{ "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": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 205 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00229-21e0f63cffbdae178b0a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Establishment of Rajasimla Church", "chunk_data": "118. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RAJASIMLA CHURCH\n(1867 A. D.)\nFor more than thirty years the American Baptist mission had worked with only limited success on the plains of Assam. The establishment of the church at Rajasimla, the first of that mission among a hills tribe, led to an increasing concentration upon missionary work in the hills. The account of that event by the missionary, Miles Bronson, reveals the policies adopted by the mission in that work and the self-reliance of the tribal churches from the beginning. Bronson's letter, dated April 17, 1867, is cited in the Baptist Missionary Magazine, Vol. XLVII, (1867), pp. 445-447.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 17, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 17, "time_display": "April 17, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson" ], "places": [ "Assam", "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The American Baptist mission established its first church among a hill tribe at Rajasimla.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Missions", "Churches" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 205 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00229-21e0f63cffbdae178b0a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Bronson Describes the Garo Revival", "chunk_data": "During my whole missionary life I have never seen anything so wonderful as the work now going on among the Garos. Those two Garo assistants, Omed and Ramkhe, have worked quietly and faithfully on amid ridicule, reproach, and even threats of personal violence, and have proved themselves to be reliable, trustworthy, and faithful men, as I took them to be when I baptized them at Gowahati. Let me give in brief the account of my tour...", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": null, "time_display": "April 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ramkhe" ], "places": [ "Gowahati", "Assam" ], "event": "Miles Bronson reports the faithful work of Omed and Ramkhe among the Garos.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Garo People", "Evangelism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Journey to Omed's Village", "chunk_data": "The next morning, the 13th (April), we set out for Omed's village in Monja Masuri, near Ran Mari, afterwards called Raj Simla.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed" ], "places": [ "Monja Masuri", "Ran Mari", "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Miles Bronson traveled to Omed's village near Ran Mari.", "tags": [ "Travel", "Missions", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "A New Christian Village", "chunk_data": "This is a new village, is at the foot of the hills it was established by Omed, a lovely spot, with a fine stream of water close at hand, with plenty of land suitable for cultivation. A crowd was waiting to receive us. We found the village clean, the houses, about forty, new and orderly arranged.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Omed", "Miles Bronson" ], "places": [ "Monja Masuri", "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Omed's newly established village received Bronson and contained about forty orderly houses.", "tags": [ "Settlements", "Missions", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Village Chapel", "chunk_data": "The largest and best house in the village is a place of Christian worship recently built by themselves, which is every Sabbath crowded with listeners. A house, very clean, was placed at my disposal, so that although I had a small tent, I never pitched it.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The villagers built a crowded Christian chapel and provided Bronson with lodging.", "tags": [ "Churches", "Worship", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Preaching Christ to the Garos", "chunk_data": "As soon as I could, I went to the chapel, which I found crowded with people waiting to hear from me the word of God. I spoke to them as simply as possible in Assamese, which was understood by some, the three assistants interpreting the same to the hill people, who understand only the Garo language. It was deeply affecting to me to witness their fixed attention and deep interest as I spoke to them of Christ and his love to poor sinners, and that He died to save even poor Garos. O, it is easy work to preach Christ under such circumstances!", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ramkhe" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Miles Bronson preached Christ in Assamese while the assistants interpreted for the Garo people.", "tags": [ "Preaching", "Evangelism", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Twenty-Six Seek Baptism", "chunk_data": "It was soon evident that the story of the cross was familiar to them. Omed has made it the burden of his message to his countrymen, and their hearts have begun to melt under its mighty power. At last I put the question, How many of you love this Saviour and abandoning all your heathen worship and practices, worship Him alone? Twenty-six, all residents of this village, arose.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Omed", "Miles Bronson", "Twenty-six Garo converts" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Twenty-six Garos professed love for Christ and renounced their heathen worship.", "tags": [ "Conversion", "Baptism", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Candidates Face Opposition", "chunk_data": "I closely questioned them as to their motives explaining to them what it might cost them to become Christians—ridicule, reproach, opposition, perhaps even death. They replied, 'Yes, we have thought this all over; we expect opposition; we have decided.' It appears that some of them have had to leave their friends on account of opposition, and have come down from the mountains and joined this Christian village. These all desired to become Christ's disciples and to be baptized.