{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 142,
  "chapterName": "1902. The Fourth Decennial Missionary Conference, Madras",
  "pageFrom": 281,
  "pageTo": 288,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 281,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n281\nNotwithstanding the famine, the ordinary mission work has\nbeen carried on about as in former years. The village schools.\nhave perhaps suffered the most, but on account of the liberal aid.\ngiven to the teachers and some of the scholars very few of the two\nhundred and twenty village schools have gone down, while some:\ntwenty-five others have been started in as many centres. Hence\nat the close of the year there were more village schools than we\nhad at the beginning and most of them are doing a good though.\nnot a great work.\nThe native preachers, also, as a rule, remained at their posts,.\nand Sunday schools have been maintained in a large number of\nvillages where we have schools. The Telugu... services at head-\nquarters have been as in former years, and English service in the\nevening conducted by the principal or assistant principal, or one of\nthe teachers of the college, has been maintained throughout the\nyear.\n142. THE FOURTH DECENNIAL MISSIONARY\nCONFERENCE, MADRAS (1902 A.D.)\nThe fourth All Indian Decennial Missionary Conference held at\nMadras in 1902 was the last of the important 'field' conferences in\nIndia. The subjects discussed and resolutions passed. some of which\nare reproduced here, represent the culmination of missionary thinking\nduring the second half of the 19th century. The world Missionary\nConference at Edinburgh in 1910, the formation of the National\nMissionary Council (later, National Christian Council), the First\nWorld War, and the intensification of the Indian Nationalist movement\nushered in a new era. Report of the Fourth Decennial Indian Missionary\nConference held at Madras, 1902, pp. 28-36, 47-48, 159-165.\nI. Resolutions on Self-support, Self-government, and\nSelf-extension\nA. Self-Support\nWhereas the Self-support of a Church is next in importance\nonly to its growth in spiritual life; whereas this important subject\nhas now been prominently before the Missions and the Churches\nconnected with them for several years past, and its imperative\nnecessity recognised alike by the Missions and the Churches; and\nwhereas strenuous efforts are being made by many Churches:\ntoward the attainment of this end, these efforts having been in",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 282,
      "ocrText": "282\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nsome cases crowned with success, but in too many others making\nbut little progress towards it :-\nResolution IX\nThis Conference acknowledges with deepest thankfulness to God\nthe progress that has been already made, and urges on the Missions\nand the office-bearers of the Churches to continue to instruct and\nenlighten the Churches on the duty and privilege of Self-support,\nand to apply with earnestness and perseverance the the plans that have\nthus far proved successful. The Conference considers that in the\norganisation of new Churches provision for the attainment of Self-\nsupport in the near future should be made whenever practicable.\nResolution X\nThe Conference, believing as it does that the Churches will\nnever rise to their responsibilities in the matter of Self-support until\nits absolute necessity is brought home to them by the withdrawl\nof foreign aid, earnestly recommends the regular reduction of\ngrants of Mission money made to Churches of any standing,-\ndue consideration being given to cases of extraordinary develop-\nment, thereby not only setting free funds for new work, but also\ntraining the people in the privilege of giving, and giving increasingly,\nof their substance to the work of the Church. This would result,\nthe Conference feels, in the development of those Christian quali-\nties which efforts in that direction naturally evoke\nResolution XII\nThe Conference is of the opinion that, in order to secure the\nhearty and liberal gifts of the people, not only must the Christian\nduty, privilege and blessing of giving be continually laid before\nthem, but such methods of giving as accord with the genius of the\npeople should be resorted to. In this connection, offerings on\nspecial festive occasions, offerings for special mercies received or\ndangers averted (e.g., in times of sickness, etc.), first fruits, collec-\ntions of grain and the like, should be encouraged, in addition to\nperiodical contributions, collections, etc.\nHarvest Festivals, coinciding as they do with the customs of the\ncountry, have also proved themselves an important factor in incit-\ning the people to spontaneous and cheerful giving, and are heartily\nrecommended by the Conference.\nResolution XIII\nThe Conference recommends the establishment of a fund for the\nsupport of the Pastor in connection with every Church or group of\nChurches however small, to which all the members, rich and poor,",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 283,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n283\nold and young, should be invited and urged to contribute periodi-\ncally according as the Lord has prospered them. This will keep\nthem in rememberance of their duty to contribute to those who\nminister to them in spiritual things, and also help to make up the\nsalary of or provision for the Pastor.\nSelf-Government\nResolution XIV\nThis Conference would emphasize the principle now generally\naccepted, that a reasonable and increasing share of the government\nof the Churches should be entrusted to the members of those\nChurches, with the view both of training them in the art of self-\ngovernment, and of enabling them to take an increasing and more\nintelligent interest in the affairs of their own Church. This will\nhave a reflex influence on the advance of Self-support, as it is vain\nto expect the people to give liberally unless they have a due share\nin the government of their Church.