The First Syrian Church Mission Tour, as Private Letters Tell of It

Private Letters tell of it

THE first Syrian tour, the first of twelve such tours, some longer, some shorter, took place at a time of crisis in the Syrian Church. The present Metran of the Reformed Syrian Church, known as the Mar Thoma Church, thus describes the state of things in 1900:

“At this time the Syrian Church was in sore trial, and labouring under very serious difficulties from its having had to give up its churches, seminaries, and other property in pursuance of a decree of Court. Add to this, corporate Church life was threatened with schismatic teachings from without. The Church was tottering to its fall.”

God used his servant to keep the Church from disintegration, to inspire it to further reform, and to missionary enterprise.

“Our Iyer, Walker Iyer — can we ever forget him?” — is the word of another leader of that old Church. “It was Walker Iyer who saved our Church from schism.” Walker Iyer — it is a well-beloved name among the Syrians; and the man who bore it returned the Syrians’ affection. He knew the people well; for throughout the earlier years of his work among them he lived with them, in their own houses, sharing as much as in him lay their lives and interests, and thus getting to know them in and out, in that intimate way only possible when such a life is lived.

But it involved severe physical strain; for he was one who was tried by travelling and by living in hot and noisy places, surrounded by people who though devoted to him, were entirely unaware of his almost imperative need for quiet and privacy.

And far greater than the physical was the spiritual strain of such tours: the huge crowds with their tremendous pull upon every faculty, every emotion; the sense of the vastness of the opportunity, the shortness of the time — all this pressed upon him, especially when, as in the first and several subsequent tours, he was alone, till the wonder was not that he was so worn out after the strenuous weeks, as that he was alive at all.

These masses of people (from 15,000 to 20,000, not counting the children who, of course, always accompany their parents) did not resemble the group of men and women who met at Broadlands, Oxford, Brighton, and Keswick in the memorable years 1874 and ’75; nor was it quite comparable to the crowd which gathers at any of the annual conventions now. This crowd in the dried - up river bed was composed for the most part of households of “born Christians,” to quote the Indian word, religiously inclined, as even nominal Christians are in India. Scattered among the people thus congregated, there were always true Christians who increased in numbers year by year, and there was a smaller group at the heart of things, gathered round Philipose Achan, men earnest for the spiritual good of their people. All, real and nominal alike, strike the stranger as unique in their affection for their ancient Church, and in the warmth of their welcome to any friend who comes to them in love.

It would be tedious to the general reader to go into frequent detail concerning these twelve tours; but three, each distinct in its way, and each told in a fashion of its own, seem to stand out as typical of all. These three, then, shall be described, one, the long tour of 1900, by private letters written to Mrs. Walker; the second by a friend, sharer in the toil and in the joy of’ a shorter tour taken in 1902; and the third by himself again, in an open journal letter to relatives in England describing a week of meetings at the great centre for such gatherings, Maramana, on the Rana river. An account of anyone of these could be written so as to read grandly; but again it seems to the writer that many will care more to see each in its prosaic detail, and in its sometime bewilderment and discouragement; for, after all, most readers, being human, know what it is to accompany the sower of the Psalm not in mere poetic fancy but iii fact, and know also what it is to have to gird up the loins of their mind to lay hold upon the word “shall doubtless,” feeling their work unworthy such reward.

To understand the trend of the letters contained in this chapter, it should be known that the time was full of perplexity. It was not easy, as he put it, to combine the functions of mission preacher and ecclesiastical adviser. There were at the moment three distinct influences at work in the Reformed Syrian Church: that of the Conservative Party who did not want further reform; that of the Reformers who ardently desired it; and that of those who saw in severance from the old Church the highest hope of the spiritually minded within it. The position of a missioner whose sympathies were strongly on the side of the Reformers, and yet refused to anathematise anyone, could not but be difficult; and, being the man he was, he felt keenly, and to those whom he could trust he expressed frankly those feelings. For this was characteristic of him. He never posed as superior to natural feelings; he never pretended to enjoy the cold shoulder turned to him, or the cut of the innuendo, that subtlest scourge of the tongue. But he went straight on notwithstanding, and the word was fulfilled to him: “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” Those who knew him will catch his very accent in such sentences as the following, especially in the way he turns from things ecclesiastical to things spiritual; he was above all things a winner of souls:

“For myself I believe in going quietly forward, and trusting God to show and fulfil His will. My visit may end in Syrian Church Reform, or in the C.M.S. setting aside a spiritually minded man to work among the Syrians; or it may have other issues known only to God. All this [a reference to facts just related] makes me detest sectarian bigotry the more, and see that the ’ odium theologicum ’ will only cease when the Lord comes. How we shall be ashamed of our ’ isms ’ in the light of His appearing!...

“As I expected, I seem to be pleasing nobody. But that does not matter. If God fulfils His purpose, that is enough; and if souls are saved, that will be fruit unto life eternal....

“However, what does it matter what people think? I shall have all sorts of things said about my work here. A. will not be satisfied. B. will not be satisfied. C. will be much dissatisfied. But if God makes my sojourn here a blessing to my own soul, as I believe He will, and also uses it to the good of others, then His name be praised.”

The letters which follow should be read with all this as mental background.

“January 13, 1900. — I am now on the banks of the Rana River, and only eight miles from my destination. I have seen no signs of anyone to meet me, so I expect my letter, written nine or ten days ago from Pannaivilai, has not reached the Metran yet. It is a poor lookout for my posts, isn’t it? But though I have had no welcome from man, Daily Light for this morning says, ‘Peace from Him which was, and is, and is to come.’ And the Lord’s ‘All hail! ’ is worth all else beside.