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Twenty-six Garo converts" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla", "Garo Hills" ], "event": "The Garo candidates accepted the risks of Christian discipleship despite opposition and possible death.", "tags": [ "Conversion", "Persecution", "Baptism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Garos Abandon Old Practices", "chunk_data": "The native assistants, who have for months been watching for their conversion, speak of their changed conduct, particularly in their abandonment of their old rites of worship, and in the disuse of all intoxicating drinks, which has cost some of them a great struggle. They were therefore received as candidates for Christian baptism.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 13, "time_display": "April 13, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Omed", "Ramkhe", "Twenty-six Garo converts" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The Garo candidates abandoned traditional worship rites and intoxicating drinks before baptism.", "tags": [ "Conversion", "Reform", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 206, 207 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00230-8e1c4b2dc086098079b2.webp", "raw\\pages\\00231-d8b60000be480537c834.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Baptism of Twenty-Six Garos", "chunk_data": "Sunday, (14th,) a day of days,—early morning worship; also at ten o'clock; after which we repaired to the beautiful stream, dammed up for the purpose, where I baptized, in the name of the sacred Trinity, twenty-six Garos, men and women. A crowd of wild, savage-looking people stood on the bank; but all were as quiet, serious and respectful as though accustomed to such scenes. Among this first ingathering of Garos into the fold of Christ were the aged, middle-aged and youth.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 14, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 14, "time_display": "April 14, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Twenty-six Garo converts" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Miles Bronson baptized twenty-six Garo men and women in a dammed stream.", "tags": [ "Baptism", "Christianity", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 207 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00231-d8b60000be480537c834.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Omed Appointed Pastor", "chunk_data": "Sunday evening our house of prayer was again crowded. After preaching, I formed the disciples into a church. I explained to them that in the apostles' days they were wont to form the disciples into churches, and to appoint one of their number as pastor. Whom of the three native assistants, would they choose as their pastor and preacher, to baptize, bury their dead, perform their marriages according to the Christian custom? They unanimously chose Omed, from whose lips they received the gospel. I then and there, in the presence of all, laid hands on him, and told him to range the hills, to preach, baptize, to do the work of a Christian pastor, and 'to be faithful unto death.'", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 14, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 14, "time_display": "April 14, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla", "Garo Hills" ], "event": "The newly formed Garo church unanimously chose Omed as its pastor, and Bronson commissioned him.", "tags": [ "Churches", "Leadership", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 207 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00231-d8b60000be480537c834.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Native Church Independence", "chunk_data": "Now this is very un-episcopal; but I feel that it is no time to stand on human ceremonies and formalities in the work of God. The Garos have been too long neglected. They are perishing in darkness. They are just opening their eyes to see and feel this. A good, faithful, cautious native like Omed can do more than a dozen missionaries just now. There are twenty other Garos, absent just now, who desire baptism. I cannot stay among them. It is necessary that their preacher and guide should be empowered to preach, baptize, marry, and to bury their dead. And it is very good for them to feel some responsibility in the outset. Let those who will contend for routine and forms. My one work shall be to bring the perishing to Christ, and to make the native churches independent of foreign teachers as fast as possible. It is in this way only that Christianity will take root and grow in this country. I am content to walk as closely as I can by the example of Christ and his apostles, as recorded in the New Testament.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 14, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 14, "time_display": "April 14, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed" ], "places": [ "Garo Hills" ], "event": "Miles Bronson defended empowering Omed and making native churches independent of foreign teachers.", "tags": [ "Churches", "Missions", "Independence" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 207, 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00231-d8b60000be480537c834.webp", "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Ten More Request Baptism", "chunk_data": "(Monday,) 15.—Gave orders to start early for Damra. Went into the chapel to say a few words, when Omed mentioned to me that ten more in the village were unwilling that I should leave without numbering them among Christ's disciples, one of the number, weeping like a child, and saying something in Garo. I found, on inquiry, that he was appealing to the native assistants, that although he had said little, they were witnesses that when his life was threatened, because he cut a few bamboos on a mountain where the heathen sacrificed, and had to flee to save his life, yet he did not turn back. He detested heathen practices, and why could not he profess Christ by baptism with others? His whole body was shaking with emotion, and many seeing him were weeping in sympathy.