter from professor Francke, full of good-will turned to Madras, and through the good offices of towards the missions at Madras and Cuddalore," Admiral Boscawen, the English mission, after some and remitting £250 towards their support. Ani-delay, obtained possession of a spacions church at mated by this seasonable aid, they requested that Vepery near the town, with the houses and gardens excellent man to provide two additional missiona- attached to it, which had belonged to the Roman ries for those stations, trusting, as they piously de- Catholic missionaries, but from which they had been clared, "that the same wise and good providence expelled, on account of their treasonable communiof God which had hitherto blessed them in all their cations with the French during the war. It is due undertakings to spread the pure gospel of his Son to the memory of Mr. Fabricius, to notice his zeal Christ Jesus in all parts of the world, would raise and charity during this critical period, in abating up benefactors to contribute whatever might be nearly one third of his salary, and living himself wanted towards it." Accordingly, in the following in the simplest manner, carrying the fruits of his year professor Francke sent out, at his own charge, self-denying economy to the account of the mission the Rev. Messrs. Breithaupt and Klein, to Tran- fund. The Romish church at Cuddalore was at the quebar; and out of his affectionate regard to the same time transferred by the governor of Fort St. Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, ne re- David to Mr. Kiernander, by the name of Christ's mitted a further sum of £300 towards the support Church, for the use of the missionaries of the Sociof the two missions at Madras and Cuddalore.ety for promoting Christian Knowledge, and as a Two years afterwards, the same liberal and zealous place of public worship for the increase of the Probenefactor sent an additional donation of £200; testant religion. on which occasion the Society expressed its earnest wishes for the general diffusion of the truly Christian spirit which animated that distinguished friend to the cause of missions.

The annual reports of the Society at this period

* Reports of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge.

+ Reports of the Society.

Having thus reviewed the origin and progress of the missions at Tranquebar and Madras, up to the year in which the venerable subject of the following memoirs embarked for India, a brief recapitulation of the actual state of the missions at that period, and of the success which had attended their various labors, may properly close this preliminary sketch.

It appears by the returns regularly made to the

Mission College at Copenhagen, and to the Society | any effectual change of religious profession, there for promoting Christian Knowledge, that from the was often a strong conviction on the native mind arrival of Ziegenbalg in 1706, to the year 1750, the of the folly of idolatry, and the truth of Christianumbers of the converts at Tranquebar, and in the nity as a divine revelation; and a very general imtowns and villages of the neighboring districts, to pression was evident in its favor from the unwearied which the missionaries and their catechists and and disinterested labors, and the holy and exemplateachers had access, amounted to nearly eight thou-ry lives of the Christian teachers. Nor was this all. sand; and that from the year 1728 to the same pe- The dispersion of the various translations of the riod, the converts at Madras and Cuddalore, and holy Scriptures, and the distribution of numerous along the coast of Coromandel, might be estimated tracts and treatises, printed at the Tranquebar press, at more than one thousand. Of these a very small tended to disseminate Christian knowledge and proportion were proselytes from the Roman Catho- Christian principles, far beyond the narrow limits lic faith; though such is the general ignorance of of the Protestant missions and their immediate vithe converts from heathenism by the missionaries cinity, and to prepare the way for that more extenof that church, that, with the exception of a few sive diffusion of the gospel in India, which we have unmeaning forms, they could scarcely be consider- happily lived to witness. ed as differing from their pagan countrymen. A few instances occurred of conversion from the Mohammedans, but their well-known prejudice and bigotry rendered these extremely rare. The great majority of the Protestant converts were native Hindoos or their children, chiefly, as might be expected, though by no means exclusively, even at that period, of the lower castes of the inhabitants.

