Introduction: The great global Jewish Christian missionary Dr. Joseph Wolf, D.D, regarded Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius as the greatest missionary who had appeared since St Paul. Rev. CTE. Rhenius was the first Christain Missionary Society's [CMS] Missionary to arrive in India. He was a remarkable and multifaceted personality. He was a Linguist, Lexicographer, Tamil scholar, Social Thinker, Educationist, Bible Translator, Church Planter. and devoted Evangelist. A perusal of his life story and his accomplishments in the fields of education, social justice and evangelisation will galvanise the readers and the present-day Christians with new enthusiasm to achieve great things in life and to live a meaningful and fruit-bearing life.
. Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius.
Rev. C.T.E.Rhenius' Parents and Birth: The historical Fortress Graudenz is located on the right bank of river Vistula in Poland [ previously called West Prussia], His parents Mr Otho Rhenius and Mrs Otho Rhenius gave birth to a male child on the 5th of November 1790, at the fortress Graudenz and this couple christened their boy child, as Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius. Mr Otho Rhenius served as an Officer in the infantry of the Prussian Army.
C.T.E. Rhenius' Siblings: Mr Otho Rhenius and Mrs Otho Rhenius couple gave birth to the following children: [1] A son, [ Name not known],[2] Mr. Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius ,[3] A son [ Name known and [4] a female Child [ name not known]. Mr. Otho Rhenius died when his son C.T.E. Rhenius was six years old and so the care of all the four children fell upon their mother, and she most enthusiastically did her duty and affectionately watched over the welfare of her children
Rev. Rhenius' Childhood: Young CTE Rhenius studied at the famous Cathedral School of Marienwerder . After having completed his school studies he was employed at Balga near Kunigaberg in the office of an uncle who held a Civil post under the government, for three years, but in the spring of the year 1807, Rhenius was removed to the neighbourhood of Memel in compliance with the invitation from another uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius who was in his declining age.
His Stay with his uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius: Young CTE Rhenius went and stayed with his childless dear uncle Mr Wilhelm A. Rhenius and Mrs Wilhelm Rhenius and this couple liked young CTE Rhenius so much. His Uncle's house served as parade ground for young Rhenius' spiritual growth At Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius' house, he got the privilege to do the perusal of Missionary publications, especially those of the Moravian, or United Brethren. Young CTE Rhenius gradually and systematically imbibed the spirit of those publications. As he found his uncle as a ready and real counsellor and friend, young Rhenius revealed his future missionary plans to him... On the 5th of March 1811, his uncle informed his wife about the intended departure plan of young Rhenius, and she became very angry and said to young Rhenius that if she were his mother she would never permit his intended departure. But as C.T.E. Rhenius was seriously considering the importance preaching the word of cross among the heathens, he sought the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the discouragements He prayed earnestly, and he received courage and strength to accept the call, remembering the words of the Apostle, "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me". Mr C.T.E. Rhenius surmounted all the principal impediments, and no time was lost in preparing to enter upon the field. [ J.R, MEMOIR of the REV. C. THEOPHILUS EWALD RHENIUS, Edinburgh, Jan, 4, 1841, pp..5-7]
Mr CTE. Rhenius Joined a Seminary in Berlin: In order to fulfil his inner goals Rev. CTE. Rhenius, in the year 1810 applied for and obtained permission to enter the newly started Missionary Seminary in Berlin for preparing the young persons for the missionary work, which was under the supervision of its founder Rev. John Janicke. This Missionary school [ Seminary] founded in Berlin, in 1800, later became the Berlin Missionary Society in 1823]. Mr. CTE Rhenius kept his intention to go abroad as a Missionary as a secret as possible, his uncle Mr. Wilhelm A. Rhenius excepted. To join the Seminary in Berlin, Mr CTE Rhenius, left his uncle's house at Bachmann and passed through Marienwerder. On his way to Berlin, Mr CTE Rhenius, met his mother and siblings and told them that he was going to study Theology, it satisfied his siblings, but his mother was suspicious about his real plan. and she requested her son Mr. CTE Rhenius, not to go over the sea. But CTE Rhenius answered his mother that that he cannot act against the will of God and left for Berlin. Mr. CTE Rhenius, reached Berlin on the 6th of May 1811. On the day of his arrival in Berlin he wrote that "I thank the Lord for preserving me on the road and helping me through difficulties. I devote myself, both body and soul, to him; and beseech him to fit and prepare me for the great work of an evangelist" [ Ibid , p. p.7&8]. With great enthusiasm and devotion Mr. CTE Rheius, studied his Seminary lessons and passed his Theology study.
He was Ordained and sent to England: Rev, CTE. Rhenius was ordained on the 7th of August 1812, at Berlin as a Minister of the established Church of Prussia [commonly denominated the Lutheran Church"] to be a missionary to the heathens. A fortnight after his ordination, as Rev.. Schnarre and Rev CTE Rhenius agreed to go to foreign countries as CMS Missionaries, both of them proceeded to England. and in England they stayed under the roof of the Rev Thomas Scott, and were placed there by the Church Missionary Society, together with some other young men, who were to go abroad as Missionaries. The young missionaries Rev. C.T.E. Rhenius and Rev..Schnarre were held up for many months in England, for want of Government permission to go as Missionaries to India.
The Charter Act of 1813 was Passed and Rev C.T.E. Rhenius and Rev Schnarre were sent to India:: As British East India Company was not in favour of sending missionaries to India, there were some obstacles to send missionaries to India and that delayed the departure of Rev Rhenius and Rev Schnarre to India. I think it is better to have some basic idea about Church Missionary Society [ CMS, UK], and it was founded in London on 12th of April,1799. by Mr. William Wilberforce [ A Leading English Abolitionist and A Member of British Parliament], Mr. John Venn and Mr John Newton [ Author of Amazing Grace] These people founded the CMS with purpose of sending missionaries to Africa and the East. But the British East India Company was not in favour of sending missionaries to Inia. There was a great unrest in the British Parliament in the year 1813 when the issue of permission to start Missionary work in India was debated. Finally Missionary Class was attached to the Charter Act 1813 and was passed in the British Parliament. Charter Act of 1813 authorised Christian missionaries to enter British India and spread education and religious beliefs. This provision was included following the intense lobbying by evangelical groups in Britain and it marked the start of Missionary activities in India. At the close of October 1813, the Committee of the Church Missionary society obtained permission from the Court of Directors of the British East India Company to send Rev Rhenius and Rev,Schnarre to India. On the 7th of January 1814, about 2000 people were assembled at the Free-Mason's Tavern and its President Lord Gambier was also present, Mr. Pratt read the instructions to the missionaries and Professor Dealtry read an address written by Dr. Buchanan who was prevented to attend by illness The meeting lasted for three hours. On the 4th of February 1814, Rev, Rhenius and Rev Schnarre left London for Portsmouth where they were bound to be taken on board the Marquis of Huntly, bound for Madras. After a long voyage the Marquis of Huntly anchored before Madras on the 4th of July 1814. The missionaries were received by the Chaplain of the East India Company Rev. Marmaduke Thompson. The first news that they received was about the death of Dr. John of Tranquebar..
Next part will Follow
By. P. Babu Manoharan. M.A,.[ All Rights are reserved. This Blogpost will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed]..
No comments:
Post a Comment