Robert
Caldwell was born near Belfast, Ireland on may 7, 1814. He was born in a
poor family. His family moved over to Glasgow, Scotland when he was
young. He began working in Glasgow when he was nine in order to
supplement the family income. He educated himself by reading
voraciously. Then he went to Dublin where he underwent training as an
artist. He accepted Christ when he was sixteen. He moved over to Glasgow
when he was nineteen. In 1834, he joined the congregational Church and
decided to go as a missionary to India. He applied to the London
Missionary Society (LMS) which accepted him a missionary. On the advice
of the LMS, he entered the Glasgow University where he had Daniel
Sanford as his tutor, who was a pioneer of comparative philology.
Caldwell studied Latin, Greek and Theology.
Caldwell excelled in his studies, and soon after completion of the
University education, he was ordained in the Congregational Church. Then
the LMS appointed him as a missionary and sent him to serve in Madras
on January 8, 1838. he engaged himself in learning both Tamil and
Telugu. He concentrated on spoken Tamil as he desired to work among
ordinary people. He read a lot including those on Hinduism. He had a
good rapport with missionaries of other missionary societies such as
John Anderson of the Scottish Society. He interacted with other
missionaries mainly to widen his knowledge. Indeed a scholar was born.
He worked as a LMS missionary for three years. Though he was based
in Madras (now known as Chennai) he went on mission tours to Telugu
speaking areas too.
CALDWELL JOINS SPG
Caldwell while
working in Madras as a LMS missionary, began to feel that the Anglican
Church was more nearer to the teachings of the New Testament and so got
attracted to it. He, after much thinking and praying, decided to join
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG). The Madras District
Committee (MDC) of the SPG accepted him as a missionary and postedhim
to Idaiyangudi. The SPG had not appointed any new missionary in
Tinnevelly (Tirunelveli) for the last couple of years. There were two
other missionaries in Tirunelveli and they were India - born Europeans.
As the SPG wished him to be a full-fledged SPG missionary, his
connection with LMS ceased from June 30, 1841. He proceeded to
Ootacamund to meet Bishop G.J.T. Spencer, with whom he spent a month or
s, during which time he was made aware of the tenets of the church of
England as well as the responsibilities of a missionary. On September
19, 1841 he was ordained by Bishop Spencer at St. Stephen's Church,
Ootacamund. Then he started for Tirunelveli, and most of his journey was
on foot. He made much use of this journey to study Hindu beliefs,
customs, worship and the like. He visited a couple of famous Hindu
temples too. At Playamkottai he met the CMS Missionary Petit and at
Nazareth, the SPG missionary A.F. Cammerer.
AT IDAIYANGUDI
From
Nazareth Caldwell went to Mudalur and then Idaiyangudi, which was ten
miles from Mudalur. Walking on the sandy tracks was an experience by
itself to him. He conducted the first divine worship at Idaiyangudi on
Sunday December 11, 1841.
Caldwell
found Christians scatteredin about twenty villages around Idaiyangudi.
He found the local people to be hard working, unlettered and poor. Most
of them were either Palmyra climbers or agricultural laboureres.
Caldwell
settled down in Idaiyangudi. He wished to convert the 'theri' into a
beautiful place of living. He found the village to be in a disorderly
fashion. There were no streets. The houses had no ventilation and they
were not in any order. He wished to bring changes there and make
Idaiyangudi a model village. He realised that unless the village
belonged to the mission, no change could be brought in. In 1842, he
began to take steps to buy the lands but he had to face a lot of
problems. He found it to be a difficult job, yet he did not wish to
abandon his dream. He had to pay quite sum of money to acquire ownership
of the lands.
Though
people did not initially approve of his plans of an orderly village, he
by himself drew up the plans as to where the Church building had to be,
the location of houses, streets, cross-roads, wells etc. He planted
trees in rows - infact, he continued planting tress till the end of his
life. We can say that he was very much ecologically concerned.
CALDWELL'S FAMILY
Caldwell
married Eliza, a daughter of the senior most LMS missionary at
Nagercoil, Charles Mault. The marriage took place at Nagercoil on March
20, 1844. Caldwell spoke spoke very highly of his wife. She was a great
source of strength and encouragement . She concentrated on woman's work.
