{ "book_metadata": { "book_name": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials", "book_author": "M. K. Kuriakose", "publisher": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge", "published_on": "2011" }, "chunks": [ { "chunk_index": 1, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 221 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00245-7491547c2ec9e953a92f.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Conference Source and Subject", "chunk_data": "123. THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE: SOUTH INDIA AND CEYLON, BANGALORE (1879 A.D.)\nThe following papers and resolutions of the South India Missionary Conference held at Bangalore in 1879, are found in the Report of the Missionary Conference; South India and Ceylon, Bangalore, 1879, vol. I, (1) pp. 293-301; (2) pp. 320-327; (3) pp. 331-335; (4) pp. 346-451 (selection); (5) pp. 372-378; (6) p. 402; (7) p. 421.\n1. W. Burgess on the dangers of a Christian Community Emerging from Heathenism\nMy subject is divided into two parts:-1st, the dangers incident to a Christian community emerging from heathenism; and 2nd, what are regarded as indications of an attachment to Caste, and how should they be dealt with.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. Burgess" ], "places": [ "Bangalore", "South India", "Ceylon" ], "event": "The South India Missionary Conference was held in Bangalore and presented papers on emerging Christian communities and caste.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missions", "Christianity" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 221 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00245-7491547c2ec9e953a92f.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christianity Beyond Ritual", "chunk_data": "1. With respect to the first, it is scarcely needful for me to remark that the dangers incident to any Christian community necessarily take their colour from the surroundings out of which the community takes its rise. One of the marked peculiarities of Hinduism is its elaborate ritual. Its spirit is essentially ceremonial. In fact, beyond that, it speaks of little little else. According to its teaching, salvation might have no connection whatever with any internal moral change. Now, one of the chief dangers, incident to a Christian community emerging from such a faith, naturally will be that of supposing that the essence of Christianity consists in forms and ceremonies duly observed without any recognition of the fact that a change of heart is the chief object to be aimed at. And this is just as we find it. The danger of trusting in form, and resting satisfied with the mere nominal profession of Christianity, is by no means confined to India...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. Burgess" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "W. Burgess warned that converts from Hinduism might mistake Christian ritual and formal profession for inward moral transformation.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Conversion", "Hinduism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 221, 222 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00245-7491547c2ec9e953a92f.webp", "raw\\pages\\00246-5d7692c6b77ee8216cc5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Retention of Heathen Customs", "chunk_data": "Another danger threatening the very existence of the Church of Christ in India arises from the retention of heathen customs. Many who enter the Christian Church are not in the first instance moved by the purest of motives. Certainly we oftentimes have to mourn over motives, which, if not out and out unworthy, are yet very doubtful and defective; and there is a probability of such persons bringing with them into the Christian fold, much which, if allowed to remain, will undoubtedly prove very detrimental to the purity of the Church of God. It is quite possible, too, that even though the motive may be pure and the intention is good, still, owing to peculiarities of early training, the power to perceive what is pernicious may yet be wanting, and thoughtlessly they may retain customs and practices, which in their tendency are evil. We cannot forget the hold which Hinduism has on its subjects. It lays hand upon them in infancy, enters into the commonest acts of daily life, grows as they grow, and becomes interwoven with the very fibres of their nature. And the danger is, that, when a Hindu becomes a Christian, he may find it almost impossible, all at once, to break clean away from many things, which, through constantly repeated habit, have become second nature to him. Every day a thousand things occur which bring back to his mind old customs, and no wonder if now and then we find him slipping into old practices, and tripping somewhat. He has not had the advantages of a Christian home with all its power of example and the restraining influence of its love. Born in heathenism, cradled in it, bred in it, the hands that hold him are not gossamer, but iron cables, which have been years in the forging. But while we remember this and exercise the utmost possible patience and forbearance, there should yet be great firmness in resisting whatever is heathenish. The retention of heathen customs in connection with daily life, such as, the observance of lucky days; placing lights during the day in the sick room and about the dead; falling into old ceremonies in times of epidemics; hiring temple girls to dance at weddings, and the performance of other degrading rites in connection with marriages and funerals, should never be pandered to in any measure...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. Burgess" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "W. Burgess described the difficulty of abandoning deeply rooted Hindu customs after conversion and urged firmness against heathen practices.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Conversion", "Social Customs" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 222, 223 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00246-5d7692c6b77ee8216cc5.webp", "raw\\pages\\00247-4033f233735a656ea441.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christian Critique of Caste", "chunk_data": "With regard to the second part of my subject, I must content myself with brevity. I doubt not but that it will be more fully and much more ably dealt with by my colleagues in this paper.