A memorial of the Futtehgurh mission and her martyred missionaries : with some remarks on the mutiny in India

Front matter

■tltoW":- t^

A MEMORIAL

OF TITK rUTTEHGURH MISSION

Chapter II

Commencement of Mission — Providential guidance — its founders — Colonel "VVheelci- — Orphan Asylum and famine — Christian village, the people, their character and employments. , . 37

CHAPTER HI.

Formation of Church, its state and increase — Congregation, its character and features — Preaching, its simplicity and force — Bazar and village preaching — Itinerations — Translations and Oriental character of the Bible 53

Chapter IV

Education — Schools, different kinds — English, Yernacular, and Church schools — the Mahd Rajah's schools — their value and importance - ... 71

Chapter V

Difficulties from Hinduism and Caste — Converts, their character,

influence, and prospects — Widow and Orphan Fund — the ^

Khair Khwah i Hind, or native newspaper — Ishwuree Dass, "''^

as a Teacher and Author — John F. Houston and Robert J. y^

Breckinridge, native Catechists. 88

20 CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

Pagb The early life of Dis ITighness, the MahA Rajah Dulcop Singh — his conversion and baptism — his character and influence — contrast with the Nawab Rdis of Furrukhabad — the difference between Christianity and Islaraism. . . . 107

CHAPTER Vn.

The Mutiny — some of its main causes — its character and effects at Futtehgurh — destruction of property and loss of lives. . 121

CHAPTER VHI.

Memoir of the Rev. John Edgar Freeman 147

CHAPTER IX.

Memoir of Mrs. Elizabeth Freeman 167

CHAPTER X.

Memoir of the Rev. David Elliott Campbell. . . . 191

CHAPTER XI.

Memoir of Mrs. Maria Irvine Campbell 215

CHAPTER XII.

Memoirs of the Rev. Albert Osborne Johnson, and

Mrs. Amanda Joanna Johnson 24 1

CHAPTER XIII.

Memoirs of tlic Rev. Robert McMullin, and

Mi"S. Sarah Colt McMullin 269

CONTENTS. 21

CHAPTER XIV.

Pagb

The sail down the Ganges — Riiwalganj — Singarampore — Kdsampore — Bithour — Ndn4 Sdhib — the last scene on the Cawnpore parade-ground 293

CHAPTER XV.

The Mutiny continued — prophetic downfall of Islamism — eflFects of the Mutiny on the government, people, and native church — its results at home 309

CHAPTER XVr.

Concluding reflections — need of labourers — what kind — the qualifications necessary — Missionary character in India. . . 328 n llz^it^iin$.

Portrait of the AUTHOR. . . . Frontispiece.

PAoa The Presbyterian Church of Futtehgurh. ... 53

Portrait of MAHA RAJAH DULEEP SINGH. . . 107

" " Rev. JOHN EDGAR FREEMAN. . . 147

" Mrs. ELIZABETH FREEMAN. . . .167

" Rev. DAVID ELLIOTT CAMPBELL. . 191

" Mrs. MARIA IRVINE CAMPBELL. . .215

Map of Route to India, drawn by Mrs. CAMPBELL. . 223

Portrait op Rev. ALBERT OSBORNE JOHNSON. . .211

" Mrs. AMANDA JOANNA JOHNSON. . 243 " " Rev. ROBERT McMULLIN. . . . 269

" Mrs. SARAH COLT McMULLIN. . . 283

The Boat, as it Sailed down the Ganges. . . . 293

The Map of India, showing the Mission Stations. . , 339

FUTTEHGUEII MISSION,

AND HER

MARTYRED MISSIONARIES.

Chapter I

Futteligurh described — cantonment — city — villages — population and sects — Hindus — Mahammadans and Sadhs.

FuTTEHGURH, sincG the fearful scenes of the late mutiny, has become a name of familiar sound throughout the world. Before this lamentable revolt, it was known to all, who took an interest in the operations of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, as one of the most favoured and interestimr of all our Mission stations in the North-west Provinces of India.

