The Beginnings of the Canadian Mission (1874-1878)

Chapter III
The Beginnings of the Canadian Mission (1874-1878)
Before the opening of the Canadian Baptist Mission at Cocanada in March, 1874, a preparatory work had been going on for some years along two lines. We have sketched one of these in the preceding chapter. The other must be reviewed here before we begin the history of the Mission.

A Telugu brother, Thomas Gabriel by name, was the Lord's instrument in starting evangelistic work at Cocanada, and leading the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec to that field. Though not a caste man, he had secured an education and employment in the Government Telegraph department as a signaller or operator. While at Dowlaishwaram, about forty miles west of Cocanada, he became a Christian and joined the Lutheran Church. After some years he was transferred to Cocanada, and later, probably in 1867, was ordered to proceed to Bombay. Having fallen sick in Madras, he was visited in the hospital by an earnest Christian, Mr Das Anthravedy, who was a Baptist, and not unnaturally the subject of baptism was discussed among other things, the result being that Mr Gabriel felt it his duty to be immersed. He seems to have undergone a complete change by his contact with Mr Anthravedy. He felt that he had been in bondage to the law before that. When he returned to Cocanada, to which place he had been ordered back, he began to speak with everyone about salvation and baptism. In order to give all his time to preaching, Mr Gabriel resigned his position in the Telegraph service in January, 1869, leaving a salary of seventy-five rupees, or thirty dollars a month, with a prospect of a considerable rise and a good pension when he retired. He worked in connection with the Godavari Delta Mission, making the Kolair Lake region the chief field of his labours.

In 1870 his views changed in regard to some points of church order and he separated from the above Mission, and opened a tannery for the support of his family and some preachers and teachers, who were working with him. The tannery was not a success. And when he had used up all his private means, he found it necessary in 1871 to seek help, and went to Madras to offer his mission to the Strict Baptists of England through Mr Doll, their agent there, and also to be ordained as a minister of the gospel. In one of his letters he states that he gave the Strict Baptist Church an opportunity to take up his Mission, because he had known them first.

While making this journey to Madras, Mr Gabriel halted over Sunday at Ramapatam, and met there Messrs Timpany and McLaurin. Mr McLaurin, writing on August 24th, said: 'Last Saturday morning a Telugu came into our compound and told the following story.' Here follows Mr Gabriel's history as above. Mr McLaurin continues, 'He preached on Sunday from Isaiah 55: 1. To hear that man talk of the impossibility of earthly things satisfying a thirsty soul, and the full satisfaction received through faith in Christ, was peculiarly refreshing. It gave us an idea of what we may bring this people up to, many of them even in this generation.' Mr Gabriel was not successful in his search for help, and hence on his return to Cocanada he re-opened the tannery, which had been closed before he left for Madras. He continued to correspond with Messrs Timpany and McLaurin, who helped him not only with advice, but also with gifts of money.

In March, 1872, Mr Gabriel made a tour in the Kolair Lake region, which is now the Akidu field, and baptized some converts at Chinnamilli, a village about four miles north of Akidu, and others at Gunnanapudi, a village about twenty miles south-west of that station, and since 1875 the headquarters of a church. There had been some converts at this place for a considerable time, and they had even approached a missionary of the Church Missionary Society at Masulipatam with a request to be baptized, although they were relatives of Mr Gabriel and the fruits of his work, the very first converts having been Mr Karré Samuel, who was Mr Gabriel's cousin, and his wife, who was Mr Gabriel's sister. In July, 1873, he reported thirty-one recent converts baptized near Gunnanapudi and eight baptized at Chinnamilli. He reported also a schoolhouse built at Gunnanapudi.

Mr Gabriel's financial difficulties increased greatly in 1873, and as no help came from the Strict Baptist Mission he appealed to the American Baptists, who had already more than they could care for. The Maritime Baptists had chosen Siam as a field of labour, so they could not help. As a last resort an appeal was made to the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec through Messrs Timpany and McLaurin.

When the Annual Convention met at Brantford in October, 1873, an adjourned meeting of the Foreign Mission Board was held on the 16th in Mr Shenston's house late at night to consider this question. Letters from the missionaries were laid before the Board setting forth the needs of the country around Cocanada, and its advantages as a mission field, and earnestly recommending the Board to undertake work there. After long and careful deliberation it was decided to take up this Mission, and Dr Fyfe was delegated to visit Boston and confer with the officers of the American Baptist Missionary Union in regard to the movement. On the 28th October he had a most satisfactory interview, and the Executive Committee of the Union passed the following resolution: 'The Committee regard with much favour the opening of a new Mission at Cocanada by our Canadian brethren, and to facilitate the plan they will release Mr McLaurin to take charge of it, whenever he shall express a desire to that effect.' Dr Fyfe sent the following cable to Mr McLaurin the same day: 'Go to Cocanada on basis of your letter. Send resignation. - Fyfe.' The message reached Ongole on November 3rd.

