Introduction: The First Principal of Scott Christian College Nagercoil and former Principal of Nagercoil LMS Seminary Dr. James Duthie, M.A, D.D, was a remarkable man. We can say that Rev. Dr. James Duthie, really deserves to be called as the Father of University Education in Kanyakumari district and Second Founder of the Scott Christain College, Nagercoil for elevating the status of the Nagercoil L.M.S. Seminary into a Second Grade College affiliated to the University of Madars. He was a great Educationist, Social Thinker, Egalitarian, Administrator and a great Missionary. Dr. James Duthie was really one of the greatest Europeans who ever came to Nagercoil and Tamil Nadu. By introducing university education for the first time to the people of the then South Travancore [ Kanyakumari. District] he upgraded the educational standard of the people to university level. A perusal of his prolific profile will galvanise the readers to upgrade their educational level and to live a meaningful life
Rev. Dr. JAMES DUTHIE, D.D.
Birth of Rev Dr. James Duthie: Stonehaven is a beautiful harbour town in Scotland, United Kingdom, and it lies on the north-east coast of Scotland, and is located a few miles South of Aberdeen. It is one of the most interesting fishing centres on the east coast of Scotland Rev James Duthie was born at Stonehaven in Scotland, on 2nd November 1833. Duthie is a popular surname in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. Some gentlemen with Duthie Surname were the pioneers in Ship Building in Aberdeenshire and Scotland. The surname Duthie was first found in Kincardineshire, a former county on the Northeast coast of Grampian Region of Scotland, a part of Aberdeenshire.
Rev. Dr. James Duthie was Ordained and sent to Madras by the LMS: After having completed his collegiate and theological studies at the educational institutions in Aberdeen and Bedford in U.K. he decided to serve in a foreign county as a Missionary. He was selected and appointed as a Missionary by the London Missionary Society to serve in India. Rev. Dr. James Duthie was ordained at the historical "Bunyan Meeting Church" Bedford, on 30th January 1856. Dr. James Duthie sailed to India on the 4th, February 1856 and reached Madaras on 15th March in 1858. Rev Dr. James Duthie worked for 3 years in an English School in Madras with Rev. George Hall, B.A, from February1858 to November 1859. It would be very interesting and useful to Church Historians and readers to know one important fact here that the famous author of the iconic book "Pilgrim's Progress", Rev John Bunyan, following his release from prison served as the Pastor of this Meeting Church Bedford until his death in 1688.
Rev. Duthie Served as the Head of the Seminary and it was upgraded as a Second Grade College: As Rev. James Duthie had been appointed in the place of Rev Whitehouse, to serve as the Head of the LMS Seminary, Nagercoil, founded by Rev Charles Mead at Nagercoil, Rev. James Duthie left Madras and started his travel towards Nagercoil and reached Nagercoil in November1859. Rev. James Duthie succeeded Rev. Dennis as the Head of the LMS Seminary, Nagercoil. He worked as the Head of the Nagercoil LMS Seminary from 1860 to 1901 with great vision and distinction. The Scott Christian College was founded in 1809, in its nucleus form as a village School at Mylaudy by Rev William Tobias Ringel Taube. The School at Mylaudy was shifted to Nagercoil by Rev. Charles Mead in 1818 and he upgraded it as a Seminary. On arrival at Nagercoil Rev. James Duthie, assumed the charge of Nagercoil Pastorate and Nagercoil LMS Printing Press. also. .[p.156]
Mrs. Sara Ann Lea Duthie
Rev Dr. James Duthie's Wife: Mrs Sara Ann Lea Duthie sailed from England on 15th June 1858, along with Rev James Duthie and Rev James Duthie married Ms Sara Ann Lea in Madras. She accompanied her husband to Nagercoil, and lived with her husband Rev. Dr. James Duthie, for 54 years, and God blessed this couple with all the conjugal blessings. Mrs Sara Ann Lea Duthie did gospel work among the native poor women. Mrs Sara Ann Duthie was in Charge of Boarding School , Nagercoil, and as she was an expert in Lace making she trained the women to make Lace as a Cottage Industry, which was known as 'Kuchithyal'. This lace cottage industry was a source of income for hundreds of poor women. Education dispelled many blind beliefs of the society and provided economic independence to the poor women. Mrs Sara Ann Lea Duthie retired from LMS on 10-12-1908, and she died on 29, June 1913, at Kodaikanal and her body was buried in St Peter Church cemetery, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu.