“January 16. — I am feeling more and more the need of Divine wisdom and strength. Yesterday we had a prayer-meeting in the old Metran’s rooms. He is a lovable old man, and, I believe, anxious for the good of his people. The two Metrans, some Achans, and myself were present. I spoke, in Tamil, on the conditions for prayer, and then there was prayer all round.

“In the evening we had a great pack of people, inside and outside. I preached on the tyranny of sin, and there was a good deal of audible response. During the closing prayer a wave of excitement passed over the whole congregation. The noise would have frightened you, I expect: cries and prayers over the whole church for, say, a quarter of an hour. Then it died away into perfect quiet again, and the young Metran from the chancel started up a Malay alam lyric.

“January 17. — Yesterday we had two prayer-meetings in the old Metran’s upper room; but I cannot say that I thought there was much power in them. Prayer-meetings are the most difficult of meetings, unless you ha j a number of just like-minded people who know what they want and ask for it straight. Still, I have to take things as I find them, and perhaps the fact that their prayers are all in Malayalam makes them drag the more on my consciousness. My part, with the Achans, is in

Tamil, and theirs in Malayalam. So far I have been preaching in English for interpretation. I am not clear yet that interpretation from Tamil would be better, as I question whether more than a mere handful really grasp the meaning of the Tamil; and preaching by interpretation is of necessity so scrappy, that it is easier to do it in one’s mother-tongue. Of course, I do not try to indulge in Mr. Y.’s poetical flights. He little knew how the wings dropped in the process of translation.

“Last night the church was crammed again, with a large crowd outside. I thought it well to check the excitement, and think I was right. It is like an atmosphere of electricity, and a spark would set it all going. I told them I wasn’t afraid of noise, but that noise would not convert them, and that it was all nothing unless they forsook sin and turned right round to God. I don’t mind what else they do, if only they do that. This had the effect of curbing the excitement, though response was still audible enough. But, so far, I have had no anxious souls coming to visit me; and what is it all worth unless they come to Christ? To-day we have commenced a morning meeting too, with the church about three parts full. I spoke on practical, everyday things, for it seems to me that this is sorely needed.

“How I wish they understood Tamil, and that I knew more about their real state and needs. Pray that I may be clearly guided step by step.

“January 18. — As I told last night the story [Dr. Gordon’s] of ‘How Jesus Christ came to Church,’ I could scarcely go on. I felt it tremendously myself. And at every sentence the people were moved; it seemed just like playing on a responsive string. I left out the last part of my address, and just returned to that story. Emotion would have run riot if I had pressed it further. So we had private prayer; and I asked any who wished, while all closed their eyes, myself included, to stretch out their hands to Jesus Christ for salvation. I don’t know how many did it — not very many, I fear — but God knows what happens sometimes in solemn moments. I invited any who had done it to stay behind. I don’t think all who had done it stayed; but after all had gone, two men and some half-dozen women remained, and I tried to lead them to Christ.

“I am hoping for more liberty when I get away from here. There are too many criticisms all round. Some are afraid of excitement, and some of me. One of the bitterest critics is a

C.M.S. man, elder of a neighbouring congregation. He is very hot against the schismatics. Indeed, I fear that there is a good deal of heat on both sides. I sometimes wonder whether I have done right in coming. From man’s point of view, ‘Failure ’ will probably be written over my work. My own prayer is: ‘Lord, fulfil the purpose for which Thou hast sent me, what ever it be; and make me willing to seem a total failure, if so be that Thy Name be glorified.’

“January 20. — It is now a week to-day since I arrived here. I am still feeling bewildered, and don’t know God’s purpose in my coming. I hear that the conservatives are thoroughly disappointed in my teaching. Apparently they wanted me to prop up all their Church practices and oppose the seceders in public preaching. And they find that I just preach the Gospel and seek souls. Of course, in private conversation I warn people. But they want a pugilist; and in spite of my reputation for being dogmatic, I never was a controversial pugilist. Controversy does not save souls or promote love and unity.

“They are going to trot me round now to parish after parish, with only three days in each. Pray that they may be three days of blessing everywhere. ‘After two days will He revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.’ Oh to find that promise true! It is rather a good one, I think, for special mission services.

“We had a last service at Maramana this morning, especially for Christians. The word seemed to grip, and we had a decidedly solemn close. After silent prayer for consecration to the Lord, I asked for that lyric which we used to have when we were in Travancore before, — ‘Praise! Praise! ‘This always stirs the people. Shouldn’t I like to see a Tamil congregation stirred! It would mean more with the comparatively un emotional Tamil. I got young Werky to close with prayer, and he just poured out his heart, not without tears. Well, the services there are over, except that I am to go later on, D.V., for a week’s meetings with all the Kattanars [clergy]. I took the opportunity at the last meeting to urge Christian love, and to warn the people against a fault-finding, seceding spirit.

“Archdeacon Caley arrived during the meeting, though I did not know he was present, and heard the address from the Metran’s west gallery. I had a long talk with him afterwards. He quite agrees with me that I should not preach controver sially, whoever urges me to do so, but just preach the Gospel of Christ, taking occasion, as I did this morning, to strike notes of loving warning. So he backs me up in my own convictions of what is the right course of action.

“January 23. — I find the Syrian Christians too full of questionings. They want to know everything, and are inclined to query and argue about the meaning of verses. I think this will prove one of their dangers in the future, and expose them to error. When a man’s mind runs on the bent of a mere scholastic debating about theological terms, instead of on that of practical obedience to what is clearly the main drift of God’s will, he is sure to be a weak-kneed Christian. We must do God’s will, and then we shall ’ know of the doctrine.’