Before turning to the opening of the Canadian Mission at Cocanada, it may be well to remark that the history of the Mission for the first twenty years seems to fall naturally into four equal periods, with Mr McLaurin as the central figure of the first, and Mr Timpany the central figure of the second.

On Tuesday, January 6th, 1874, an interesting event took place in the chapel at Ongole. All the preachers and teachers and students gathered there to express their appreciation of the work done by Mr and Mrs McLaurin during the two years of their residence there. A suitable gift accompanied the address which was presented to the missionaries. Soon afterwards Mr Clough relieved Mr McLaurin of the charge of the work, and the latter, accompanied by his family, started for Madras on his way to Cocanada. In regard to these changes Mr McLaurin wrote: 'It was a sore day for our hearts leaving Ongole, but we left assured of the prayers of all God's people there. Blessings were showered upon us as we passed through Ramapatam, Allur and Nellore.'

Cocanada was reached on March 12th. Mr Gabriel had been warned against extravagance so earnestly that he went to the other extreme in securing a place of abode for the missionaries. This is what Mrs McLaurin thought of the arrangement: 'The first night in Cocanada was spent in a native house in the bazaar. It was the most wretched place I ever spent a night in. Horrible smells, sweltering heat, swarms of hungry mosquitoes, and no punkah.' However, they were not without friends. Mr E S Bowden sought them out very soon and took them to his own home, and helped them to make better arrangements. This brother and his wife soon afterwards joined the Godavari Delta Mission at Narsapur. They have laboured there and at Chettipett ever since, and have often shown kindness to other members of our Mission.

Mr McLaurin found only a few not very well instructed native Christians in Cocanada, the majority of Mr Gabriel's converts being near Kolair Lake. He felt sorely the need of a school for the training of preachers and teachers. The spiritual destitution was great, not only in Cocanada, but also for nearly one hundred miles up the coast.

On July 18th he started with Mr Gabriel on his first tour to the Kolair region, and saw the Godavari river in flood at Rajahmundry. Here they were detained three days, and then crossed with great difficulty. A Sunday was spent at Ganapavaram and nine converts were examined and baptized by Mr Gabriel. The following week they passed through Kolair Lake and reached Gunnanapudi, where service was held on Sunday, August 9th, in the forenoon, and several asked for baptism. In the afternoon there was a meeting at Kommalamudi, a neighbouring village, and twelve were received, and baptized at sunset. At night there was preaching in the streets. To Mr McLaurin the day was a very happy one, and it was memorable in that it completed his thirty-fifth year. The next morning he woke in a burning fever, and had to spend a few days in bed, after which he left for Cocanada, where he arrived on Sunday morning.

The need of a house-boat for touring on the canals having been made known, Mr E V Moseley, of Montreal, gave $100 for this purpose. Being superintendent of the Sunday School of the First Church, he announced that the class that brought in the largest number of new scholars in a given time would have the privilege of naming the boat. A class of boys, that grew from two to thirty-five in a few months, won in this competition, and chose the name of their teacher. Hence the boat was called the 'Minnie Wilson.'

In his first annual report Mr McLaurin states that Mr Gabriel had spent much time on tour in hard work, but he adds that the other preachers did not know what hard work was. The usual services on Sunday in Cocanada were a Telugu Sunday School for heathen boys at 8 am, and a preaching service for Christians and heathen immediately afterwards. There were also some English services for the Eurasian community, which are more fully recorded in another chapter. Mr McLaurin obtained the church records with members' names after Mr Gabriel's death, and prepared approximate statistics as follows:

Members, January 1st, 1874, 87; baptized, 133; excluded, 1; members, January 1st, 1875, 219. There were four preachers and three teachers.