It is not intended to be asserted that all these converts were well-informed and consistent Christians; but one of the principal features in the history of these Protestant missions is, the unwearied diligence and the scrupulous care and conscientious fidelity, with which the missionaries and other teachers labored to prepare their catechuinens for baptism, and to instruct their congregations in the doctrines and precepts of the gospel, and the primitive discipline which they exercised over them. Their periodical reports afford many unquestionable proofs and most interesting memorials of the faith and piety of their converts, many examples of Christian virtue, and many instances of opposition and persecution, "for righteousness' sake," sustained with a steadfastness, meekness, and patience, well worthy of the purest ages of the church, the genuineness and authenticity of which cannot fairly be doubted. Many a death-bed scene also is recorded in these reports,* in which the dying Hindoo, and not unfrequently the female convert, expressed with intelligence, humility, and ardent gratitude, the heartfelt penitence, the holy dispositions, and the heavenly hopes of the true Christian. Even where the instructions and exhortations of the missionaries failed of producing

Upon all these points the original acts of the Danish mission in German, or the admirable abridgment of them by Niecamp, either in Latin in two volumes quarto, or in the French translation of M. Gaudard, with a preface by professor Francke, may be advantageously consulted.

It was under a deep sense of the important effects already produced by these establishments, that the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, when recording the grants from the governors of Madras and Fort St. David, of the Roman Catholic churches at Vepery and Cuddalore, added its anxious expectation, that the directors of the East India Company would be disposed voluntarily to take the Protestant missions under their more immediate protection and favor, and to show some special marks of encouragement to that zeal and fidelity which the missionaries had manifested, not only for the Protestant religion, but likewise for the interest and service of the Company, particularly during the late war; concluding with an earnest hope, that all of this church and nation would enlarge their contributions to this fund, till it became sufficient to maintain such a number of missionaries and schools as might, by the grace of God, once more spread throughout the East the gospel of Christ in its original simplicity and purity, reformed from all the corruptions and abominations of popery.

These pious aspirations were, indeed, but faintly echoed by the feelings of the nation at large. Something may, doubtless, be attributed to the imperfect dissemination at that period of religious information, and still more to the little interest excited in behalf of the inhabitants of a country so distant, and comparatively so unknown, as India, at a time when the English possessions consisted of but little beyond a few commercial factories on its coasts. The Society, however, laudably persevered in its zealous endeavors to promote Christianity in the East; and in the eminent missionary, whose elevated character and important labors are to be developed in the following pages, the providence of God raised up an instrument admirably qualified to carry on its benevolent designs, during the eventful period in which Great Britain was pursuing her triumphant career towards the vast empire which she now possesses in Oriental India.

MEMOIRS

OF

THE REV. C. F. SWARTZ.

had exercised with respect to his expenses, thus | cision; the young candidate for this arduous underaddressed him: "My dear Frederick, you may, taking afraid of a refusal, the rest equally fearing perhaps, have sometimes repined on comparing of a consent. At length, his father came down your homely food and clothing with that of others: from his chamber, gave him his blessing, and bade and possibly you may have thought that your father him depart in God's name; charging him to forget did not love you so much as the parents of some of his native country and his father's house, and to go your friends; but I trust that your own good sense, and win many souls to Christ. and the painful example of their failure, will have Having thus obtained his dismission, he hastened led you to perceive my reasons for inuring you to his departure; and, generously resigning his patrihardships, and never encouraging you in self-in-mony to his brothers and sisters, he returned to dulgence. I may now justly hope that in whatever Halle. A few days afterwards, an advantageous situation it may please God to place you, you will offer was made to him of entering upon the ministry be qualified to sustain it :"--a sentiment which was at home; but he felt that the die was cast, and that virtually prophetic of his future arduous and self having deliberately put his hand to the plough, it denying career. did not become him to look back. How manifestly this determination originated in the superintending providence of God, and was crowned with his blessing, the subsequent history of this eminent missionary has abundantly proved.

