{
  "bookName": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials",
  "authorName": "M. K. Kuriakose",
  "publisherName": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge",
  "publicationYear": 2011,
  "chapterNumber": 105,
  "chapterName": "1857. The Benares Conference Resolution on the Native Agency",
  "pageFrom": 161,
  "pageTo": 161,
  "pages": [
    {
      "pageNumber": 161,
      "ocrText": "SOURCE MATERIALS\n161\nand which the scholars leave while but young and ill-educated, are\nfor missionary ends of comparatively little use. They consider that\nthis plan of proclaiming the gospel has spread the knowledge of it\nextensively among the educated, and introduced into respectable\nfamilies not otherwise easily accessible to its influence; has\nprevented greatly the spread of infidelity among the young; has\ngreatly diminished the power of the Hindu priesthood and of caste;\nand also led in not a few instances to the actual conversion of souls.\n105. THE BENARES CONFERENCE RESOLUTION ON\nTHE NATIVE AGENCY (1857 A.D.)\nThe first North India missionary conference was held at Benares\non January 6-9, 1857. This resolution of the conference deals with\nvarious aspects of the employment of Indian workers, and stresses their\nimportance. Due to the outbreak of the Rebellion in that year the\nreport of the conference was lost. This resolution is found in a brief\naccount of the meetings published by J. Gregson in 1857, Brief Account\nof the Missionary Conference, Lately held at Benares, pp. 13-14.\nResolution on the Native Agency\nThat this Conference agree in general with the views expressed\nby Mr. Newton in the paper now read. As India must evidently\nbe converted chiefly through the instrumentality of its own people.\nJust as by such instrumentality it has to a degree been subdued\nunder English rule, the Conference consider that it is impossible\nto overrate the vast importance of raising up a holy and efficient\nnative agency of every kind and they heartily concur in the recom-\nmendation now presented to their notice, that it should be made,\nboth in general and on special occasions the subject of earnest\nprayer before the throne of God. If He has said, Pray ye to the\nLord of the harvest, that he will send more labourers into his\nharvest,' they feel assured that, when such prayer is offered in faith,\nit cannot be offered in vain. They consider that, owing to their\nimportance, native pastors and missionaries, catechists and school-\nmasters, should all be selected with the greatest care, and that no\npossible means left untried for rendering all these classes of agents\nas efficient as circumstances will allow. They deem it essentially\nnecessary to their success that pastors, evangelists, and catechists\nshould be men of decided piety; and most desirable that school-\nmasters and teachers instructed not only in a goodly number of\nbranches of general knowledge, but in the best modes of communi-\ncating knowledge to others, as, for instance, in the infant school\nsystem. For all preachers, the standard of general knowledge\nshould be fixed somewhat high, and as many branches of theological\nscience as possible be included within the course of their studies.\nThey consider that experience has clearly taught, and they\naccordingly recommend, that, with a view to render all native\nH.C.I.-11",
      "status": "completed"
    }
  ]
}