Rev. Dr. James Duthie's Children: God blessed Rev. Dr. James Duthie and Mrs. Sara Ann Lea Duthie, with all the connubial blessings and this couple gave birth to the following children [the names not given in filial order]: [1] Ms Annie Lee and she married a young LMS Missionary by name Rev. Alexander Laying Allan on 14th December,1892. Mrs Annie Lee Allan worked as an English teacher. She bought a bungalow at Nagercoil, for them to live [ The present Lace Office], [2] Ms. Beatrice Jessie Duthie and she was born on February 17th, 1870. Ms Beatrice worked with her Parents, and she supervised the lace industry and saved the funds received by selling the lace materials in Europe, and she took active initiative and interest to acquire property East of the Summer Palace of Travancore Raja [ the present Collectorate]. When Ms. Beatrice Duthie, died at the age of 49 in 1919 in Nagercoil, she left Rs. 50000= to build new School Buildings for the School. By using this Rs.50000= new school buildings were built in the land purchased east of the present Collectorate by Ms Beatrice Duthie. The buildings were dedicated on the 17th, March 1927, the LMS Girls English High School, Nagercoil was named as Duthie Girls English High School, after her name.;[3] Mrs. Wills she married Rev. Wills, [4] A daughter her name is not known, [5] A Son his name is not known but he worked as a Police Commissioner in Trivandrum and [6] A Son and his name is not known, and he was teaching in a Seminary.
Rev. James Duthie Served as the Editor Some Christian Tamil magazines: LMS Medical Missionary Dr. Low started a Tamil Christain magazine by name, " Suvisesha Thoothihai in January,1863, and Rev Dr. James Duthie served as a Co Editor of this Tamil Christian magazine. Moreover Rev. Dr. James Duthie served as the Editor of the following Tamil Magazines:"Desopakari,' 'Mather Bothi", 'Vethiar Vilakam'[ Theological Explanation} and " Dharmapothini". with great distinction .
Rev. Dr. James Duthie Started an English School and A Library at Kottar: Initially Rev Dr. James Duthie used senior Students of his Seminary for Street preaching. Moreover, to disseminate the gospel to all sections of the people, he started an English School at Kottar, in 1867. He conducted meetings to remove the superstitions of the people, and he invited many missionaries and educated people to preach in these meetings, Even Mr Nanu Pillai [ He later became the Dewan of Travancore state]. had presided over such meetings many times and encouraged Rev James Duthie. As many people hailing from all sections of people ardently participated in those meetings, Rev James Duthie built a Library at Kottar area and filled the bookshelves of this Library with good books and newspapers. For this project the King of Travancore state, Dewan Madava Rao, Dewan Peshkar Nanupillali and some other important Govt officials helped him with financial support. Many people regularly and ardently visited this Library and enriched their minds by reading the books..
Rev James Duthie Welcomed the LMS Deputation in 1882: Rev. Albert Spicer and Rev R. Wardlaw Thompson visited South Travancore in 1882 as Deputation members of the LMS. In 1882 December 26th this Deputation visited Nagercoil. This Deputation was warmly and overwhelmingly welcomed by the members of Home Church Nagercoil. and the Deputation was led to a special Pandal and when the Deputation reached the Pandal, Rev James Duthie and Rev Lee welcomed the Deputation warmly. In this welcome meeting Rev. Albert Spicer and Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson addressed the gathering and expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to them. Then. the Deputation visited the Northern Bungalow and there the Deputation Members were warmly welcomed by Mrs Duthie. Next day [ 27th December,1882] the Deputation visited the Nagercoil Seminary and in the afternoon the Deputation visited the Girls Kasba School, Nagercoil which was under the control of Mrs Duthie and there the Deputation was welcomed by 300 School girls with Christian Hymns. The Deputation advised the girl students and also gave them presentations. At 5 P.m. in the evening the LMS Deputation team visited the Library at Kottar, founded by Rev Dr. James Duthie. and the Deputation team appreciated Rev James Duthie
The LMS Deputation Addressed a Special Meeting at Home Church, Presided by Rev James Duthie: On 28th December 1882, the new and old students of Nageroil Seminary and all the LMS Missionaries were assembled inside the Home Church Nagercoil and Rev. Dr James Duthie presided over the meeting. Deputation member Rev Spicer addressed the meeting and indicated the importance of forming an Old Students Association of the Nagercoil Seminary.