In the year 1746 Swartz proceeded to Halle, with a view of attending the Grammar School of the Orphan House; but his distinguished countryman, Schultz, who, as we have seen, had returned from the Madras mission three years before, and was On the 8th of August, 1749, Swartz set out for then residing at Halle, advised him to enter the Copenhagen, for the purpose of receiving holy university at once, as he had attained his twentieth orders, accompanied by two other new missionaries year, and was already sufficiently grounded in ele-to India, Messrs. Poltzenhagen and Hutteman.mentary knowledge. He accordingly followed this They reached that city on the 23rd, were examined advice, and diligently attended the lectures of the on the 6th of September by Dr. Hersleb, Bishop of professors Baumgarten, Michaelis, Knapp, and Fre- Zealand and Primate of Denmark, and ordained linghausen, boarding and lodging in the mean time to the sacred ministry by Bishop Horreboa; and on at the Orphan House. While pursuing his studies the 19th they left Copenhagen on their return to there, he was chosen to be preceptor to the Latin Halle. classes, and to assist in the evening assemblies for prayer, appointed by the venerable founder to be held with the attendants and servants of the institution. These pious employments were highly beneficial to him: and, together with the instruction which he received at the devotional meetings, under the direction of the Rev. G. F. Weiss, Inspector of the German School, and his intercourse with the learned and pious professor Francke, confirmed him in the determination of devoting himself to God, and established him in that truly Christian course, the excellence of which his subsequent life so strikingly displayed.

It was at this time in contemplation to print a new edition of the Bible, in Tamul, at Halle, under the superintendence of the late missionary Schultz, who was also carrying through the press a devotional tract, which he had translated into the same language, for the purpose of distribution in India. In connection with another of the students, Swartz was recommended to acquire some knowledge of Tamul, in order to qualify him to assist in correcting the printing of these works; but though the intended edition of the Bible was not eventually carried into execution, this study occupied him for several months, and probably first directed his mind towards the sphere of his future labors. While thus engaged, professor Francke, who was making inquiries for new missionaries to India, proposed to Swartz to engage in this sacred and important work; and though the idea of such an employment was altogether new to him, he determined, if he could obtain his father's approbation, to accept the call.

For this purpose he made a journey to his native place. But here every thing seemed unfavorable; for, being the eldest son, he was considered the chief prop of the family, and no member of it would believe that his father could be brought to consent to such a project. Swartz, however, stated his wishes, together with the motives which influenced him, with great seriousness and solemnity, to his father; who, instead of putting an immediate negative upon the proposal, as had been expected, replied, that he would take two or three days to consider of it, and fixed a time for declaring his determination. The important day arrived; and the family waited with divided anxiety for the de

Every necessary preparation having been made for their intended voyage, the three missionaries took leave of their pious and excellent friends in that university; and it being intended that they should proceed to India by way of England, they repaired to Helvoetsluys, where they embarked, and reached Harwich on the 6th of December; the next day they pursued their journey to Colchester, and on the 8th arrived in London. There they remained six weeks, during which time they were diligently employed in learning the English language, and in preparing for their important destination. Though they were not formally presented at any public meeting of the board, the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge most kindly received and provided for them during their stay in this country. The following extracts translated from two letters of Swartz in German, to the Rev. Dr. Francke, contain some interesting particulars of their feelings and occupations from the time of their departure from Halle. The commencement of the first is very characteristic of his mind, and is dated from Kensington, 18th of December, 1749.

"God hath ordered all things well on the voyage. Our hearts (more especially mine) were very cheerful during the storming and raging of the sea; and I have frequently reminded myself of the 46th psalm with great joy. Praised be God! This ought to be the beginning, middle, and end of my letter. If God maketh this only to resound in our hearts, that he, Jehovah, our sun and shield, is with us, we can then not only be tranquil, but cheerful.

"Our occupations here have been of singular use, and a great refreshment to us. In every dif ficulty we could have recourse to the Rev. Mr. Ziegenhagen, the venerable chaplain of his majesty, who has behaved to us with paternal kindness, and has given us such plain directions as we like inexperienced children, stood in need of. This was our daily occupation, to take lessons and receive instruction. Then we had also to preach a few sermons; I twice, namely, once in the royal chapel on the first day of the Nativity, and afterwards for the Rev. Mr. Pittius, at the Savoy; Mr. Polizenhagen four times, and Mr. Hutteman three. May God bless what has been spoken in great weakness!"