It is situated on the west side of the river Ganges, and is about seven hundred miles from Calcutta. It is the capital of a large district, known as the Zillah of Furrukhabad, and the seat of the European Courts for the district. It is bounded by the Rohilkund on the north, Oudh on the east, Bundlekund on the

4 (25)

south, and Agra on the west. The banks of the Ganges on the Futtehgurh side are high, and the river scenery, especially during the rainy season, when the water rises to its greatest height, is quite picturesque. Though there is not much A^ariet}^ in the scenery of the plains in India, as the same features, more or less, characterize the different stations, yet Futtehgurh will not suffer in comparison with the most favoured ; and, owing to its remarkably healthy climate and the variety of its productions, it has been regarded with especial favour by the European portion of the community.

The name of Futtehgurh is confined to the military Cantonment, which extends some two miles along the bank of the river. The bungalows, or residences of the Europeans, are scattered and surrounded with grounds, laid out with taste, and embellished with, pretty hedges and flowers of both hemispheres. There are only two styles of building, which give the houses very much the same external appearance, the only points of difference being the size and colour. The thatched houses, or bungalows, are not prepossessing in their appearance, but are much better adapted to the climate than the Kothis or pukka buildings, which are built of brick and covered with plaster. These Kothis are all flatroofed and much hotter than the bungalows, as they absorb and retain the heat ; though, to remedy this defect, it is not unusual to cover the roof with straw, in which are placed as many earthen vessels filled with water as the roof will hold.

The public buildings are those everywhere seen in the civil and military stations throughout the interior of India. They are not numerous or elegant, but built in a very substantial style, and adapted to the purpose for which they were designed. The Kuchchery or Court House, being the most important, is usually situated in a central and commanding position. The Gun Carriage Agency, as also the Clothing Department for the whole of the North-west Provinces and the Punjab were established at Futtehgurh, and efficiently carried on. The first of these occupied part of the Fort, and connected with it are a large steam-engine and work shops. Both of these establishments were on an extensive scale, and gave employment to some fifteen hundred men. The Fort, which is of mud, was to the extreme north of the Cantonment, in the direction of the city of Furrukhabad, and not capable of affording much resistance, unless under the magic hand of a Havelock. The roads throughout the station are of the most excellent material, and kept in the most beautiful state of repair. Farther up the river, and not very far from the Cantonment, is the large and famous city of Furrukhabad, with a population of from eighty to one hundred thousand souls. At the entrance of the city there is a very striking object in the shape of an idol temple, of great external attractions. The city contains a large number of temples, but none that can compare with this. It is the most extensive and elaborate of all the temples, and was built with the profits of the distillery opposite the temple, both of which are owned by the same person.

It is one of the finest and best laid out cities in the North-west Provinces, and is noted for its brass and copper works, as also for being the entrepot of Calcutta goods which are distributed from this place to all the large cities, such as Agra, Delhi, Meerut, Bareill}'", and Lahore. As a business place, it takes a A'erj" high rank, and its banking transactions are very extensive. The main street of the city is very wide, and about three miles in length. In some parts of it there are trees of great age and magnificent growth, which, by overshadowing the street and houses, afford a most pleasant and agreeable shelter from the excessive heat of the summer. During the greater part of the day, and especially towards evening, it is thronged with human beings of such a description as an eastern city only can command, and dressed in the gayest colours. The throng is so great that a person driving through in a carriage is compelled to send a man on to open a passage, and even with this it is oftentimes very difficult, as it is very tedious, to effect his object. On the main street there are a number of gateways which divide the city into sections, and, though these are now unused, it must be remembered that under preceding native governments they were found of great advantage as a means of security from night attack. It was formerly, like most of the cities of India, a walled cit}^; but during the British reign in India, the feeling of security has been such that no attention has been paid to these walls, which have almost gradually disappeared.

