Record

Level	Item
Finding Number (Click this to view full catalogue structure)	CMS/B/OMS/C I2 E3/90
Title	Letter from Rhenius and Schmid to Secretary: 12 May 1819: Tranquebar
Extent	1 doc.
Date	1819
Description	Sends Tamil tracts just published by Madras Tract Society; government permission had not been asked as the present political situation would have ensured their refusal, so responsibility was left with the printer; 12000 tracts were printed; the Corresponding Committee have taken offence at it and alleged R. and S. have "acted at variance with duty and conscience"; comment at great length and quote from Committee's letters on four points: 1) "it is indeed the mind of the Committee to exact implicit obedience from the missionaries and to regard them as their mere instruments" 2) "concerning the impropriety of the adoption of the principle of implicit obedience ….. [and] the hinderance of God to which that principle would be the cause of" 3) "this principle has been the cause of all subsequent misunderstanding and disharmony"; mentions particularly that at the weekly meetings at Mr. Strachan's house "our mission business is hardly ever touched upon and even studiously avoided" 4) "allow us now to state a few miscellaneous facts"; Strachan "endeavours to reduce all these unpleasant occurrences to personalities between myself and Mr. Thompson" but similar views are expressed in Committee's official letters; gives examples of inconsistency in the Committee's actions.
Access Status	Open

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