LETTERS

ON THE

SERAMPORE CONTROVERSY.

LETTER I.

To the Rev. Christopher Anderson.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

THE familiar appellation which I have employed, arises from the respect and affection I bear towards you, "for the truth's sake which dwelleth in you," and from our long acquaintance, especially in connexion with missionary operations, both in Ireland and India. The existence of some unhappy differences in the Denomination to which we mutually belong, in regard to the Baptist Missionary Society, will form the subject of these letters.

I take it for granted, that the "NOTA BENE" appended to the Rev. W. Robinson's Letter, dated "Edinburgh, 26th November, 1830," at the end of Dr. Marshman's "Reply," &c. &c. &c. was written by you, though you did not think it proper to affix your name to it. You say,

"In reference to the concluding hints in this letter of Mr. Robinson, it seems proper to notice, that there have ever been many in Britain, and within these few years also in Ireland, who have retained invariably the same deep interest in Serampore. But with regard to individuals at home, who were old in the cause, and well acquainted with circumstances, they have given place, no, not for an hour, to the unfounded or distorted representations of others; and so far from being beguiled into any suspicion, all that has occurred has, in fact, only tended to increase their respect for their brethren in India, and more endear

B

those all-important undertakings among the benighted heathen, in which they have been so long and so usefully employed. To become the companions of them who have been so used,' is, however, an honour which, in the present instance, they had not expected."

*

"As for the APPEAL from Serampore, just arrived, it only requires to be read. It is not merely a call, clear and unambiguous, to greater exertion; but it involves one of those great providential tests sometimes employed to find out those who have a mind to work. This is not a cause, they will say, between man and man. From those eastern provinces, where the tribes have none to address to them the everlasting gospel, save the brethren dependant on Serampore, no consideration upon earth must divert our attention. Can we easily supply all that is wanted, and as easily continue to do so? Then those out-stations are to be maintained-those wells in the desert not to be dried up."

From hence I conclude, that you fully approve the measures adopted by the brethren at Serampore; that you condemn those which the Committee of the Society have pursued concerning them; and that you intend to identify yourself with, and to assist by your influence, the "Serampore Union," as a distinct Particular Baptist Society for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen in India.

You doubtless intend yourself, as "one of the individuals at home-old in the cause-well acquainted with circumstances," &c. &c. It is not, however, true in regard to all those, nor by any means to a majority of them, who belonged: to the Committee before the period of Mr. Fuller's death, that they have arrived at the conclusion which you have avowed, that all which has occurred has, in fact, only tended to increase your esteem and affection." And yet, I presume, you would not attribute the sentiments of the late venerable Dr. Ryland, which were as opposite to your's as the east is from the west, to his having been "beguiled" by "the unfounded and distorted representations of others!" You would not think this in regard to our mutual and excellent friend, Mr. Burls! You know that these, and many besides, of the intimate friends of Mr. Fuller, both of those departed, and those who survive, instead of having had their esteem and affection increased, by "all that has occurred" at Serampore, have experienced heart-felt grief and sorrow, that men of whom they entertained the highest opinion, for whom they

felt the warmest affection, and in whom they placed the most unbounded confidence, should, as regarded the management of the Mission Station at Serampore, have departed from the noble and disinterested rules which they had adopted, and which had gained for them so much honour in the christian world.

Suffer me to add, without incurring the charge of egotism, that in regard to standing in the Committee, I am as "old in the cause as you are our names having been added to it at the same time, in 1812. And perhaps, from my intimate acquaintance with the excellent Mr. Fuller, for the last eight years of his life, I may consider myself as "well acquainted with circumstances" as you are likely to be. I well remember Mr. F. to have said, after he had been conversing with me for a considerable time respecting the state of the Mission in India: "Well, now I believe you know every thing about it as well as I do." I should not have mentioned this fact, had you not laid so much stress on the circumstance of your being one of the "individuals at home, old in the cause, and well acquainted with circumstances." "Howbeit," says Paul, "whereinsoever any is bold, I speak foolishly, I am bold also."

