Field-Governed Mission Structures Part XYZ: William Carey and the Serampore Trio Field-Governed Mission Structures Part IV: William Carey and the Serampore Trio by Joseph & Michele C. illiam Carey is popularly known among Protestants as “the father of modern missions.” Though the Moravians and the pietist mission of Halle had been sending small numbers of Protestant missionaries for a few decades before William Carey, it was Carey’s creation in 1792 of the Baptist Missionary Society and his departure for India that effectively launched the Protestant missionary movement. Following Carey’s example, several Protestant mis- sionary societies were founded in rapid succession over the next twenty years in Europe and in North America. Because of William Carey’s influence and Wexample, the previously tiny numbers of Protestant missionaries grew exponen- tially to become a substantial force for the first time. In what follows below we will examine Carey’s missionary career with a special focus on issues of mission governance and its impact on field effectiveness. The Founding of the Baptist Missionary Society William Carey, a shoemaker who became a Baptist minister, knew the value of studying history and he was “a keen student of the history of missions.” He saw the missionary mandate clearly in the New Testament and felt that it was an integral part of the Christian faith (George, p. 35). Among those who influenced Carey in his study of missions history were Justin Martyr, Zwingli, Calvin, the Moravians, John Eliot, and David Brainerd. Carey’s famous Enquiry demonstrates his zeal to do whatever was necessary for the gospel to reach all nations. “Carey’s pamphlet (sic) was a reasoned statement of Christian obligation, of world needs, of existing opportunities, and practi- cal proposals for the formation of a missionary society” (Walker, p. 68). It is no wonder then that Carey was instrumental in the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society. “His immediate aim was the formation of a society for sending out missionaries, and the publication of his pamphlet (sic) was merely a step toward the realization of that aim” (Walker, p. 78). It is important for Joseph and Michele have worked for the context of this paper to understand just how central Carey was in the for- fifteen years in North Africa. Joseph is mation of this Missionary Society. “There can be no question as to who was a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University. the moving spirit in the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society, Ryland, Michele is an R.N. and also an M.A. candidate at Fuller Seminary. They in his Life and Death of Fuller, says: ‘I must consider the Mission as originat- have two children. ing absolutely with Carey’” (Walker, p. 84). International Journal of Frontier Missions 18:3 Fall 2001•115 116 Field-Governed Mission Structures Part IV: William Carey and the Serampore Trio 117 1793 (32) Mourned the death of good friend, Overview of Carey’s Life Andrew Fuller. Again to give some context to our study Carey and Dr. John Thomas, are commissioned as missionaries to Endured increased tensions let us look at some important dates Bengal, India. between the Baptist Missionary in Carey’s life. In addition to giving Sailed with his family from Dover Society in England and the context to our study, this brief overview and after five months at sea arrived Serampore Mission. in the form of a timetable of Carey’s life in Calcutta, India as illegal aliens. 1818 (57) also shows how much he accomplished, Moved to Bendel, 30 miles up the Founded Serampore College. how diligently and sacrificially he Hooghly River. 1820 (59) worked and some of the great adversity 1794 (33) Organized the Agricultural and he suffered throughout his life. An Settled in the Sunderbunds jungle Horticultural Society of India. understanding of these things helps to near Debhatta. 1821 (60) Moved to Mudnabatty, near Mourned the death of his beloved put into perspective the severity of the second wife, Charlotte. treatment that he and the rest of the Malda, to work as an indigo planter. 1822 (61) Serampore Trio received later in their Mourned the death of his son, lives at the hands of the home sponsors His son, Peter, died at age five of dysentery. Dorothy, his wife, Felix, and of good friend and first who succeeded Andrew Fuller and the became increasingly depressed and Hindu convert, Krishna Pal. other original friends who had “held the mentally ill. 1823 (62) ropes” for those on the field during the 1797 (36) Married his third wife, Grace early years of their work (This time line Completed his first draft of a Hughes. is taken largely from George’s Faithful translation of the New Testament Mourned the death of his close Witness, pp. xv, xvi). into Bengali. colleague, William Ward. 1798 (37) 1829 (68) 1781 (About age 