{ "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": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 214 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00238-2e4198315e09f917098b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Allahabad Conference", "chunk_data": "122. THE FIRST DECENNIAL CONFERENCE, ALLAHABAD\n(1872-1873 A.D.)\n\nThe first all-India missionary conference (at which it was decided to hold such conferences every ten years) was held at Allahabad from 26 December, 1872, to 1 January, 1873. 136 persons attended, among whom were 28 'native members'. Several papers were read by Indian members. The papers reproduced here are from the Report of the General Missionary Conference held at Allahabad, 1872-73.\n1. pp. 250-258; 2. pp. 141-144; 3. pp. 300-309; 4. pp. 337-349; 5. p. 485.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": 26, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": 1, "time_display": "26 Dec 1872 – 1 Jan 1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Missionary conference delegates", "Indian members" ], "places": [ "Allahabad" ], "event": "The first all-India missionary conference was held at Allahabad and established a decennial schedule for future conferences.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Conferences", "India" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 214 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00238-2e4198315e09f917098b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Indigenous Church Leadership", "chunk_data": "1. W. T. Satthianadhan on the Native Church in South India\n\nThough the native Churches need to have an indigenous ministry, yet, under existing circumstances, I submit that they should not be left quite alone until they are in a position to govern themselves, for that would be like leaving a man to swim unaided before he has learnt how to support himself in the water. At the same time the native Churches should be gradually taught the great lessons of self-help, self-action and self-government.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "South India" ], "event": "W. T. Satthianadhan argued that native Churches should receive indigenous ministry while being gradually prepared for self-government.", "tags": [ "Church", "Leadership", "Self-government" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 214 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00238-2e4198315e09f917098b.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Training Churches for Independence", "chunk_data": "If this system be not already inaugurated, it should be commenced at once, otherwise Missionary Societies will learn, by sad experience, that this policy is not only unhealthy but very expensive also. The native Churches will entwine themselves, like parasites, about Missionary Societies and their increasing number will entail such an amount of expenditure as the Home Churches and Societies, with ever-increasing calls upon their liberality, will not be able to meet. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to train native Churches in habits of self-reliance, self-government and self-propagation.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "South India" ], "event": "Satthianadhan warned that dependence on Missionary Societies would be unhealthy and costly, and urged training in self-reliance and self-propagation.", "tags": [ "Church", "Missions", "Self-reliance" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 214, 215 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00238-2e4198315e09f917098b.webp", "raw\\pages\\00239-17f6b4c9cd7fbfd9b0e0.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The American Missionary Policy", "chunk_data": "The necessity of this principle was first recognized and fully enunciated by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in a document entitled, 'Outlines of Missionary Policy', which was embodied in a report of the Deputation to India, published in 1856. To quote one or two pages from this document, 'Separate action,' it says, 'will be for the advantage of all parties.'\n1. The independence of the native element will be sure. Missionaries are members of the ecclesiastical body, they will exert, almost of necessity, a predominating influence.'\nIf\n2. The power of self-government will be best developed in this way. The native churches and ministers must have responsibilities to bear before they can learn how to bear them. By this plan there will be less danger of embarrassment and disorder when the Missionaries pass on to \"regions beyond\".'", "time": { "start_year": 1856, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1856, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1856" }, "meta": { "people": [ "American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "The American Board's 1856 missionary policy report advocated separate action and responsibility for native churches and ministers.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Policy", "Church" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 215 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00239-17f6b4c9cd7fbfd9b0e0.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Venn on Native Pastors", "chunk_data": "The Rev. H. Venn, for about half a century the highly esteemed Honorary Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, in a letter to the Bishop of Jamaica, dated January 1867, advocates the same principle in the following terms: 'It may be said to have been only lately discovered in the Science of Missions that when the Missionary is of another and superior race than his converts, he must not attempt to be their pastor; though they will be bound to him by personal attachment, and by a sense of the benefits received from him; yet if he continues to act as their pastor, they will not form a vigorous native church, but, as a general rule, they will remain in a dependent condition, and make but little progressive attainments. The same congregation under competent native pastors, may become more self-reliant and their religion would be of a more manly, home character.'", "time": { "start_year": 1867, "start_month": 1, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1867, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "January 1867" }, "meta": { "people": [ "H. Venn", "Bishop of Jamaica" ], "places": [ "Jamaica" ], "event": "H. Venn argued that congregations led by competent native pastors would become more self-reliant than congregations kept under foreign missionary pastors.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Leadership", "Church" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 215 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00239-17f6b4c9cd7fbfd9b0e0.