In the little town of Pulsnitz in Lusatia was a youth named Bartholomew Ziegenbalg, who was born on 24th June, 1683. The fatherless boy, who had lost his mother a few years before, recalled her words about gathered treasure: “Seek it in your Bible, my dear children, you will find it there, for I have watered every leaf with my prayers.” His studies were in the direction of a ministerial career, which he felt God had placed before him, but his weak health and lack of means were hindrances to this. Through the kindness of friends, however, he was able to study at Halle under the direction of Professor A. H. Francke, and eventually he was discovered by Dr. Lütkens and, with his friend Henry Plütschau, was appointed to go to India. He set sail on the 29th November, 1705. He left behind many friends who wished him God-speed, but not a few, of little faith and equal grace of soul, sneered at his zeal and predicted nothing but failure and shame. Through a long and stormy passage he worked hard to acquire a knowledge of Portuguese, and at last, reaching his destination, stepped ashore without a friend to meet or welcome him and his companion to this strange land. They were evidently not wanted in India. On every hand they looked round only to find a fresh trial of their faith. The natives were bigoted Hindus and Mohammedans, whose tongue had to be mastered; added to this the Europeans, with the flimsiest semblance of a Christian profession, were living dissolute and mercenary lives which brooked no interference. It is the old story, many times repeated since then. The name of Christ was profaned by the white people who were supposed to represent and honour it. Said a native to a chaplain: “Christian religion! Devil religion! Christian much drunk, much do wrong, much beat, much abuse others!” But Ziegenbalg and his comrade had come to warn their unruly brethren and to vindicate the power and grace of Christ to the heathen. They taught the children in schools, they learned Tamil in order to preach, and toiled with an unremitting zeal which soon broke down the health of poor Ziegenbalg. It is marvellous to see what the faith and persistency of these brave men could accomplish. This is what Ziegenbalg writes about the building of their little church: