A memoir of the Rev. Walter Gunn, late missionary in India, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of the United States

Preface

The following memoir was prepared to gratify the wishes of some personal friends of our deceased Missionary, and awaken a deeper interest in a cause which is engaging the attention of a large portion of the Lutheran Church in this country. The missionary career of Mr. Gunn was short; he labored only a few years in the work to which he had devoted himself, but he rendered important services in the cause, which ought to be remembered and may serve to stimulate others to follow his example.

These considerations induced the Author to gather some facts and incidents from the correspondence and journal of Mr. Gunn, and place them before the public in the form they are now presented.

iv PREFACE.

The chief object was to diffuse in these pages some information in regard to our foreign mission, which might prove useful to those who feel an interest in the subject. And if the example of our departed brother, together with the consideration presented at the close of this memoir, should induce some of its readers to take a livelier interest and engage with more zeal and earnestness in the cause of foreign missions, the Author will feel himself amply compensated for the trouble of preparing the memorial of the character and services of a beloved missionary.

Schoharie, N. Y., Feb. 1852.

Chapter I

Mr. Gunn's birth — Hopeful conversion — Devotes himself to the cause of Foreign Missions — Female Associations of Hartwick Synod 7

CHAPTER JI.

Preparatory and Theological Education — Licensure — Appointment as Foreign Missionary — Marriage — Ordination and departure for India 13

Chapter III

Arrival at Guntoor — Description of the city — Advantages connected with it as a Missionary station — Labors of Rev. Mr. Heyer — Establishment of the Mission by the Foreign Missionary Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in U. S. — Successful labors of the Missionaries — Mr. Stokes, the friend and patron of the Mission — Difficulties connected with Missionary labors among the heathen 22

Chapter IV

Study of the Telugu language — Destruction of the Mission House, by a storm — Another building erected, and removal of the Missionaries to- their new residence — Description of Missionary build-

Yl

CONTEXTS.

ings — Return of Rev. Mr. Heyer to America. — Baptism of converts — Zeal and devotedness of native Christians — Schools — Encouragement in the work 29

Chapter V

Continues his labors under encouraging circumstances — Addition of native converts to the Church — = Increase of Schools — Stephen, a native teacher, and his wife Rebecca— Rev. Mr. Heyer, returns from America, and establishes a Missionary station at Gurzal — Decline of Mr. Gumrs health — Visits Madras for the recovery of his health — Returns to Guntoor, and resumes his labors — Unable to perform active duties — Meetings of converts in his room for devotional exercises 37

Chapter VII

Reasons why the Lutheran Church should go forward in the work of Foreign Missions 63

* APPENDIX.

Missionary Journal of Rev. Walter Gunn, late Missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the United States, in India : 85

MEMOIR

OF THE

REV. WALTER GUNN.

Chapter I

Mr. Gunn's birth — Hopeful conversion — Devotes himself to the cause of Foreign Missions — Female Association of Hartwick Synod.

The foreign missionary enterprise has awakened the attention of Christians in our country, and throughout the world. It is a noble enterprise, in which the sympathies, prayers and efforts of people of all nations are united, to carry forward the glorious designs, with which the Lord Jesus Christ established his spiritual kingdom on earth. All who regard the glory of God, and the happiness of their fellow creatures, must feel an interest in the salvation of the world. 1

The gospel is the only effectual means which infinite wisdom has provided to redeem and save lost man. This gospel must be preached to every creature : it must be given to all the world. In this work, all Christians should be willing to engage, and for this they should be ready to labor and make sacrifices. And it is one of the pleasing signs of the times, that the disciples of Christ are beginning to awake and realize their obligations in view of the last command of their Master, and the great work he has given them to do. This feeling of interest in the dissemination of the gospel, and the salvation of the world, is spreading among Christians of all evangelical denominations, and there is reason to hope, that the time is not far distant, when it will be universal throughout the church, and bring all who have named the name of Christ, to consecrate themselves to his service and glory, in the missionary enterprise.

