| Description | Personal correspondence of Lesslie Newbigin, comprising correspondence to his parents, his sisters Frances and Nancy, and his wife Helen, nee Henderson. In addition there is correspondence from associates of his including A. Craig, of Glasgow University, Rev J. H. Maclean, a fellow missionary in South India, William Paton of the International Missionary Council, John Oman, a tutor of Newbigin whilst at Cambridge University, Herbert James, J. H. Oldham, and W. G. L. Elmslie, of Westminster College, Cambridge University.
The correspondence relates to the first visit of Lesslie and Helen Newbigin to South India as Church of Scotland missionaries, and general affairs of the Newbigins and their family. It includes descriptions of their outward voyage aboard S. S. City Cairo, including accounts of the trips made on their stop-overs, descriptions of the local scenery, and first impressions of India, accounts of their arrival at Chingleput College and their daily itineraries, including their efforts to learn Tamil. In addition there are descriptions of their living quarters, the local villages, communities, cuisine, and Hindu festivities, details of their missionary work and social activities and accounts of the physical ill-health Lesslie and Helen suffered during their stay. The correspondence on their return to Edinburgh also includes material relating to Lesslie's appointment as Candidates Secretary to the Church of Scotland Foreign Missions Committee. General family matters alluded to in the letters include the family's shipping business.
Includes:
/36 Letter relating to general matters including Lesslie's involvement in a local initiative, the 'Young Men's Brotherhood', from Chingleput, Feb 1937;
/38 Letter including an account of a visit by Lady Baden Powell to Chingleput and a rally by the Girl Guides group, Feb 1937;
/42 Letter including an account of the Madras Mission's centenary celebrations in Chingleput and a description of the dramatic entertainment, Feb 1937;
/44 Letter relating to general affairs and Newbigin's consideration of the challenges facing missionary work in Chingleput, Mar 1937;
/48 Letter including an account of a train journey from Chingleput to Nether Lochaber, Mar 1937;
/49 Letter including an account of a visit by Lesslie to outlaying villages, Mar 1937;
/59 Letter relating to responses to a recent publication by Newbigin, May 1937;
/66 Letter including an account of a visit to a Maharajah and a demonstration of Sikh worship, Jun 1937;
/92 Letter relating to Lesslie's 'natural' theology, Dec 1937
/94 Letter misdated as 1937 when it is actually 1936 [on the date of writing, Lesslie was in hospital in Edinburgh, not in Conjeeveram; it is twin to item DA29/1/1/24. ex inf Dr F.M Jackson, researcher] |