19th Century Women Missionaries to India
The nineteenth century was a time of political, social, and scientific upheaval in the west. During that period women went out of the enclosed walls and demanded for their rights and place in the society. On the other hand, India was staggering behind with various social issues- infanticide, child marriage, dowry system, Sati system and prohibitions on education of women. Men were allowed to go to school and participate in social ceremonies but women were left behind in the four corners of the wall at home doing tedious household chores.
India was also still under the British Rule or better known as the "East India Company." Women missionaries from the west took interest in helping out the women of India by promoting education, vocational trainings, etc.There certainly is the zeal, courage and a common goal for women at that time to have been able to travel across the world and spread the teachings of Christ to people in India. However, this does not simply explain WHY the women in particular answered to that vocation The essence of this missionary goes deeper if examined closely.
The women who gave in to the call of the of the third world country's needs especially to India's social problems is worth mentioning! The commitment and sacrifices these women made is beyond our imagination today. Thousands of miles away from loved ones yet they left no stones unturned.
Here are few influential women out of the many who gave their life in service of better India.
Ann Haseltine Judson (1789 – 1826)
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| Photo courtesy: thedisplacednation.files.wordpress.com/ann-hasseltine-judson |
Who was she? A Bradford, Massachusetts native, teacher, and the wife of Andoiram Judson. Two weeks after they married, the couple set out on a mission trip — first to India, then to Burma.
Key achievements: While her husband was imprisoned in Burma under suspicion of being a spy, Judson wrote stories of the struggles she faced on her own in the mission field. She included tragic descriptions of child marriages, female infanticide, and the trials of the Burmese women who had no rights except for those their husbands gave them.
How she died: Of smallpox in Burma, at age 37.
Interesting fact: At least 16 biographies of Judson were published in the 19th century, the most famous of which had a new edition printed almost every year from 1830 to 1856. She and Andoiram were American celebrities.
Key achievements: While her husband was imprisoned in Burma under suspicion of being a spy, Judson wrote stories of the struggles she faced on her own in the mission field. She included tragic descriptions of child marriages, female infanticide, and the trials of the Burmese women who had no rights except for those their husbands gave them.
How she died: Of smallpox in Burma, at age 37.
Interesting fact: At least 16 biographies of Judson were published in the 19th century, the most famous of which had a new edition printed almost every year from 1830 to 1856. She and Andoiram were American celebrities.
Amy Carmichael (1867 – 1951)
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| Photo Courtesy: thedisplacednation.files.wordpress.com/amy-carmichael |
Who was she? A small-village girl from a devout Presbyterian family in County Down, Northern Ireland (her father founded an evangelical church in Belfast). She was called first to work among the mill girls of Manchester and then overseas, finding her life-long vocation in India.
Key achievement: In those days, Hindu priests kept “temple children” — mostly young girls who were forced into prostitution to earn money for them. Carmichael tried to rescue them by setting up a sanitarium in Tamil Nadu, thirty miles from the southern tip of India.
Bold behavior: She would dress in Indian clothes, dye her skin with dark coffee, and travel long distances on hot, dusty roads to save just one child from suffering.
How she died: In India at the age of 83. She asked that no stone be put over her grave. Instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription Amma, meaning “mother” in Tamil.
Cryptic remark: While serving in India, Carmichael received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary. She asked, “What is missionary life like?” Carmichael wrote back saying simply, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”A measure of her fortitude: Carmichael served in India 55 years without furlough and produced a total of 35 published books about her experiences.
Key achievement: In those days, Hindu priests kept “temple children” — mostly young girls who were forced into prostitution to earn money for them. Carmichael tried to rescue them by setting up a sanitarium in Tamil Nadu, thirty miles from the southern tip of India.
Bold behavior: She would dress in Indian clothes, dye her skin with dark coffee, and travel long distances on hot, dusty roads to save just one child from suffering.
How she died: In India at the age of 83. She asked that no stone be put over her grave. Instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription Amma, meaning “mother” in Tamil.
Cryptic remark: While serving in India, Carmichael received a letter from a young lady who was considering life as a missionary. She asked, “What is missionary life like?” Carmichael wrote back saying simply, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”A measure of her fortitude: Carmichael served in India 55 years without furlough and produced a total of 35 published books about her experiences.
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| Photo Courtesy: http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/images/PFs/WUMS-Personnel-Individuals/003.jpg |
HER ONE VERSE
I have been sad lately over the death of one of my Zenana pupils, whom I had not long been teaching. She was a young widow of the highest caste, and for support she used to help some of the priests in performing ceremonies for the women. She was much interested in our religion, and although she had not learned to read well, she knew a hymn and loved the Bible verses. The last time I saw her I taught her the verse, "God so loved the world," and told her to be sure and remember it, that she might be able to say it perfectly when I came again. I was sick for a few weeks, and then found my much-loved pupil had died of cholera. Her mother and sister told me how she often inaquired for me and that she was constantly going over her one verse. In the morning of the day she died she said, "Surely my Meme will come today," and she repeated over and over again the words, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I cannot but think that she died believing on Jesus, and I hope to meet her in heaven. I know God will not require as much of these poor untaught women as He will of us. I am often made to feel anew the responsibility of our work and how we need to be "instant in season and out of season."
Informative post. Thanks for sharing.
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