The Rev. Walter Gunn, whose death has been recently announced, was the first missionary from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, who has fallen in the foreign field; it is therefore desirable that some of the particulars connected with his life and missionary career should be preserved, for the information and encouragement of those who may succeed him in the great work to which he was devoted. He was born in Carlisle, Schoharie county, New York, June 27, 1815. In the year 1837, he was aw r akened at a religious meeting, held in his native place, and soon after connected himself with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schoharie, of which the writer of this memoir was then pastor. From the time of his conversion, his mind appeared to be particularly directed to the heathen, He felt a strong desire that he might be enabled to preach to them the gospel, and seemed to have an impression on his mind, that the Lord had called him to this work. He devoted himself to it in the following remarkable manner. A few weeks after he had found a hope in Christ, he went into a retired spot to pray, and there alone, in the presence of God, his mind was so exercised with a love for perishing souls, that he made a solemn promise if the Lord would open the way, he would go out and preach the gospel to the heathen. He was poor, without any means of procuring an education to fit him for the work to which he had now devoted himself. But the Lord opened the way, and that also in a manner very remarkable. After he had given himself up to the work of foreign missions, in the manner already stated, he mentioned the circumstance to his pastor. To him, it appeared strange, that a young man, just awakened from a sinful life, in which, perhaps, he had never thought of the heathen and their spiritual condition, should immediately, upon his conversion, be exercised with such a deep feeling in regard to their salvation; and that too, at a time when there was little interest felt in regard to it, in the church to which he had united. There were some, it is true, in the Lutheran Church, at that time, who felt the importance of foreign missions, and their duty to engage in the work ; still the subject had not yet been agitated, as it had been in other denominations; and for a young convert who had just come into the church where nothing had been done to excite his mind on this cause, for him to come to such a determination, seemed a clear indication of Providence, that the Lord was about awakening a new spirit in the Lutheran Church, on the subject of foreign missions.

The determination of Mr. Gunn was mentioned by his pastor, to several members of the Hartwick Synod, and at the meeting of that body at Cobleskill, in the year 1837, it so happened, or rather it was so directed in the providence of God, that several wives of clergymen belonging to the synod, accompanied their husbands to the meeting. During the session of the synod, Mrs. Schafer, the wife of Col. Schafer, of Cobleskill, invited the ministers' wives to spend an afternoon at her house. Here they met without any preconcerted arrangement, and had a season of prayer, while their husbands were engaged in the deliberations of the synod. The ladies present at this meeting, were Mrs. Crownce, Mrs. Senderling, Mrs. Lintner, and Mrs. Schafer, After prayer, and

12 MEB10IR OF THE REV. WALTER GOTO.

while their hearts were still warm under the influence of the spirit of devotion, which had pervaded the circle, it was proposed by one of their number, to educate Mr. Gunn for a foreign missionary. The proposition met with a unanimous and cordial acceptance. They resolved to commence the work immediately. Each pledged herself for a definite sum to begin with. And they further agreed that upon their return from the synod, they would endeavor to interest the minds of the ladies in their respective congregations in the object, and solicit their aid. This gave rise to the " Female Association of Hartwick Synod for the education of Foreign Missionaries." This meeting was the germ of the foreign missionary spirit, which went forth through the Hartwick Synod to other synods, and subsequently led to the establishment of our foreign mission.

MEMOIR OF THE EEV. WALTER GUNN. 13

Chapter II

Preparatory and theological education — Licensure — Appointment as foreign missionary — Marriage — Ordination and departure for India.