The race of robbers and freebooters, which overran the country under the old native dynasties, both Hindu and Mahamniedan, has become almost extinct. Until within a comparatively recent period, there existed a peculiar race of this description, who not only robbed but destroyed all traces of their robbery by strangulation and burial of their victims. They were called Thugs, and travelled everywhere in disguise. The government used very energetic measures to ferret out and exterminate them and was finally successful. And however strange it may seem, it is nevertheless true that these Thugs were actuated by a kind of religious frenzy in their cruel acts, and always commenced and finished their fiendish work with worship to one of the many heathen idols. To make the work of extirpation as complete as possible, government collected these Thugs and all their children together, and opened for their especial benefit and reformation a school of Industry ; and they had bpcome so efficient in their work as to attract attention at the Great Exhibition, held in London in 1851.

The city contains a large number of immense storehouses, filled with English and American goods of almost every description. The owners of these large establishments are natives, many of whom are wholesale merchants, who are constantly receiving and despatching boxes and bales of goods without even opening or looking at them. From this, it will be inferred that the city has a great deal of wealth, which is true to an extent not commonly understood or believed. The number of rich men who are engaged in business in the city is probably as great in proportion to the number of the population, as the same class in most of the cities of the Old and New World; though there is not the same display of wealth, owing chiefly to the influence of caste and the difference of habits. The number of large and splendid private mansions is very small, as the strong religious element pervading the character of the natives leads them to expend their money on temples, ghats, and wells, as works of religious merit. The science of architecture is still in its infancy in India, and society will have to undergo great changes before a building mania characterizes the people. Nearly every house is built after the same model, and this model, so far as health and comfort are concerned, is perhaps the worst that could be devised, as no provision is made either for light or ventilation. The entrance opens usually into a large four-sided court, around which are the different rooms, with their little open verandahs, in which they cook and sleep, the greater part of the year; for they live mostly outside and make very little use of their houses, unless it be in the very coldest weather.

As to furniture, it is so simple that it scarcely deserves the name. Their plates are either plantain leaves, or brass and copper, the brass being used by the Hindus, and the copper by the Mahammadans. Their meals are always eaten on the ground, on which sometimes, though not very frequently, a cloth is spread. They eat with their hands, and are inclined to think that knives and spoons spoil the flavour of the dishes. They scarcely ever allow a cup or vessel of any kind to touch their lips ; and when the Portuguese first landed in India, they were told it was the etiquette to drink out of the hand and not from a cup, and once, whilst on a visit to one of the native Princes, they were served with melons and water in a golden cup. In trying to drink in the manner of the natives, by pouring the water from the cup into their mouths, they either choked themselves, or wet their clothes in such a manner as to convulse the whole court with laughter. The consequence was that they were so mortified as never to repeat the experiment. Our mission premises, on account of the Asylum for Orphans, established at the commencement of our missionary operations, were divided : part being near the city, for the purpose of acting on its large population ; and part near the Cantonment and surrounding villages, to secure the orphans from the evil influences of a large city. The premises for the Orphan establishment were called Rukha, and those near the city Burpore. Each of these premises contained two bungalows, for the four mission families composing the Futtehgurh mission.

The Rukha premises were on a grant of land, given to the mission by government for an indefinite number of years, or so long as it might be required by us for the use of the Orphan Asylum. This land was formerly the Artillery parade ground, an immense plain, comprising sixty acres, unfenced and uncultivated for many years. It was used for parade purposes, when Futtehgurh was occupied by the English, and at that time being a frontier station, a large artillery force was deemed necessar}^ for its defence ; but as other stations were annexed, it lost its importance as a frontier station, and this land was made over, on application, to the mission, at a mere nominal rent of fifty cents per acre. It was taken by us, enclosed and cultivated, and up to the time of the mutiny was the prettiest, as it was regarded the healthiest, part of Futtehgurh. It is literally true that this solitary place was made glad, and this desert blossomed as the rose; for on this ground were not only the mission bungalows, but also a Church, School-house, Industrial establishment, and a large Christian village containing some two hundred souls or more: all of which were exerting strong and most favourable influences on the surrounding masses of the heathen population. And it is an interesting fact that on tiie return of the troops after the mutiny, Sir Colin Campbell made this spot his headquarters, though midst the desolations of ruins, effected by the mutineers and those of the baser sort who acted with them.