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Native Churches Learning Independence", "chunk_data": "The conclusion, then, is obvious, that the native churches, to become independent, must be brought as soon as possible to begin to think and act for themselves. A child will never stand and walk firmly, if always in leading strings. True, native churches, when left alone will make mistakes and even stumble, but from these errors and falls, they will learn to walk steadily, just as a man becomes expert in horsemanship after many accidents to life and limb. And the grace of God is able to support them and carry them finally through it all.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "W. T. Satthianadhan" ], "places": [ "South India" ], "event": "Satthianadhan concluded that native churches must learn to think and act independently, even through mistakes and failures.", "tags": [ "Church", "Independence", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 215, 216 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00239-17f6b4c9cd7fbfd9b0e0.webp", "raw\\pages\\00240-69f98766025c301accda.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christian Approval of Brahmo Reform", "chunk_data": "2. R. Jardine on the Brahmo Somaj\n\nI wish now to make some remarks with reference to the position which the Christian Church should assume in looking at and judging of this movement (Brahmo Somaj). There is undoubtedly much in it which we can approve and for which we ought to be thankful. It appears to be to a very great extent the result of the influence of Christianity upon Hinduism. It may not be such a result as we could wish to see. But if it be such a result as God in his wisdom has seen fit to permit, are we not bound to recognize it as being in its time and place good?", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "R. Jardine" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "R. Jardine assessed the Brahmo Somaj as significantly influenced by Christianity and urged Christians to recognize the good permitted within the movement.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Brahmo Somaj", "Hinduism" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 215, 216 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00239-17f6b4c9cd7fbfd9b0e0.webp", "raw\\pages\\00240-69f98766025c301accda.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Brahmo Social and Religious Principles", "chunk_data": "It has taken a firm stand against idolatry, and in this we heartily wish it success. It has proclaimed the abolition of caste distinctions as one of its leading aims, and in this we may sincerely concur. It has recently directed its energies to the amelioration of certain social evils involved in Hindu marriage customs, and we have all rejoiced at the measure of success which has crowned its efforts. It has exerted all its influence against the tendency to materialism and positivism which in some places has prevailed, and every Christian may surely be thankful there is in India a body of men exerting such an influence.\nIt has proclaimed as its great principles the universal Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man, and we may heartily recognise the value of these principles since they occupy such a prominent position in the teachings of our own great Master. As far as concerns all these features in the character of this movement, I think that we are bound, as followers of our Master, to stretch out the right hand of fellowship and encouragement and wish it Godspeed.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "R. Jardine" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jardine praised the Brahmo Somaj's opposition to idolatry, caste, harmful marriage customs, materialism, and positivism.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Social Reform", "Brahmo Somaj" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 216 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00240-69f98766025c301accda.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Brahmoism and Christ", "chunk_data": "But there is also unfortunately a dark and unfavourable view of it which we cannot but take, and to this let me now call your attention. The essential point of this lies in the relation between Brahmoism and—not Christianity—but Christ. We have seen already that even the Progressive Brahmos have manifested a most decided shrinking from Christ, at the same time accepting many of the truths which originated with Christ, or which have been established in the world by Christ. While making this statement we must acknowledge the many, eloquent, and grateful admissions which have been made by some leading Brahmos of the immense obligations under which the world lies to Christ. They have admitted that he is well entitled to be called our elder brother, the most glorious Son of God.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "R. Jardine", "Progressive Brahmos", "Christ" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jardine distinguished Brahmoism's respect for Christ's teachings from its reluctance to accept Christ's central religious role.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Christology", "Brahmo Somaj" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 216 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00240-69f98766025c301accda.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christian Salvation and Brahmoism", "chunk_data": "But while acknowledging that some leading Brahmos have made such admissions regarding Christ, we cannot be blind to the fact that they have never accorded to Christ that position with reference to human salvation which we believe he occupies. Christ said, 'Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' I have never seen the plain meaning of this passage acknowledged as a truth by any Brahmo. Christ said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!' but no Brahmo has ever accepted that statement as true in any sense in which it is accepted as true by a Christian. But this and other similar statements regarding the connection between the person of Christ and human salvation, contain the essential point of Christian faith. And as long as we accept the gospels of the evangelists and the epistles of the Apostles, as containing a faithful account of the principles of Christianity, we must look upon Brahmoism, in its present form, as being wanting in that central, essential element which has been the life of the Christian Church from the beginning...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "R. Jardine", "Christ", "Brahmos" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jardine argued that Brahmoism lacked the Christian belief in Christ's essential role in human salvation.