DOCSLIB.ORG

Jaffna College MISCELLANY

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Jaffna College MISCELLANY YALt UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 9002 09912 3821 ®jrìstmas ^rotifer Jaffna College MISCELLANY Vol. X X I V I One Rupee Fourth Term, 1914 No. 4 I jf per annum Contents 4 Christmas Message J The Christmas Gift 4 Why? 10 *Peace and Good Will 16 College cffptes 21 cAlumtd S^ptes 21 SM.iscella.ny Receipts 24 <& c» AMERICAN CEYLON MISSION PRESS. TEU.lPPAi.AI. JAFFNA TTVS \ ’_ V «lA -t>vet4* Jaffna College MISCELLANY Editor: J* V* Chelliah, M . A* Vol. X X IV No. 4 A Christmas Message. By W. E. Hitchcock M. cA. “I bring you goodtidings of great joy.” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” The Christmas message is one of joy, love, peace: the present time is a time of sadness, hatred, strife. Yet the message is from God and we may treasure it and trust that joy, love and peace will prevail on earth notwithstanding the present state of affairs which has been brought about by men who forgot God’s message of peace. But as the Christmas time draws near let us turn again to the message brought to earth by the angels from heaven. The first term of the message is joy—joy be­ cause of the birth of a Saviour. Let us think what is implied. God knew that men had fallen into sin, that they were thus estranged from God and that they were not able to escape from the power of evil, and in his infinite love and mercy 2 he provided a way of salvation. What joy the assurance of release must give to men who feel that they are in bondage. This is the joy that every one may have who will give heed to the message that a Saviour has come to earth, one with power to overcome sin. And the joy is not a selfish joy; it results in praise; “Glory to God in the highest.” Love is the second term of the message. The central point of the Gospel is in the statement that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. What other evidence of his love is needed ? “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend”. It must be infinite love that would give up life for all sorts of men, not friends only but even enemies. For Christ himself taught us, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” The message of Christ’s birth is thus an exhi­ bition of the highest love. Peace is the third term of this heavenly mes­ sage. Peace on earth among men. This is the result of love. That love which freely gives sal­ vation must awaken a responsive love in those who accept it. And those who ldve God must share his feeling of love to all men. And when all men love one another, peace is the sure re­ sult If men are like God in loving all, they are then well pleasing to Him. Such are those to whom the Christmas message brings peace. Not peace in outward appearance only, but peace of mind and heart. The Christmas message is the same from year to year. From God we have the offer of joy love, peace. But men fail to realize these bless­ ings. At the present_time, there is strife among 3 the nations due to a lack of love, the failure of men to walk in God’s ways. So we see that when men walk in their own ways instead of in God’s ways, there comes hate in the place of love and strife in the place of peace. Sadness then follows instead of joy. We have it brought home to us by the pre­ sent war that we are all in one great family. The sadness, the sorrow, the suffering, the loss, ex­ tend far beyond the borders of the nations en­ gaged in the fight. The suffering has called forth a noble army of Red Cross surgeons and nurses from neutral lands who have gone to the help of the needy. Thus the spirit of Christ is shown the more clearly in contrast to the prevalent hatred. Hence we may be encouraged to hope that the Christmas message is not all in vain, that more and more it will prevail. The contrast between the Red Cross aimy and the fighting army is very great. It seems as if men must be *led to note the difference, and be brought to realize the cause of it. Many deeds of heroism, much endurance of hardship together will bind many hearts closer together. The patriotism shown by thousands is praiseworthy. The obliteration of the political differences of parties in the order of a common patriotism is a grand spectacle. The loyalty of the Indians to the British throne so spontaneously shown, and offers of aid so freely given, is almost a marvel. In view of all these things, may we not hope that the time will sure­ ly come when the Christmas message shall be heeded among all races of men? May we not say, in spite of the gloomy prospects in this time of war, what Tennyson has so well express­ ed ? 