At the end of the first year Mr Gabriel came in from tour very ill with fever. Everything was done to save his valuable life, even the Government doctor stayed by him, but all to no purpose. On January 1st, 1875, he passed away, his latest word and smile testifying to the preciousness of the Lord Jesus. After his death the missionary soon found out that he had been hopelessly involved in debt. The sum that had been placed at Mr McLaurin's disposal to settle Mr Gabriel's affairs met only sixty-six percent of the indebtedness admitted by Mr Gabriel's family, and there was a great deal more. An impression was abroad that the missionary had become responsible for all of Mr Gabriel's liabilities, so an angry and suspicious crowd of creditors swarmed around him. It took two months to get all settled.

Then another difficulty arose. Mr Gabriel's relatives and friends thought that his brother Nathan should succeed him as the missionary's right hand man. Unfortunately Mr McLaurin had with good reason formed a poor opinion of the young man's character. Soon afterwards he secured a trusty helper in Mr Josiah Burder, whom he described as a safe and satisfactory man.

In order that the position of the missionaries during the early years of the Mission may be fully appreciated, it may be well to state that they were often left without the money that was needed to carry on the work, and found themselves in unpleasant circumstances, through having to borrow from either English or native money-lenders.

In the meantime events were transpiring that brought unexpected help to our lonely and tried missionaries. The Baptists of the Maritime Provinces had sent quite a force - four families and one single lady - to evangelize the Karens of Siam, but diligent search revealed only a few thousand of these people, and the missionaries appealed to their supporters for further directions. A special convention was held at Amherst, Nova Scotia, in May, 1875, when the Rev J L Campbell, Secretary of the Ontario and Quebec Society, was present and gave all the information required. It was then decided to co-operate with the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec in evangelizing the northern part of the Telugu country. A cable message was sent at once to their missionaries directing them to proceed to Cocanada. Accordingly Mr and Mrs W B Boggs and Mr and Mrs George Churchill arrived at that station from Siam in July, and they were followed by Mr and Mrs W F Armstrong and Mr and Mrs R Sanford from Burma, in August. Only Miss Maria A Armstrong remained in Burma. Dr Fyfe attended the annual Convention of the Maritime Provinces in August of this year, and he reported that the President of the Convention had received on the 20th inst the following cable message from Mr Sanford: 'All at Cocanada except Miss Armstrong, joyfully working.'

In regard to this union, Dr Fyfe wrote: 'I have the strongest conviction from all the events that led to this practical co-operation in Foreign Mission work that God prepared the way at every step. Fifty-five thousand Baptists are now pledged to carry on Missions among the Telugus on the banks of, and to the north of, the Godavari River, and may God abundantly bless their work! I believe He will.'

Mr McLaurin wrote: 'It is with very great satisfaction that I hail the Baptist federation for carrying on our Foreign Mission work among the Telugus. Perhaps it is natural to feel peculiar pleasure in the maturing of a scheme which one has firmly believed to be of God, and for which one has toiled and prayed for five long years.'

Sunshine and shadow constantly succeed one another in the lives of most of us. Just at the time when this longed-for co-operative union was becoming an accomplished fact, the Rev John Bates, father of Mrs Timpany and Mrs McLaurin, was called home on the 8th May, 1875. His letters, always so full of counsel and encouragement, were sadly missed by the missionaries.

Mr McLaurin had been desirous of exploring the Telugu country north of Cocanada, and the coming of these brethren and sisters made such a tour more necessary. Accordingly in August he and Messrs Churchill and Boggs, accompanied by Mr Josiah Burder, set out from Cocanada in carts. They passed through Samalkot and Pithapur and reached Tuni, where they preached, and interviewed the Zemindar or Rajah. Several days were spent also at Vizagapatam with the missionaries of the London Missionary Society. Then they moved on to Bimlipatam, journeying part of the way in a carriage and pair through beautiful scenery, the comfort of this part of the journey eliciting from Mr McLaurin the remark, 'We do not often get out of the old beaten, bullock-beaten, track.'

From Bimlipatam they moved on to Vizianagram and spent some days with Dr Parker, an English surgeon in a native regiment. He and his wife were old friends of Mr McLaurin. The missionaries found many Eurasians and others inquiring about baptism and the Lord's Supper. On the Sunday of their stay here an Oriya man from Jeypore was baptized. This man had bought a New Testament from a colporteur, and had come to the light through reading it. Mr McLaurin in reporting the man's case said that his views of Jesus and salvation were clear and refreshing - like cold waters in a desert land. On Monday Mr Boggs baptized two Europeans and six Eurasians. Dr and Mrs Parker were immersed believers but were not ready to take part in organizing such a Church as the missionaries believed to be after the New Testament pattern. So the matter was held in abeyance for a few days, while the explorers went on to Bobbili and Parvatipur. Threatening weather led them to abandon the proposed trip to Parlakimedi, and to turn east towards Palkonda.