Rev James Duthie Started a Library in Thituvilai Also: Rev Yesudian worked for 19 years at Thituvilai pastorate and died, and following Rev Yesudian's death Rev James Duthie took charge of Thituvilai Pastorate and Rev. Duthie appointed Catechist Nallathmabi to supervise the Thituvilai Pastorate and the schools connected with the pastorate. Rev Duthie selected 6 local young men and gave them training to preach the gospel in Thithivilai and in the surrounding villages. Rev. James Duthie also established a Library in Thituvilai in October 1886. Rev James Duthie strongly believed that good books will save people from blind beliefs and superstitions.
Rev. Dr. James Duthie upgraded the Nagercoil Seminary as a Second Grade College: Since, Rev James Duthie took charge of the Seminary. he started to work with great vision and efficacy. But during those days the Christians in South Travancore longed to have a College at Nagercoil and to have College education as the people of Tirunelveli and North Travancore. Rev James Duthie understood the inner voice the local Christians and so he took all the necessary efforts with great vision, to upgrade this Nagercoil L.M.S. Seminary, into a college. But for this purpose he was in need of some money so Rev James Duthie went to England and discussed the matter with the LMS Head office and also he contacted some kind people in England and collected Rs1578= from them and returned to Nagercoil In the year 1893, the Nagercoil LMS Seminary was upgraded as a Second-Grade College, affiliated to the University of Madras. Rev. Dr. James Duthie was appointed in 1893 to serve as the first Principal of the Christian College, Nagercoil. Nagercoil Christian College started to function with 12 students Dr. James Duthie laid the foundation stone for the College building and the construction of the College building was started on the 16th, October,1896, and the College building was opened on 31st August 1899. Rev. Dr. James Duthie served as the Principal of Nagercoil Christian College, during the periods from 1893 to 1894 and from 1898 to 1901 with great vision and distinction. In 1901 he was succeeded by Rev. George Parker, M.A, B.D. as the Principal of Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. Rev Parker Built the Science Block of the Nagercoil Christian College in 1908--1910, with a legacy of 1000= pounds from the family of Mr Septimus Scott and a grant from the Govt of Travancore. Later the Nagercoil Christain College was renamed as Scott Christian College, after Mr Septimus Scott.
Rev James Duthie and the Clock Tower [ Manimadai in tamil] in Nagercoil: A special Clock came from England for the LMS Voor Pallikoodam in Nagercoil, but the Clock was given by Rev Jamas Duthie to the Nagercoil Clock Tower Committee at the request of the Kiing Sri Moolam Thirunal. Now this clock is fixed in the Clock Tower in Nagercoil and Clock Tower is considered as one of the Landmarks in Nagercoil.
Grave of Rev. Dr. James Duthie, D.D..Nagercoil Home Church cemetery
Conclusion: All the chapters of the prolific life of Rev. Dr James Duthie, cannot be accommodated within the space of this Blogpost. He was mainly responsible to start the United Theological College in Banalore. He served as the Secretary of the Travancore District Committee with great distinction and efficacy. He took part in all the Missionary Conferences held in India and in 1904 he was elected as the First President of the newly formed South India Church Union [SIUC} and he did his part with great enthusiasm and efficacy. In 1907, the Aberdeen University in Scottland honoured him by awarding an honorary Doctorate to him. Golden Anniversary of Rev James Duthie's Service and the Centennial Celebration of the LMS' ministry were Celebrated simultaneously by the LMS Christians in Nagercoil, during Christmas Week, in 1906 for three days. In this Celebration, not only the LMS missionaries from Travancore but also missionaries from various Christian denominations from other parts of India also participated with great enthusiasm. As Rev James Duthie could not participate in this joint celebration due to his sickness, his golden Jubilee function was conducted at the Varandah of his Bungalow and Rev James Duthie participated in this function. Many speakers felicitated Rev James Duthie for the selfless and valuable services rendered by him for the cause of spiritual enlightenment, Education, University education and social Justice. in South Travancore. Then a meeting was conducted at the Home Church to felicitate Rev. Dr.James Duthie but due to severe illness he could not participate in the meeting; but the head of the Madurai Seminary Dr Jones presided over the meeting and expressed thanks on behalf of Rev. Dr. James Duthiie. The Scott Christian College, Duthie Girls Hr secondary School, and The Clock Tower have become landmarks in Nagercoil and his name Duthie is inseparably connected with these institutions and buildings. I will end this Blogspot with the following sentence, " Dear and respected Rev. Dr. James Duthie you are really great, we thank God for your meaningful life, and you had brought meaning to the lives of many poor people of South Travancore I have no words to thank you, you are taller than my assessment, I am proud of you"
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By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A[ All rights are reserved, This Blogpost will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed]
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