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REV. VETHAMUTHU MASILLAMANI
Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's Grand Children :
According to Psalm 128 our children's children are real blessings to all of us and according to the above cited Psalm Rev Vethamuthu Massillamani was also blessed with many lovely grand-children. Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's daughter Ms. M. Nesamani Jesuraj and Rev Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy couple gave birth to five beautiful daughters, as follows : [1]Ms. Clara Theodesia Rebecca [ born on 26 may1918] and she married Mr. Kanagaratnam Israel Thomas from Thanjavur and this couple was blessed with four sons and two daughters. [2]Ms Mercy Margaret Magdaline[born on 06 June 1920] and she married Rev Father David Samson Kingsbury, G E E C[ London] and this couple was blessed with eleven sons and two daughters ,[3] Ms. Reachel Nightingale[ born on30 November 1923] and she married Mr A.Peter [Andrapradesh] and this couple was blessed with eight sons and three daughters, [4]Ms Mesbobra Manogaram Easter Joy [born on 04 April 1926] and she married Mr . Abel kalyana Sundaram Raju [Ex Army] and this couple was blessed with two daughters and seven sons,and[5] Ms. Fanny Cornelia Brittania [born on 29 July 1928]and she married Mr. George Wilson Robert [Japalpur] and this couple was blessed two daughters and three sons. But unfortunately Ms. Nesamani Jesuraj passed away at an early age while their daughters were young.But Rev Jesuraj Williams brought up his daughters with great care,concern and christian compassion . He gave education to his daughters and gave them in marriage to good Christian gentlemen.
Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy is with his five daughters and their spouses and children [Photo courtesy Mr C..Rungasawmy. Williams, Chennai, [a great great grandson of Lyricist Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani ]
Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani's Evangelical and Ministerial Career : Rev.Vethamuthu Masillamani had a burning thirst to become a Christian Missionary since childhood and so after school education, he joined American Madura Mission Seminary at Pasumali in the year 1884. to study Theology.. After the completion of his study he started his independent evangelical work in Tirukoilur [ Kallakurichi Dist] area. in 1890 AD . During that period the Danish Missionaries had been working in Tirukoilur and in the surrounding villages. Rev. Vethamuthu Masilalmani along with his independent evangelical work also was helping the Danish Missionaries in their missionary work. In spite of his involvement in missionary work he was not very sure of his personal salvation . In that context in the year 1892 he happened to hear a sermon preached by the famous Danish Mission Missionary Pastor N.P. Hansen and in the sermon Pastor N.P. Hansen said anybody can preach but it is very difficult to give a witness about personal salvation. . These words permeated his conscience and he repented and committed himself to God to work as a full time God's minister. In 1897 he again went to Madurai and worked with the Madura American Mission. Mr Vethamuthu Masillamani was ordained as a Pastor in 1901 and immediately after his ordination we worked in Thirupuvanam [near Mana Madurai ] for some years. In !906 he was appointed as a teacher to the Catechists at the Catechist Training School at Madurai. In 1915 he moved to Thiruvannamalai area and worked as a Pastor at the Sharon Church [ Arcot Lutheran Church] at Thiruvannamali for two years or so and after that he worked as a Pastor at Chengulmedu for nearly three years. A, nd again he moved to Thiruvanamali and worked as Pastor at the ALC Sharon Church till he retired in 1928 AD.
Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani's Christian Lyrics. :Though he served as efficacious Pastor, he is remembered more for his Tamil Christian Lyrics.Out of his many sweet Tamil Christian Lyrics only ten Lyrics are being sung in our worship services . Among his lyrics the following three lyrics,"Seer Mihu Vaan Puvi Theva Thothram"; "Thanthaanai Thuthippoma Thiruchabaiyora Kavi Padi Padi " and "Paavi Ennidam Vara Manathillaiya Vor" ,are obviously more popular among the Tamil speaking Christians who are living throughout the length and breadth of this vast globe. While our Pastor Vethamuthu Masillamani was serving as a Pastor at Thirupuvanam he wrote this "Thanthaanai Thuthippoma lyric. and the Lyric Paavi Ennidam Vara Manathillaiya lyric was written instantly after hearing the sermon of Paster N.P.Hansen. Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani was a great Violinist also and so he played violin while singing songs and attracted the minds of the people towards Christ His Lyrics , "Aar Evar Aaraaro", "Vanthanam Vanthanama", and "Ananthamma Jeya Jeya" songs are sung with delight by the Tamil Christians during New Year and other festival seasons
.
Conclusin : Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani died in the year 1932, and now physically he is no more in this world but he lives in our memory , whenever we hear his lyrics we spontaneously we remember him . He led a very simple life, he loved God and people.He had a special concern for the progress of the poor and women. .His remarkable brothers and he, had made enviable contribution for the establishment and progress of Protestant Christianity in Tamil Nadu . His younger brother Rev. Prof. V Santiago was one of the main Signatories of the historical "Tranquebar Manefesto1919".and this Manifesto laid the foundation for the formation of Churh of South India, [C.S.I]. Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's descendants are living in Chennai, Tanjore, and in foreign countries . We are bound to thank God for the life and accomplishment of our Tamil Christian Lyricist Rev.Vethamuthu Masillamani and he will live for ever in his melodious, meaningful Christian Tamil Lyrics.
END.