Seven miles from Parvatipur they came to a river one hundred yards wide with high clay banks and a current running ten miles an hour. The only means of crossing was a log canoe fifteen inches wide, with bamboos lashed to the sides to steady it. All the baggage had to be unloaded from the carts and sent over on this primitive conveyance - tent, boxes, bedding, cooking-utensils and provisions. They had to remove the wheels from the carts, which they lashed to the frail bark.

In the midst of these operations the rain began to fall in torrents, and the missionaries got wet to the skin. At last all got across. Then the tent had to be pitched, and a trench dug around it to carry off the rain. Wet mats were laid on the ground, dry straw was spread over them, and camp-cots were set up. A wash, even though the water was muddy, a change of clothes, and, twelve hours after the last meal, a cup of tea and some bread, and lastly a nap made the world look a little brighter. It had taken five hours to cross that river.

Wednesday night they were back at Vizianagram and the hospitable home of Dr and Mrs Parker. On Thursday evening Mr Boggs preached from the text, 'Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" a sermon that was clear, keen, thrilling and long to be remembered. It was convincing to Dr and Mrs Parker, who expressed their readiness to take part in organizing the proposed Church. On Friday afternoon October the 13th Mr Churchhill baptized a candidate, and in the evening a meeting was held for church organization, which was duly carried out. Dr Parker was chosen deacon, and the Lord's Supper was observed. There were eleven constituent members. Two others were not able to be present. Thus was organized the first Baptist church in what is now the Mission field of the Baptists of the Maritime Provinces. The missionary party went on to Bimlipatam, and there took the steamer for Cocanada. Of the places visited by them Tuni, Yellamanchili, Bimlipatam, Vizianagram, Bobbili and Palkonda have long been occupied as stations of the Canadian Baptist Missions.

Mr McLaurin visited the villages in the Kolair region in June and July, but the work was mostly that of discipline, and one teacher was dismissed. In October he made a tour in the same region accompanied by Mr Sanford, and over twenty were baptized. Mr Josiah Burder visited this region in the hot season, but he found that Mr Gabriel's brother Nathan was trying to influence the members against him. Mr Timpany visited Cocanada in October on his way to North India, and had the pleasure of assisting at Mr Josiah's ordination. Referring to the presence in Cocanada of the missionaries from the Maritime Provinces, he wrote, 'I can hardly realize that what we so longed for, has come to pass.'

Mr McLaurin was glad to have the opportunity to consult with Mr Timpany in regard to several sites that seemed more or less suitable for a Mission compound. It is a remarkable fact that nearly every place that claimed their attention at this time came into the possession of the Society sooner or later. The property that seemed to be the most desirable was soon afterwards found to be for sale, and negotiations were carried on with the owner by Mr J G Ronchett, a Eurasian gentleman who was a deacon of the church. The formal purchase was completed January 22nd, 1876, and Mr McLaurin and family moved in on February 9th. This property cost nearly $4,500. Beside about fifteen acres of land in one of the best positions in the town, there was a large dwelling house with several outhouses. God's providential guidance was seen in this purchase. And it may be mentioned here that some years later the missionary in charge of Cocanada was led to advise the Board to make the compound freehold by the payment of twenty-five years' taxes, which amounted to about $150. If this had not been done the Mission would have to pay now $50 annually.

The Mission House provided a home not only for Mr McLaurin and his family, but also for Mr and Mrs Currie, who arrived at Cocanada just three days after the McLaurins had taken possession. Mr Currie belonged to New Brunswick, but the Board of the Maritime Provinces had all the missionaries they felt able to support and hence the Board of Ontario and Quebec appointed Mr Currie. He reached Rangoon January 21st, and was married there to Miss Maria A Armstrong on February 1st. On their arrival at Cocanada they received a hearty welcome from Mr and Mrs McLaurin, and immediately set to work to acquire a knowledge of the Telugu language.

Early in March Mr Timpany left Ramapatam with his family to return to Canada. After a week in Madras they went to Cocanada for a visit with the McLaurins. At this time special meetings were begun for the English congregation, and quite a work of grace resulted. The departure of Mr Timpany and family from Cocanada on March 25th meant more to our missionaries than separation from tried fellow-workers. To Mrs McLaurin it meant also separation from an only sister, and to both her and Mr McLaurin it meant separation from their daughter Katie, whom they felt it wise to send to Canada at this time.