“January 24. — I am trying to preach practical religion to the converted. This is what they seem to me to want. They have got to a certain point, and are sticking; and their zeal is expending itself in curious questionings rather than in practical holiness and evangelistic zeal. Pray that my message may help to steady them, and to lead their energy into practical channels. I feel that I do not know them as well as I know the Tamils.

“January 25. — It seems to me that all these divisions are hindering blessing, and that a good deal of the so-called conversions must be more nominal than real. The movement of three years ago seems to have spent its force, and this is ebb tide in the Syrian Church. They will come in crowds to hear Bible-teaching, and ask crowds of curious questions; but it seems to me that experimental religion is largely wanting. To turn them aside from this to questions of Church organisation will create sectarian bigotry, but will it promote true religion? Instead of getting to work to bring in others and to preach the Gospel to the heathen, they have been looking after themselves and turning aside after vain questionings. I can only pray that God may fulfil His own purpose in bringing me here. It is a case of being more and more ’ cast upon Thee,’ for I have no human adviser who can help me.

“I have just been interrupted by a lot of young men who came for a prayer-meeting. Some of them have been rebaptised; others not. They confessed that their divisions are largely the cause of the lack of power; and we had a friendshipmaking, and a time on our knees, ending with ‘Jesus’ name is Victory.’ Oh, it is the spirit of love which is wanted! Lord Jesus, come quickly! I feel drawn out to love all God’s people. May the Holy Spirit come down upon all true Christians in a baptism of love and power. I am keeping very well, and must just go forward as God leads amidst difficulties on the right hand and on the left.

“January 27. — It was picturesque last night to see the people crossing the paddy field ridges in all directions with lighted torches. We are about five minutes from the church here, and have to traverse the ridges on our path. At the first general meeting last night, I divided the people, and called for a show of true Christians. It is so difficult to know where one is in the work, for nearly everyone says, ‘Oh, I was converted three years ago ’ [when revivalist meetings were held]. But the ebb of the tide seems to me to have left people hard. I find that they expected me to teach Christians and not to preach to the unconverted. I don’t see how you can separate the two. If the Christians were in a healthy state, conversions would be going on. What I find in Travancore is a crowd of people, thinking themselves converted, and coming to meetings to enjoy Scripture teaching, but sadly lacking in practical godliness, and with little or no zeal for the conversion of others. There seems to me an absence of real power, and it distresses me. Looked at from a missioner’s point of view, I should say that it is a bad time for a mission, and that the people are not prepared for it. And yet God has brought me, and must have a purpose, and so I must go on day by day. We had three or four earnest men in for a prayer-meeting yesterday, and one of them brought a backslider with him, who, I trust, was restored.

“This morning’s meeting was a search-light meeting for Christians; and we went into practical matters like neglect of prayer and Bible-reading. It seems to me that practical godliness is the great need of the people. Pray that the services may leave a lasting mark on the home-life and practical conduct of these Syrians.

“Physically, I have everything to be thankful for. Our loving Father is always showing His mercy. Yesterday morning He made them build a pandal palm-leaf porch in front of the verandah [in which he was living, and which was stiflingly hot] and also bring a table, chair, and lamp; so I am now in clover. I feel as though His special help were being vouchsafed in all that concerns bodily health and comfort, and that without any seeking on my part; oh for the spiritual power and blessing which these people so sorely need! To-morrow is my third Sunday in Travancore. May it be a revival Sunday!

“January 29. — My programme seems fixed for three weeks to come; after which there is some uncertainty, as the harvest makes it a bad time for some places I was to have visited, whereas other places are asking for it. However, God will guide: I feel confident of that. We have had good times here, I think, on the whole. God’s people are warmed, and I trust others are blessed. Yesterday we had huge crowds, outside the church as well as in it. This morning I have been taking the subject of assurance of salvation, as I found that some were needing it; and some, I believe, have been finding it. To-night is our last meeting here. May it be one of much power and blessing!

“I find it very hard to manipulate these huge crowds. It is so hard to get at individuals in them. And directly the meetings are fairly over, they have to sort themselves, light up their torches, and go home in bodies. So I have been contenting myself here with getting response in companies, and not asking anyone to stay behind in church when the meetings are over. I shall learn as I go on, D.V., how best to conduct the meetings and help souls. For size, the meetings remind me of Moody’s London Missions; but he had an army of experienced workers to get at souls when the preaching was over, and take them out into the enquiry room for dealing.

“January 30. — I think my plan of calling on individuals will not work well under the conditions here; and so at Elanthar I dealt with the people more in bodies — converted and unconverted. When I divided them the first night, very few stood up on the Lord’s side. Last night practically the whole congregation rose, though I made the conditions plain and solemn. Doubtless there were many who were not whole-hearted; but let us believe that there were real ones among them, backsliders reclaimed and new ones brought in. I dealt a good deal there with the subject of assurance of salvation, since it seemed to me that many had been resting on a former profession and lost their experience. However, it is now over, and at the Master’s feet; may He cleanse it and grant at least some fruit unto life eternal.

“I am sorry that E. and F. are slack. I have often felt it; but you can’t put more into people — or rather, you can’t get more out of them than they have got in them. We may push and push, and think we have got it in them; but the moment our pressure is relieved, they find their level [mixed metaphor, this, but extremely intelligible].

