{ "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": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Munro and Protestant Christianity", "chunk_data": "This is an extract from a letter written by Colonel Munro, British Resident in Cochin and Travancore (1812-1816), to the Church Missionary Society as it was beginning its mission of help among the Syrian churches. It discusses the best means of introducing Protestant Christianity, which he sees as of benefit to the British Power. It is thus a good example of the difficulty some officials had in distinguishing between their genuine evangelical commitments and their official interests. Missionary Register 1816, pp. 452-454. Cited in P. Cheriyan, The Malabar Syrians and the Church Missionary Society 1816-1846, Appendix A, Letter No. I, pp. 340-341.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "P. Cheriyan" ], "places": [ "Cochin", "Travancore", "Kerala", "India" ], "event": "The source introduces Colonel Munro's 1816 letter on the introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Politics", "Missionaries" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christianity and British Stability", "chunk_data": "Regarding as I do, the diffusion of genuine Christianity in India, as a measure equally important to the interest of humanity and to the stability of our power, I view, with the most sincere pleasure, the commencement of a systematic plan for the attainment of that object; and the Society may be assured of my earnest desire to co-operate with them, by any means in my power, in the furtherance of their designs.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Colonel Munro expressed support for a systematic plan to spread Christianity in India as both a humanitarian measure and a means of strengthening British power.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Politics", "British Empire" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Missionary Oversight in Travancore", "chunk_data": "With respect to Mr. Norton, and all the persons who may be employed by the Society in Travancore, I wish that they may be desired to receive my advice concerning the general application of their services; but to consider themselves as entirely under the control and inspection of the Society, in their detailed proceedings.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Mr. Norton" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro proposed advising missionaries in Travancore on the general application of their services while leaving their detailed work under the Society's control.", "tags": [ "Missionaries", "Religion", "Administration" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Resident's Authority over Missionaries", "chunk_data": "They will report to the Society and obey its orders, according to the rules observed by the Missionaries acting in the Company's territories; but from the circumstance of Travancore being a foreign state, it is necessary, for many reasons, that the Missionaries should attend to the advice of the Resident, whose support will indeed be essential to the success of their exertions.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro" ], "places": [ "Travancore", "British Company's territories" ], "event": "Colonel Munro argued that missionaries in the foreign state of Travancore should heed the British Resident's advice while reporting to and obeying the Society.", "tags": [ "Missionaries", "Politics", "Administration" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Hope for Christianity in Travancore", "chunk_data": "I entertain a confident hope that by prudent and active measures, much may be effected in Travancore for the advancement of Christianity.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro expressed confidence that prudent and active measures could advance Christianity in Travancore.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Missionaries" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 92 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00116-ea5c351f59b7b3207bd5.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Relief of Travancore Christians", "chunk_data": "The Christians of all descriptions in Travancore have, since my arrival in this country, been relieved from most oppressive burdens. Released from civil oppression they will be better disposed, I hope, to apply with cheerfulness to their religious duties.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Christians of Travancore" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro reported that Christians in Travancore had been relieved from oppressive civil burdens and might therefore devote themselves more willingly to religious duties.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Society", "Administration" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "English Education and Protestantism", "chunk_data": "An efficient and extended system of education, particularly in English language, will contribute more effectively than any other plan to the early and substantial advancement of the Protestant religion in India. The prevalence of the Portuguese language has substantially promoted the propagation of the Roman Catholic religion.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Colonel Munro identified expanded English-language education as the most effective means of advancing Protestant Christianity in India.", "tags": [ "Education", "Religion", "Language" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 8, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Language and British Power", "chunk_data": "Indeed from the situation of the Portuguese in India, strong arguments may be adduced for the diffusion of the English language, as a means of supporting the British Power, as well as of extending the Protestant religion; for the name and influence of the Portuguese nation have been preserved by the prevalence of their language, long after the subversion of their power by the Dutch; and if the Portuguese were in a state to undertake conquests in India, their design would be greatly facilitated by the extension which their language and customs have obtained.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro" ], "places": [ "India", "Portuguese India" ], "event": "Colonel Munro argued that spreading English would support British power and Protestantism, just as Portuguese had preserved Portuguese influence and Catholic expansion in India.", "tags": [ "Language", "Politics", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 9, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Christian Judges in Travancore", "chunk_data": "An establishment consisting of one principal and subordinate courts has been founded in Travancore and I have succeeded in procuring the appointment of a Christian Judge to act with each of these tribunals. This arrangement is highly favourable to the protection and respectability of the Christians in Travancore; and it is also agreeable to the Brahmins and Nairs who find in the integrity of the Christian Judges a check on the venality and corruption of the other judges.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Christian Judges", "Brahmins", "Nairs" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro established principal and subordinate courts in Travancore and appointed Christian judges to serve with the tribunals.", "tags": [ "Politics", "Law", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 10, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Difficulty Finding Christian Judges", "chunk_data": "I have, however, experienced difficulties in procuring respectable and honest men to fill the situation of Christian Judges to the several courts and that office in the principal court is still vacant in consequence of my having been unable to find a person qualified for the execution of its duties.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Christian Judges" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro reported difficulty finding suitable Christian judges, leaving the position in the principal court vacant.", "tags": [ "Law", "Administration", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 11, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Missionary as Principal Court Judge", "chunk_data": "The appointment of an English Missionary to that office would be attended with advantages to the cause of Christianity by the protection which it would afford to the Christians and by the credit which the wiser and impartial conduct of the Judge would reflect on the religion that he professed... and it might perhaps be in the power of the Society to recommend fit persons for these situations, particularly in the principal court.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "English Missionary" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro suggested appointing an English missionary as judge of the principal court and asked the Society to recommend qualified candidates.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Law", "Missionaries" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 12, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Syrian Ecclesiastical Dissensions", "chunk_data": "I am sorry to say that the internal dissensions among the Syrians have increased since Ramban Joseph has been elected to the office of the bishop.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Ramban Joseph", "Syrians" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro reported that internal divisions among the Syrians had intensified after Ramban Joseph's election as bishop.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church", "Conflict" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 13, "chapter_name": "1816. Munro on the Introduction of Protestant Christianity to Kerala", "page_numbers": [ 93 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00117-b4dc1f17d795b1e8812a.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Settlement of Syrian Disputes", "chunk_data": "I expect that all the principal ecclesiastical authorities among the Syrians will arrive here in the course of a few days; and I shall endeavour to make some arrangement for the settlement of their disputes.", "time": { "start_year": 1816, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1816, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1816 AD" }, "meta": { "people": [ "Colonel Munro", "Syrian ecclesiastical authorities" ], "places": [ "Travancore" ], "event": "Colonel Munro expected the Syrian ecclesiastical authorities to arrive and planned to settle their disputes.", "tags": [ "Religion", "Church", "Conflict" ] } } ] }