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Christianity", "Brahmo Somaj" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 216 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00240-69f98766025c301accda.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Future of Brahmoism", "chunk_data": "With reference to the future of this religious movement we should not perhaps speak very decidedly. But yet, judging from the analogy of history, there are some general statements which I think we may safely venture upon regarding the future prospects of Brahmoism. If we inquire what it is that has preserved Christianity in its unity and life during its long and chequered history, we shall find I think, that it is its connection with an historical person....", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "R. Jardine", "Christ" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Jardine cautiously considered Brahmoism's future by comparing it with Christianity's historical continuity through Christ.", "tags": [ "Religion", "History", "Brahmo Somaj" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 217, 218 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00241-d6924de344b77aab0c3a.webp", "raw\\pages\\00242-abcb58a83a4f789d2c07.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christian Unity and Diversity", "chunk_data": "3. J. Barton on Mutual Relations of Indian Churches\n\nI am not one of those sanguine persons who think that the time is near at hand when it will be possible for us to meet upon the same ecclesiastical platform, nor am I by any means sure that were such a consummation possible it would prove so conducive as might at first appear to the interests of our Lord's Kingdom. I cannot myself sympathize with those who regard the present state of things as an unmixed evil, and the various sections into which the professing church of Christ is divided as so many practical dismemberments of the body of Christ. My ideal of Christian unity is not uniformity of ecclesiastical organization, but oneness of spirit and of doctrine. To speak of the Church as if it were co-extensive with this or that ecclesiastical body, seems to me to confound the visible Church of Christ with the invisible, and to treat church-membership as if it were the same thing as Christ-membership.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "J. Barton" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "J. Barton defined Christian unity as oneness of spirit and doctrine rather than uniformity of ecclesiastical organization.", "tags": [ "Church", "Unity", "Doctrine" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 217, 218 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00241-d6924de344b77aab0c3a.webp", "raw\\pages\\00242-abcb58a83a4f789d2c07.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Organization of Native Churches", "chunk_data": "Most important indeed and most precious as a means of grace is that bond which unites Christians together in that visible corporate union which constitutes a Church, but let us not so misread the New Testament as to see in it nothing but our own ecclesiastical system to the exclusion of all others. In looking back upon the past, however much one may deplore in many cases the circumstances under which our various ecclesiastical systems had their origin, it seems to me impossible for any candid and unbiased mind not to see and admit that God, who governs all things according to the counsels of His own will, has overruled these very divisions to His own glory and the advancement of His kingdom.\n\nWhen however we come to consider the relations which should subsist between the various Native Convert Churches planted through the agency of various Missionary Societies, the question of Church Organization assumes a very different aspect. We are dealing here with new material, capable of being as easily moulded into one shape as another, and the question for us to consider is whether we are to reproduce in our Native Churches all the differences which separate ourselves?", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "J. Barton" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Barton urged missionaries to consider whether divisions among European churches should be reproduced in newly established Indian Churches.", "tags": [ "Church", "Missions", "Organization" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 14, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 217, 218 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00241-d6924de344b77aab0c3a.webp", "raw\\pages\\00242-abcb58a83a4f789d2c07.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Building Indian Christian Churches", "chunk_data": "We profess to carry to this and other heathen lands the Gospel of the Lord Jesus; to give them that which first regenerate, then sanctify them, and build them up day by day in all the fullness and beauty of the Christian life. To this end we form them into congregations, and seek to the best of our ability to give them pastors after God's own heart who will 'feed them with knowledge and understanding'. All this we have done, and God has blessed our labours, and our hearts are cheered by seeing on every side Churches rising up like oases in the barren desert; the wilderness beginning to rejoice and blossom as the rose.\n\nBut have we done nothing more than this? Have we not trained them also too rigidly according to our own particular model, as if it were not merely Christianity that we desired to impart to them, but Episcopalian or Presbyterian or Lutheran Christianity?...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "J. Barton", "Indian Christian converts" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Barton described the growth of Indian congregations and criticized the rigid imposition of particular European denominational models.", "tags": [ "Church", "Missions", "Denominations" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 15, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 218 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00242-abcb58a83a4f789d2c07.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Independent Church Government", "chunk_data": "The whole argument seems to me to turn upon the answer which we give to the following questions :-\n1. Are the Native Churches of India to have an independent organic existence of their own; or are they to be regarded, like our English-speaking congregations in this land, as mere branches of the Mother Churches from which they first sprang?