CHAP. I. Senior Chaplain another Missio nary. vered how they had been neglected by their own priests, and declared their determination to join the Protestant communion. This movement, as might be expected, alarmed the priests, who endeavoured to counteract the growing influence of Kiernander. They laboured hard to obtain possession of his little Church and dwelling-house, but hitherto without effect. Notwithstanding this opposition, the School continued to increase, and the assistance of a pious Schoolmaster, named Dirk Steenhover, was soon obtained. This good man had filled a similar post at Madras, with credit to himself and benefit to his School.1 18. In January 1761 the Rev. H. Butler, senior applies for Chaplain, wrote to the Christian-Knowledge Society, bearing testimony to the diligence of their Missionary, and recommending them to send out a person of industrious habits and unblemished morals to assist him in the School: at the same time he held out the prospect of a considerable increase to the salary of such a man at Calcutta. The Society not being able immediately to procure a suitable teacher in Europe, wrote to M. Kiernander, recommending him to apply to the Brethren on the coast to send him a Catechist who should be capable of assisting him, that he might be at liberty to attend to the native languages. Death of nander 2 19. This year his wife died, and also his two Mrs. Kier- valuable friends, the Chaplains. The gentleman and three who succeeded, Rev. Samuel Staveley, was no less Chaplains. zealous to further the objects of his Mission; but neither was he spared to him long, being carried off in the autumn of the following year by an awful epidemic that raged in Bengal. Kiernander him () Meier's Missions-Geschichte, p. 481. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Reports, 1760, 1761. (2) Meier's Missions-Geschichte, p. 496. self suffered severely from this calamity; but at length, after not less than six relapses, he was graciously restored to health. The mortality among the Natives was so great, that parents were afraid to send their children to School, which was now reduced to forty scholars; but there was no diminution of numbers on the books, and the rest returned when the cause for alarm was removed. 3 insurrec 20. In the year 1763 Calcutta was thrown into Native great consternation by the rising of the Natives, tions supfirst under command of the Nabob, Cossim Aly pressed. Kawn, and afterwards under Sujah Dowlah. They appeared in sufficient force to call the whole of the British army into the field; but on both occasions they were completely defeated, and their forces dispersed. In consequence of these successes, the English territories became more settled and secure than they were before. During the hostilities, Kiernander was apprehensive for the safety of his Mission but his fears were now removed; and he soon found that the triumphs of the sword had opened for him a more extended field than he was able to cultivate without the assistance of a European colleague.1 M. in 21. This year the Chaplains altered the arrange- Improvements in the Charity School, reducing the number ment of children, yet putting them on a more efficient Mission. footing, and appointing a Master of their own. Kiernander, though still entrusted with the general superintendence of the Institution, was relieved by this alteration, and enabled to assemble the Mission School more conveniently than before. In a short time, however, the scholars, as well as the congregation, became too numerous for the premises he occupied; and on applying to the authorities for (3) Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Report, 1761. (1) Ibid. 1762—1764. CHAP. I. Notice of a larger house, the Governor himself immediately ordered that a building of a convenient size should be appropriated for the present use of the Mission. With some alterations, these premises were rendered commodious enough to lodge all the charity children, and to provide a habitation for the Master. A spacious hall was fitted up as a Chapel, and solemnly dedicated, by Kiernander, to the worship of God. He preached on the occasion from 1 Kings viii. 27. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house that I have builded ?" 22. The Governor, Mr. Vansittart, besides lendVansittart. ing the premises, generously assisted to repair and enlarge them. This gentleman had formerly resided at Fort St. George, where he became acquainted with M. Swartz and other Missionaries on the coast, whom he had learned to esteem. Of Swartz especially he used to speak in the highest terms, commending his piety, integrity, and disinterestedness. He also bore testimony to the great reverence paid him by the Natives, and to the influence which he had over them by his high character. Such was the patron whom Divine Providence had raised up to cherish this infant Mission in Bengal. He was able to appreciate the Missionary's undertaking, and glad to contribute his best endeavours to advance it. But the Mission was too soon deprived of his fostering care. He left Calcutta in November 1764, and was subsequently lost, in the Aurora frigate, which perished at sea.1 Conver 23. During the absence of the German soldiers Romanists with the army, M. Kiernander was more at liberty sion of and others. (1) For part of this information the author is indebted to Mr. Vansittart's noble son, Lord Bexley. The rest is taken from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Report, 1765. to attend to the Natives. His exertions among the Bengalees were straitened by his imperfect acquaintance with their language; but he was very assiduous with those who understood Portuguese, Heathen as well as Romanists. He now preached to them twice on the Lord's Day, and these services were well attended. Among the converts in 1764 there were three Malays, a married couple and a seaman; also three Portuguese, one of whom was a young man in the School, named Domingo Simon, aged eighteen, who became very useful in teaching the younger scholars. Several other Romanists, who attended his Church, avowed their conviction of the truth of what they heard, and their desire to join the Protestants; but they postponed it for the present. of Romish 24. The Portuguese were very numerous at Cal- Hostility cutta, and Kiernander was indefatigable in distri- Priests. buting among them the religious Tracts in their language which the Brethren had sent from Tranquebar. This roused their priests again to oppose him. Of all the Romish Priests in India, those in Bengal seem to have been hitherto the most inattentive to their people's instruction and morals2; but no sooner was the attempt made to enlighten them, than they took the alarm, and exerted every means in their power to prevent the escape of any from their domination. So great was their influence, that it was with the utmost difficulty that Kiernander, or any Protestant, could hold communication with their people; and the methods whereby they laboured to maintain it will be best understood by the description of one or two cases. A woman who had joined the Protestant Church was taken dangerously ill, when she desired to see M. Kier (2) The low state of the Roman Mission in Bengal has been mentioned in a former part of this History. Book v. c. 3. s. 2. I. CHAP. nander, and to receive the Lord's Supper at his hands; but the priests contrived clandestinely to prevent the meeting, and to deprive her of the consolation of that ordinance at her last moments: and when she died, they had her buried in their own cemetery, pretending that she had returned to their communion. They were afterwards convicted of having surreptitiously drawn up her will in their own favour, which was so manifestly unjust towards her family, that it was set aside in the Mayor's Court. Lord Clive concludes peace with the Native Powers. Whenever a European Protestant married a Romanist, and the children were baptized by the English Chaplain, it was the constant practice of these priests to take advantage of the father's absence from home, or of his death, to re-baptize the children, that they might claim them as members of their own Church; and whenever the Protestant Clergy demurred about marrying a couple, in consequence of some legal impediments, the priests immediately stepped in and performed the ceremony, without asking any questions about the lawfulness of the union. By such methods did they labour to impede the progress of Christianity in the country, and thereby confirm the intolerant character of their Church. 25. In May 1765 Lord Clive arrived to take charge of the Government, with full powers, together with a Select Committee, to negociate peace with the Natives, which he lost no time in settling upon a firm basis, and on terms highly advantageous to the East-India Company. He was also empowered to act in other matters as often as he and the Committee might deem it expedient, without consulting the Council, or being subject to its controul.1 This propitious state of affairs encouraged M. (') Mill's British India. Svo ed. 1820. Vol. iii. pp. 322 et seq. |