1799 – Formation of the Church Missionary Society
12 April, 1799: Formation of the Church Missionary Society. Founded in 1799, CMS has attracted more than nine thousand men and women to serve as mission partners during its 200-year history.
The Society was founded in Aldersgate Street in the City of London on 12 April 1799. The founders of CMS were committed to three great enterprises: abolition of the slave trade, social reform at home and world evangelisation.
“The contribution made by the society in creating and maintaining educational institutions in Kerala, the most literate state in India, is significant. Many colleges and schools in Kerala and Tamil Nadu still have CMS in their names. The CMS College in Kottayam may be one of the pioneers in popularising secondary education in southern India.”
“Benjamin Bailey was appointed to the Kottayam CMS mission in the Indian state of Kerala. Benjamin Bailey translated the complete Bible to Malayalam language. Also Authored the first printed Malayalam-English dictionary and the first Malayalam-English Dictionary. He is considered as the father of Malayalam Printing.”
Today there are about 150 mission partners in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. A budget of £7.02 million a year is needed to maintain and expand this work.
A daily scene at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum, Kerala, India). Patients waiting outside the CMS dispensary. (Photo Credit: chestofbooks.com)
Rare 1986 Documentary on the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
A Must Watch Special Documentary with rare footage on the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church – (English/Malayalam) produced in 1986. It offers a peek into the history, rich culture and heritage of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
A Malaysian presentation in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary of the REFORMATION in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. (Please watch and share).
Free pdf Ebooks for Children to read during their School Holidays
Free pdf Ebooks for Children to read during their School Holidays
Mary Jones and her Bible
(inspired the founding of the British and Foreign Bible Society)
http://goo.gl/8A2OQA
Thampi’s Heart (English) – A story adapted from Christian Folklore
http://goo.gl/HO71eu
Robert Raikes – Founder of Sunday School
http://goo.gl/FPTGuA
8 March 1835, Freedom for Kerala Slaves. (Munro Island – Travancore)
Slaves
Slavery was a social evil which prevailed all over the world including what is now the state of Kerala in India. According to the 1836 census there were 164,864 slaves in Travancore vis-à-vis a total civilian population of 12,80,668.
Slaves were treated like animals and the cost of one slave was that of an ox, cost of an ox was 5 (big para) measures of Paddy or Rs. 10/- only. Slaves were chained and sold like animals in markets.
Kottayam, Changanasserry, Thirunakkara, Alleppey, Kayamkulam, Kollam, Attingal, Chirayinkizh, Kaniyapuram, Pettah and Kovalam were the notorious slave trade markets of the time. Churches in Cochin were used as godowns for the slaves except for Sundays. Slaves were exported out of the kingdom. There was no one to speak on behalf of these unfortunate people.
With the arrival and the teachings of the CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionaries, people became aware of this social evil. In 1819, Munro Island was given to the missionaries, by the then Travancore Government along with the slaves residing there on the Island. Munro Island is located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala, India.
In 1833, England passed the Slavery Abolition Law. CMS missionaries, Benjamin Bailey and Joseph Peet made a historic declaration on 8th March 1835, giving freedom to the slaves in Munro Island.
The declaration read as follows:
“We the undersigned, acting as trustees of Munro Island, do hereby declare that… who has hitherto been a slave of the soil, is from this time liberated by us and made a free man and that his wife and offspring are wholly and forever free and are regarded by us only as hired servants and that no one has any right to bring them into servitude again. At the same time we declare that we do not consider ourselves as released from any claim which he or his wife or offspring may have upon us according to custom, privilege or law in consequence of their having been slaves.”
8 March 5. Sd/- Benj Bailey Sd/- Josh Peet,
In 1847, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma became the King of Travancore. The same year CMS missionaries submitted a memorandum to the King requesting him to stop the slavery in Travancore. In 1853, by royal declaration slavery was abolished in Travancore forever. In 1864, the Kingdom of Cochin also made a similar declaration abolishing slavery.
March 6, 1475: Italian artist Michelangelo is born
Michelangelo. (Photo from http://www.freyasflorence.com)
March 6, 1475: Italian artist Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (d.18th Febraury1564) famous for his paintings (the Sistine Chapel), sculpture (“David”), and architecture (the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral), is born in Caprese, commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer.
Michelangelo’s Pieta at St Peter’s Basilica (1498–99)
3 March, 1547: Seventh Session of the Council of Trent
The Council of Trent meeting in Santa Maria Maggiore church, Trento (Trent). (Artist unknown; painted late 17th century.)
At the Seventh Session of the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church defines its theology of the sacraments. Arguing that seven sacraments are necessary for salvation; Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and Matrimony; the council rejected the teaching of most Protestants that only two were required: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2 March, 1791: Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London
“John Wesley,” by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London. Thanks to his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers he had when he died: 71,668 British members, 294 preachers, 43,265 American members with 198 preachers and 19 missionaries. Today the Methodists number about 30 million worldwide.
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China
Hudson Taylor
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China. Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission in 1865, and popularized the idea that missionaries should live and dress like the people they seek to evangelize.
I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient. ~ Hudson Taylor
Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them. ~ Hudson Taylor
“Sthuthippin sthuthippin Yesudevane” – Unchanged final hymn from the first Maramon Convention in 1895
The Hymn “Sthuthippin sthuthippin Yesudevane, Halleluiyah paadi sthuthippeen sthuthippen yesudevane” written by Rev. Yusthus Joseph (Vidhuwan Kutty Achen) (1835-1887) is sung by the complete congregation at the close of the final meeting of each year’s convention. This may be a world record for the same hymn being sung every year at the same time since the year 1895.
Rev. Yusthus Joseph (Vidhuwan Kutty Achen) (1835-1887) has written 26 out of the total 427 hymns in the Kristeeya Keerthanangal (hymn book used by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church).
Kristeeya Keerthanangal
According to the Late Metropolitan Most. Rev. Dr. Juhanon Mar Thoma, Vidhuwan Kutty Achen had a vital role in the Revival movement of the Mar Thoma Church “The spiritual revival started by an unknown preacher Mathai Upadesi and carried on by Rev. Yusthus Joseph (Vidhuwan Kutty), a famous scholar and musician and a Brahmin convert, had its influence throughout Central Travancore. – “Christianity in India and a brief history of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church” by Most. Rev. Juhanon Mar Thoma.
Read more about Rev. Yusthus Joseph (Vidhuwan Kutty Achen) in our free pdf ebook.
https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ebook-vidhuwan-kutty-achen.pdf
The original composition by in Carnatic music style is still performed by classical singers.
Maramon Convention for Children
Children at the 120th Maramon Convention Pandal. Photo Courtesy: Photo Courtesy http://marthoma.in/maramon-convention
120th Maramon Convention for Kids
A pdf resource sheet for Parents / Sunday School Teachers to explain to their children facts and events chosen from the history of the Maramon Convention.
https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/120th-maramon-convention-for-kids.pdf
Nalloor Library 