Rev. G.T. Washburn at Battlagundu: Rev. G. T. Washburn and Mrs Eliza Case Washburn arrived at Madras, on the 12th of April 1860, and from Madras they reached Madura on 1st of May 1860 [ The Rev.B.H. Badley, M.A, Indian Missionary directory Lucknow, 1881 pp.67&. 68] and stayed at Pasumalai, Madura, for a few months. On his arrival in Madura District, Rev. G.T Washburn was called to take over charge from Rev. J.E Chandler of Battalagundu Station. [ Rev. A.J. Saunders, Ph.D , op.cit. p. 39] Mr. and Mrs Washburn were appointed as station missionaries in 1860, to Battlagundu to succeed Rev and Mrs.John E.Chandler. The main missionary responsibility of a Station Missionary was touring among the rural Congregations and preaching the Gospel to the people Rev G.T. Washburn accordingly visited the villages and preached the gospel to the people. Mrs Eliza Case Washburn also actively participated in the missionary work done by her husband. Probably the greatest work done by this missionary Couple in Battalagundu was the reestablishment the Station Boarding schools. By re-establishing the Station Village Schools Rev Washburn helped the poor villagers belonging to various communities to get basic education. In Battalagundu, Rev Washburn and his wife spent ten years, and they spent their time in learning Tamil and caring for their sheep. Mr Washburn constructed church buildings for a few Churches and edited a couple of books in Tamil for Church Services. When Washburn visited Battalagundu he noticed the conspicuous absence of a competent and trained Physician, and here it is better to recollect an old information about Rev Washburn; while he was doing his theological study at the Andover Theological College, he went to New York to take lectures iR the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which allowed missionary students' access to its lecture hall without fees. Later days by using that medical knowledge, Rev Washburn started to do all the possible medical service to the sick people. By doing medical work and service among the common people, he earned many friends for himself and for the Madurai American Mission [Ibid. pp. 37 to 39].
Rev. Dr. G.T. Washburn, D.D.
Rev G.T. Washburn moved to Pasumalai: The Jaffna Mission in Northern Ceylon founded the American Madura Mission in 1834.The Mission secured a grant of some 40 acres of land from the British India Government about three miles to the south-west of the town Madura, in 1845.for the purpose of establishing its educational institutions and this place was called Pasumalai. Dr and Mrs Washburn were appointed to work in Pasumalai in 1870 to direct the educational work of the Madura American Mission. For thirty years they laboured in Pasumalai; they carried out their responsibilities with distinction and gave a new face lift to the mission compound at Pasumalai, by restructuring the old buildings and also by constructing new buildings, with a touch of architectural grace [A.l Saunders, pp, 43-48].
MISSION BUNGALOW, PASUMALAI
Rev. G.T Washburn established a Press in Pasumalai in 1871 and named it as Lenox Press.: Rev Washburn was blessed with a literary bent of mind, One of the first enterprises that Rev Washburn undertook at Pasumalai was to get a Hoe Printing Press from America and start a Newspaper to disturb or awaken the profound oriental repose of the people, He established a Printing Press at Pasumalai and named it as Lenox Press in memory of his birth place, Lenox. The Press very soon grew into a Newspaper Printing and publishing and binding establishment, and the judicial department of the Government adopted this Lenox Press for its order of publication and for 55 years has uninterruptedly patronised it. The first and only continuous work has been the publishing of the "True News". In 1875 an edition of 3000 copies of "A Jewel for Children" a tract written by Miss Taylor was published. By 1884 the "True News" had been made a semi-monthly and had reached a circulation of 750 copies. For 25 years Washburn carried on the Press for the benefit of the Mission at his own expense. Then in 1896 he offered it to the Madura American Mission. and it was gratefully accepted by the Mission. When the new Church was established in Pasumalai in 1904 the old one on the hill side flanked by the grave of the Revered William Tracy was transformed into a Printing establishment for the housing of the Lenox Press. The number of pages printed in Tamil and English each year was creditably large, and more than 20 booklets had been produced in the Booklet series. [ A.J. Saunters, op.cit.. pp.49 &50] We can infer and say that Washburn played a pioneer role for the introduction of newspapers and magazines in later days, in Madurai and Tamil Nadu
Rev. Washburn and Tamil Christan Lyric Book Rev Webb brought out the first Tamil Lyric Book to be used in Christian worship service, and these Tamil lyrics received immediate and instant welcome not only in the Mission, but even outside the Mission also. Rev. Washburn and Rev. Chandler reviewed the hymns and Lyrics, he had selected and written for Webb. When the Mission edition of the Tamil Lyric Book was exhausted, the Christian Vernacular Education Society took it up and published two editions more within ten years, The third edition of Lyric Book was published in 1863. According to Rev A,J. Saunders, Rev GT Washburn was musical and Rev G.T Washburn in 1870, revised and further enlarged the old Tamil Lyric Book by adding more Lyrics and improved its usefulness. [ J.S.Chandler, op.cit. p.248 and p. 261.]. The native congregation members sang the Tamil lyrics of this Lyric Book, enthusiastically and glorified God in the worship services and other connected religious meetings.
