the life of william carey-第79节
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ver； make little difference； and all I should have to say would be introduced into the letter。〃
On the death of Mr。 Ward and departure of Dr。 Marshman for Great Britain on furlough； after twenty…six years' active labours； his son； Mr。 John Marshman； was formally taken into the Brotherhood。 He united with Dr。 Carey in writing to the Committee two letters； dated 21st January 1826 and 15th November 1827； which show the progress of the college and the mission from the first as one independent agency； and closed with Carey's appeal to the judgment of posterity。
〃About seven years ago we felt convinced of the necessity of erecting a College for native Christian youth； in order to consolidate our plans for the spread of gospel truth in India； and； as we despaired of being able to raise from public subscriptions a sum equal to the expense of the buildings； we determined to erect them from our own private funds。 Up to the present date they have cost us nearly ？4；000； and the completion of them will require a further sum of about ？000； which； if we are not enabled to advance from our own purse； the undertaking must remain incomplete。 With this burden upon our private funds we find it impossible any longer to meet； to the same extent as formerly； the demands of our out…stations。 The time is now arrived when they must cease to be wholly dependent on the private donations of three individuals； and must be placed on the strength of public contributions。 As two out of three of the members of our body are now beyond the age of fifty…seven； it becomes our duty to place them on a more permanent footing； as it regards their management； their support； and their increase。 We have therefore associated with ourselves； in the superintendence of them； the Rev。 Messrs。 Mack and Swan； the two present professors of the college； with the view of eventually leaving them entirely in the hands of the body of professors； of whom the constitution of the college provides that there shall be an unbroken succession。
〃To secure an increase of missionaries in European habits we have formed a class of theological students in the college； under the Divinity Professor。 It contains at present six promising youths； of whose piety we have in some cases undoubted evidence； in others considerable ground for hope。 The class will shortly be increased to twelve； but none will be continued in it who do not manifest undeniable piety and devotedness to the cause of missions。 As we propose to allow each student to remain on an average four years； we may calculate upon the acquisition of two； and perhaps three； additional labourers annually； who will be eminently fitted for active service in the cause of missions by their natural familiarity with the language and their acquisitions at college。 This arrangement will； we trust； secure the speedy accomplishment of the plan we have long cherished； that of placing one missionary in each province in Bengal； and eventually； if means be afforded； in Hindostan。
〃As the completion of the buildings requires no public contribution； the sole expense left on the generosity of its friends is that of its existing establishment。 Our subscriptions in India； with what we receive as the interest of money raised in Britain and America； average ？000 annually； about ？00 more from England would cover every charge； and secure the efficiency of the institution。 Nor shall we require this aid beyond a limited period。
〃Of the three objects connected with the College； the education of non…resident heathen students； the education of resident Christian students； and the preparation of missionaries from those born in the country； the first is not strictly a missionary object； the two latter are intimately connected with the progress of the good cause。 The preparation of missionaries in the country was not so much recommended as enforced by the great expense which attends the despatch of missionaries from Europe。 That the number of labourers in this country must be greatly augmented； before the work of evangelising the heathen can be said to have effectively commenced； can admit of no doubt。
〃The education of the increasing body of Native Christians likewise； necessarily became a matter of anxiety。 Nothing could be more distressing than the prospect of their being more backward in mental pursuits than their heathen neighbours。 The planting of the gospel in India is not likely to be accomplished by the exertions of a few missionaries in solitary and barren spots in the country； without the aid of some well…digested plan which may consolidate the missionary enterprise； and provide for the mental and religious cultivation of the converts。 If the body of native Christians required an educational system； native ministers； who must gradually take the spiritual conduct of that body； demanded pre…eminent attention。 They require a knowledge of the ingenious system they will have to combat； of the scheme of Christian theology they are to teach； and a familiarity with the lights of modern science。 We cannot discharge the duty we owe as Christians to India； without some plan for combining in the converts of the new religion； and more especially in its ministers； the highest moral refinement of the Christian character； and the highest attainable progress in the pursuits of the mind。
〃During the last ten years of entire independence the missionary cause has received from the product of our labour； in the erection of the college buildings； in the support of stations and schools； and in the printing of tracts； much more than ？3；000。 The unceasing calumny with which we have been assailed； for what has been called 'our declaration of independence' （which； by the bye； Mr。 Fuller approved of our issuing almost with his dying breath）； it is beneath us to notice； but it has fully convinced us of the propriety of the step。 This calumny is so unreasonable that we confidently appeal from the decision of the present age to the judgment of posterity。〃
Under Carey； as Professor of Divinity and Lecturer on Botany and Zoology； Mack and John Marshman； with pundits and moulavies； the college grew in public favour； even during Dr。 Marshman's absence； while Mrs。 Marshman continued to conduct the girls' school and superintend native female education with a vigorous enthusiasm which advancing years did not abate and misrepresentation in England only fed。 The difficulties in which Carey found himself had the happy result of forcing him into the position of being the first to establish practically the principle of the Grant in Aid system。 Had his Nonconformist successors followed him in this； with the same breadth of view and clear distinction between the duty of aiding the secular education； while giving absolute liberty to the spiritual； the splendid legacy which he left to India would have been both perpetuated and extended。 As it is； it was left to his young colleague； John Marshman； and to Dr。 Duff； to induce Parliament； by the charter of 1853； and the first Lord Halifax in the Educational Despatch of 1854； to sanction the system of national education for the multifarious classes and races of our Indian subjects； under which secular instruction is aided by the state on impartial terms according to its efficiency； and Christianity delights to take its place； unfettered and certain of victory； with the Brahmanical and aboriginal cults of every kind。
In 1826 Carey； finding that his favourite Benevolent Institution in Calcutta was getting into debt； and required repair； applied to Government for aid。 He had previously joined the Marchioness of Hastings in founding the Calcutta School Book and School Society； and had thus been relieved of some of the schools。 Government at once paid the debt； repaired the building； and continued to give an annual grant of ？40 for many years。 John Marshman did not think it necessary； 〃to defend Dr。 Carey from the charge of treason to the principles of dissent in having thus solicited and accepted aid from the state for an educational establishment； the repudiation of that aid is a modern addition to those principles。〃 He tells us that 〃when conversation happened to turn upon this subject at Serampore； his father was wont to excuse any warmth which his colleague might exhibit by the humorous remark that renegades always fought hardest。 There was one question on which the three were equally strenuousthat it was as much the duty of Government to support education as to abstain from patronising missions。〃
A letter written in 1818 to his son William； then one of the missionaries； shows with what jealous economy the founder of the great modern enterprise managed the early undertakings。
〃MY DEAR WILLIAMYours of the 3rd instant I have received； and must say that it has filled me with distress。 I do not know what the allowance of 200 rupees includes； nor how much is allotted for particular things； but it appears that Rs。 142：2 is expended upon your private expenses； viz。； 78：2 on table expenses； and 64 on servants。 Now neither Lawson nor Eustace have more than 140 rupees for their allowance； separate from house rent； for which 80 rupees each is allowed； and I believe all the brethren are on that； or a lower allowance； Brother Ya