Mr. Gunn, immediately after the meeting at Cobleskill, entered upon a regular course of education, with a view of qualifying himself for the foreign missionary field. After passing through a preparatory course in Schoharie Academy and Union College, where he was graduated in 1840, he spent two years in the Theological Seminary, at Gettysburgh, Pa. He was supported through the whole course of his studies by the association who had undertaken to educate him, and after having finished his education, and entered on his labors in India, he often referred in his letters and communications, with feelings of gratitude to God, to this association, who had prepared him for his work. On the 6th of September, 1842, he was licensed as a candidate for the ministry, by the Hartwick Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the state of New York. After he w T as licensed, he labored a short time, by appointment of synod, as a missionary in the domestic field, with instructions to preach also on the subject of foreign missions, and endeavor to awaken an interest in the cause among the churches whom he visited. To show how his mind was engrossed with the subject of foreign missions at that time, we will here give a short extract from his journal, published in connection with the proceedings of synod, the following year : " From the indications manifested in our churches, it must be very evident to the discerning, that it is high time to engage actively in the foreign missionary enterprise. It is true, there are some who are ever ready to utter the hackneyed expression. 6 We have heathen enough at home — we have no men to spare/ &c, &c, but there are many others who have taken a view of the wretchedness and misery of the guilty and degraded heathen, and their hearts have been touched with compassion : they have read the last command of Christ to his disciples, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, and they feel that a portion of the great work of disseminating the gospel belongs to them.

They look at the blessedness of their own condition, living as they do, within the sound of the church-going bell, in the mids^ of the ministers of reconciliation, possessed of the hopes and joy which the religion of Jesus Christ inspires, and they can not, they will not, remain indifferent, while the calls for help from the heathen world are so loud and impressive. They will not make the wants of the church at home, an excuse for withholding their aid in spreading the gospel through heathen lands." While attending to his missionary duties under the appointment of synod, he labored for some time in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Waterloo, and assisted its pastor, Rev. Mr. Moyer, in gathering a rich harvest of souls. In the same year, he was also present during an extensive revival of religion in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schoharie. He rendered very important assistance to the pastor in the progress of the work, and was doubtless instrumental in the conversion of some who have united with the church, and still speak of him and his labors on that occasion, with gratitude and affection.

He received his appointment as foreign missionary to India, from the Foreign Missionary Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, on the 25th of May, 1843. Shortly after this, he was married to Miss Lorena Pultz, of Churchtown, Columbia county, N. Y., a lady possessing eminent qualifications for the work of missions, to which she had also devoted herself in early life, and whose labors in the cause, in connexion with those of her husband, have been greatly blessed. She is now a bereaved widow, with two children, left among the heathen, where she is still successfully engaged in the work to which she seems to be wholly consecrated. The Lutheran Church in Ihis country owes her a duty which we trust will always be deemed sacred, and that she and her children will always have that sympathy and affectionate regard to which they are entitled.

When Mr. Gunn received his appointment from the Foreign Missionary Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in the United States, he was directed by the society to spend some time before his departure, in visiting our churches in this country, and preaching on the subject of foreign missions, to promote e missionary spirit, and make collections for the society. This service he performed with diligence and faithfulness, and succeeded in awakening more general attention to the subject among our churches.

He was ordained by the Hartwick Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, New York, as a missionary to the heathen, in the Lutheran Church at Johnstown, N. Y., on the 5th of September, 1843. The exercises on that occasion were peculiarly interesting, as it was the first ordination of a foreign missionary ever performed in the Lutheran Church of the United States. The ordination sermon was preached by Rev. J. Z. Senderling,

President of Synod, from Isa. xlv, 8 : Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together : I the Lord have created it. After his ordination, Mr. Gunn made an address to the synod, in which he took an affectionate leave from a body with which he had been so agreeably connected, and earnestly commended to the brethren the interests of a cause claiming the sympathies, prayers and labors of all who love God, and their fellow creatures.