Their oldest was Robert Caldwell who in 1860 was helped to Caldwell in
his educational and other missionary activities.Their other children
were Isabella (1847), Martha Louisa (1849), William (1852), Mary (1854),
Addington (1857) and Arthur (1862). Isabella and Louisa were of much
help in educational ministry. Isabella married J.L. Wyatt, a SPG
missionary at Idaiyangudi on February 19, 1868. Both of them were a
great source of strength in Caldwell's ministry throughout his life.
Caldwell's second daughter Louisa was married to an Army Engineer by
name F.S. Shepherd on February 9, 1870 at Idaiyangudi. She gave birth to
twin sons, who died the same day, and she died the following day, i.e.
October 8, 1872. This happened at Idaiyangudi, and it was a great blow
to Caldwell.
CALDWELL THE EVANGELIST
Caldwell
was basically an evangelist. He had a burning desire to propagate the
Christian faith and to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth. He
made frequent and regular visits to the villages around Idaiyangudi and
in the area assigned to him. As he was adept in Tamil language, he was
able to communicate well to the ordinary people. He made it a point to
preach the Gospel to the non-Christians in the villages he visited. He
stayed in Idaiyangudi for two or three days in a week. By 1844 he was
superintending twenty-one congregations and nine schools. There were
about two thousand enquirers by that time. They were organized into a
proper catechumenate.
Caldwell
was in close contact with the CMS missionary, JohnThomas of
Meignanapuram. He had described him as a man of many gifts and
accomplishments. He consulted him often on many matters, shared with him
the problems he faced especially in his missionary endeavors and asked
for his advice. He had John Thomas as a model in his evangelism.
Having realized the important role the catechists played in evangelism,
he started a 'Preparandi' school for the catechists in 1842. He
personally gave them training. He met the catechists at Idaiyangudi on
every Wednesday, during which time he received their reports, gave a
model sermon, gave them a passage from the Bible for preparing a sermon
and listened to their sermon. To improve their caliber further, he
conducted a yearly test for the Catechists. This was to test their grasp
of the Bible as well as the doctrines of the Church. He awarded prizes
to the catechists, which was called Monckton prize named after the
donor. Those who received it were known as 'Monckton catechists' who
were respected more and treated honorably.
Caldwell felt the need for Indian clergy as no new mission workers were
forthcoming from England. One of the early Indian helpers was Rev. A.
Masillamani, who was ordained as a deacon in 1856. He was the second
Indian to be ordained in the Tirunelveli SPG area. The third one was G.
Gnanamuthu who was ordained as a deacon in 1857. D. Samuel was ordained
in 1862. The CMS missionaries in the Tirunelveli area, Edward Sargent,
Tucker and John Thomas also were in line with the thinking of Caldwell.
They proposed to the Bishop of Madras that they be permitted to train
Indians and recommended them for ordination. As a result, an ordination
sevice took place at Palayamkottai on January 31, 1869 for such Indians
trained by the above mentioned missionaries. Out of the twenty-one
persons ordained as deacons, six were trained by Caldwell. They were G.
Peter (Idaiyangudi), S. Christian (Taruvai), G. Yesudian (Pettaikulam),
S. Swamiyadian (Pudur), S. Joseph (Jacobpuram) and P. Swamiyadian
(Aanaikudi).
Caldwell encouraged the locals to take up on them the resposibility to
share the gospel with their neighbours and to those in the unreached
areas in Tirunelveli. In 1860 or so the Idaiyangudi Native Association
for the propagation of the Gospel was started. It was known in short as
"Sangam". It had its own annual meetings. This respect of
self-propagation was in the director of Devolution. During 1875-76 an
intensive evangelistic campaign involving the locals was conducted.
CALDWELL AND EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY
Caldwell knew very well the
importance of imparting knowledge. The earlier missionaries who worked
in Tirunelveli, especially the SPCK missionaries, had started elementary
schools in almost all the villages where they had formed Christian
congregations. When Caldwell arrived in Idaiyangudi in 1841, he found
the schools in a pitiable state. They were dwindling and the attendance
was very poor. So, he had to coax the children to come to school. As the
students were from poorer background, he gave one paise per day per
child for attending the classes. Very soon the parents of the pupils,
especially the Christians came to realize the value of education and so
willingly sent their wards to the schools. These elementary schools
taught the pupils how to read, write and do the sums (arithmetic). The
intention of the mission in general was to enable the convents to read
for themselves the Bible.