“January 31. — The weather is getting very hot, and the time of year is altogether unsuitable. Moreover, they had evidently made no proper preparations beforehand. But God brought me at this epoch, and so even these other matters seem small beside that fact. I have a deep conviction that He has some purpose, and that is enough. Our former visit to Travancore was distinctly fruitful. I have had many little tokens of that. And this visit will not be in vain. Anyhow, I shall feel that I tried to help them in their need.

“February 2. — Pray that the practical teaching which I am trying to give the people may really affect their lives. Even yet, I do not know God’s full purpose in bringing me here. Still, if some souls are born again, and if Christians are helped to live a holy life, it will be worth while. I have never had a fuller consciousness that He is watching over me. I feel special help vouchsafed in all physical things. He helps me to bear the noises [certain noises of a sort most trying to endure], and talking [perpetual and loud], and yet feel quite quiet. He is keeping me in health and strength. So far, I have not had the slightest trouble with my voice. He is hearing the prayers which you are all offering up, and supporting me in a very real sense. So I forget about punkahs [in the great heat], though I am glad sometimes of a hand-fan.

“February 3. — We had a solemn meeting last night, and I had an after-meeting for all who had raised their hands on the last two days, or for any others looking to Christ. One man, in particular, was much cut up. He seems to have been a regular bad one. One of the women, too, was very demonstrative in her grief. They are so much more emotional than the Tamils that it is difficult for me to gauge it all, and there is no one who can really help much at it.

“We had our last meeting for Christians to-day, a very full one, and I pegged away at private prayer again. It seems to have hit many. We had dedication afterwards, and then some testimonies. It was all quiet, free from excitement, and I hope that it is a good sign. It seems to me that the people are as much in danger from excess of emotion here as the Tamils are in danger from lack of it.

“February 6. — Oh for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power everywhere! The world needs it tremendously. Some how there seems a block to it almost everywhere.

“Gradually I am beginning to understand more of the state of parties in the Syrian Church. Our old interpreter, the Rev. T. K. Joseph, is a close relation of the two Metrans. He says that God’s time for the Church was twenty years ago, when they had the great Revival in Matthew Preacher’s time. Then the devil brought on all the litigation about possession of the churches between the Reformers and the Jacobites. The former ought to have let the churches go and build new ones, as the Free Church of Scotland did. But they went in for litigation, told lies, stifled their consciences, and lost power. Now the Kattanars have not the confidence of the people, and so the latter are an easy prey. I am wondering what I ought to do when I meet the Kattanars. Pray much about it. I think the C.M.S. ought to step in at this juncture and help. What the Reformed Syrians want is a leader. They have not got one. I believe a strong, spiritually-minded man could carry reform all through the Church. They want a Luther. With all the young Achans on the side of reform, it wants a wise and patient leader; and, in time, the whole body would be cleansed.

“February 7. — Last night we had a very solemn meeting, and I gave an opportunity to any seeking souls. Thank God, there were some; but oh, how many are indifferent, crowding to hear, but not willing to give up sin. The moment I had finished praying, some of the converted men struck up prayer of their own accord, red-hot if you like: they pleaded for the unconverted. Then came my trials. I asked those who had held up their hands to stay behind, and a number did so. But the other people would stand all round. They are not accustomed to quiet after-meetings, and simply refused to go away, even when asked five or six times. The Achans have no command over the people. At last I had fairly to drive them out before I could deal with those poor souls. In the C.M.S. churches here they have full control of their congregations; but in the Syrian churches, none. And they have made up their mind that they can have none. You cannot get a single Syrian congregation to go off quietly after a service, for the sake of either Christ or souls. It makes it very difficult to get at anyone who is impressed. We were at least twenty minutes getting the people (or most of them) away last night. It seems to me that it is a case of either taking after-meetings in the mass (which is most unsatisfactory), or not taking them at all. Well, one has just to go forward trusting the Lord. He knows the circumstances, and can help. And, praise Him, He knows every heart which is hungering for Him.

“February 8. — We had a solemn service last night, and sent them home with earnest warnings; but except for a quiet time on our knees, did not attempt an after-meeting. Well, in the very early hours of this morning I was suddenly roused from sleep to find the whole ground quivering with an earthquake. You have probably had the same shock. It seemed to last several minutes at least. I felt perfectly quiet under it, and then subsided towards slumber again. Not so the people. There were shouts and cries and prayers all over the place. There seemed to be a tremendous commotion. After a time they came thumping and knocking at my doors and windows, so I had to light a lamp and get up. My room soon filled with men, some converted and some unconverted. They quite connect the earthquake with the solemn warnings I have been giving here. I told them last night in the pandal that I could do no more, and must just leave them to God. I asked them to go home and say truthfully in His presence, ‘I am saved,’ or ‘I am not saved.’ Then followed this earthquake shock, and they immediately connected the two together. It seems in a real sense God’s confirmation of His word by signs following. Call it a coincidence if you please, with ‘Divine ’ before the ’ coincidence.’

“Well, I spoke to them, and two young men professed to repent on the spot, while I warned again several others. I then turned into bed and went to sleep again. One of the Christians said, ‘This morning’s meeting must be for the unconverted.’ It is against our practice, as the morning meetings are intended to help Christians; but I felt it was God’s will that I should go and preach on ‘Earthquakes.’ So I got some notes together, and a large crowd assembled. The Rev. T. K. Joseph turned up to help me. We had a very solemn time, and I told them that God was giving them another chance and a special warning. Afterwards I called on any who wanted to turn to Him to stand up, and several men did so, and several women. I then got them to the front of the table where I stood, and we had an after-meeting before the whole pandal, in public. I felt that, after the earthquake, anxious souls ought not to shirk publicity. We were at it till nearly twelve o’clock, and I have just had breakfast before moving on.

