第 26 节
作者:
垃圾王 更新:2021-02-24 22:51 字数:9320
Carey at once adapted the practical details of his communistic brotherhood to the new circumstances。 With such wisdom was he aided in this by the business experience of Marshman and Ward; that a settlement was formed which admitted of easy development in correspondence with the rapid growth of the mission。 At first the community consisted of ten adults and nine children。 Grant had been carried off in a fever caused by the dampness of their first quarters。 The promising Brunsdon was soon after removed by liver complaint caught from standing on an unmatted floor in the printing…office。 Fountain; who at first continued the mission at Dinapoor; soon died there a happy death。 Thomas had settled at Beerbhoom; but joined the Serampore brethren in time to do good though brief service before he too was cut off。 But; fortunately as it proved for the future; Carey had to arrange for five families at the first; and this is how it was done as described by Ward:
〃The renting of a house; or houses; would ruin us。 We hoped therefore to have been able to purchase land; and build mat houses upon it; but we can get none properly situated。 We have in consequence purchased of the Governor's nephew a large house in the middle of the town for Rs。6000; or about ?00; the rent in four years would have amounted to the purchase。 It consists of a spacious verandah (portico) and hall; with two rooms on each side。 Rather more to the front are two other rooms separate; and on one side is a storehouse; separate also; which will make a printing…office。 It stands by the river…side upon a pretty large piece of ground; walled round; with a garden at the bottom; and in the middle a fine tank or pool of water。 The price alarmed us; but we had no alternative; and we hope this will form a comfortable missionary settlement。 Being near to Calcutta; it is of the utmost importance to our school; our press; and our connection with England。〃
〃From hence may the Gospel issue and pervade all India;〃 they wrote to Fuller。 〃We intend to teach a school; and make what we can of our press。 The paper is all arrived; and the press; with the types; etc。; complete。 The Bible is wholly translated; except a few chapters; so that we intend to begin printing immediately; first the New and then the Old Testament。 We love our work; and will do all we can to lighten your expenses。〃
This house…chapel; with two acres of garden land and separate rooms on either side; continued till 1875 to be the nucleus of the settlement afterwards celebrated all over South Asia and Christendom。 The chapel is still sacred to the worship of God。 The separate rooms to the left; fronting the Hoogli; became enlarged into the stately residence of Mr。 John Marshman; C。S。I。; and his two successors in the Friend of India; while beyond were the girl's school; now removed; the residence of Dr。 Joshua Marshman before his death; and the boys' school presented to the mission by the King of Denmark。 The separate rooms to the right grew into the press; farther down the river was the house of the Lady Rumohr who became Carey's second wife; with the great paper…mill behind; and; still farther; the second park in which the Serampore College was built; with the principal's house in which Carey died; and a hostel for the Native Christian students behind。 The whole settlement finally formed a block of at least five acres; with almost palatial buildings; on the right bank of the Hoogli; which; with a breadth of half a mile when in flood; rolls between it and the Governor…General's summer house and English…like park of Barrackpore。 The original two acres became Carey's Botanic Garden; the houses he surrounded and connected by mahogany trees; which grew to be of umbrageous beauty。 His favourite promenade between the chapel and the mill; and ultimately the college; was under an avenue of his own planting; long known as 〃Carey's Walk。〃
The new colleagues who were to live with him in loving brotherhood till death removed the last in 1837 were not long in attracting him。 The two were worthy to be associated with him; and so admirably supplemented his own deficiencies that the brotherhood became the most potent and permanent force in India。 He thus wrote to Fuller his first impressions of them; with a loving self…depreciation:〃Brother Ward is the very man we wanted: he enters into the work with his whole soul。 I have much pleasure in him; and expect much from him。 Brother Marshman is a prodigy of diligence and prudence; as is also his wife in the latter: learning the language is mere play to him; he has already acquired as much as I did in double the time。〃 After eight months of study and evangelising work they are thus described:〃Our brother Marshman; who is a true missionary; is able to talk a little; he goes out frequently; nay almost every day; and assaults the fortress of Satan。 Brother Brunsdon can talk a little; though not like Marshman。 Brother Ward is a great prize; he does not learn the language so quickly; but he is so holy; so spiritual a man; and so useful among the children。〃
Thus early did Carey note the value of Hannah Marshman; the first woman missionary to India。 Granddaughter of the Baptist minister of Crockerton in Wiltshire; she proved to be for forty…six years at once a loving wife; and the equal of the three missionaries of Christ and of civilisation whom she aided in the common home; in the schools; in the congregation; in the Native Christian families; and even; at that early time; in purely Hindoo circles。 Without her the mission must have been one…sided indeed。 It gives us a pathetic interest to turn to her household books; where we find entered with loving care and thoughtful thrift all the daily details which at once form a valuable contribution to the history of prices; and show how her 〃prudence〃 combined with the heroic self…denial of all to make the Serampore mission the light of India。 Ward's journal supplies this first sketch of the brotherhood; who realised; more than probably any in Protestant; Romanist; or Greek hagiology; the life of the apostolic community in Jerusalem:
〃January 18; 1800。This week we have adopted a set of rules for the government of the family。 All preach and pray in turn; one superintends the affairs of the family for a month; and then another; brother Carey is treasurer; and has the regulation of the medicine chest; brother Fountain is librarian。 Saturday evening is devoted to adjusting differences; and pledging ourselves to love one another。 One of our resolutions is; that no one of us do engage in private trade; but that all be done for the benefit of the mission。。。
〃August 1。Our labours for every day are now regularly arranged。 About six o'clock we rise; brother Carey to his garden; brother Marshman to his school at seven; brother Brunsdon; Felix; and I; to the printing…office。 At eight the bell rings for family worship: we assemble in the hall; sing; read; and pray。 Breakfast。 Afterwards; brother Carey goes to the translation; or reading proofs: brother Marshman to school; and the rest to the printing…office。 Our compositor having left us; we do without: we print three half…sheets of 2000 each in a week; have five pressmen; one folder; and one binder。 At twelve o'clock we take a luncheon; then most of us shave and bathe; read and sleep before dinner; which we have at three。 After dinner we deliver our thoughts on a text or question: this we find to be very profitable。 Brother and sister Marshman keep their schools till after two。 In the afternoon; if business be done in the office; I read and try to talk Bengali with the br鄊mh鄋。 We drink tea about seven; and have little or no supper。 We have Bengali preaching once or twice in the week; and on Thursday evening we have an experience meeting。 On Saturday evening we meet to compose differences and transact business; after prayer; which is always immediately after tea。 Felix is very useful in the office; William goes to school; and part of the day learns to bind。 We meet two hours before breakfast on the first Monday in the month; and each one prays for the salvation of the Bengal heathen。 At night we unite our prayers for the universal spread of the Gospel。〃
The 〃Form of Agreement〃 which regulated the social economy and spiritual enterprise of the brotherhood; and also its legal relations to the Baptist Society in England; deserves study; in its divine disinterestedness; its lofty aims; and its kindly common sense。 Fuller had pledged the Society in 1798 to send out ?60 a year for the joint family of six missionaries; their wives; and children。 The house and land at Serampore cost the Society Rs。6000。 On Grant's death; leaving a widow and two children; the five missionaries made the first voluntary agreement; which 〃provided that no one should trade on his own private account; and that the product of their labour should form a common fund to be applied at the will of the majority; to the support of their respective families; of the cause of God around them; and of the widow and family of such as might be removed by death。〃 The first year the schools and the press enabled the brotherhood to be more than self…supporting。 In the second year Carey's salary from the Colle