Caldwell
started a school for girls also, but his efforts were ridiculed by a
sub magistrate, who visited the village. Eliza Caldwell got into girls'
education from the time she landed in Idaiyangudi (1844). She started a
Girls' Boarding School in May 1844. Eight joined in the beginning, but
within a few years its strength rose to more than one hundred. She used
education as a tool to change the attitude of girls about themselves.
She wanted them to grew in grace and maturity, and to bring change in
their husbands and fathers. Eliza Caldwell started Lace-making classes
for the girls of the villages. It was intended to make them stand on
their own legs by earning through the lace-making. Eliza arranged for
the sale of the finished products both within India and outside,
especially in England.
Caldwell's daughters too got involved in girl's education. They took
steps to collect money from their friends in England for the support of
the girls in the Boarding schools. Though Caldwell did not throw cold
water on their efforts, he did not wish them to continue that
fund-raising since he did not wish the young church to become dependent
on the Mission. He felt that the parents should come forward to meet the
cost, at least to an extent, of educating their children.
When
Eliza Caldwell moved to Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) as Biscopina (wife of a
bishop), she started Day Girls' schools for high caste Hindu girls. In
1884, there were twenty-three girls in the Day school at Thoothukudi
Melur and twenty-four at Thoothukudi Keelur. Out of these forty-seven,
twenty five were married. Eliza Caldwell was concerned about the women
who were not able to get the chance to attend Such Day Schools, and so
appointed two Bible women to meet such women in their own places of
stay. So this ministry came to be known as "Zenana" ministry.
During the second half of the Nineteenth century, most of the missions
in India began to rethink their policy towards educational ministry. SPG
too faced such a question. Some schools in the Tirunelveli area were
either closed down or merged with nearby ones or lowered down as elementary schools. Yet there were a few SPG
missionaries who supported the idea of starting higher educational
institutions. The Sawyerpuram institution (known earlier as Sawyerpuram
Seminary) was raised into a college in 1880 and Rev. T. Adamson became
its first principal. This move was not well received by some
missionaries themselves, notable of whom was Arthur Margoschis. There
were difference of opinion between J.A. Sharrock the SPG missionary who
succeeded T. Adamson as principal of Sawyerpuram institution and A.
Margoschis. This affected their missionary activities too. The Madras
District committee (M.D.C.) suggested the shifting of the Sawyerpuram
institution from Sawyerpuram, a village to Tuticorin, a town. after
consulting Bishop Caldwell, the MDC shifted it to Thoothukudi and named
it as "Caldwell College". This happened about the beginning of 1883 or
the end of 1882 and very soon at the suggestion of the Metropolitan
Bishop E.R. Johnson, Caldwell's residence changed from Idaiyangudi to
Thoothukudi.
CALDWELL AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO TAMIL LANGUAGE
Caldwell
understood the necessity to learn and master the local language if he
had to be an effective missionary. This was a legacy of Pietism. He very
soon came to be recognized for his mastery of Tamil language. So when
the Bible society felt the need to revise the Tamil Bible, Caldwell was
requested to serve in the revision committee, for which Henry Bower was
the convener. This Revision Committee met from April 1858 to April 1869
at regular intervals. Caldwell took part in all its meeting and his
contribution in the Bible Translation was much appreciated. This new
translation known as 'Bower Version' came out in 1872.
The Anglican Church in Tirunelveli felt the need to get the
Book of Common Prayer retranslated and so a committee was formed. Bishop
Spencer (Bishop of Madras) decided that Caldwell should be in that
committee. This committee began its work in 1842 and completed the
revision in 1844. This revised edition began to be used in the Tamil
congregations from January 1, 1845. The English hymns found in the Tamil
Hymnal were translated by Caldwell.
Tamil scholars and Tamil people consider him as a legend. They
remember him for his great works of scholarship, particularly the book
titled 'A comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South Indian Family of languages',
the first edition of which was published in 1856, and a second edition,
revised and enlarged in 1873. This still remains a standard authority.
