VIII. CHAP. stations in India; and their united congregations are reckoned at about two thousand, exclusive of the Haico-Indians. Their character in India, as peaceable and loyal subjects, corresponds with that which they have uniformly maintained in other parts of the world. Everywhere they keep clear of political intrigues, and acknowledge the British Government in India, as they do that of the Sophi in Persia. From their first establishment at Calcutta in 1689, by the invitation of Governor Charnock, they have never forfeited the regard to which they are justly said to be entitled'; and it is declared, with equal truth, that their connexion with the English redounds to the national honour of both parties.2 Their alms School. 10. In 1820 they erected an alms-house at Calhouse and cutta, for the reception of their people who might seek refuge there when driven from their native countries by poverty or persecution. In 1821 they established a scholastic institution, entitled, The ARMENIAN PHILANTHROPIC ACADEMY, where their children, of both sexes, are instructed in the classical Armenian, in English, and Latin. The course of education comprises Grammar, Sacred and Profane History, Natural and Moral Philosophy, Geography, Mathematics, and other branches of useful study generally adopted in similar Schools. The children of the rich pay for their education, but (1) Buchanan's Christian Researches, p. 262. (2) Asiaticus, p. 54. It is recorded of the Aga Cacheck Arrakell (sometimes spelt Chackich Arakel-Asiaticus, p. 54), an Armenian merchant in Calcutta, that when he heard of the recovery of King George III. in 1789, he liberated all the prisoners for debt in the gaol of Calcutta. His Majesty, hearing of this instance of loyalty in an Armenian subject, sent him his picture in miniaHe wore the royal present suspended at his breast during his life; and it was afterwards worn by his son, when he appeared at the levee of the Governor-General.- Buchanan's Christian Researches, pp. 262, 263. ture. those of the poor are instructed gratuitously. Youths of various ages are sent to this seat of Haican learning from various parts of India, and not unfrequently from Ispahan and the Persian Gulf. This establishment is well supported by the Armenian community, from a conviction that its permanence and efficiency are calculated to elevate their children to the scale of the civilized and enlightened portion of the numerous and various Christians residing in British India. These are not the only tokens of the public spirit and respectability of these people at their different Indian settlements.3 able to Missions. 11. The Armenians in India, in accordance with Favourtheir general quiet, unpretending habits, are not a Protestant proselyting people. But though they do not appear to have attended to the religious instruction of the Natives, they were very favourable to the Protestant Missions on the Coromandel coast from their commencement. Ziegenbalg found them of great service to him during his visits to Madras, where, at that early period, their congregation amounted to about one hundred and fifty persons. And subsequently, when Grundler was sojourning there for a short time, an Armenian gentleman suggested to him, carefully to educate some of his select pupils at Tranquebar, with a view to their future employment in the propagation of Christianity in Persia. In 1712 some Armenian merchants proposed that one of the Danish Missionaries should proceed to Pegu, for the purpose of converting the Heathen there, and he engaged to assist in defraying his expenses. The Missionaries could not at that time spare one of their number from Tranquebar, so that the proposition fell to the ground; yet to have made it, as well as the suggestion relating to Persia, (3) J. Avdall's Census of Armenian Population of Calcutta. СНАР. is sufficient to show that they were not devoid of interest in the Missionary work. They have been thought to have many qualifications, and seem to be placed in circumstances, which very much favour their engaging in it themselves. A learned author has remarked, that "the Armenian Christians will be eminently qualified for the office of extending the knowledge of Christianity throughout the nations of Asia." 1 "Next to the Jews," remarks another writer conversant with the subject," the Armenians will form the most generally useful body of Christian Missionaries." We have already spoken of the Missionary labours of one, Carapeit Chator Aratoon3, who, in 1808, was preaching the Gospel in Jessore, in connexion with the Baptist Mission in Bengal; and of another, John Peter, employed in the same Mission at Balasore in 1810.4 These are not solitary instances; and when a goodly number of this people shall