In July of this year Messrs McLaurin and Currie made a tour to Tuni, preaching at several places on the way. When at Annavaram, eleven miles from Tuni, about 2pm they saw men running toward a part of the road where it winds round a mountain. Women were following them crying. On inquiry they were told that a tiger had carried off a boy who was watching cattle. That night they journeyed through the jungle to Tuni, and spent a few days there preaching in the streets and visiting the Rajah. When about to start on their way back, they heard that a man had been mauled by a tiger while protecting his flock of goats. When driven off it had gone to a hill about a mile from Tuni. The missionaries had three carts, and some of the company walked ahead with a lantern. When nine miles from Tuni the tiger was seen crouching at the roadside for a spring, and the carts were halted. The light of the lantern and the gaze of several persons evidently disturbed the mighty beast. It rose and walked slowly past the company and the carts and then crossed the road, as though about to come round to the front again, which fortunately it did not do. It was only about seven yards distant when passing them. It was nine feet long and three and a half feet high, a formidable creature to encounter. The travellers reached Cocanada safely, and a day later the body of the tiger was brought in to the Government Office there, and shown to the missionaries. One of the Rajah's hunters had shot it.

It will be remembered that the terrible famine that devastated South India and especially Mysore, began in 1876. Mrs McLaurin wrote in the last quarter of that year: 'There is no monsoon this year and we are on the verge of famine.' She reported also that Mr McLaurin had been ill with fever and headache for some weeks. He was able however to make a tour to the Kolair region in November, accompanied by Mr Currie. He also published about this time a pamphlet on 'Baptism' in both English and Telugu, which has ever since proved very useful especially to preachers and students.

On January 22nd, 1877, all the missionaries of the two Boards met at Bimlipatam and organized a conference. The constituent members were Messrs McLaurin, Currie, Sanford, Churchill and Armstrong and their wives. This action was in line with that taken by the Boards in Canada in May 1875, for it was then said that 'the missionaries abroad and the respective Boards at home are to co-operate with each other in this great work.' At the annual meeting of the Society held in Jarvis Street Church, Toronto, in October of this year, Mr Craig was designated to this work, and he and Mrs Craig sailed from New York on the 24th of that month, and reached India at the end of the year.

The Union Conference met at Cocanada in January, 1878, Mr and Mrs Churchill and Mr and Mrs Armstrong representing the Maritime Provinces Mission. A second station was opened on the 26th of the month, when Mr and Mrs Currie occupied Tuni. In February Mr McLaurin made a tour into the jungle some thirty miles north of Cocanada, and suffered severely from fever afterwards. Meanwhile Nathan Gabriel had asked leave to go to Gunnanapudi on business. His business was to induce the Christians to renounce their allegiance to the missionary and to follow him. All but two or three were deceived by him, and Josiah Burder, the Cocanada pastor, had a rather unpleasant time when he was sent by the missionary to warn the people against the self-appointed leader. However it was not long before Nathan's conduct made the people tired of him.

In June Mr Currie got possession of two and a half acres of land for a compound at Tuni, the price being 320 rupees or about $150. In October Mr McLaurin made a tour in the Kolair region and sought to undo some of the evil caused by Nathan's action. While he was absent a great cyclone occurred at Cocanada on November 5th, destroying many of the trees and injuring some of the buildings. The canals too were breached, so that he had to leave his boat long before he reached Cocanada. A month later Mr Currie was so ill with fever that Mr McLaurin was called to Tuni. While he was there on December 6th another cyclone occurred, this time Tuni suffering the greatest fury of the storm. As the missionaries were living in a small house with a roof of palm leaves, they were soon without shelter, the leaves being blown off, and only the bamboo frame left. The rain poured in till it was three inches deep on the floor, and nearly all their clothes and books were more or less damaged. Mr Currie had to be carried in a large chair by four men to the Travellers' bungalow, and it was only with great difficulty that Mr McLaurin and Mrs Currie were able to follow.

Mr and Mrs Timpany said good-bye to two of their children and left Canada for India with the youngest on September 30th. They reached Madras early in December and Cocanada on the 28th, visiting Ramapatam on the way. Amelia Keller, a Telugu girl, whom they had taken to Canada for her education, returned with them.

Shortly before they left Toronto, the Society lost its President, the Rev R A Fyfe, DD, who died September 4th. He was the founder of the Canadian Literary Institute and a leader in every good work among the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.