On the 13th of the same month he delivered a farewell address to the Lutheran Church of Schoharie, of which he was a member. A sermon was preached by Rev. P. Snyder. The pastor of the church, the writer of this sketch, addressed the missionary and his companion on their duties and sacrifices in the great work which they had undertaken, and commended them to God and his grace, in their noble and perilous enterprise. The farewell address of Mr. Gunn left an impression on the minds of the congregation, which will never be effaced. With many tears and affectionate wishes, the members of the church and other Christian friends drew near to the missionaries to give them the parting hand; and it seemed as if they could not separate, so strong were the ties that bound them together; and yet the love of Christ was stronger in the hearts of his servants, who willingly severed those ties that they might carry the gospel to the heathen. In a letter to the pastor, from on board the ship which was conveying him to his destined field of labor, the missionary speaks of his affection for this people with whom he was so closely connected, and passed through many solemn and affecting scenes. He says : " It is now a year since I was with you in your precious revival. My heart swelled with emotions of gratitude as I saw many immortal souls gathered into the kingdom of God, and the remembrance of those scenes is still sweet and pleasant to my soul. But the distance of many thousand miles now separates us; and those dear people with whom I once was associated, and spent 2 so many delightful hours of Christina intercourse, I expect to see no more in the flesh. But though I shall be denied this privilege, I shall often think of them, and pray for their spiritual prosperity, and besides I shall look forward to the time when we shall be released from the trials and conflicts and temptations of the world, and meet again in Heaven." The revival of which he speaks in the above extract, occurred in the year 1843. He was present at a communion season in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schoharie, when sixty converts were added to the church. This was on Sabbath, the 7th of May, 1843. In the evening of that day, Mr. Gunn preached, and made a very impressive address to the converts, who had been received into the church.

In October, 1843, he received his instructions from the Executive Committee of our Foreign Missionary Society, which met in the city of Philadelphia, for that purpose. The corresponding secretary, Rev. Doctor Morris, delivered the instructions, and Rev. Doctor Kurtz, chairman of the committee, gave the missionary a farewell charge. In the following month (November, 1843,) he embarked with Mrs. Gunn, and several missionaries of the Baptist church, in a ship at Boston, for India. In a communication which the writer received from him a few days before his departure, he says : "I have preached my last sermon in my native land. A week from this day, we expect to sail in the ship Charles, from Boston, to Calcutta. We feel cheerful in view of the prospect before us, and trust that the Lord will sustain us in that hour, when we shall bid adieu to the last of our friends in our native land. The promises of God are exceedingly precious to us, and we find near approaches to the Saviour in prayer."

22 MEMOIR OF THE RET. WALTER GUNN.

Chapter III

Arrival at Guntoor — Description of the place — Advantages connected with it as a missionary station — Labors of Rev. Mr. Heyer — Establishment of the mission by the Foreign Missionary Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, U. S. Successful labors of the missionaries — Mr. Stokes, the friend and patron of the mission — Difficulties connected with missionary labors among the heathen.

Mr. and Mrs. Gunn arrived at Guntoor on the 18th of June, 1844, seven months after they had left their native land, and immediately entered on the duties of their mission, in connection with Rev. Mr. Heyer, who had been previously sent out by the synod of Pennsylvania, and selected this place as most favorable for the establishment of our mission. Guntoor is a city in the Telugu country, situated between fifteen and sixteen degrees north latitude, and seventy-nine and eighty degrees east longitude from Greenwich. It lies near the sea, about sixty miles west from the coast of Coromandel. It is two hundred and fifty miles north of Madras, and contains about twenty thousand inhabitants, who are heathen, with the exception of a few English residents, and native Christians. It is located in the midst of a dense population, surrounded by towns and villages, which might all be occupied as missionary stations. Here the Rev. Mr. Heyer, our first missionary from the Lutheran Church in this country, commenced operations. The selection was judicious. A more important and interesting field could not have been chosen. No place could have been selected in India, presenting stronger inducements for missionary labor, and offering greater advantages for the prosecution of the work. Mr. Gunn was cordially received by Mr. Heyer. He had labored here for nearly two years, and by his activity and zeal, produced a very favorable impression, when he was joined by Mr. and Mrs. Gunn. The mission was now established by the Foreign Missionary Society of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United States, and the missionaries 2* labored so harmoniously together, that the work begun by Mr. Heyer, was successfully carried on by their united energies and faithful cooperation.