\nResolution XV\nThis Conference, realising the tendency in the various circum-\nstances which sometimes combine to dissociate the Pastor from\nthose amongsi whom he is to labour, and the danger of the true\nidea of Pastoral work being lost sight of and that of 'superin-\ntendence' being introduced in its place, would urge that practical\nsteps be taken to foster increasingly in the mind of the Pastor the\nidea that he is an integral part of the Native Church to which he\nministers, rather than connected with, and dependent upon, a\nforeign Missionary Society. To this end the Conference would\nreiterate the recommendation of the South India Missionary\nConference of 1900, Resolution II on The Native Church',\nthat all Pastors should be paid through some office-bearer of the\nChurch other than the representative of the Missionary Society.\nResolution XVI\nThis Conference would urge the paramount importance of\ndefinitely training Pastors and Governing Bodies in the art of\nChurch administration, the main duty of the administrative Mis-\nsionary being not to govern, but to train others to govern. The\nConference strongly feels that the tendency which would lead\nthe European to undertake administration himself rather than to\nbe at pains to train the Churches to undertake it, a course often\ndemanding more labour and self-effacement, should be at all\ncosts resisted; and that no possibility of failure should deter",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 284,
      "ocrText": "284\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nMissionaries or Missionary Bodies from giving the Churches the\nfullest scope possible in this direction. With this end in view the\nConference would propose that plans be adopted in Church govern-\ning bodies whereby men of special ability may be placed in positions\nof responsibility in which they may may have due opportunity for the\nexercise of their administrative powers, including the collection col\nand disbursement of funds, subject at the same time to a super-\nvision which, while not interfering with their due liberty of action,\nwould secure the right discharge of their duties. The Conference\nis of the opinion that where failures have occured in the past they\nhave been largely due to the fact that men have been suddenly\nplaced in practically independent positions without due training.\nResolution XVII\nThis Conference considers, that, where ecclesiastical principles\nallow, the initiation and enforcement of discipline in the Indian\nChurches would be more effective if use were made of the indige-\nnous system of panchayats, consisting of Christian leaders, recog-\nnised as possessing some authority. This would inculcate a healthy\nespirit de corps and a sense of responsibility in regard to Christian\nliving both among the leaders and the members of the community.\nC. Self-Extension\nResolution XVIII\nThe Conference deems it of the utmost importance that the\nChurches should be constantly reminded that they are themselves\na great Missionary organisation, and that upon them lies the sacred\nduty of making known the Gospel to those who know it not...\nIn India and Ceylon, where there are almost illimitable opportuni-\nties of extension, the burden of winning people to Christ must\nfall more and more upon the Native Churches; and while foreign\nhelp and guidance can do much, it is manifest that the whole ground\ncan be adequately occupied with workers only as those Churches\nfreely respond to the call Christ makes upon them...\nResolution XXI\nThe Conference recommends that in connection with each\nChurch, where possible, there should be a Missionary Band, which\nby its own voluntary efforts should attempt the evangelisation of\nsuch non-Christians as may be within its own immediate neigh-\nbourhood. Moreover, since, in some places, there are large Churches\nwhich might easily do the work which is being done by foreign\nMissionary Societies in the same area, the Conference suggests",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 285,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n285\nthat in such cases the agents of the foreign Missionary Society\nmight be withdrawn and the responsibility for the work thrown on\nthe Churches.\nResolution XXII\nThe Conference further would recommend the encouragement\nof the spirit which, they notice with thankfulness, has led some\nholding good positions to devote part of their leisure time specially\nin recesses or vacations, to banding themselves together, in a syste-\nmatized effort to preach the Gospel to non-Chrisitians at their\nown charges, believing that such efforts go far to dispel the idea\ncurrent in the minds of many that the Gospel is only preached\nby those who are paid to do so.\nResolution XXIII\nThe Conference would also emphasize the importance of main-\ntaining village Primary schools in connection with the Churches,\nas they serve the double purpose of giving instruction to Chris-\ntian children and of propagating the Gospel amongst non-Chris-\ntians.\nResolution XXIV\nThe Conference would recommend that Churches of each\nDenomination should unite in the formation of a Home Missionary\nSociety, which shall be supported and controlled by the Churches\nthemselves and shall work in certain specified areas.\nResolution XXV\nThe Conference further considers that the fact of a Church being\nnot entirely self-supporting should not debar it from undertaking\nMissionary work even outside its own District or language area, and\nthat care should always be taken by the Missionary Societies to\nsee that the idea of Evangelistic work is not dissociated from that\nof Pastoral.\nII. Resolutions on the Training of Ministers\nResolution XXVI\nThis Conference, regarding Ministerial Training Institutions,\nwhich seek to raise up and qualify spiritual workers familiar with the\nBible, as of fundamental importance, earnestly recommends Mission\nBoards and Churches to keep these Institutions in the highest\npossible state of efficiency, and wherever deemed advisable to\nprovide facilities for their endowment.",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 286,
