{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 103,
  "chapterName": "1855. General Conference of Bengal Protestant Missionaries on Vernacular Preaching",
  "pageFrom": 158,
  "pageTo": 159,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 158,
      "ocrText": "158\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\n103. GENERAL CONFERENCE OF BENGAL PROTESTANT\nMISSIONARIES ON VERNACULAR PREACHING (1855 A.D.)\nOne of the series of local, regional and national inter-denomi-\nnational missionary conferences that were to play such an important\nrole in the development of ecumenicity in India was held in Calcutta\non September 4-7, 1855. Representatives of six missions and three\nEuropean churches were present. The resolution on vernacular prea-\nching reproduced here provides interesting insights into evangelistic\nmethods of the times; and the dissenting opinion, which is also repro-\nduced, is equally interesting. Proceedings of a General Conference\nof Bengal Protestant Missionaries, 1855, pp. 64-67.\nResolution on Vernacular Preaching\nThat this Conference concur generally in the views now given\nby Messrs. Wenger Stubbius of the sphere of vernacular preaching\nand of the modes in which it may be best carried on. Amongst\nthe various means employed in India for the fulfilment of the great\ncommission, they regard the preaching of the gospel to the people\nin their own tongue either by European missionaries or by preachers\nraised up in the country, as the work of highest importance. Though\nattended with difficulties, they consider it admirably adapted to the\ninstruction of all, who can be brought under its influence; but they\nregret that owing to the state and constitution of native society,\nthere are certain classes, such as the members of wealthy families,\nand nearly the whole female population, who are rarely reached by\nits agency. So important is it in their eyes, that they consider, that\nevery missionary on arriving in the country should endeavour so to\nmaster the language as to be able personally to engage in it: and\nwhile such as learn to speak it well, should, if not otherwise directed\nby providence, devote to vernacular preaching their entire attention.\nThose who are directed to other plans, should also give to it as\nmuch time and effort as they can. They consider that owing to the\nstate of the native mind, every department of vernacular preaching\nshould receive the most careful study; in order that a missionary\nmay be completely prepared for the various circumstances under\nwhich the Hindus are add addressed by him; and especially for the\nnumerous objections with which they meet his exhortations. With\na view to secure, as far as possible, the same hearers, they think\nthat in the neighbourhood of a missionary's house or station,\npreaching in the bazaar to the heathen should be conducted with\nregularity and on system. They also approve highly to extensive\nitinerancies amongst villages and towns beyond the ordinary\nsphere of his labour; of visits to the great markets, and (in spite of\ncertain disadvantages) of visits to the crowds attending the great\nmelas and religious festivals. If practicable, such itinerancies",
      "status": "completed"
    },
    {
      "pageNumber": 159,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n159\nshould be regular and systematic, so that a missionary may re-visit\nthe same villages, or may remain at any place that seems peculiarly\nopen to the gospel. Though not absolutely necessary, they think\nthat in such itinerancies missionaries may, with great advantage,\naccompany each other or be accompanied by native catechists:\nwhile their visits and their preaching should be followed up by a\njudicious distribution of suitable tracts and portions of the Word\nof God.\nIn looking at the results of vernacular preaching in Bengal,\nthey acknowledge with regret, that though the majority of missiona-\nries have been engaged, for for many years, in various parts of the\ncountry in this department of missionary labour, it is a remarkable\nfact that, as compared with the amount of labour and journeying,\nthe number of known conversions to which vernacular preaching\nto the heathen in the bazaar by missionaries has immediately led,\nseems to have been small. Indirectly it has produced enquiry,\nbrought enquiries into connection with Christians and Christian\nservices and in conjunction with other agencies has led to the\nformation of the native churches now existing. Especially has it\ncontributed to that marked change in religious views, both as to the\ncharacter of Hinduism and the worth of Christianity, which distin-\nguishes the present generation of the Hindus from those which\nhave preceded it. Regarding these fruits as of the highest import-\ntance, the members of this Conference feel abundantly encouraged\nto continue preaching the word everywhere, sure that the promise\nwill be fulfilled, that we shall reap if we faint not.\nDissent from the Resolution on Vernacular Preaching\n1. Because the resolution is virtually a censure upon some of\nthe most venerable missionaries who have ever laboured in this\nland, who have been mainly employed in other departments of\nmissionary labour, as Bible Translation, Education and the pastor-\nship of native churches. We cannot join in a resolution which\nnecessarily implies that these men have been employed only in\nsubordinate departments of the work.\n2. Because in other places, the resolution will probably be\nunderstood as implying this censure in a greater degree than the\ndiscussions in the Conference shewed that the members understood\nit; and in the opinion of the dissentients, the Resolution is liable\nto such mis-construction.\n3. Because one effect of the Resolution will be, to induce young\nmissionaries, when entering upon their labour, to rush into the\nmost difficult department of missionary work, before they are\nproperly qualified for it, and will unduly excite prejudices in their\nminds against various departments of the work, before they are",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}