In a letter received by the writer from Mr. Gunn, soon after his arrival in India, he says : " Here I am now in Guntoor, with my beloved wife, engaged in our labors among the heathen. Our principal work is the study of the Telugu language. At family worship each day, we have eight or ten persons in attendance, some of whom can understand English, and to these I have the privilege of unfolding the gospel of Christ. Mrs. Gurm has a small class whom she is teaching the elements of the English language. One is a man forty years old, two are females, who appear to be interested in the truth. A few nights since, after we had retired, w r e heard a low voice in an adjoining apartment : it was the voice of prayer from one of those females. 0, my dear brother, you cannot imagine how cheering these tokens of the Divine favor are to our souls in this land of darkness." In

MEMOIR OT THE REV. WALTER GUNN. 25

a communication received from him several months subsequently, he states: " Our schools are now in quite a flourishing condition, and I trust that much good may result from them. The care of the boys is divided between me and Mr. Heyer. The girls' school is under the superintendence of Mrs. Gunn, and numbers thirty-two. Considering the opposition of the natives to the education of females, this is quite encouraging."

In several letters and communications received from him about this time, he speaks of some of the discouragements, under which they had to labor in the commencement of their operations. A wide field was open before them, but it was a field abounding with so many obstacles, so much prejudice against Christianity, and opposition to the truth, that at times they were almost ready to despair ; but then again they were encouraged by their faith in the promises of the gospel, and the kindness and support of the few Christian friends who resided in the place. Of these friends, Mr. Stokes deserves to be particularly mentioned. And his name should ever be held in grateful remembrance by the Lutheran Church in America, for the liberal and efficient support he has rendered to our mission from its commencement to the present time. He has been the personal and devoted friend of our missionaries, ministering to their wants, counseling them in their difficulties, and encouraging them in their work, by his uniform kindness and faithful and unwavering friendship. He is an officer under the British Government in India, and exerts an influence in promoting the religious welfare of the people, far more honorable to him, than any political distinction to which he could be elevated. He has repeatedly advanced large sums of money for the support of our mission, and has given us a noble expression of his confidence in our missionaries, and especially, of his regard for Mr. Gunn, in an offer which he made not long since to our Executive Committee, of eight hundred rupees, if we would send out another missionary like Mr. Gunn. Speaking of this worthy benefactor of our infant mission in one of his letters, Mr. Gunn says : " He is the collector of this district, recedes a large salary from the government, and his greatest delight is to spread the gospel among the heathen. He is a man of liberal education, and one of the most devoted and exemplary- Christians I ever met with. He aids most liberally in the support of our schools, contributes regularly every month, besides giving large donations towards our buildings and other conveniences connected with our establishment"

No one who has never experienced the trials and perplexities of our missionaries among the heathen, can form any idea of the difficulties connected with their work. They labor for a people who are incapable of appreciating their services, and generally show but little regard for the love and sacrifices of the missionaries who are laboring and suffering among them. Their hearts are so depraved, so hardened in sin, that it is almost impossible to produce any good impression upon them, and we have instances of faithful and devoted missionaries, who have toiled all their lives, and yet saw but little fruit of their labor. Mr. Gunn describes this state of the heathen, so trying to the faith of the missionaries, in the following language : " The indifference of the ungrateful people among whom we are wearing out the energies of our bodies and souls, often makes our hearts bleed. We remember, however, that it was for just such that Jesus came to suffer, and that it is only the grace of God which makes us to differ from them. In the midst of our cares and anxieties, we often find delight in looking forward to our eternal home. The rest that remaineth for the people of God, is just before us. A few more months and years, our trials will be over, and the glories of heaven burst on our vision; and then, if we should be so happy as to meet around the throne of God, some heathen, saved through our instrumentality, our joy will be full"

MEMOIR OF THE EEV. WALTER GUNN. 29

Chapter IV

Study of the Telugu language — Destruction of the mission house, by a storm — Another building erected, and removal of the missionaries to their new residence — Description of missionary buildings — Return of Rev. Mr. Heyer to this country — Baptism of converts — Zeal and devotedness of native Christians — Schools — Encouragements in the work.