4 “Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old. Ring in the thousand years of peace. Ring in the valiant man and free. The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.” The Christmas Gift By Charles W. Miller M. A. It was my first Christmas morning in the East. The sun was bright, the leaves were flashing the birds were carolling, the old church bell was pealing merrily, and all nature seemed to vibrate with the echo, “He is born”. My heart too was filled with gladness on this anniversary of my Saviour’s birth and I hurried forth from my chamber to join the pulsing joy without. And as I wandered with glad steps down the glistening road and approached the old church and its neigh­ bour, a hoary temple opposite, my attention was arrested and my steps stayed by a conver­ sation which I delayed to overhear. “My friend,” said the temple, “you seem to be very joyful about something this morning. Your doors and windows are thrown open to the air and light, your old spires are quivering in the sunshine, your bell is ringing longer and louder than usual, and the people are gathering. What, pray, is the cause of this unusual rejoicing. The whole air seems to be filled with the spirit of it.” 5 “This day”, replied the church, “is called Christ­ mas day, in recognition of God’s best gift to man. And the world rejoices because, of all the good gifts of God to man, this great gift appeals to the heart of man, for it is a gift from the very heart of God”. Truly that is a very wonderful gift,” said the temple. “Tell me more about it.” “This gift” continued the church, “is the re­ sult of the birth, some two thousand years ago, of a peasant boy from very humble parents, who had their home in a certain town called Nazar­ eth. Not much is known about the early life of this peasant boy. He was apparently born under unusual circumstances, while his parents were visiting in a place called Bethlehem; and because the inn was crowded and the people poor, they were obliged to spend some days in a stable, where the baby was laid in a manger. He grew to manhood in Nazareth and probably followed the trade of his father, who was a carpenter, until he was nearly thirty years old. At that time he appears to have conceived a certain the­ ory of life, and gathering about him some ignor­ ant fishermen who did not seem to understand his message very well, he went about among his countrymen in order to tell them his thoughts. He led a very good life, was kind to every body, loved children, helped the sick and the suffering, was a friend of the humble people, and had a few close friends among those of lowly birth. We know that he attracted many people by his sayings, and that many people loved him. But we find that the leaders of his people did not care for his theory, because it upset their notions as to their own position. So he was rejected by the upper classes who persuaded one of his own disciples to betray him into their hands. Through the weakness of the Roman Governor of that 6 country, who cared more about pleasing these leaders than about justice, this Nazarene was put to a most cruel and ignoble death. And even his close friends deserted him in his hour 01 need." And here the old church paused, and the bell ceased its clamor in the thought of that supreme tragedy. “Well,” remarked the temple, “that life was certainly a failure. For what failure is greater than that a man be misunderstood and deserted by his friends?” “Ah ! ” excla imed the church, and the bell peal­ ed the more merrily as the men, women, and children with happy faces began to assemble within its hospitable portals.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Alumni Message from Principal Solomon in THIS NEWSLETTER
    Rev. Dr. Davidsathananthan Solomon, Principal Jaffna College [email protected] Volume 1, Issue 1, 2017 IN THIS NEWSLETTER Chairperson Jaffna College Board Alumni Message from Principal Solomon Editor’s Greetings College Students Perform Well in Examinations Upgrade to Daniel Poor Library New Junior Vice Principal English Language Resources A Generous Gift for Physical Education Starting an English Laboratory WELCOME TO “STEPPING UP’ FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD On behalf of the Jaffna College Board of Directors, welcome to this first E-newsletter for our College Alumni, Stepping Up. I congratulate Principal Solomon and Junior Vice-Principal Gladys Muthurajah for their initiative in starting Stepping Up. Their initiative has stepped up to the Board’s challenge to implement a new policy of stakeholder engagement with our Alumni. The Board has recently carried out an extensive review of our governance performance. Following best practice advice specifically for governance development in low-income nations like Sri Lanka, we have adopted a policy to improve our relationships with stakeholders. The Board is committed to work together with Alumni for the benefit of Jaffna College students and staff. I second the Principal’s invitation to you to visit the College. I am continually delighted when Alumni visit me to discuss the College’s development, how they might contribute, and express their interest in better understanding the Board’s role and responsibilities. The Board is committed to better informing you of our work, and looks forward to receiving your feedback. Board minutes are available to you in the Principal’s office, for your information. As a Board, we have been stepping up to meet the challenges facing us.