The villages near us are not only large but numerous, and afforded most excellent preaching places for ourselves and native assistants, some of whom almost daily visited one or more in regular rotation. In nearly all these villages we established vernacular schools, and by this means interested the people in us and our operations. In this we had also the kind co-operation of our good friend, the Maha Rajah Duleep Singh, who evidenced his appreciation of Christian character in the support of some ten of these village schools. And such was the confidence wrought by these schools in us, that many of these unsophisticated people came to us for counsel and medicines. The inhabitants of these villnoes are usually Hindus, and are a much simpler class than the residents of the cities. Their occupation is mostly farming, and being so much less given to sophistry, they are more willing to listen to the truth, when presented in a simple and forcible way, than those, who by being in cities, become so much absorbed in the cares and anxieties of making money. The city of Furrukhabad contains three distinct classes of people — Hindus, Mussalmans, and Sadhs. Of these classes the first may be considered the best, and the other two in the descending scale as mentioned. As a race, the Hindus are mild, courteous, and intelligent, and not the unfeeling and savage people many suppose them to be from the developments made of their character during the late mutiny. That there are individual exceptions to 'this general rule will, of course, be admitted. Being heathen, they have many of the vices peculiar to all heathen races. For example, they are very superstitious and credulous, and consequently addicted to vice in every form, but withal mild and tolerant. Revenge is a strong and marked trait of

Hindu character, having a full development in the people of Bengal, and becoming less as v^e go north. The Mussalmans of India are the same everywhere, and characterized by those traits which are almost the opposites of the Hindus. They are proud, insolent, and sensual. Being the last native reigning authority, they feel very keenly the loss of power, and have never manifested submission to their position. During the Seikh rebeUion in 1845- '46, whilst the author was stationed at Mynpoorie, it was a notorious fact that the Mussalmans met every day to pray for the defeat of the English and the entire overthrow of the British power ; and that, too, when the prominent leaders were occupying important positions as Assistant Magistrates and Police Ofiicers. Their former position and their knowledge of Arabic and Persian, the learned languages of the Mahammadans, have induced in them an overweening conceit of their attainments and power, and a most supercilious contempt for their Hindu neighbours. These, with their admitted superior religious knowledge, make them both arrogant and insolent. They evince a perfect detestation of idolatry, and ridicule it in every conceivable manner. Boastful of their religious superiority, and especially of their correct knowledge of the attributes of God, as taught in their Koran, (and copied from our Bible,) they hate Christians for their views of the Trinity and the doctrine of the Atonement, quite as much as tboy despise and detest the Hindus for their idolatry. This is intensified by the fact that Christians are more than able to meet them in argument, and exert their greater knowledge and power for the overthrow of Islamism. The very essence of their religion is hate and malignity, and where they enjoy the power, as up to a recent period they did in Turkey and still do in Persia, they exercise their avowed right of destroying every opposing system and doctrine. There is and can be no toleration where there is Mahammadanism; for the Koran teaches that every infidel should suffer death, and every one is an infidel who is not ex animo a believer in Mahammad and his teachings. This is the distinguishing element of Islamism, and has always been its development in Turkey and Persia, and would be now in India were it not restrained by a strong Christian power. That this has been one of the causes, and a chief one too, of the mutiny must be apparent to any one conversant with India and the character and restlessness of its Mahammadan population for the past few years.

Differing from both Hindus and Mussalraans, there is another class of religionists at Futtehgurh, w^ho are called Sadhs. They are very peculiar as a class, and very strict and rigid in their observance of little things : such as tying up their mouths to prevent the inhaling of insects, in straining the water they drink through many fine cloths for the same purpose, and in rejecting all the usual forms of salutation. They reject all external rites, and assert that they beheve only in God, but in reality are Atheists. They have no book like our Bible or the Koran of the Mahammaclans and Shastras of the Hindus ; nor have they any particular place of worship as the temple and mosque. This sect is not very large, though they have considerable wealth. Their meetings being secret, but little is known of them, and that little does not warrant much hope of winning them to a better belief.

Chapter II

Commenceraenl of the Mission — Providential guidance — its founders — Col. Wheeler — Orphan Asylum and famine — Christian village: the people, their character and employments.