The chief business of the missionaries, on their arrival at the station, was to acquire the language of the people among whom they were to labor. While Mr. Gunn was thus employed, he preached to the English residents, and also to the natives through an interpreter. This gave him much satisfaction, and afforded him some opportunity for usefulness to those around him. He had a great anxiety to become acquainted with the language, and thus be enabled to render himself more directly and extensively useful to the natives, who could only be addressed in their own language. His feelings and anxieties on this subject are thus expressed in one of his communications : " 0, my brother, how I long to speak to the heathen in their own language. I can now express myself with considerable ease on common topics, in short sentences, in the Telugu language; but have to resort to an interpreter when I wish to make myself understood in a public and continuous discourse. I am thankful to my heavenly father that I am now able, to a certain extent, to make known the great truths of the gospel to those who are willing to hear, and trust that with the Divine assistance, I shall be permitted in a few months to preach more effectually to the heathen in their own tongue."

In October, 1846, the mission house was nearly destroyed by a storm. Mr. Gunn and his family were suddenly driven from the falling ruins in the night, and found shelter in. a neighboring dwelling. The schools which had been held in the house that was destroyed, were scattered, and it was with difficulty that a remnant were collected, and instructed in a private dwelling, where also the exercises of public worship were performed. This was a serious disaster for the mission. It did not, however, dishearten our missionaries. Through the kindness of friends, who interested themselves in their behalf, they were provided with a comfortable dwelling, until another building could be erected. Mr. Gunn immediately commenced the work of repairing the injury which the establishment had suffered, in consequence of the late providential visitation. Only the upper part of the mission house had fallen, the lower part still remained, and was fitted up for a chapel and school room. This work was accomplished in a short time, and the schools in the week, and worship on the sabbath, proceeded as usual, without] materially changing the condition of the mission. About the same time, an additional building was erected as a dwelling house for the missionary and his family, which is thus described by Mr. Gunn, in a report to the Executive Committee of our Foreign Missionary Society, soon after he had entered his new residence : " We have a neat and comfortable dwelling house, into which we removed on the 20th of July, 1847. The main building, which is of brick, is composed of two rooms, one twenty-five feet by sixteen, and the other twenty by sixteen. On the outside is a verandah, nine feet wide, which runs all round, and enclosed on three sides, so that several small rooms are in the verandah part. The chapel and school room is forty feet long, and fourteen feet wide. The missionary buildings are pleasantly situated, and afford all the necessary conveniences for the family and teachers connected with the mission."

In this year, (1847) Mr. Gunn was left alone with his wife, to superintend the mission. Mr. Heyer returned to this country to awaken, if possible, a greater interest among our churches, for the mission. In this effort, he was very successful, and much of the increased interest manifested by many of our churches in the cause is doubtless to be attributed to his faithful and efficient labors. He visited most of our churches in Pennsylvania and New York, and wherever he presented the cause, he left a favorable impression. Mr. Gunn being left alone at Guntoor, the work on his hands consequently became greater, and the difficulties increased, yet under all these difficulties, he labored in faith and with perseverance, and he had the satisfaction of seeing the work of the Lord prospering in his hands The work, although slow, gradually proceeded. The Lord blessed the seed sown by his servants, and made it fruitful. A few precious souls were hopefully rescued from the guilt and miseries of heathenism, and brought into the fold of Christ.