\n2. Admitting that they ought to have a separate organization of their own, have they not, as a necessary consequence, the right to elect their own form of Church Government so soon as they are able to maintain themselves?\n\nWith regard to the first of these questions I suppose we are now all of one mind, whatever we may have thought a few years back, that we cannot expect to see a Native Church rising to the full measure of its duties and responsibilities until it possesses an organic independent existence of its own. Perhaps it is not too much to say that of all the discoveries that have been made of late years in the science of modern missions, this is by far the most important...\n\nAssuming it then as a principle, regarding which we are all agreed, that a Native Church ought to possess an independent organic life of its own, it seems to follow as a necessary corollary that so soon as it can exist without foreign support it has a right to elect its own form of Church government.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "J. Barton" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Barton argued that self-supporting Native Churches should possess independent organic existence and choose their own church government.", "tags": [ "Church", "Self-government", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 16, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 218 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00242-abcb58a83a4f789d2c07.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Preparing for Future Union", "chunk_data": "There are various other ways, however, in which this desired consummation may be gradually prepared for and brought about. My honoured friend, Newton of Lahore, who read a paper on this very subject at the Conference held 10 years ago in that city, mentioned the following as some of the different modes in which the way might be prepared for future union, and I have little to add to his admirable suggestions.\n1. Joint Itinerancies by the members of the different Missions, both Missionaries and Catechists.\n2. Mutual interchange of pulpits.\n3. Union Prayer meetings.\n4. Inter-communion at the Lord's Table.\n5. Common religious Periodicals.\n6. Advisory Conferences or Councils, to meet at intervals of five years, or so...", "time": { "start_year": 1862, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1872, "end_month": 12, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 1862–1872" }, "meta": { "people": [ "J. Barton", "Newton of Lahore" ], "places": [ "Lahore" ], "event": "Barton proposed practical forms of cooperation among missions, including joint itinerancies, pulpit exchanges, prayer meetings, inter-communion, periodicals, and advisory councils.", "tags": [ "Church", "Unity", "Missions" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 17, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 219 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00243-e0dfa79aaee47c03f658.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Missionaries' Spiritual and Secular Roles", "chunk_data": "4. K. C. Chatterjee on the Relations of the Missionaries to Converts in Secular Matters\n\nThe Protestant Missionary in India stands in a two-fold relation to native converts. He is the spiritual father of his people whom he has collected out of heathenism. He instructs them in the knowledge of Christ, and builds them up in the faith and hope of the Gospel. But this is not all. He is also related to them in secular matters. He is the temporal head of the native Christian Community, and, as such, has to discharge towards it the various duties of an earthly friend, patron and benefactor.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Protestant missionaries", "Native converts" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "K. C. Chatterjee described missionaries as both spiritual guides and temporal patrons of Indian converts.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Converts", "Society" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 18, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 219 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00243-e0dfa79aaee47c03f658.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Material Support for Converts", "chunk_data": "When a Hindu or a Mohammedan embraces the Christian religion, the missionary has in most cases to provide him with a house to live in, and get him some means of subsistence. He has to educate the converts and their children. He has to teach them good manners, self-reliance, energy and industry. When they are in difficulty or distress, the missionary has to come forward and help them out of it. In fact he has to seek and promote their temporal welfare as much as their spiritual good, and to be to them as a father to his children...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Hindu converts", "Mohammedan converts" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Chatterjee stated that missionaries commonly provided converts with housing, livelihoods, education, and practical assistance.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Social Welfare", "Converts" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 19, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 219 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00243-e0dfa79aaee47c03f658.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Legitimacy of Secular Assistance", "chunk_data": "1. My first proposition is, it is legitimate for the missionaries to attend to the temporal wants and prosperity of their converts. Some have doubted the truth of this proposition, and felt troubled in mind to be obliged to attend to the bodily necessities of their flock. They feel the sacredness of their position, and consider it their duty to devote themselves wholly to the word of God, and prayer. Every portion of time and talent devoted to the direction and supervision of the secular affairs of converts is, in their estimation, unjustly withdrawn from their proper sphere of labour. I sympathize very much with the spirit that suggests this remark...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Missionaries" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Chatterjee defended missionary attention to the temporal needs and prosperity of converts.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Social Welfare", "Church" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 20, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 219, 220 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00243-e0dfa79aaee47c03f658.webp", "raw\\pages\\00244-1bf0fb9dd100b136ab64.