\nThere are in the Christian Church those who assert that caste is simply a civil institution recognizing differences analogous to the social distinctions of rank and birth observed in other lands, and, as such, they insist on its retention as a privilege and a right. Whatever it may be in the estimation of those who hanker after it in the Christian Church, I think there cannot be two opinions as to the way in which Hindus themselves regard it. Certainly, by the orthodox, its claims are considered religious and sacred as well as social. It is the very last thing a Hindu can bring himself to surrender. His gods may go-nay, all things else may go, if only this may be retained. The nature of caste is too well known to require any new delineation at my hands. Its presumptuous claims on the soul; its civil enactments respecting those who are under its displeasure; its virulent spirit; and the ridiculous and sinful basis on which it builds its authority, are matters with which every student of Hinduism is conversant, and which have occupied the attention of conferences similar to this, in days gone by. Sentence has been pronounced against it: the ban of the Christian Church is already upon it and you might as well expect to gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles, as look for anything generous, or noble, or good, from such a source. Taking it for granted then, that the institution which prevents a man being esteemed according to his goodness, and places birth-heritage above the pure life, is bad; the question remaining is, what are to be regarded as indications of an attachment to it...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. Burgess" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "W. Burgess argued that Hindu caste was a religious as well as social institution and incompatible with Christian teaching.", "tags": [ "Caste", "Religion", "Social Order" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 223 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00247-4033f233735a656ea441.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Unity of Indian Churches", "chunk_data": "2. Jacob Chamberlain on the Relation of the Foreign Societies to Native Churches\nWhat then should be the relationship existing between the infant churches which we of different lands and different branches of the Church of Christ are planting in India? This is a matter on which I have thought much and studied long and widely, and I cannot but come to this conclusion :-\nWe should so constitute and instruct our Churches that there may be a cordial working harmony between them all. We should organize them as different regiments and brigades and army corps of the one grand army of the Living God, and so order and control them that we may never be guilty of the awful mistake of turning our suicidal guns on one another instead of on our common enemy. It may be best for us to keep up our regimental organizations, our distinctive denominational peculiarities for the present, but we should all be careful to exalt the Royal Banner of our Jesus above all our regimental colours:-to make much of the essentials in which we all here agree and less of the non-essentials in which we chance to differ...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Jacob Chamberlain" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jacob Chamberlain called for cordial cooperation among the denominational churches established in India.", "tags": [ "Church Unity", "Missions", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 223 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00247-4033f233735a656ea441.webp" ], "chunk_title": "A Church Suited to India", "chunk_data": "I may not live to see the day, but my sons now in the university, preparing to come to India as missionaries, may, when there shall be organized a 'Church of Christ in India', not American, not English, not German, not Danish but of India and suited to India, in which we shall see not Scotch Presbyterianism nor English Anglicanism, nor German Lutheranism, but the best features chosen out of all denominations and incorporated into one visible Church of Him of Nazareth. To this end, it seems to me, should all of us work. It may not be feasible now, but I do believe that greater organic unity than we now possess is feasible and should be earnestly sought for in the near future...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Jacob Chamberlain" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jacob Chamberlain envisioned a unified Church of Christ in India shaped by the best features of several denominations.", "tags": [ "Church Unity", "India", "Christianity" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 223, 224 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00247-4033f233735a656ea441.webp", "raw\\pages\\00248-8fe0f87d95e41109c063.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Denominational Cooperation", "chunk_data": "I would not at this stage advocate the amalgamation of all the Churches either in China or India into one. As in the great conflict in America, when there were a million men under arms, it may be necessary to have five or six army corps' in the Church militant's 'army of India'. We could not at present all be Episcopalians, or Presbyterians, or Lutherans, or Baptists, or Methodists, or Independents Now I feel quite convinced that an unprejudiced reading of the apostolic records point to the Consistory and Classis and Synods of my own 'Reformed Church' as the nearest to the apostolic model of any existing Church organization...\nBe it so. Grant that we cannot amalgamate into one church organization at present, we can at least lessen the number of independent and isolated organizations. Is it too much to believe that we could have, if we each were willing to yield as much as we wish others to yield to us, one Presbyterian army corps instead of nine detached regiments and so one Episcopalian one Methodist : one Baptist... And in God's good time, working thus together, it might be possible in the premillenial future to have one self-supporting, self-governing 'Church of Christ in India'.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Jacob Chamberlain" ], "places": [ "China", "India", "America" ], "event": "Jacob Chamberlain proposed cooperation and consolidation among denominations without immediate complete amalgamation.", "tags": [ "Church Unity", "Missions", "Organization" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 224 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00248-8fe0f87d95e41109c063.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Foreign Societies and Liberty", "chunk_data": "This I believe then to be the relationship which should subsist between the rising native Churches connected with the different missions in India.\nThis granted, the second part of the question almost answers itself and my remarks on it shall be exceedingly brief.