A Scion of an Illustrious and Pioneer Wesleyan Methodist family of Madras and a Forgotten Wesleyan Methodist Pastor and Chaplain of the Indo British Army Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy, B.A, B.D . [ 1888....1950 ].

Introduction      :  Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy hailed from a pioneer, historical  and pious Wesleyan Methodist family from Madras. Rev. Jesudason W.S. Rungusamy's father late Rev. John Rungaswamy was an internationally acclaimed Wesleyan Methodist Pastor and his mother also hailed from an illustrious Methodist  Christian family from Madras .Rev. J.W.S. Rungaswamy served as a Methodist Pastor and also as a Chaplain in the Indo British Army with great efficacy , but unfortunately the modern day Church leaders,Church Historians  and Christians have forgotten the services rendered by Rev J.W.S Rungaswamy and other Methodist Pastors of his family . On the basis of the available details and information a short profile of Rev J.W.S. Rungaswamy is recorded in this Article  for the benefit of the readers, Church Historians and our future generation. .

                                      Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy, B.A, B.D 

Rev. Jesudason W.S. Rungaswamy's Parents : Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy's father  Rev. John Rungaswami was one of the pioneer native Methodist Ministers  and he had  served in and around Madras during the time of the famous Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries namely, Rev. Mackenzie Cobban, Rev. James Cooling, Rev. A.O. Brown, Rev. C.H. Monahan, and a few other Methodist Missionaries. It would be really useful to say a few more imperative lines about Rev. John Rungaswami here for the sake of Church Historians and curious readers .  Rev Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy is generally called as Rev.J.W.S. Rungaswamy. The great Church Historian G.G Findlay, D.D and W.W. Holdsworth,M.A B.D, have mentioned about Rev John Rungaswamy  in their monumental book , "The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society". By experience the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society  realised the importance of  the Indigenous Christian Ministers to evangelise their fellow country men .  So in the year 1899  it was decided to establish a Theological Institution for the training of all the Ministers whose mother tongue was Tamil and.accordingly the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society established a Theological Institution at St. Thomas Mount but in the following year this Institution was removed to Guindy.. The Wesleyan Methodist  Missionary Society  decided  to appoint a European Missionary and an Indian Minister to work in this Institution. In this Theological Institution at Guindy, hostels were built  for married and unmarried students and the first European Missionary appointed was the Rev. C.H Monahan and  native Indian Wesleyan Methodist Minister appointed was Rev. John Rungaswami, [ Common Spelling is Rungaswamy].   Thus Rev John Rungaswami got the rare privilege to train many native Ministers  for the ministry in the Wesleyan Methodist  Missionary Society ,. John Rungaswami married Ms Rebecca Gnanamuthu from a famous native  Wesleyan Methodist Christian family from North  Madras 

Rev.  Jesudason W.S. Rungaswamy 's Siblings   :   Many decades  ago there lived a dynamic Wesleyan  Methodist Pastor by name Rev. John Rungaswamy, B.D, in Madras and he married Ms Rebecca Gnanamuthu, the  sister of Wesleyan Methodist Pastor Joseph Israel Gnanamuthu who worked as a native Assistant to Rev G.M. Cobban;  and this couple's wedding was conducted at the The Wesleyan Methodist Church, at  Black Town , Madras on the 13th February 1885  and this marriage was solemnised by the Rev. Mackenzie Cobban.  God blessed the connubial life of  Rev. John Rungaswamy  and Ms. Rebecca John Rungaswamy and this couple gave birth to the following children namely ; [1]  Ms. Jesuammal Mercy Rungaswamy and she was born  on 22..08..1886, and she was married to Dr Samuel Moses. And this Jeusammal Rungaswamy couple gave birth to a female baby and this  girl baby was named  as Elizabeth Dhayanidhi .While Elizabeth Dhayanidhi was an infant both her parents died one after the other.   This little girl Elizabeth Dhayanidhi was left alone but this Elizabeth Dhayanidhi's maternal uncle Rev Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy took care the his little niece Ms Elizabetth Dhayanidhi and brought up her with all love and care  along with his other children.  When Elizabeth attained womanhood Rev.J.W.S Rungaswamy's son John Rungaswamy married his cousin Elizabeth Dhayanihi gladly on the advice of his father . [2] Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy and he was born on 31..07.. 1888,  [  The Hero of this Article], [3] Mr. Jesu Rathinam Ebenezer Rungaswamy and he was born on 20.. 05.. 1890, [4] Rev. Jesuraj Williams Rungaswamy, B.D, and he was born on 27..02..1892, ,[5] Mr Jesudason James Rungaswamy and he was born on 06.. 02.. 1894, [6]  Mr Jesumuthu Thamas Rungaswamy  and he was born on 14..02.. 1896, [7] Ms Margaret Yesu Rungaswamy , [8] Ms. Yesu Mathi Grace Rungaswamy, and [9] Mr. Yesu Amurtham Charles Rungaswamy .

   Rev. Jesudason Wesly Samuel Rungaswamy and Ms. G.V. Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy. 

Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy's Wife and her Parents and Siblings    :  Rev George Vedanayagam was one of the famous Tamil Christian Poets and Rev. George Vedanayagam married Ms Asirvathammal [ adopted daughter of Rev Chandler of Madura Mission ] at Vathalagundu  [ Batlagundu ] on the 8th January 1889 .   Rev. George Vedanayagam and Ms Asirvathamal George Vedanayagam couple gave birth  to the  following Children namely :-[1] Mr.  G.V.Job, M.A, L.T, {Worked as H,M. at the Columbus High School, Chengalpatu and First General Secretary of the Church of South India .], [2] Ms. G.V. Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy and she was married to Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy [ The Hero of this Article] , [3] Mr. G.V. Jeremiah , [4] Mr .G.V . Isaiah, [5] Mr G.V. Ezekiel, [6] Mr . G.V. Azariah, [7] Mr. G.V. Amos, [8] Ms. G.V Susannal .

                                                

               Mr. John Rungaswamy [Jr] and his wife Ms.Elizabeth Dhayanidhi Rungaswamy

                        Are surrounded by his parents and siblings and family members .

Rev. J.W.S. Rungaswamy and Ms  G.V.Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy Couple's Children    :  Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy married  Ms G.V. Elizabeth Charlotte, daughter of the famous Tamil Christian  Poet  Mr. George Vedanayagam and Ms Asirvathammal Vedanayagam in 1912 [most probably] at a Wesleyan Methodist Church in Madras     Rev Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy and Ms Elizabeth Charlotte Rungaswamy couple was blessed with all the conjugal blessings and gave birth to the following children namely :-[1] Mr. John Rungaswamy, [2] Mrs. Gurnsey Isaiah, [3] Ms. Annie Arumainayagam, [4] Ms. Mercy Job, [5] Ms Maida Charles, [6] Ms. Elsie David, [7] Mr George Vedanayagam , [8]Mrs. Amy Jean Chandraleela Samuel and [9]Susanna Vasantha .Chitha

Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy's Professional Career  :   Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy after having passed his B.A, B.D, following the footsteps of his dear father Rev John Rungaswamy , came forward to serve as a Wesleyan Methodist Pastor through proper channel .Rev. Jesudson Wesley Samuel Rungaswami is generally known as Rev J.W.S, Rungaswamy.  Rungaswamy had the privilege  to serve as an ordained Wesleyan Methodist Pastor in many Methodist Churches situated in and  around Madras including  the St.Lukes Wesleyan Church at Mandaiveli Lane, Mylapore,  Madras [ Now it is called as St Luke C.S.I Church, Mandaiveli lane, Mylapore  Chennai.4]. for two terms covering  the period  1921...1923 and 1935..1939. with great devotion  and dedication  Rev. JWS Rungaswamy also had the privilege to work as Military Chaplain in the  Indo British Army. During that period Rev.J.W.S. Rungaswamy met one Mr Francis Samuel Davidwho had been serving the British Army as a Paratrooper during the world War II. They became good friends and Rev.J.W.S. Rungaswamy gave his Madras Home Address in India to Francis S. David. .After the second world war was over,  Francis Samuel David was asked by the British Govt whether he was willing to come to Britain or would want to visit his Parents in Rangoon. Francis  S. David opted to visit his parents at Rangoon and accordingly  Francis S David  went to Rangoon to meet his parents in Rangoon but his parent's house was dilapidated by the World War II and he could not find the where about of his parents , With great sorrow  he started to walk towards Madras in India and after having walked for 28 days Mr Francis Samuel David reached Madras and  with the help of the Address given byRev JWS. Rungaswamy, Mr Francis S. David  reached Rev.JWS  Rungaswamy's house , Rev JWS Rungaswamy welcomed  Francis with great compassion and love . Francis was asked to stay at the house  Rev J.W.S. Rungaswamy and after some Rev JWS. Rungaswamy offered Mr Francis S. David to choose one of his daughters as Francis S David's  wife . Mr Francis Samuel David chose Ms Elsie Margaret Runguswamy as his wife . This  Elsie Francis S David  couple got married with the blessings of Rev JWS Rungaswamy. And this Elise Francis S David  couple was blessed with 2 sons and 4 grandsons and 6 great grandchildren . Unfortunately  we are unable to get the full details of the valuable ministerial Service  of Rev J.W.S Rungaswamy .

Conclusion  :  Rev. Jesudason Wesely Samuel Rungaswamy was a remarkable man . He loved God and his fellow human being . He was a companion of the common man, he was a powerful and convincing preacher. Physically and spiritually he was  beautiful . By nature he was kind, compassionate , honest and unassuming . After having served both God and man Rev Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy died on the 14th August, 1950 at the age of 62. and his mortal remains was buried at the St. George Cathedral, Cemetery, in  Madras [ Chennai]. Rev. J.W.S.. Rungaswamy discharged his duties with great commitment , sincerity and efficacy.. He loved  his Church members  and worked for the total development of his Church members. He was respected within his family circle and also outside his family circle.. It is not possible to cover all the aspects and achievement of  Rev. J.W.S. Rungaswamy in this Article and so I will end this Article with the following sentence ," Rev. Jesudason Wesley Samuel Rungaswamy was indeed a great Man  of God " 

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By P. Babu Manoharan, M.A,  { All rights are reserved . This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed]. .