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Dependence of Persecuted Converts", "chunk_data": "2. My next proposition is, in the present circumstances of the Native Church, secular connection of missionaries with native converts is essentially necessary for the successful propagation of the Gospel. Our converts are from schools or from preaching. If from the former, they are generally dependent members of the family, and are turned out of it on their conversion. But if from the latter, they are generally poor, earning their livelihood by some humble calling which they are often obliged to give up on account of the persecution of their neighbours on their conversion to Christianity. In either case, by adopting the new faith they are banished from their homes, and excluded from the society, sympathy, and support of their friends. They become like exiles in their native land. Placed in such a situation, the convert naturally looks to his spiritual father in Christ, who is possessed of means and influence to help him, for earthly support, and expects him to take the place of a father, friend and patron. Under such circumstances, it is impossible for the missionaries to continue passive spectators refusing every assistance. Few can look with indifference on the sufferings of the weak and the helpless, especially if they be their children in the faith...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Native converts", "Missionaries" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Chatterjee argued that persecution and expulsion from families made missionary secular support essential to the spread of Christianity.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Persecution", "Converts" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 21, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 220 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00244-1bf0fb9dd100b136ab64.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Problems of Secular Missionary Relations", "chunk_data": "3. My third statement in this subject is, secular relations of missionaries to native converts have been hitherto most unfortunate and unsatisfactory in their results. In the first place they have absorbed a large portion of the missionary's time, care and attention which would otherwise be devoted to the important work of preaching and teaching. They have also had a most undesirable influence upon the native Christian community...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Missionaries", "Native converts" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Chatterjee stated that secular missionary relations had consumed time needed for preaching and teaching and had negatively affected native Christian communities.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Church", "Administration" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 22, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 220 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00244-1bf0fb9dd100b136ab64.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Reforming Missionary Relations", "chunk_data": "4. My fourth and last proposition is, we ought to do something at once to put our secular relations with converts on a more satisfactory basis, so as to remove their present evil consequences, especially the misunderstanding and ill-feeling in connection with them. It is a case of pressing importance, and not one in regard to which we can be still, and say, let things go on as they have done in years past. We have an important work before us. The interests of that work require that missionaries and native Christians should be united in their counsels and operations to bring it to a successful issue. And how can that take place as long as discontent and dissatisfaction are reigning amongst them?...", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1872–1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "K. C. Chatterjee", "Missionaries", "Native Christians" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Chatterjee called for immediate reform of missionaries' secular relations with converts and for united missionary and native Christian action.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Church", "Reform" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 23, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 220 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00244-1bf0fb9dd100b136ab64.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Mutual Non-interference Resolution", "chunk_data": "5. The Resolution on Mutual Non-interference of Missionary Societies\n\nThe Conference desire to put on record their sense of the grave importance of the principle of mutual non-interference of Missionary Societies. They are of opinion that, with certain recognized exceptions, such as the large centres of population, it is expedient that agents of different Missionary Societies should occupy different fields of labour.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": 26, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": 1, "time_display": "26 Dec 1872 – 1 Jan 1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Missionary conference delegates", "Missionary Societies" ], "places": [ "Allahabad" ], "event": "The Conference recorded the importance of mutual non-interference and recommended that different societies generally occupy separate fields of labour.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Policy", "Church" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 24, "chapter_name": "1872-1873. The First Decennial Conference, Allahabad", "page_numbers": [ 220 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00244-1bf0fb9dd100b136ab64.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Protecting Missionary Boundaries", "chunk_data": "Without calling in question the right of every missionary to exercise his ministry wherever God may give him opportunity, it is their solemn conviction that the progress of the Gospel in a heathen land can only be retarded by the missionaries of one communion receiving the converts of another church, who are as yet imperfectly acquainted with divine truth and unable to enter intelligently into questions which separate the various sections of Christendom, especially those who are under discipline.", "time": { "start_year": 1872, "start_month": 12, "start_date": 26, "end_year": 1873, "end_month": 1, "end_date": 1, "time_display": "26 Dec 1872 – 1 Jan 1873" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Missionary conference delegates", "Missionaries", "Christian converts" ], "places": [ "Allahabad" ], "event": "The Conference warned that missionaries receiving converts from other communions could hinder the progress of the Gospel and disrupt church discipline.", "tags": [ "Missions", "Church", "Discipline" ] } } ] }