20) Established, despite much opposi- Indian authorities legally pro- Married his first wife, Dorothy tion, first school of a large network scribed Suttee – the burning to Plackett of indigenous schools with death of widows – the practice of 1783 (Age 22) instruction in Bengali. which Carey had long fought to Baptized by John Ryland at 1799 (38) see outlawed. Northampton. Moved to Kidderpore to establish 1830 (69) 1785 (24) his own indigo plantation. The Serampore Mission was Called to pastor a Baptist chapel 1800 (39) placed in financial jeopardy by at Moulton. Moved to Serampore and joined the crash of the Calcutta banking 1789 (28) with William Ward and Joshua houses. Called to pastor Baptist church in and Hannah Marshman to form a 1834 Leicester. missionary community. Died at Serampore at age 72. 1792 (31) Baptized the first Hindu to believe Carey published An Enquiry into in Christ through his ministry. the Obligations 1803 (42) The Early Years of Christians to Appointed professor in Fort Before and through the process of Use Means William College in Calcutta. the formation and early activities of for the the Baptist Missionary Society, Carey Conversion of First Bengali New Testament the Heathens. printed by the Serampore Press. developed close friendships with several 1807 (46) men who became the ones who com- Ordained his son Felix who was mitted to “hold the ropes” for him while sent as a missionary to Burma. he was in India. This was the analogy Published Sanskrit New Carey used to illustrate his relation- Testament. ship with those who would stay back in Received the doctor of divinity England supporting him in whatever degree from Brown University. way they could. These friends included Buried his first wife Dorothy who Fuller, Ryland, Sutcliff and Pearce died of a fever. (Walker, p. 67). Telling of the early 1808 (47) days of the Baptist Missionary Society, Married his second wife Deaville Walker writes, Charlotte Rumohr. 1812 (51) For the first time we see Carey sur- Serampore’s printing rounded by colleagues throwing presses destroyed in a fire themselves unsparingly into the along with years of transla- campaign. The ability of Ryland, the tion work. influence of Fuller, the eloquence of 1814 (53) Sutcliff, and the enthusiasm of Pearce Ordained his son Jabez who was are now linked unreservedly with the sent as a missionary to Amboyna faith and courage of Carey (Walker, of the Moluccan islands. p. 89). 1815 (54) International Journal of Frontier Missions 18:3 Fall 2001 116 Field-Governed Mission Structures Part IV: William Carey and the Serampore Trio 117 Miller refers to those four as the old n his translation work Carey made decisions guard. They knew Carey well and esteemed him highly. Those four main which he felt were a strategic part of home supporters worked hard to raise financial and prayer support for the reaching Indians for Christ, but his friends missionaries in India, but they were not without influence. back home did not always understand. Carey and Thomas in the beginning I made decisions on the field as to the without any Christian fellowship out- questions arose primarily from newer workings and details of their ministry. side of his family. members of the society, with less For example, at one point they wanted personal knowledge of Carey than Each decision Carey made to move was or needed “to live less expensively” and the old stalwarts. At a meeting when based on his knowledge of the situation, Fuller was absent, they fired off a curt so decided to move “up the river to the opportunities available to him and letter to Mudnabatty questioning the Bendal.” Not much later, they realized the search for what would help him best wisdom of the indigo plantation. They that: to reach the Indians with the gospel insinuated that Carey was a money Bendal, being a Portuguese settle- and to establish a Christian community grubber for whom ‘the spirit of the ment was inhabited by a mixed among them. missionary’ had been swallowed up population. Carey believed a place by ‘the pursuits of the merchant’ more purely Indian would better serve The business operation was never (George, pp. 106-107). an end in itself. Rather it was the their purpose. Hence it was decided Carey was deeply offended when this to go to Nadia the ‘Hindu Oxford’ of God-provided means to accomplish a larger, worthier ideal. As Carey letter finally made its way into his Bengal... Carey was well received by hands in January 1796. He refused the scholarly Hindus who recognized reminded himself, ‘If, after God has so wonderfully made way for us, to grovel or justify his actions: ‘If my his linguistic ability... (However), no conduct will not vindicate itself, it is land for cultivation was available at I should neglect the very work for which I came thither, the blackest not worth vindicating.’ All the same, this settlement.