      "ocrText": "286\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\nResolution XXVII\nThe Conference, approving of the suggestion of the South India\nMissionary Conference of January 1900, and of the Allahabad.\nRepresentative Meeting of February of the present year, recommends.\nthat as far as possible there should be co-operation of Missions in.\nthese Training Institutions, in the interest of economy, of labour\nand of funds, and for the promotion of union in the Indian and\nCeylon Churches.\nResolution XXVIII\nThe Conference recommends the careful consideration of the\nquestion of establishing an Interdenominational Theological Senate,\nor Board of Examiners, for the promotion of Theological learning\nin India.\nWith a view to give practical effect to any feasible solution of\nthis question, this conference appoints the following gentlemen as a\nrepresentative Committee with power to add to their number, and\nempowers them to confer with the Council of the Serampore College\nthrough the Committee of the London Baptist Missionary Society\nto ascertain whether they are prepared to delegate the degree-con-\nferring powers of the Charter of that College to a Senate or Faculty\nrepresentative of the various Protestant Christian bodies working.\nin India. This Conference also empowers the Committee to\nconfer with the various Missionary Conferences for the promotion\nof co-operation in theological training generally.\nIII. Resolutions on Missionary Comity\nResolution IV\nThis Conference, while recognising the right of all Christians to\nthe ministrations of their own communion, and to Christian liberty\nof thought and action, desires to affirm its opinion that, under\npresent circumstances, the principle of territorial divisions should\nbe maintained...\nResolution V\n1. This Conference advocates the formation of provincial or\nterritorial Missionary Associations (in addition to local Missionary\nConferences) representing large areas and many Missions. In the\ncase of the South India Missionary Association, this has materially\nhelped to bring the Missionaries of South India into closer touch\nwith each other.",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 287,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n287\n2. It also considers that there might be a far greater develop-\nment of co-operation in those spheres of service where it is prac-\nticable. It would quote as examples:\n(a) The work of Higher Education. It believes that if,\nany area where it is desirable to develop Higher Education under\nMissionary auspices, the Missions working in that area would\ncombine to create a really strong College, the effect both upon\nthe non-Christian and Christian communities would be excellent,\neach Society being at liberty to maintain its own Hostel for, and to\ngive religious instruction to, its own Christian students, if it desired\nto do so.\n(b) The same principle is applicable in lectures to non-\nChristians in Medical, Industrial and Literary work; for, while\nrecognising the amount of co-operation that already exists, the\nConference feels that large sums are at present being expanded in\nsmall and isolated efforts which, if combined, would enable central\ninstitutions of the highest class to be kept in the various depart-\nments of Missionary activity.\nResolution VI\n1. This Conference declares in favour of the principle of Arbi-\ntration on matters of dispute between Missions.\n2. The Conference appoints the following representatives of\nSocieties at present connected with the Decennial Missionary\nConference to act as the Board of Arbitration for India and Ceylon,\nsubject to the approval of the Home Societies; it being understood\nthat only those Societies that accept the principle of Arbitration\nshall be represented to the Board:\n(names of the members of the Board are given)\nEvery Missionary Society not connected with the present\nDecennial Missionary Conference which may hereafter desire to be\nrepresented upon the Board of Arbitration, may nominate one\nrepresentative to be added to the above.\n3. This Conference suggests to the above Board the election\nof an Executive Committee of fifteen members from among its\nnumber who shall prepare some system of arbitration to be sub-\nmitted for approval to the Board.\n4. This Conference expresses an opinion that in all cases of\ndisagreement the Missions concerned should attempt a settlement\nbetween themselves, and that reference should be made to the\nBoard of Arbitration only after such attempts have failed.",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 288,
      "ocrText": "288\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\n5. While recognising the desirability of leaving to the Board of\nArbitration the preparation of a workable system of arbitration,\nthis Conference desires to express its approval of the following\ngeneral principles upon the basis of which questions of Comity\ncan in its opinion be most satisfactorily settled:\n(a) That the Board can arbitrate only when any case is\nreferred to it by the official representatives of both the Missions\ninvolved in any dispute. But in case one party declines arbitration,\nit shall still be open to the other party to appeal to the Board to use\nits friendly offices to bring about reconciliation.\n(b) That the decisions of the Board of Arbitration, or its\nappointed representatives, shall be final.\n(c) That for the settlement of any dispute, the appointed\nrepresenatives of the Board of Arbitration shall include an equal\nrepresentation on behalf of each of the Missions directly concerned,\nchosen by them from among the members of the Board, it being\nleft to the Board to appoint an additional member, or members,\nwhether of its own body or not, having regard to the nature of the\nsubject upon which arbitration is sought.\n6. Further, this Conference is of opinion that the Board of\nArbitration should take steps to obtain detailed information regar-\nding unoccupied fields of labour, and thus be in a position to\nput before the Churches of Europe and America statements concern-\ning those needs of India which can only be met by their aid.\nResolution VII\nThis Conference also recommends the formation of a similar\nBoard of Arbitration for Ceylon, and appoints the Rev. A. E.\nDibben to bring the subject before the various Protestant Missions\nat work in the Island.\nResolution VIII\n1. This Conference is of opinion that no worker should be\nreceived into another Mission as an agent without reference to the\nMission of which he was formerly a member and the receipt of a\ncertificate of good character, and, in case he has contracted obli-\ngations for his training and education, without his continuing to\ndischarge in his new position such obligations as may be mutually\nagreed upon.\n2. This Conference considers it desirable that Missions working\nnear each other and among similar classes should communicate\nwith each other, with a view to obtaining as much uniformity in",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}