\nThe relation which Foreign Missionary Societies should hold toward the rising native Churches should then be such as to allow of such progress towards this so desirable a goal. There should then, in ecclesiastical matters, be the greatest maximum of liberty to the native Churches with smallest minimum of authority over them exercised from home lands...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Jacob Chamberlain" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jacob Chamberlain urged foreign missionary societies to give Indian churches broad ecclesiastical freedom.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Missions", "India" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 224 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00248-8fe0f87d95e41109c063.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Native Church Self-Support", "chunk_data": "3. W. T. Satthianadhan on the Relation of the Foreign Societies to Native Churches\nAt the same time every encouragement should be given to make the native Church self-supporting. There is a feeling on the part of some, that the system which existed formerly, of native congregations under the pastoral charge of foreign missionaries, should still continue. With this view I candidly confess I do not sympathize. That system was necessary for an incipient state of the native Church, but as it has grown and the native pastorate has increased, it is very inexpedient to continue that system, except where there are as yet no native clergy. The Home Societies are therefore naturally desirous of introducing a different policy which shall advance the self-reliance and self-support of the native Church.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "W. T. Satthianadhan supported the development of self-supporting native churches and an end to unnecessary foreign pastoral control.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Missions", "Self-Support" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 224, 225 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00248-8fe0f87d95e41109c063.webp", "raw\\pages\\00249-57dbe3c369a4562a2c8d.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Financial Independence Debate", "chunk_data": "The system pursued to help on the independence of the native Church is mainly the voluntary system, supplemented by a grant-in-aid from foreign Missionary Societies. They seem to think that the native Churches are so strong and so flourishing that they could safely reduce this grant-in-aid every year till in a few years the whole grant shall be withdrawn, so that the native Church may stand on its own basis. It is here I think that the foreign Missionary Committees seem to be labouring under a misapprehension. The depressed state of the country for several years past has had a serious effect on the contribution of the native Churches. Instead of rising steadily, in many places they have fallen off, and there is little prospect of any rapid rise in the native contributions. Our good friends across the blue waters do not seem to realize this state of things. Their watch-word is retrenchment. This being the position of matters, it has always been my humble view that in order to make the native Church entirely independent, a modification of the present system was absolutely necessary, I mean the combination of the voluntary with the endowment system. This will secure to the native Church the two-fold advantage of corporate life and permanency of organization.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "W. T. Satthianadhan argued that economic depression required a combination of voluntary contributions and endowment rather than rapid withdrawal of grants.", "tags": [ "Finance", "Missions", "Self-Support" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 225 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00249-57dbe3c369a4562a2c8d.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Paternal Missionary Support", "chunk_data": "Foreign Missionary Societies, who have founded the native Churches at so much cost of labour, money and prayer, while using all legitimate means to advance their self-support, should at the same time continue their interest and support till they attain their manhood by natural process of growth. The relation therefore of the foreign Missionary Societies to rising native Churches must be paternal. These rising Societies may well say with the great Apostle of the Gentiles in respect of native Churches: 'I have begotten you through the Gospel.' The relation of a parent to his child cannot be stronger and closer than that which exists or ought to exist between the Missionary Societies and native Churches. The latter are anxious to maintain this relation. The question is only about the former, viz., the Missionary Societies. And yet I may state that my late visit to England and my intercourse with a great many Christian and Missionary committees convinced me that the Home Societies are equally anxious to maintain this relation. They will never for one moment think of forsaking their children when they know that these children still need their sympathy and fostering care. This interest of Home Churches and Committees in the growth and self-support of the Indian Church is, as far as my observation went, very marked...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "England", "India" ], "event": "W. T. Satthianadhan described the proper relationship between foreign societies and Indian churches as paternal and supportive.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Church Governance", "Support" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 225 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00249-57dbe3c369a4562a2c8d.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Independence Without Abandonment", "chunk_data": "All this shows the relation which does exist between foreign Missionary Societies and the rising native Churches. As has already been observed, though there is a strong and growing desire on the part of the former to see the speedy independence of the latter, yet I feel certain that no action will be taken which could be construed into a desire to forsake the native Church. Unfortunately there is a feeling on the part of many of our native Christian brethren that foreign Missionary Societies are determined to denounce all connection with them in their efforts to make them independent. From the state of matters I have observed in England, I may confidently state that this is far from being the case, for such an act on the part of Home Societies would be analogous to the act of a father who, in the effort to teach his son the art of swimming, has left him in the deep water before he has learnt how to keep afloat...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "England", "India" ], "event": "W. T. Satthianadhan maintained that foreign societies sought Indian church independence without abandoning their support.