“I believe they will long remember the earthquake and the meeting which followed. Most of the unconverted are very hard, for they know the truth. Thank God for those who have been led to Him. God’s children are stirred a good deal here, and the earthquake has strengthened their faith, and made them feel that He is with His servants.

“Now I wonder how you have got on in it all. You are nearly sure to have had the shock too. Well, if it were an earthquake of salvation (Acts xvi.) to any, praise God for it.

“February 8 (night). — I hear constant testimony to the blessing which rested on our former visit [the mission to the C.M.S. churches in 1894], and am almost surprised to hear it, as we had thought that the work was almost confined to the C.M.S. It seems that many Syrians came and got helped. It is at least encouraging, as it was all so quiet at the time and nothing much was seen or heard of it. It is an untold mercy to escape parade in print. I believe that offends God very often and mars the permanence of the work. To work on quietly, and trust God for fruit which shall remain, I feel more and more sure that this is the right way.

“February 12. — I had a pleasant day at Tiruwella on Saturday. The bungalow there was like a palace after the quarters I have been having lately. Wasn’t it a treat to have a bedroom and bathroom again, and to be able to bathe without a topi! [sun hat]. I walked over four miles in the morning, having to cross three rivers en route by Government ferry, a small canoe-like boat punted or paddled across. The Caleys were most kind, ready to do all they could. I walked back again in the evening. A Syrian Christian came with me. I asked him when he was converted, for he is full of life. ‘When you came last to Tiruwella,’ he said; another testimony to the fruit which God gave six years ago.

“We had a huge crowd in the pandal, and an even bigger one in the afternoon. I think it is the largest audience almost which I have had. Numbers of the Jacobites have been hearing the Word as well as the Reformers. I had a sort of public after-meeting in the evening meeting, and there was power and blessing. Several individual cases came to my room yesterday and got spiritual help. If it were not for the divisions of the people, there might be lots of blessing here. But the days they give me at each place are much too few.

“After the service came a meeting for the signing of the letter of peace to the Metran, telling him that they are going to live and work in unity. This gave some trouble, as one of the Achans had gone to an outstation and had not returned. Finally the people signed it, and it was given to me to get the signature of the Achans. The latter are, I fear, worldly-minded and unconverted, and have not much wish to forgive and forget. I said very solemnly that there would be an awful responsibility resting on anyone who refused to carry out the promise they had made in God’s presence. After this I went to the home of the old Achan Joseph, the peace-maker who had set the ball rolling. He is only here on leave, as he is working at Trivandrum among the lepers. He is a good and earnest man. Finally the Achans came and fetched me out of bed at 11 p.m., and signed the letter of peace.

“February 13. — It is a case of living in public here, and no mistake. We have had the doorways and window-apertures of my end of the building matted up, but that will not keep out curious eyes; and so I change my clothes after the meetings with considerable difficulty. [This clothes-changing was a necessity of life; for he always returned from a meeting drenched through to his outermost garment.] After I got into bed last night, some people (in addition to the two or three already sleeping here) came rushing in at the other end of my room, shouting at the top of their voices to unlock the tiny room at the other end in which they keep their cocoanuts and other treasures. I suppose they were hard up for something for supper. I rather covet that quiet little room, but it is sacred to cocoanuts and household etceteras. I was interrupted here by visitors, young men, one of whom knelt down and professed to yield himself to Christ, while the others rejoiced over him.

“February 15. — I have sounded Philipose Achan about a conference between some of them and the C.M.S.; he had the idea already in his own mind. He proposes Archdeacon Caley and Mr. Palmer. So we are going to try and arrange it at Maramana next month, D.V. Perhaps this is what I am here for.

“February 16. — I find that out of some seventy Achans be longing to the Reformed Syrian Church, about twenty are for further reform; while of the thirty deacons, who will be Achans by and by, the majority are on the right side. It seems to me that when we have this conference, my business is to press that the new school be allowed liberty to alter such parts of their Service as are against their conscience; while at the same time I advise the would-be reformers to yield to custom in all non-essential points. If the Travancore C.M.S. will back this up, and the conservative party will yield the point, then, in time, the spiritual party will grow stronger and larger (they are doing so every year), and be able to carry further measures as time goes on. Of course, G. may use influence and pressure to prevent this; or the conservatives may prove stiff and un yielding. But at least the effort will have been made, and they are looking to me to make it. Please pray earnestly about it all. Wisdom and patience and love are needed.

“February 19. — Well, it seems to me that God’s purpose for me is to preach love and liberality of spirit, and to make a last attempt to get the Syrians to set their house in order. This done, it appears as though my responsibility would cease. Anyhow, I am sure I did right in coming.

“We shall soon be in March now, and the hills will be in view. I can’t say that I am looking forward to that very much. I am getting tired of Bible-readings and conventions, which seem to lead to nothing. Still, let God lead on.

“February 23. — This is a nice quiet place, with the river flow ing only a few yards away from my room, and with groves of cocoanut trees everywhere in evidence. I stood by the water at sunset yesterday, and it was lovely to see the warm glow over river and tree. Being an out-of-the-way place, the pandal is smaller and the congregations not so unwieldy. I rather enjoy this for a change.

