Rev CTE Rhenius was removed from Tranquebar to Madras: At Madras Rev. Rhenius and his colleague stayed only a fortnight, and on the 20th of July 1814, they left Madras and on arrival at Tranquebar both of them were kindly received by the Rev. August Friederich Caemmerer and Rev. Schreivogel. During the months that Mr Rhenius resided at Tranquebar, he was occupied chiefly in learning the Tamil language and acquired good command and hold over Tamil within a short span of five months.. Rev Rhenius was asked to comeback to Madras by Church Missionary Society, because it wanted to engage Rev Rhenius in their own mission called Mission in Madras. As he was asked to move back to Madras by CMS, on 2nd of January 1815, forenoon, Rev Rhenius began to pack up his books in order to proceed to Madras,.and it shows that he was a great lover and reader of book.. On the 9th of January 1815, he prayed and began his journey towards Madras from Tranquebar. We are unable to infer the exact reason for the removal of Rev Rhenius from Tranquebar to Madras. Madras was the oldest branch of the Danish Mission at Tranquebar and was commenced by the Rev Benjamin Schultze in the year 1726. On his arrival in Madras Rev Rhenius was kindly accommodated in Rev.. Mr. Thompson's house until necessary arrangements were made for his settlement and also until the sanction of the Government was received for the establishment another mission in Madras .
Rev. Charles Theophilus Ewald Rhenius
Rev. Rhenius Got the Permission of the Governor of Madras to start his Missionary work: On arrival at Madras from Tranquebar, Rev Rhenius understood the need for the permission form the Governor of Madras to start his missionary work in Madras, Mr. Rhenius called on the Governor Mr. Hugh Elliot, accompanied by Mr. Thompson and they were received by the Governor. in a friendly manner. Governor Mr Elliot discussed many important issues with them in a friendly manner. Mr Elliot opined that Christianity will not spread over India so quickly as the people in England supposed.. However finally the Governor Mr. Hugh Elliot gave his consent to the missionaries for their establishment in Madras and repeatedly promised Mr Rhenius and Mr Thompson that he would give all the support to them, in his power. Mr Elliot spoke with these missionaries in German and the wife of the Governor also entered the room and talked with the missionaries in German. The visit was very satisfactory and encouraging to the missionaries and both of them left the Governor's residence with gratitude.
Governor of Maras Mr. Hugh Elliot, [1814-1820]
Rev. C.T.E..Rhenius Moved to Black Town: On 2nd of February 1815, Mr Rhenius left the house of Mr Thompson and proceeded to his rented residence in Black Town, North Madras.. While staying at his house in Black town Rev. Rhenius had many opportunities to meet variety of native people. He liked to converse with the local people in Tamil, whenever he talked with the native people, they understood him but he could not fully understand them, on account of their rapid and broken pronunciations. In the month of April 1815, Rev Rhenius for the first time conducted the religious service in Tamil publicly. No Church or Chapel had been built. On 12th of April, 1815 he conducted the first religious meeting in his house at Black town and about fifteen persons were present in the meeting.
Rev. Rhenius Started a School in Blacktown : As an Educationist, to instruct and enlighten the young minds, in line with the provisions of the Charter of 1813 Act, Rev Rhenius started a School at Blacktown, Madras, and in ten days the strength of the students increased to forty-six. Rev. Rhenius' plan was not to admit any distinction of caste among the students. In this School, admissions were given to all those who were willing to be instructed, without any caste or other discriminations. His other aim was to make those who were able pay to pay ; and to admit gratis those who are quite poor. and payment was collected from students according to circumstances. He also resolved to have an examination of the boys every week on Wednesday, in Tamil; on Saturday in English and religious teachings were also taught in this school. On 28th of May 1815, for the first time Rev Rhenius conducted Worship service in Tamil in the school in Blacktown. He started to conduct the divine service in the school room for the benefit of the school children, for the congregation of Dr. Rotler and to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the Christian worship service, irrespective of religious and denominational affiliation.
Rev. Rhenius Started some More Schools around Madras: Rev. Rhenius, started some more schools in Madras including the one in Black Town. He also started a School at Kanchipuram at the invitation of the Hindus. One Mr Sandappan of Vadadillei had been converted as a Christian by Rev Fabrcius Mr Sandappan also became a friend of Rev Rhenius and Mr. Sandappan was a clever man. .Mr Sanadappan requested Rev Rhenius to started some schools in some villages around Madras . Accordingly Rev Rhenius started Schools at Azhaharadipattai, Vadadillei, kanniputhu, Vengadamangalam, Chegelpattu, Coovam, Thiruvallur, Triplicane. . Rev Rhenius visited these schools and conversed with the students about their physical, educational and spiritual issues.. Rev Rhenius believed that education would liberate the young minds from ignorance, superstition and spiritual darkness..
Rev. Rhenius started a Seminary to Train Teachers: . As there was scarcity for suitable trained teachers to work as Teachers in the Schools started by Rev. Rhenius, he started a Seminary on the 11th of March 1817. Then the Teacher's training Institute was called a Seminary. Rev. Rhenius's plan was not only to give teacher training to the students to serve as teachers and but to produce Catechists through this Seminary..
Bible Society at Calcutta Requested Rev Rhenius to Revise Fabricius Version of the Tamil Bible: The Bible society in Calcutta in the year 1815 decided to revise the Johann Philipp Fabricius version of the Tamil Bible. and it asked Rev CTE Rhenius to revise old version of Fabricius at the earliest. In this connection Rev Rhenius had a meeting with Dr Rottler at the residence of Mr Thompson in Madras. They decided to begin the translation work immediately On 15th of November 1815 Rev Rhenius began the translation work of the Bible into Tamil, and he was assisted by a Tamil Munshi. Rev. Rhenius laid down some guide lines for the translation of the Bible and then started to translate the New Testament into Tamil, with great enthusiasm, eagerness and efficacy.. The concise history of Bible Translation by Rev. CTE. Rhenius, will be dealt in detail later in some other paragraphs.
Rev. Rhenius Married Ms Anne: Rev. CTE Rhenius married Ms Anne Wilhelmina Van Someren on the 7th of March 1816, in Madras, and the marriage was solemnised by Rev. Mr. Vanghan. This couple's son the Rev. C.J. Rhenius, Chaplain, Honourable East India Company Service [HEICS}, wrote the life history of his father Rev. CTE Rhenius. Rev. CTE. Rhenius' daughter Miss... Rhenius married her father's Assistant missionary in Palayamkottai, Rev. John James Muller. [ Rev. Frank Penny, The Church In Madras, Vol. II, London 1912, pp. 391 & 394].
Next part will continue soon
By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, [ All rights are reserved. This Blogpost will be modified, enlarged or corrected later, if needed].
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