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Church Independence", "India" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 226 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00250-298707e365f994049ed8.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Training Native Agents", "chunk_data": "4. B. Rice on the Training of Native Agents\nThat the evangelization of India is to be accomplished to a large extent by the aid of its own sons, is becoming every year more and more apparent. The Churches of Christendom cannot send out, and maintain in the field, a sufficient number of men from Europe and America to spread the Gospel throughout this vast country. And even if they could, the men so sent out labour under many disadvantages. They are foreigners, and have to toil long to obtain fluency in the vernaculars. They cannot mingle so closely and freely with the people as natives of the country can. They are liable, also, from failure of health, and other causes, to be removed, it may be, just at the time when they have become most efficient. It is, moreover, a fact proved by the history of Missions in India, that the progress of the work has been, hitherto, materially promoted by the labours of native agents. Without such aid it would be impossible to carry on missionary operations to anything like their present extent.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "B. Rice" ], "places": [ "India", "Europe", "America" ], "event": "B. Rice argued that Indian evangelization depended substantially on trained native agents because foreign missionaries faced linguistic, social, and health limitations.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Evangelism", "Education" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 14, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 226 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00250-298707e365f994049ed8.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Need for Native Workers", "chunk_data": "It is therefore, not surprising to hear missionaries, in various places, expressing an earnest desire for an increased staff of efficient native assistants. Earnest evangelists are needed to sow the good seed of the Kingdom of God broad-cast among the people, and able native ministers, to instruct and superintend the rising Christian Churches. A writer in the north of India says truly: Economy will soon force missionary bodies to put more Mission work into the hands of experienced natives than they have hitherto done. The work, both among Christians and non-Christians, is increasing. So great is the call, even now, for workers, that inferior men, rejected in one mission for almost any cause, except immorality, readily finds employment in another. This is true of the south, as well as of the north.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "B. Rice" ], "places": [ "North India", "South India" ], "event": "B. Rice reported an increasing need for competent native evangelists and ministers throughout India.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Evangelism", "Church Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 15, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 226 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00250-298707e365f994049ed8.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Native Ministers and Missionaries", "chunk_data": "5. A. H. Arden on the Relations of Native Ministers to Missionaries and to Local Governing Bodies\nIn the present state of mission work and of the Native Church (which is evidently in a transitional state), the most important point seems to be, that the mutual feeling subsisting between the two parties under consideration should be of the right kind. If this be secured, circumstances guided by the providence of God will gradually point out the right course of action.\nTaking it for granted that the ultimate object both of the missionary and of the native minister is this the completed edifice of a self-supporting and self-governing Church, then it must be allowed on all hands, that the steps to be taken for the attainment of this object must be gradual, and that its accomplishment cannot be effected by the application of rigid rules and regulations, still less by premature efforts on the part of Missionary Societies, but must be the spontaneous fruit of effects produced by the Holy Spirit upon the organic life of the Native Church-the result of a development worked out by the good providence of God, in His own wise way, and in his own wise time.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. H. Arden" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "A. H. Arden stated that relations between European missionaries and native ministers should support gradual development toward a self-governing church.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Missions", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 16, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 227 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00251-f41caec33013a18c9d14.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Mutual Ministerial Responsibility", "chunk_data": "Remembering this, the European missionary on his part will be far from desiring to keep in a subordinate position a native minister, whom God has evidently fitted by several years of Christian experience to be an independent pillar of the Native Church. And remembering this, the wise and experienced native minister for his part will be far from desiring to encourage in his younger brethren in the native ministry anything like a spirit of pride or presumption, which would show restiveness and dissatisfaction under the most salutary and needful superintendence of a European missionary...\nWith regard to the native minister, it seems only natural and right that a judicious man, discerning in all the political events of the world the overruling hand of God, should recognise that peculiar relationship which subsists between England and India, and the position in which Englishmen are necessarily placed in this country. But yet he will be very careful not to allow this feeling to interfere with his responsibility before God...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. H. Arden" ], "places": [ "England", "India" ], "event": "A. H. Arden urged European missionaries to respect capable native ministers and native ministers to accept appropriate supervision without pride.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Leadership", "Colonialism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 17, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 227 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00251-f41caec33013a18c9d14.