His work proved invaluable in the revival of Tamil literature and
culture after 1940. The second World Tamil Conference held in Chennai
acknowledged his contribution to Tamil and the then Tamilnadu Government
honoured him by erecting his statue on the Beach Road, Marina, Chennai.
In 1866 Glasgow University honoured him by conferring a Honorary LLD
degree on him in recognition of his monumental work.
Caldwell's two other major works of Scholarship are : 'A Plitical and General History of the district of Tirunelveli from the earliest time to AD 1881' and 'A
Record of the Early history of the Tirunelveli Mission of the Society
for the Promotion of Christian knowledge and the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel'. Both these books came out in 1881.
In 1849 he got a book titled 'Nadars of Tirunelveli'
published in England but it created opposition and much controversy.
He tried his level best to explain the purpose of it, yet he faced
problems. It was later withdrawn (may be in 1881.
CALDWELL AND THE HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, IDAIYANGUDI
Caldwell is much remembered also for the monumental construction of a
vast cathedral-like Church at Idaiyangudi. The Church building, which
was raised earlier got much damaged in 1845 in a cyclone. He planned to
rebuild it but on a much larger scale. The foundation was laid in the
early days of October 1848. He thought of raising the new building
within three of four years. But due to various reasons it took
thirty-two years for completion. D.A. Christudoss in his book 'Bishop Caldwell'
(Tamil 1980) gives a graphic description of the newly built church,
which was of the Gothic style. It was dedicated on July 6, 1880 as the 'Holy Trinity Church'. His and his wife's mortal remains were buried inside that church building.
Caldwell built St. Peter;s Church, Kodaikanal, which served as a private chapel for his retirement home.
CALDWELL AS BISHOP
The Tinnevelly (Tirunelveli) mission area was growing and it
was felt as early as 1861 that a suffragan bishop should be appointed
for Tirunelveli. It was suggested to appoint an Indian but there were
too many opinions, for and against. So it was shelved for that time.
Bishop Gell of Madras suggested in 1873 to raise Edward Sargent (CMS)
and Caldwell (SPG) as suffragan bishops. Caldwell was eminent for
learning and held in high honour both in Eangland and India. On March
11, 1877 Metropolitan Bishop Johnson consecrated in Calcutta, Caldwell
and Sargent as assistant bishops of Tirunelveli.
Though Caldwell was getting old he visited the
congregations under his care as bishop quite regularly. There were other
difficulties too. Some of hisbrother missionaries considered him as one
among the missionaries, and not as a Bishop, Caldwell did not seem to
mind it. The death of Bishop of Bishop E. Sargent in 1887 affected him
too.
Bishop Johnson persuaded him to leave Idaiyangudi in
about 1881 in order to take charge of a theological school at
Thoothukudi. Many considered it as a mistake. Age was telling upon him.
In January 1891, he was persuaded to resign, and he retired to the hill
station of Kodaikanal where he died on August 28, 1891 at the of
seventy-seven. His body, as per his wish, was taken to Idaiyangudi and
buried there.
The following lines are inscribed on his grave-stone.
Scared to the memory of
The Right Reverend Robert Caldwell D.D., L.L.D.
Fellow of the University Madras
Who for 53 years devoted his eminent talents to the
furtherance of the Gospel and the building up of Christ's Church among
the Tamil people in Tinnevelly, the last 14 of those years
as Assistant Bishop to the Bishop of Madras.
Excelling as a Scholar and Philologist,
intimately acquainted with the Tamil people, their history
language and customs, a ready and elegant writer,
he attained a wide reputation, bringing honour thereby to the
Missionary's calling and strengthening the cause of
Missionaries in the church at home.
CONCLUSION
Caldwell can very well be said to be a multi-faceted missionary. He had
faced good times and bad times in his long period - fifty three years
of ministry in India. He underwent serious illness, yet we see him
emerging as a true servant of God and a man of faith. During one of his
visits to England, while doing deputation work for SPG he extended a
call for serving as missionaries in India, and the one young man who
responded to that call was Arthur Margoschis, who too is remembered very
gratefully for his ministry in the Tirunelveli SPG area. He selected
some bright students from his elementary schools and sent them to
Sawyerpuram for higher studies. Some of those students became pastors
later. He encouraged Indian leadership. Yes, Caldwell is still legend
among the Tamil people.