    [Show full text]
  • American Ceylon Mission
    , RE:p~·a·R T , "", .I.:.~ OF THE '.(. .~, ... AMERICAN CEYLON MISSION . .. "', FOR 1852. PUBLISHED Xli 1849. I;:,: . » •. "":. .~. REPORT OF THE A~IERICAN CEYLON MISSION, FOR THE YEAR 1852. 3}affna: AMERICAN MISSION PRESS-To S. BURNELL, PRINTER. Hl53. REPORT ALTHOUGH we have not been in the habit of publishing an annual report of our labors, we find an occasional review of the way in which the Lord has led us, profitable to ourselves and encouraging to those who feel an interest in the establishment of Christ's kingdom in this land. As it is now several years since such a review was taken, the following report of the operations of the past year, will contain a more extended statement of the state and progress of the work than would otherwise be necessary. Missionaries and Stations. Though we have been favored by the accession of Mr. and Mrs. Sanders to our number during the year,. yet the absence of others on account of ill-health has prevented the occupancy of vacant stations. Chavagacherry has been vacant during a part of the year by tke absence of Mr. and Mrs. Noyes on a visit to the continent. As the clima te in that region seems more favorable to the health of Mrs. Noyes, they now contemplate a permanent removal to the Madura Mission. Mr. and Mrs. Mills left for Madras in August, on account of her feeble health, expecting to be obliged to proceed to Amer­ ica. After a reside~ce of several months in Madras, they have been enabled to return to us, and resume their duties in con­ nection with the Seminary, and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Slavery and Caste Supremacy in the American Ceylon Mission
    Article CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 155–174 February 2020 brandeis.edu/j-caste ISSN 2639-4928 DOI: 10.26812/caste.v1i1.117 In Nāki’s Wake: Slavery and Caste Supremacy in the American Ceylon Mission Mark E. Balmforth1 (Bluestone Rising Scholar Honorable Mention 2019) Abstract In 1832, a woman named Caṅkari Nāki died in Ceylon, and her descendants have been haunted by a curse ever since. One of the first converts of the American Ceylon Mission, Nāki was part of an enslaved caste community unique to the island, and one of the few oppressed-caste members of the mission. The circumstances of her death are unclear; the missionary archive is silent on an event that one can presume would have affected the small Christian community, while the family narrative passed through generations is that Nāki was murdered by members of the locally dominant Vellalar caste after marrying one of their own. In response to this archival erasure, this essay draws on historical methods developed by Saidiya Hartman and Gaiutra Bahadur to be accountable to enslaved and indentured lives and, in Hartman’s words, to ‘make visible the production of disposable lives.’ These methods actively question what we can know from the archives of an oppressor and, for this essay, enable a reading of Nāki’s life at the centre of a mission struggling over how to approach caste. Nāki’s story, I argue, helps reveal an underexplored aspect of the interrelationship between caste and slavery in South Asia, and underlines the value of considering South Asian slave narratives as source material into historiographically- and archivally-obscured aspects of dominant caste identity.
    [Show full text]
  • St. John's Began with Just Seven Students by Professor S
    St. John's Began with just seven students By Professor S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole (Extracted from The Sunday Leader, April 5, 1998) This year St. John's celebrates its 175th anniversary. The dynamic enterprise that is St. John's must be judged in light of the motivation and dedication of its founders, who were determined to serve selflessly what must surely have been a strange people in a strange land. The early years of the 19th century saw the expansion of Christian missions in the British colonies. Colonial administrative officials, with their eye on profit, wanted good relations with the locals and had forbidden any Christian evangelical work and refused to employ those locals who had taken up the Christian faith. In the first year of British rule alone, 300 new Hindu temples were built in Jaffna by the British. Indeed, the antagonism to Christianity in the 20 year lull between the British take-over and the arrival of the first missionaries saw the number of temples in Jaffna growing 4 fold. The growing evangelical movement in England's Parliament put a stop to this and since 1813 Christian missions started to spread throughout the colonies. Arrival of Rev. Knight This development brought to Sri Lanka the Rev. Joseph Knight (born in Stroud, England, on October 17, 1787) and three others who were given the requisite training and ordained priest just before their departure in the Autumn of 1817 as missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, the CMS. It was a dangerous journey to the East with many a missionary dying or losing a family member before the journey's end.