“As I stood by the water’s edge, a man from near Tiruwella, who is here for the meetings, came and told me that his younger brother was converted at our Tiruwella mission six years ago. Isaiah li. 6 it was which showed him the way of life. He seems to have written this down, and kept it as his verse of assurance. He then began a Sunday school, which was blessed. Two years ago he died full of faith and hope. This is the story as it was related to me last night on the river bank. The elder brother was brought to Christ previously in Mr. Baring Gould’s mission. And so God blesses His word. What a lot of glad surprises we shall have when Christ comes!

“If the conference proves a hopeless fiasco, then I do not see why I should stay and expend further strength over the Syrian Church. But I am hopeful that it will lead to something. I think that even the conservatives will feel that it would be suicidal to resist concessions.

“February 27. — The great spiritual movements of Tra van core have not got very deep yet. It seems to me that instead of G. preaching above-your-head doctrine, you want a John the Baptist with plain repentance. In some places they have said of my teaching, ‘Oh, we know all about sin and salvation: give us something higher.’ I tell Philipose when they practise the ’ lower ’ teaching, we will go ’ higher.’ In one place they wanted the Book of Revelation expounded. I gave them Titus iii. 8, 9 instead.

“March 1. — I am preparing addresses from 1 Timothy for the Kattanars’ meetings. It seems to me to suit the needs of the Syrian Kattanars exactly. Mr. Abraham asked me where I get all my illustrations from. I have been asked the same question in Travancore before. When I tell them that I keep my eyes and ears open every day, and try to turn all I see and read to Gospel account, it is a great surprise to them. I have booked a good Travancore one for worldly Christians when I get to Ooty.

“March 2. — There are some of the Six Years party here. One of them has just been in to talk; but I finally cut him short and told him I could not waste time arguing. Their tracts are sheer blasphemy. They believe that Christ came spiritually on the day when they all waited for Him by the seashore, but was seen only by what they call ’ believers.’ They think they have got heaven in a mystical fashion now. Poor beggars! They believe that Justus Joseph was a sort of incarnation of the Holy Ghost. It is an awful mess of heresy pottage. But, of course, they are bigoted about it, and not in the least open to reason. It is a sort of Malayalam Aeapemone, Justus Joseph being to them what Prince was to the Europeans and Americans who followed him.

“I believe Travancore is capable of generating and fostering any and every heresy under the sun, and all because they do not follow the advice of Titus iii. 8, 9, which I am constantly pressing upon them. If Christians neglect practical holiness, there is no knowing where they wall get to. And so I think the sectarian move particularly unfortunate; for it raises a series of theological and ecclesiastical questions rather than presses home the wholesome truth, ‘Be ye holy.’ I wonder what sort of jumble it will all end in.

“Well, I suppose my coming is a sort of last effort to help the Syrian Church as a Church. If they do not profit by the opportunity, I do not see what more we can do. But it is rather hard to unite the functions of a mission preacher and of an ecclesiastical adviser.

“March 7. — I wonder what next week will bring forth at Mararnana. Oh for God’s work among these Kattanars! Pray that I may speak straight, and in the power of the Spirit.

“In Cottayam one of my main objects will be the students in the Syrian Reformed Institution there. Ask God to prepare their hearts. The work is to finish up with them. I believe in trying to reach the young men, as they are the coming power in these Indian Churches. It is harvest-time all round here, but we get immense meetings at night. I have not attempted any after-meetings; as, with such a pack of people and no system behind you, it is impossible to do it quietly at nights in a large pandal. And, after all, this is only the fourth day, just when we ought to be beginning. I have preached Regeneration, Repentance, and Salvation in that order. And now I can only call to-night for Decision, and then pass on my way. It is like scattering bread upon the waters, but we have the Lord’s promise that we shall find it after many days.

“The man in whose house I am staying here has, I trust, been helped. He was converted before, but had no liberty and continuing power. The secret of failure everywhere is the neglect of private communion with God. India lives too public a life to have a deep Christianity. And Indian Christians will have to alter many of their customs before they get deeper.

“March 1 (night). — We had a tremendous crowd at the pandal, and I asked for decision. Towards the close of my address a sudden wave of feeling came over the assemblage, like one of those gusts from the mountains upon the Lake of Galilee. I closed the address at once, and got the people on their knees. It was a little while before it subsided; and then I had a time of dead silence before God, and pressed for decision. Many got up, probably a lot of them unreal. But surely there were some real ones, and God will bless them. The services here have been rather quiet and immovable till to-night. And now I have to go away, just as a stir is coming.

“I have actually had a letter from Z. Y.X. to-day. But there was not a word in it about being glad I had come, or the faintest hint of thankfulness. I expect he meant it all right, but it does not seem very cordial. He asks me at the end to stay with him when I go; but I am glad to think that all the European missionaries will have cleared out before I get there, and so I shall be saved the inconvenience of putting on my shabby little black coat in the heat. I much prefer being among the Syrians. It would be rather awkward to come home from an after-meeting and find you had kept everybody on the polite stretch waiting for dinner. You remember our unhappy experience in Cochin. A native house is paradise in comparison with what we had there.