\nI saw I had more work to do. I called in the church and received ten others. I baptized alternately with Omed, thus introducing him at once into the work for which he has been set apart. This showed the Garos that baptism, by his hand or mine, was the same. He used the baptismal formula in Garo, while I used the Assamese.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 15, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ten Garo converts" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla", "Damra", "Garo Hills" ], "event": "Ten additional Garos requested baptism, and Bronson baptized them together with Omed.", "tags": [ "Baptism", "Conversion", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 14, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "A Church of Forty Christians", "chunk_data": "Thus in one village is a church of forty native Christians, including the assistants. In all this I confess I am myself astonished and rebuked for my want of faith...", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 15, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ramkhe" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The village church reached forty native Christians, including the assistants.", "tags": [ "Churches", "Growth", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 15, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Garos Request Schools", "chunk_data": "And now follows, as a natural result, a desire to learn. I told them to consult together and let me know whether they wanted a school in their village, and how many would send their children if I provided a teacher.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 15, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Garo villagers" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The Garo Christians expressed a desire for education and were asked to consider establishing a village school.", "tags": [ "Education", "Missions", "Garo People" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 16, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Three Classes Planned", "chunk_data": "After consultation, a class of seventeen Garos, young men, stood before me—an interesting class that I would like to teach myself; also a class of thirteen small boys, from five to ten years of age, and a class of Garo girls, from five to thirteen years of age. 'But do you want your girls taught?' I inquired. 'Yes, the girls as well as the boys.' I appointed Tokira, one of the newly baptized, who is a good scholar, to be their teacher. I give him a salary of ten rupees per month.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 15, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Tokira", "Garo students" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "Bronson organized classes for young men, boys, and girls and appointed Tokira as teacher.", "tags": [ "Education", "Women", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 17, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Second Garo School", "chunk_data": "Thus is our second Garo school formed at the request of the people. Here is the working out of my idea of the true missionary policy. When practicable, first work through faithful native labourers. Bring them under the power of the gospel and they will begin themselves to call for missionaries, books and teachers.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 15, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Garo Christians" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla" ], "event": "The Garos formed a second school through the initiative of native Christian workers.", "tags": [ "Education", "Missions", "Indigenous Leadership" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 18, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Gospel Reaches the Mountains", "chunk_data": "There is a constant communication between these Christians and the mountaineers; in fact, some of them are from the mountains; and the gospel will work its way. I stayed among them only three days, just to encourage the native assistants and to satisfy myself that things were being properly conducted. Had I remained longer, or given them too much aid, they would perhaps have begun to lean on the missionary instead of feeling that they themselves must bear the responsibility.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": 13, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": 15, "time_display": "April 13–15, 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ramkhe", "Garo Christians", "Garo mountaineers" ], "places": [ "Rajasimla", "Garo Hills" ], "event": "Bronson encouraged the native assistants while deliberately leaving the church responsible for its own development.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Indigenous Leadership", "Evangelism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 19, "chapter_name": "118. Establishment of the Rajasimla Church", "page_numbers": [ 208 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00232-d7057a377aed4b62367b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Omed and Ramkhe Sent", "chunk_data": "And now that God has so unexpectedly brought me into this field, I wish to acknowledge his hand and move at his bidding. When I knew of no one that was raising his finger to help the Garos, God put it into the hearts of Omed and Ramkhe to come and beg to be sent to teach their countrymen. I saw their earnestness. I saw God's hand in it; and although I had no funds, I dared not say no. I sent them.", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 4, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 4, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Miles Bronson", "Omed", "Ramkhe" ], "places": [ "Garo Hills", "Assam" ], "event": "Bronson sent Omed and Ramkhe to teach their fellow Garos despite lacking funds.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Evangelism", "Indigenous Leadership" ] } } ] }