    [Show full text]
  • EAP835 Survey Reports Anonymous Private Collection 1
    EAP835 Survey Reports Anonymous Private Collection 1 Description of materials: Collection 1 consists of ten manuscript volumes produced by the ​ American Ceylon Mission (ACM) between 1815 and 1883. These volumes include reports, ​ church record books, and minutes from ACM meetings, letterbooks, and a volume of advice for the wives of missionaries. Due to their focus on the ACM and authorship by its leading early figures, these volumes are related to the materials held in Collection 2, at the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI) in Vaddukoddai, Jaffna. Most of these materials are in fair to poor condition. Survey method: Seven manuscripts were originally shown to EAP835 Programme Managers ​ by a member of the Jaffna Protestant community who is well-known to Manager Mark Balmforth. The Managers immediately noted that the manuscripts are all unique files from the nineteenth-century and therefore digitizable by British Library guidelines. Following this discovery, the Managers were given permission to survey the Private Collector’s home to search for new materials but none were found. Over the course of five months, the Private Collector unearthed three other nineteenth-century manuscript volumes of the same subjects and value as the previous materials. The Collector has noted that they will willingly share with EAP835 any new documents they might come upon in the future. Description of archive: The materials from this collection were not arranged when found. They ​ were lent to EAP835 in a suitcase, in no particular order. When EAP835 finished digitizing the files, they were fumigated, wrapped in red cotton cloth to repel insects, labelled, and returned to the owner along with insect-repellent preservation sachets for proper storage.
    [Show full text]
  • Educational Activities of American Missionaries in Jaffna (1796­1948)­A Historical View
    Kandiah Arunthavarajah(1) Educational activities of American Missionaries in Jaffna (1796­1948)­A Historical view (1) Dept.of History, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. ([email protected]) Abstract: The reign of British in Jaffna was distinct The research methodology is based on history. from other European powers especially from those of The primary sources for this study include the British Portuguese and Dutch. These distinctions were based documents, notes, letters and books written by the on political, economical and socio cultural levels. priests who had come here to propagate Christianity Jaffna was not an exception for these changes. The in Jaffna and archaeological and other historical period of Portuguese and Dutch made small changes materials. I have utilized as secondary sources, books in the life style of people, whereas the changes made and articles in the journals, magazines and internet during the British reign were remarkable. The main based sources. reason for these changes was the arrival of Christian Key Words: Bahthi Movement, Guru kula education, Missionaries and their services. The American Women education, missions schools Missionaries became more prominent as their services were more public oriented. As a result of this they could also imprint their name in the history of Jaffna. American Missionaries and their The notable period of the impact of the Missionaries arrival in Jaffna was from the 1820s to early 20th century. During this The Bahthi Movement which originated in period they engaged themselves in printing and publishing translations of English works into Tamil. Massachusetts formulated American mission in 1810. Printing publishing and establishment of primary , During their early days they travelled to India, China secondary and tertiary educational Institutions and and Burma to spread Christianity in Oriental provision of health care for residents of the Jaffna countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Nutrition Knowledge on Dietrelated Chronic Non Communicable
    A.H.M.Mufas(1), A.H.M.Rifas(2), A.H.L. Fareeza(3) and O.D.A.N.Perera(1) Nutrition knowledge on diet­related chronic non communicable diseases among the graduates from South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (1) Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Livestock Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka. ( E­mail: [email protected]) (2) Department of Islamic studies, Faculties of Islamic Studies and Language, South eastern University of Sri Lanka. (3) Department of Management, Faculty of Management studies and commerce, South eastern University of Sri Lanka. Abstract - The Purpose of this study is to understand of individuals plus households and early retirement, all the nutrition knowledge of the graduates on diet have a great impact on the economic productivity of a related chronic NCDs. A descriptive cross sectional country, bringing about the spiral of ill health and study was undertaken among 200 graduates of south poverty (Abegunde and Stanciole, 2006; Suhrcke et al., eastern university to assess the nutrition knowledge. 2005). Knowledge level analyzed with socio-demographic It has been projected that, by 2020, NCDs will characteristics. Overall knowledge of graduates was account for almost three-quarters of all deaths poor; not a single graduate identified with good worldwide, and that 71% of deaths due to ischemic knowledge. Gender, home area, religious group, heart disease (IHD), 75% of deaths due to stroke, and marital status of the respondents turned out to be not 70% of deaths due to diabetes will occur in developing associated with the knowledge level of the graduates countries (Barker et al, 1993a).
