CHAP. appointed. at an inconvenient distance from the habitations of the gentry, of whom an increasing number were now constant attendants, the Madras Government undertook to build a new Church, both larger and in a more commodious situation. The spot selected was Choultry Plain, about two miles from the Fort on the Mount road, and surrounded by the gardenhouses of the civilians. The foundation-stone was laid on the 28th of September 1812, with the usual solemnities; the edifice was completed in 1815, when it was opened by commission; and, on the 8th of January 1816, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Calcutta, under the name of St. George's. It is a spacious and handsome building, supported on eighteen Ionic columns, which are covered with a preparation of chunam, so highly polished, that an inexperienced eye would scarcely, at first view, distinguish it from marble. It has, moreover, a lofty and elegant spire; it stands in a field of five or six acres, surrounded by palm and other eastern trees; and the whole conveys a magnificent idea of CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA.1 Chaplains 15. As the time for opening this splendid edifice approached, a question arose as to the Chaplains who were to officiate in it. It was the general expectation that the two Presidency Chaplains would be removed to it; and, but for an influential party to whom Mr. Thompson's faithful preaching was obnoxious, this arrangement, no doubt, would have been made at once, as a matter of course. But the persons in question exerted their utmost to keep that "disturber" out of their Church, as they chose to call it, using all their interest with the Governor, the Honourable Hugh Elliot, to appoint another. Mr. Thompson took no step to counteract this influence, leaving himself and the decision of the (') Life of Bishop Middleton. Vol. i. p. 193. contest with God, who has all events at His disposal, appeared that herein he acted wisely; for upon atten At St. George's the Chaplains established regular Improved Weekly Lent Services, for the first time in Madras; dance. also a Monthly Communion, which was as well attended as the former four administrations of the Sacrament. The large and attentive congregation was sufficient proof of the more general interest now taken in religion, and of the necessity of this increased accommodation to meet the growing demand. Both morning and evening services were well attended, and there was often great difficulty in providing for all who wanted seats. The Fort Church also continued to be well attended by the military; and the Black-Town Chapel was filled by the tradespeople and others in its vicinity. Indeed, from this time the moral and religious improvement in the Madras community became so general, that at CHAP. III. The ciety. last it was found impossible to get up a play, or even a monthly assembly. In consequence, the Pantheon, where they had both been held and exhibited, was actually shut up, and ordered to be sold.1 16. To show that at Madras, as at Calcutta, Charity accompanied Religion in her progress, we may mention the establishment of a Society in 1813 for the general relief of the poor. The settlement was greatly troubled by a number of bold beggars and begging letters; but the certainty that, with much imposture, there was also much real distress, especially among the Portuguese and East-Indian population, made Mr. Thompson anxious to discriminate between the deserving and undeserving, with a view to relieve the one and expose the other; but this could only be done satisfactorily by visiting them at their houses, and instituting searching inquiries personally into their real circumstances and connexions. This, however, was impracticable on the part of the gentry, both from the nature of the climate, their occupation, and other impediments obvious to every one acquainted with the circumstances of Europeans in India. It therefore occurred to Mr. Thompson, that his design might be effected through the agency of respectable East Indians; and he communicated it to Mr. Loveless, a Missionary of the London Society, whose ministrations had been very successful with that class of persons, by whom he was highly esteemed. Mr. Loveless informed him, that, some time ago, he had an Institution of this nature among the members of his own congregation, called "The Friend in Need;" but that he had failed chiefly from want of funds. Here, then, was the very agency required: and Mr. (1) The author cannot ascertain whether this order was executed. Loveless having brought twelve of the members together again, who were ready to resume their work, the plan was fully discussed.2 Mr. Thompson, at whose house they met, consented to be President, both as originator of the plan, and because of his easier communication with the higher grades of society. They immediately commenced operations, under their old designation, on a small scale, chiefly with the subscriptions of private friends. After a trial of three months, the experiment having answered their expectations, Mr. Thompson waited on the Governor, General Abercrombie, with the plan of the Society, and an account of the proceedings of the Committee, which he requested him to leave till next day. On his calling again, he found that the Governor had carefully read the papers, of which he cordially approved; gave him a donation of twenty-five pagodas, with a monthly subscription of five pounds; and requested that he would freely apply to him for more if that should not be sufficient. At the same time he specially admonished him, in the future conduct of the Society, strictly to adhere to its fundamental rules, and never to suffer them to be interfered with by persons, who, on the (2) The visitors were to be under the management of a Committee, consisting of a President, Secretary, and twelve members. Madras and its precincts were divided into districts, and the visitors were required to visit every case referred to them by any member of the Committee, with power to give prompt relief, with the concurrence of any two members of the Committee, to a certain amount, in urgent cases. Where the necessity did not press, they were first to send a written report to the Secretary, to be submitted to the Committee for discussion. The subscribers were requested to send all petitions and petitioners to the President, for investigation; and to relieve none, except temporarily with small sums, without reference to the Society. Workshops were established, for the employment of those able to work until situations could be procured for them; and the children were required to attend the Schools in the districts where they severally resided. CHAP. III. Corresponding Commit tee of the Church HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY mere ground of a subscription, might consider themselves warranted to attempt it. After the zealous and munificent patronage of the Governor, which he continued as long as he remained in India, the gentry in general followed his example with great liberality. The Society was thus firmly established, and the Committee worked harmoniously together. They were the means of detecting several long established impostors, and of relieving the public of their importunity; and they realized their title to Friends in Need to many hitherto unheeded, deserving objects. The Society soon became very popular in the settlement, and it flourishes in undiminished favour to this day. 17. We have seen, in a former Chapter, that, in 1813, India was opened to Christian Missionaries of all denominations; and the cordiality with which they were now received at Madras, though far from general, was yet sufficient to mark the favourable change in the public feeling towards them; while the attention which their presence called to the propagation of Christianity in India tended to accelerate the religious improvement going on throughout the Presidency. In July 1814 two Missionaries arrived from the Church Missionary Society; and in consequence of a suggestion to Mr. Thompson from the Committee, a Corresponding Committee was formed in November, to promote the designs of that Institution in South India. The Corresponding Committee no sooner began to survey the wide field before them, than they found several promising openings inviting their attention. Accordingly, with the account of these preliminary proceedings, they transmitted an earnest appeal to the Society for a further supply of Missionaries; and (1) The Committee publish annually, with their Report, a list of the parties relieved, together with the character and circumstances of each case. |