“March 10. — It is just two months to-day since I arrived on the Syrian scene, and now I have the last month before me, in some respects the most important by far. I wonder what changes the earnest men will ask for in the conference. One of them wants to discuss them with me beforehand, but I decline. I tell him that it would not be honourable to be here on the Metran’s invitation, trusted by him, and yet talk behind his back of the errors of his Church, or prepare weapons against him. I feel sure I am right; I do think that Christians nowadays need to be more honourable and straightforward. So I have lost a good opportunity of handling the reforms. Never mind: I tell them to present before the conference anything and everything which is against their conscience, and that I will answer any questions addressed to me openly before the Metrans and leading Kattanars. I hate the way of dropping a word of doubt in secret places. G.’s plan was to teach general holiness doctrines, and to take the Epistles all through with the spiritual character of churches strongly emphasised. There was nothing in this to which anyone could take open exception; but it raised questions (and was meant, doubtless, to raise questions) about many of the practices which he saw here and disapproved. People then came to ask him questions, and were so answered, as you might imagine. Even such comparatively trifling questions as the keeping of special days (except Sundays) were gone into and condemned. It was all perfectly natural; and what else could you expect? I find everywhere very loose ideas even of keeping Sunday holy; and many of the converted people argue that it is unnecessary. Anyhow, in a district where Sabbath observance is all too lax, and where travelling on Sundays is rife, it is simply fatal to introduce these miserable ideas of all days being alike to the Christian. Love of money is everywhere; and to give the people a chance of making a little more, as they think, by Sunday work, is fatal. So I have pitched into this in several places. What people want here is practical godliness. I want to see their attention turned to holy living rather than to ecclesiastical questions; and the questions should be quietly and firmly dealt with by men of Gospel light and sanctified common-sense.

“March 13. — We had a little preliminary meeting for the clergy last night, and to-day have had two regular meetings. I am taking a chapter in 1 Timothy at each meeting, at least practical lessons from each chapter. This morning we had the Minister’s Conversion to God, and this afternoon his Carriage in the world — Prayer, Purpose, Principles, Preaching, Purity (of course in Malayalam guise). It was sad to contrast St. Paul, ’ a teacher of the heathen (Gentiles),’ with this old Syrian

Church which has not been a teacher of the heathen, and has scarcely begun to think about them yet. An adult baptism in the Syrian Church is almost an unknown thing. I believe God has been speaking, and I have had personal dealings with several of the younger men who confessed that they were not converted. Many of the older Achans have not yet turned up. But still, I had about fifty ordained men to talk to to-day, including the two Metrans. Do pray for them. These quiet meetings are much more to my liking than those crowds in the pandals; and I think God has more chance of working in the quieter atmosphere.

“March 15. — I have only one more clerical meeting. I trust there is real blessing among the young men, some of whom profess to have been converted. I had two of them last night, who both professed to yield to Christ, and I had another two before. One young Achan seemed to be in doubt about it all, and I could get him to do nothing. Turning away I dealt with another. Afterwards I said to the former one, ‘How long are you going to be in doubt? ‘To my surprise he said at once, with his voice and manner quite changed and his face lighted up, ‘I am ready to thank God for saving me. I was thinking and praying about it while you spoke to the other man, and now my doubt is gone.’ It seemed a genuine case of sudden yielding and assurance. It is the young men who have been helped chiefly. The older ones, most of them, have not been near me for personal dealing. But if six or eight ordained men have really given themselves to God, it will be a grand thing. The man who brought the last pair to me is one who was converted during our Cottayam mission before. It is a pleasure to deal with these boys and young men. Pray for them.

“March 16. — They tell me that all the deacons from Cottayam, both from their Institution and the C.M.S. Institution (students in theology, etc.), have all decided for Christ. I had a praise meeting with them last night. This is indeed something to praise God for, since they are the clergy of the future. Two of them belong to the Ainar Bishopric in the Cochin State, a very dark Bishopric, where the Gospel is scarcely preached. It is quite separated from the Metran’s jurisdiction, though they are all on friendly terms of communion. If they carry the Gospel light there, it will be splendid.

“I have not had much opportunity for personal dealing with the older men, as only a few of them sought me in private; but I know God has been speaking to some of them, and healing the backsliding of several. We had a solemn meeting for the last, yesterday, and then, after a final appeal on the lines of Romans xii. 1, 1 threw the meeting open for personal dedication. There was one continued stream of short dedications for about half an hour with a good deal of suppressed feeling. Someone then broke into a chorus of praise, which was vigorously taken up; and with that closed the meeting proper, though a band of the young ones followed me home for a little closing word of teaching about the way to overcome temptation and continue in the Christian life.... Now please remember that these details are only for yourselves. For the public, T hold to my strong conviction of working out of sight. And, after all, what has it all been? And what permanent result will it leave? These are matters to be committed to God in faith and hope.”

“Oh that Z.Y.X. were warm hearted about it all! Perhaps he is more so than we know, and is merely reserved; but it would strengthen me if he opened out just a little privately, and assured me of his full sympathy.”

But though denied the “full sympathy” for which he could not help craving, there were compensations: his coming did seem to be of use; and on March 17 he wrote with joy and thankfulness,” Our conference is over, and I hope not without good results. A Committee has been appointed to revise the Syrian Liturgy, with two C.M.S. men on it as assessors, of whom Mr. Palmer is convener. They are to prosecute the work vigorously, and changes in the Service will be secured to some extent at least.

“They have also passed a resolution against the ordination of mere boys, and appointed some men to help in special mission work in their Church, of whom T. K. Joseph is one. And I trust that they and the C.M.S. are drawn closer together, and that a better state of things is before them. I see no reason now why a split [in the Syrian Church] should not be avoided. And the door is open for further reforms. So we can thank God. The C.M.S. delegates are very thankful that they came, and that so much has been effected.

“March 26. — I have just arrived here, though not very fit for convention work. On Saturday afternoon my voice gave out without the least warning. The only thing I can think of is that the sun must have drained me. Having to speak again that night made it worse, and I got up quite husky yesterday, Sunday. It is not a cold this time, but just a weak throat.