    [Show full text]
  • Report American Board of Commissioners
    REPORT OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR jForeifltt ¿¡H ussions, READ AT THE TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING, HELD IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, SEPTEMBER 9, 10, & 11, 1835. BOSTON: PRINTED FOR THE BOARD, BY CROCKER & BREWSTER. 1835. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. CORPORATE MEMBERS. [The names under each State, are arranged according to the order of election.] Time o f Election. i H a i n e . 1813. Gen. HENRY SEWALL, Augusta. 1820. WILLIAM ALLEN, D. D. President of Bowdoin College. 1832. ENOCH POND, D. D. Professor in the Theological Seminary at Bangor. 1820. JOHN HUBBARD CHURCH, D. D. Pelham. 1830. Hon. GEORGE SULLIVAN, Exeter. 1832. NATHAN LORD, D. D. President of Dartmouth College. Uermont. 1818. Hon. CHARLES MARSH, Woodstock. 1821. JOSHUA BATES, D. D. President of Middlebury College. JHassadmsetts. 1810. WILLIAM BARTLET, Esq. Newburyport. 1818. Hon. WILLIAM REED, Marblehead. 1819. LEONARD WOODS, D. D. Professor in the Theological Seminary at Andover. 1821. SAMUEL HUBBARD, LL. D. Boston. 1821. WARREN FAY, D. D. Charlestown. 1823. EDWARD D. GRIFFIN, D. D. President of Williams College. 1823. HEMAN HUMPHREY, D. D. President of Amherst College. 1826. JOHN CODMAN, D. D. Dorchester. 1826. Hon. LEWIS STRONG, Northampton. 1826. JUSTIN EDWARDS, D. D. Andover. 1827. JOHN TAPPÄN, Esq. Boston. 1828. HENRY HILL, Esq. Boston. 1832. His Honor SAMUEL T. ARMSTRONG, Boston. 1832. Rev. RUFUS ANDERSON, Boston. 1832. Rev. DAVID GREENE, Boston. 1832. CHARLES STODDARD, Esq. Boston. 1834. Rev. SYLVESTER HOLMES, New Bedford. 1835. DANIEL NOYES, Esq. Boston. Connecticut. 1810. CALVIN CHAPIN, D. D. Wethersfield. 1817. JEREMIAH DAY, D. D. LL. D. President of Yale College.
    [Show full text]
  • Download This PDF File
    Journal of Scientific Temper Vol 4(3&4), July-Sept & Oct-Dec 2016, pp. 188-218 OPINION Star Wars in colonial Tamil region: contours of a discourse between European missionary and a ‘native’ pañcāngkam computer on ‘modern’ astronomy TV VENKATESWARAN Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi E-mail: [email protected] “I can reject [Christianity, Hinduism]1 Islam or Buddhism without making myself ridiculous, but I cannot deny the sphericity of the earth without ruling myself out of the community of rational beings, irrespective of race, nationality or religion.” George Sarton, ‘Experiments with Truth by Faraday, Darwin, and Gandhi,’ Osiris, 1954, 11:87–107, on p. 107 ABSTRACT A showdown between an overbearing American missionary wielding Copernican astronomy and a proud ‘native’ Tamil pañcāngkam computer clinging to absurd purāṇic myths may appear as an obvious fertile field to narrate the story of the spread of western science. Errors in native pañcāngkam were publicly demonstrated during the lunar eclipse on March 20, 1829, shocking the audacious natives to the core. This incident left the complacent native literati were dismayed to see the European missionaries could predict the eclipses without using to native ‘secret mnemonics’ Vākya. While the missionaries were perplexed at the predictions, even if inexact, made by the Tamil pañcāngkam paying obeisance to kantapurāṇam, which was steeped in flat earth theory, with legendary Mount Meru at the centre surrounded by concentric alternating seven continents and seven seas with luminaries like Sun, Moon and Grahas going around the axle passing through the centre of Meru. In ensuing interactions, conviviality, circulation and cosmopolitanism of ideas, the native literati encountering novel instruments like globe, telescope, clock, orrery, eclipse diagram, and the missionaries gleaning hitherto mysterious Vākya method and the heritage of native astronomy, cannot be fully captured the in the dichotomies of western/non-western (Hindu, Arabic and so on), metropole and periphery, traditional and modern, and secular and religious.