Dr. Washburn Opened a High School in Pasumalai: By January 1875 the ripeness of the time was manifest to all and the Mission voted with great unanimity and heartiness to open a new class as the beginning of a High School. [ J.S. Chandler, p.288] In 1875, Dr. Washburn opened a Mission High School at Pasumalai, and he served as its first Head- Master, with concern for each and every student without discrimination. He opened this High school to train the students for the university examinations. This School started to flourish from the beginning. Dr. Washburn served as the Head- Master of the High school with great distinction, devotion, efficacy, .and he loved his students as a father [ Rev. A.J. Saunders, P. 40].
Rev. Dr. G.T Washburn founded a College in Pasumalai: Rev. Dr. George Thomas Washburn started the High School at Pasumalai, in 1875 and this high school grew into the College [ Rev. A.J. Saunders, Ph.D, Dr Washburn of Madura, an Appreciation, American Mission Lenox Press. Pasumalai, 1928, p. 40] In 1881, the University of Madras on the recommendations of the Director of Public Instruction and with the approval of its Fellows made Pasumalai College now Madura college , a secondary college that was an institution in which the Two lower classes of the University curriculum were taught The idea of establishing a Christian college had been before the Christian community of the Madura Mission but for some years the idea had been put aside as it was beyond the ability of mission. However, the idea awaited the initiative and approval of Dr. G.T. Washburn to undertake the responsibility and establishment and conduct of such as institution. In November 1881 affiliation was received with the University of Madras and in the following March [ March 1882] a college Class was opened with 4 Christian Young men. This Class was sent up to the First examination in Arts in 1883, By this time the student strength of the college increased to 178 [ John S. Chandler, A History of the Mission in South India, Published by the American Madura Mission p. 288
Dr. Washburn Served as a Visionary and efficacious Principal of the College: Of all the educational service that Rev Dr. G.T. Washburn done in South India, the establishment of a College in Pasumalai near Madurai can be considered as his best contribution for the cause of Education. Dr. Washburn's former student, teaching colleague from 1882 to 1900, and Tamil Christain poet Rev. Prof. V. Santiago writes about Dr. Washburn, "Dr. Washburn worked as an educational missionary for 30 years at Pasumalai. He was one of the greatest of the Missionaries, who worked in India. He was very strong physically, mentally and spiritually and thus was a worthy model to be followed by his students in the Pasumalai". Rev. Prof. V. Santiago continues and says, " Dr. Washburn was looked upon as a model Principal. He maintained good discipline and employed various ways and means to improve the students. He gave them adequate physical, intellectual, and spiritual training. The relation between him and the students was that of a father and sons.....He saw clearly the Missionary educational work as evangelistic as pure evangelism and proved conclusively that evangelistic and educational work were supplementary to each other. He made the Mission and the Board understand that higher education was very necessary to the Indian Christian workers to cope with the situation in India and the Indian Church should have an educated ministry He ably organised various departments and societies. He raised the Institution from the Middle school to the College". [ Rev. A.J. Saunders, op.cit pp. 163 & 164] This fitting and beautiful assessment made by Rev Prof. V. Santiago about Dr. Washburn helps us to understand the total personality of Dr. Washburn.
Yokan Lodge and Rev Washburn: Dr. Washburn built and opened a Lodge by name "Yokan Lodge" in Pasumalai Mission Compound in 1895. The name "Yokan" was selected and used by Dr. Washburn as that was the ancient name of his old family seat, now called Lenox. In short, we can say Yokan was the old name of Dr. Washburn's native place. This Lodge was designed to be a Hostel for the older and more advanced Christian students of the institutions, and this was the last building constructed by Dr. Washburn before his retirement. [Saunders pp. 45& 46].
WASHBURN HALL, PASUMALAI.
College Hall was Built by Dr Washburn in Pasumalai: In December 1888, formally the College Hall was opened in Pasumalai campus at the cost of Rs. 12650+. later the name was changed to Washburn Hall, in memory of the Washburn family, as the Washburn's family members helped to meet the expenses in connection with the enlargement of the Hall [ Saunders p. 46].
Separation of Departments in Pasumalai Seminary: In 1891 the Mission members voted that the Theological Seminary, Pasumalai, should be made a separate department form the beginning of 1892 and that Rev Jones should take charge of it [ John S. Chandler, A History of Mission in South India, published by American Madura mission, p 295] In 1892 the Theological school at Pasumalai was divided into two separate department. The development made up-to the Jubilee year of the Seminary was thus summarised by Rev. Dr. Washburn "This year the Pasumalai Institution has become two bands, under two leaders. For the first 28 years [ 1842 to 1870] theological and biblical instruction was given along with secular subjects, in the longer or shorter courses of the Old Seminary. For the following 22 years [1870 to 1892] the theological students formed a department by themselves but still under the supervision and instruction of the principal of the college. At length at the beginning of this year, fifty years from the founding of the institution, the time long looked forward to, has been reached when a missionary could be detailed from the general work to make the training of our spiritual agents and pastors for their distinctive service his chief business. The records of Pasumalai present a good example of missionary development." [ Ibid. p. 290] Pasumalai seminary began with a two-Year course but extended it to the usual Three years. Then it became a Union Missionary Training Institution and then raised to the rank of a Theological college affiliated with Serampore College, the only Institution in India authorised by law to confer Christiana Theological Degrees, All, these institutions established by Dr. Washburn were successful [ S J. Saunders, op.cit, p. 53.].
Part Final Will Follow Soon
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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