I am not about to censure you, for having arrived at the conclusion which you have expressed, nor on account of your having avowed that opinion in strong language; (though you ought, certainly, to have abstained from inuendoes, reflecting upon the Committee, of which, till very lately, you were a member;) I have no doubt but you consider it an honour to be the "companion" of Drs. Carey and Marshman, but do not understand how you have suffered any thing in common with them; nor need you apprehend that any honour of that kind awaits you; your zeal in their cause does not demand the “spirit of a christian martyr!”

Whilst, however, I give you credit for integrity, as to the opinions which you have expressed, I claim from you the same degree of credit, notwithstanding I have arrived at a totally different conclusion. And so far as I know my own heart, I have not been." beguiled," nor have I given place to "unfounded and distorted representations." My sentiments in relation to the Serampore brethren, have been formed from the time of the Birmingham Committee Meeting, in August 1818. From the letter written by them to the Committee, (which I shall have another opportunity of noticing,) I considered that Messrs. Carey, Marshman and Ward had actually, though not avowedly, formed themselves

into a separate and independent Society; and under that conviction, I wrote a resolution at that Meeting, intending to propose that the Society should declare them to be no longer its Missionaries; but from the strong desire which was expressed to continue in connexion with them, and to endeavour to heal the breach which had been made, I did not submit it.

Having attended nearly all the Committee Meetings since that period, my first impression has been deepened, by all the events which have since occurred at Serampore. I consider that their having denied that the Society has any property in the dwelling houses, printing establishment, paper mill, money in the Company's funds, &c. &c. is a violation of the implied condition on which they entered into the service of the Society, as well as being in direct opposition to the principles which they originally adopted, in regard to devoting all property purchased from a common Mission stock, to the objects for which that fund was raised.

Notwithstanding, however, this separation of themselves. from the Society, the Committee, as you know, made them repeated grants to a considerable amount; nor was it till they were refused any acknowledgment of their appropriation, that they withheld assistance from them; and, therefore, they have no ground for complaint for having "been so

used."

Notwithstanding you have not assigned any reasons for your "increased esteem and affection" for the brethren at Serampore, I will endeavour, in the subsequent letters, frankly to "shew my opinion," for not being able to unite with you in that feeling. In doing this, I shall avoid all personalities, and all offensive expressions, as I am not aware of any disposition towards either you or them, which will prevent my "speaking the truth in love." My conviction is deliberate and conscientious; and I feel not the least hesitation in reasserting it," that the spirit which the Committee have uniformly manifested towards the Missionaries, and for which they have been so bitterly traduced, may be described in a very short sentence: CONCILIATION, but not COMPROMISE."

LETTER II.

Sentiments of the Rev. Andrew Fuller in relation to the Baptist Missionary Society.

MY DEAR Brother,

I consider it necessary to state what were the sentiments of Mr. Fuller, in regard to the kind of connexion which originally subsisted between the Serampore brethren and the Society; also, as to the nature and amount of the property which had been purchased at Serampore; and, finally, as to the plan on which he conducted the Society, and which he considered desirable should be acted upon after his decease.

1. As regards the kind of connexion which originally subsisted between the Missionaries and the Society.

66

You know that at a Meeting held at Nottingham, May 31, 1792, it was "resolved, that a plan should be prepared for forming a Society among the Baptists;" and that the Society was actually formed at Kettering, October 2, following, and designated The Particular Baptist Society for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen." A Committee was appointed, consisting of the Rev. Messrs. John Ryland, Reynold Hogg, William Carey, John Sutcliff, and Andrew Fuller, three of whom were empowered to act in carrying into effect the purposes of the Society." The Rev. Reynold Hogg was chosen the Treasurer, and the Rev. Andrew Fuller the secretary. The subscriptions towards a fund, from the persons who formed the Society, amounted to £13. 2s. 6d.

66

The fourth meeting of "the primary Society" was held at Kettering, Jan. 10, 1793; and at this meeting the Committee engaged Mr. (now Dr.) Carey and Mr. Thomas as Missionaries. The Index to the first volume of the Periodical Accounts, speaks of Mr. Thomas as " engaged with Mr. Carey in a Mission to Bengal."

I request you to observe how carefully Dr. Marshman, in his " Reply to Mr. Dyer's Letter," overlooks the constitution of the Society. In his account of the origin of the Baptist Mission, it appears as if no persons had any hand in it but Carey and Fuller! He gravely asserts, what is most