{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 104,
  "chapterName": "1855. General Conference of Bengal Protestant Missionaries on English Medium Missionary Education",
  "pageFrom": 160,
  "pageTo": 160,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 160,
      "ocrText": "160\nHISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA\ncapable of exercising an independent judgement as to the compa-\nrative value of the several branches into which missionary labour\nis divided.\n4. Because we consider that in certain places, and for certain\nclasses, vernacular preaching is not the most important branch of\nmissionary work.\n104. GENERAL CONFERENCE OF BENGAL PROTESTANT\nMISSIONARIES ON ENGLISH MEDIUM MISSIONARY\nEDUCATION (1855 A.D.)\nThe same conference which passed the Resolution cited imme-\ndiately above also gave attention to the purposes of English medium\nschools run by the missions. The Resolution cited below emphasises\nthe evangelistic purposes of such schools. Proceedings of a General\nConference of Bengal Protestant Missionaries, 1855, pp. 82-83.\nResolution on English Missionary Education\nThat this Conference concur generally in the views expressed\nby Mr. Ewart on the subject of English Missionary Education.\nThe Institutions specially formed carrying it out are not, as some\nhave thought, mere secular schools, intended to elevate the people\nin the ordinary elements of civilization and knowledge, but\nthoroughly Christian Institutions, whose aim is to lead all their\nscholars to the cross of Christ, and whose very department is\npervaded by a christian spirit and rendered subordinate to religious\nends. On no other condition could missionaries conduct them.\nThey consider that such institutions find their peculiar sphere in the\ngreat cities of India, or in localities, where, with a great demand\nfor English amongst the younger natives, Government colleges\nand schools or other non-religious schools are established, very\ndeficient in the moral training of that interesting class, whose desire\ncan be turned to the furtherance of the gospel. They consider that,\nin order to prevent these young men falling into infidel error, and\nto secure an introduction for the gospel amongst the higher classes\nof the community, these Institutions ought to be collegiate in their\ncharacter, and give a complete education, both of the intellectual\nand moral nature of their students; so as to retain them to an age,\nwhen with matured minds and extended knowledge they may\nappreciate the claims of the gospel. They consider also that to\nprevent the more secular branches of education from getting into\nexcess, they should be guarded with jealous care; and that to\npreserve their missionary character entire, one or more missionaries\nshould not only superintend, but personally engage in conducting\nthem. They consider also that maturity of their scholars' minds,\nthe inferior schools, in which but a smattering of English is received,",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}