[Sidenote: At Tanjore.] Schwartz was now fifty-two years old. He had
accomplished large tasks, yet the chief labors of his life were still
before him. He learned to his amazement that the spirit at Tanjore had
changed and he was urged to return, not for a short visit as before but
to remain. The new Rajah of Tanjore sought his advice about the
settlement of certain political differences, and finding a divine call
in this summons, Schwartz left his work at Trichinopoli in the hands of
others and took up his abode in Tanjore in a house presented by the
rajah. Here, supported by the rajah, who, however, could not bring
himself quite to the point of becoming a Christian, Schwartz lived for
twelve years.
Here the English garrison was transformed as the garrison at
Trichinopoli had been. Two churches were founded, one for the European
residents, the other for native Christians. School houses were built in
which English and Tamil were taught and where the Christian religion was
openly proclaimed. These schools became the models for the great school
system of the English government. A tribe of professional robbers
forsook their evil lives as the result of Schwartz’s preaching, sent
their children to the schools and settled down to the cultivation of the
soil and to silk culture. With the city as a center Schwartz travelled
in all directions encouraging, advising, aiding. He established a
congregation at Tinnevelli, to the south, of which we shall hear later.
[Sidenote: The Missionary Statesman.] In the history of India Schwartz
is described as the missionary statesman. Such without any will of his
own, but on account of circumstances and his remarkable character, he
became. Foreseeing war with a neighboring ruler in which Tanjore was
likely to be besieged, he stored away quantities of rice upon which the
people fed and which saved multitudes from death. When the rajah grew
old the governor of the Madras presidency made Schwartz the head of a
commission which was to rule in his stead, and when the rajah died he
himself made Schwartz regent during the minority of his son. Schwartz
tried to avoid this heavy responsibility, until the rajah’s brother
proved cruel and incapable of governing. Then the mission house became
the capitol of the province and for two years the “king-priest” reigned.
After the heir had come to the throne, he consulted Schwartz on all
important questions.
The character of this missionary hero is beautifully described by his
biographer, Dr. Charles E. Hay.[1]
Footnote 1:
_In Missionary Heroes of the Lutheran Church._ Philadelphia: Lutheran
Publication Society.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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