The selection of a mission station is always a matter of importance, and not unfrequently a subject of great and anxious consideration. This is necessary for the efficient working of our missions, and the removal of all doubts and subsequent disaffection. In this respect Futtehgurh was happily chosen, and without a single exception all the brethren have felt and expressed a high degree of satisfaction in the place, and with the facilities afforded for the execution of their work. Nor has this feeling been confined to the missionaries of Futtehgurh, but those of other stations have regarded it with equally high favour. Its attractive features impressed our first missionaries, whilst simply passing through it as travellers, and without much, if any, intimate acquaintance. Both the Rev. J. C. Lowrie and the Rev. James Wilson called the attention of our Mission Board to the desirableness of its early occupancy as a field of labour.

But however important and desirable, it is not probable that it would have been occupied to this

38 AMEMOEIALOFTHE

day, had it not been for the especial orderings of Providence. God himself, by one of those solemn and painful providences, which he frequently uses as an instrument of good, was preparing the way for its occupancy. In the year 1837-38, the North-west Provinces of India were visited by a famine of fearful extent, and which for its virulence and long continuance is still known as the famine year; though famine seasons are not unusual in India, as from the records kept by government, it has been ascertained that in former times one occurred, on the average, almost every seventeenth year.

It is almost impossible to form a conception of the fearful sufferings of the poor people during the famine year preceding the establishment of our mission at Futtehgurh. The scenes were so terrible and revolting, that those who witnessed them declare, that even to the present day, they cannot pass over the public road without shuddering at the remembrance of what they then saw. For miles the road on both sides was lined by famishing people, who had crawled from their homes to beg of the passing traveller a mouthful of bread. Their emaciated forms and death-struck appearance presented a tale of suffering which rendered language and supplication unnecessary. The dead and dying Avere together, whilst the living, surrounded by these and fearing the future, were clamorous for assistance. The whole of the large Furrukhabad District suffered, and whole villages w^re completely deserted and depopulated.

The Ptev. Gopee Nauth Nundy, who has borne such noble testimony to the truth as it is in Jesus during the mutiny, has been in the service of the mission from its commencement. During this famine he visited the vihages and roads for the purpose of relieving the sufferings of the people, and collecting the children either abandoned by their parents or left orphans. He witnessed such scenes as, under other circumstances, seem almost incredible. Mothers would come to him wuth their little ones and offer them with tears, in lieu of a handful of flour, eating which they would die happy in the knowledge that their children w'ould be cared for. The author remembers hearing him say that, when he had gathered together a number of these starved children, he was really afraid ; for they were like famished wolves, never satisfied and constantly demanding food, which he dared not give in great quantities lest it should cause death. During such a time as this, as might be expected, both the government and private individuals exerted themselves to relieve the wants and sufferings of the poor people, by feeding some and employing others on public works. At almost all the large stations there are Hospitals, Tanks, Ghats, and Public Buildings, still in existence, serving as mementoes of the great famine year. Many of the civil officers and others had large ovens built and immense quantities of bread baked, day and night, to supply the wants and remove the distresses of the surrounding population.

The conduct of a portion of the native population, who had equal ability to benefit their starving countrymen, was in striking contrast to that of the European community ; for many of the large merchants demanded such exorbitant prices for wheat that the poor could not purchase it; and others, to increase the Aveight and enhance the profit, mixed lime and other deleterious substances with the flour, the eating of which produced almost instantaneous diarrhsea and death. Indeed, their conduct was so unfeeling and disgraceful, that, when known, permission was given by those in authority to the people to help themselves to that which was good. At Futtehpore, where our native brother, the Rev. Gopee Nauth Nundy, has for the past few years been a faithful and successful labourer, and from which he was compelled to flee for his life. Dr. C. Madden, then in the medical service of the East India Company, took charge of a number of these poor starving children, and opened an Orphan establishment, in the care and supervision of which he secured the services of Gopee Nauth and his wife, both of whom were active in teaching and training these children. At that time Gopee Nauth was not in the ministry, but had recently come from the Church of Scotland's Institute at Calcutta, on a visit to the Upper Provinces. Owing to the death of his wife. Dr. Madden was unable and unwilling to continue the labours he had commenced in behalf of the children collected during the famine ; and consequently, the recent establisbment of a rel'uge and school for the orphans was broken up, and arrangemerits were about being completed to send the children to Benares, when the news came that an American missionary was on his way up the river to form a new station; and as Captain Wheeler, who was stationed at Futtehgurh, had also collected a number of orphans, he was anxious to have some one more suitable than himself to assume the responsible work of their future training and education.