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Respect for Native Ministry", "chunk_data": "To look for a short time at the other side of the question, namely, the relationship of the European missionary to the native minister, nothing perhaps ought to influence the former more strongly, than the feeling that his native brother has been placed in the same solemn office of the ministry as himself, that he has been judged faithful by the Church, and has by her authorised representatives been placed in a most responsible position. He will remember that considerable respect and love are due to the office, as well as to the individual who has by recognised authority been placed in that office. He will regard his native brother as one entrusted equally with himself with the solemn yet honourable position of being an Ambassador for Christ'. In proportion then as the European missionary realizes the sacred character of the Christian ministry, the solemn importance of the office, and its close connection with the great head of the Church, Jesus Christ, in that same proportion he will show respect and consideration for his native brother, and extend to him not only the right hand of fellowship, but real confidence and affection...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. H. Arden", "Jesus Christ" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "A. H. Arden called on European missionaries to honor native ministers as equally entrusted ambassadors for Christ.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church Governance", "Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 18, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 227, 228 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00251-f41caec33013a18c9d14.webp", "raw\\pages\\00252-d536585c3735b55036dc.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Gradual Native Independence", "chunk_data": "Although Mission work in India is as yet hardly advanced beyond a state of pupilage, yet a wise missionary will (as I have already observed) ever keep the future of the Native Church before his mind, and steadily aim at, and labour for the time, when it shall stand entirely on its own basis, and be both self-governing and self-supporting. Hence while on the one hand he will not allow this idea to overrule his judgement, and induce him to try to make the tender infant walk by itself, when as yet there is not the strength or the guiding power to do so; he will on the other hand encourage in every possible way free spontaneous effort, and by relaxing by degrees the supporting hand, will leave the carefully trained offspring, under God, to guide its own labour...", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. H. Arden" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "A. H. Arden advocated gradual preparation of the Native Church for self-government and self-support.", "tags": [ "Church Independence", "Missions", "Church Governance" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 19, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 228 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00252-d536585c3735b55036dc.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Responsibilities of Governing Bodies", "chunk_data": "This latter point is one in which local governing bodies ought specially to use their influence. They should endeavour to keep before the minds of the native clergy the great duty of teaching a Christian Church to support its own ministry. They should endeavour to eradicate the somewhat false view of Missionary Societies, which has to some extent gained possession of the native mind. They should clearly explain that the object of a Missionary Society is not to undertake the permanent support of native Christian Churches, and thus to be responsible for those plain duties, for which in due time Native Churches ought themselves to be responsible; but having brought the light of the Gospel, and left it as a precious deposit, then to pass on to the unchristianised regions beyond.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "A. H. Arden" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "A. H. Arden assigned local governing bodies the task of promoting native church financial responsibility and correcting dependence on missionary societies.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Missions", "Self-Support" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 20, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 228 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00252-d536585c3735b55036dc.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Resolution on Native Church", "chunk_data": "6. Resolution on the Native Church\nThe Conference, while convinced of the great importance of promoting by every judicious means the self-support and self-government of the Native Church, desires to place on record its conviction that the Native Church is no part of it as yet in a position to dispense with European Guidance and support; and that any premature step in this direction would be highly injurious to its healthy development and ultimate stability.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "South India Missionary Conference" ], "places": [ "Bangalore", "India" ], "event": "The Conference endorsed Native Church self-support and self-government but rejected premature withdrawal of European guidance and support.", "tags": [ "Church Governance", "Missions", "Resolutions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 21, "chapter_name": "1879. The Missionary Conference: South India and Ceylon, Bangalore", "page_numbers": [ 228 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00252-d536585c3735b55036dc.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Resolution Against Caste", "chunk_data": "7. Resolution on Caste\n1. That this Conference regards Hindu caste, both in theory and practice, as not merely civil distinction, but emphatically a religious institution.\n2. That viewed in this light it is diametrically opposed to the Christian doctrine of the oneness of human nature, and the brotherhood of all true Christians.\n3. That it is the duty of all missionaries and churches to require its entire renunciation, with all its outward manifestation, by all those who desire to enter the Church of Christ.", "time": { "start_year": 1879, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1879, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1879 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "South India Missionary Conference" ], "places": [ "Bangalore", "India" ], "event": "The Conference declared Hindu caste religious, opposed to Christian unity, and requiring complete renunciation by converts.", "tags": [ "Caste", "Religion", "Resolutions" ] } } ] }