become sufficiently enlightened and zealous to proclaim the Gospel to the heathen world, their wide dispersion through the eastern hemisphere will prepare them for this great enterprise. Hitherto their attention (') Fabricius. Lux Evangelii, p. 651. (2) Buchanan's Christian Researches, p. 259. (3) This worthy Missionary is still (1844) spared to the Church in India; and the Baptist Missionary Society have recently published the following account of him, in a Summary View" of their Calcutta Mission: 66 "There is another devoted servant of our Lord in Calcutta, Aratoon, the first of Carey's ministry, and a Missionary indeed. In the language of the Bengalees, Hindoostanees, and Armenians, he is at home, and few have had more power and success. Now he is grey-headed and advanced in years; but in the work of our beloved Lord he is younger and more vigorous than many. Few men know the Natives of India better; and very few indeed can preach the Word of Christ more effectively. Often does he visit me," says one of the Missionaries, "and as often am I reproved and refreshed." (*) Baptist Mission. Book XI. c. 2. ss. 16 and 18. in all countries has been given almost exclusively to mercantile pursuits; but we trust that the day is not very remote, when they will be as active in advancing the interests of Christianity as those of commerce in the world. GREEKS. of the 12. At Calcutta there is a small community of Settlement Greek Christians, who, like the Armenians, were Greeks in led thither by the commercial prospects opened Calcutta. under the auspices of the English. The first eminent Greek who settled there was Hadjee Alexios Argyree, a native of Philippopolis, who went to Bengal in 1750. In 1770 he undertook for the English a mission to Caïro, where he procured from the Beys a firmân for the English to trade to Suez. Overtaken by a severe gale on the voyage, he made a solemn vow to heaven, that if he and his companions survived the perils that threatened them he would found a Church at Calcutta for the congregation of his people. God heard his prayer; and soon after his return, at the commencement of the government of Warren Hastings, he received a favourable answer to a petition he presented for permission to establish a Greek Church in Calcutta. Founda Church in 13. Divine Service had occasionally been per- o formed by the few Greeks in the settlement since their the year 1769; but hitherto they had no place ap- Calcutta. propriated to this sacred purpose, nor any regular minister to officiate. Argyree, with the sanction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, had now brought a priest of his Church from Alexandria, and, with (5) Hadjee is a title given to the Greeks who have made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, as well as to the Mahomedans who have been to Mecca. It is a Turkish word, and consequently not to be found in the Greek Lexicon. The Armenians term these pilgrims Mukdassee. VIII. CHAP. the assistance of his countrymen, and a munificent contribution from the Governor-General, in the year 1772 he purchased a house in Calcutta, and fitted it up in a suitable manner as a temporary Place of Worship. On the 5th of August 1777 death terminated his exertions for the religious instruction of his people. Three years after, in June 1780, the foundation of the present Greek Church was laid in Calcutta. The building was completed in a twelvemonth, and consecrated to the Lord on the 6th of August 1781, being dedicated to THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR BLESSED REDEEMER ON MOUNT TABOR. The pur chase of the ground and erection of the building cost together about thirty thousand rupees', the greater portion of which was contributed by the English, the few poor Greeks who traded to Bengal adding each his mite to the aggregate. Hitherto the Greeks, who were introduced into Calcutta by the Armenians, had paid to the Armenian Church, in consideration of their patronage, one Arcot rupee for every bale of merchandize which they received from Dacca, Sylhet, Bandana, Patna, and Moorshedabad, whether sold in Calcutta or exported for the Turkish market; but in 1781, when they had a Church of their own to support, they discontinued this tribute. The revenues of the Greek Church in 1802 amounted to nearly eighteen hundred rupees per annum 2, arising partly from a tax on the congregation, who were in general very poor, and partly from the rent of the house formerly used as a Church, and three other houses bequeathed for the purpose by Greeks on their demise. They received their ministers from whatever part of Greece they chose, always, however, with the sanction of the Patriarch of Constantinople. (1) About 30007. sterling. (2) About 1801. sterling. |