    [Show full text]
  • Book Review/Analysis R. F. Young and S. Jebanesan, the Bible
    Dharma Deepika , Vol. 2, Dec. 1996 Book Review/Analysis R. F. Young and S. Jebanesan, The Bible Trembled: The Hindu-Christian Controversies of Nineteenth Century Ceylon , Sammlung de Nobili, Vienna, 1995. by S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, Ca 91711, USA. The book, taking its title from a Saivite revivalist verse 1, is an excellent book that should be read by all South Asia scholars — anthropologists studying the radical changes that occurred in the nineteenth century in Sri Lankan Tamil society and those historians and politicians seeking to understand "Tamil character" and thence explanations from the past to explain the present. Indeed, the book is so rich in information — information from old missionary correspondence and newspapers that are not easily accessible and is at odds with most Tamils' impressions of themselves as a people and of what really happened in the nineteenth century — that the book is, without exaggeration, must reading for scholars as well as ordinary Tamils who wish to know who they are. The second book for 1995 dealing with Sri Lankan (or Ceylonese) Protestant missions of the last century 2, it shows the increased interest in this important, but long-neglected field of scholarship. Both books, interestingly, show the moulding of a "Protestant Hindu" character, although the book under review does so less explicitly. The book is a historical description of the Christian-missionary challenge to the Saivite Hinduism it came across in Jaffna and the Saivite response to it, during the nineteenth
    [Show full text]
  • Ijmdrr E- Issn –2395-1885 Issn
    IJMDRR Research Paper E- ISSN –2395-1885 Impact Factor - 2.262 Peer Reviewed Journal ISSN -2395-1877 CONTRIBUTION OF REV. DR. DANIEL POOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICA MISSIONARIES EDUCATION DURING THE PERIOD OF BRITISH JAFFNA(1816-1855) - A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Dr.K.Arunthavarajah Senior Lecturer Gr I, Department of History, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Introduction Sri Lanka is a country well renowned for its long educational heritage. Particularly Jaffna goes a step further up and has an individuality of its own in this respect. In such a long educational reputation, three European races also had an intermittent role to play. They were the Portuguese, Dutch and the British, who influenced Jaffna last of all (179-1948). Though Jaffna saw some changes in its educational systems, it was actually after the arrival of the British that , a new upheaval was witnessed in the field of Education. The education they provided through the American missionaries brought in several changes among the people of Jaffna and in their life styles. The work of Rev.Dr.Daniel Poor, who visited Sri Lanka on behalf of the American mission was of great importance. The magnitude of his sacrifices and services were incomparable. He came to Jaffna in 1816. Unto his last, he lived as one of those here, rendering clerical as well as educational services, whereby he earned great fame. Education activates during the Period of Jaffna Kings At the outset, it is very important to understand the educational system found in Jaffna before the arrival of Portuguese in Jaffna and later their control and implementation of their system of religious education.
    [Show full text]
  • Acmhistoryarticle.Pdf
    Dedicated to the missionaries of the American Ceylon Mission and their families, to whom the people of Jaffna will always be indebted …and to my parents without whom none of this would have been possible. Special thanks to Harvard University and the Houghton and Lamont Libraries. Note: This article contains a summary of the presentation given on October 28 th , 2005. For more information or to obtain a copy of the enhanced complete presentation on DVD, please email me at [email protected] or visit my web site at http://ceylontamils.com/acm . My name is Cyrus Tishan Mills. Many people have asked me how a Sri Lankan Tamil came to have such a name. In fact there are many Tamil families from Jaffna have similar surnames that originate in England, or more accurately, New England. It becomes even more confusing when I tell them that I have no European ancestors. So where do these names come from? I have asked myself these very same questions for many years and it has lead me on an incredible journey of discovery, not only about my own family history but also the work of American and Canadian Missionaries in Jaffna over the past 200 years. To really appreciate the incredible pioneering work done by American missionaries among the Tamil people of Sri Lanka we have to first understand the religious landscape of this part of the world. Religion in the east Long ago, Jesus gave these commands to his disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation”, (Mark 16:15).
    [Show full text]