By.P. Babu Manoharan, M.A,.[ All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged , modified or corrected later if needed]
REV. VETHAMUTHU MASILLAMANI
Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's Grand Children :
According to Psalm 128 our children's children are real blessings to all of us and according to the above cited Psalm Rev Vethamuthu Massillamani was also blessed with many lovely grand-children. Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's daughter Ms. M. Nesamani Jesuraj and Rev Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy couple gave birth to five beautiful daughters, as follows : [1]Ms. Clara Theodesia Rebecca [ born on 26 may1918] and she married Mr. Kanagaratnam Israel Thomas from Thanjavur and this couple was blessed with four sons and two daughters. [2]Ms Mercy Margaret Magdaline[born on 06 June 1920] and she married Rev Father David Samson Kingsbury, G E E C[ London] and this couple was blessed with eleven sons and two daughters ,[3] Ms. Reachel Nightingale[ born on30 November 1923] and she married Mr A.Peter [Andrapradesh] and this couple was blessed with eight sons and three daughters, [4]Ms Mesbobra Manogaram Easter Joy [born on 04 April 1926] and she married Mr . Abel kalyana Sundaram Raju [Ex Army] and this couple was blessed with two daughters and seven sons,and[5] Ms. Fanny Cornelia Brittania [born on 29 July 1928]and she married Mr. George Wilson Robert [Japalpur] and this couple was blessed two daughters and three sons. But unfortunately Ms. Nesamani Jesuraj passed away at an early age while their daughters were young.But Rev Jesuraj Williams brought up his daughters with great care,concern and christian compassion . He gave education to his daughters and gave them in marriage to good Christian gentlemen.
Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy is with his five daughters and their spouses and children [Photo courtesy Mr C..Rungasawmy. Williams, Chennai, [a great great grandson of Lyricist Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani ]
Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani's Evangelical and Ministerial Career : Rev.Vethamuthu Masillamani had a burning thirst to become a Christian Missionary since childhood and so after school education, he joined American Madura Mission Seminary at Pasumali in the year 1884. to study Theology.. After the completion of his study he started his independent evangelical work in Tirukoilur [ Kallakurichi Dist] area. in 1890 AD . During that period the Danish Missionaries had been working in Tirukoilur and in the surrounding villages. Rev. Vethamuthu Masilalmani along with his independent evangelical work also was helping the Danish Missionaries in their missionary work. In spite of his involvement in missionary work he was not very sure of his personal salvation . In that context in the year 1892 he happened to hear a sermon preached by the famous Danish Mission Missionary Pastor N.P. Hansen and in the sermon Pastor N.P. Hansen said anybody can preach but it is very difficult to give a witness about personal salvation. . These words permeated his conscience and he repented and committed himself to God to work as a full time God's minister. In 1897 he again went to Madurai and worked with the Madura American Mission. Mr Vethamuthu Masillamani was ordained as a Pastor in 1901 and immediately after his ordination we worked in Thirupuvanam [near Mana Madurai ] for some years. In !906 he was appointed as a teacher to the Catechists at the Catechist Training School at Madurai. In 1915 he moved to Thiruvannamalai area and worked as a Pastor at the Sharon Church [ Arcot Lutheran Church] at Thiruvannamali for two years or so and after that he worked as a Pastor at Chengulmedu for nearly three years. A, nd again he moved to Thiruvanamali and worked as Pastor at the ALC Sharon Church till he retired in 1928 AD.
Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani's Christian Lyrics. :Though he served as efficacious Pastor, he is remembered more for his Tamil Christian Lyrics.Out of his many sweet Tamil Christian Lyrics only ten Lyrics are being sung in our worship services . Among his lyrics the following three lyrics,"Seer Mihu Vaan Puvi Theva Thothram"; "Thanthaanai Thuthippoma Thiruchabaiyora Kavi Padi Padi " and "Paavi Ennidam Vara Manathillaiya Vor" ,are obviously more popular among the Tamil speaking Christians who are living throughout the length and breadth of this vast globe. While our Pastor Vethamuthu Masillamani was serving as a Pastor at Thirupuvanam he wrote this "Thanthaanai Thuthippoma lyric. and the Lyric Paavi Ennidam Vara Manathillaiya lyric was written instantly after hearing the sermon of Paster N.P.Hansen. Rev Vethamuthu Masillamani was a great Violinist also and so he played violin while singing songs and attracted the minds of the people towards Christ His Lyrics , "Aar Evar Aaraaro", "Vanthanam Vanthanama", and "Ananthamma Jeya Jeya" songs are sung with delight by the Tamil Christians during New Year and other festival seasons
.
Conclusin : Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani died in the year 1932, and now physically he is no more in this world but he lives in our memory , whenever we hear his lyrics we spontaneously we remember him . He led a very simple life, he loved God and people.He had a special concern for the progress of the poor and women. .His remarkable brothers and he, had made enviable contribution for the establishment and progress of Protestant Christianity in Tamil Nadu . His younger brother Rev. Prof. V Santiago was one of the main Signatories of the historical "Tranquebar Manefesto1919".and this Manifesto laid the foundation for the formation of Churh of South India, [C.S.I]. Rev. Vethamuthu Masillamani's descendants are living in Chennai, Tanjore, and in foreign countries . We are bound to thank God for the life and accomplishment of our Tamil Christian Lyricist Rev.Vethamuthu Masillamani and he will live for ever in his melodious, meaningful Christian Tamil Lyrics.
END.
By.P. Babu Manoharan, M.A,.[ All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged , modified or corrected later if needed]
Thank you very much Uncle for the wonderful post about my great great grandfather. Really feel happy to know more about his ministry, the songs which are sung in all the Churches even today. Feeling Blessed to be a part of his clan. Thank you once again - Epsibah Priyadarsini. J (daughter of Mr. T. Jayakumar/granddaughter of Mrs.Clara Theodesia Rebecca)
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