The missionary referred to was the Rev. H. R. Wilson, Jr., on his way to join the Lodiana Mission ; and being so strongly solicited by both of these gentlemen to relieve them of their charges, and with the promise of ample pecuniary means, Mr. Wilson, with the concurrence of his brethren, consented to remain at Futtehgurh, if not permanently, at any rate until another reinforcement could be sent out. Under such circumstances as these was commenced the station at Futtehgurh, and from that period to the time when the dark and disastrous cloud of the revolt broke upon it in its wild fury, it was prospered of the Lord and blessed abundantly. Futtehgurh was very much favoured in having for its founder such a man as Mr. Wilson, who was admirably fitted for the work committed to his charge, that of putting in motion and giving direction to the machinery necessary to the successful operation of an Orphan Asylum. The task was no ordinary one, but encompassed with great difficulties. The children were addicted to almost every vile practice, and unaccustomed to restraint of any kind. It, therefore, required much patient and persevering labour to bring them into proper working order. For this Mr. Wilson possessed peculiar qualifications, and the system started by him and followed by others, was crowned with more than ordinary success. Captain Wheeler, who collected the first orphans at Futtehgurh, also established and supported at his own expense Bazar Schools for the heathen. Before Mr. Wilson's arrival he was acting as a missionary, and for many years afterwards was a liberal supporter of the mission. He is a man of great simplicity of character, and seems to be actuated by a strong love for souls and a glowing zeal for the Saviour. On more than one occasion has he visited the Asylum, and addressed the pupils in his simple and effective manner, like a fiither speaking to his children. He is now Lieutenant-Colonel, and both before and since the mutiny has been censured for acting out his Christian principles. It may interest some of our readers to hear his noble vindication, which, in a letter, dated Barrackpore, April 15, 1857, he sent to the Adjutant-General of the Presidency Division. It is as follows : —

Sir — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum of yesterday's date, requesting me to afford the fullest information in my power relating to the subject-matter sf the letter dated Council Chamber, Fort William, the 13th of April, 1857, from Colonel Birch, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department, and addressed to Major-General llearsey, C. B., commanding the Presidency Division. In reply to this second communication, I would beg to express my regret that I did not explain myself so explicitly, or - afford so full an explanation, aa was expected in my first answer, as regards my addressing the sepoys and others on the subject of religion.

I would now, therefore, beg to state that it has been my invariable plan to act on the broad line which Scripture enforces : that is, to epeak without reserve to cvei-y person ; when I therefore address natives on this subject, whether individually or collectively, it has been no question with me as to whether the person or persons I addressed belong to this or that regiment, or whether he is a shopkeeper, merchant, or otherwise, but speak to all alike, as sinners in the sight of God ; and I have no doubt that I have often, in this way, indeed, I am quite certain, addressed sepoys of my own regiment, as also of other regiments at this and other stations where 1 have been quartered. I have told them plainly that they are all lost and ruined sinners both by nature and by practice, like myself, that we can do nothing to save ourselves in the way of justifying ourselves in the sight of God ; our hearts being sinful, all our works must consequently be sinful in his sight, and therefore there can be no salvation by works on which they are all resting and depending. The justice of God demands an infinite punishment for sin ; and there is but one way in which guilty man can stand just before God, who is infinite in holiness and purity, and that is by believing and embracing the sacrifice made for sin by Jesus Christ, the Son of God ; in this way, and only this, can the sinner become reconciled to an offended God, and this salvation is freely offered to Hindus, Mussahnans, and every denomination of men in the whole world.