“March 27. — The South African war seems to have taken great strides forward. Fancy Bloemfontein already in the hands of the English. It is rather a change since a month or so ago, when it seemed a question whether Ladysmith and Kimberley could hold out against the Boers. Did you see that a converted non-commissioned officer of the Black Watch, when all the commissioned officers of his company had been shot down at Magersfontein, rallied his men and led them to a new assault with the words, ‘Now then, No. 1 Company, prepare to meet your God: forward, charge! ‘In two seconds more he was shot down too.

“March 29. — It is just fiery hot here, but God has wrought a miracle on my throat. I committed it to Him, and began in a very shaky way on Tuesday night. He gave me the verse, ‘The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick ‘; and as I stood up to speak, I rested on that word. Every time I have spoken since, the voice has got clearer and stronger, and is practically all right now. I did not get beyond the condition, ’ if it be Thy will.’ I was sure of God’s ability, and gave myself to His will. There are still three days of convention addresses after to-day, and then six days’ work in Cottayam. But the end is near.

“I made the converted people put up their hands last night, and then those who in any way preach to the heathen. It was sad, sad, to see the difference in the show of hands. When are they going to obey? I am almost tired of speaking about disobedience to God’s command. There is much knowledge of high doctrine, but very little practical obedience. Many of them question everything, and do nothing: a very easy self-satisfied sort of Christianity. I expect I shall get shoals of blame and criticism for the morning’s address. I spoke on the Nazarite’s separation from sin, and not from ecclesiastical organisations. Having spoken out on the subject, I shall leave that part of the matter. I also said that if churches refused to reform and to purge out the evil, God would deal with them and punish them; and that the Syrian Church needs much purifying. So I suppose I shall be blessed all round. Well, Christ is the Master, and we have to please Him.

“March 30. — Yesterday and to-day the heat has been terrible. It is like living in a fiery furnace. I think some rain or something must come soon. It can’t go on blazing long like this.

“My throat is working splendidly, thanks be to God. But

I am beginning to long to get through, as the heat takes all the physical comfort away.

“April 2. — My throat was a perfect wonder at the convention. It got perfectly strong again by the third day, and gave not the slightest trouble afterwards. On Saturday evening the thought struck me that I would take a boat and try and get some air on the river before the evening meeting. This proved a decided success. They took me to a lovely spot where there is always a breeze; and, after I had walked about on the sands enjoying it, a man would have me come to his house and drink some coffee. It was quite a refreshing draught. After prayer there I returned for the meeting feeling quite a new man. I believe that much blessing rested on the convention meetings; and the testimonies on Sunday afternoon nearly all referred to some one of the special messages, such as burying the dead bones (Ezekiel xxxix.); shaving the Nazarite of false profession when his vow was broken (Numbers vi.); obedience, the great condition for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit; the blood-guiltiness of neglecting the heathen; and so on.

“On Sunday the congregation had Holy Communion in the early morning, and then came to the convention at 10 o’clock. You never saw such a sight, thousands and thousands! Hundreds had to stand outside with their umbrellas in the blazing sun. I astonished them by making a lot of the men make room for the women inside the pandal. It was the last thing they would have done without compulsion. Philipose and Co. were at their wits’ end with such a surging crowd. But, finding that an interpreter’s voice could not possibly reach everyone, I sent a second interpreter to stand on a stool half-way down the pandal; and, directly I began to preach, we got perfect quiet. The second interpreter just repeated the words of the first one. Then for about one and a half hours they listened in silence in the heat to a message about the Second Coming. I had intended it for Christians, but was led on to speak a last message to the unconverted; and, as I spoke, one of those big waves of feeling to which I have often referred, came down, or rather passed over, the great meeting, and there were cries all over the place. Perhaps I ought to have had an after-meeting; but the heat was terrible, and none of them could help me in manipulating the meeting. We had the last service at 4 p.m. It was one for testimony and praise. I had intended speaking at the end, but there was no time. The old Metropolitan came in his robes to this last meeting. I began by having a fight with the people. Many of them would stand up [to stare at the Metran], and I flatly refused to go on till they were all seated. I said, ‘You have to learn obedience in Travancore! ‘The old Metran looked on amused; but in the end will-power accomplished it. I made some of the Achans go and act watchmen at different points, and we got on swimmingly. There was a continual stream of testimony for about three and a half hours, men and women. It would have gone on for hours longer; but I finally made those who wished to testify stand up in a body, and repeat with me 1 Corinthians xv. 57, a Bible testimony which included everything. Then we closed.

“April 7. — I believe this is actually my last letter. I feel sure it was right to come. What will follow, I know not. Let us pray that God will keep all danger away. There is some chance of unity now and quiet concentration of work and reform, if people will not come and divert the people’s attention again to religious polemics.”

I cried and said, “O God, my words are cold!
The frosted frond of fern or feathery palm
On whitened window wrought
As near to burning are, as these my words;
Oh that they were as flames!”

God answered me:
” Thou shalt have words

But at this price, that thou must first be burnt,
Burnt by red embers from a secret fire,
Scorched by fierce heats and withering winds that sweep
Through all thy being, carrying thee afar
From old delights. Doth not the ardent fire
Consume the mountain’s heart before the flow
Of fervent lava? Wouldst thou easefully,
As from cool pleasant fountains flow in fire?

Say, can thy heart endure
Or can thy hands be strong
In the day that I shall deal with thee?

For first the iron must enter thine own soul,
And wound and brand it, scarring awful lines
Indelibly upon it, and a hand
Resistless in a tender terribleness
Must thoroughly purge it, fashioning its pain
To power that leaps in fire.
Not otherwise, and by no lighter touch,
Are fire-words wrought.”