The Life of William Carey, Shoemaker & MissionarySmith, George
Religion
The Life of William Carey, Shoemaker & Missionary
Smith, George
Carey, William, 1761-1834; Missions -- India
Such is the first epistle of the Church of India. Thus the first
medical missionary had his reward; but the joy proved to be too much
for him. When Carey led Krishna and his own son Felix down into the
water of baptism the ravings of Thomas in the schoolhouse on the one
side, and of Mrs. Carey on the other, mingled with the strains of the
Bengali hymn of praise. The Mission Journal, written by Ward, tells
with graphic simplicity how caste as well as idol-worship was overcome
not only by the men but the women representatives of a race whom,
thirty years after, Macaulay described as destitute of courage,
independence, and veracity, and bold only in deceit. Christ is changing
all that.
"Nov. 27.--Krishna, the man whose arm was set, overtook Felix and me,
and said he would come to our house daily for instruction; for that we
had not only cured his arm, but brought him the news of salvation...
"Dec. 5.--Yesterday evening Gokool and Krishna prayed in my room. This
morning Gokool called upon us, and told us that his wife and two or
three more of his family had left him on account of the gospel. He had
eaten of Krishna's rice, who being of another caste, Gokool had lost
his. Krishna says his wife and family are all desirous of becoming
Christians. They declare their willingness to join us, and obey all
our Saviour's commands. Gokool and his wife had a long talk; but she
continued determined, and is gone to her relations.
"Dec. 6.--This morning brother Carey and I went to Krishna's house.
Everything was made very clean. The women sat within the house, the
children at the door, and Krishna and Gokool with brother Carey and I
in the court. The houses of the poor are only calculated for sleeping
in. Brother Carey talked; and the women appeared to have learned more
of the gospel than we expected. They declared for Christ at once.
This work was new, even to brother Carey. A whole family desiring to
hear the gospel, and declaring in favour of it! Krishna's wife said she
had received great joy from it.
"Lord's-day, Dec. 7.--This morning brother Carey went to Krishna's
house, and spoke to a yard full of people, who heard with great
attention though trembling with cold. Brother Brunsdon is very poorly.
Krishna's wife and her sister were to have been with us in the evening;
but the women have many scruples to sitting in the company of
Europeans. Some of them scarcely ever go out but to the river; and if
they meet a European run away. Sometimes when we have begun to speak
in a street, some one desires us to remove to a little distance; for
the women dare not come by us to fill their jars at the river. We
always obey...
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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